FOX Sports Presents MLB/NASCAR Twinbill Saturday

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

 

FOX Sports Presents MLB/NASCAR Twinbill Saturday

FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK at Special 1:00 PM ET Start Time

Cardinals and Braves Face Off in Atlanta * Angels and Rays Meet in St. Pete

* Mets and Phillies Battle in Philly

Saturday Night’s The Night for Racing at Richmond International Raceway

Coverage at 7:00 PM ET

PUJOLS AND CARDINALS FACE BRAVES ON FOX’S SATURDAY GAME OF THE WEEK – The  FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK returns to its special start time of 1:00 PM ET on Saturday, April 30 with live regional coverage of three matchups. Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday lead a resurgent Cardinals offense as they travel to Atlanta to take on Brian McCann and the Braves. In a year where many didn’t expect much, Sam Fuld and the surprising Rays are playing well and in second place in the AL East. They host the Angels in central Florida. In Philadelphia, NL East rivals battle as Jimmy Rollins and the Phillies host Jose Reyes and the Mets.   The MLB on FOX pregame originates live from Citizens Bank Park, with host Chris Rose. Once game action begins, Rose joins the game crew including Matt Vasgersian, 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.

GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST COV.

St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves                          Kenny Albert & Mark Grace                                                           52%

Turner Field – Atlanta, GA

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Greensboro, Greenville, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Louisville, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, St. Louis, Tulsa

Probable Pitchers:  TBA vs. Brandon Bechy, RHP (1-1, 3.68 ERA)

Los Angeles Angels at Tampa Bay Rays                     Josh Lewin & Eric Karros                                                                25%

Tropicana Field – St. Petersburg, FL

MARKETS INCLUDE: Boston, Cleveland, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando, Portland, Providence, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa

Probable Pitchers:TBA vs. James Shields, RHP (2-1, 2.35 ERA)

New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies                        Matt Vasgersian, Tim McCarver                                                    22%

& Ken Rosenthal

Citizen’s Bank Park – Philadelphia, PA

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Baltimore, Buffalo, Fort Myers, Hartford, Miami, New York, Norfolk, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Washington, West Palm Beach

Probable Pitchers:  Jon Niese, LHP (1-3, 5.10 ERA) vs. TBA

ROSENTHAL: BASEBALL CAN’T HAVE ITS CAKE AND EAT IT TOO – FOX Sports reporter and FOXSports.com senior MLB columnist Ken Rosenthal says Major League Baseball should think twice before expanding the playoffs.  “The problem with baseball is it wants all its different eggs in one basket:  162 game schedule, expanded playoffs, interleague play, you name it, they never cut back on any one area to make room for another.  If you want to shorten the postseason, the obvious solution is to go back to 154 games, but we all know that will never happen.  I understand baseball wants to have its cake and eat it too, but sometimes you can get too stuffed, a little too sugar overdosed and that’s what’s happening here.”

HAMLIN GOES FOR THE HOME WIN AT RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY – 2010 was a career year for Denny Hamlin as he finished second in the Sprint Cup standings. However, 2011 hasn’t been nearly as successful. Fifty points off the pace, the Chesterfield, Virginia-raised Hamlin aims to turn his season around at the nearby Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, April 30 (7:00 PM ET). Coverage starts with the NASCAR on FOX prerace show hosted by Chris Myers, along with analysts Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Hammond.  The show airs live from the infield with updates from the Hollywood Hotel, FOX Sports’ traveling prerace set providing updates from drivers, crewmen and officials shaping the day’s action. On this week’s show, the DW sits down with NASCAR driver/owner Tony Stewart.

 

Once the green flag drops, the voice of NASCAR Mike Joy is alongside analysts Waltrip and Larry McReynolds to call all the twists and turns on the track while Dick Berggren, Steve Byrnes, Krista Voda and Matt Yocum patrol the pits for reports on teams and pit stops.

 

WALTRIP BROTHERS JOIN FORCES FOR FIRST-EVER NATIONWIDE SERIES RACE FRIDAY ON SPEED – SPEED ushers in its first-ever exclusive NASCAR Nationwide Series race Friday, April 29 (7:00 PM ET) from Richmond International Raceway.  SPEED has simulcast two NASCAR Nationwide Series races and long supported the series, airing 44 practice and qualifying sessions last season alone.  For the first time ever, Darrell and Michael Waltrip provide analysis in the booth together for a Nationwide series race.  “Who would have thought Michael and I would get the chance to do something like this together?”  The Waltrip brothers are joined by race announcer Rick Allen with reports from pit road from Ray Dunlap, Hermie Sadler and Krista Voda.

