Saturday is the season premiere of MLB on Fox or known in some parts as Fox Saturday Baseball. Earlier this week, I gave you the Fox season schedule.
Now we get some notable quotables from Fox on the first week of MLB action. Don’t forget the 20 minute studio show hosted by Jeanne Zelasko and Kevin Kennedy has been scrapped and it’s been replaced by a 10 minute pregame hosted by Chris Rose from one of the game sites.
FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
Angels/Red Sox, Cardinals/Astros and White Sox/Twins Lead Off 2009 FOX Saturday Baseball Game of the Week
Rosenthal Looks into Crystal Ball & Sees Rays Winning It All
FOX Sports Supports Charitable Initiative Continues with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
MLB ON FOX THROWS OUT FIRST PITCH OF ’09 THIS SATURDAY – The multi Emmy Award-winning FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK returns for its 14th season on Saturday, April 11 (4:00 PM ET) with live regional coverage of three exciting matchups. Week one takes FOX Sports to Anaheim, CA for Angels-Red Sox. After leading the BoSox past LAA in last year’s ALDS, American League MVP Dustin Pedroia looks to spearhead Boston’s sustained dominance over their western rivals. Continuing the post-season theme, Justin Morneau and the Twins visit Ozzie Guillen’s White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, the site of their demise in the 2008 AL Central playoff. Also, NL Central rivals meet as Albert Pujols and the Redbirds host Lance Berkman and the Astros by the Gateway Arch. Pregame originates live from Angel Stadium in Anaheim with host Chris Rose (Details below). Once game action begins, Rose joins the game crew including Kenny Albert, Eric Karros and Ken Rosenthal as a field reporter.
Following the lead of NASCAR on FOX, MLB on FOX is on Twitter. This season, fans can use Twitter, the free social networking phenomenon, to stay connected to MLB on FOX coverage, including FOX’s MLB broadcasters and reporters, throughout the week including game days. Thousands of NASCAR fans are following the NASCAR on Fox Twitter site, making it the No. 1 NASCAR site on Twitter. Baseball fans can enhance their season long MLB on FOX experience by signing up to follow at www.twitter.com/MLBONFOX.
ROSENTHAL: RAYS TO WIN THEIR FIRST WORLD SERIES – MLB on FOX field reporter Ken Rosenthal predicts the Rays and Phillies will square off again in the ’09 World Series. Contrary to ‘08, he believes the Rays, with an improved offense and a defense that remains outstanding combined with their deep pitching will carry the franchise to their first World Championship. “The Rays have an answer for virtually every problem that may arise.” http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9410850/Predictions-for-all-30-MLB-teams
CHRIS ROSE TO HOST NEW MLB ON FOX ON-SITE PREGAME & POSTGAME – The 2009 MLB on FOX season features new-look pregame and postgame shows. The pregame originates live from one of the regional games on the FOX SATURDAY GAME OF THE WEEK schedule and is hosted by the versatile Chris Rose. In his new role with MLB on FOX, Rose brings fans late-breaking baseball news and notes and sets the scene for the day’s MLB action. Once the game begins, Rose joins the FOX broadcast team on location, serving as a field reporter.
Rose on his new role as on-site pregame host: “Having worked with Best Damn Sports Show Period over the last eight years, we’ve been able to build very solid relationships in baseball. One of the big criticisms you hear about baseball is that there are not great personalities to shocase. I think there are a lot of great personalities, it’s just how you bring them out to the fans. We’ll try to do that in the pregame. My role in bouncing around the stadium will be showing off some of these new yards and the people that are involved.”
ROSENTHAL STACKS UP OTHER FAVORITES FOR THE ’09 CROWN
Yankees: Potential for age and injury-related issues, assuming A-Rod returns at 100%.
Red Sox: Too many physical questions to merit a full endorsement, but the depth of the pitching staff should ensure at least a wild card.
Cubs: Will they truly benefit from the addition of Milton Bradley and loss of Mark DeRosa?
Mets: J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez will fortify the bullpen, but the rotation beyond Johan Santana could be a problem before September.
This Week’s Games
Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Angels, Kenny Albert, Eric Karros & Ken Rosenthal, 66% of USA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Washington, West Palm Beach
Houston Astros at St. Louis Cardinals, Joe Buck & Tim McCarver, 19% of USA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Austin, Cincinnati, Houston, Louisville, Memphis, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, St. Louis, Tulsa
Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox, Thom Brennaman & Mark Grace, 14% of USA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Minneapolis
“FOX SPORTS SUPPORTS” 2009 MLB CAMPAIGN STEPS TO THE PLATE FOR THE MICHAEL J. FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON’S RESEARCH – Continuing FOX Sports’ year-round charitable initiative, FOX Sports Supports selected The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research during the 2009 MLB on FOX season. The MJFF is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s through an aggressive research program. Each week, MLB on FOX announcers wear the charity’s pin on-air to champion the cause and refer to the organization, its achievements, and how viewers can support the foundation during game broadcasts. Please visit www.foxsportssupports.com for more information.
Joe Buck may work this week and next, but expect him to do about 10-12 games as he usually does. As we all know, he’d rather watch “The Bachelorette” than call baseball.
