With this being the weekend before a big holiday weekend, we have Fox giving us some primetime baseball. Among the games Fox will air, New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers goes to a whopping 74% of the country. Joe Buck will be back again this week calling Yankees-Dodgers and he’ll have called 9 out of a possible 12 games this season. This is the press release from Fox.
FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
Yanks Invade Dodgertown on FOX Saturday Prime Time Baseball Game of the WeekMcCarver: Torre’s Success with Dodgers Shows Growth as ManagerCHAMPS RETURN TO HOLLYWOOD IN PRIME TIME – For the first time in six years, Derek Jeter and the Yankees return to Chavez Ravine to take on Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers on Saturday, June 26 at 7:00 PM ET. In Chicago, it’s another Midwest battle royale as Paul Konerko and the White Sox welcome Alfonso Soriano to the South Side. Also, the resurgent Red Sox, led by a reignited offense travel to the Bay Area to face Giants’ lefty Jonathan Sanchez. This week, the pregame show originates live from the FOX Sports studio in Los Angeles with host Chris Rose and analyst Kevin Millar.For instant updates throughout the week and during games from the entire MLB on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX. Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.myspace.com/foxsports.
New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers, Joe Buck, Tim McCarver & Ken Rosenthal, going to 74% of USADodger Stadium – Los Angeles, CAMARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Buffalo, Charlotte, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh, Richmond, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, Seattle, Tampa, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm BeachProbable Pitchers: CC Sabathia, LHP (8-3, 3.68 ERA) vs. Hiroki Kuroda, RHP (6-5, 3.06 ERA)Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox, Kenny Albert & Mark Grace, going to 16% of USAU.S. Cellular Field – Chicago, ILMARKETS INCLUDE: Chicago, Cincinnati, Dayton, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Louisville, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, St. LouisProbable Pitchers: Carlos Zambrano, RHP (3-5, 5.10 ERA) vs. Freddy Garcia, RHP (8-3, 4.85 ERA)Boston Red Sox at San Francisco Giants, Dick Stockton & Eric Karros, going to 9% of USAAT&T Park – San Francisco, CAMARKETS INCLUDE: Boston, Providence, Sacramento, San FranciscoProbable Pitchers: Tim Wakefield, RHP (2-5, 5.33 ERA) vs. Jonathan Sanchez, LHP (5-5, 2.90 ERA)MCCARVER: TORRE’S SUCCESS WITH DODGERS SHOWS GROWTH AS MANAGER – This weekend, Joe Torre welcomes the franchise that established his future Hall of Fame managerial career to his new home field when the Dodgers host the Yankees. MLB on FOX lead analyst Tim McCarver calls this Saturday’s historic clash with Joe Buck, and looks back on the development and evolution from his early days wearing the skipper’s cap. “Not many people thought Torre would have the immediate success in Los Angeles that he did. Everybody considered Joe ‘a winner’ but few predicted that he’d be in the playoffs twice in his first two years. It’s further indication of how good of a manager he has become. He’s making the decisions the same way he always did but his confidence level is the biggest difference between Joe Torre now and Joe Torre when he managed the Cardinals, Braves and Mets.”ROSENTHAL: DODGERS NOT FAR FROM SURGE BUT ECONOMICS MIGHT BE BIGGEST OPPONENT – MLB on FOX Insider and FOXSports.com senior columnist Ken Rosenthal examines where the Dodgers need help to make a run in the West and the likelihood they’ll add the pieces they lack. “The Dodgers are only three games out in the West and I love their lineup when Rafael Furcal is healthy. The problem is their starting pitching. It simply isn’t deep enough, particularly with Chad Billingsley on the disabled list. In theory, the Dodgers should be major players for a top of the rotation starter at deadline, whether it’s Cliff Lee or Roy Oswalt but I doubt they will get either due to payroll concerns under owner Frank McCourt.”
MLB Network does not have a game on Saturday. For the rest of the weekend, you’ll see that after the jump.
MLB Network doesn’t have a Saturday night game, but it will air a special documentary focusing on former Montreal Expos outfield Warren Cromartie who has also spent time in Japan as a player and a manager.
