Delaney: MLB Network in the early innings

I had a chance to watch the MLB Network the last couple of days. The new network debuted Jan. 1 in approximately 50 million homes. One of those homes belongs to my parents in Central Pennsylvania. They are lucky enough to have the NFL Network, ESPNEWS and the MLB Network on their basic cable package.

I enjoyed what I saw of the MLB Network. I watched MLB Tonight, which seems to be the flagship program. One of the analysts was Harold Reynolds, formerly of ESPN who knows his stuff. The other analyst on the Wednesday night show was former Phillies reliever Mitch Williams, who earned the nickname 'Wild Thing' during his days with the team and best known for giving up a World Series clinching home run to Joe Carter in 1993. Williams was also good, self deprecating about his 11-year Major League career but not to the point where it got in the way of what he was saying.

There were a couple problems with the show. For one, neither Reynolds nor Williams looked into the camera and toward the television audience they were addressing. Maybe they're not supposed to, I don't know, but I found it odd. Problem No. 2 was the network didn't font the names of Reynolds or Williams or studio host Matt Vasgersian. I recognized Reynolds and Williams so that wasn't problem for me. I didn't know Vasgersian and on another night there was an analyst who looked like Billy Ripken but I wasn't sure. I did an Internet search and it was Ripken. Dan Plesac, another analyst and a former player known to baseball fans, also was not fonted.