The Fox Network has renewed its contract with MLB to televise the World Series, All-Star Game, one of the league championship series, and Saturday afternoon games.
TBS won the rights to show the Division Series and in 2008, TBS will show some regular season games.
Fox's contract is for seven years, starting in 2007.
Update - Mediaweek has more details. TBS will start broadcasting a national game of the week on Sunday afternoons in 2008. ESPN looks to be shutout of the postseason after this year. And if there is a tiebreaker needed to decide any playoff spot this season, it will be on TBS.
Meanwhile, my cat, Casey, was stunned by the news when I told him he would have to listen to Tim McCarver for seven more years. He could not stand up.
I don't know which is worse - 7 more years of FOX or knowing that the horrific TBS announcing crew will be doing Division Series games and then some regular season games. What happens when the Braves aren't one of the teams? Will they even know what to say?
That said, the TBS guys are at least better than Joe Morgan, Rick Sutcliffe, Jeff Brantley, etc.
This contract means more to Cliff since his favorite team tends to make the playoffs.
But I'm sure he's waiting to here:
"Hello there, this is Chip Caray along with Joe Simpson coming to you from Yankee Stadium for Game 3 of the AL Division Series between the Yankees and the Chicago White Sox."
4 Good point. They're also a popular pick for Saturday Games of the Week.
The good news is that FOX seems to have figured out that Scooter was a disaster. Buck and McCarver (I get a frightful shiver just typing their names) have taken to openly mocking Scooter during games.
6 Sadly I don't think the real Scooter's up to the task any more. Someone really needs to put out a Phil Rizzuto's greatest hits DVD with the highlights his broadcasting career. The visual answer to that book of Scooter quotes, the Accidental Verse of Phil Rizzuto, or whatever it was called.
Hmm. If I'm reading MediaWeek's story correctly, it looks like there will be two Sunday baseball games, one TBS afternoon game (morning here) and one ESPN evening game (afternoon here).
Note to self: continue doing laundry on Sundays so you're tied to the house and must watch baseball between loads.
That said, the TBS guys are at least better than Joe Morgan, Rick Sutcliffe, Jeff Brantley, etc.
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But I'm sure he's waiting to here:
"Hello there, this is Chip Caray along with Joe Simpson coming to you from Yankee Stadium for Game 3 of the AL Division Series between the Yankees and the Chicago White Sox."
The good news is that FOX seems to have figured out that Scooter was a disaster. Buck and McCarver (I get a frightful shiver just typing their names) have taken to openly mocking Scooter during games.
That huckleberry!
"You're lookig LIVE at PNC Park..."
seriously.
WHOOSH-SPLAT
this blog post brought to you by Avis - we'll pick you up....
...and Aqua Velva - it's blue!
Buck: They still make Aqua Velva?
McCarver: For my money, it's the best toothbrush out there. Hands down.
Buck: It's an aftershave.
I made the photo black and white because his eyes were lit somewhat demonically with the flash.
Note to self: continue doing laundry on Sundays so you're tied to the house and must watch baseball between loads.
Does anyone not get TBS/TNT (except for those brave souls who still use their TV antenna)?
More baseball games in HD = good thing, regardless of the announcing crew.
sigh .... why have the package if you can't watch it on summer afternoons?
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