Baseball On Your TV This Weekend

We have plenty of baseball for you this weekend. And quite a few press releases regarding the games you’ll see on the various MLB TV partners.

As usual, we begin with Fox Sports and the games it’ll cover. Joe Buck returns to work with Tim McCarver this weekend and it’s the third game for the Buckmeister in a span of four weeks. Not bad thus far. And look at the bottom of this release as Fox announces that local announcers will be used for a half inning each for the Texas-Seattle game.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

MLB & NASCAR Doubleheader This Saturday at Special 3:00 PM ET Start Time

McCarver: Manuel Deserves Credit for Mets Impressive Turnaround

Local Broadcasting Legends Take Over The MLB on FOX Game of the Week In The Emerald City This Saturday

NL EAST RIVALS DO BATTLE IN PHILLY – The FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK kicks off FOX Sports’ MLB-to-NASCAR doubleheader with three enticing matchups Saturday, May 1 (3:00 PM ET). Fresh off a successful homestand, David Wright and the Mets head into Philadelphia to take on Ryan Howard and the three-time defending NL East Champion Phillies. In Seattle, one of the games best pitchers, Felix Hernandez, leads the Mariners against AL West rival Rangers. Also, rookie sensation Jason Heyward and the Braves welcome the Astros to Atlanta. This week, the pregame show originates live from Safeco Field in Seattle, WA with host Chris Rose.  Once game action begins, Rose joins the game crew including Josh Lewin and Eric Karros as a field reporter.

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 Mets at Philadelphia Phillies, Joe Buck, Tim McCarver & Ken Rosenthal, going to 70% of USA

Citizen’s Bank Park – Philadelphia, PA

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Albuquerque, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Fort Myers, Hartford, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York, Norfolk, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, St. Louis, Tampa, Washington, West Palm Beach

Probable Pitchers: Mike Pelfrey, RHP (4-0, 0.69 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay, RHP (4-1, 1.80 ERA)

Houston Astros at Atlanta Braves, Kenny Albert & Mark Grace, going to 19% of USA

Turner Field – Atlanta, GA

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Houston, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans, Raleigh, San Antonio

Probable Pitchers:  Wandy Rodriguez, LHP (1-2, 3.65 ERA) vs. Tim Hudson, RHP (1-1, 3.28 ERA)

Texas Rangers at Seattle Mariners, Josh Lewin & Eric Karros, going to 10% of USA

Safeco Field – Seattle, WA

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Dallas, Oklahoma City, Portland, Seattle, Tulsa

Probable Pitchers:  Matt Harrison, LHP (0-1, 5.48 ERA) vs. Felix Hernandez, RHP (2-1, 2.23 ERA)

DON’T LIKE THE NL EAST STANDINGS? WAIT FIVE MINUTES, THEY’LL CHANGE – Just last week, the 2010 Mets seemed hopelessly doomed for another disappointing season. Now after ripping off seven straight wins, ‘The Amazins’ are sitting atop the NL East looking ahead to a critical series against their division rival and defending NL champion Philadelphia Phillies. MLB on FOX lead analyst Tim McCarver calls Saturday’s contest and talks about the Mets impressive turnaround. “Getting Jose Reyes back as soon as they did was very important from a physiological stand point because he is a real catalyst to their offense. Mike Pelfrey has just been sensational and Johan Santana has just been his elegant, talented self and has pitched very well. Ike Davis appears to be a young man with his head on right but you’re not going to be able to replace a whole team so the guys that are struggling have to get straightened out to be successful. Even with his troubles, you can see how much teams respect David Wright and what he can do defensively and offensively when things are right. Jerry Manuel deserves a lot of credit for getting this team back on track. New York was just waiting to lower the boom when the season started and he’s been able to right the ship for now.”

LOCAL BROADCASTING LEGENDS TAKE OVER THE MLB ON FOX GAME OF THE WEEK IN THE EMERALD CITY THIS SATURDAY – During this weekend’s Rangers/Mariners game featured on the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK some local legends who combined for nearly 65 years of baseball broadcasting experience take over center stage. Mariners’ radio play-by-play announcer Dave Niehaus calls the bottom of the 4^th inning and Rangers basebal
l voice Eric Nadel is behind the mike for the top of the 5^th inning. Each legendary broadcaster will have the game turned over during that half inning to their respective radio broadcasts. Niehaus has called Mariners games since the clubs’ inception in 1977 and is inducted in the broadcaster’s wing of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  Nadel was hired by the Rangers in 1979 and was behind the mike for Nolan Ryan’s 5000^th career strikeout and the Rangers‘ major league record 30-run outburst in August 2007. He is a member of the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame.

More stuff coming up after the jump.

