For the past 10 years I’ve been listening to the Red Sox baseball games on the internet, because it was a throwback to a simpler time when I was a kid and my mom would always have the game on the radio. It also gave me something to listen to in the background while I wasted time surfing the web. Eight years ago I joined the Red Sox Nation because there was a couple dollar discount on the MLB Gameday Audio I was using to listen to FRS games and I got some cool benefits (that would have been more helpful if I actually lived within driving distance of Boston.) Oh, and there was a membership card I could carry around in my wallet to prove my citizenship.
Last August, MLBTV ran a special of $19.95 for their Premium service for the rest of the season and I took advantage of it. Turns out with that I can have the best of both worlds by watching the game on TV in HighDef and listening to the radio announcing team make the call. It was good. So this year I decided to spend the $130 for the full year of MLBTV Premium. Unlike the deal they had for audio, there is no corresponding package with TV, so this year I won’t be card carrying member of the Red Sox Nation. I’ll still be a citizen in my heart, but I won’t be able to watch batting practice from the Green Monster or get 10% off at the fan shop at Fenway.