Tonight, Fox continues Baseball Night in America with five games. It’ll be led by Boston at the Chicago Cubs in Wrigley Field. Other games including the battle of Florida between the Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays and the battle of Texas between the Rangers and Astros.
Joe Buck has worked every primetime game thus far and he will be in Chicago tonight. It marks the 9th game in 11 weeks thus far and I believe this is a record to date. Normally, it’ll be 6 out of 11 or 5 out of 11. Now it’s 9 out of 11, although I’m sure when this primetime stretch is done, he’ll be taking the rest of the season off to fulfill his 13 weeks.
We have the Fox lineup for you.
FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
Legendary Franchises Battle Saturday Night in Wrigley as Red Sox Take on Cubs
MLB Rookies Harper & Trout Should Represent Leagues in All-Star Game Says RosenthalBASEBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA – Interleague play continues in primetime during BASEBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA Saturday, June 16 at 7:00 PM ET. Two of MLB’s longest-standing clubs face-off in Chicago as David Ortiz and the Red Sox take on the Cubs. Joe Buck, Tim McCarver and Ken Rosenthal call the action from Wrigley Field. In the lone intra-league matchup of the weekend, David Wright and the Mets host N.L. first baseman leading vote-getter Joey Votto and the Reds. Buck Showalter’s Orioles, one of the surprises of the season, take on the Braves and their balanced lineup led by Michael Bourn, Martin Prado and Dan Uggla. The all-Texas matchup takes place in Arlington as Josh Hamilton, who leads A.L. All-Star balloting with almost 4 million votes and the Rangers host the Astros. Also, the second round of the Citrus Series kicks into high gear as Jose Reyes and the Marlins travel to St. Petersburg to battle the Rays.
Coverage begins with the BASEBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA PREGAME SHOW, originating live from MLB Network’s state-of-the-art Studio 3 in Secaucus, NJ. The show is hosted by MLB Network studio host Matt Vasgersian, who is joined by analysts Mitch Williams and Eric Byrnes.
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.
Boston Red Sox at Chicago Cubs — Joe Buck, Tim McCarver & Ken Rosenthal, going to 39% of USA
Wrigley Field – Chicago, IL
MARKETS INCLUDE: Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Hartford, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland, Providence, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle
Probable Pitchers: TBA vs. TBACincinnati Reds at New York Mets — Thom Brennaman & Sean Casey, going to 21%
Citi Field – Flushing, NY
MARKETS INCLUDE: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis
Probable Pitchers: Homer Bailey, RHP (4-4, 4.35 ERA) vs. Jon Niese, LHP (4-2, 3.69 ERA)Baltimore Orioles at Atlanta Braves — Kenny Albert & Billy Ripken, going to 17% of USA
Turner Field – Miami, FL
MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, Norfolk, Raleigh, Washington
Probable Pitchers: TBA vs. Brandon Beachy, RHPHouston Astros at Texas Rangers — Dick Stockton & Tom Verducci, going to 14% of USA
PNC Park – Pittsburgh, PA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Austin, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Tulsa
Probable Pitchers: TBA vs. TBAMiami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays — Rich Waltz & Brian Anderson, going to 8% of USA
Tropicana Field – St. Petersburg, FL
MARKETS INCLUDE: Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, New Orleans, Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach
Probable Pitchers: Anibal Sanchez, RHP (3-5, 3.40 ERA) vs. James Shields, RHP (7-4, 4.06 ERA)ROSENTHAL: HAVING HARPER, TROUT AT ALL-STAR GAME WOULD BE WORTH EVERY PENNY – The 2012 MLB season has seen an infusion of young talent that the league hasn’t seen in years. Leading the surge are the Nationals’ phenom Bryce Harper and the Angels’ Mike Trout. Not only does MLB on FOX & FOXSports.com reporter Ken Rosenthal see both of them representing their leagues at the MLB All-Star Game on FOX (July 10, 7:30 PM ET), but leading the sport for years to come. “The Angels’ Mike Trout is a definite All-Star, and the Nationals’ Bryce Harper should be in the game, too,” Rosenthal writes. “We are talking, quite possibly, about a baseball version of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, two once-in-a-generation players we’ll be comparing for the next 20 years. There is no other way to say it: Something will be terribly wrong if the two prodigies do not represent their respective leagues in Kansas City, MO.”
To read more on Trout and Harper from Rosenthal, click here: http://on-msn.com/KMtQUg
HAMILTON LEADS ALL-STAR GAME VOTE-GETTERS BY WIDE MARGIN – With less than four weeks before first pitch of Major League Baseball’s 83rd Mid-Summer Classic, airing Tuesday, July 10(7:30 PM ET) on FOX, Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton leads all Major League players with a whopping 3.8 million votes. Hamilton is poised to become the first outfielder to start in five consecutive All-Star Games since Ichiro Suzuki (2006-10). Six-time All-Star and Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter trails him in second place for the American League. In the National League, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp is currently the leading vote-getter with over 2.5 million votes. Kemp, who looks set to make his second straight start in the All-Star Game, is followed by Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto.
Fans can vote for their hometown superstar and get more information on this year’s ballots, by visiting www.allstargame.com or www.royals.com/asg Spanish-language ballots are also available at www.lasmayores.com.
That’s it. Enjoy your Saturday.
