Cubs and White Sox Spring Training games to air commercial-free

One of the complaints about baseball is the length of the games and the amount of commercials that are shoehorned in between innings. However, Comcast SportsNet Chicago will do something about that for two days.

For today (March 19) and tomorrow (March 20), Comcast SportsNet Chicago will air the Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks game and the Chicago White Sox vs. Chicago Cubs game without ads.

It means that in between innings, the network will have to fill time and that will entail plenty of interviews. From the Comcast SportsNet Chicago press release:

“(Comcast SportsNet) will take this unique opportunity to showcase brand new, one-on-one interviews with players/managers/coaches featuring exclusive sit-down chats with new acquisitions, key veterans and returning players, along with profiles with all the young and upcoming standouts for both organizations, plus – Comcast SportsNet will also provide numerous, entertaining feature stories that fans will not want to miss.”

Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies will have the call of the Cubs-D’backs game while Hawk Harrelson and Steve Stone will do the Cubs-White Sox game on Saturday.

We have what’s in-store for the interviews again quoting from the press release:

WHITE SOX

• One-on-one interview with White Sox manager Robin Ventura
• Exclusive, combined interview with starting pitchers Chris Sale and Jeff Samardzija
• An inside look as outfielder Avisail Garcia trains with strength and conditioning coordinator Allen Thomas in the White Sox weight room, where cameras are not allowed.  
• Lead-off hitter Adam Eaton takes CSN Chicago on yet another unforgettable fishing trip 
• CSN Chicago mic’s up six-time NL stolen base champ/current White Sox minor league baserunning instructor Vince Coleman during drills with a number of White Sox players
• One-on-one interview with 2014 White Sox #1 draft pick (3^rd overall), pitcher Carlos Rodon
• One-on-one interview with new power-hitting acquisition Adam LaRoche

CUBS

• One-on-one interview with new Cubs manager Joe Maddon
• One-on-one interview with first baseman Anthony Rizzo
• New Cubs speedster Dexter Fowler provides a baserunning clinic on how he gains the edge over the opposition
• Starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks displays his array of pitches via a pitching clinic that showcases what the right-hander has in store for this season
• Cubs starter Jason Hammel takes his family for a little spring training down time at the driving range 
• One-on-one interview with starting pitcher Jake Arrieta
• Plus, what’s the story behind the charity t-shirts Joe Maddon wears during his post-game press conferences? The new Cubs skipper explains why he does it and how it helps change lives. 

It’s a good concept that lends itself to the pace of Spring Training. Now it would be interesting if a regional sports network decided to try this for a regular season game, but it would require sponsors to give up their ads and they might not be willing to do so unless they get a really good reason.

[Chicago Tribune]