We would like to welcome our foreign affairs correspondent, Fielder's Choice, to the mix. Unfortunately, like most start up companies our budget is restrictive or as some say our "payroll has parameters". None the less, Fielder's contributions are welcomed and informative.

Fielder's recent post regarding the challenges experienced whilst trying to follow the Jays in Florida got me thinking...which ultimately lead to frustration. 

Over the past two days Rogers Sportsnet ... owners of 6 cable channels and multiple radio stations, not to mention ancillary media have (over the past two days) decided to air both the Red Sox and Yankees on SN. Said again - the RED SOX and YANKEES ! And we're here talking about watching the Phillies and Jays ON TV NEXT SUNDAY. Is it just me, or is this grievance legitimate.

I posed this predicament to another member of the Concrete Convertible and we agreed that there are significant costs associated with airing spring training games. However, I don't buy this as a legitimate argument. With the exception of the Phillies, aren't the Jays owned by the wealthiest corporation. There's more, most of the Rogers MLB staff is already in Florida: Davidi, Cormack, Carson, Alan, Jerry, Blair ... Zaun owns a home in Tampa and Jamie Campbell seems like a guy who was born to wear Hawaiian shirts. So basically, chuck in a flight for JC and he can shack up with Zauny. I'm sure Zaun would be fine with this. 

However, accommodations aren't the only associated costs. There are also camera crews, audio-visual crews, lighting crews, producers, etc.  This is easily remedied. Has anyone ever seen a Spring Training game on TV ... its hardly Fox Sports pennant race coverage. There's one fixed camera behind home plate and maybe a couple of mobile units. Hardly huge production, and that is not what fans want, we just want to see some ball. So if Rogers is unwilling to rent a U-Haul and pile some gear in it, how about contracting someone like FSN south or TBS to provide the gear and operators and Rogers can foot the bill. 

Still not convinced this is viable ? How about this. We have all seen and heard of the HBO 24/7 success, and Oil Change, hell even the Argos have a dedicated program. So how about filming an insider series such as those mentioned above. How cool would it be to track the Jays through spring training and get an inside perspective of the club house and relationships between players. I think there are many compelling stories this spring, such as left field, the rotation, Rasmus, Drabek - I can go on and on.  The success of this program would generate huge revenue and interest. 

Further, Rogers could sell spring training game coverage to TSN or CBC.  TSN has curling and golf going on two channels and CBC shows skiing and saturday night hockey. This would provide a huge boost to rating that are suffering until March Madness kicks off. 

There are no doubt other ways of making this proposition a reality. But I leave you with this: If Cormack develops tendinitis from tweeting play-by-play and has to go on the IR who is going to take responsibility. So if Roger's won't do it for fans, then do it of Cormack's thumbs. Another positive: we'll get the f@cking 'Sox and Yanks off tv.