I got an email from “DJ” in the Nats AA town. He cannot get Nats games via MLB Extra Innings and he is none too pleased:

I wanted to share what I learned this week about the evils of Comcast: I live in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Since you went to PSU, you know that Harrisburg is halfway between D.C. and State College, about 100 miles from Washington. We’re also about 100 miles from Philadelphia, 100 miles from Baltimore, and 200 miles from Pittsburgh. Comcast gives us CSN-Philly, but not CSN-Baltimore/DC or Fox Sports Pittsburgh. There is no other local cable provider.

So, I went home last night intending to enjoy the Nats/Mets game, which was listed on Comcast as part of the first week preview of the MLB Extra Innings package. The channel didn’t work. I called Comcast, and I was told that in our area, the blackout list includes: Philadelphia Phillies (understandable, since the game was on CSN-Ph); Pittsburgh Pirates; Baltimore Orioles; and, Washington Nationals.

So, even if I order the MLB Extra Innings package for $150, I am blacked out from ever getting the games of the three nearest NL teams and the nearest AL team, even though only one of those teams is ever televised over our local TV.

Last year, I did purchase the Extra Innings package, and I believe I did get Orioles and Nats games, so I assume those blackouts are new and due to the litigation with Angelos.

I have to imagine I live in the only market in the country where four different major league teams are blacked out, with only one of them available over local TV.

I hate Comcast.

Okay, is this Comcast’s fault or MLB? In the end, it does not matter, but it is just another example of how baseball is dropping the ball big time when it comes to utilizing the technology they have available to fans. Is there anything he can do to watch our favorite team?