Notes from MLB Postseason on TBS / Division Series – October 6, 2012

MLB Postseason coverage continues on TBS today, Sunday, Oct. 7, beginning with the TBS MLB On-Deck presented by Dodge Dart pre-game show at 2:30 p.m. ET. The network will televise a tripleheader featuring the Washington Nationals at St. Louis Cardinals, NLDS Game 1, at 3 p.m.; the New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles, ALDS Game 1, at 6:15 p.m.; and the Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants, NLDS Game 2, at 9:30 p.m. The night will conclude with the Inside MLB presented by Captain Morgan post-game show.

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MLB On-Deck presented by Dodge Dart

Matt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley and David Wells (analysts)

Eckersley on the Oakland Athletics: “This is an exciting team and they are going to make people find out what their name is as we go forward (in the playoffs). I think they are in a good spot.”

Wells on Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander: “He has a nasty curve, so you can’t sit on anything with him. He’s got good movement. If he pitches his game and he’s on, no one is going to beat him.”

Eckersley on Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto: “He’s not the same guy, but he’s still an on-base guy. They haven’t scored a lot of runs in the last month; they have been on cruise control. I think you will see much better Votto in this playoff series.”

Wells on San Francisco starter Matt Cain: “He hasn’t had a good year against [the Reds]. Matt Cain is a guy that is going to pound the strike zone, a [Justin] Verlander type. He’s going to give it 100 percent, no matter what…that’s just his demeanor.”

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ALDS, Game 1: Oakland Athletics (1) at Detroit Tigers (3) – Tigers lead series 1-0

Don Orsillo (play-by-play), Buck Martinez (analyst) with Jamie Maggio (reporter)

Martinez on the stamina of Detroit’s Verlander throughout a game: “He has the ability to throw 97, 98, 99 [mph] late in the ball game. He prepares himself very well in the off-season. He envisions himself as a 200 inning, 200 strikeout guy every single year. It takes quite a toll on your body, but he is able to maintain that velocity and pitch deep into the ball games.”

Martinez on Detroit’s lineup: “Austin Jackson has really been a spark at the top of the order. He’s refined his approach at the plate and has allowed him to wait longer to pick up the baseball.”

Martinez on the Athletics improvement turning double plays: “This is one thing that has really improved since Stephen Drew was acquired – the A’s ability to turn double plays.”

Martinez on Detroit’s Prince Fielder: “This is his first year in the American League. He’s a guy that is a very smart hitter and likes to know who he is facing. It will take him a while to get acclimated to the pitchers in the America League.”

Martinez on the athletic ability of the Athletics and Tigers outfielders: “Before the series is over, we are going to see some spectacular plays in the outfield. Both of these teams have outfielders that can really go get it. They both have outstanding centerfields and the corner outfielders are very athletic.”

Martinez on Verlander’s pitching style: “There has never been a question about [Justin] Verlander’s style. It has been excellent from the first moment he stepped on the mound. He can really pitch. He knows how to add and subtract with his fast ball, he knows how to add and subtract with his breaking ball. He’s gotten to the point where he can read hitters.”

Martinez on Oakland’s Josh Reddick: “Reddick wore down at the end of the season. He’s just a little guy…the rigors of playing every single day caught up to him in September.”

Martinez on Detroit’s Justin Verlander, who had thrown 120 pitches with two outs in the top of the seventh inning: “Verlander is like a throwback pitcher from the era of [Sandy] Koufax, [Bob] Gibson and [Tom] Seaver. When he can see the finish line, he reaches back for a little extra. He knows how to finish.”

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Game Break presented by Bank of America

Matt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley and David Wells (analysts)

Eckersley on pitcher Jose Valverde closing out Game 1 of the ALDS in the Tigers’ 3-1 win: “Tonight he did his job, a couple of punch outs and a pop up. This is a game that Detroit really had to have.”

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NLDS, Game 1: Cincinnati Reds (5) at San Francisco Giants (2) – Reds lead the series 1-0

Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Ron Darling, Joe Simpson (analysts) with Tom Verducci (reporter)

Darling on Cincinnati’s Drew Stubbs: “One of the best athletes in the National League. He can fly.”

Anderson on the Reds’ running game: “It’s not just the stolen bases that the Reds were very successful at this season. They take extra bases; they are very aggressive at trying to score.”

Darling on San Francisco’s Brandon Belt: “They always talk about power hitters and it takes three or four years for them to find their form. I think Belt, if given time, is going to be one of those guys that is going to be 20-plus home runs.”

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Inside MLB presented by Captain Morgan

Matt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley and David Wells (analysts)

Wells on Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto potentially returning to the mound for Game 3: “If you are pitching like that, you want to stay on the field. You are going to sacrifice yourself longer down the road, but you want to be in that situation now; every athlete would.”

Eckersley on Reds second baseman Brandon Philips: “Cincinnati did a lot of things right and defensively he was the star of the game.”

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TBS Announces Commentators for Upcoming Division Series Games

Network to Exclusively Televise Up to 18 Division Series Games

Following tonight’s exclusive TBS presentation of the first-ever, single-elimination Wild Card presented by Budweiser on Friday – Atlanta hosting St. Louis at 5 p.m. ET; Baltimore visiting Texas at 8:30 p.m. – the network’s Division Series coverage will begin tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 6, with a doubleheader.  The Oakland Athletics will visit the Detroit Tigers at 6 p.m. and the San Francisco Giants will host the Cincinnati Reds at 9:30 p.m., both games marking the first meeting of their respective best-of-five series.  MLB On-Deck presented by Dodge Dart will precede live game coverage at 4:30 p.m.

