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ESPN Radio Assigns Its Crews For The MLB Postseason

ESPN Radio which has the rights to the entire MLB Postseason has provided its announcing crews for the Wild Card games all the way to the World Series.

The main crew will be Dan Shulman and Orel Hershiser. They’ll begin with the AL Wild Card Game, call the American League Division Series involving the New York Yankees, then the American League Championship Series and through to the Fall Classic.

The ESPN Radio Sunday Night Baseball crew of Jon Sciambi and Chris Singleton will be the other team and they’ll be on the National League side starting with the Wild Card and NLDS. Terry Francona will join Boog Sciambi on the NLCS.

Wednesday Night Baseball announcer and Boston Red Sox radio voice Dave O’Brien will be teamed with Aaron Boone on one American League Division Series.

And the combination of SNY’s Gary Cohen and Chris Berman will call one National League Division Series with Rick Sutcliffe.

Here’s the ESPN Radio press release.

ESPN Radio to Nationally Broadcast Every 2012 MLB Postseason Game

Around-The-Clock Postseason Coverage across Baseball Tonight, SportsCenter & ESPN.com

ESPN Radio – in its 15^th consecutive season as the exclusive national home of the Major League Baseball postseason – will broadcast every 2012 MLB postseason game. Coverage will begin with the two inaugural Wild Card games Friday, Oct. 5, and continue with all four League Division Series, both League Championship Series and exclusive coverage of the 108^th World Series – starting Oct. 24. Here is the full 2012 MLB postseason schedule.

ESPN Radio round-by-round commentators – coverage start times will be available on ESPNRadio.com

Series	Teams	Commentators
AL Wild Card (Oct. 5)	Baltimore Orioles – Texas Rangers	Dan Shulman/Orel Hershiser
NL Wild Card (Oct. 5)	St. Louis Cardinals – Atlanta Braves	Jon Sciambi/Chris Singleton
ALDS	Detroit Tigers – Oakland Athletics	Dave O’Brien/Aaron Boone
ALDS	New York – Baltimore/Texas	Dan Shulman/Orel Hershiser
NLDS	San Francisco Giants – Cincinnati Reds	Gm.’s 1-2: Gary Cohen/Rick Sutcliffe Gm.’s 3-5: Chris Berman/Rick Sutcliffe
NLDS	Washington Nationals – San Francisco/Cincinnati	Jon Sciambi/Chris Singleton
ALCS	TBD – TBD	Dan Shulman/Orel Hershiser
NLCS	TBD – TBD	Jon Sciambi/Terry Francona
World Series	NLCS Winner – ALCS Winner	Dan Shulman/Orel Hershiser

ESPN Deportes Radio will broadcast both League Championship Series and the World Series. ESPN Deportes Radio commentators Eduardo Ortega, Renato Bermudez, Jose Francisco Rivera, Enrique Rojas, Pedro Garcia and Cristian Fermin Moreno will combine to describe the LCS action, while Ortega, Bermudez, Rivera and Rojas will call the World Series.

Baseball Tonight, SportsCenter & ESPN.com
ESPN will provide around-the-clock coverage of the 2012 MLB postseason across additional platforms, including Baseball Tonight, SportsCenter, ESPN.com and WatchESPN. MLB commentators appearing across platforms include Francona, Hershiser, Barry Larkin, John Kruk, Curt Schilling, Nomar Garciaparra, Karl Ravech, Boone, Sutcliffe, Mark Mulder, Jose Cruz, Jr., Buster Olney, Tim Kurkjian, Pedro Gomez, Jayson Stark, Jerry Crasnick, Jim Caple, Jim Bowden and more.

• Baseball Tonight: featuring breaking news, extensive highlights, exclusive interviews and analysis from ESPN’s deep roster of MLB commentators during the postseason.
• SportsCenter: in-depth coverage of the 2012 MLB postseason, including game highlights, on-location reports from game sites, manager and player interviews, and appearances by ESPN MLB commentators throughout the day.
• ESPN.com: new-look MLB postseason page with scoreboard design, special series pages, onsite reporters, live chats, Baseball Tonight video analysis, expert predictions, scouting reports, stats and info reports, Twitter feeds, and photo galleries. In addition, special features will include The Josh Hamilton Paradox, Moment in Time (Sid Bream’s slide in 1992), Second Guessing and more.

MLB postseason coverage on Baseball Tonight and SportsCenter is also available on WatchESPN.

There you have it.

TBS Assigns Announcing Crews To Wild Card Games & Two League Division Series

Turner Sports has sent the announcing assignments for the Wild Card games on Friday and Games 1 of two League Division Series on Saturday.

The crew featuring Brian Anderson, Ron Darling and Joe Simpson will be working back-to-back games in two different time zones on Friday and Saturday. They’ll call the National League Wild Card Game at 5:07 p.m. ET between St. Louis and Atlanta. Then they’ll board a plane and head to the Bay Area to call Game 1 of the National League Division Series between Cincinnati and San Francisco on Saturday at 9:37 p.m. Tom Verducci will be the field reporter for both games.

For the American League Wild Card Game, Ernie Johnson, Jr., Cal Ripken and John Smoltz will be in Arlington, TX for the Baltimore Orioles-Texas Rangers contest at 8:37 p.m. You’ll see Craig Sager and his loud wardrobe on the field.

And on Saturday, Game 1 of the Oakland-Detroit American League Division Series will be called by Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez. Jaime Maggio will roam the field for stories.

In the studio, you’ll have Matt Winer as host and he’ll be joined by Dennis Eckersley and David Wells.

For the particulars, check out the TBS press release below.

TBS Announces Commentators for MLB Wild Card Games and Division Series

Postseason.TV Returns for 2012 MLB Postseason

TBS’s coverage of the 2012 MLB Postseason will begin with the exclusive presentation of the first-ever Wild Card on Friday, Oct. 5, a doubleheader featuring the Atlanta Braves hosting the St. Louis Cardinals at 5 p.m. ET and the Baltimore Orioles visiting the Texas Rangers at 8:30 p.m.

Brian Anderson will provide play-by-play commentary for Cardinals/Braves with analysts Ron Darling and Joe Simpson and reporter Tom Verducci. Ernie Johnson will call Orioles/Rangers with analysts John Smoltz and Cal Ripken, Jr., and reporter Craig Sager. Matt Winer will host the MLB On-Deck pregame show with analysts Dennis Eckersley and David Wells at 4:30 p.m.

Following are the commentator pairings through the opening days of the MLB Postseason:

Date	Time (ET)	Games/Commentator Teams
Friday, Oct. 5	4:30 p.m.	MLB On-Deck Matt Winer, Dennis Eckersley and David Wells
	5 p.m.	N.L. Wild Card Game: St. Louis at Atlanta Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, Joe Simpson and Tom Verducci
	8:30 p.m.	A.L. Wild Card Game: Baltimore at Texas Ernie Johnson, John Smoltz, Cal Ripken and Craig Sager
	Post-game	Inside MLB
Saturday, Oct. 6	5:30 p.m.	MLB On-Deck Winer, Eckersley and Wells
	6 p.m.	ALDS, Game 1: Oakland at Detroit Don Orsillo, Buck Martinez and Jaime Maggio
	9:30 p.m.	NLDS, Game 1: Cincinnati at San Franciso Anderson, Darling, Simpson and Verducci
	Post-game	Inside MLB Winer, Eckersley and Well

Postseason.TV Returns for 2012 MLB Postseason
TBS and MLB Advanced Media will once again collaborate to bring fans additional access to the MLB Postseason (Wild Card, ALDS, NLDS and ALCS) with the return of Postseason.TV, a digital companion video product which complements TBS’ game telecasts.  The subscription-based Postseason.TV, available for a one-time fee of $4.99, will stream up to 12 alternate camera angels live for every game televised by TBS allowing fans to customize their online viewing experience. Postseason.TV will be available through MLB.com and its At Bat 12 app for mobile phones and tablet devices. Subscribers can watch one camera angle or view up to four different cameras simultaneously through a mosaic display.

Additional online coverage of the MLB Postseason can be found via Bleacher Report including game highlights, news and information.

Sunday’s assignments will be posted as they become available.

MLB Wild Card Playoff Game Start Times

We’ve been waiting for the start times for the start times for the first-ever MLB Wild Card Playoff Games which will be played Friday. TBS will air both contests. Don’t have announcing assignments yet, but I’m sure they will be coming soon.

Here’s how they shape up.

NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD GAME

St. Louis at Atlanta — TBS, 5:07 p.m.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD GAME

Baltimore at Texas — TBS, 8:37 p.m.

When we get an official announcement from TBS, I’ll post it here.

UPDATE, 10:52 p.m.: Expect Brian Anderson, Ron Darling and Joe Simpson to call St. Louis at Atlanta. And we should see Ernie Johnson, Jr., Cal Ripken and John Smoltz on O’s-Texas.

Bringing Out Some Wednesday Links For You

Time for some linkage in this mid-week and last day of the 2012 MLB regular season. Lots of things to get to.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand analyzes the new MLB TV deals with Fox and Turner.

Nate Davis of USA Today’s Game On blog previews tonight’s NFL Network “A Football Life” documentary.

John Ourand and David Broughton of Sports Business Journal report on this season’s local MLB TV ratings.

Eriq Gardner of the Hollywood Reporter has a Fox Sports executive being very bullish on soccer.

Alex Ben Block of the Reporter goes over the MLB contracts with Fox and Turner.

John Eggerton of Broadcasting & Cable writes that the American Cable Association, which hates everything, is railing against the MLB TV deals.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News also delves into the new MLB deals.

Mike says Monday night’s Chicago Bears-Dallas Cowboys game garnered cable’s third biggest audience of the year.

Kristian Dyer at Yahoo’s Shutdown Corner blog notes that Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones has apologized for an unintentional insensitive tweet responding to the paralyzed Eric LeGrand.

Spiracle Media through Storify harnessed some tweets from athletes who watched the extremely fascinating 30 for 30 documentary, “Broke” on ESPN.

Ed Sherman from The Sherman Report anticipates Fox’s next move to create an all-sports cable channel.

Ken Kerschbaumer of Sports Video Group looks at PGA.com’s video coverage of the Ryder Cup.

ESPN’s Darren Rovell explores the NFL financial advisory program in hopes of preventing athletes from going broke.

NFL referee Ed Hochuli is on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated.

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe explores the latest Arbitron ratings for the city’s sports radio stations.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times looks at the new MLB TV deals.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has the Week 6 college football TV schedule.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog notes that ESPN’s and former DC sports reporter Lindsay Czarniak celebrated the Nationals on SportsCenter.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner writes about the new MLB TV deals.

Mel Bracht of The Oklahoman says last Saturday’s Texas-Oklahoma State game registered huge local ratings.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mark Dawidziak tells us that former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel will be joining a local TV station as a weekly contributor. Thanks to The Big Lead for the link.

Bob Wolfley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says a local sports anchor will not face charges stemming from a domestic violence case.

Howie Magner of Milwaukee Magazine profiles Trenni Kusnierek, now of Comcast SportsNet New England, on her battle with depression.

Robert Feder of TimeOut Chicago writes that the Bulls have renewed their Spanish radio rights (scroll down).

Paul M. Banks at Chicago Sports Media Watch has a full story on the Bulls’ renewal.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says the new TV deals with Fox and Turner gives MLB plenty of stability into the next decade.

James Mirtle of the Toronto Globe and Mail notes that CBC’s Don Cherry is blasting the Maple Leafs for their treatment of one of their players.

Bruce Dowbiggin from the Globe and Mail notes that the MLB Postseason will have teams from both small and big markets.

Cork Gaines at the Business Insider Sports Page has some memorable quotes from last night’s 30 for 30 “Broke” documentary.

John Daly at the Daly Planet explores the possibilities for the much discussed, but unconfirmed Fox Sports 1.

Joe Favorito says College Radio Day is a very good thing for aspiring broadcasters.

The legend of Australian hurdler Michelle Jenneke is growing thanks to a new animated gif showing her warming up in the rain. This has nothing to do with sports media. Just me linking to Michelle Jenneke.

And that is all.

TBS Unveils The Announcing Crews for the 2012 MLB Postseason

With the rights to the two Wild Card Playoff games, along with rights to the entire League Division Series (albeit for two games that go to MLB Network) and the American League Championship Series, Turner Sports has made public the announcing assignments for the 2012 MLB Postseason.

One change from the studio crew. Cal Ripken, Jr. moves from the studio to joining Ernie Johnson, Jr. and John Smoltz for one Wild Card game and one LDS. Brian Anderson will be the part of the other main team joined by Joe Simpson and Ron Darling. Other teams for the LDS will Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly. NESN’s Don Orsillo heads back to the postseason to be joined by Buck Martinez. Nice to have EJ back after he was away last year tending to family business.

On-field reporters will be Jaime Maggio, David Aldridge, Tom Verducci and Craig Sager.

The studio crew will have Matt Winer, Dennis Eckersley and David Wells.

We’ll find out which announcing teams will be assigned to which series when we discover the matchups. Here’s the Turner Sports press release.

2012 MLB Postseason Begins Exclusively on TBS with First-EverWild Card Games on Friday, October 5

TBS’ Exclusive MLB Postseason Coverage Includes up to 18 Division Series Games and the ALCS

TBS will offer extensive coverage of the 2012 MLB Postseason beginning with the exclusive presentation of the first-ever Wild Card on Friday, October 5. The network, in its sixth consecutive year televising the Division Series and one League Championship Series, will also be the exclusive home of up to 18 Division Series games and the entire American League Championship Series coverage on TBS.

TBS’ coverage of the Wild Card, LDS and ALCS will be handled by a deep roster of veteran commentators:

• Ernie Johnson will handle play-by-play alongside analysts John Smoltz and Ron Darling for the network’s exclusive coverage of the ALCS.
• For the network’s coverage of the Wild Card and Division Series, TBS will feature a pair of three-man commentator teams: play-by-play announcer Brian Anderson, who called Roy Halladay’s historic no-hitter on TBS during the 2010 NLDS, will be joined by veteran analysts Darling and Joe Simpson; and Johnson will mark his return to the TBS postseason broadcast booth, handling play-by-play alongside Hall of Famer Cal Ripken and Smoltz.
• Division Series announce teams will also include veteran play-by-play announcer Dick Stockton, joined in the booth once again by former MLB manager and long-time TV analyst Bob Brenly; and Don Orsillo (play-by-play) and Buck Martinez (analyst) will return for their sixth and fifth postseasons, respectively, with TBS.
• Reporters for the LDS will include MLB insider and Sports Illustrated/SI.com senior baseball writer Tom Verducci, who will also provide reports from the National League Championship Series (NLCS). Craig Sager will return to the MLB Postseason on TBS for his sixth year as a reporter and will work the ALCS for the network. Turner Sports veteran David Aldridge, who covered the MLB Postseason on TBS from 2007-2010, will return as a reporter during the LDS. Jaime Maggio, who has served as a reporter for the 2011 MLB Postseason on TBS, NBA Playoffs on TNT and Turner Sports’ presentation of the NCAA Tournament, will contribute to the network’s LDS coverage.

