This will be the last press release post tonight. Then I’ll try to do some linkage before hitting the pillow.
Starting with Fox Sports, this is what you’ll see during the MLB on Fox.
FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTESMLB on FOX’s SATURDAY GAME OF THE WEEK: Phillies Meet Braves for NL East Showdown in Atlanta
Karros on Phillies Moving Moyer For Pedro: ‘You Have To Do It’NL EAST RIVALS MEET IN ATLANTA – With the summer winding down, the defending champs are looking to hold off the competition in the NL East. On Saturday, August 15 at 4:00 PM ET, Jimmy Rollins and the Phillies travel to Atlanta to take on Chipper Jones and the Braves. In Queens, David Wright and the struggling Mets welcome the slugging Pablo Sandoval and the Wild Card contending Giants. Also, catcher Joe Mauer and the Twins host Grady Sizemore and the Indians. This week, the pregame show originates live from Citi Field in Queens, NY with host Chris Rose. Once game action begins, Rose joins the game crew of Thom Brennaman and Mark Grace as a field reporter. For instant updates during 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.
Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves, Kenny Albert, Eric Karros & Ken Rosenthal, going to 60% of USA
Turner Field – Atlanta, GA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Dallas, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, St. Louis, Tampa, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm Beach
San Francisco Giants at New York Mets, Thom Brennaman & Mark Grace, going to 26% of USA
Citi Field – Flushing, NY
MARKETS INCLUDE: Buffalo, Denver, Hartford, Los Angeles, New York, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle
Cleveland Indians at Minnesota Twins, Dick Stockton & Bert Blyleven, going to 13% of USA
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome – Minneapolis, MN
MARKETS INCLUDE: Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Detroit, Minneapolis
KARROS ON MOYER MOVING ASIDE FOR PEDRO: ‘YOU HAVE TO DO IT’ – MLB on FOX game analyst Eric Karros believes the Philadelphia Phillies made the correct decision in moving Jamie Moyer to the bullpen to make room for Pedro Martinez in the starting rotation. “You have to do it because Philadelphia’s pitching is too left-hand dominant. You know what you’re going to get out of Moyer but you’re not certain about what Pedro has in the tank; he could offer you more innings and it’s as good a time as any to find out if you’ve got lightening in a bottle.” Karros calls Saturday’s Phillies @ Braves game alongside Kenny Albert & Ken Rosenthal.
RINGOLSBY: PLAYERS USED TO HANDLE THEIR OWN BEANBALL WARS – A week after the Prince Fielder/Guillermo Mota incident and the ejections in the Bronx, beanball wars have once again come to the forefront. FOXSports.com Hall of Fame MLB writer Tracy Ringolsby wishes that players would be allowed to solve these issues on the field and not by the MLB higher ups. “In recent years players have had the ability to take care of matters on their own stripped away by upper management. The upshot is a whole lot of weak-acted moments of machismo that do little other than get players suspended and fined.”
For more on this story log onto:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9921256/Beanball-wars-aren’t-what-they-used-to-be
ROSENTHAL: DODGERS JUST MISSED ON DREAM BULLPEN – As the trade deadline approached, the Dodgers were close to acquiring Padres closer Heath Bell. The move, FOXSports.com senior writer & MLB on FOX insider, Ken Rosenthal says, could’ve been a dream in Chavez Ravine. “The combination of Bell and newly acquired lefty George Sherrill would have given the Dodgers a powerful right-left setup tandem in front of closer Jonathan Broxton. The increased bullpen depth also would have allowed manager Joe Torre to rely less on his starters, who rank 12th in the National League in innings per start.”
For more on this story and other news and notes from Rosenthal, log onto: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9919850/Dodgers-almost-had-dream-%60pen,-but-balked
ROSENTHAL: SMOLTZ REFUSES MOVE TO MINORS; TWO OPTIONS LEFT – John Smoltz refused the option of an assignment to the minor leagues, leaving the Red Sox with the option of either trading him or releasing him. FOXSports.com senior writer & MLB on FOX insider, Ken Rosenthal thinks Smoltz will end up in the NL. “Smoltz still must de
cide whether to retire or continue pitching. My guess is that he wants to pitch, that the Red Sox will end up releasing him and that he will sign with a National League team. He might do better with say, the Dodgers – pitcher-friendly park, pitcher-friendly league.”For more on this story and other news and notes from Rosenthal, log onto:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9922760/Smoltz-refuses-move-to-minors;-two-options-left
Fox Sports Net has coverage of the All-American High School Baseball Classic.