TBS will exclusively televise up to 18 Division Series games and the American League Championship Series coverage on TBS presented by the Capital One Cash Rewards Card. The network’s commentator pairings for the first four days of the Division Series:

Date	Time (ET)	Games/Commentator Teams
Saturday, Oct. 6	5:30 p.m.	MLB On-Deck presented by Dodge Dart Matt Winer, Dennis Eckersley and David Wells
	6 p.m.	ALDS Game 1: Oakland at Detroit Don Orsillo, Buck Martinez and Jaime Maggio
	9:30 p.m.	NLDS Game 1: Cincinnati at San Francisco Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, Joe Simpson and Tom Verducci
	Post-game	Inside MLB presented by Captain Morgan Winer, Eckersley and Wells
Sunday, Oct. 7	2:30 p.m.	MLB On-Deck presented by Dodge Dart Winer, Eckersley and Wells
	3 p.m.	NLDS Game 1: Washington at St. Louis/Atlanta Dick Stockton, Bob Brenly, David Aldridge
	6:15 p.m.	ALDS Game 1: New York at Baltimore/Texas Ernie Johnson, John Smoltz, Cal Ripken and Craig Sager
	9:30 p.m.	NLDS Game 2: Cincinnati at San Francisco Anderson, Darling, Simpson and Verducci
	Post-game	Inside MLB presented by Captain Morgan Winer, Eckersley and Wells
Monday, Oct. 8	4 p.m.	MLB On-Deck presented by Dodge Dart Winer, Eckersley and Wells
	4:30 p.m.	NLDS Game 2: Washington at St. Louis/Atlanta Stockton, Brenly, Aldridge
	8 p.m.	ALDS Game 2: New York at Baltimore/Texas Johnson, Smoltz, Ripken, Sager
	Post-game	Inside MLB presented by Captain Morgan Winer, Eckersley and Wells
Tuesday, Oct. 9	5 p.m.	MLB On-Deck presented by Dodge Dart Winer, Eckersley and Wells
	5:30 p.m.	NLDS Game 3: San Francisco at Cincinnati Anderson, Darling, Simpson, Verducci
	9 p.m.	ALDS Game 3: Detroit at Oakland Orsillo, Martinez, Maggio
	Post-game	Inside MLB presented by Captain Morgan Winer, Eckersley and Wells

 

Visit the Turner Sports online pressroom for additional press materials; follow Turner Sports on Twitter at @TurnerSportsPR.

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Notes from MLB Postseason on TBS / Wild Card presented by Budweiser – October 5, 2012 

The MLB Postseason continues on TBS on Saturday, Oct. 6, beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET with TBS MLB On-Deck presented by Dodge Dart followed by the Oakland Athletics at Detroit Tigers ALDS Game 1 at 6 p.m. and the Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants NLDS Game 1 at 9:30 p.m.  The night will conclude with the Inside MLB presented by Captain Morgan post-game show.

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MLB On-Deck presented by Dodge Dart

Matt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley and David Wells (analysts)

Wells on Braves veteran Chipper Jones: “He’s a stand-up guy. He leads by example and he can help these young guys, especially in situations like tonight.”

Eckersley on Braves starter Kris Medlen: “Who is this guy?  Where did he come from?  It’s incredible what he has done. You talk about Greg Maddux…he’s just like him.  He’s got three pitches he can throw to either side of the plate.  (He has a) great change up and his ball moves all over the plate. The kid is as confident as you possibly can be.”

Wells on Cardinals starting pitcher Kyle Lohse: “The key for him is to go out there and hit his spots. He’s their best pitcher this year. For him to be effective, he’s got to be down there in the zone.”

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St. Louis Cardinals (6) at Atlanta Braves (3) – Cardinals advance to the NLDS to face the Washington Nationals

Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Ron Darling and Joe Simpson (analysts) with Tom Verducci (reporter)

Simpson on the Wild Card game starting pitchers – the Braves’ Kris Medlen and the Cardinals’ Kyle Lohse: “Both of these pitchers will pitch to contact.  They don’t mind you putting it in play as long as they are ahead in the count and you are hitting their pitch.”

Darling: “Although, when [Kris] Medlen is perfect, he can have some high strikeout games.”

Darling on Cardinals manager Mike Matheny’s decision to start Kyle Lohse: “He’s been their most consistent starter. [Chris] Carpenter has only made three starts [this season].  Carpenter though, is 9-2 in the postseason. [Adam] Wainwright has only given up one run in 10 games. Tough choice.”

Darling on Braves right fielder Jason Heyward’s catch at the outfield wall: “Everyone in baseball is now looking for a 6’6” right fielder. He needed every inch [on that play].”

Darling on the Cardinals manufacturing runs following an error by Chipper Jones in the fourth inning: “[It’s been] a situation hitting clinic by the Cardinals in this inning after the error by Chipper Jones.”

Simpson on the Cardinals taking advantage of Jones’ error: “Again, [the Cardinals are] taking advantage of the mistakes, and that’s what St. Louis did last year in the postseason.  They were very opportunistic.”

