Fox Airs the 2013 American League Championship Series

Starting on Saturday, the American League Championship Series will begin in Boston. Fox Sports will air the series in its entirety as the Red Sox will take on either the Detroit Tigers or the Oakland Athletics.

Joe Buck and Tim McCarver will call their final League Championship Series together. Ken Rosenthal and Erin Andrews will be the field reporters.

Fox will utilize MLB Network’s Matt Vasgersian and Harold Reynolds as host and analyst. They’ll be joined by various analysts either in MLB Network’s studios in lovely Secaucus, NJ or from Fox Sports’ Hollywood headquarters.

Rollins will also be part of Fox Sports Live’s pre and postgame coverage of the ALCS. Let’s take a look at the Fox Sports press release.

MLB 2013 Postseason Logo 01FOX SPORTS FIELDS ALL-STAR LINEUP FOR 2013 MLB POSTSEASON COVERAGE

Cuddyer, Field, Kapler, Karros, Morosi, Pierzynski, Reynolds, Rollins & Vasgersian Contribute to Pre- and Post-Game Reports and Commentary On FOX and FOX SPORTS LIVE
Buck, McCarver, Rosenthal & Andrews Provide Game Coverage For FOX Sports’ 18th Postseason

Los Angeles – To complement its already potent veteran lineup, FOX Sports has assembled an All-Star roster of personalities to provide analysis and commentary for its most extensive on-air coverage yet of the American League Championship Series and World Series, it was announced today by FOX Sports Executive Producer John Entz and Scott Ackerson, Executive Vice President Studio Programming, FOX Sports. Coverage of ALCS Game 1 on FOX begins Saturday, Oct. 12 (7:30 PM ET), live from Fenway Park in Boston where the 97-win Red Sox host either the Detroit Tigers or Oakland Athletics.

“This year, with the addition of FOX Sports 1 to our coverage plans, we’ll be able to provide more postseason baseball coverage than ever before, and we’re extremely excited about the possibilities,” said Entz. “In order to be thorough, we’ve brought aboard championship-caliber players, former players and reporters we think will provide tremendous insight and analysis.”

Beginning with ALCS Games 1 & 2, 2013 National League batting champion Michael Cuddyer joins MLB on FOX pregame host Matt Vasgersian and analyst Harold Reynolds to provide pregame coverage, live from MLB Network’s Studio 42 in Secaucus, N.J. Gabe Kapler, a World Champion, MLB on FOX analyst Eric Karros and World Series winner Jimmy Rollins provide postgame analysis via satellite for FOX SPORTS LIVE. In addition to calling each game, Joe Buck and Tim McCarver are joined by reporters Ken Rosenthal and Erin Andrews, who contribute postgame analysis and interviews for FOX SPORTS LIVE. FOXSports.com’s veteran baseball writer Jon Paul Morosi provides reports and interviews nightly from the National League Championship Series. Pregame and postgame analysts for ALCS Game 3 and beyond are to be announced.

FOX Sports begins coverage of the 2013 World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from the American League Championship city. Buck and McCarver call their 16th and final World Series together, and are joined by Rosenthal who works his eighth World Series for FOX, while Andrews works her second. This year marks the network’s 18th straight as the television home for postseason baseball and the 2013 Fall Classic will be FOX’s 14th consecutive and 16th overall.

World Series Champion catcher AJ Pierzynski, who joins FOX Sports postseason coverage for a third straight year, teams with Vasgersian, Reynolds and Rollins for every World Series pregame and postgame show on FOX, live from each game site. Following each postgame show on FOX, Pierzynski and Rollins join anchor Ryan Field live from the ballpark for analysis on FOX SPORTS LIVE, with Kapler and Karros on-set in Los Angeles. Morosi teams with Rosenthal and Andrews to provide postgame interviews for FOX SPORTS LIVE and FOXSports.com.

FOX Sports 1 presents a special pregame edition of FOX SPORTS LIVE prior to World Series weekday coverage (Games 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7) on the FOX network. Field, Pierzynski and Rollins offer special reports and up to the minute news.

“Our goal with FOX SPORTS LIVE is to present the viewer with unmatched analysis, player-access and commentary,” said Ackerson. “And with three World Series Champions who combine to have over 134 games of postseason experience, and the best MLB reporters in the business, we can assure viewers this team will literally cover all the bases.”