The MLB On-Deck pre-game show and Inside MLB post-game show will have in-depth game reports and post-game interviews from every LDS game, as well as the ALCS and NLCS. Matt Winer will once again serve as studio host alongside returning veteran analysts: Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley and two-time World Champion David Wells during the LDS.

In the first year of the new postseason format, two Wild Card teams in each league will play a single-elimination game with each winner advancing to compete with the three division championship from its respective leagues in the Division Series.

The network’s production plans will utilize state-of-the-art technology to bring fans unique insights into each game:

• 3D Hologram Imagery: Innovative 3D imagery will illustrate detailed examples of pitch grips while demonstrating the pressure points, release points and rotation. Analysts will use the tool to explain how pitches work and how the hitter approaches each type of pitch.
• Super Slo-Mo: TBS will triple the amount of Super Slow-Motion cameras utilized throughout the network’s postseason coverage.
• Bloomberg Stats: TBS will once again utilize Bloomberg Sports’ vast resources as they integrate comprehensive statistical information into each telecast. The service allows game and studio analysts to examine every pitch of each game to find patterns and pick out tendencies.
• Pitch Trax: The in-game technology which illustrates pitch location throughout the game will return to TBS for the postseason.

Additionally, Turner Sports will encourage fans interaction across social media platforms:

• Twitter: @MLB_TBS, @PostseasonPete and @TurnerSportsPR will provide game alerts, programming information and key statistical information throughout the postseason. Also, TBS MLB broadcasters will periodically answer questions from fans via Twitter chats. Fans can use #Postseason to join the conversation throughout the Wild Card games, LDS, ALCS and NLCS.

Facebook:  Fans can also check out the MLB on TBS Facebook page to find the latest schedule information, behind-the-scenes photos and other special features

There you have it.

A Few Back To Work Tuesday Sports Media Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed your Labor Day Weekend. Let’s do a few sports media thoughts for you on this back to work Tuesday. They’re in bullet form as always.

• In this week’s Sports Business Journal, John Ourand reports that both Fox and CBS/Turner are looking to combine packages to force the other out of the MLB TV business. As you know, ESPN renewed its rights deal with MLB keeping Sunday, Monday and Wednesday Night Baseball and getting one Wild Card Playoff Game.

  Now with one half of the MLB contract settled, it appears MLB is pitting Fox and Turner against each other. In the SBJ article which is currently behind the dreaded paywall, Ourand says Fox is proposing to take Turner’s playoff games which includes the Division Series and one League Championship Series and all of Turner’s regular season games. Fox would place the earlier playoffs plus most of its regular season inventory onto its current Speed channel which would be converted to all-sports and Ourand says it would called “Fox Sports 1″.

  For its part, Turner informed MLB that it would interested in not only keeping its current package, but also taking Fox’s package including the All-Star Game plus its half of the MLB Postseason. Turner would bring in CBS to air the All-Star Game, some LCS games and the World Series.

  It would be interesting if MLB decides to combine the two packages or just keep them separate. Plus it appears that ESPN won’t be receiving more than the one Wild Card Playoff unless MLB decides to throw the other bids out.

  And it also appears NBC is on the outside looking in for now.

  The MLB bidding is turning out to be quite intriguing. I would like to see NBC back in baseball, but it appears that MLB wants to keep at least two of its current partners.

• Last week’s announcement that Vin Scully was returning to call Los Angeles Dodgers games next season was welcomed on this end. The man is a national treasure and still is the best at calling baseball. Here’s hoping that he’ll at least one more World Series before he decides to retire.
• The NBC Sports Radio Network officially launches today with a nighttime lineup which includes Mr. Know It All, Erik Kuselias. While the dayparts from 7 p.m. — 5 a.m. ET have been filled and affiliates across the country have been signed up, the more important morning drive and midday slots have yet to be slotted. The big question is if NBC can bring in Dan Patrick for the 9 a.m. — noon slot.
• Nice to have college football back, although I’m not sure having Georgia Tech-Virginia Tech to end Week 1 on Labor Day was the best of ideas.
• Thanks to a horrid Red Sox season, I have not been more ready for the NFL than I am right now.
• I’ve enjoyed having CBS and CBS Sports Network combine coverage for the U.S. Open, although cutting off right at 6 p.m. on Sunday and giving way to Tennis Channel was a bit abrupt.

That’s going to do it for now.

TBS Taps Bruce Springsteen For The 2012 MLB Postseason Theme

Since it began airing the MLB Postseason, TBS has used various musical acts for the theme of the playoffs. It’s a practice that Turner Sports has conducted with the NBA as well. New Jersey’s Bon Jovi was used twice, Kid Rock once and last year was Tinie Tempah. For 2012, TBS goes back to the Garden State and taps Bruce Springsteen for this year’s theme. Throughout the MLB Postseason, TBS will use Springsteen’s “Land of the Hopes and Dreams”.

The song will be seen starting this weekend and throughout the MLB Postseason which includes the first-ever Wild Card Playoff games as well as the League Division Series and the American League Championship Series, all of which will air on TBS this season.

Here’s the press release and the video with Bruce will follow.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Featured in Turner Sports Video for 2012 MLB Postseason

Bruce Springsteen’s “Land of Hope and Dreams” Provides Musical Backdrop for MLB 2012 Postseason Coverage, Including First-Ever Wild Card Games Exclusively on TBS

Turner Sports announced today that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will star alongside some of Major League Baseball’s greatest players in video clips highlighting TBS’ 2012 MLB Postseason coverage. The videos, which feature the Springsteen song “Land of Hope and Dreams” as the musical backdrop, will also air on MLB Network, FOX and MLB.com leading up to and during this year’s Postseason.

The videos feature concert footage of Springsteen and the E Street Band performing the song, along with highlights from this year’s MLB season, including two of the year’s perfect games thrown by Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants and Phil Humber of the Chicago White Sox. Other players featured include the Yankees’ Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira, Detroit’s Justin Verlander, Texas’ Josh Hamilton, Washington’s Bryce Harper, the Angels’ Albert Pujols and Mike Trout and more.

There will be multiple versions of the spot, which was created by Turner Sports, that will air throughout the next six weeks leading up to the Postseason. Additionally, it will be featured on in-park video boards in MLB ballparks around the League.

TBS will exclusively televise the first-ever American League and National League Wild Card Games on October 5, and will also provide coverage of all four MLB Division Series and exclusive coverage of the American League Championship Series this year. TBS has broadcast MLB games for more than 30 years, including the MLB Division Series and one League Championship Series since 2007. Musical artists featured in past campaigns for MLB Postseason coverage on TBS have included Bon Jovi, Kid Rock and Tinie Tempah among others.

Bruce Springsteen’s “Wrecking Ball” (Columbia) was released earlier this year and debuted at #1 in the U.S. and 14 other countries. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are currently in the midst of a North American tour that runs through December.

As promised, here’s the video from TBS. This is 2:06. Shorter versions will be seen on TV.

That is all.

Some Thoughts on ESPN’s New MLB Deal

Earlier today, I had the opportunity to monitor the ESPN/MLB conference call announcing the new deal that lengthens the relationship between the two entities to 30 years when the contract expires in 2021.

In this new eight year deal, ESPN will return to the MLB Postseason with one Wild Card Playoff game starting in 2014.  John Skipper, the President of ESPN,  did not rule out that the network could get other MLB Postseason packages, however, it appears that the league is holding the other Wild Card Playoff Game for MLB Network while determining if Turner, Fox and possibly NBC will pay the cash to swallow up the League Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series. I’m thinking that either Turner or NBC Sports Network will get the cable portion of the MLB Postseason contract with Fox continuing its LCS/World Series package on the network side.

MLB Walking, Talking Conflict of Interest Bud Selig mentioned that most likely, there won’t be more of than the existing national packages that have been distributed to ESPN, Fox, MLB Network and TBS. There could be some minor alterations to each as we have seen in the case of ESPN, but there won’t be a new package created. So NBC would have to wrest one away from Fox or TBS if it wants to get back into the Baseball business.

ESPN takes away the regular season tiebreaker games that had previously been on TBS. Before TBS got the cable half of the MLB Postseason in 2007, ESPN had been the home of all regular season tiebreakers.

Also, ESPN increases the amount of regular season games to 90 and brings back the traditional holiday games that had been on the network until 2007. So ESPN/ESPN2 will have games on the Memorial Day, the 4th of July and Labor Day, plus extensive coverage of Opening Day.

One  of the most important aspects of the deal is the amount of reduced local blackouts. Starting in 2014, ESPN will have increased access to home markets on Monday and Wednesday nights. That means ESPN’s telecasts will be able to be seen in Boston if the Red Sox are playing on Mondays or Wednesdays and NESN will no longer have protection from the national broadcast. According to John Skipper, the local blackouts could be lifted to the point where they may become obsolete. We’ll see what the local regional sports networks will have to say about that. The RSN’s pay a lot of money for local rights and not having exclusivity could become a sore point.

Under the new deal, ESPN gets additional digital rights meaning streaming of its games on ESPN3 and WatchESPN. MLB Advanced Media had to sign off on the deal and MLBAM President & CEO Bob Bowman in the conference call said ESPN was both a partner and a competitor. Plus, Selig said that MLBAM was still in the midst of rapid growth was looking to see where it would be in ten years. MLBAM has been known to play hardball with MLB’s TV partners when it comes to relenting on digital rights. For ESPN to get increased streaming rights is a big deal. I wanted to ask Bowman and Selig if the other TV partners would get the opportunity to get similar deals, but I was not called upon.

Not only does ESPN increase its baseball content with regular season and postseason games plus highlights for Baseball Tonight, it also keeps its current packages and All-Star Game Weekend show so it means we won’t be avoiding Chris Berman’s bloviating calls in the Home Run Derby anytime soon.

The ESPN deal is huge. It keeps the network relevant in the summer and prevents NBC from encroaching on its MLB turf at least for now. Score this one in the Bristol column. While ESPN will tell you this was a deal to keep a tradition on its network, it was a huge pre-emptive strike at  competitors who wanted to get one of the network’s major sports properties away from the Worldwide Leader.

Now with NASCAR, the new college football playoff, the Big East, and U.S. Open tennis still in play, the window for other networks to claim victories is getting smaller.

ESPN’s Eight Year, $5.6 Billion Agreement With MLB

Wr have the official joint press release between ESPN and Major League Baseball announcing the new agreement that keeps baseball games on the Alleged Worldwide Leader until 2021.

Under the new contract, ESPN will receive the following perks:

• An increase in the number of telecasts to 90 regular season games
• One Wild Card Playoff Game marking a return to the MLB Postseason dating back to 2007.
• All regular season tiebreaker games. They had previously been on TBS.
• The return of holiday games on Memorial, Independence and Labor Day.
• All 30 MLB teams will be aired at least once a season.

John Ourand of Sports Business Journal reported today that MLB will receive $5.6 billion a year from ESPN. The deal also includes increased digital, international and radio rights. We have full details below.

MLB AND ESPN REACH NEW EIGHT-YEAR BROADCASTING AGREEMENT

Largest Broadcasting Deal in MLB History Keeps Baseball on ESPN Through 2021
ESPN Returns to MLB Postseason with One Wild Card Game Per Season and
Increases Ancillary Baseball Coverage Across All ESPN Platforms

Major League Baseball and ESPN today announced a new eight-year broadcasting agreement that will carry their longstanding relationship into its fourth decade with a record-setting increase in annual rights fee. This deal sets a new standard for Major League Baseball broadcasting as ESPN’s annual rights fee will increase by 100% over its current deals, marking a new all-time record for an MLB broadcasting deal. The deal grants ESPN, which first began televising Major League Baseball games in 1990, a significant increase in studio and game content, including the right to broadcast up to 90 regular season MLB games per year across the ESPN networks beginning in 2014 and running through the 2021 season. ESPN will continue to telecast three Major League Baseball windows each week including Monday nights, Wednesday nights, and the nationally exclusive “Sunday Night Baseball” franchise.

In addition, ESPN will once again televise Postseason baseball, beginning in 2014 with one of the two Wild Card Games. ESPN will alternate airing the American League and National League Wild Card Games each year. Also starting in 2014, ESPN will have the rights to all potential regular season tiebreaker games. This new agreement covers television and radio rights to MLB programming both in the U.S. and internationally, and will include expanded hours of Baseball Tonight and other ancillary baseball programming across ESPN platforms. In addition, ESPN MLB game telecasts and other baseball programming will be available via ESPN3.com and the Watch ESPN app. ESPN has also made a commitment to showcase each of the 30 MLB Clubs at least once per season in a live game telecast.

Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig said: “On behalf of Major League Baseball, I am thrilled that we will continue our long-standing relationship with ESPN far into the future. The level of ESPN’s commitment to baseball – both financially and through its expanded content – is a testament to the strength of our game and its unprecedented popularity among our fans. Through its various networks and other media platforms, ESPN offers baseball fans more avenues to experience the game than ever before, and we’re thankful for their continued support.”

ESPN President John Skipper said: “We’re thrilled to renew our long-standing agreement with Major League Baseball into the next decade. It’s a great property. The enormous scope of what we acquired will provide fans with more live baseball and more ways to access baseball content than ever before.”

Additional details of the agreement include:

• ESPN will continue to have exclusive television rights to certain MLB All-Star Week events including the Home Run Derby and All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game.
• A nationally exclusive Opening Night national telecast, as well as full coverage of Opening Day and national holiday games (Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day).
• Up to 10 Spring Training games each season.
• In each year of the agreement, ESPN will air six one-hour specials created by Major League Baseball Productions, the Emmy Award-winning television and video production division of Major League Baseball.

And that’s it.

Breaking Out Some Thursday Linkage

Let’s do the Thursday linkage. We’re doing well so far this week, knock on wood.

Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal reports NBC’s overnight rating for Wednesday’s Olympic Primetime was up from Beijing.

Tripp Mickle of Sports Business Journal says YouTube is looking to further strengthen its live sports portfolio after streaming Olympic content in Africa and Asia.

Austin Karp of SBJ says NBC’s Olympic ratings remain ahead of Beijing’s pace.

Michael Katz of USA Today notes that USA gold medal-winning gymnast McKayla Maroney taught NBC’s Jenna Bush how to do the Dougie. Can’t wait for Colin Cowherd to criticize both for their upbringings.

Speaking of McKayla, Erin Carlson of the Hollywood Reporter notes that one of the funniest internet memes has come Maroney’s reaction to winning the silver medal last week in the individual vault event. Here is the site, “McKayla Maroney is not Impressed” which is being updated quite frequently.

Major League Baseball has released the 2012 Postseason schedule with networks.

John Eggerton at Broadcasting & Cable says Comcast is still fighting an FCC decision requiring the cable provider to make room for Tennis Channel.