Simpson on Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons’ decision to bunt in the fourth inning: “First of all, I’m going to question why he was bunting [with runners at] first the third and the pitcher up behind him…it wasn’t a suicide squeeze, so he was just trying to get on base or maybe get a guy in from third base if he got a hit.  This was not the time for that.”

Darling on the errors by the Braves: “The immediacy of this Wild Card format sure has to cause some nerves and it seems like it has for the Braves.”

Simpson on the Cardinals lineup: “They are relentless up and down their lineup. They put the ball in play. They don’t strike out a lot.  They walk a lot and they have a good knowledge of the strike zone. They have a very good lineup.”

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Game Break presented by Bank of America

Matt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley and David Wells (analysts)

Winer on the Cardinals recent postseason success: “A beer town is getting used to the taste of champagne.”

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Baltimore Orioles (5) at Texas Rangers (1) – Orioles advance to the ALDS to face the New York Yankees

Ernie Johnson (play-by-play), Cal Ripken, Jr., and John Smoltz (analysts) with Craig Sager (reporter)

Smoltz on the intensity of the Wild Card: “In this format, everything is a rally. A walk or a hit…everything is amplified.”

Smoltz on the mindset of a successful pitcher in big games: “The pitcher that can slow the heartbeat and slow the game down is going to be the most successful. This game has so much emotion around it that you do things you never thought you’d be able to in a regular season game.”

Ripken on the Orioles: “You try to explain Baltimore to a lot of people about what is that they have and the only thing I can tell you is that they have ‘it.’ It’s hard to explain ‘it’ in baseball…but this team seems to have it. They are fun to watch.”

Johnson, Ripken and Smoltz interviewed Orioles manager Buck Showalter during the 4^th inning

Showalter on allowing his players to be aggressive: “The best time is when you can trust your players. I’ve told them over the past month that the only time I’m going to get upset is when they don’t go for it. You feel it…you go for it. You have a pitch you want to make [with a count of] 3-2…you go for it. You want to throw to a certain base…you go for it. I’ll get upset when they’re timid and don’t let it fly.”

Smoltz on the importance of experience in the postseason: [Experience] only means what you can do to put pressure on the other team. Baltimore lacks the experience but they are doing everything they can to put pressure on the opposition.”

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Inside MLB presented by Captain Morgan
Matt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley and David Wells (analysts)

Eckersley on whether the controversial infield fly rule cost the Braves the game: “Did it cost them the game? Not necessarily because the bases would’ve been loaded with one out. You never know what would’ve happened.”

Eckersley on Braves pitcher Kris Medlen losing for the first time in 24 starts:“To me, it’s like having 50 saves in a row and then coming into the playoffs. Sooner or later, I don’t care how good you are, you’re going to fall out of that tree. It’s a bad time to fall out of that tree in a one-game Wild Card playoff. [But] hats off to [Medlen] because he made his mark on the National League this season.”

Wells on Orioles starting pitcher Joe Saunders’ “magical” Wild Card performance:“He played ‘Houdini’ and made pitches like no other…he came up huge for [the Orioles].”

Eckersley on the Rangers surprising early postseason exit: “It’s kind of shocking. Texas was supposed to be the best team in baseball most of the season. At the All-Star break, I was picking Texas…last week, I was picking Texas. I think they are as shocked as anybody.”

Wells on Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton’s disappointing end to the season: “He had some bad moments [in the Wild Card game] but when you have something eating at you, like [Hamilton’s] dropped ball in Oakland [in the crucial last game of the regular season], you carry it over to this game…he just didn’t look like Josh Hamilton.”

Eckersley on Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish’s Wild Card performance: “He did his job but the [Rangers’] offense didn’t show up.”

Wells on the Orioles vs. Yankees LDS match-up: “The way that Baltimore is playing right now, New York better be prepared. [The Yankees’] pitching has been suspect all year. They need to take their blinders off and not let anything happen in this situation. Baltimore is hot and they know how to win ball games.”

Tom Verducci interviewed Braves third baseman Chipper Jones following their Wild Card loss and Jones’ final game

Jones on the Braves’ poor defense in the Wild Card game: “It’s disappointing and it starts right here. We just picked a bad time to play a game of defense that we didn’t typically play during the course of the regular season. We made bad throws, didn’t pick the ball clean and ultimately it cost us four or five unearned runs that definitely cost us the ball game.”

Jones on facing the end of his career:“I’m ok with it. Obviously, I would rather have gone out playing a clean defensive ball game and getting a couple of hits. [This] certainly was not how you’d like to end your career. But I can walk out of here today knowing that I brought it every single day. It’s tough and it’s going to take some time to wash this one away but I’ll be ok.”

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 Postseason.TV Returns for 2012 MLB Postseason

TBS’s coverage of the 2012 MLB Postseason will begin with the exclusive presentation of the first-ever, single-elimination Wild Card presented by Budweiser on Friday, Oct. 5, a doubleheader featuring the Atlanta Braves hosting the St. Louis Cardinals at 5 p.m. ET and the Baltimore Orioles visiting the Texas Rangers at 8:30 p.m.

Brian Anderson will provide play-by-play commentary for Cardinals/Braves with analysts Ron Darling and Joe Simpson and reporter Tom Verducci.  Ernie Johnson will call Orioles/Rangers with analysts John Smoltz and Cal Ripken, Jr., and reporter Craig Sager. Matt Winer will host the MLB On-Deck presented by Dodge Dart pregame show with analysts Dennis Eckersley and David Wells at 4:30 p.m.

