In its last set of primetime games of the year, Fox Saturday Baseball will divide six games across the country in a possible preview of what could happen in 2012 if the network decides to move the MLB package to the nighttime. Among the games that will be aired on Fox, St. Louis at Colorado, Boston at Detroit, New York Mets at Philadelphia and Cincinnati at Atlanta. Some will be covered by a split local team such as Cards at Rockies and Kansas City at Texas. Joe Buck is back working his third straight game for Fox making this six out of a possible nine weeks he’ll have worked for Fox Saturday Baseball.
Certainly not bad so far, but expect him to take a week off next Saturday. Nothing set in stone, just something on which I have a hunch. I could be wrong.
Here’s the schedule for this week.
FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
MLB on FOX Covers All Bases in Prime Time with Six-Game Slate Saturday at 7:00 PM ET
SATURDAY NIGHT IS FULL OF MLB ACTION – On Saturday, May 28, the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK hits prime time for the third-straight week with a glutton of MLB matchups at 7:00 PM ET. Albert Pujols and the first-place Cardinals travel to Denver to take on Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and the hard-hitting Rockies. Right on their heels in the NL Central are the Reds who are in Atlanta to face Derek Lowe and the Braves. It’s been another drama-filled week in Queens. As they deal with another distraction, the Mets welcome the Phillies to CitiField. The Rangers welcomed MVP Josh Hamilton back with a bang this week as they host the young Royals. Also, the Twins face the Angels in Minneapolis. The MLB on FOX pregame originates live from the FOX Network studio in Los Angeles, with host Chris Rose.
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.
WHICH METS DAYS ARE NUMBERED? – With uncertainty surrounding the entire Mets organization, speculation is building on which players will still be with the team at the end of the season. FOXSports.com national MLB writer Jon Paul Morosi assesses the market for five notable players.
Outfielder Carlos Beltran – “The Yankees, Angels, A’s, Mariners and Tigers have had below-average production at right field, DH, or both. Yankees GM Brian Cashman knows how to add supplemental bats as the season goes along. We’re nearing the 10th anniversary of David Justice for Robin Ventura, so I’d say we’re due for another interborough trade.”
Shortstop Jose Reyes – “On paper, at least, the team with the greatest need for Reyes would be the Tampa Bay Rays. They have the worst leadoff OPS and worst shortstop OPS of any team in the American League. But it’s not clear if they can add $3.6 million in payroll at the deadline.”
Third Baseman David Wright – “Teams tend to avoid trading for players at the deadline if they have suffered significant injuries during the same season, and the Mets don’t know when Wright will play again. Two more reasons that the Mets will keep him: Wright is under contract through 2012, with a team option for 2013, and the Mets will need his marketability after the departures of Beltran and Reyes.”
Closer Francisco Rodriguez – “The Mets (and other teams) are well aware of the contract clause that guarantees him a $17.5 million contract for next year if he finishes 55 games. Because of his contract, suitors will likely want K-Rod to be a setup man. So, he should be of particular interest to teams that have soft spots in front of strong closers, such as Boston, Detroit, and Texas.”
Starter Mike Pelfrey – “The New York rotation is already thin, and Pelfrey was their Opening Day starter this year. Without him, the ’12 and ’13 seasons would look even grimmer than they already do.”
For Morosi’s full analysis, visit http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/new-york-mets-selloff-coming-so-whos-going-052511.
St. Louis Cardinals at Colorado Rockies, Dan McLaughlin & George Frazier, going to 24% of USA
Coors Field – Denver, CO
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Memphis, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Phoenix, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, St. Louis
Probable Pitchers: Jaime Garcia, LHP (5-0, 1.93 ERA) vs. Greg Reynolds, RHP (2-0, 3.07 ERA)Cincinnati Reds at Atlanta Braves, Thom Brennaman & Eric Karros, going to 19% of USA
Turner Field – Atlanta, GA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Greensboro, Greenville, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Louisville, Nashville, Raleigh
Probable Pitchers: Bronson Arroyo, RHP (3-5, 5.28 ERA) vs. Derek Lowe, RHP (3-4, 3.53 ERA)Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers, Dick Stockton & Mark Grace, going to 17% of USA
Comerica Park – Detroit, MI
MARKETS INCLUDE: Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Fort Myers, Hartford, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Providence, Richmond, Tampa
Probable Pitchers: Clay Buccholz. RHP (4-3, 3.30 ERA) vs. Andrew Oliver, LHP (0-0, -.– ERA)Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets, Joe Buck, Tim McCarver & Ken Rosenthal, going to 16% of USA
Citi Field – Queens, NY
MARKETS INCLUDE: Miami, New York, Norfolk, Philadelphia, Washington, West Palm Beach
Probable Pitchers: Cole Hamels, LHP (6-2, 3.06 ERA) vs. Mike Pelfrey, RHP (3-4, 5.37 ERA)Kansas City Royals at Texas Rangers, Ryan LeFebvre & Tom Grieve, going to 14% of USA
Rangers Ballpark – Arlington, TX
MARKETS INCLUDE: Austin, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Portland, San Antonio, Seattle, Tulsa
Probable Pitchers: Sean O’Sullivan, RHP (2-3, 5.60 ERA) vs. Matt Harrison, LHP (4-4, 3.62 ERA)Los Angeles Angels at Minnesota Twins, Kenny Albert & Bert Blyleven, going to 9% of USA
Target Field – Minneapolis, MN
MARKETS INCLUDE: Los Angeles, Minneapolis
Probable Pitchers: Jered Weaver, RHP (6-4, 2.35 ERA) vs. Francisco Liriano, LHP (3-5, 5.73 ERA)
There you have it.
