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Things get under way with spring training coverage, which will include three live games, including contests against both halves of the 2015 World Series (suck it, Grapefruit League!). These are (all times Arizona):
- Sunday March 8 vs San Francisco Giants, 1:00 PM
- Saturday March 28 vs Kansas City Royals, 1:00 PM
- Friday April 3 vs Chicago Cubs, 6:30 PM (airs on FSAZ+)
The network will also air five episodes of Cactus League Weekly during the pre-season, with the first of those due up on Tuesday at 6pm.
Once the regular season begins, Fox Sports Arizona will broadcast 150 of the regular-season games - they have to leave a few off, in case they're wanted by the national broadcasters [although Arizona showing up on ESPN, would first require New York and Boston to be taken out by providential meteor strikes] There will also be one game aired by Fox, on Saturday May 30 in Milwaukee, and another on Fox Sports One (Saturday June 13 in San Francisco). Probably quicker to list the ones not being covered: as you'd imagine, it's mostly weekday day games.
- Wednesday May 6 @ Rockies, 12:10pm
- Wednesday May 13 @ Nationals, 12:40pm
- Friday May 15 @ Phillies, 4:05pm
- Thursday May 21 @ Marlins, 9:10am (!)
- Wednesday June 3 @ Braves, 12:40pm
- Thursday June 18 @ Angels, 12:40pm
- Thursday June 25 @ Rockies, 12:10pm
- Friday July 10 @ Mets, 4:10pm
- Wednesday July 29 @ Mariners, 12:40pm
- Thursday August 6 @ Nationals, 1:05pm
Interesting that eight of the ten untelevised contests are before the All-Star break, and the last third of the season had coverage for every game. This is presumably in the expectations that we'll be making a strong playoff push in the second half... Mind you, if the season unfolds like this one did, by the time it reached the final month, we can be forgiven for perhaps going, "Hooray! This one's not on television! I'm off down the pub!" Not getting away so easily will be the familiar faces presenting it: the announce team of Steve Berthiaume and Bob Brenly, while Todd Walsh and Jody Jackson host the pre and post-game shows, along with analysts Joe Borowski and Brandon Webb.
Still, right now I'm stoked for what all totals up to more than 1,500 hours of Diamondbacks content, by the time you include their 269 regular season game replays, seven Cactus League game replays and 13 All Day With The D-backs blocks of programming. Bring on the first pitch!