Following are the commentator pairings through the opening days of the MLB Postseason:

Date	Time (ET)	Games/Commentator Teams
Friday, Oct. 5	4:30 p.m.	MLB On-Deck presented by Dodge Dart Matt Winer, Dennis Eckersley and David Wells
	5 p.m.	N.L. Wild Card Game: St. Louis at Atlanta Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, Joe Simpson and Tom Verducci
	8:30 p.m.	A.L. Wild Card Game: Baltimore at Texas Ernie Johnson, John Smoltz, Cal Ripken and Craig Sager
	Post-game	Inside MLB presented by Captain Morgan
Saturday, Oct. 6	5:30 p.m.	MLB On-Deck presented by Dodge Dart Winer, Eckersley and Wells
	6 p.m.	ALDS, Game 1: Oakland at Detroit Don Orsillo, Buck Martinez and Jaime Maggio
	9:30 p.m.	NLDS, Game 1: Cincinnati at San Francisco Anderson, Darling, Simpson and Verducci
	Post-game	Inside MLB presented by Captain Morgan Winer, Eckersley and Wells

 

Postseason.TV Returns for 2012 MLB Postseason

TBS and MLB Advanced Media will once again collaborate to bring fans additional access to the MLB Postseason (Wild Card, ALDS, NLDS and ALCS) with the return of Postseason.TV, a digital companion video product which complements TBS’ game telecasts.  The subscription-based Postseason.TV, available via broadband for a one-time fee of $4.99, will stream up to 10 alternate camera angels live for every game televised by TBS allowing fans to customize their online viewing experience.  Postseason.TV will be available through MLB.com and its At Bat 12 app for mobile phones and tablet devices. Subscribers can watch one camera angle or view up to four different cameras simultaneously through a mosaic display.

Additional online coverage of the MLB Postseason, including real-time, customized content for each Postseason team, can be found via BleacherReport.com and the Bleacher Report Team Stream app for tablets and mobile devices.

Visit the Turner Sports online pressroom for additional press materials; follow Turner Sports on Twitter at @TurnerSportsPR.

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The 2012 MLB Postseason will begin on TBS with the exclusive presentation of the first-ever Wild Card presented by Budweiser on Friday, October 5. The network, in its sixth consecutive year televising the Division Series and one League Championship Series, will be the exclusive home of up to 18 Division Series games and the entire American League Championship Series on TBS presented by the Capital One Cash Card.

 

Participants:

Ron Darling, TBS MLB analyst

John Smoltz, TBS MLB analyst

Ernie Johnson, TBS MLB play-by-play

Craig Barry, SVP, Production and Executive Creative Director, Turner Sports

Barry on the MLB postseason on TBS: “We’re really excited about the postseason. This year we are going to have the opportunity to do some new things and strengthen our broadcasts. We will have some new technology in the studio – holographic pitching technology – and we will increase our super slo-mo cameras (among other new elements).”

Johnson on the addition of two Wild Card games and how the new dynamic will impact the postseason: “The addition of the second Wild Card, in the past few weeks, has brought a lot of teams and fan bases into the equation that normally wouldn’t be there. It has certainly offered a degree of uncertainty. From that standpoint, it has been successful in bringing some folks [teams] into the equation. If you look at Friday night [Wild Card games]…the Texas Rangers could be playing for their playoff lives in a one-game deal. It creates a lot of interest.”

Darling on the new Wild Card format: “It has changed forever how general managers and the people upstairs [front office] think about their teams. If you put any team at .500 on September 1 they feel like…with a strong September, they’ll have a chance to go to the postseason.”

Smoltz on the Wild Card: “You always have to give certain things time. You put a lot of pressure on the schedule, and the weather and a bunch of tiebreakers. You’ve got to give it a few years. It gives teams another chance to improve their chances. Now, if a Wild Card team wins a World Series, they’ve really had to work for it.”

Smoltz on which team is best equipped for the best-of-five LDS format: “Best of fives are scary. [I give] a slight edge to the San Francisco Giants because of their offensive improvement and overall depth in pitching. When you get to a short game, the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves are as good as it gets. They can shut you down from the seventh inning on.”

Smoltz on the Orioles and Tigers: “Baltimore has got the ‘it’ factor and they keep winning. The American League is truly up in the air but, if I have to make a prediction, I do like the way Detroit has it set up with their rotation. I like Detroitcoming out of the American League and surprising some people.” 

Darling on the Tigers: “This Detroit team might be the most dangerous team in the playoffs.”

Darling on Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander: “Verlander is the surest thing in baseball. If you look at his numbers at the end of the year his ERA is low two, he’s got 15+ wins, 230+ innings, he doesn’t miss a start…he’s the surest thing in baseball.”

Smoltz on the Tigers chances in the postseason: “Look for the front of that offense to be bigger. Playoff baseball is so different. Justin Verlander puts pressure on the other pitchers. I like the fact they [Tigers] are starting at home. Detroit has a bit of an advantage in that first best-of-five series.”

Smoltz on the difficulty of the Wild Card game and its impact on setting up a pitching staff: “When you have to use your No. 1 guy (in a Wild Card game) it is a disadvantage. Nobody wants to really manage this type of game because there’s going to be so much second guessing.” 