FOXSPORTS.COM IS YOUR NFL DRAFT HEADQUARTERS – FOXSports.com is your source for up-to-date NFL Draft news and analysis.  This draft is like no other as teams are forced to pick players before a free-agent signing period.  FOXSports.com Senior NFL writer Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) will have a scene-setting column that captures what is likely to be one of the wildest draft days ever.  One of the biggest storylines is seeing where quarterback Cam Newton ends up.  NFL contributor Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) will have a look at one of the draft’s most charismatic and controversial players and how he may fit with his new team.  NFL writer Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) will provide instant analysis on each draft pick as well as report cards on draft winners and losers.  Follow FOX NFL Insider Jay Glazer (@Jay_Glazer) and NFL on FOX analyst Brian Billick (@CoachBillick) for additional news and insight as it breaks.

LONG: DEFENSIVE LINEMEN AT A PREMIUM – The pass rush is one of the most important skills in football and NFL on FOX analyst Howie Long says there’s no time in NFL history where there’s more of a premium on defensive linemen than right now.  As teams plug these players into their defenses, some rookies may be at a major disadvantage because of the lockout.  “A lot of defensive ends are going to be asked to move to outside linebacker which is very difficult to do particularly with a lockout,” said Long.  “You’re asking a guy who’s played with his hand on the ground his entire career playing blocking combinations, rushing the quarterback to now get in a two-point stance and play blocking combinations, rush the quarterback and drop into coverage.  That’s a hard thing to do.  This lockout is really going to negatively impact all of those players.”

EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE OF UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMIFINALS ON FX and FOX SOCCER MAY 4-5 – Three of the world’s most prestigious clubs and a tournament Cinderella clash in the Champions League semifinals, televised exclusively on FX and FOX Soccer Channel.

 

Date	Teams	Channel
Second Leg Tuesday, May 3	Barcelona vs. Real Madrid	Live at 2:30 ET on FOX Soccer Channel
Second Leg Wednesday, May 4	Manchester United vs. FC Schalke 04	Live at 2:30 ET on FX

 

 

FOX NFL SUNDAY host Curt Menefee and FOX Soccer’s Eric Wynalda, Warren Barton and Christopher Sullivan preview and analyze Champions League semifinal action on UEFA Champions League Pregame, live at 2:00 PM ET each matchday from FOX Soccer’s brand-new, state-of-the-art studio set at the FOX Network Center in Los Angeles.  FOX Sports, for the second straight year, broadcasts the UEFA Champions League Final, Saturday, May 28 with pre-match coverage beginning at 2:00 PM ET, live from London.

 

REAL SALT LAKE GOES FOR CONTINENTAL SUPREMACY ON FOX SOCCER – MLS’ Real Salt Lake is set for arguably the biggest game in their history April 27 (tonight) as they host Monterrey (MEX) in the CONCACAF Champions League final LIVE on FOX Soccer at 10:00 PM ET. Coming in with two away goals in their favor after a 2-2 draw last week at the Tecnologico, RSL has a real chance of winning the continent’s biggest club trophy and booking a spot at the FIFA Club World Cup this coming December in Japan.  Host Christian Miles is joined by play-by-play announcer Mark Rogandino analyst Kyle Matino and sideline reporter Brian Dunseth as they call all the action from Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.

 

For the latest soccer news, information and FOX Soccer’s 2011 telecast schedule, visit: http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/.

 

MENEFEE: UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TOPS WORLD CUP IN FEATURING BEST OF THE BEST FOX NFL SUNDAY’s Curt Menefee who hosts FOX Soccer Channel’s coverage of the UEFA Champions League explains the importance of this tournament to true soccer fans.  “It’s the biggest club team tournament in all of soccer,” said Menefee.  “Most people that are into soccer consider the UEFA Champions League a bigger deal than the World Cup.  The World Cup is based on where you’re born and all the countries in the world participate and it’s luck of the draw.  The UEFA Champions League is based on teams that have the biggest payroll and the best players.  These rivalries are bigger than they are for the Packers and Bears and the Yankees and Red Sox.”

FUEL TV HIGHLIGHTS BRAVEST SURFERS RIDING BIGGEST WAVES OF THE YEAR SUNDAY FUEL TV airs the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards fueled by Monster Energy on Sunday, May 1 at 9:00PM ET/6:00PM PT. This is the most amazing awards show you’ll ever see as surfers risk their lives in the quest to ride the biggest waves of the year. More than $130,000 in prize money is at stake across seven different categories, including the Ride of the Year, Monster Paddle, Monster Tube, and Verizon Wipeout of the Year.