In what could be a harbinger of things to come for Fox, it’s the first of eight straight weeks of primetime baseball. Should the ratings do well and with Fox making more of a foray into primetime sports on Saturdays, this could become permanent. We shall see.
In any event, five games will be sent around the country as Interleague play takes over. Some intriguing matchups including Boston-Philadelphia, White Sox-Cubs, Baltimore-Washington and Texas-Houston.
Also with increased games, Fox is depending on some local announcers including MASN’s Bob Carpenter calling O’s-Nats. Fox is also tapping MLB Network for announcers like Billy Ripken who will be assigned to Orioles-Nationals and Tom Verducci who will work on the Rangers-Astros game. Fox is tapping its Fox Sports Net channels to form the hybrid team of Daron Sutton and Rex “The Wonder Dog” Hudler on D’backs-Royals.
Oh, and Fox is calling this “Baseball Night in America”. Take that for what you will.
And with Joe Buck back this week, it means he’ll have worked five out of possible seven games for Fox. That might be a record since I’ve been keeping track.
Here’s the press release from Fox Sports.
FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
FOX Sports Delivers “Baseball Night in America” Saturday with Premiere Primetime Slate Beginning at 7:00 PM ET
BASEBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA – MLB on FOX, the sport’s highest-rated and most-watched television package, debuts BASEBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA on Saturday, May 19 (7:00 PM ET). Featuring five matchups, FOX Sports kicks off a stretch of eight consecutive primetime dates, the most ever scheduled during the regular season. During the stretch, all US-based teams appear at least twice, continuing until the All-Star break. Primetime action beings in the city of Brotherly Love as the Phillies host the Red Sox. Joe Buck, Tim McCarver and Ken Rosenthal call the action under the lights of Citizens Bank Park. In Chicago, Windy City rivals meet at the friendly confines of Wrigley Field as Adam Dunn and the White Sox engage the Cubs’ Bryan LaHair in a power-hitting duel. In D.C., the Beltway Series features rookie phenom Bryce Harper and the Nationals hosting the Orioles. The Astros will look to contain the sizzling bat of Josh Hamilton as they host the Rangers in an all-Texas affair. Also, the Diamondbacks battle the Royals at the site of this July’s All-Star Game in Kansas City.
Coverage begins with the BASEBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA PREGAME SHOW, originating live from MLB Network’s state-of-the-art Studio 3 in Secaucus, NJ. The show is hosted by MLB Network studio host Matt Vasgersian, who is joined by analysts Harold Reynolds and Kevin Millar.
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.
Boston Red Sox at Philadelphia Phillies, Joe Buck, Tim McCarver & Ken Rosenthal, going to 39% of USA
Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia, PA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Boston, Buffalo, Fort Myers, Hartford, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, West Palm Beach
Probable Pitchers: TBA vs. Joe Blanton, RHP (4-3, 2.96 ERA)Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs, Thom Brennaman & Eric Karros, going to 26% of USA
Wrigley Field – Chicago, IL
MARKETS INCLUDE: Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Indianapolis, Louisville, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, Salt Lake City, St. Louis
Probable Pitchers: John Danks, LHP (2-4, 6.46 ERA) vs. Ryan Dempster, RHP (0-1, 1.74 ERA)Baltimore Orioles at Washington Nationals, Bob Carpenter & Billy Ripken, going to 17% of USA
Nationals Park – Washington, D.C.
MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Norfolk, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington
Probable Pitchers: Jason Hammel, RHP (4-1, 2.68 ERA) vs. Ross Detwiler, LHP (3-2, 2.75 ERA)Texas Rangers at Houston Astros, Kenny Albert & Tom Verducci, going to 13% of USA
Minute Maid Park – Houston, TX
MARKETS INCLUDE: Austin, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Tulsa
Probable Pitchers: Derek Holland, LHP (3-2, 3.78 ERA) vs. TBAArizona Diamondbacks at Kansas City Royals, Daron Sutton & Rex Hudler, going to 4% of USA
Kauffman Stadium – Kansas City, MO
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Kansas City, Phoenix
Probable Pitchers: TBA vs. Bruce Chen, LHP (2-4, 4.34 ERA)MOROSI: LAST-PLACE BOSOX STILL IN AL EAST RACE – FOXSports.com National MLB writer Jon Paul Morosi asks the question: who are the Boston Red Sox? “Are they the team that owns the longest active winning streak in the American League or the one that remains last in the American League East? The answer: I don’t know. You don’t know. They don’t know,” writes Morosi. “David Ortiz, hitting .346 in the No. 3 spot, explained the recent success this way: ‘You’ve got the end of the lineup hitting. You have our starting pitchers not giving up seven runs per game. And us hitting when we’ve got men in scoring position. That’s what makes the difference.’ It sounds simple. It isn’t. The coming weeks will become more complicated, between a rugged schedule and the respective returns of Kevin Youkilis and Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Red Sox will need to make nuanced roster decisions that have long-term ramifications on players’ egos and careers. To do that without disturbing the relative harmony, Bobby Valentine must be better than he has been so far. Valentine, who went 10 seasons without managing in the big leagues, doesn’t seem at ease in his new job — at least not yet. Terry Francona was a skilled communicator in such moments, when the organization’s near- and long-term plans had to be conveyed inside and outside the clubhouse walls. Now Valentine must find his way. The Red Sox will get back to .500 soon enough. Then the real work begins.”
To read more from Morosi, visit: http://tinyurl.com/cz2maac
There you have it.
