Baseball This Weekend And More

Let’s give you what baseball games are on TV this weekend. For now, I have Fox’s regional coverage on Saturday and ESPN’s group of games. When I get TBS’ game for Sunday, I’ll post it here. For now, I’ll give you what I have.

First, we have Fox’s preview for its gaggle of games. Joe Buck is back behind the mic and he’s only taken one week off to date. So he’ll have done four out of a possible five weeks for Fox thus far. We’re counting.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

MLB This Saturday at Special 3:00 PM ET Start Time

BoSox Welcome WS Champ Yanks to Beantown & NL Champs Host a Phenom

Rosenthal: If Ortiz Doesn’t Turn It Around, Boston May Have To Release Him

CHAMPS AND RIVAL GET TOGETHER IN BEANTOWN – The FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK kicks off another FOX Sports MLB-to-NASCAR doubleheader with two hard-hitting matchups Saturday, May 8 (3:00 PM ET). CC Sabathia leads the World Champion Yankees in another clash with their heated rivals when they take on Dustin Pedroia and the Red Sox. In Philadelphia, Ryan Howard and the Phillies host rookie sensation Jason Heyward and the Braves. Atlanta’s right fielder has been an instant success leading the team in HR, RBI and OBP. This week, the pregame show originates live from Fenway Park in Boston, MA with host Chris Rose. Once game action begins, Rose joins the game crew including Joe Buck, Tim McCarver and Ken Rosenthal 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.

KEN ROSENTHAL: “BOSTON’S PROBLEM IS AS MUCH EXTERNAL AS INTERNAL” – With the Red Sox facing the red-hot Yankees this weekend and already 6.5 games back in the AL East, MLB on FOX and FOXSports.com’s reporter Ken Rosenthal weighs in on Boston’s challenging road ahead:  “The challenges that face Boston are as much external as internal,” said Rosenthal.  “The question is not whether Boston will play better, because they will play better and have started to.  The real problem is that the Red Sox are chasing two teams in the Rays and Yankees.  Both look like they’re going to be very good the entire season.  It’s early and a lot can and will happen.  It’s going to be a season-long scramble for the Red Sox.”

Rosenthal on Boston’s David Ortiz: “Obviously the Red Sox need more out of David Ortiz and if it gets to the point where he’s a drag on them, they have little choice but to release him.  They can go with the platoon of Jeremy Hermida and Mike Lowell in the DH spot.  It’s a painful thing to go through with a player of his stature, with all that he’s meant to the organization but they have to do what’s best to try to win, period.” 

Rosenthal on the Tampa Bay Rays: “Tampa Bay took a step back last year but what we’re seeing is the evolution of a team with many young, athletic stars.  There is a sense in Tampa Bay that it is the last go-around because Carl Crawford and Carlos Peña are free agents and the rotation is perhaps even better than some of us thought.” 

Rosenthal on the New York Yankees: “The Yankees simply are a team without real apparent weaknesses other than age. We saw them have some little problems this week, Posada may go on the DL, Rivera had to be held out a few days and they’re going to give A-Rod more time at the DH. The Yankees are facing the same issue that the Red Sox are. Will their older players decline at some point? You can’t anticipate it but it is the lingering question with the Yankees.”

New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox, Joe Buck, Tim McCarver & Ken Rosenthal, going to 82% of USA

Fenway Park – Boston, MA

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Albuquerque, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Fort Myers, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm Beach

Probable Pitchers: CC Sabathia, LHP (4-1, 2.74 ERA) vs. Clay Buchholz, RHP (3-2, 2.97 ERA)

Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies, Kenny Albert & Eric Karros, going to 17% of USA

Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia, PA

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Nashville, Philadelphia, Raleigh

Probable Pitchers: TBA vs. Joe Blanton, RHP (0-1, 5.40 ERA)

And here’s ESPN’s games for Sunday, Monday and Wednesday Night Baseball. I notice a theme here. Do you?

Sunday Night Baseball (May 9)

New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox, 8 p.m.

(ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV)

Commentators: Jon Miller, Joe Morgan, Orel Hershiser

Monday Night Baseball (May 10)

New York Yankees at Detroit Tigers, 7 p.m.

(ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV)

Commentators: Dan Shulman, Chris Singleton, Aaron Boone

ESPNews will be seen in the New York market

Wednesday Night Baseball (May 12)

New York Yankees at Detroit Tigers, 7 p.m.

(ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV)

Commentators: Dave O’Brien, Rick Sutcliffe

ESPNews will be seen in team markets

When TBS’ press release comes in, I’ll post it here.

UPDATE, 5/8, 10:10 a.m.: TBS’ press release came in yesterday while I was doing the megalinks and it comes to you after the jump.

“Sunday MLB on TBS” Features the Atlanta Braves @ Philadelphia Phillies in a Mother’s Day Matinee

“Sunday MLB on TBS” continues on May 9 with a Mother’s Day matinee featuring Ryan Howard and the Philadelphia Phillies hosting Jason Heyward and the Atlanta Braves at 1:30 p.m. (ET).  Cole Hamels is scheduled to start for the Phillies against the Braves probable starter Kenshin Kawakami.  Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Ron Darling (analyst) will call the action from the TBS broadcast booth.

“Sunday MLB on TBS” includes match-ups on TBS every Sunday afternoon throughout the regular season.  The network will also exclusively televise the MLB All-Star Selection Show on Sunday, July 4.  Additionally, beginning in October TBS will once again provide exclusive coverage of the Division Series and the American League Championship Series (ALCS). 

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., May 9

1:30 p.m.                 Atlanta Braves @ Philadelphia Phillies

Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Ron Darling (analyst)

SUNDAY MLB ON TBS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

Sun., May 16

1 p.m.                      Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees

Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Buck Martinez (analyst) and David Wells (analyst)

Sun., May 23

1:30 p.m.                 Boston Red Sox @ Philadelphia Phillies

Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Ron Darling (analyst)

I think Brian Anderson has done all of the T
BS games thus far. I have to check.