FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
NL East Showcased on FOX’s SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK
at 12:30 PM ET – Braves/Tigers – Phillies/Mets – Reds/Nationals
NASCAR on FOX Runs Under the Lights in Richmond Saturday at 7:00 PM ET
Hammond: NASCAR Hit Wrong Target With Crew Chief Fine/Suspension
NL EAST GETS THE MLB ON FOX TREATMENT – Week 4 of the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK treats baseball fans Saturday, April 27 (12:30 PM ET) with three matchups involving the entire NL East. In Detroit, Justin Upton and the Braves look to continue their hot start as they face the power-hitting duo of Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and the rest of the Tigers. Two division rivals square-off in Queens as David Wright and the Mets host Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and the Phillies. Also, Bryce Harper and the Nationals host Joey Votto and the Reds.
Coverage begins with the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL PREGAME SHOW, a full 30-minute program originating live from MLB Network’s state-of-the-art Studio 3 in Secaucus, NJ. The show is hosted by longtime FOX Sports and MLB Network broadcaster Matt Vasgersian who is joined this week by analysts Harold Reynolds and Mitch Williams.
For instant updates during the week from the entire MLB on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX, on Instagram at http://instagram.com/foxsports
GAME
Atlanta Braves at Detroit Tigers Kenny Albert & Tim McCarver
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Providence, Raleigh, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Tulsa
Probable Pitchers: Kris Medlen, RHP (1-2, 2.16 ERA) vs. Rick Porcello, RHP (0-2, 11.08 ERA)
Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets* Kevin Burkhardt & Tom Verducci
Citi Field – Flushing, NY
MARKETS INCLUDE: Buffalo, Hartford, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, West Palm Beach
Probable Pitchers: Jonathan Pettibone, RHP (0-0, 3.38 ERA) vs. Shaun Marcum, RHP (0-0, -.—ERA)
*On FOX Deportes
Cincinnati Reds at Washington Nationals Thom Brennaman, Eric Karros 12%
Nationals Park – Washington, D.C.
MARKETS INCLUDE: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Indianapolis, Louisville, Norfolk, Richmond, St. Louis, Washington
Probable Pitchers: Mike Leake, RHP (1-0, 3.81 ERA) vs. Dan Haren, RHP (1-3, 7.36 ERA)
NASCAR ON FOX UNDER THE LIGHTS FROM RICHMOND – The NASCAR on FOX Sprint Cup season heads to Richmond International Raceway Saturday, April 27 (7:00 PM ET) for the Toyota Owners 400. Under the lights for the second time this season, host Chris Myers welcomes viewers inside the friendly confines of the Hollywood Hotel studio to cover recent NASCAR penalties on big name drivers with analysis from Michael Waltrip and Darrell Waltrip. Additionally, Michael Waltrip delivers what’s quickly becoming a fan-favorite: the grid walk; featuring live interviews of drivers, crewmen and officials moments before the green flag drops.
Race announcer Mike Joy is alongside analysts Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds to call all the exciting action on this short track while Steve Byrnes, Krista Voda and Matt Yocum patrol the pits for reports on teams and pit stops. FOX Sports’ Jeff Hammond serves as the network’s roving analyst, taking fans from the garages to pit road and to places rarely seen at Richmond International Raceway.
For instant updates during the week from the entire NASCAR on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NASCARONFOX
HAMMOND DISAGREES WITH PUNISHMENT OF CREW CHIEF RATCLIFF – Another week, another major penalty leveed by NASCAR officials. The No. 20 is the latest team to be penalized for rule violations discovered in the post-race engine inspection following Matt Kenseth’s win Sunday in Kansas. The team’s penalties include the loss of 50 driver and owner points, loss of bonus points from Sunday’s win as well as denial of applying the Kansas win toward eligibility for a car owner Wild Card position in the Chase. Additionally, crew chief Jason Ratcliff was fined $200,000, suspended for six points races and placed on probation until December 31st. Joe Gibbs racing plans to appeal the penalty.
NASCAR on FOX and SPEED analyst Jeff Hammond believes NASCAR came down too hard on crew chief Ratcliff. “This penalty is warranted to get everyone’s attention, but NASCAR hasn’t hit the right target as far as the responsible party is concerned. It’s unfair for a team to suffer in an area in which a crew chief has little, if any, responsibility. The crew chief puts his full faith, confidence and trust in the head engine builder, regardless of the manufacturer. He believes they are giving him a part that is completely legal before he ever leaves the shop. I’m saddened to hear Jason is going to be doing the time for someone else’s mistake.”