Dan Alexander at Forbes writes that the U.S. Fierce Five gymnasts stand to make a lot of money in endorsements.

Brian Steinberg of Advertising Age says the 2012 Olympics may be winding down, but NBCUniversal has already sold a portion of its ad time for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.

Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life says NBC’s strategy to put the Olympics on NBC Sports Network is paying off.

Steve Lepore at SB Nation provides his rankings for NBC’s Olympic announcers.

Ed Sherman at The Sherman Report is surprised to learn that CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus and golf producer Lance Barrow aren’t concerned with slow play in golf.

Eric Deggans of the Tampa Bay Times writing for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center says critics of NBC’s tape delays should be focusing their anger at something else.

Steve Myers at the Poynter Institute says a new Gallup Poll finds viewers want their Olympics live in primetime.

Stephen Douglas at The Big Lead has video of Fox’s Erin Andrews and Eddie George dancing to “Call Me Maybe”.

NBC Sports provides a sneak peek at its new digs currently under construction in Connecticut.

Jason Dachman of Sports Video Group explores how the Olympics are being sent to Australia.

Bill Carter of the New York Times writes that female Olympic athletes are finding the spotlight and scrutiny rather harsh, especially Lolo Jones.

Arthur S. Brisbane, the Times’ public editor believes Jeré Longman’s article that began the public takedown of Jones was too harsh.

Sam Borden of the Times says viewers of women’s water polo are getting a bit more exposure than they anticipated.

Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette notes that ESPNU won’t airing any college hockey regular season games again.

Ken McMillan from the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record notes that local radio stations will be picking up national college and NFL broadcasts this fall.

In Press Box, Dave Hughes from DCRTV.com notes that Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic will be all over the Baltimore Ravens and DC NFL Team in the preseason.

David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun looks at a poll which shows a majority of Americans like how NBC is handling the Olympics.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog says MLB Network’s Kevin Millar and ESPN’s Dick Vitale (?) are weighing in on the Nationals’ strategy to shut down pitcher Stephen Strasburg.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner writes that NBC is setting viewership records both online and on TV for the Olympics.

At the Bleacher Report, Jim looks at Telemundo’s coverage of the 2012 London Games.

Back to Eric Deggans, this time in his home newspaper the Tampa Bay Times, says NBC’s syndicated Olympic Zone program blurs the line between real news and advertising.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes that the Reds’ hot July pumped Fox Sports Ohio’s ratings.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Big Ten Network’s college football announcers have some local ties.

Danny Ecker of Crain’s Chicago Business writes that local TV ratings for the Olympics are good, but not at the top of the country.

David Brauer of the Minnesota Post looks at Minneapolis-St. Paul’s radio ratings including the sports radio wars.

Scott D. Pierce from the Salt Lake Tribune says Salt Lake has the highest ratings in the nation for the Olympics once again.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says it’s about time for the annual Vin Scully announcement on whether he’ll return for another season.

Sports Media Watch has some of the bottom feeders among the local ratings for the Olympics.

Joe Favorito says the soccer exhibition “friendlies” may now be over in the U.S., but they helped to grow the game.

The latest Awful Announcing podcast has ESPN’s Darren Rovell as the guest.

Dave Kohl at the Broadcast Booth looks at some teams making flagship radio station moves.

And that’s going to finish us for today.

MLB To Debut New Spot Tonight

This comes to us directly from Major League Baseball. During tonight’s All-Star Game, MLB will unveil a spot celebrating the first half accomplishments of 2012 and then pointing us to the postseason that will air exclusively on TBS and Fox.

I’m sure ESPN will be happy to see this spot showing specifically that it’s shut out of the MLB Postseason. But anyway, you’ll see Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants, Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox, Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers, Johan Santana of the New York Mets, Jared Weaver of the Anaheim Angels among others.

A :60 spot airs on Fox tonight. A :30 version will air on MLB Network after the game.

The spot was produced by the fine people at Turner Sports. Here’s the press release followed by video.

NEW SPOT DEBUTING DURING ALL-STAR GAME ON FOX TONIGHT CELEBRATES AMAZING FIRST HALF MOMENTS

Perfect games. No-hitters. Four-homer games. Rookies making history. It’s been a season filled with a full year’s worth of remarkable moments on the field already, and it’s only the All-Star break.

In a new 60-second spot debuting tonight during the 83^rd MLB All-Star Game on FOX at 7:30 p.m. ET, some of the best moments of the season are celebrated with an eye towards the Postseason in October.  A 30-second version of the spot will also run on MLB Network tonight.

Among the players and moments highlighted in the spot are the perfect games thrown by Matt Cain and Philip Humber, Josh Hamilton’s four home run game, no-hitters by Johan Santana and Jered Weaver, the great performances by rookies Bryce Harper and Mike Trout, R.A. Dickey’s consecutive one-hitters, and more.

The spots were produced by Turner Sports and after tonight’s debut will run on FOX, ESPN, TBS, MLB Network and MLB.com.

Here’s the aforementioned spot.

There you have it. Enjoy the All-Star Game.

You Need Linkage On That Wall….

Yes you do. It’s overdue. I thought being on unemployment would give me more time for doing the site. Instead, I have less. I don’t know how that’s happened.

Anyway, here are some links for you.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand has soon-to-be NBC’s Michelle Beadle saying even she’s sick of the coverage on where she’s going next.

Michael takes a look at the Weekend TV ratings.

Nicole Auerbach of USA Today says Laurie Fine, wife of ex-Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine, has officially filed her libel lawsuit against ESPN.

At Sports Business Journal, John Ourand and Michael Smith report that the Southeastern Conference, in the midst of restructuring its media rights deal with CBS and ESPN, could be resurrecting its plans to start an SEC Channel.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News goes over the “trade” between TBS and MLB Network giving the young network its first postseason action this season.

Tim Baysinger of Broadcasting & Cable says ESPN 3D will air the last five days of Wimbledon later this summer.

David Mercer of the Associated Press says citing low ratings, the Big Ten Network will drop academic non-sports programming in order to air higher rated sports.

Anthony Crupi of Adweek talks about GM pulling out of advertising in Super Bowl XLVII.

Brian Clapp at Sports TV Jobs tells aspiring sports TV anchors how to thrive in local markets despite the shrinking amount of time in newscasts.

Dan Fogarty from SportsGrid has video of TNT’s Charles Barkley admitting to America that he waxes his eyebrows.

Eric Goldschein of SportsGrid has this funny video of Saturday Night Live’s Jay Pharoah getting Stephen A. “A is for Acrimonious” Smith down pat.

From the New Haven Register, David Borges talks with long-time Red Sox radio voice and Connecticut native Joe Castiglione about his career and his new book.

Ken Schott at the Schenectady Gazette talks about CBS Sports sublicensing some college basketball games from ESPN.

Pete Dougherty in the Albany Times Union has the French Open TV schedule.

Pete says the overnight ratings for the Preakness Stakes dropped double digits from last year.

Jonathan Tannenwald of Philly.com says NBC Sports Network will tap some familiar names to call MLS action this weekend.

David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun says NBC got the job done in its Preakness Stakes production.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog says Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic is on the RGIII train.

The increasingly bitter Thomas Boswell of the WaPo feels MASN should pony up for the Washington Nationals media rights.

Jim Williams at the Washington Examiner writes that outgoing NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora is looking forward to working and writing for CBS.

Eric Deggans of the Tampa Bay Times says two writers from the newspaper including sports media writer Tom Jones will co-host a new morning show for the local sports radio station. Jones will now stop covering sports radio to avoid a conflict of interest.

Iliana Limón Romero of the Orlando Sentinel says the Big East is hopeful of finding a suitable TV suitor for the league.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle has some sports media observations.

Mel Bracht at The Oklahoman writes that TNT’s Charles Barkley is looking forward to visiting Oklahoma City for the NBA Western Conference Finals.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that the Reds gave local radio station WLW a big ratings win last month.

Bob Wolfley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel looks at the local weekend ratings.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says a technical glitch forced Cardinals fans to watch Fox Sports San Diego’s feed of last night’s Redbirds-Padres game and listen to Dick Enberg which is not a bad thing at all.

Bryce Miller of the Des Moines Reigster says Iowan and Olympics hurdler Lolo Jones is on a media blitz.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says the Dodgers will honor long-time Spanish radio voice Jaime Jarrin next month.

Timothy Burke at Deadspin has video of NBC Sports Network’s Doc Emrick ripping diving in soccer.

Steve Lepore of Puck The Media says ratings for the NHL Conference Finals on the NBC Sports Group are down.

Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing has some of Pam Ward’s “Greatest” hits over her years calling college football.

That will do it for now.

Some Monday Morning Sports Media Thoughts

Let’s do some sports media thoughts for you on this back to work Monday. As usual, they’re in bullet form.

• Last week’s news that TBS would pick up the new single elimination MLB Wild Card Playoff games for this year and next was not a surprise. TBS has pleased MLB with its postseason coverage since 2007, gaining all of the League Division Series and one League Championship Series, sharing that round with Fox. Not only would TBS pay an extra $10 million for the new playoff games on top of its current fee, but it would also give two LDS games to MLB Network. Now that was a surprise.

  It gives MLB Network its first foothold into postseason games after increasing the amount of regular season game telecasts steadily over the network’s first four years of existence. As Richard Sandomir of the New York Times reported on Friday, MLB Network will have Bob Costas and Matt Vasgersian call the LDS games with yet to be named analysts (expect to see Jim Kaat and Mitch Wiiliams or even John Smoltz). It’s a big move for MLB Network. Just as with TBS’ postseason package, the games will be exclusive with no local simulcasts. However, it does give MLB Network some leverage with cable and satellite providers to spread its reach beyond the current 69 million households.

• Also last week, NBC Sports Group announced coverage plans for NBC Sports Network, Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC and Telemundo. With each NBCUniversal channel assigned to certain carry certain sports, it will be a virtual feast for viewers to see the athletes compete. Add this to the live streaming that will be provided on NBCOlympics.com, fans should not miss anything from London this summer.

  Now the hosting assignments give us some interesting food for thought. Fred Roggin hosting boxing on CNBC shows consistency from 2008. I was quite surprised about the return of Pat O’Brien to the Olympics. While he really hasn’t been on the national radar since losing his job at Entertainment Tonight and The Insider due to his personal problems, it hasn’t stopped him from working at Fox Sports Radio and making regular appearances on Fox News Channel. I’ll be happy to see Pat make his puns and illiteration attempts from the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon during Olympic tennis.

  And I’ll be interested to see how Kelly Tilghman does on MSNBC as she’ll be hosting events there. Kelly has been host and done play-by-play for Golf Channel. I hadn’t seen her as an Olympic host and while she’s been polarizing to golf fans during her stint on GC, I think she’s been pretty decent as a studio host and interviewer, although she sometimes has her strange moments.

  We’ll be waiting to see who else will be hosting on NBC Sports Network and on NBC in London.

• And who would have thunk that Al Jazeera, the network known for ruffling feathers in the Middle East could be a player for soccer rights? It’s been steadily obtaining rights to soccer in the Middle East and is about to start networks in France and in the United States. Al Jazeera has the US rights to Spain’s La Liga, France’s La Ligue, and Italy’s Serie A. These had been previously on Gol TV as well as Fox Soccer. Some games were sublicensed to ESPN throughout the years. Now with Al Jazeera obtaining the games, it will create two networks called beIN Sport as Multichannel News’ Mike Reynolds reports. The whole issue is if beIN Sport’s channels, one in English, the other in Spanish can gain wide distribution. If Al Jazeera gets the English Premier League US rights over Fox Soccer and ESPN, then expect plenty of cable and satellite carriage pickups before the summer is out.

That’s going to do it.

TBS To Air Single Elimination Wild Card Playoff Games; MLB Network To Air Postseason Too

Just announced jointly by Major League Baseball and Turner Sports, TBS will air the first-ever single elimination Wild Card playoff games that begin this year. TBS will have the rights to the American and National League Wild Card games both this year and next. In addition, MLB Network will gain rights to two League Division Series games both this year and next. So MLB Network will have postseason games for the first time.

ESPN and Fox were in contention for the new round of playoff games, but TBS managed to keep both networks away. Also, TBS will keep the rights for any tiebreaker games.

The announcement.

TBS TO EXCLUSIVELY AIR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WILD CARD CONTESTS

MLB Network to Air Two Division Series Games For the First Time

Major League Baseball and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. announced today that TBS will exclusively televise the American League and National League Wild Card games in 2012 and 2013. The new Postseason format will feature the two Wild Card teams in the American League and National League playing in a single-elimination game with each winner advancing to compete with the three division champions from its League in the Division Series. MLB also announced that two Division Series games in each of the 2012 and 2013 Postseasons will shift from TBS to MLB Network.

Turner’s partnership with MLB spans more than 35 years. TBS has televised all MLB Division Series games and one League Championship Series each year since 2007. In 2012, the network will televise 18 of 20 potential Division Series games and will have exclusive coverage of the American League Championship Series (ALCS). In addition to the MLB Postseason, TBS televises a 26-game “Sunday MLB on TBS” regular season schedule and is the exclusive home of the 2012 MLB All-Star Selection Show airing July 1.

TBS will also continue to televise any necessary regular season tie-breaker games. The network has recently aired three memorable regular season tie-breakers, including Padres vs. Rockies in 2007, Twins vs. White Sox in 2008, and Tigers vs. Twins in 2009. 

MLB Network will exclusively televise two Division Series games in each of the next two years, marking the first time MLB Network will air live Postseason games. MLB Network has produced weekly original game telecasts since its inaugural season in 2009.  With a roster of on-air talent including Bob Costas, Jim Kaat, Al Leiter, Harold Reynolds and Matt Vasgersian, MLB Network has received 28 Sports Emmy Award nominations and nine Sports Emmy Awards.

“The new format will create two compelling Wild Card match-ups for fans that will begin our Postseason with unprecedented pressure and implications,” said Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. “We are confident that TBS will provide outstanding coverage and promotion of the games. I am also very pleased that this arrangement allows for MLB Network to air Postseason games for the first time. MLB Network has done a remarkable job with its live game coverage and I am certain that its extraordinary work will continue as it produces Postseason games.”

“We applaud Major League Baseball on their decision to expand Postseason eligibility and we’re excited to build upon our long-standing partnership with MLB by adding these highly anticipated exclusive Wild Card games to our Postseason coverage on TBS,” said David Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. “We believe the additional single-elimination Wild Card spots will build upon the popularity of the sport and will serve as a great launching pad for our Division Series and ALCS coverage on TBS.”

The new format this season marks the first amendment to the Postseason since MLB utilized the six-division, eight-team Postseason structure for the first time in 1995.

That’s it.

Doing The Wednesday Links

Let’s provide some mid-week linkage for you.

Sports Business Daily recaps how ESPN’s SportsCenter handled NBA highlights on what should have been the Opening Night of the regular season.

SBD also looks at Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt’s agreement to sell the team at auction.

Paul Thomasch with Reuters says MLB is looking to hit the motherlode in a new round of negotiations for network TV partners.

Michael Hiestand from USA Today talks with SEC on CBS analyst Gary Danielson on LSU-Alabama.

Steve Wieberg and Steve Berkowitz of USA Today explore ESPN’s role in the realignment in college sports.

Tom Weir of USA Today says ESPN’s Jenn Brown tweeted about her experience being locked in a hotel bathroom today.

In Outkick The Coverage, Clay Travis looks into the conflicts regarding CBS’ Tony Barnhart’s reporting of Missouri to the Southeastern Conference.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch delved into ESPN’s coverage of Tim Tebow and found it bordering on the excessive.

Etan Vlessing of the Hollywood Reporter says singer Cee Lo “Eff You” Green will be performing on the NHL float during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC. Of course, the NHL and NBC are partners as well. Green also is a judge on NBC’s “The Voice” so there’s synergy all around here.

Georg Szalai of the Reporter has Comcast’s CEO saying Telemundo’s reported $600 million deal for the World Cup will be profitable for the company.

John Eggerton of Broadcasting & Cable reports that an appeals court has again thrown out the FCC fine against CBS for airing Janet Jackson’s nipple during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show.

Bill Cromwell of Media Life Magazine says cable had a ratings downturn in October led by ESPN’s Monday Night Football and TBS’ MLB Postseason coverage.

Timothy Burke at Deadspin notes that ESPN’s Erin Andrews had a little problem with a math concept with LSU coach Les Miles.

Dan Fogarty of SportsGrid says ESPN.com’s comment section went haywire thanks to those writing about Tim Tebow.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders if Fox will buy the Dodgers again.

Darren tells us that secondary ticket prices for Saturday’s LSU-Alabama game are reaching astronomical levels.

In the Boston Globe, Bruins beat reporter Fluto Shinzawa writes about being a foodie when he travels on the road with the team.

Edward Wyatt of the New York Times looks at the Third Circuit Appeals court throwing out the FCC fine against CBS.

Mike Tanier of the Times says NFL TV analysts now have to find ways to stand out above the crowd even if it means being confrontational.

Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette looks at NBC Sports Network’s college hockey schedule.

Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union has the Week 10 College Football TV schedule.

Pete also has the Week 9 NFL TV schedule.

Ken McMillan at the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record notes that Seton Hall basketball will air on ESPN Radio New York this season.

Laura Nachman says Sunday Night Football featuring the Philadelphia Eagles won primetime for NBC.

David Salter in the Patriot-News (PA) writes about the progression and in some cases, regression of women covering sports.

Dan Steinberg from the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog says Rob Dibble can’t let his 2010 firing from MASN go without firing another shot.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner writes that the first part of the Big East’s expansion is complete. Now comes the next step.

Jon Solomon of the Birmingham (AL) News says the ESPN Films documentary on the Alabama-Auburn rivalry is top notch.

Dennis Pillion of Al.com notes that ESPN will go inside the Alabama football program leading up to its big game against LSU on Saturday.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle notes that DirecTV has come to terms with another local station group.

John Kiesewetter from the Cincinnati Enquirer says Time Warner Cable will air four local high school football games.

Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the NFL is about to release the Green Bay Packers championship DVD package.

Ed Sherman at Crain’s Chicago Business writes that Comcast SportsNet is trying to survive without the Bulls.

Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal notes that Air Force is happy to be playing on “an easy to find” TV channel this week and possibly be moving to the Big East where games are also easily found.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has the Week 10 NFL TV schedule for SoCal.

Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times wonders if media rivals Fox and Time Warner would put forth a bid to buy the Dodgers.

Sports Media Watch has a look at the Week 8 NFL overnight ratings. First, CBS. Then Fox. To Sunday Night Football. And finally, Monday Night Football.

And SMW notes that ESPN is filling programming holes left by the NBA lockout.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media has the national college hockey TV schedule.

Joe Favorito says the baseball season may be over, but the sport continues to keep its brand active in the offseason.

Joe Lucia at Awful Announcing feels ESPN’s presentation of the MLB Gold Glove Awards did not need to be watched.

And that will do us for now.

3rd Annual Fang’s Bites MLB TV Awards

Another baseball season over and it’s time for another edition of the Fang’s Bites MLB TV Awards. You can see previous editions here and here.

As usual, we’ll deal with the national TV partners, ESPN, Fox, MLB Network and TBS. This is a listing of the Best and Worst, it’s not a competition, so please, no betting.

We’ll do the Best and finish with the Worst.

The Vin Scully Award For Best Play-by-Play: Sean McDonough, ESPN. Glad to see Sean calling baseball on a national level once again. It seemed after he was let go by NESN after the 2004 season, he was in exile. But this year, ESPN brought him back to call the sport he loves for Monday Night Baseball and we the public were the beneficiaries. If ESPN ever gets the MLB Postseason back, it would behoove the network to give him an assignment. One of the best all-around announcers, Sean did a very good job working on baseball this season.

Honorable mentions: Dan Shulman, ESPN; Brian Anderson, TBS

Best Game Analyst: John Smoltz, MLB Network/TBS. John has fast become the best game analyst in just two seasons on TV. He can pick up trends, predict home runs and know when a pitcher is losing it. I would love to have John work the World Series to replace Tim McCarver (more on him later). Smoltz works well with Matt Vasgersian on MLB Network and worked off Ron Darling during the MLB Postseason on TBS brilliantly. I’d love to see John get more of a national showcase during the regular season.

Honorable Mentions: Ron Darling, TBS; Orel Hershiser, ESPN.

Best Debut: A.J. Pierzynski, Fox. The catcher for the Chicago White Sox got the opportunity to work on TV during the American League Championship Series and World Series for Fox. I was quite impressed with his work and his candor. The man has a future in TV when he retires.

Honorable Mention: Terry Francona, Fox during the ALCS; Jamie Maggio on TBS’ MLB Postseason coverage.

Best Studio Show: MLB Tonight, MLB Network. Let’s face it, MLB Network is the Network of Record for baseball and MLB Tonight is the signature show. Whenever there’s a big moment in baseball, MLB Tonight will cut-in and show it live. The program is produced well, the analysts are always on top of the action and you know that the show will air a highlight or a live cut-in when it’s most needed. The hosts could be better, but with Brian Kenny hired by MLB Network, you’ll probably see him on the anchor desk extensively in 2012.

Honorable Mention: Baseball Tonight, ESPN.

Best Studio Host: Matt Winer, TBS. In his second year on the desk for TBS whether it be for the All-Star Game Selection or during the MLB Postseason, Matt is very smooth. Hired originally by Turner Sports to be the main host on NBA TV, Matt has done work with the NBA on TNT, NCAA Tournament for TBS and was given the main host assignment for MLB on TBS last season. He’s become one of the best studio hosts on sports television and he has learned to distribute the rock to his analysts very well. I’m quite impressed with his work this season.

Honorable Mentions: Karl Ravech, ESPN; Matt Vasgersian, Matt Yallof, MLB Network.

Best Studio Analyst: Harold Reynolds, MLB Network. H.R. wins the award outright after being given the award in a tie with Mitch Williams in 2009. Harold is very comfortable working in the studio and being the main guy on MLB Tonight. He’s quite good. While he won’t go out of his way to criticize, he will come down on a player when it’s necessary. Harold has won Emmy Awards for good reason. He’s the best studio analyst in the sport.

Honorable Mentions: Dennis Eckersley, TBS; Mitch Williams, MLB Network.

Best Game Coverage: MLB on Fox. The World Series proved that the Fox crew does a great job with game production. Using 30 cameras, Fox was right on top of replays, showing the proper angles of controversial calls and not overdoing it on the strike zone never showing it live. We can pick on Fox’s announcing crew, but the production is top-notch every season. My only problem is the crowd cutaways as I’m not a fan of showing fans wringing their hands on every pitch, but that’s me. Overall, Fox gets an A for its production.

Honorable Mention: ESPN.

Most Valuable Network: Fox. Not for a lack of trying, Fox does its best to promote baseball. The ratings in the regular season were down again and the American League Championship Series did not do well, but Fox was finally rewarded with a thrilling World Series and the most watched Fall Classic contest in Game 7 dating back to 2004.

Best Move: MLB Network hiring Brian Kenny and Sam Ryan. I’m not a big fan of Brian Kenny as he can be abrasive, but he loves baseball and is a very good studio host. Sam Ryan is an excellent reporter and I’m looking forward to seeing her extensively on MLB Network next season.

Worst Play-by-Play: Yes, Joe Buck, Fox. He seems to be turning the tide with sports media observers with his plagiarized use of his father’s home run call from the 1991 World Series, but to be honest, I still think it was a bad job by him. There are times when he calls games as if he’s at a wake. While this season, he had to overcome a virus that almost took his voice, it still did not help him improve as an announcer. I feel Buck is regressing, not improving. One more year and Buck can retire this award.

Worst Game Analyst: Tim McCarver, Fox. Whether it be miscounting how many letters there are in the word, “strike” or overanalyzing situations, McCarver is verbose and does not allow a game to breathe. I feel the game has passed Tim by. It’s time for him to go.

Worst Studio Show: Intentional Talk, MLB Network. This show is an abortion. Co-hosted by Chris Rose and Kevin Millar, this show makes no sense. Rose is a bad host. Millar is constantly yelling. Why is this show even on the air? And why did MLB Network allow this to continue during the offsesason? Intentional Talk needs to be put to sleep and immediately. It is one of the worst shows in the history of sports television.

Worst Studio Host: Chris Rose, MLB Network/Fox. How this man hosts for two networks is beyond me. He’s gone from being on the Best Damn Sports Show, Period to somehow hosting MLB on Fox and Intentional Talk. Chris Rose is an enigma. And his postgame questions during the American League Championship Series were mind boggling.

Worst Studio Analyst: Kevin Millar, MLB Network. He has apparently subscribes to the Michael Irvin Style of Broadcasting which means yelling, yelling and more yelling. Why does he have to yell? Why is he yelling? Does Millar yell because he thinks yelling is funny? Does he feel he has to yell to get his point across? After watching him, I need to take 10 Tylenols to get rid of my tension headaches. I love what Millar did with the 2004 Red Sox. I hate him on TV.

Worst Way To End A Career: Dan McLaughlin, Fox Sports Midwest. Dan McLaughlin, the TV voice of the St. Louis Cardinals had some pretty good gigs. Not only was he the main announcer for the Cardinals, he also was calling college basketball games on ESPN. However, after being arrested not once, but twice on DUI charges over a span of 13 months, McLaughlin lost his jobs calling Missouri basketball and Missouri Valley Conference games. His future with Fox Sports Midwest remains in doubt and he wasn’t seen doing the last two weeks of Cardinals games. Here’s hoping Dan gets the help he needs so he can get back on the straight and narrow.

And that will conclude this year’s edition of the MLB TV Awards.

Putting Together A Few Thursday Links

I’ll give you some linkage. Won’t be able to give you a whole set, but I’ll give you what I can as I have to do the Friday features, Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks, College Football Viewing Picks, NFL Viewing Picks and Weekend Viewing Picks tonight. I won’t be able to blog extensively on Friday as I’ll be away from my computer, but I will have my iPad to post any important press releases and breaking news as necessary.

But for now, this is what we have.

Sports Business Daily notes the lower ratings for Fox for World Series Game 1 on Wednesday, but more importantly, it won the night for the network.

SBD also looks at the media fallout from Bryant Gumbel’s comments on HBO’s Real Sports earlier this week in regards to NBA Commissioner David Stern.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today wonders if the 2011 World Series is on track to become the lowest rated World Series ever.

The Big Lead notes that Fox’s Tim McCarver knew how to spell S-T-R-I-K-E, but didn’t know how many letters there were.

Lindsay Rubino of Broadcasting & Cable notes that Fox won the night in the 18-49 demographic thanks to the World Series.

Phil Swann of TV Predictions says Fox’s HD picture of World Series Game 1 was much improved from the American League Championship Series.

Etan Vlessing of the Hollywood Reporter writes that the NHL has signed a rights deal to have all of its games streamed in Scandinavia. This is after ESPN America lost the rights to air NHL games across Europe.

Anthony Crupi of Adweek writes that the NFL is the king of the TV ratings heap.

Dan Shanoff writes a guest column for CNBC’s Darren Rovell about the NFL’s new Venture Capital fund.

The U.S. Open and the United States Tennis Association are looking to add another day to the tournament and ending it on a Monday. CBS is considering the change.

Brandon Costa from Sports Video Group notes that NBC is putting the infrastructure in place to ensure a smooth brand transition from Versus to NBC Sports Network.

Keith Groller at the Allentown (PA) Morning Call can’t believe Two and a Half Men actually beat the NFL in the ratings thus far.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says Fox is concerned about winning the night, not low ratings projections for the World Series.

The Orlando Sentinel has a primer on how fans can watch tonight’s Central Florida-UAB game.

From the Dallas Morning News, Barry Horn writes that local ratings for the World Series were not as good as St. Louis’.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes that E:60 did a piece on a local woman whose husband had to work on her after a bicycle accident.

George Hesselberg at the Wisconsin State Journal notes that outgoing MLB Commissioner Bud Selig got a sweetheart deal from the University of Wisconsin to use an office to write his memoirs and so he can also watch MLB Network which is usually not available on campus.

Dan Caesar from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Game 1 of the World Series ended too quickly for Fox’s liking.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News looks at the US TV bidding for the 2018/’22 World Cups.

Tom has your football schedule for the weekend complete with pictures of his new sweetheart, ESPN’s Jenn Brown.

Sports Media Watch has the final ratings of this year’s League Championship Series.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says Versus got low viewership for Colorado-Toronto on Monday.

Steve has some ideas for NHL Overtime on Versus.

Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing has video of Joe Buck apologizing to America before last night’s World Series Game 1. Joe Buck is such as a jerk.

I have to end it there. I keep getting interrupted and I can’t anything done. Back later.

It’s Been Way Too Long Without Linkage

I appreciate you still visiting Fang’s Bites as I’ve been trying to keep the site updated for you. Linkage has been scarce since Sunday. Been busy helping my sister with her son and then I was out for most of the morning.

Time to provide you with some linkage.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today says Fox Sports will be using infra-red technology during the World Series.

The Nielsen Wire blog notes the MLB teams that topped their local markets in the TV ratings.

Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball Talk looks at Bryant Gumbel’s controversial commentary about NBA Commissioner David Stern.

Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing says while Gumbel’s “plantation overseer” comment is what’s driving controversy, it’s Stern himself who’s stirring the pot.

Robert Littal at Black Sports Online is uncomfortable with Gumbel’s commentary.

Lauren Schutte of the Hollywood Reporter has a look at Stephen Colbert’s mock ad on the NBA lockout.

George Winslow from Broadcasting & Cable says the Big 12 Conference has chosen a company to help develop mobile apps for the iPhone and Android platforms.

Mike Reynolds at Multichannel News writes that ESPN scored a key demographic win for Monday Night Football.