BASEBALL PHENOM BRYCE HARPER MAKES NATIONAL TV DEBUT LIVE ON FSNAll-American High School Baseball Classic Showcases Future Stars
Chance for Fans to See “Baseball’s LeBron”
Bryce Harper, the baseball prodigy and Sports Illustrated cover boy who has been described as a “once in a lifetime talent” and “baseball’s LeBron,” will make his national TV debut LIVE on Fox Sports Net in the All-American High School Baseball Classic Sunday, August 16 at 8:00 PM ET.
The game, which will showcase 40 of the nation’s top high school baseball players, will be played in PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres, and will be televised live nationally on FOX Sports Net and select Comcast regional sports networks to more than 90 million homes. Daron Sutton, television voice of the Arizona Diamondbacks, will call play-by-play, while former Houston Astros great and 7-time All-Star Craig Biggio will provide analysis.
Harper, the 16-year-old phenom whose tape-measure home runs have been a YouTube sensation, will anchor the squad of all-stars from the West in an East vs. West format. Harper is one of the most publicized prospects in the history of high school baseball and is a special inclusion in the 2009 Aflac All-American class. Since being the subject of a recent Tom Verducci cover story in Sports Illustrated, Harper’s fame has exploded beyond amateur baseball circles and is one of the most closely watched high school athletes since LeBron James. Harper recently enrolled in the College of Southern Nevada and is expected to enter the 2010 Major League Baseball draft.
This marks the seventh consecutive year FSN has televised the All-American High School Baseball Classic.
This is your schedule for ESPN on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday.
Phillies Face Braves on Sunday Night Baseball
ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball will feature the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies visiting division rival Atlanta Braves at 8 p.m. Jon Miller calls Sunday Night games with analysts Joe Morgan and Steve Phillips. The games are available via ESPN HD, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV.
Sunday Night
Baseball (Aug. 16)Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves at 8 p.m. ET
(ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV)
Commentators: Jon Miller, Joe Morgan, Steve PhillipsMonday Night Baseball (Aug. 17)
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at 10 p.m. (ESPN2)
* full national telecast; available in both local markets
(ESPN2, ESPN2 HD, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV)
Commentators: Dave O’Brien, Orel Hershiser, Steve PhillipsWednesday Night Baseball (Aug. 19)
Boston at Toronto at 7 p.m.
(ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com)
Commentators: Dave O’Brien, Rick Sutcliffe
When TBS has its press release for Sunday Afternoon MLB, we’ll add it here.
And here is the TBS press release:
“Sunday MLB on TBS” Features American League ContendersTexas Rangers host the Boston Red Sox at 2 p.m. ET
“Sunday MLB on TBS” continues on Sunday, August 16 at 2 p.m. (ET) with an American League showdown featuring Michael Young and the Texas Rangers hosting 2008 AL MVP Dustin Pedroia and the Boston Red Sox at Rangers Ballpark in Arlingon. The Red Sox probable starting pitcher Junichi Tazawa is scheduled to take the mound against Dustin Nippert of the Rangers. Chip Caray (play-by-play) Ron Darling (analyst) and David Wells (analyst) will call the action from the broadcast booth.
Sunday MLB on TBS includes match-ups on TBS every Sunday afternoon throughout the regular season. In October TBS will once again provide exclusive coverage of the Division Series and the National League Championship Series (NLCS).
TBS has broadcast MLB coverage for more than 30 years serving as the exclusive home of the MLB Division Series (DS) and one League Championship Series (LCS) since 2007 and home of Atlanta Braves coverage from 1977 to 2007.
SUNDAY MLB ON TBS SCHEDULE:
Sun., August 16
2 p.m. Boston Red Sox @ Texas Rangers
Announcers: Chip Caray (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst) and David Wells (analyst)
SUNDAY MLB ON TBS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Sun., August 23
1:30 p.m. Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays
Announcers: Chip Caray (play-by-play) and Buck Martinez (analyst)
Enjoy your baseball weekend.
