Dodgers Spectrum SportsNet Score Bug Gets Its First Major Update

via Spectrum SportsNet LA

The Dodgers broadcast on Spectrum SportsNet just got its first notable update to the score bug, and there are some things we like and some things we think could go further.

What Changed

The previous Spectrum SportsNet score bug via Spectrum SportsNet LA

Spectrum SportsNet made a few tweaks to the Dodgers score bug this season. The hitter and pitcher information now shows up every time someone is at the plate, and the fonts are bolder with more defined outlines. The pitch count is now displayed right next to the pitcher's name, which is a layout change they had to make to fit the new challenges indicator.

That challenges bar shows how many challenges each team has remaining. It was a little confusing at first, but once you get used to reading it, it makes sense and adds useful information that wasn't there before.

The core of the score bug itself, the actual score, team names, inning, count, and base runners, hasn't really changed. It's the same general structure and layout that Spectrum SportsNet has been running.

What We'd Like to See

Here's the thing. The Dodgers have been so dominant that it's hard to argue with changing anything about the broadcast. When you're winning at this level, why fix what isn't broken? But from a design perspective, this score bug still feels too generic. It doesn't scream Dodgers. Compare it to what other teams are doing with their local broadcasts.

The Red Sox broadcast on NESN has a score bug that actually feels like it belongs to the Red Sox. It incorporates elements that remind you of Fenway and the Green Monster. The Mets broadcast has a similar approach where the score bug is designed to feel like it's part of the team's visual identity, not just a template with a logo swapped in.

The Dodgers score bug could lean into the team's colors more aggressively, incorporate some of the design language from Dodger Stadium, or just do something that makes it immediately recognizable as a Dodgers broadcast even if you tuned in with the sound off.

The Lakers Have the Same Problem

via Spectrum SportsNet LA

This isn't just a Dodgers issue either. If you watch the Lakers on Spectrum SportsNet, their score bug has the same basic template. It's clean and functional, but it could be on any team's broadcast. When you compare it to what Fox, ESPN, NBC, or even some other local networks are doing with their score bugs, there's room for Spectrum SportsNet to give each of their teams a more distinct broadcast look.

Our Grade: B-

The update itself is fine. The new pitcher and batter display is an improvement, and the challenge indicator is a nice addition once you learn to read it. But as an overall score bug, it's still pretty simple and doesn't feel specific to the Dodgers. Spectrum SportsNet has the biggest team in baseball on their network. The broadcast package should reflect that.