As Spring Training approaches later this month, fans are anxious to see the 2024 Chicago Cubs in action. However, the exhibition games in Arizona may have a bit of a different feel for at-home viewers.
According to Jeff Agrest of the Chicago Sun-Times, Marquee Sports Network plans to carry mostly remote broadcasts of Cubs Spring Training games. You may recall the network implementing similar coverage during the COVID-19-impacted seasons of 2020 and 2021.
Boog Sciambi and Jim Deshaies will be in Arizona for some of the games, but they'll also have fill-ins throughout the month-long slate, specifically due to Sciambi's busy schedule with ESPN. Agrest adds that 670 The Score's Zach Zaidman and Iowa Cubs announcer Alex Cohen are the fill-ins on the flagship TV station of the Cubs.
Also factoring into the decision, Marquee is reportedly cutting costs and focusing primarily on regular-season games and other programming. Seeing as Bally Sports' recent bankruptcy affected many other MLB teams' broadcast scenarios, it's not entirely surprising to see Marquee prioritize its recourses with cost in mind.
The Cubs begin their Cactus League slate on Feb. 23 when the Chicago White Sox visit Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona.
More must-reads: