Joe Morgan Compares Swing Techniques of Pujols and Fielder
Sunday Night Baseballanalyst Joe Morgan used a telestrator to compare the swing techniques of St. Louis’ Albert Pujols and Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder.  The telecast (April 11) also included back-to-back home runs by Pujols (his second of the game) and Matt Holliday to tie the game in the top of the ninth and a walk-off home run by the Brewers’ Casey McGehee in the bottom of the ninth.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Target Field Showcased on Monday Night Baseball
ESPN’sMonday Night Baseball (April 12) featured the first game from Target Field, the new home of the Minnesota Twins, when they hosted the Boston Red Sox.  Reporter Pedro Gomez took viewers on a tour of the ballpark and conducted an interview with Twins legends Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew.  ESPN.com’s Jim Caple also provided a look inside the new venue.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ESPN Outlets Chronicle Debuts of Chapman and Strasburg
ESPNEWS provided in-progress highlights and ESPN3.com offered live coverage of the minor league debuts of Aroldis Chapman and Stephen Strasburg.  The elite pitching prospects took the mound for their respective teams on Sunday, April 11, combining for 17 strikeouts.

ESPN insider Buster Olney, appearing on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning April 12, compared the difference in front office philosophy between the Washington Nationals (Strasburg’s team) and Cincinnati Reds (Chapman’s franchise):

“It’s very interesting because both guys are playing in organizations that have very different approaches in terms of development.  The Nationals (have been) very deliberate with Stephen Strasburg.  They have a plan laid out.  They want him to work on some of the nuances of pitching.  He’s probably going to be in the big leagues after a sequence of starts.  Chapman, if he shows something – and he did Sunday – he’s going to be in the big leagues very quickly.”

How to handle Milton Bradley?  Ask Bobby.
ESPN’s Baseball Tonight (April 11) included a segment titled “Ask Bobby,” in which host Karl Ravech asked analyst Bobby Valentine a series of questions tied to how he would handle Seattle outfielder Milton Bradley’s behavior.

Kruk Power Rankings
ESPN analyst John Kruk provided his top five rankings following the first week of the season – Phillies, Blue Jays, Giants, Twins and Tigers.  ESPN.com’s power rankings – Phillies, Yankees, Twins, Giants and Tigers.