Anthony Crupi of Adweek says low ratings for the MLB League Championship Series isn’t providing much hope for the World Series.

Anthony also looks at the breakdown of talks between the NFL and Time Warner Cable for the NFL Network.

Glenn Davis of SportsGrid says while people are talking about Bryant Gumbel’s comments about NBA Commissioner David Stern, there’s another unflattering analogy about him floating around the internet today.

Joe Gisondi of the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center has some suggestions on how to write a proper lead and how to avoid writing clichés.

Brandon Costa from Sports Video Group says Fox Sports Midwest is trying to set itself apart among the outlets covering this year’s World Series.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell looks at the two Lone Star State businessmen behind the Texas Rangers.

To Pro Hockey Talk and Mike Halford who says the Winnipeg Jets are blown away by the local media coverage particularly today in Toronto as compared to when they were the Atlanta Thrashers.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says the byes in NFL Week 7 are leaving Fox with scraps.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call writes that Fox’s Joe Buck doesn’t care if you think he’s biased for one team or another.

From the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog, Dan Steinberg notes that former DC NFL Team quarterback Joe Theismann isn’t in favor of John Beck starting this week over train wreck Rex Grossman. This is why Joe was such a bad analyst.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says ESPN on ABC correctly covered Dan Wheldon’s death and subsequent tribute on Sunday.

To the Houston Chronicle where Anna-Megan Raley shows us how Texans tight end Joel Dreessen took down an NFL Network analyst.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman says the Fox Sports crew is looking forward to airing its 14th World Series.

Mel notes that college football topped the local ratings.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says the local CBS affiliate won’t carry Carson Palmer’s Oakland Raiders debut on Sunday.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business has some sports TV notes including the World Series ratings expectations.

Ed also compares the fates and fortunes of the Cubs and Cardinals as the World Series begins tonight.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes that both Joe Buck and Tim McCarver are almost back at full strength after separate physical ailments.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News writes that Fox won’t be displaying a live strike zone graphic as TBS did during its MLB Postseason coverage.

Bruce Dowbiggin at the Toronto Globe and Mail says like it or not, Don Cherry’s influence on Canadian hockey cannot be measured.

Sports Media Watch notes that CBS finally broke out of its NFL ratings losing streak in Week 5.

SMW says in NFL Week 5, Fox saw a ratings downtick.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media notes that Versus/NBC Sports Network will begin airing Notre Dame hockey games this season.

And that will do it for links today.

NLCS Game 6 Quotage on TBS

Let’s close out the National League Championship Series quotage from the deciding Game 6 during which the St. Louis Cardinals beat up on the Milwaukee Brewers, 12-6 setting up the World Series with the Texas Rangers starting on Wednesday.

Here’s the quotage.

Notes from MLB Postseason on TBS – October 16, 2011
The St. Louis Cardinals win the NLCS, 4-2

TBS MLB on Deck
Matt Winer (host) and Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David Wells (analysts)

TBS MLB reporter Craig Sager interviewed St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jason Motte prior to the game
Motte on his role for the Cardinals: “I just have to make my pitches and execute. And be ready to let the rest happen. I really try not to think about it too much I just believe in the stuff that I have and (try to) be confident.”

Motte on facing Milwaukee Brewers power hitters Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun: “I will just try to get them out. If I face them, then we are going to attack them. We have to get ahead of guys like these; we can’t fall behind. The goal in pitching to anyone is getting ahead and if you fall behind, especially with these guys, you have to throw a strike otherwise these guys can hurt you.”

Motte on St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa refusing to name him the closer: ” It doesn’t matter to me (on not being named the closer) or when they bring me in. If the phone rings and my name gets called for the first inning or the fifth inning it doesn’t really matter. I just look at it as it’s my job to go out there and get these guys out and that’s what I am going to do.”

Winer on the St. Louis Cardinals stats at Miller Park: “All their numbers across the board are better here.”

Eckersley on St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Edwin Jackson: “This is a power arm. He throws the ball well. This guy has been on the big stage. He had an elimination game against the Phillies. He’s played well for the Cardinals. He’s got nasty stuff. Smoltz said it right, you have to act like the closer every inning out there. He’s pitched so well for the Cardinals this year. ”

Wells on Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Shaun Marcum’s demeanor during batting practice: “He was loose, he was happy-go-lucky and I like that sign in a pitcher. Especially when most guys are uptight in a potential elimination game. He just has to go out there and play and trust his stuff.”

Eckersley on St. Louis Cardinals Jason Motte: “His confidence is sky high, but he hasn’t faced Fielder and Braun, and sometimes when you are the closer sometimes that’s the way it works out. You pitch who they tell you to pitch against but it takes nothing away from this guy’s confidence, and this guy is the closer, and it couldn’t come up at a bigger time because he is totally unaffected by it and Tony loves him.”

TBS’ Sager interviewing Milwaukee Brewers’ second baseman Rickie Weeks on the possibility of playing in the World Series with his childhood friend Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder
Weeks: “It feels great. This is what you dream of when you are in the backyard playing rag top baseball. We felt pretty good right now. Obviously we would like to be in a better situation, but we need to perform tonight and go out there, have fun and win a ball game.”

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St. Louis Cardinals (12) @ Milwaukee Brewers (6) – The St. Louis Cardinals win the NLCS and advance to the World Series
Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play) Ron Darling and John Smoltz (analysts) with Craig Sager reporting

Anderson on the Brewers going into Game 6: “The Brewers are playing without a net. It’s either win or go home.”

Smoltz on St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols when at bat: “That has been one thing in this series; Albert has had a good series but when Milwaukee executes its pitches and even throw pitches off the strike zone, he hasn’t been as patient as in the past so he can be pitched to.”

Darling on pitching in the postseason (speaking of the three-run homer Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Shaun Marcum gave up in the first inning to St. Louis Cardinals David Freese): “No worse feeling for a pitcher. You know what’s at stake. You know what you have to come out and do. You are maybe one pitch or one play away from being okay. The postseason can be awfully cruel.”

Darling on St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Edwin Jackson: “Edwin Jackson now has the luxury to go after hitters more aggressively. He has a good fastball and a good slider.”

Smoltz on the number of times St. Louis Cardinals’ Jackson has been traded prior to coming to St. Louis: “He has appeared in five different uniforms – his own version of the Jackson 5.”

Anderson on the number of home runs hit early in Game 5 after Milwaukee Brewers Rickie Weeks hits a home run in the bottom of the second inning: “It’s a home run derby tonight here at Miller Park!”

Anderson on the number of home runs early in the game: “Five home runs already in this game and we are only in the second inning. Our pitchers up in the box, Darling and Smoltz, are a little gun shy up here.”

Darling on the Milwaukee Brewers at home: “They just don’t panic here – the Brewers. They know they play well. They know they are going to score runs. They know they can pop the ball out of the park. They had to have been shocked to have given up those four runs in the first, but they’ve done it here all year long.”

Darling on one of the Brewers relievers leading the the team in strike outs: “You know it’s been an amazing series when pitchers have not had their way, but (Chris) Narveson leads the Brewers staff with strike outs. You would never predict in this series that that could be the situation.”

Smoltz on Mark McGwire, St. Louis Cardinals hitting coach: “In his second year, as the hitting coach for St. Louis, Tony La Russa said that the best thing that he (McGwire) does is he remembers that it was hard to hit the baseball and he is good not only with the mechanical parts of the swing but also very, very good at understanding his hitters.”

Darling on Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder: “Doug Melvin, the Milwaukee Brewers general manager said he would like for the Brewers to go to the World Series and win it and turn the card on Fielder and have a chance to sign him and keep him in Milwaukee.”

Anderson on St. Louis Cardinals Pujols and Milwaukee Brewers Fielder: “It’s going to be an interesting off-season with the two first basemen in this series; Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder. Two guys you have a hard time imagining them in uniforms other than the ones they are wearing.”

Darling on La Russa’s involvement in the game: “He loves postseaon baseball. He is in it from pitch one and there are certain things you do during the postseason that you would never do during the regular season. Like how he has handled his bullpen this series.”

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa spoke to TBS in between innings on the events of last night’s game
La Russa: “It’s unusual because you usually don’t get here without good starting pitchers, and it’s really a freak thing and really not fun to do this to a starting pitcher. They have gotten us here, both of our clubs, and to struggle like this is tough to watch, but that’s how the game is being played.”

Darling on the home runs this game: “You know there’s been a lot of home runs when you can start analyzing the pitches that the home runs were hit off of. Six of them in this game already.”

Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke spoke with TBS in between innings on what he thinks is the way back for the Brewers last night
Roenicke: “Certainly not the way we expected it to go. It was tough on the starting pitching and offensively we are doing a nice job, so hopefully we keep it up and are able to come back here.”

Roenicke on Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Shaun Marcum: “It was a tough game for him tonight. We expected great things from him, so did he, and it’s been tough with the way things have been going for us this game.”

Smoltz on the Cardinals play this series: “It has been a series where, as Tony (La Russa) said, he didn’t intend for this but it really has been magical what these guys have been able to do. He’s pushed the right buttons and the guys have delivered.”

Anderson on the night’s multiple home runs: “It has been a night full of home runs in this game.a record-setting night for home runs already six combined which is a postseason record and all of them came in the first three innings.”

Smoltz on Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun’s hitting capabilities at Miller Park: “Braun can cover every part of the park. His power is not limited to one section.”

Smoltz on the crowd’s reaction to Fielder’s potential last at-bat as a Milwaukee Brewer: “There could be a big reaction from the crowd in what could be Fielder’s last at-bat.”

Smoltz on the St. Louis Cardinals potential play against the Texas Rangers in the World Series: “I think Holliday is going to be key. You know what (Albert) Pujols is going to do, but Holliday against the four starters for Texas are all left-handed and very talented. The right-handed hitters are all going to have to come through.”

Smoltz on the Cardinals this year: “This team, 10 ½ back…they get to the playoffs and everything they decided to do whether it was a bullpen choice or pinch-hitting choice, everything came up roses.”

TBS’s reporter Craig Sager interviewed St. Louis Cardinals Matt Holliday following the game
Holliday on the Cardinals road to the postseason: “We had a lot of adversity along the way, but we got in, and played really well and we are on our way to the World Series. We are hitting the ball really well.”

Holliday on Freese giving the team a big lift this postseason: “I’m not surprised. He is a good kid. He’s battled serious injuries, but to get a chance to watch him grow as a person and as a player and come out here as a player, I am super-impressed.”

Sager interviewed St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols following the game
Pujols comments on when he thought this team might make it to the World Series: “You know what, it was when we got to the postseason. Anything can happen. We tip our cap to the Brewers. They played hard. They never gave up. They had a great year. Tonight’s our night and we need to enjoy it. But we got another step to climb and we have big games to play.

Pujols on what changed and why this team was so good in the postseason: “It was our bullpen that pretty much got us into the postseason and we started swinging when we needed to and picking each other up. That’s why we are here.”

Bill Giles honorary National League president, presenting the NL Championship trophy to the Cardinals president Bill DeWitt: “This year was particularly remarkable. You have a never-say-die attitude great character a testimony to you.”

Bill DeWitt, president of the St. Louis Cardinals on this year’s team: “Our guys never gave up and we said let’s win as many games as we can and see what happens and you see what happened. I commend the Brewers for a great season and a great series.”

John Mozeliak the St. Louis Cardinals general manager on the team’s late-season success: “Right before we made the trades, we had a lot of people working together to make things happen. We always thought we had a chance, if we could ever get it going. It took a couple of weeks to get it going but once it did, we took off.”

Mozeliak on La Russa’s management of the team during the postseason: “Every button he pushed worked. I have been with him a long time and know how prepared he is. I knew we had a chance.”

Winer speaking with St. Louis Cardinals MVP David Freese on when he felt like everything clicked and why during the NLDS: “That’s the crazy thing about baseball. You just keep working hard and you get hot every now and then and it was a great time. What our bullpen did, they are the ones that really deserve this award (MVP). They are the reason why we won.”

Anderson on St. Louis Cardinals Freese and his accomplishments and his thoughts on the bullpen: “David Freese is now a star. But even Freese gave credit to the tremendous effort by the bullpen.”

Darling on the St. Louis Cardinals bull pen: “The bullpen was just unbelievable. It’s hard to believe they could pull it off being out there so many innings.”

Smoltz on the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals match-up: “This is a year where if you know anything about baseball, throw it out the window. For the Cardinals, they really are going to have to get more out of their starters. It’s going to be an intriguing match-up because I think we are going to see some really different arms coming out of Texas.”

TBS reporter Craig Sager interviewed Chris Carpenter after the game
Carpenter: “We have been playing hard all year long, we had some ups and downs, but the last two months we put it together and started winning. You have to give credit to everyone in this clubhouse from top to bottom. It was a lot of fun.”

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Inside MLB
Matt Winer (host), David Wells, Dennis Eckersley and Cal Ripken (analysts)

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder on taking off the Brewer jersey for maybe the last time: “I had a couple of clear-the-throat moments, but it was alright. I mean, I love these guys, I have been playing with most of them since I was 18. This organization has been great to me and it’s been good.”

Wells on Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder and what he will do next: “He still has a long career to go. This kid is going to be a great player, he already is now, his legacy is going to continue no matter where he is. He is a cool cat.”

Eckersley on Fielder: “He is unbelievable, he is a classy kid. He could light it up, and he lit it up for six years in Milwaukee.”

And that will do it. Thanks to Turner Sports for the press releases throughout the MLB Postseason. Job well done. Much appreciated and we’ll do it all again next year.

Bringing Out The Sunday Links

Let’s provide the links on this Sunday.

Tim Goodman in the Hollywood Reporter writes about how the MLB Postseason remains compelling even without big market teams.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News notes that Game 4 of the National League Championship Series became the third most watched NLCS game on cable.

John Eggerton of Multichannel says DirecTV will air the first ever 3D production of pro bull riding.

Mike says Golf Channel is off to record ratings for the PGA Tour’s Fall Series.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel notes that ESPN has closed its Content Development department which was responsible for its critically acclaimed “30 for 30″ series.

The Big Lead notes that ESPN.com college football reporter Pat Forde is leaving to join Yahoo! Sports.

Barry Janoff of The Big Lead writes that the NHL is now red hot for marketers.

Dan Fogarty of SportsGrid says ESPN will not discipline New York Daily News columnist Mike Lupica for an anti-President Obama piece.

From Media Bistro’s Agency Spy site, Kiran Aditham wonders which agency won the NBC Sports account.

In Sports Media Journal, Southern New England media mogul Keith Thibault delves into the controversial Boston Globe piece on the collapse of the Red Sox.

Matthew Holehouse of the London (UK) Telegraph looks at ESPN UK’s new virtual studio for its English Premier League broadcasts.

The Hartford Courant says both the State of Connecticut and NBC are not commenting about reports that NBC Sports could be moving its headquarters to Stamford.

