MLB tries to score a home run with iPhone app

What's the score? Check your iPhone. Or better yet, watch the replay of that grand slam.

Starting today, baseball fans will be able to watch free live streaming MLB games on Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch. MLB.com announced that it has added a live streaming video feature to the app, "At Bat 2009," which will provide free access to a limited number of MLB games. iPhone users who have already downloaded the popular "At Bat" application, will be able to download the updated version for free. New users can purchase the app at the iTunes app store for $9.99.

This afternoon, fans can watch the Chicago White Sox battle the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Later tonight, they can tune into the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals game at Busch Stadium. Eventually, MLB.com plans to stream more live games for iPhone users (and perhaps charge for access later on as well). And if you miss that grand slam, don't worry – there's a built in DVR feature that lets you rewind and pause any important play.

MLB's push to stream live baseball games on mobile devices is "significant," reports The New York Times , which mentions that the trend of streaming live TV on cell phones has yet to take off in the US.

In the meantime, however, live streaming radio for mobile phones got a boost today. Sirius XM has begun offering a live, streaming radio iPhone application (sans Howard Stern) to iPhone and iPod Touch users.

In his Horizons blog post, Andrew Heining fills us in on why excluding the shock jock may be a "Sirius" disadvantage.

--

But seriously, what do you think about Sirius XM's decision? Tell us on Twitter.