ARSENAL AND MANCHESTER UNITED BATTLE THIS SUNDAY ON FOX SOCCER – FOX Soccer is home to the Barclays Premier League this weekend with a high-profile matchup between newly crowned Premier League champion Manchester United and Arsenal, live Sunday, April 28 (10:30 AM ET). The Red Devils secured their 20th league trophy following the 3-0 victory over Aston Villa earlier this week with star forward, Robin Van Persie, registering a hat trick in that win. The Dutchman is the running favorite to claim the PFA Player of the Year award again, after winning it with the Arsenal side he captained last season. Tensions are high at the Emirates Stadium for Sunday’s showdown when Van Persie faces his former teammates. The Gunners currently stand in third place and rely on the club’s leading scorer, Theo Walcott, to provide the goals and keep them in the European top four.
JONES TOO MUCH FOR SONNEN AT UFC 159, SAYS UFC TONIGHT ANALYST FLORIAN – This weekend’s UFC 159: JONES VS. SONNEN features the headlining light heavyweight title bout between defending champion Jon Jones and challenger Chael Sonnen. FUEL TV’s UFC TONIGHT analyst Kenny Florian says Jones has too many skills for Sonnen. “The reality is Jon Jones has an amazing arsenal of weapons and he’s going to have that advantage against anyone at 205 pounds,” said Florian. “However, we can’t forget that Sonnen is a tremendous wrestler. We haven’t seen Jones really fight off of his back too much, and Sonnen is a guy who will back you up and pressure you, and that’s exactly what he needs to do against Jones.” FUEL TV kicks off the action around UFC 159 with the UFC WEIGH-IN SHOW on Friday, April 26 (4:00 PM ET). The program is hosted by Karyn Bryant, with former UFC light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans and UFC middleweight Brian Stann adding analysis, while three-time MMA journalist of the year Ariel Helwani interviews fighters on-site. The UFC 159 Prelims air on FX on Saturday, April 27 (8:00 PM ET), while FUEL TV telecasts the UFC 159 POSTFIGHT SHOW immediately following UFC 159 Pay Per View (1:00 AM ET). Jay Glazer hosts the show with analysts Evans and Stann breaking down the biggest and best moments of the evening’s fights. Helwani provides interviews backstage.
FSMG NATIONAL NETWORK KEY EVENTS CALENDAR
All Times Eastern and Subject to Change
* Also Airing on Deportes
Week of: 4/24/2013 – 5/1/2013
DATE NETWORK TIME EVENT DETAILS
4/24/13 FOX Deportes 8:00 PM Copa Libertadores: Round of 16 – Newell’s Old Boys/Vélez Sarsfield
4/24/13 FOX Soccer 10:00 PM CONCACAF Champions League: Santos Laguna/Monterrey Final Leg 1
4/25/13 FOX Soccer Plus 2:30PM UEFA Europa League: Semifinal Leg 1 – Fenerbahçe SK/SL Benfica
4/26/13 FOX Soccer Plus 2:55 PM Amlin Challenge Cup: Semifinal – Perpignan/Stade Francais
4/26/13 FUEL TV 4:00PM UFC 159 Weigh-In
4/27/13 FOX Soccer 9:53AM Barclays Premier League: Wigan/Tottenham
4/27/13 FOX Soccer Plus 9:53AM Barclays Premier League: Chelsea/Swansea City
4/27/13 FOX Soccer Plus 11:55 AM Heineken Cup: Semifinal 1 – Clermont Auvergne/Munster
4/27/13 FOX Soccer 12:30 PM Barclays Premier League: Newcastle/Liverpool
4/27/13 FOX 12:30PM MLB on FOX: ATL at DET/PHL at NYM/CIN at WASH
4/27/13 FOX 7:00PM NASCAR: Toyota Owners 400 Richmond, VA
4/27/13 SPEED 9:30PM Supercross Salt Lake City
4/27/13 FX* 8:00PM UFC 159 Prelims on FX “Jones vs Sonnen” Newark, NJ
4/28/13 FOX Soccer 8:25 AM Barclays Premier League: Reading/Queens Park Rangers
4/28/13 FOX Soccer 10:30 AM Barclays Premier League: Arsenal/Manchester Utd.
4/28/13 FOX Soccer Plus 11:55 AM Heineken Cup: Semifinal 2 – Saracens/Toulon
4/30/13 FOX Soccer 2:00PM UCL: Semifinal Leg 2 – Real Madrid/Borussia Dortmund
4/30/13 FOX Deportes 9:30 PM Copa Libertadores: Round of 16 – Tijuana/Palmeiras
5/1/13 FOX Soccer 10:00 PM CONCACAF Champions League: Final Leg 2 – Monterrey/Santos Laguna
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