To the New York Post where Phil Mushnick has some suggestions for the TV networks.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call speaks with former CNN Sports Tonight co-host Fred Hickman about his friend, the late Nick Charles.

Neal Zoren of the Delaware County Times says a retired Philadelphia sportscaster will have new book coming out this week.

The Washington Post’s Reliable Source column notes that ESPN’s Lindsay Czarniak tied the knot with an MSNBC anchor.

Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times has a few sports media tidbits.

The Miami Herald says E:60 will have a feature on a WWE wrestler who’s been locked in a battle outside of the ring.

Tommy Stevenson of the Tuscaloosa (AL) News says sports television coverage of this year’s devastating tornado has showed the city’s resilience to the nation.

George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press notes that ESPN’s College GameDay will be on the Michigan State campus this week.

Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times looks at HBO Sports tapping the Showtime ranks for its new division president.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog replies to a blogger who wants the CBC to be privatized and no longer be funded by the government.

The Toronto Sports Media Blog notes the passing of a Canadian sportswriter.

Sports Media Watch says the ratings for the NLCS are improving, but still down from last year.

Steve Lepore of Puck The Media goes off the beaten path and says realignment in college football could mean some good things for Versus/NBC Sports Network.

Awful Announcing introduces the Dick Stockton Chronicles.

And that will do it for today.

Bringing Out The Saturday Links

Let’s do some Saturday linkage for you today. Since Wednesday, I’ve been trying to trying catch up here.

John Ourand of Sports Business Daily/Sports Business Journal notes that the NFL and Time Warner Cable have ended carriage talks on NFL Network without an agreement.

Phil Swann at TV Predictions says Time Warner Cable failed to get the job done.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch looks at the new Turner Sports documentary on the 1991 and 1992 national champion Duke teams.

Eric Deggans of the St. Petersburg Times writes in the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center takes ESPN to task for waiting too long to make a decision on the Hank Williams, Jr. mess.

John Eggerton from Multichannel News says the FCC has agreed to allow MSG Network until November to provide HD feeds of its programming to Verizon and AT&T U-Verse.

The big story of Friday was the impromptu interview of Red Sox principal owner John Henry by 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston. Apparently, Henry walked into the radio station angry over some things said by hosts Mike Felger and Tony Massarotti in the wake of the now-infamous Boston Globe article on the collapse of the Red Sox. Bruce Allen of Sports Media Watch recaps the interview.

Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe also listened and has an extensive recap.

Hall of Fame announcer Jack Buck, former NBC Sports Emperor Dick Ebersol, NASCAR President Bill France, Jr. and NFL Films President Steve Sabol headline this year’s class for the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell has an open letter to NBA Players Association head Billy Hunter on the so-far futile negotiations between the league and the rank and file.

The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir notes that HBO Sports has a new president replacing Ross Greenburg who stepped down earlier this year.

Richard writes about former Oakland Raiders coach and NFL analyst John Madden mourning the death of his friend, Al Davis.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call writes that HBO will have a documentary on a New Jersey high school basketball team in search of perfection.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner suggests the Big East go after schools in big TV markets to ensure the league’s survival.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that the National League Championship Series is a big hit in the local markets, but not nationally.

Bob says the start time for Game 6 of the NLCS is still up in the air.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that Turner Sports’ Matt Winer has had a homecoming this week in the Gateway City.

Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times says the Anaheim Angels are close to renewing a rights deal with Fox Sports West.

John Maffei of the North County Times is not a fan of Chris Berman calling play-by-play. Who is?

Sports Media Watch has some various ratings news and notes.

That will do it.

NLCS Game 5 Quotage on TBS

I’m going to post this press release and then shut my eyes as it’s time to sleep. This is the quotage from Friday night’s Game 5 of the National League Championship Series between Milwaukee and St. Louis, handily won by the Cardinals, 7-1, putting the Redbirds just one game away from the World Series as the series shifts to Milwaukee for Sunday.

Here’s the quotes from TBS from MLB on Deck, the actual game and then Inside MLB. It’s all below.

Notes from MLB Postseason on TBS – October 14, 2011

The National League Championship Series will continue on TBS on Sunday, October 16 at 3:30 p.m. ET* with TBS MLB on Deck followed by Game 6 of the NLCS featuring St. Louis Cardinals @ Milwaukee Brewers (4 p.m. ET*). The night will conclude with the post-game show Inside MLB.

*If the ALCS has ended, TBS MLB on Deck at 7:30 p.m. (ET); Game 6 at 8 p.m. (ET)

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TBS MLB on Deck
Matt Winer (host) and Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David Wells (analysts)

Wells on starting pitchers needing to throw more innings to give the bullpen some rest: “These guys have to go deeper into games in order to give (the bullpen) a chance.”

Eckersley on starting pitchers not living up to the hype due to short appearances: “This isn’t spring training but you might as well not even say who the starter is. We get all jacked up about who the starter is. Meanwhile, he only lasts about three innings and is forgotten and long gone by the time we get to the sixth inning.”

Eckersley on pitchers avoiding the big inning: “Everything is like a clincher and you can’t give up a crooked number. If you give up a three-run bridge-ball (home run), they can’t get you out quick enough.”

TBS’ reporter Craig Sager interviewed St. Louis Cardinals’ manager Tony La Russa prior to the game
La Russa on the high ERAs of the starting pitchers in the series: “I think the stat is a quirk because there are so few innings that’s your sample that if you have three or four (earned runs given up) in one start, it blows it out of proportion. More than anything else, it’s a tribute to the offense on both teams. Every (pitcher) who has given up a big number, has pitched several innings where they have given up nothing. If you make a mistake, these offenses on both sides will punish you.”

La Russa on Cardinals Game 5 starter Jaime Garcia: “He’s a work in progress and he’s been amazing. I expect him to be amazing tonight. He will get better and better.”

Ripken on Milwaukee Brewers’ lead-off hitter Corey Hart: “I like him leading off. He’s a unique lead-off hitter, he’s got good power to all fields. He can put a run on the scoreboard really quickly. He’s got a good eye at the plate. I just think he’s trying a little bit too hard. The off-day probably did him some good and he could do some damage.”

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St. Louis Cardinals (7) @ Milwaukee Brewers (1) – St. Louis leads series 3-2
Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play) Ron Darling and John Smoltz (analysts) with Craig Sager reporting

Smoltz on starting pitchers learning from their mistakes in the Postseason: “From start to start in the Postseason, if you’re fortunate enough to get more than one start, your failures can become your greatest assets. You can learn from an emotional inning. You then make the changes you need to make.”

Darling on pitching to Prince Fielder: “It’s a catch-22 when you’re facing Prince Fielder because the slider is the pitch he’s most vulnerable to but if you hang it, he can hit it 500 feet.”

Smoltz on mentally slowing the game down in the Postseason: “The guy that is the most successful at this time of year is the guy who can slow the game down. This game can be fast-paced.”

Smoltz on Brewers’ starter Zack Greinke pitching better than the score reflects: “It’s an odd game for Greinke. He does not deserve to have given up four runs (through four innings). That’s the way it can go because baseball is such a game of inches.”

TBS’ Brian Anderson, Ron Darling and John Smoltz interviewed Cardinals’ manager Tony La Russa during the game
La Russa on his decision to have his eighth place hitter, Nick Punto, sacrifice bunt with pitcher Jaime Garcia on deck: “Well you have two shots. Actually, Jaime has a real nice stroke and if he makes an out, you’ve still got (Rafael) Furcal, who’s been tough on Greinke. So you’ve got two chances to put the ball in play. It turned out alright; we had a contact hitter and got a nice break.”

La Russa on how he would rate his catcher, Yadier Molina: “How about twenty on a scale of ten in every category. I’d pay to sit here and watch him for 162 games. He does everything as good as it can be done on the defensive-side and he’s one of the toughest outs in our lineup.”

Smoltz on how pitchers can start to over-think things on the mound: “Every pitcher has a moment when they start reminding themselves of what could go wrong or what did go wrong. You have to eliminate it from your mind. You have to make pitches.”

Darling on La Russa removing Jaime Garcia with two outs in the fifth inning after allowing him to bat in the fourth: “Might be the first time we’ve seen a manager have more confidence in his pitcher as a hitter, not a pitcher.”

Smoltz on the Cardinals: “St. Louis has defied every law of baseball to get here.”

Smoltz on Brewers starting pitcher Zack Greinke: “(Acquiring Greinke) was a great move for Milwaukee to bolster their staff and give them a chance to be a front-runner in their division. He’s going to win a lot of games for Milwaukee if he can stay healthy.”

Darling on the Brewers feeling the pressure of the Postseason and making defensive mistakes: “Sometimes it’s shocking in the Postseason to see teams that have played well all year long start to make errors. To me, it comes from a little bit of frustration…and feeling a little bit of the pressure of a Game 5.”

Darling on the Cardinals’ bullpen: “If the Cardinals win this series, can the whole bullpen win the MVP award? Just give it to all of them.”

Anderson on Cardinals rookie reliever Lance Lynn batting in the 7th inning: “Do rookie relievers have their own bats?”
Smoltz: “No…we place those orders in spring training and they come by covered wagon.”

TBS reporter Craig Sager interviewed Cardinals’ catcher Yadier Molina following the game
Molina on the Cardinals’ bullpen: “We’ve been aggressive in the strike zone. Getting strike one has been the key for us. We’re having a good series right now and hopefully we can do it for one more game.”

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Inside MLB
Matt Winer (host) and Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David Wells (analysts)

Ripken on Cardinals’ manager Tony La Russa’s use of his bullpen: “It seems like Tony (La Russa) has taken specialization to another level in the playoffs.  He’s not really worried about getting the starter deep into the game, it’s about getting the hot pitcher and the right pitcher into that match-up and it’s working.”

Wells on La Russa’s quick hook with his starting pitchers: “I’m mad as a starting pitcher…the way things are going, if I’m a pitcher out there, it’s about pride too because his job is to go out there and go deep into the game.  In a situation like that, I’ve got three runs (lead and get taken out)…I’m a little chapped and I might have to have a conversation with (the manager).”
Eckersley: “You’re going to have to put your pride in your pocket. Are you kidding me?
Wells: “Well you were a reliever; you want to be out there.”
Eckersley: “Come on…this is about winning. This isn’t about you going five innings and getting the ‘W’ (win).”

Eckersley on the Tigers vs. Rangers in the ALCS: “The pressure is on Detroit. I almost wrote them off when it was four games to one. It would be a great comeback but I don’t see it happening. Too much power in Texas.”

And we’ll end it there.

NLCS Game 4 Quotage on TBS

Ah, we get this quotage from Turner Sports just about an hour after TBS signed off the air. I really do appreciate a sports network PR department willing to work that hard to get a press release so quickly.

So let’s see what was said during tonight’s coverage of Game 4 of the National League Championship Series which is now tied after Milwaukee’s big 4-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals that now assures us of having at least 6 games in this baseball saga.

We have the Turner Sports press release below.

Notes from NLCS Game 4 on TBS – October 13, 2011

The National League Championship Series continues on TBS on Friday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET with TBS MLB on Deck followed by Game 5 of the NLCS featuring the Milwaukee Brewers @ St. Louis Cardinals (8 p.m. ET). The night will conclude with the post-game show Inside MLB.

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TBS MLB on Deck
Matt Winer (host) and Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David Wells (analysts)

Eckersley on the Cardinals bullpen and closer Jason Motte: “That is the favorite part of the game for me. We’re talking about ‘Gas Masterson.’The Cardinals know who their closer is and it’s Jason Motte.”

Ripken on the Cardinals starting pitching: “It seems at some point the starter has to get you a little farther into the game. You’ve got to get your pitcher past the fifth inning.”

Eckersley on the Cardinals starting pitching:  “I’ve never seen any postseason where a starting pitcher can’t get into the sixth inning. It’s insane.”

Ripken on Cardinals third baseman David Freese: “This guy likes to hit with runners in scoring position. He is hitting the ball as hard and as well as anyone in the series.”

Wells on Milwaukee Brewers starter Randy Wolf: “He’s a veteran guy. He has to locate his fastball, his cutter and his change-up. He’s got to spot those [pitches] and be perfect. He knows this is a huge, huge game for him.”

TBS’ Craig Sager interviewed Cardinals third baseman David Freese about hitting cleanup tonight and explained how he was “informed.”
Freese: “[Cardinals manager] Tony [La Russa] just threw it on the lineup card and he didn’t really tell me.”

Ripken on Cardinals David Freese hitting clean-up: “I expect they’ll pitch around [Albert] Pujols and make David beat them.”

Wells on Brewers starting pitcher Randy Wolf and his prediction on the night: “[Randy] Wolf is going to pull it out tonight. He’s the only active pitcher with 127 [regular season] wins that doesn’t have a postseason win. I think he might get his first one tonight.”

Ripken prediction: “Milwaukee finds a way to sneak one.”

Eckersley prediction: “[Cardinals Kyle] Lohse is going to stick it to them [the Brewers].”

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Milwaukee Brewers (4) @ St. Louis Cardinals (2) – The series is tied 2-2
Announcers:  Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Ron Darling, John Smoltz (analysts) and Craig Sager (reporter)

Smoltz on the strength of the Cardinals bullpen: “Every club likes to have an edge and they’re getting their edge back in the bullpen. If they continue, it’s the reason they could advance to the World Series.”

Darling on the Milwaukee Brewers: “It there panic? Absolutely not. Is there a sense of urgency from the Milwaukee Brewers? Of course. It’s really going to be Randy Wolf who’s going to have to toe the hill for this Milwaukee team.”

Darling on Cardinals starting pitcher Kyle Lohse and his propensity for giving up big innings: “When he gives up runs, he gives them up in bunches.”

Darling on the Milwaukee Brewers falling behind 2-0: “The Milwaukee Brewers have been a team that plays on emotion but it is hard to emote when you’re playing from behind.”

TBS interviewed Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke in between innings:
Roenicke on the Brewers third baseman Jerry Hairston: “He’s really come on, especially in the playoffs. We will continue to put him out there and hopefully he’ll continue to do good things.”

Smoltz on Cardinals reliever Octavio Dotel’s pitching motion: “Dotel has one of those deliveries when the fastball has life, it’s hard to pick up. It doesn’t look like he’s throwing 95 [mph].”

Darling on the Brewers inability to mount a running game against the Cardinals: “Not too much running for these Brewers, a lot of that has to do with [Cardinals catcher] Yadier Molina’s arm.”

Smoltz on Milwaukee Brewers closer John Axford: “He just has one of the most electric fastballs.”

Darling on the Milwaukee Brewers win: “They got a big road game win to get them back to Milwaukee.”

TBS reporter Craig Sager interviewed Milwaukee’s Randy Wolf about his first postseason win after 127 regular season wins and Ryan Braun’s game-winning hit:
Wolf: “It was the biggest game I’ve ever pitched in.”
Braun: “Facing [Cardinals reliever Mitchell] Boggs, he’s throwing 96-97 and I’m just trying to make sure I got the run home.”

