On this week's edition of Wednesday Night Baseball, featuring the Washington Nationals taking on the Atlanta Braves, ESPN will be experimenting with a new style of broadcasting. Analysts Doug Glanville and Mark Mulder will be at field level as opposed to in the booth with play by play man Sean McDonough.
The experiment is another attempt by a major network to freshen up game coverage this year. ESPN has tried the "analysts in different positions" technique before, when they positioned Jay Bilas and Bill Raftery underneath the baskets during a basketball game two years ago in a game that was anchored by McDonough.
With Mulder and Glanville at field lever, they probably won't be able to add much to the telecast when it comes to calling balls and strikes. However, the pair could provide insight into various defensive shifts or close plays on the bases. At the very worst, it's a worthy experiment by ESPN that won't be repeated if it's a disaster. At best, it's a new and innovative way to broadcast a game that other telecasts may replicate in the future.
[ESPN]
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