MLB Network posted their Spring Training schedule on Tuesday night and the Pittsburgh Pirates will be featured 15 times total. A couple weeks ago, ROOT SPORTS announced that they will show 12 games this spring and there is a lot of overlap between the two channels.
Here is the breakdown of games shown on MLB Network, with an asterisk next to the live games, and ROOT next to games on both networks. All the games are in March, so I just included the day of the month next to the game.
4. vs Twins 1PM* ROOT
7. vs Phillies 9PM ROOT(tape delay from 1pm that day)
9. @ Phillies 9AM (tape delay from 1pm previous day)
10. vs Red Sox 6AM ROOT(tape delay from 1pm previous day)
11. vs Rays 1PM* ROOT
14. vs Tigers 6AM ROOT(tape delay from 1pm previous day)
17. @ Orioles 6AM (tape delay from 1pm previous day)
18. vs Yankees 6AM ROOT(tape delay from 1pm previous day)
19. @ Phillies 9AM (tape delay from 1pm previous day)
24. vs Orioles 9AM ROOT (tape delay from 1pm previous day)
25. @ Red Sox 11PM (tape delay from 6pm that day)
26. vs Rays 8PM ROOT (tape delay from 6pm that day)
27. vs Orioles 8PM ROOT (tape delay from 6pm that day)
29. vs Twins 9AM ROOT (tape delay from 1pm previous day)
30. vs Red Sox 1PM* ROOT
Obviously the Pirates aren’t getting any preferential treatment with live games, as just three are on the entire schedule and all of them can be viewed on ROOT SPORTS. The only ROOT broadcast that won’t be shown on MLB Network is the March 6th game against the Astros, so this only adds four new games (all road games) to the mix for most people. For those out of the area, it gives you a chance to see half of the Spring Training games, even if your DVR will have to do a lot of the work for you.
