Let’s review the games on national TV from today through next Wednesday. Technically that’s not the weekend, but most of the games from MLB’s partners are on this weekend so the title remains. Let’s first go over the games on Fox. Three games as usual. And again, Joe Buck is not working on Saturday which means he’s worked 12 out of a possible 17 Saturdays.
FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
Ringolsby: “Bubble Teams Notably Absent From Chatter”DIVISION LEADERS FACE OFF IN CINCY – As high temps sweep across the country, playoff races are also heating up across MLB. On Saturday, July 31 (4:00 PM ET), the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK features three enticing matchups. In Cincinnati, a pair of division leaders face off as Brian McCann and the NL East-leading Braves visit Joey Votto and the NL Central-leading Reds. In Boston, the Red Sox continue their push for a postseason birth when they welcome Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers to Fenway. Out west, California rivals meet and look to keep pace in the NL Wild Card race as Barry Zito and the Giants host Andre Ethier and the Dodgers in San Fran. This week, the pregame show originates live from AT&T Park in San Francisco with host Chris Rose. Once game action begins, Rose joins the game crew including Kenny Albert and Eric Karros as a field reporter.For instant updates throughout the week and during games from the entire MLB on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX. Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.myspace.com/foxsports.Atlanta Braves at Cincinnati Reds, Thom Brennaman & Kevin Millar, going to 42% of USA
Great American Ballpark – Cincinnati, OHMARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Greensboro, Greenville, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Louisville, Memphis, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Norfolk, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Richmond, San Antonio, St. Louis, Tulsa, WashingtonProbable Pitchers: TBA vs. Bronson Arroyo, RHP (10-6, 4.21 ERA)Detroit Tigers at Boston Red Sox, Dick Stockton, Mark Grace & Ken Rosenthal, going to 37% of USAFenway Park – Boston, MAMARKETS INCLUDE: Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Fort Myers, Hartford, Kansas City, Miami, New York, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Providence, Seattle, Tampa, West Palm BeachProbable Pitchers: Max Scherzer. RHP (7-8, 4.45 ERA) vs. TBALos Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants, Kenny Albert & Eric Karros, going to 20% of USAAT&T Park – San Francisco, CAMARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San FranciscoProbable Pitchers:TBA vs. Barry Zito, LHP (8-6, 3.49 ERA)RINGOLSBY: “BUBBLE TEAMS NOTABLY ABSENT FROM CHATTER” – With the trade deadline just days away, it’s time for teams to decide whether they’re sellers, buyers, or just staying put. FOXSports.com writer Tracy Ringolsby discusses how the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers are in unfamiliar territory. “The deadline is nearing and the Red Sox are lumped with Detroit, Oakland, the Mets, Colorado and Florida on the list of teams that would like to be buyers but find themselves in limbo as to whether they should buy or sell,” said Ringolsby. “Boston has become more of an observer, at least publicly, than a participant in this year’s deadline deal discussions. Detroit was considered at one point to be involved in the bidding for pitchers Dan Haren and Roy Oswalt, but the Tigers have had to take a step backward in light of their suddenly injury-ravaged roster. More concerning is that Boston has been hit with a series of serious injuries that have put them eight games back of the AL East-leading Yankees and five games behind second-place Tampa Bay.”For more from Tracy click here: http://tinyurl.com/29rty77
Now to MLB Network which has games tonight and tomorrow plus coverage of the Trade Deadline on Saturday.
July 30 7:00 p.m. Atlanta at Cincinnati7:00 p.m. Detroit at Boston (in select markets)July 31 7:00 p.m. New York Yankees at Tampa Bay7:00 p.m. Oakland at Chicago White Sox (only in Yankees and Rays markets)
Here’s details of MLB Network’s Trade Deadline coverage on Saturday.
