Fox Talks About Its National League Championship Series Coverage

Fox now enters the MLB Postseason game by taking the National League Championship Series this year. As you know by now, it alternates the LCS with TBS. Next year, Fox will air the ALCS. But for this year, it’s Giants-Phillies and a few things added to Fox’s coverage. MLB Network’s Mitch Williams joins Fox for pregame coverage during Games 1 and 2 from Philadelphia. Joe Buck will be teamed with Tim McCarver. Ken Rosenthal will be the field reporter. Chris Rose will host pregame and be joined by Eric Karros. I think I’ve covered everything, but here’s Fox’s press release on the whole thing.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

NLCS on FOX Armed with One of the Most Anticipated Pitching Matchups in History

Lincecum & Halladay Square-Off in Epic Pitching Showdown in Philadelphia

FOX Sports Launches 2010 MLB Postseason Coverage with Giants at Phillies

Saturday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 PM ET

“Wild Thing” Mitch Williams Joins NLCS Pregame Coverage for Games 1 & 2

McCarver: It’s One of the Most Extraordinary Matchups I’ve Seen in My 52 years in MLB

2010 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES ON FOX BROADCAST SCHEDULE

NLCS Game Coverage Broadcasters: Play-by-Play – Joe Buck, Analyst – Tim McCarver

Field Reporter – Ken Rosenthal

Pregame Show: Host – Chris Rose, Analysts – Eric Karros, Mitch Williams (Games 1 & 2)

Schedule Subject to Change/All Times Eastern

Saturday, Oct. 16 – GAME 1, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA, 7:30 PM

Sunday, Oct. 17 – GAME 2, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA, 8:00 PM

Tuesday, Oct. 19 – GAME 3, AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA, 4:00 PM

Wednesday, Oct. 20 – GAME 4, AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA, 7:30 PM

*Thursday, Oct. 21 – GAME 5, AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA, 7:30 PM

**Saturday, Oct. 23 – GAME 6, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA, 3:30 PM

*Sunday, Oct. 24 – GAME 7, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA, 7:30 PM

* If Necessary

**If ALCS is complete, then NLCS Game 6 start time shifts to 7:30 PM ET

FOX Sports’ coverage of Major League Baseball’s National League Championship Series begins this Saturday, Oct. 16^th (7:30 PM ET) with a pitching matchup for the ages when Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants travel to Philadelphia to take on Roy Halladay and the Phillies in Game 1 of the NLCS.

Mitch Williams, an 11-year Major League veteran and analyst for the MLB Network, joins host Chris Rose and fellow analyst Eric Karros live on-site for pre- and postgame coverage for games 1 & 2 from Philadelphia. Known for his unorthodox release of the baseball, Williams earned 192 saves and posted a 3.65 ERA in his 11 Major League seasons with the Rangers (1986-88), Cubs (1989-90), Phillies (1991- 93), Astros (1994), Angels (1995) and Royals (1997). He was a member of the 1989 National League All-Star team as well as the 1993 National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies.

ACES WILD FOR SATURDAY NIGHT’S MAIN EVENT – LINCECUM/HALLADAY MATCHUP INSTANT CLASSIC — An epic showdown ensues this Saturday (7:30 PM ET) on FOX between two of this generation’s most dominant pitchers: Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum. Both have been winners of MLB’s prestigious Cy Young Award and both have been dominant this postseason. However, only one can be victorious in Game 1. MLB on FOX lead analyst Tim McCarver, insider Ken Rosenthal and analyst Eric Karros offered their thoughts on this monumental matchup:

McCarver: “It’s easy to be excited about Saturday night’s incredible matchup with two outstanding pitchers coming off of two ridiculous games. There were 54 outs made in their Division Series starts out of 58 hitters that Lincecum and Halladay faced. That tells you what we are dealing with. If you ask me to give one the ‘edge’ I guess it’s Halladay since it’s in his home park but I don’t think that’s much of an advantage. To have that kind of speed and deception come from someone of Lincecum’s size is remarkable and Halladay’s control and movement of his fastball is fascinating. It’s one of the most extraordinary matchups I’ve seen in my 52 years in the game.”

Karros: “I don’t recall a pitching matchup of this magnitude in the last 20 years. While pitching will get the well deserved spotlight and emphasis, I see this game coming down to defense and speed. Philadelphia’s defense is stronger and they’re faster on the base paths than San Francisco. I think that is what gives them an advantage in this series.”

Rosenthal: “Like most fans, I’m excited just thinking about the matchup between Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum in Game 1 of the NLCS. The anticipation is similar to Roger Clemens vs. Pedro Martinez in the 2003 ALCS, or Clemens vs. Curt Schilling in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. Lincecum won the past two NL Cy Young Awards; Halladay is favored to win this year. Both were brilliant in the Division Series – so brilliant that some debated whether Lincecum’s 14-strikeout performance was better than Halladay’s no-hitter (it wasn’t). Halladay and Lincecum are different in virtually every way, and the contrast between them only adds to the fascination. Perhaps the only matchup that could top this would be Halladay vs. Cliff Lee – Phillies present and past – in the World Series.”