Smoltz on who to watch on the surprisingly successful Oakland Athletics: “Josh Reddick has had an incredible year coming over from Boston. Jonny Gomes has been around and is experienced. Their bullpen has been very underrated. This is a team that has the ‘it’ factor…this is a team that is very dangerous when you talk about the unknown factor. This is one of the best stories that has not been told.”

Darling on the Athletics’ team chemistry: “They are tight [knit]. They’re all about team. They are not about individual performances. They want to win games. When you have that combination and you have energy, that swashbuckling style they’ve got is one of the great stories.”

Smoltz on the Washington Nationals chances without Stephen Strasburg: “Without him [Strasburg], they’re still a very good team. It definitely lessens their chances when you take a stud out of your rotation. This team [Washington] has proven they are deep.” 

Smoltz on the Nationals without Stephen Strasburg and their chances in the postseason: “It’s the intimidation factor; that’s really what it is. There is an intimidation and an edge that you have when you have him and when you don’t, it’s a little bit more difficult but not impossible. I think because it was so talked about it took away from the success that this team had.”

Darling on Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg getting so much attention in the regular season: “The [Strasburg] story became an entire year story and I think that’s a shame. Lost in this is how great [Ryan and Jordan] Zimmerman and [Gio] Gonzales were.”

Smoltz on whether the Giants continue to use the entire bullpen to close: “They are one of the few teams that can pull this off. They have guys down there with no ego. They are dominant. They have every specialty that you need. This is a team, when you think about ‘bullpen by committee,’ there are very few teams that can do it. They are a very deep, very underrated bullpen. I like their chances.”

 

Darling and Smoltz discussed their picks for AL & NL MVP and Cy Young

Smoltz on AL MVP: “AL MVP, for me, is more of a no brainer than most people, it’s Miguel Cabrera hands down. [Mike] Trout has had a phenomenal year. He just picked the wrong time to have a phenomenal year. He’s going to win Rookie-of-the-Year; he’s been MVP to his team, but as far as the MVP goes, hands down Miguel Cabrera.”

Smoltz on NL MVP: “I think its going to be a very close [NL] MVP race, I think it’s going to be one that splits a lot of votes which is going to hurt a lot of players, but the position of catcher has got to be thought of a little bit different than an everyday player because it has been so difficult to have those positions and produce the numbers that a [Yadier] Molina, and I know [Buster] Posey has played some first base so it kind of skews it a little bit…as of today, I think the guy that had the most phenomenal year statistically would be Ryan Braun, but I could see any of those guys nosing him out because their teams are in the playoffs and Milwaukee is not.”

Darling on the AL MVP: “I’m a [Miguel] Cabrera fan also. Mike Trout had an amazing year, an amazing five months of baseball. [He] really changed [the Angels] from a team that was struggling to a team that had a good summer not a great summer.  That seems to be the easy one for all of us.”

Darling the NL MVP: “In the National League, [Yadier] Molina has been amazing.  I think Ryan Braun has had the best year but, because of the technicality issue, that is going to cost some votes this year.  In a close race, I think Buster Posey…this will be his year.  I know Molina has been consistent all season long, but when San Francisco needed someone to carry them offensively Posey did it…if you check his numbers in the second half, they are almost obscene. So it’s Posey for me in the National League.”

Smoltz on the AL Cy Young: “This is a very tough situation in the American League. I traditionally don’t think relievers should win the Cy Young [Award]. David Price noses out [Justin] Verlander just by a little bit. It’s a tough year for a lot of guys. Voters have their hands full.”

Darling on the AL & NL Cy Young: “In the American League it’s David Price for me. He’s done it all season long and I thought he was the best pitcher over the course of the year. In the National League, it’s R.A. Dickey.”

Darling and Smoltz discussed some teams that had a disappointing 2012 regular season

Smoltz on what the Dodgers and Angels have to do to get back into the postseason: “Both teams will be back. The Angels have a team that can compete for quite some time. The Angels learned valuable lessons of what is not an automatic {bid to the postseason}. I see them easily in the playoffs next year. The Dodgers made a move that was not only for the short term but for the long haul. They will be fine as they move forward. They put together a team that no one thought would be here at the end of the year.”

Smoltz on whether the Red Sox can return to the postseason next year: “There’s no doubt they can get back. You have to have continuity within the organization from the general manager to the ownership.  The only reason he would make it [Valentine not being fired] is because the team had so many injuries and didn’t have the opportunity to put the team on the field that they had hoped for.  Boston is a proud market. The players there, once they get the opportunity to know the direction they are going, they can turn it around just as well as any other team in baseball.”

Smoltz on if the Tampa Bay Rays come back next year and make the postseason: “They’ve got to find ways to get production, not necessarily a bunch of home runs, but cut down on philosophies of swing and misses.  They lost this year because they could not score.  In the offseason, they have some work to do. They don’t have the financial structure to allow them to get whomever they want. They are going to have to get creative and, as always, they will rely on Joe Madden.”

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Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. and Major League Baseball have reached an eight-year, media rights extension that will encompass a variety of screens and platforms it was announced today by MLB Commissioner Allan H. Selig and David Levy, President of Sales, Distribution and Sports, Turner Broadcasting.  This new agreement builds on MLB’s long-standing relationship with Turner Sports and is highlighted by an extension of TBS’s television rights for the MLB postseason and the addition of co-exist rights for the network’s ‘Sunday MLB on TBS’ franchise. The agreement also features TV Everywhere rights and expanded digital rights for Turner’s portfolio.