MLB NETWORK TO AIR MORE THAN FIVE HOURS OF LIVE TRADE DEADLINE COVERAGE ON SATURDAY, JULY 31Gammons, Hart, Heyman, Reynolds, Verducci & Others Part of Coverage Starting at 11:00 a.m. ETMLB Network to Countdown the 40 Most Memorable Trades in MLB History at 6:00 p.m. ETSecaucus, N.J., July 28, 2010 – MLB Network will provide more than five hours of live coverage of the MLB Trade Deadline on Saturday, July 31 from 11:00 a.m. ET until 4:30 p.m. ET. Greg Amsinger, Matt Vasgersian, Peter Gammons, John Hart, Jon Heyman, Joe Magrane, Dan Plesac, Harold Reynolds and Tom Verducci will cover every move leading up to the 4:00 p.m. ET deadline. MLB.com senior writer Jonathan Mayo and MLB Network Insiders and sportswriters Phil Rogers, Richard Justice and Tracy Ringolsby will contribute analysis on-air throughout the day. Saturday’s coverage follows MLB Network’s hour-long Path to the Trade Deadline specials airing daily this week before MLB Tonight.MLB Network will air MLB Network Countdown: The 40 Most Memorable Trades in MLB History, an hour-long show recapping the most influential trades that led to Hall of Fame careers, pennants, World Series titles and other significant franchise moments. Narrated by Vasgersian, the countdown includes: John Smoltz being traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Atlanta Braves in 1987, the New York Mets trading Hall of Famer Tom Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds in 1977, the Texas Rangers trading Alex Rodriguez to the New York Yankees for Alfonso Soriano in 2004, Hall of Famer Nellie Fox’s trade to the Chicago White Sox from the Philadelphia Athletics in 1949, and the Cincinnati Reds trading Hall of Famer and pitching great Christy Mathewson to the New York Giants in 1900.Saturday Night Baseball at 7:00 p.m. ET will feature the AL first-place New York Yankees at division rival Tampa Bay Rays, with select television markets seeing the Oakland Athletics at Chicago White Sox at 7:00 p.m. ET. Immediately following the game, MLB Tonight will return live for one hour, while MLB Network’s Hazel Mae will recap the day’s game action on Quick Pitch at 11:00 p.m. ET.
Sunday’s games are coming up after the break.
This is what TBS is airing on Sunday, an American League East Division showdown between the Yankees and the Rays. Ernie Johnson is on the case for TBS in what could be the team for the American League Championship Series, EJ, Buck Martinez and Dennis Eckersley. I’ll emphasize that Turner Sports has not decided its announcing or studio teams for the MLB Postseason.
“Sunday MLB on TBS” to Feature a Battle between AL East Frontrunners with New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay RaysCy Young Award-Winning Yankee CC Sabathia to Pitch Against the Rays’ James Shields“Sunday MLB on TBS” continues on August 1 when eleven-time All-Star and former World Series MVP Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees visit All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field at 1:30 p.m. (ET). CC Sabathia is scheduled to pitch for the Yankees against the Rays’ probable starter James Shields. Ernie Johnson will call play-by-play alongside analysts Buck Martinez and Dennis Eckersley.“Sunday MLB on TBS” includes match-ups on TBS every Sunday afternoon throughout the regular season. The network will also begin providing exclusive coverage of the Division Series and the American League Championship Series (ALCS) in October 2010.TBS has broadcast MLB coverage for more than 30 years serving as the exclusive home of the MLB Division Series (DS) and one League Championship Series (LCS) since 2007 and home of Atlanta Braves coverage from 1977 to 2007.
Sun., August 11:30 p.m. New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay RaysAnnouncers: Ernie Johnson (play-by-play), Buck Martinez (analyst) & Dennis Eckersley (analyst)Sun., August 81:30 p.m. San Francisco Giants @ Atlanta BravesAnnouncers: Dick Stockton (play-by-play) and Buck Martinez (analyst)
And we have your games on ESPN starting with Sunday Night Baseball.
Sunday Night Baseball (Aug. 1)
L.A. Dodgers at San Francisco at 8 p.m. ET
(ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV)
Commentators: Jon Miller, Joe Morgan, Orel Hershiser
Monday Night Baseball (Aug. 2)
N.Y. Mets at Atlanta at 7 p.m. ET
(ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV)
Commentators: Dan Shulman, Chris Singleton, Aaron Boone
* ESPNEWS will be seen in team marketsWednesday Night Baseball (Aug. 4)
Chicago White Sox at Detroit at 7 p.m. ET
(ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV)
Commentators: Dave O’Brien, Rick Sutcliffe
* ESPNEWS will be seen in team markets
That’s it.
