MASN’s new lineup has name value

Jim Williams, The Examiner
Feb 24, 2007 3:00 AM (9 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 3 of 20,550 articles
WASHINGTON - The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network has crafted a roster of recognizable talent to cover Nationals and Orioles baseball starting March 3.

As we told you well in advance of the formal announcement, Bob Carpenter is back for a second season and will be joined by a new analyst: Hall of Fame pitcher and former TBS analyst Don Sutton. In game reporter Debbi Taylor will join the crew.

Johnny Holiday, longtime voice of the Maryland Terrapins, will host “Nats Xtra” along with ex-major leaguer Oriole Ray Knight, the 1986 World Series MVP for the Mets.

The Orioles TV crew has added play-by-play man Garry Thorne, ESPN’s voice on NHL hockey, MLB Baseball and college football. He will join Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer, Buck Martinez and field reporter Amber Theoharis on all Baltimore telecasts. Jim Hunter fill in when Thorne has an ESPN conflict.

Hunter will join former Oriole Rick Dempsey on “O’s Xtra.” Thankfully, Tom Davis returns to local air to serve in a co-host capacity. Many O’s fans will recall Davis was a part of the Home Team Sports network’s coverage of Orioles baseball.

There is a drawback: MASN will not offer HD telecasts this season due in large part to channel capacity of the cable systems. The goal is for HD to come in 2008 for all Orioles and Nationals home telecasts. Let’s hope so.

Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.

COACH POTATO'S BEST BETS…

» Georgetown hosts Pitt on Saturday at 2 p.m. on CBS. Sunday’s big game is Maryland hosting North Carolina at 5:30 p.m. on CSN.

» Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson on Golf Channel Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. NBC picks up the action at 2 p.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday.

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» NFL Network has the scouting combine daily in primetime through Wednesday.
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