The extended agreement, effective 2014 through 2021, will guarantee a 45-plus year continuous relationship between Turner and MLB, dating back to 1973 when the company began televising MLB games on WTCG (now TBS). The partnership represents one of the longest-running relationships between a media company and league in the history of televised sports.  The current agreement between MLB and Turner, which started in 2007, will conclude following the 2013 season.

“Major League Baseball on TBS has been a staple of our programming foundation and the home to so many memorable baseball moments,” said Levy.  “This agreement reflects our respect for one another’s business and the mutual regard we have with MLB.”

Selig added: “I have often said in recent years that we are living in the golden age of baseball and that the game has never been more popular.  But to see the unprecedented and historic commitment these networks have made to televising Major League Baseball for years to come is truly amazing.  On behalf of Major League Baseball, I am thrilled that we will continue our relationships with both FOX and Turner.  Both networks are passionate about baseball and are committed to covering, promoting and growing the sport, and I want to thank them for their continued support.”

Beginning with the 2014 MLB season, Turner’s expanded package will include the following television rights:

• TBS will have exclusive television rights to one League Championship Series each year of the agreement.  As part of the deal, the ALCS and NLCS will alternate each year between TBS and Fox.
• TBS will have exclusive rights to broadcast two of the four MLB Division Series, which will alternate between AL and NL each year.
• TBS will carry one Wild Card Game, presented by Budweiser, which will alternate between the AL and NL each year.
• TBS will also air afternoon games with new co-exist rights on the final 13 Sundays of the regular season as part of the network’s ‘Sunday MLB on TBS’ Game of the Week package

“This new agreement adds considerable value to our portfolio of offerings,” adds Levy.  “We’re pleased to extend our relationship with the MLB brand across multiple screens to create an even richer baseball experience for our viewers, advertisers and distribution partners.”

In addition to the television rights, the deal encompasses an expansion of Turner’s digital rights across a wide spectrum of screens and platforms including mobile, web, tablets and connected devices. The agreement also includes:

• TV Everywhere rights that will allow TBS to simulcast its MLB games and related programming across Turner platforms.
• Increased footage and highlights rights for Turner websites and applications.  This includes Bleacher Report, which Turner Sports acquired in August 2012, and its popular Team Stream app.
• Interactive television rights.  This includes the rights to create companion and ancillary products related to the TBS broadcast of regular and postseason games.

Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is an industry leader in televised and online sports programming, airing championship-level sporting events on TBS, TNT and truTV, and managing some of the most popular sports sites on the Internet. Turner Sports’ television lineup includes the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, NASCAR and professional golf. The company’s digital portfolio includes Bleacher Report, NASCAR.COM, NCAA.com and March Madness Live, PGATOUR.COM and PGA.com, as well as an accompanying collection of mobile websites and connected device apps. Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA Mobile, the NBA Game Time App, NBADLEAGUE.com and WNBA.com.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.  Turner brands and businesses include CNN/U.S., CNN International, CNN.com and HLN; TBS, TNT, truTV and Turner Classic Movies; Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Adult Swim; and Turner Sports.

Visit the Turner Sports online pressroom for additional press materials; follow Turner Sports on Twitter at @TurnerSportsPR.

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TBS’ Exclusive MLB Postseason Coverage Includes up to 18 Division Series Games and the ALCS

TBS will offer extensive coverage of the 2012 MLB Postseason beginning with the exclusive presentation of the first-ever Wild Card presented by Budweiser on Friday, October 5. The network, in its sixth consecutive year televising the Division Series and one League Championship Series, will also be the exclusive home of up to 18 Division Series games and the entire American League Championship Series coverage on TBS presented by the Capital One Cash Card.

TBS’ coverage of the Wild Card, LDS and ALCS will be handled by a deep roster of veteran commentators:

• Ernie Johnson will handle play-by-play alongside analysts John Smoltz and Ron Darling for the network’s exclusive coverage of the ALCS.
• For the network’s coverage of the Wild Card and Division Series, TBS will feature a pair of three-man commentator teams: play-by-play announcer Brian Anderson, who called Roy Halladay’s historic no-hitter on TBS during the 2010 NLDS, will be joined by veteran analysts Darling and Joe Simpson; and Johnson will mark his return to the TBS postseason broadcast booth, handling play-by-play alongside Hall of Famer Cal Ripken and Smoltz.
• Division Series announce teams will also include veteran play-by-play announcer Dick Stockton, joined in the booth once again by former MLB manager and long-time TV analyst Bob Brenly; and Don Orsillo (play-by-play) and Buck Martinez (analyst) will return for their sixth and fifth postseasons, respectively, with TBS.
• Reporters for the LDS will include MLB insider and Sports Illustrated/SI.com senior baseball writer Tom Verducci, who will also provide reports from the National League Championship Series (NLCS). Craig Sager will return to the MLB Postseason on TBS for his sixth year as a reporter and will work the ALCS for the network. Turner Sports veteran David Aldridge, who covered the MLB Postseason on TBS from 2007-2010, will return as a reporter during the LDS. Jaime Maggio, who has served as a reporter for the 2011 MLB Postseason on TBS, NBA Playoffs on TNT and Turner Sports’ presentation of the NCAA Tournament, will contribute to the network’s LDS coverage.

