Let’s go over the games this weekend. With the Red Sox and Yankees squaring off in a wraparound eries, three out of the four games will be on national TV. Instead of using their own announcers on Thursday Night Baseball, MLB Network’s Bob Costas and Jim Kaat will call Friday night’s Red Sox-Yankees game in the Bronx. In New York and Boston, MLB Network airs another game.
August 6 – 7:00 p.m., Boston at New York Yankees – Bob Costas & Jim KaatAugust 6 – 7:00 p.m., Anaheim Angels at Detroit [Only in Boston & New York markets]
Now to Fox Saturday Baseball and there will be two games aired. Red Sox-Yankees is the game going to most of the country. Joe Buck returns after a couple of weeks off and it means that he’ll have worked 13 out of a possible 18 games for Fox this season. I’m thinking this one will be his last MLB game until the postseason.
FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
Yankees/Red Sox Square-Off on FOX Saturday Baseball Game of the WeekRosenthal: A-Rod’s 600th Lifts Pressure Off Entire Yankees TeamYANKS-BOSOX FACE-OFF IN THE BRONX – In the midst of the dog days of summer, FOX Sports presents two intriguing matchups on Saturday, August 7 (4:00 PM ET) as part of the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK. The newest member of the 600-HR Club, Alex Rodriguez leads the Yankees in battle against their long-time rivals, the Boston Red Sox. After waiting 46 at bats, the 7th all-time leading home run hitter added to his long list of accomplishments today against the Blue Jays. In Oakland, Josh Hamilton and the AL West-leading Rangers take on the A’s. This week, the pregame show originates live from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx with host Chris Rose. Once game action begins, Rose joins the game crew including Joe Buck and Tim McCarver 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.
Boston Red at New York Yankees, Joe Buck, Tim McCarver & Ken Rosenthal, going to 86% of USAYankee Stadium – Bronx, NYMARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm BeachProbable Pitchers: TBA vs. CC Sabathia, RHP (13-5, 3.19 ERA)Texas Rangers at Oakland A’s, Josh Lewin & Eric Karros, going to 13% of USAOakland Alameda County Coliseum – Oakland, CAMARKETS INCLUDE: Austin, Dallas, Houston, Oklahoma City, Sacramento, San Antonio, San FranciscoProbable Pitchers: Rich Harden. RHP (4-3, 5.25 ERA) vs. Gio Gonzalez, LHP (9-7, 3.69 ERA)With the AL East race heating up and the Red Sox at Yankees taking center stage on FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK, MLB on FOX’s Ken Rosenthal looks at the current state of the Red Sox and Yankees.KEN ROSENTHAL: NO ONE SHOULD COUNT OUT THE RED SOX – “More and more, it looks as if this just isn’t the Red Sox’s year,” said Rosenthal. “Jacoby Ellsbury came back Wednesday, but the Sox are still trudging forward without their two best players, Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia, as well as Mike Cameron. No one should count out the Sox – baseball is unpredictable. Boston is a very good team even when depleted and stranger things have happened. Still, this series against the Yankees will be significant. The Red Sox need to avoid getting buried.”KEN ROSENTHAL: YANKEES HAVE BEEN IN A LULL; NEEDED A-ROD’S 600th HOME RUN – “The Yankees have gone through a lull of late, but perhaps A- Rod‘s 600th home run will liberate not just for Rodriguez, but also the entire team,” said Rosenthal. “The chase was A-Rod‘s alone, but it seemed to weigh on everyone. The Yankees are not without questions – A.J. Burnett, setup relief and even Derek Jeter’s sub-par performance of late. However, they remain one of the best teams in baseball, and the new addition of Lance Berkman in particular, should only help.”
Here is what MLB Network is airing Saturday night and don’t forget, these are the home broadcasters feeds.
August 7 – 7:00 p.m., New York Mets at Philadelphia PhilliesAugust 7 – 7:00 p.m., San Francisco at Atlanta [In select markets]
The Sunday games on TBS and ESPN are after the jump.
Starting on Sunday, TBS returns to its Atlanta Braves roots for the next two Sundays. This weekend, the former Superstation airs the Giants-Braves game.
It’s a Battle of East vs. West on “Sunday MLB on TBS” with San Francisco Giants @ Atlanta Braves“Sunday MLB on TBS” continues on August 8 when Jason Heyward and the Atlanta Braves host Aubrey Huff and the San Francisco Giants at Turner Field at 1:30 p.m. (ET). Jonathan Sanchez is scheduled to pitch for the Giants against the Braves’ probable starter Derek Lowe. Dick Stockton will call play-by-play alongside analyst Buck Martinez.“Sunday MLB on TBS” includes match-ups on TBS every Sunday afternoon throughout the regular season. The network will also begin providing exclusive coverage of the Division Series and the American League Championship Series (ALCS) in October 2010.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.Sun., August 81:30 p.m. San Francisco Giants @ Atlanta BravesAnnouncers: Dick Stockton (play-by-play) and Buck Martinez (analyst)SUNDAY MLB ON TBS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:Sun., August 151:30 p.m. Los Angeles Dodgers @ Atlanta BravesAnnouncers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Dennis Eckersley (analyst)
And Sunday night, ESPN airs Red Sox-Yankees and we have the schedule for Monday and Wednesday Night Baseball.
Sunday Night Baseball (Aug. 8)
Boston at N.Y. Yankees at 8 p.m. ET
(ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV)
Commentators: Jon Miller, Joe Morgan, Orel HershiserMonday Night Baseball (Aug. 9)
St. Louis at Cincinnati at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV)
Commentators: Dan Shulman, Aaron Boone, Nomar Garciaparra
* full national telecast, co-existing with local coverage in St. Louis and Cincinnati
Wednesday Night Baseball (Aug. 11)
N.Y. Yankees at Texas at 8 p.m. ET
(ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV)
Commentators: Dave O’Brien, Rick Sutcliffe
* ESPNEWS will be seen in team markets
There is your MLB schedule for this weekend and beyond.