The MLB’s latest broadcasting pivot was supposed to be a step into the future. But for multiple Yankees fans, it felt like a stumble at the worst possible moment. As New York prepared for a pivotal clash with the Orioles, anticipation was high among fans. It was more than just a game; it was a matchup with playoff implications, and fans were ready to lock in.

But when the first pitch arrived, the stream didn’t. With the game airing exclusively on the Roku Sports Channel, fans scrambled to locate the broadcast, many unsuccessfully. Instead of a smooth, “free and easy” viewing experience as advertised, users faced buffering, blackouts, and couldn’t access the game at all.

The backlash was swift, and the MLB-Roku partnership instantly became a punching bag across social media.

The game was not available on traditional cable and regular channels. So, when the Roku stream didn’t work, that’s a brutal swing and a miss for MLB’s vision of digital accessibility.

Ironically, the Yankees had hyped the game just hours earlier. “Watch #MLBSundayLeadoff Orioles at Yankees live at 11:30 a.m. ET, streaming free on Roku Sports Channel.” That tweet now sits awkwardly under a pile of replies from angry fans asking, “How?” or “Where?” The platform may have been “free,” but the experience came at the cost of fan patience and trust.

This is not just related to one game—it’s about a growing disconnect. MLB and Roku recently teamed up to push baseball into the streaming age, launching slick promos like “Going, Going, Gone: The Magic of the Home Run,” set to debut on July 6. It’s supposed to celebrate the magic of long balls and legendary moments. But after Sunday, fans aren’t exactly in the mood for nostalgia. They just want to watch the game without jumping through hoops.

The idea behind the partnership may have had promise—reaching new audiences, keeping things fresh—but execution matters. Especially when a playoff-hungry fanbase tunes in and finds themselves in the dark. If MLB wants fans to embrace this new era, it might want to ensure the stream doesn’t drop the ball first.

But the technical failure was only the start of the storm. What followed was an online eruption from fans who felt alienated, frustrated, and flat-out ignored.

Yankees fans slam streaming chaos, boiling over outrage 

“How many more streaming services do I need?” That question echoed across social media, reflecting a growing sense of fatigue from fans of the Yankees and Orioles already juggling multiple platforms. A Bloomberg report in 2022 predicted this exact chaos, warning that MLB’s streaming push with Amazon, Apple, and Peacock would leave fans scrambling to find their team’s games. What was meant to be liberation from expensive cable bundles has instead turned into an endless hunt for the right app—only now, fans are still paying… just more often.

“I know it’s free… but really? ANOTHER APP?” Fans aren’t just annoyed about the inconvenience—they’re questioning MLB’s strategy. Roku, a platform better known for preloaded movies and retro sitcoms, is suddenly the gatekeeper to marquee matchups. Sure, it’s free, but stacking another app just to watch a game many already pay for on YES Network or MLB.tv feels like salt in the wound. The backlash isn’t about cost—it’s about trust and ease.

“When will the app stop loading??? Please fix this, Roku!!” That frustration was far from isolated. In fact, Roku’s issues with MLB streaming have been bubbling for months. Back in March, fans on Reddit were already venting about unresponsive apps and constant buffering during Spring Training. “It’s been six weeks of this,” one user pointed out. When those same issues returned for a regular-season game between two AL East rivals, it felt less like a glitch and more like negligence.

“Bro why is it on @Roku? Like I pay for @YESNetwork to watch my team…” For many Yankee fans, this felt personal. Why invest in premium regional networks only to be locked out when it matters most? Streaming exclusivity without alternative options undermines loyal paying customers. And fans weren’t shy in pointing jabs at MLB, wondering aloud why alternate access wasn’t granted rather than forcing them onto a singular, unstable platform.

“The Yankees game today is at 11:30 AM and it’s on Roku??? — Thanks, Rob Manfred!!!” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred became the focal point of fan ire, and not without reason. His own letter to league owners, obtained by The Athletic, revealed MLB’s decision to part ways with ESPN after 2025, justifying it by pointing to smaller, cheaper deals with Apple and Roku. Even as Sunday Night Baseball ratings improved in 2024, the league chased lower costs at the expense of accessibility. For the Bleacher Creatures, this wasn’t just a missed game. It was a warning sign for the future of MLB viewership.

Yankee fans made one thing clear: Streaming experiments aren’t excuses for broken access. MLB’s partnership with Roku may have been driven by revenue goals, but if it keeps alienating diehard fans, the cost could outweigh the deal. And the league should know that baseball is nothing without its viewers, especially the ones who set alarms for Sunday morning first pitch.

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