The MLB On-Deck presented by Dodge Dart pre-game show and Inside MLB presented by Captain Morgan post-game show will have in-depth game reports and post-game interviews from every LDS game, as well as the ALCS and NLCS. Matt Winer will once again serve as studio host alongside returning veteran analysts: Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley and two-time World Champion David Wells during the LDS.

In the first year of the new postseason format, two Wild Card teams in each league will play a single-elimination game with each winner advancing to compete with the three division championship from its respective leagues in the Division Series.

The network’s production plans will utilize state-of-the-art technology to bring fans unique insights into each game:

• 3D Hologram Imagery: Innovative 3D imagery will illustrate detailed examples of pitch grips while demonstrating the pressure points, release points and rotation. Analysts will use the tool to explain how pitches work and how the hitter approaches each type of pitch.
• Super Slo-Mo: TBS will triple the amount of Super Slow-Motion cameras utilized throughout the network’s postseason coverage.
• Bloomberg Stats: TBS will once again utilize Bloomberg Sports’ vast resources as they integrate comprehensive statistical information into each telecast. The service allows game and studio analysts to examine every pitch of each game to find patterns and pick out tendencies.
• Pitch Trax: The in-game technology which illustrates pitch location throughout the game will return to TBS for the postseason.

Additionally, Turner Sports will encourage fans interaction across social media platforms:

• Twitter: @MLB_TBS, @PostseasonPete and @TurnerSportsPR will provide game alerts, programming information and key statistical information throughout the postseason. Also, TBS MLB broadcasters will periodically answer questions from fans via Twitter chats. Fans can use #Postseason to join the conversation throughout the Wild Card games, LDS, ALCS and NLCS.

• Facebook:  Fans can also check out the MLB on TBS Facebook page to find the latest schedule information, behind-the-scenes photos and other special features.

Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is an industry leader in televised and online sports programming, airing championship-level sporting events on TBS, TNT and truTV, and managing some of the most popular sports sites on the Internet. Turner Sports’ television lineup includes the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, NASCAR and professional golf. The company’s digital portfolio includes Bleacher Report, NASCAR.COM, NCAA.com and March Madness Live, PGATOUR.COM and PGA.com, as well as an accompanying collection of mobile websites and connected device apps. Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA Mobile, the NBA Game Time App, NBADLEAGUE.com and WNBA.com.

TBS is basic cable’s #1 network among young adults in prime time. Available in 100 million households, TBS features the Emmy-nominated late-night series CONAN, starring Conan O’Brien; and original primetime comedy series like Men at Work, Sullivan & Son, Cougar Town, Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse, Wedding Band, King of the Nerds, Who Gets the Last Laugh? (working title) and Deon Cole’s Black Box (working title). TBS also features an outstanding slate of contemporary comedies, such as The Big Bang Theory and Family Guy, along with blockbuster movies and championship sports. In addition, TBS produces special live comedy events, like the star-studded comedy festival held each year in Chicago.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.  Turner brands and businesses include CNN/U.S., CNN International, CNN.com and HLN; TBS, TNT, truTV and Turner Classic Movies; Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Adult Swim; and Turner Sports.

 

Visit the Turner Sports online pressroom for additional press materials; follow Turner Sports on Twitter at @TurnerSportsPR.

 

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Beginning Friday, Oct. 5, TBS will exclusively televise the Major League Baseball American League (AL) and National League (NL) Wild Card games and will once again provide coverage of all four MLB Division Series (DS) and exclusive coverage of the American League Championship Series (ALCS). Following is an overview of this week’s “Sunday MLB on TBS” telecast, a primer on TBS analyst Dennis Eckersley’s unique baseball vernacular and analyst John Smoltz offering perspective on the New York Yankees down the stretch.

“Sunday MLB on TBS:” Tampa Bay Rays at Chicago White Sox

The pennant race heats up on “Sunday MLB on TBS” on September 30 at 2 p.m. ET with a match-up of postseason contenders when Paul Konerko and the White Sox host Evan Longoria and the Rays. David Price (19-5) is scheduled to start for the Rays against White Sox probable starter Francisco Liriano (6-12). Going into the weekend series, both teams are competing for postseason berths. Calling the action will be Ernie Johnson (play-by-play), Ron Darling and Smoltz (analysts).

The Eck-tionary

As a viewer’s guide entering the 2012 MLB Postseason, following is a refresher on some of TBS analyst Dennis Eckersley’s favorite phrases (with translations):

• Cheese = Fastball
• Salad = Bad Pitch
• Paint = Good Control
• Johnson = Home Run
• Moss = Hair
• Iron =  Money

MLB on TBS Quotes of Note

TBS analyst John Smoltz on…

…the Yankees: “What you have to do in 162 games is survive stretches. The Yankees have been there, done that. When they need a win, they usually get it…when you think about the Yankees, they are built to win. They’ve got the most depth. It’s going to be their pitching that takes them farthest in the playoffs.”

…on Yankees manager Joe Girardi: “I don’t know who you give the [American League] Manager of the Year Award to…Joe [Girardi] doesn’t get any credit, but he has done a nice job this year. He’s done a great job of wading through the water with some of the things you don’t typically see in lineups or [pitching] rotations. He’s done a nice job.”

…on the importance of winning your division: “Winning the division is not only imperative, it’s the absolute best-case scenario so that you can set up your rotation and you don’t have to start flirting with the Wild Card game.”