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Inside MLB
Matt Winer (host) and Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David Wells (analysts)

Wells on Milwaukee Brewers winning pitcher Randy Wolf: “He was scaring the heck out of those guys [the Cardinals] with his curveball.”

Eckersley on Cardinals losing pitcher Kyle Lohse: “He pitched good for three innings and then he lost it. [Cardinals manager] Tony [La Russa] rolled the dice to go out to the bullpen early again and it didn’t pay off.”

Wells on Texas Rangers pitcher C.J. Wilson’s ineffectiveness in the postseason: “C.J. is baffling me because he’s getting rocked this postseason.”

Wells on the Brewers offense: “They kept the pressure on them [the Cardinals] and that’s how you win ballgames.”

Eckersley on Milwaukee Brewers closer John Axford: “This guy is as good as anybody.”

That will do it.

Bringing Out The Thursday Links

Wednesday was a lost cause for me as I was away from the office all day and spending time with my week old nephew in Boston. I helped my sister out with a few things as she’s dealing with her first child. There will be days like that on the blog for the next few weeks so please be patient. For the next time that occurs, I’ll do my best to write features ahead of time so the blog won’t be completely bare like it was Wednesday.

Let’s do the links.

Sports Business Daily addresses the fallout of the Boston Globe article on the Red Sox September swoon authored by Bob Hohler, but seemingly came directly from the Red Sox front office on the collapse of the team and the sullying of former manager Terry Francona.

Current’s Keith Olbermann, a friend of Terry Francona, comes to the ex-Red Sox manager’s defense and fires back at Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino.

Nate Davis of USA Today writes that CBS NFL analyst Phil Simms once talked with the late Raiders owner Al Davis to become a coach of the team.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand has Fox Sports less than bullish on using Hank Williams, Jr. on any of its programming.

From the ESPN Ombudsman, Jason Fry and Kelly McBride of the Poynter Institute give their take on ESPN’s handling of the Hank Williams, Jr. mess.

Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated says soccer insiders are very interested in seeing whether ESPN or NBC Sports Group wins the bidding for the 2018/2022 World Cups.

Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand handicaps the World Cup rights race.

Lindsay Powers of the Hollywood Reporter says a rain delay in the American League Championship Series last night ended up hurting Fox in the primetime ratings.

Timothy Burke at SportsGrid notes that Tim McCarver was proven tremendously wrong during Game 4 of the American League Championship Series.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says a dominant Jimmie Johnson is not good for NASCAR.

ESPN PR man Nate Smeltz in the ESPN Front Row blog tells us how the network will replace NBA games in the first two weeks of the canceled regular season.

Patrick Bernard of the Stamford (CT) Patch wonders if NBC Sports will move its operations to Stamford, CT.

The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir feels the NBA season could stand to lose some more games.

From the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record, Ken McMillan says Army’s basketball season opener will be aired live on CBS Sports Network.

Paul J. Gough of the Pittsburgh Business Times writes that the Pirates will have a new radio flagship next season.

Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post says the Nationals have hired a consultant to help them get fair market value from MASN for their TV rights.

Dan Kausler, Jr. of the Birmingham (AL) News talks with ESPN’s BCS guru about Alabama and LSU.

Greg Auman at the St. Petersburg Times speaks with ESPN’s Urban Meyer about his coaching future and his work at the Alleged Worldwide Leader.

In the Daily Oklahoman, Mel Bracht says this year’s renewal of the annual Red River Shootout did monster ratings in Oklahoma City.

The Indiana Pacers and Fox Sports Indiana have announced that Brooke Olzendam (Collins) will be the team’s new host/sideline reporter of its broadcasts if and when the season gets underway.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that Fox Sports Wisconsin is keeping mostly mum on losing Bucks games.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Times has a look at the football TV schedule, both college and pro for this week.

Tom quotes Lakers legend Jerry West on the late broadcaster Chick Hearn.

J.J. Fidler of the Grunion (CA) Gazette writes about a local woman who has hit the big time with Fox.

The Oregonian reports that ESPN has chosen the spot on the University of Oregon campus from where ESPN’s College GameDay will air live this Saturday.

The Thoroughbred Times notes that ESPN will air a documentary on ill-fated Triple Crown candidate Charismatic.

Sports Media Watch says NASCAR seems to be finally picking up from its 2010 ratings woes.

SMW notes that this year’s American League Championship Series got a ratings boost from Game 3 on Tuesday night.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says Tuesday’s edition of NHL Overtime on Versus almost became Fight Night.

Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing says Terry Francona’s too brief gig with should have taught the networks something staying about the status quo.

Dave Kohl at the Broadcast Booth notes that three Midwestern radio stations had interesting local baseball-football doubleheaders over a two day span last week.

And that’s where we’ll end things for now. I’ll do my best to catch up with the press releases.

NLCS Game 4 Quotage on TBS

We have the notes and quotes from Game 5 of the National League Championship Series involving Milwaukee and St. Louis. Lots of talk about the Rally Squirrel in Busch Stadium. Let’s take a look.

Notes from NLCS on TBS – October 12, 2011

The National League Championship Series continues on TBS on Thursday, October 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET with TBS MLB on Deck followed by Game 4 of the NLCS featuring the Milwaukee Brewers @ St. Louis Cardinals (8 p.m. ET). The night will conclude with the post-game show Inside MLB.

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TBS MLB on Deck
Matt Winer (host) and Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David Wells (analysts)

Wells on St. Louis Cardinals’ first baseman Albert Pujols: “He is a dangerous threat at all times. For a guy to go out there and be effective with him you’ve got to pound him in and get him out with the nice little slider or cutter that’s down and away. Anything off the plate. He is hot right now and he is the guy you want to avoid now at all costs.”

Winer following a report on the St. Louis “Rally Squirrel”: ”If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times; no one delivers a squirrel update like Craig Sager.”

Eckersley on St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter: “He is a highly emotional person. He’s all about his curve ball. He is a big time competitor and if he holds his emotions in check and throws the way he did against Philadelphia you will see the emotion and I love that emotion. If you can just channel it. He throws everything up there; everything moves. He is one of the best in the game.”

Ripken on Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks:  ”What makes him tough is he doesn’t swing at the ball inside and he has power to the opposite field. Rickie is starting to swing the bat really well. He sees the ball very well.”

Wells on Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo:  ”In this postseason, he is dominating right now. He is keeping hitters on their toes and runners off base. That’s his MO right there.”

Eckersley on Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Mark Kotsay: “He’s just a veteran batter. I would have a tougher time facing him than (Nyjer) Morgan. He can eyeball you and hit the ball the other way. He is a good center fielder and he can handle the pressure.”

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Milwaukee Brewers (3) @ St. Louis Cardinals (4) – Cardinals lead the series 2-1
Announcers:  Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Ron Darling, John Smoltz (analysts) and Craig Sager (reporter)

>Darling on the St. Louis Cardinals play during the postseason:  ”Just another part of the aggressive nature of this St. Louis ball club. It doesn’t just apply to base running but also at the plate. The team is being aggressive on first pitches and 3-0 counts.”

Smoltz on St. Louis pitcher Chris Carpenter:  ”It’s controlled aggression. He’s a different person when he is in the dugout; he’s rooting for all his players, leading a lot of charges and pulling for everybody. When he’s on the mound it’s like he’s waited all day to throw that emotion and work ethic and all that he has, and he does it. He pitches with emotion but he knows how to control it.”

Smoltz on St. Louis pitcher Carpenter: ”All the young pitchers that come to St. Louis learn how to be a pro from him. You do sit on the bench. You do root for your teammates. You root for the other starters. It’s karma and you are going to get some good luck your way if you are a team player.”

Anderson on St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese:  “David Freese is a doubles machine. What a force he has been in this postseason.”

Smoltz on Freese’s performance in the regular season:  ”He’s had so many injuries it’s hard to gauge what kind of player he could have been this season. But he (La Russa) sees him as a big run producer in the future.”

TBS interviewed Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke in between innings
Roenicke on the risks of putting Mark Kotsay in the line-up: “He usually has some good things happen to him and the homer was nice and the walk early to get on base in the first inning was good.”

Anderson on the Milwaukee Brewers regular season: “Roenicke has seen his Milwaukee club win in a lot of ways. They won 96 games and set a franchise record for victories in the regular season and they outlasted the Cardinals in the NL Central by six games this year. These two central division rivals ended up as the last two teams in the NL playing all out for a trip to the World Series.”

TBS interviewed St. Louis Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa in between innings:
La Russa on the two aces on the mound:  ”They (Cardinals Chris Carpenter and Milwaukee’s Yovani Gallardo) are just not sharp tonight. Gallardo is getting sharper; he’s made some strong pitches. And Carp started out not so sharp and he’s getting better. They have a tendency to get better throughout the game.”

La Russa on David Freese and his performance in this series:  “He just gets better and better. He’s got a great career ahead of him doing exactly what you’ve seen here. He’s getting a lot of big hits.”

Anderson on youth baseball programs today:  “Youth baseball, they play year-round and the kids get burned out so easily. Freese stepped aside from baseball for awhile after high school and that was one of the reasons he was rejuvenated and came back to the sport.”

Ron Darling’s on youth baseball players: “You don’t find professional baseball, professional baseball finds you.”

Darling on the pressure St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday to protect Albert Pujols: ”There is going to be a lot of pressure on Holliday for the rest of this series if he can’t come up with a big hit.”

Smoltz on Holliday’s success against Brewers pitching:  “You can’t flirt with a guy (Holliday) who has torn you up for the last few games.”

Darling on the Brewers and Cardinals bullpen:  “The bullpen for Milwaukee in this series so far has struggled a little bit while the Cardinals bullpen has been great.”

Smoltz on St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jason Motte: “If you think he throws like a catcher, that’s because he was one! His delivery is pretty interesting as he gets the ball from the rubber to home plate quickly.

Anderson on the Cardinals bullpen:  “A bullpen that has been much maligned all season might have been the reason the Cardinals had to fight for the wildcard but they came up as good as you can do it tonight.”

TBS reporter Craig Sager interviewed Cardinals’ Jason Motte and David Freese after the game
Motte on the Cardinals bullpen:  “When that phone rings we are ready to go. When the phone rings we are going to get our arms ready and battle our butts off. The bullpen was able to shut it down tonight.”

David Freese on the game and his injuries:  “First inning was huge.  Tonight was a big game and our bullpen; what a job they did tonight. I have had a rough time with injuries but it’s all about dedication and I’m trying to do my part and stick with this ball club.”

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Inside MLB
Matt Winer (host) and Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David Wells (analysts)

Ripken on St Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese’s batting:   “David Freese is swinging a hot bat. He’s even hotter than Pujols.”

Eckersley on St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jason Motte:  “This guy is my closer! Are you kidding me? He has hair on his face and hair on his head.”

Eckersley on the St. Louis Cardinals bullpen:  “This whole postseason has been about Bullpen. But they (Cardinals pitchers) are not well known. This bullpen is a makeshift bullpen and they seem to get it done.”

Wells on Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo:  “He was off tonight. You think you would see a closer game with these two pitchers (Gallardo and Carpenter) but he (Gallardo) battled back and pitched a few good innings.”

Eckersley on Boston Red Sox GM Theo Epstein moving to the Chicago Cubs:  “Everything is exploding in Boston. Francona left and all these things are coming out about what is going on in the clubhouse. It’s an absolute mess. Theo did a nice job in Boston and brought two world championships to the Red Sox and if he can bring a world championship to the Cubs, it would be a beautiful thing. He did a nice job with the Red Sox, he was well thought of and everyone wanted him. And the Cubs finally got him. I think it’s a good move by the Cubs.”

Eckersley on Epstein:  “He’s had a beautiful thing in Boston. They did make a lot of mistakes and if you want to fault him for anything it should be on the free agency, it cost them a lot of money. But he moves on now and he has more money to play with in Chicago.”

Ripken on the Brewers decision to walk St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols:  “He can do damage no matter what. You can’t put him on every night, but in the playoffs there are times when the other team says “Ok, Albert, we are not going to let you beat us”.

And that will do it.

Fox’s Ratings For ALCS Rise in Game 3

After seeing an all-time record low rating for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, Fox rebounded on Tuesday night which saw Detroit take Game 3. Fox received a 5.3 rating with an 8 share, much better than last year’s Game 3 of the NLCS which Fox aired. That came in at a 3.3/8.

Overall, 8.4 million viewers watched and that gave Fox its highest rated Tuesday night in three months.

Let’s to the Fox press release which is posted below.

ALCS GAME 3 POSTS BEST LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES AUDIENCE TO DATE

FOX Scores Highest-Rated Tuesday Night in 12 Weeks

Game 3 of the American League Championship Series attracted the largest audience of any LCS game played to date during MLB’s 2011 postseason tournament, and delivered FOX its best Tuesday night audience in 12 weeks, according to fast-national figures released by Nielsen Media research.

The game averaged a 5.3/8 household rating/share last night on FOX, with 8.4 million viewers, marking a +61% increase over FOX’s broadcast of NLCS Game 3 a year ago (Giants/Phillies – 3.3/8, 5.0 million) on a Tuesday afternoon. In prime time, FOX averaged a 5.3/8 from 8:02-11:00 PM ET, the network’s highest-rated Tuesday night since the 2011 MLB All-Star Game in July.

Detroit led all markets with a postseason high 29.3/42, followed by Dallas with a 23.9/37, also a postseason high.

Through three telecasts, two of which were interrupted or rescheduled due to weather, the 2011 ALCS on FOX is averaging a 4.3/8, even with last year’s NLCS on FOX average (4.3/8).

More stuff coming up soon.

Bringing Out The Tuesday Links

Let’s do some links for you now.

First, Sports Business Journal’s editorial team talked with ESPN and NFL executives on the decision to remove Hank Williams, Jr.’s open from Monday Night Football.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today looks at the ratings from the weekend in sports television.

Mike Lopresti of USA Today writes about Turner Sports’ Ernie Johnson’s tough month.

Mike McCarthy of USA Today notes that Hank Williams, Jr.’s new song rips ESPN, Fox News and everyone else in his path.

Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo’s Puck Daddy notes that several ex-NHL fighters plan a response to CBC’s Don Cherry who called them out last week.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch says former Red Sox manager Terry Francona got the job done for Fox in Games 1 & 2 of the American League Championship Series.

Lindsay Powers of the Hollywood Reporter says ESPN’s Monday Night Football game between Chicago and Detroit is the network’s 2nd highest rated game of the year.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News writes that the NBA’s national and local TV partners are now scrambling to find other programming in the wake of the cancellation of the 1st two weeks of the regular season.

Todd Spangler of Multichannel News says YES Network is not happy over Cablevision’s live iPad app.

Adweek’s Anthony Crupi writes that ESPN/ABC and TNT will have to find a way to replace almost a billion dollars in ad revenue if the entire 2011-12 NBA season is lost.

Andrew McMains from Adweek looks at Phoenix Suns star Steve Nash spending the NBA lockout as a pitchman.