Now, let’s take a look at what MLB Network will air this Saturday and for the week ahead.

MLB Network Live Game Schedule for May 1-8 Features St. Louis Cardinals at Philadelphia Phillies & New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox

Secaucus, N.J., April 29, 2010 – MLB Network today announced its live game schedule for May 1 – 8. The schedule begins with Saturday Night Baseball on May 1 at 8:30 p.m. ET when the Milwaukee Brewers visit the San Diego Padres.

MLB Network will air two MLB Matinee games during the week, starting with an AL East matchup between the Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees on Wednesday, May 5 at 1:00 p.m. ET, followed by the St. Louis Cardinals at Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, May 6 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Later that evening, MLB Network’s Bob Costas and John Smoltz will call the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Boston Red Sox on May 6 at 7:00 p.m. ET as part of Thursday Night Baseball.

Rounding out the week, AL East rivals New York Yankees will visit the Boston Red Sox during a special Friday night matchup on MLB Network on May 7 at 7:00 p.m. ET while AL West rivals Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim face the Seattle Mariners on Saturday Night Baseball on May 8 at 9:00 p.m. ET.

MLB Tonight, MLB Network’s Emmy Award-winning signature nightly studio show, will air live at 6:00 p.m. ET on May 3-5 and before and after Thursday Night Baseball and the Yankees at Red Sox matchup on May 7. MLB Tonight airs each weeknight until the final MLB game of the night ends, featuring live look-ins of games in progress, updates, highlights, reporting and analysis.  

Game telecasts other than Thursday Night Baseball will be carriage of local telecasts, including local announcers. Games will be blacked out in each team’s home television territory. Viewers in areas subject to blackouts will be provided with an alternate game telecast or other programming.

MLB Network’s live game schedule for May 1-8 2010 appears below.

MLB Network’s May 1-8 live game schedule:

* Indicates game produced by MLB Network

All times ET and subject to change, check MLBNetwork.com for updates

Unless otherwise announced, games will be blacked out in each club’s home television territory

Date               Time               Game

May 1           8:30 p.m.      Milwaukee @ San Diego

                    7:00 p.m.      Washington @ Florida (only in Milwaukee & San Diego markets)

May 5           1:00 p.m.      Baltimore @ New York Yankees

May 6           1:00 p.m.      St. Louis @ Philadelphia  

7:00 p.m.*     Los Angeles Angels @ Boston – Bob Costas & John Smoltz

7:00 p.m.      Chicago Cubs @ Pittsburgh (only in Los Angeles & Boston markets)

May 7           7:00 p.m.      New York Yankees @ Boston

                   7:00 p.m.      St. Louis @ Pittsburgh (only in New York & Boston markets)

May 8            9:00 p.m.     Los Angeles Angels @ Seattle

                   8:00 p.m.      Kansas City @ Texas (only in Los Angeles & Seattle markets)

This is what TBS is showing Sunday afternoon.

The New York Yankees host the Chicago White Sox on “Sunday MLB on TBS”

Cy Young Award Winner John Smoltz Joins the TBS Booth as an Analyst

“Sunday MLB on TBS” continues on April 25 with a match-up featuri
ng Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees hosting Paul Konerko and the Chicago White Sox at 1 p.m. (ET).  Phil Hughes is scheduled to start for the Yankees against the White Sox probable starter Mark Buehrle. Eight-time NL All-Star and winner of the 1996 Cy Young Award, John Smoltz will join the TBS booth as an analyst for the first time during the regular season and will be joined by Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Ron Darling (analyst) to 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. 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., May 2

1 p.m.                      Chicago White Sox @ New York Yankees

Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst) and John Smoltz (analyst)

SUNDAY MLB ON TBS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

Sun., May 9

1:30 p.m.                 Atlanta Braves @ Philadelphia Phillies

Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Ron Darling (analyst)

Sun., May 16

1 p.m.                      Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees

Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Buck Martinez (analyst) and David Wells (analyst)

That will do us for the time being.

UPDATE, 11:50 a.m.: I have ESPN’s schedule for Sunday and Monday Night Baseball. Again, the Mets are involved for Sunday.

ESPN’s Sunday and Monday Night Baseball

ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball will showcase a National League East rivalry when the Philadelphia Phillies and Ryan Howard host the New York Mets and Jose Reyes on May 2, at 8 p.m. ET.  Jon Miller will host with analysts Joe Morgan and Orel Hershiser. The game will also be available via ESPN Radio (Jon Sciambi and Dave Campbell), ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV.

ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball on May 3 will pit Boston Red Sox and the visiting Los Angeles Angels at 7 p.m. The ESPN telecast will be available in the Los Angeles market. The game will also be available via ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV

Now we’re done.