Fox to Carry 4 MLB Games Before Playoffs
It’s a week of firsts and lasts for Fox, as Saturday, September 27 marks the final regular season Game of the Week for 2008 and the first time the network will feature 4 simultaneously-broadcast games at 3:30.
All 4 games have playoff implications, as the regular season comes to an end after this weekend and the Playoffs are set to begin on Wednesday.
In weeks past, Fox has typically broadcast two or three games to various markets around the country, but this is the first time we’ve seen Fox split the country into 4 different game-territories.
Many have been unhappy with Fox’s decisions as to where to broadcast games, and it certainly appears likely that this will increase the number of people who are blocked from seeing their preferred out of market game by Fox’s exclusive Saturday broadcasts. (Would it be so tough to make these alternate playoff-impacting games available on some other network for this last weekend of the regular season.)
Be sure to check back for MLB Playoff Schedule Updates, especially considering the impact rain may have on the beginning of some playoff games on Wednesday. For now, though, here’s the schedule for Fox’s last game of the week for 2008:
| High Definition MLB on Fox: Saturday September 27 | |||
| DESCRIPTION | BROADCASTERS | COVERAGE | |
| Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers | Josh Lewin and Mark Grace | 63% | |
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| New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox | Dick Stockton and Jerry Remy | 25% | |
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| Washington Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies | Tom McCarthy, Tim McCarver & Ken Rosenthal | 7% | |
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| Kansas City Royals vs Minnesota Twins | Chris Rose and Bert Blyleven | 4% | |
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September 26th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Rain is forecast for Boston tomorrow. In case of a rainout Fox will likely air Nationals-Phillies in areas expecting the Red Sox.
That said, it was stupid of Fox to select a Yankees-Red Sox game that has no meaning.
September 26th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
The Yankee-Red Sox game has no meaning for the Yankees, but it could be VERY significant for the Red Sox….check the standings.
September 26th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I don’t understand why they pick up the important games, then show them in only 2 or 3 markets. By taking over these games, Fox is actually preventing more people from seeing the games than those who could have seen them on regional sports networks.
September 26th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Red Sox and Rays have already clinched playoff spots. It’s just they won’t play each other in the ALDS.
September 26th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
If you get Fox Sports in Espanol on your cable you often get the second game on your “cable” Don’t know how much carriage that the channel gets but it gave me a chance to watch the Rays last week while others were watching the Cubs and Cards.
September 26th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Come on guys, at least spell Minnesota correctly..who’s editing these pages??!!
UPDATE FROM HDSportsGuide: Typos happen, and typos get corrected…Thanks
September 27th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Yes, I believe that both Dish and Direct TV carry it. So does AT&T Uverse, I don’t know about Time Warner or Comcast though.
September 27th, 2008 at 4:41 am
I agree with “Bob”. The Fox “Yankees” channel is pathetic. I dont have cable TV, but I plan on having the cable installed so that I can see games that really matter. Fox is forcing people to find alternative methods to watch baseball games that mean something. And Im sorry, the female announcer has to go. Its like as if my Mother were broadcasting my old High School Basketball games. It doesnt work for me.
September 27th, 2008 at 11:23 am
I am EXTREMELY dissapointed that the Phillies-Nats game isn’t being broadcast in Central Jersey. The Yanks game has zero meaning to its fans, but alas, the networks never pass up a Yank/Sox matchup.
Unspeakably weak decision by Fox.
September 27th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Just wanted to compliment you on a great site. I’ll bookmark and be back…
September 28th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Yankees-Red Sox was rained out. Fox sent Nationals-Phillies into NYC as predicted above.