Media Life Magazine’s Toni Fitzgerald says the ALCS and NLCS helped to take a chunk out of the network ratings on Monday.

Gary Parrish of CBS Sports says the Big East feels ESPN definitely had a hand in its current inner turmoil.

Glenn Davis of SportsGrid notes a sign in Detroit that made fun of an ESPN NFL analyst on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.

Jason Dachman from Sports Video Group both broadcasters and production companies know they’re going to take a hit with the NBA lockout.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell gets Twitter reaction from real people about the impact of the NBA lockout on their lives.

Richard Goldstein of the New York Times remembers the late ABC, CBS and Fox Sports director Joe Aceti who worked many of sports’ biggest events.

Newsday’s Neil Best feels Joe Buck’s voice is coming back.

Neil says Terry Francona shows potential if he wants to be a full-time TV analyst.

Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union has the Week 7 college football TV schedule.

From the Washington Post, the DC Sports Bog’s Dan Steinberg has an old picture of Tim Brant and former DC NFL team QB Joe Theismann from a 1980 media guide.

David Teel from the Newport News (VA) Daily Press has Virginia and Virginia Tech athletic officials refuting what Boston College’s athletic director said about ESPN influencing the ACC’s decision to add Pittsburgh and Syracuse.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle has some local football TV ratings.

John Kiesewette of the Cincinnati Enquirer says the Bengals hit their season ratings low on Sunday.

John says Fox Sports Ohio will pick up a good number of Xavier basketball games this season.

Eric Lacy of the Detroit News says preliminary ratings show both the Tigers and Lions pulled big numbers on Monday.

Jo-Ann Barnas of the Detroit Free Press goes behind the scenes with ESPN’s Monday Night Football at Ford Field.

The Free Press has three questions for Fox Sports Detroit MLB analyst Rod Allen.

Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says NBA broadcasters are officially on lockout watch.

Bob looks at the national numbers for the Green Bay-Atlanta Sunday Night Football game.

Ed Sherman at Crain’s Chicago Business hopes to have the NBA back by Christmas. Good luck.

Joe Flint of the Los Angeles Times’ Company Town blog says NBA labor strife doesn’t help its local and national TV partners.

The Los Angeles Times notes that the USC Trojans have announced their basketball TV schedule.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog asks if Don Cherry went too far.

Sports Media Watch notes that Game 1 of the National League Championship Series hit its lowest ratings ever.

SMW has some various overnight ratings.

Steve Lepore of Puck The Media has the final numbers for the NHL opening night on Versus.

Steve also has last Friday’s ratings for the NHL’s Europe game on Versus.

Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing has the video of Joe Buck’s call of Texas’ walkoff win against Detroit in Game 2 of the ALCS on Monday.

And that’s where we’ll end things for today.

League Championship Series Get Off To Very Slow Starts

Both Fox and TBS are hoping to have long series to gain interest in the MLB Postseason because based on the Game 1 overnight ratings, viewers need something to get hooked. Yes, the Yankees and Phillies, two teams from big markets in the Northeast are out, but with Detroit and Dallas are large markets. However, St. Louis and Milwaukee are smaller markets, yet the Cardinals have a big following in the Midwest. No matter, the ratings for the opening games of the American and National League Championship Series turn out to be the worst Game 1 LCS numbers ever for both Fox and TBS.

For Fox, the Game 1 overnight rating for Detroit-Texas turned out to be down significantly from last year’s Game 1 of the NLCS which Fox carried and even further down from 2009 when the network had Anaheim-Yankees. On Saturday, Fox received a 3.9 for the game which was marred by two extensive rain delays.

TBS fared even worse for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series which went up against the NFL on CBS’ late game. TBS saw a 2.4 overnight rating down more than 60% from last year’s Yankees-Rangers series.

And we have some more figures from TV Sports Ratings, a Twitter account owned by someone who could be an insider at a TV network.

First, the Fox 18-49 numbers for Game 1 of the ALCS (an error lists 18-39) which have to be quite discouraging for the network.

[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/#!/tvsportsratings/statuses/123765027848208384"]

Next, the TBS 18-49 numbers for the NLCS.

[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/#!/tvsportsratings/statuses/123773990572523520"]

TV Sports Ratings lists what cable programs did better than NLCS Game 1.

[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/#!/tvsportsratings/statuses/123775689961914369"]

By comparison, the NFL on CBS received a 15.6 overnight rating for its 4:15 p.m. national late window for mostly New York Jets-New England Patriots.

NLCS Game 2 on TBS Quotage

This will be the last post of late Monday night/early Tuesday morning. This involves the quotes from Game 2 of the National League Championship Series which ended up being a St. Louis blowout of Milwaukee by a 12-2 score.

Certainly the opposite of the extra inning thriller in Arlington, TX that ended with a walk-off Grand Slam homer giving Texas the 7-3 win in 11 innings over Detroit in the American League Championship Series.

So let’s provide the quotage and I’ll go to sleep.

Notes from MLB Postseason on TBS – October 10, 2011

The National League Championship Series will continue on TBS on Wednesday, October 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET with TBS MLB on Deck followed by Game 3 of the NLCS featuring St. Louis Cardinals @ Milwaukee Brewers (8 p.m. ET). The night will conclude with the post-game show Inside MLB.

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TBS MLB on Deck
Matt Winer (host) and Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David Wells (analysts)

Eckersley on how to get Brewers left fielder Ryan Braunout: “Change his eye level and (do) all the things that are easier said than done. By the time you do it, its ball four and he hasn’t swung at anything.”

Ripken: “He is so disciplined and he does not extend the strike zone.”

Ripken on why Jerry Hairston is in the Brewers’ lineup every game: “The reason he is in there every single day is because of his bat.  He’s been getting some clutch hits, some big hits, some runs and he’s just playing really, really well. He was a great pick-up. He and Nyjer (Morgan) give energy to that club.”
Wells: “(Hairston) plays every position you put him at like he’s been there a long, long time.”

Ripken on Brewers outfielder Nyjer Morgan: “He knows the strike zone really well and has a nice, short little swing. He can push it down the left field line and can also turn on (the ball). He sets up really well against power pitching because of that short swing.”

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St. Louis Cardinals (12) @ Milwaukee Brewers (3) – Series tied 1-1
Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play) Ron Darling and John Smoltz (analysts) with Craig Sager reporting

Darling on Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujol’s first inning home run: “He made this ballpark look tiny.”

Darling on the Brewers’ starting pitchers: “(The) Brewers have had a lot of success with all of their starting pitchers this year. (They are) Very dependable and guys who put up a lot of innings. But so far in the Postseason, (Yovanni) Gallardo has been the only one that’s been effective as a starter.”

Smoltz on the Texas Rangers: “Texas has done an amazing job. They are the most balanced team in the playoffs. They can throw a lot of dynamic arms out of the bullpen and they’ve got some guys they can mix-and-match in the rotation. I think they are the deepest (team).”

TBS’ Brian Anderson, Ron Darling and John Smoltz interviewed Cardinals’ manager Tony La Russa during the game
La Russa on having a good feeling about Albert Pujols going into Game 2: “That’s the easiest call you can make. He’s going to get you sooner or later and it’s usually sooner.”

Smoltz on the dangers of violent post-home run celebrations: “You don’t want to be a pitcher and try to high-five some of these guys. You’re knocking your forearm out of the game.”

Smoltz on the Brewers figuring out how to get Pujols out: “As good as Albert is, you can get him out down (in the strikezone), you can’t get him out up. That’s the adjustment that the Brewers are going to have to make as they move on in this series.”

Smoltz on the Cardinals’ deep lineup and decision to challenge Pujols in Game 2: “You’re basically picking your poison (with the lineup) and the Brewers have picked their poison wrong with Albert Pujols twice (in Game 2). For the Cardinals, that’s the reason why they’re here. The hitting depth that they have is apparent and the pitchers are taking notice.”

Smoltz on starting pitchers who aren’t at the top of the rotation: “You have to feel for some of these starters who are not named (Chris) Carpenter or (Yovani) Gallardo. They don’t really possess a lot of swing-and-miss stuff. They have to study videos and say, ‘I’ve got to stay away from here, I’ve got to stay away from there and I’ve got to be a little more perfect.’

Smoltz on the Brewers dealing with a blowout loss in Game 2: “This is one of those games that if you’re going to lose, this is an easier one to forget. Everything went right for St. Louis and nothing went right for (the Brewers).”

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Inside MLB
Matt Winer (host) and Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David Wells (analysts)

Eckersley on the impact of the Cardinals scoring early in Game 2 of the NLCS: “This was like a football game tonight. (The Cardinals) quieted the crowd, dropped a 7-spot (touchdown) and did not stop. They gave (the Brewers) a sniff in the fifth inning and Tony (La Russa) went to the bullpen to quiet that. That’s exactly what happened tonight.”

Ripken on Cardinals manager Tony La Russa working the match-ups early in the game: “Tony (La Russa) started the match-up game in the fifth inning tonight…but that’s playoff baseball. The match-ups start a little bit early.”

Wells on the liberal use of the bullpens in the Postseason: “It’s amazing that the starters aren’t going longer than four innings. There are only a couple of guys that have done it. These guys have to get better because as much as they’re using their bullpens right now, if these next (starting pitchers) don’t go deep in the game, (the relievers) are going to be spent.”

Eckersley on the Rangers bullpen shutting down the Tigers: “You’re talking about two games (in the ALCS with) 12 2/3 scoreless innings…it does not get any better than that from a bullpen. I know they have a good bullpen but this is ridiculous.”

Ripken on Rangers’ rightfielder Nelson Cruz, who had a walk-off grand slam in Game 2: “He’s a streaky hitter and got hot at the right time last year. When he’s (hot) he can put the whole team on his shoulders.”

TBS reporter Craig Sager interviewed Cardinals’ first baseman Albert Pujols following the game
Pujols on being patient at the plate: “It’s part of the game. Sometimes as a player you want to do too much and you’re a competitor and in the Postseason, you’re trying to help your team to win. I think sometimes you learn from that.  I’ve been in this situation before and I’ve been in the Postseason so much in my career and I’m blessed to have those (opportunities). Sometimes you’re going to chase a pitch and sometimes you’re going to get some good swings like I did tonight. That’s the way it goes. You just learn.”

Eckersley on the Brewers needing more production from their starting pitching: “Something’s gotta give. You can’t win this thing with (Yovani) Gallardo and that’s it. He’ll pitch Game 3 and he might pitch Game 7 (if necessary) but in between is three more starts from guys that have been getting lit up…they just have not pitched well at all.”

That will wrap up the posts for tonight

Bringing Out The Monday Links

With this being Columbus Day, it’s a holiday for some of you. Not for me, but for some. I hope you’re able to enjoy the day. Let’s do some links.

Sports Business Journal has a look at some of the important women in sports business.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today says former Red Sox manager Terry Francona doesn’t see television in his future.

Reid Cherner of USA Today writes that overzealous NFL agent Drew Rosenhaus is clarifying his “I’m a Golden God”-like comment to “60 Minutes”.

Phil Swann of TV Predictions says it’s a swing.. and a miss for Fox’s HD picture at the American League Championship Series.

Lindsay Powers from the Hollywood Reporter notes that Green Bay-Atlanta steered NBC to a big ratings win on Sunday.

Etan Vlessing at the Reporter writes that Don Cherry is out of step with CBC’s public position on head shots in the NHL.

Laura Martinez of Multichannel News reports that ESPN2 will air two episodes of a Spanish-language ESPN Deportes scripted series following a soccer doubleheader on Tuesday.

Daniel Frankel and Lucas Shaw of The Wrap tell us that ESPN and TNT could stand to lose a lot of revenue if the NBA doesn’t settle its lockout soon.

As the NBC gremlins force YouTube to take down the infamous hot dog thrown at Tiger Woods video, we note that it’s still up at SportsGrid as Dan Fogarty informs us.

Ben Koo of Awful Announcing has video of Gus Johnson’s classic touchdown call from Saturday’s Texas A&M-Texas Tech game.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell speaks with movie director Cameron Crowe on who was really the inspiration for movie character superagent Jerry Maguire. Last night, “60 Minutes” falsely said it was Drew Rosenhaus.

Pat Gordon of Cape Cod Online wishes Hank Williams, Jr. would go away.

Kevin Paul Dupont from the Boston Globe writes that Hank Williams, Jr. got it wrong by invoking Adolf Hitler when speaking of President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner.

Mark Blaudshun of the Globe has Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo saying ESPN was behind the Syracuse and Pittsburgh defections from the Big East to the ACC.

Pete Thamel of the New York Times says the college sports upheaval is also effecting mid-major conferences.

From the New York Daily News, Eric Barrow says ESPN NFL analyst Merril Hoge advises how you should tie a tie.

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick seems to just get the notion that “You Can’t Predict Baseball.”

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union talks with Andrew Catalon who recently filled in on CBS for an NFL game. Andrew did a very good job, too.

Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette says a local radio legend has retired.

Ken McMillan at the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record says ESPN viewers will get multi-lingual coverage of the Pan American Games.

To the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog where Dan Steinberg notes that Capitals and Wizards owner Ted Leonsis wants to bring cell phone concessions to the Verizon Center.

The Washington Examiner’s Jim Williams says the Nationals’ TV ratings are looking up despite finishing dead last among all MLB teams in 2011.

Tom Jones at the St. Petersburg Times looks back at the weekend in sports television.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle says the Texans have signed a long-term extension with CBS Radio.

David says Texans voice Marc Vandermeer took yesterday’s loss to the Raiders quite hard.

Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News says Mike Tirico is able to drive his own car to call tonight’s Monday Night Football game instead of flying in ahead of time.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel talks with Brewers TV voice Brian Anderson who’s calling the NLCS on TBS.

Bob says the Brewers and Packers got a lot of national airtime on Sunday.

Bob has the local ratings for the Brewers and Packers.

Ed Sherman from Crain’s Chicago Business speaks with ESPN’s Mike Tirico who gets to call a “home” game tonight.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that embattled announcer Dan McLaughlin has lost one of gigs in the wake of his second DUI arrest.

Dusty Saunders at the Denver Post says Broncos QB Tim Tebow perked up an otherwise moribund sports weekend in the Rocky Mountain region.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says LA was not switched from Raiders-Texans yesterday to join the Chargers as it would have in the past.

Tom has the SoCal sports calendar for this week.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail writes that CBC’s Ron MacLean chose to cover for Don Cherry rather than challenge his comments on fighting from last week.

The Toronto Star’s Raju Mudhar notes that Cherry is doing what he does best, stir the pot.

Sports Media Watch looks at the NBA’s lockout strategy.

SMW says last week’s NASCAR race on ESPN had a slight ratings uptick.

Steve Lepore’s Puck The Media has a profile of Los Angeles Kings Hall of Fame announcer Bob Miller.

Joe Favorito says UFC continues to steadily build its brand.

And we’ll end it there for today.