Something's wrong at XM and I just don't get it. Kicking off the first game on Saturday night at Detroit’s Comerica Park, every fan got an XM-branded rally towel and an offer for a free XM radio. Anyone else confused? I know, me too, this is actually a good marketing idea.

XM handed out the towels, and the radio offers, to fans as they entered the stadium. The offer was a special card with a World Series pin attached. The cardholder gets a Delphi RoadyXT radio for free, provided they pay the first three months’ subscription in advance. They could either redeem the cards at the ballpark and take the radios home with them right away, or they could order the radio online after the game.

(The line begins as fans come to get their free Roady XTs.)

XM also had signs throughout Comerica stadium. The new XM TV ads ran on the Jumbotron, and fans heard "XM music breaks" between innings. One of the first XM music breaks was "Old Time Rock and Roll," by Detroit native Bob Seger, who reportedly was spotted in the stands behind home plate bobbing his head.

 

And get this, there's supposed to be plenty of XM signs and branding at St. Louis’ Busch stadium as well. Could this new marketing team really be doing things right?

The 2006 World Series, which kicks off this Saturday night at Detroit's Comerica Park, will be covered on XM Satellite Radio as the Tigers face off against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Detroit's hometown broadcasts will air live and nationwide on XM 176, while hometown broadcasts from St. Louis will be on XM 183. ESPN's network coverage can be heard on XM 188, and if Espagnol is your flavor you can catch the Spanish-language play-by-play coverage on XM 190.

For baseball talk, XM's MLB Home Plate (ch 175) will broadcast live from the host city during each game of the series. MLB Home Plate will air special live pre-game and post-game shows, featuring interviews, press conferences, news and commentary.  

[World Series XM Channel Guide]

XM Satellite Radio will be airing both teams' home broadcasts for every game in the League Championship Series, starting on October 10th, as well as the World Series which begins October 21nd.

The games will air XM's MLB Play-by-Play channels (ch 176 - ch 189) plus XM will also broadcast ESPN's coverage of the games, as well as Spanish play-by-play of select games. XM has broadcast every single one of the 2,430 MLB games played during the regular season.

For the MLB playoffs XM's own all-star team includes Rob Dibble, Kevin Kennedy, Mark Patrick, Buck Martinez, Orestes Destrade, Chuck Wilson, Charley Steiner, Cal Ripken, Jr., Bill Ripken, Ronnie Lane and Joe Castellano.

A complete program guide for the MLB postseason on XM is available here.