As part of MLB Postseason coverage on FOX Sports Digital platforms, Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon McCarthy participates in live interactive chats throughout the ALCS, NLCS and World Series on FOXSports.com, and Kapler hosts weekly FOX Sports Facebook Q&As with fans. Rosenthal and Morosi provide on-site analysis and features.

MLB 2013 ALCS LogoALCS ON FOX BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Schedule Subject to Change/All Times Eastern

Saturday, October 12  — GAME 1 at Fenway Park, Boston, MA, 7:30 PM
Sunday, October 13 — GAME 2 at Fenway Park, Boston, MA, 8:00 PM
Tuesday, October 15 — GAME 3 at Detroit, MI or Oakland, CA, 3:30 PM
Wednesday, October 16 — GAME 4 at Detroit, MI or Oakland, CA, 7:30 PM
*Thursday, October 17 — GAME 5 at Detroit, MI or Oakland, CA, 7:30 PM
*Saturday, October 19 — GAME 6 at Fenway Park, Boston, MA, 4:00 PM**
*Sunday, October 20 — GAME 7 at Fenway Park, Boston, MA, 7:00 PM

* If necessary
** Moves to 7:30 PM ET if the NLCS has concluded

MLB 2013 World Series Logo109th WORLD SERIES ON FOX BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Wednesday, October 23 — GAME 1 at American League City
Thursday, October 24 — GAME 2 at American League City
Saturday, October 26 — GAME 3 at National League City
Sunday, October 27 — GAME 4 at National League City
*Monday, October 28 — GAME 5 at National League City
*Wednesday, October 30 — GAME 6 at American League City
*Thursday, October 31 — GAME 7 at American League City

* If necessary 

MLB on FoxFOX SPORTS MLB POSTSEASON ANALYST ROSTER

Michael Cuddyer – (ALCS ON FOX)

Cuddyer is the first baseman and right fielder for the Colorado Rockies. The two-time All-Star started his career with the Minnesota Twins, spending a decade with the squad. Just last month, Cuddyer became the sixth Colorado player to win the National League batting title.

AJ Pierzynski – (WORLD SERIES ON FOX)

Pierzynski is a catcher for the Texas Rangers. He made his debut in 1998 with the Minnesota Twins, earning a spot on the American League All-Star Team as a reserve in 2002, and winning the American League Division Series that same year. He spent a season with the San Francisco Giants before signing with the Chicago White Sox in 2005, where he won the World Series and earned his second All-Star appearance. Pierzynski won a Silver Slugger Award in 2012 as the best catcher in the American League and holds the record for consecutive errorless chances with 962, breaking Yogi Berra’s record of 950 set in 1959.

Jimmy Rollins – (FOX SPORTS LIVE; WORLD SERIES ON FOX)

Nicknamed “J-Roll,” he is widely recognized as one of the greatest shortstops in the National League. He was the 2007 NL Most Valuable Player and has three All-Star appearances to his name during his career with the Philadelphia Phillies. He became the first player in MLB history to collect at least 200 hits, 15 triples, 25 homers and 25 stolen bases in one season and owns the record for most at bats in a season with 716. In 2007, Rollins joined the 20-20-20 club (doubles/triples/home runs in a single season) as well as the 30-30 (home runs and stolen bases in a single season) club. He won the World Series with the Phillies the next season.

Gabe Kapler – (FOX SPORTS LIVE)

Kapler was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1995 and made his Major League Baseball debut in 1998.  In 1999, he hit 18 home runs in just over 400 at-bats, placing him third among American League rookies.  Kapler’s 10 home runs in his first 64 games were the fastest by a Detroit rookie since 1954, a mark that stood until 2008. Playing for the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 World Series, Kapler was one of nine players on the field when the Red Sox won their first World Series title in 86 years.  He earned the Play of the Year Award in 2008, as voted upon by more than 12 million fans in MLB’s This Year in Baseball Awards, for a head-first, home run-saving catch into the left-field seats that helped the Milwaukee Brewers retain a one-run lead.

Eric Karros – (FOX SPORTS LIVE)

Karros is a former Major League Baseball player who spent the majority of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Following his debut in 1991, he was awarded the National League Rookie of the Year in 1992 after appearing in 149 games with 20 home runs and 88 runs. His career sacrifice flies and home runs still lead the Dodgers’ boards, with 74 and 270, respectively.  Karros also has the second-most career home runs for any player in MLB history who never made an All-Star Game appearance. He lent his voice to several MLB video games and works as a commentator, calling FOX Saturday Baseball games with Thom Brennaman.

There you have it.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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