In Case You Missed It

• Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will star alongside some of MLB’s greatest players in video clips highlighting TBS’ 2012 MLB Postseason coverage. The videos, which feature the Springsteen song “Land of Hope and Dreams” as the musical backdrop, will also air leading up to and during this year’s postseason.
• Clink on the following link to view the VIDEO.

For all the latest MLB on TBS Postseason news, be sure to follow @MLBonTBS, @PostseasonPete and @TurnerSportsPR on Twitter. Visit the Turner Sports online pressroom for additional press materials.

 

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“Sunday MLB on TBS” Features Matchup of Postseason Contenders with

A’s @ Yankees on September 16 at 1 p.m. ET

The pennant race heats up on “Sunday MLB on TBS” on September 23 at 1 p.m. ET with a matchup of postseason contenders featuring Yoenis Cespedes and the Athletics visiting Derek Jeter and the Yankees.  A.J. Griffin (6-1) is scheduled to start for the A’s against Yankees’ probable starter Hiroki Kuroda (14-10). Going into the weekend series, both teams are competing for their respective divisions and wild card berths. Calling the action will be Ernie Johnson (play-by-play), Ron Darling and John Smoltz (analysts).

In October, TBS will exclusively televise the American League (AL) and National League (NL) Wild Card games and will once again provide coverage of all four MLB Division Series (DS) and exclusive coverage of the American League Championship Series (ALCS). TBS has broadcast MLB games for more than 30 years, including the MLB Division Series (DS) and one League Championship Series (LCS) since 2007, and was the home of Atlanta Braves coverage from 1977 to 2007.

The network will announce future games on its schedule coinciding with its selection windows. The games included in the TBS MLB package will not be televised in the team’s home television territory.

Visit the Turner Sports online pressroom for additional press materials; follow Turner Sports on Twitter at @TurnerSportsPR.

 

“SUNDAY MLB ON TBS” SCHEDULE:

 

Sun., September 23
1 p.m. ET	Oakland Athletics @ New York Yankees
	Announcers: Ernie Johnson (play-by-play), Ron Darling and John Smoltz (analysts)

 

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Beginning Friday, Oct. 5, TBS will exclusively televise the American League (AL) and National League (NL) Wild Card games and will once again provide coverage of all four MLB Division Series (DS) and exclusive coverage of the American League Championship Series (ALCS).  TBS MLB analysts Dennis Eckersley, Ron Darling and Cal Ripken share insight on the final stretch of the regular season and look ahead at the postseason.

MLB ON TBS’ STARTING LINEUP

Dennis Eckersley’s Five Impact Players who can be a factor down the stretch:

1. Adrian Gonzalez (Dodgers): “It’s getting late in the season and I’m expecting Adrian to get hot.”
2. Mark Trumbo (Angels): “Trumbo needs to find the power supply he had earlier in the season.”
3. Ivan Nova (Yankees): “I’m interested in seeing if Nova can get back to form and stabilize the Yankees’ rotation.”
4. Chris Carpenter (Cardinals): “The Cardinals need him to come back from injury and give the team a couple of unexpected starts this late in the season.”
5. Miguel Cabrera (Tigers): “All eyes will be on him as he attempts to finish off a Triple Crown season?”

Ron Darling’s Five Teams to Watch the rest of the season:

1. St. Louis Cardinals: “Chris Carpenter is back and they are the defending World Champions.”
2. Oakland Athletics: “It’s Moneyball, the sequel. A long road trip in the middle of September could be their undoing.”
3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: “They have star power, firepower and the kid, rookie phenom Mike Trout.”
4. Los Angeles Dodgers: “Like their cross-city rivals, the Dodgers have star power and firepower. They are looking for the postseason for Donnie Baseball [manager Don Mattingly].”
5. Detroit Tigers: “You can’t have a postseason without [Justin] Verlander, [Miguel] Cabrera and [Prince] Fielder.”

MLB ON TBS QUOTES OF NOTE

Cal Ripken on…

• …the importance of having experience in big games: “Experience puts you in a position to execute at these moments. You give yourself a chance to execute by being calm at the plate and being calm when you execute in the field. That’s when [experience] shows up. Pressure builds in big games and pressure is there all the time. It is how you deal with that pressure and experience allows you to deal with it better.”

 Ron Darling on…

• …the increased intensity for teams playing down the stretch: “When teams are in pennant races, [there’s a misconception that] guys are coming to the ballpark with a smile on their face and can’t wait for the game to start. It is grouchy, it is ugly, it is short-fused and guys have dark circles under their eyes. It is a difficult time of year to go out there and play. If things don’t go your way, there’s not a lot of patience.”

SUNDAY MLB ON TBS

•  Oakland Athletics @ New York Yankees with Ernie Johnson (play-by-play), Ron Darling and John Smoltz (analysts) in the TBS broadcast booth.

• Sunday, Sept. 23, at 1 p.m. ET from Yankee Stadium
• Both teams are in contention for postseason berths. The Yankees and Athletics are both competing for their respective divisions or wild card berths.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

• Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will star alongside some of MLB’s greatest players in video clips highlighting TBS’ 2012 MLB Postseason coverage. The videos, which feature the Springsteen song “Land of Hope and Dreams” as the musical backdrop, will also air leading up to and during this year’s postseason.
• Clink on the following link to view the VIDEO.

For all the latest MLB on TBS Postseason news, be sure to follow @MLB_TBS, @PostseasonPete and @TurnerSportsPR on Twitter.

 

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