Former MLBer Warren Cromartie MANAGES ALL-JAPANESE BASEBALL TEAM in Season of the SamuraiJapan’s Samurai Bears team handles cultural differences and Cromartie’s intense personality in the independent Golden Baseball LeagueSeason of the Samurai makes its national broadcast premiere on MLB Network on Saturday, June 26 at 7:00 p.m. ETSecaucus, N.J., June 24, 2010 – Eleven-year MLB veteran Warren Cromartie (Montreal Expos, Kansas City Royals) is the focus of the documentary film Season of the Samurai, in which he manages the all-Japanese Samurai Bears baseball team in the inaugural season of the Golden Baseball League in 2005. Premiering on MLB Network on Saturday, June 26 at 7:00 p.m. ET, the film follows Cromartie and the team during 90 games in 97 days on the road throughout California, Arizona and Utah. Cromartie’s on-edge personality guides the team both on and off the field as the first all-foreign team competing in an American sports league. A preview of the film can be viewed here.Cromartie played for Japan’s Yomiuri Giants under world career home run record holder Sadaharu Oh after retiring from Major League Baseball and signed on as manager of the Samurai Bears in an effort to jumpstart his managerial career. Cromartie is not the only former Major Leaguer to participate in the Golden Baseball League: 60 other former Major League players have played in the league, including Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, who played for the San Diego Surf Dawgs in 2005 and is featured throughout Season of the Samurai.Season of the Samurai was directed and produced by Danny Gold and Matthew Asner of Mod 3 Productions. The film first premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and the Comedia Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, Canada. Additional information on the film is available at www.SeasonoftheSamurai.com.
On Sunday, TBS will carry the Detroit-Atlanta game.
“Sunday MLB on TBS” Continues with an Interleague Match-up Featuring the Detroit Tigers @ Atlanta BravesJustin Verlander of the Tigers scheduled to face Tommy Hanson of the Braves“Sunday MLB on TBS” continues on June 27 with an interleague match-up when Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers visit Jason Heyward and the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field at 1:30 p.m. (ET). Justin Verlander is scheduled to pitch for the Tigers against the Braves’ probable starter Tommy Hanson. Steve Physioc (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst) and David Wells (analyst) will call the action.“Sunday MLB on TBS” includes match-ups on TBS every Sunday afternoon throughout the regular season. The network will also exclusively televise the MLB All-Star Selection Show on Sunday, July 4 at 12 p.m. (ET). Additionally, beginning in October TBS will once again provide exclusive coverage of the Division Series and the American League Championship Series (ALCS).TBS has broadcast MLB coverage for more than 30 years serving as the exclusive home of the MLB Division Series (DS) and one League Championship Series (LCS) since 2007 and home of Atlanta Braves coverage from 1977 to 2007.SUNDAY MLB ON TBS SCHEDULE:
Sun., June 271:30 p.m. Detroit Tigers @ Atlanta BravesAnnouncers: Steve Physioc (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst) and David Wells (analyst)SUNDAY MLB ON TBS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:Sun., July 412 p.m. MLB All-Star Selection Show Presented by Taco BellMatt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley (analyst), Cal Ripken (analyst) and David Wells (analyst)1 p.m. Toronto Blue Jays @ New York YankeesAnnouncers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Buck Martinez (analyst)Sun., July 111 p.m. Atlanta Braves @ New York MetsAnnouncers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Buck Martinez (analyst)
And ESPN also picks up Yankees-Dodgers for Sunday Night Baseball, but what about Monday and Wednesday?
Sunday Night Baseball (June 27)
New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers, 8 p.m.Commentators: Jon Miller, Joe Morgan and Orel HershiserESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Radio, ESPN3.com, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Mobile TVMonday Night Baseball (June 28)Washington Nationals at Atlanta Braves, 7 p.m.Commentators: Dave O’Brien, Aaron Boone, Rick SutcliffeESPN2, ESPN2 HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TVWednesday Night Baseball (June 30)New York Mets vs. Florida Marlins in San Juan, Puerto Rico, 7 p.m.Commentators: Jon Sciambi, Chris Singleton, Eduardo PerezESPN2, ESPN2 HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV
Here’s a quick blurb ESPN about its games.
Rookie Showdown — Heyward vs. Strasburg — on Monday Night Baseball; Torre’s Dodgers Hosts Yankees on Sunday Night Baseball”
Washington’s rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg is expected to start when the Nationals visit the first-place Atlanta Braves and rookie All-Star candidate Jason Heyward on Monday Night Baseball on June 28 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com. Dave O’Brien will call the game with analysts Rick Sutcliffe and Aaron Boone and reporter Tim Kurkjian.The Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre will face his former team, the New York Yankees, in an interleague matchup on Sunday Night Baseball, June 27 at 8 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV. Jon Miller will call the SNB telecast with analysts Joe Morgan and Orel Hershiser.Additionally, Wednesday Night Baseball (June 30) will be televised from Puerto Rico with the New York Mets and Florida Marlins at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com. Jon Sciambi will provide play-by-play with analysts Eduardo Perez and Chris Singleton and reporter Jaime Motta. Candy Maldonado will be a guest analyst in the booth. The game will be seen on ESPN networks in Florida.
And that’s it. Enjoy your baseball weekend.
