Why they decide to push back these Series every year, and have the World Series end in frickin' Novemeber is beoyond me, but here is your full MLB LCS announcing schedule. I never thought I'd say this, but after Chip Caray's showing in the LDS, I'm almost glad to have Buck and McCarver back....almost....

Thu, 10/15: Philadelphia Phillies @ LA Dodgers, Game One (TBS, 8:07pm)- Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager
Fri, 10/16: LA Angels @ NY Yankees, Game One (FOX, 7:57pm)- Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers
Fri, 10/16: Philadelphia Phillies @ LA Dodgers, Game Two (TBS, 4:07pm)- Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager
Sat, 10/17: LA Angels @ NY Yankees, Game Two (FOX, 7:57pm)- Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers
Sun, 10/18: LA Dodgers @ Philadelphia Phillies, Game Three (TBS, 8:07pm)- Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager
Mon, 10/19: NY Yankees @ LA Angels, Game Three (FOX, 4:13pm)- Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers
Mon, 10/19: LA Dodgers @ Philadelphia Phillies, Game Four (TBS, 8:07pm)- Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager
Tue, 10/20: NY Yankees @ LA Angels, Game Four (FOX, 7:57pm)- Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers
Wed, 10/21: LA Dodgers @ Philadelphia Phillies, Game Five* (TBS, 8:07pm)- Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager
Thu, 10/22: NY Yankees @ LA Angels, Game Five* (FOX, 7:57pm)- Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers
Fri, 10/23: Philadelphia Phillies @ LA Dodgers, Game Six* (TBS, 8:07pm)- Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager
Sat, 10/24: LA Angels @ NY Yankees, Game Six* (FOX, 4:13pm)- Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers
Sat, 10/24: Philadelphia Phillies @ LA Dodgers, Game Seven* (TBS, 8:07pm)- Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager
Sun, 10/25: LA Angels @ NY Yankees, Game Seven* (FOX, 8:20pm)- Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers

The MLB Network added yet another piece to their ever-growing puzzle of reporters and analysts today, by hiring FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. According to MLB-N PR, Rosenthal will continue to work for Fox Sports, both online and on-air....

MLB Network today announced that Ken Rosenthal has joined its roster of on-air talent. Rosenthal will join the cast of MLB Tonight beginning Tuesday, June 30 at 6:00 p.m. ET. Rosenthal, who will continue his reporting for FoxSports.com and MLB on Fox, joins Sports Illustrated senior writers Tom Verducci and Jon Heyman as Baseball Insiders on the MLB Network team.

“Ken brings a wealth of on-air reporting experience and insight into the game and we’re excited to welcome him to MLB Network,” said Tony Petitti, president and CEO of MLB Network. “As we grow as a network, it’s important that we continue to bring fans the most up-to-date information from the best resources in the business.”

Rosenthal has served as lead field reporter for MLB on Fox since 2005. Prior to joining Fox Sports, Rosenthal worked as the national baseball writer for The Sporting News and as a sportswriter at the Baltimore Sun, where he was named Maryland Sportswriter of the Year five times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. He is a voting member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

I still think Ken Rosenthal is a hypocrite after his Outside the Lines tirade during the whole "Ibanez Steroid Speculation" thing, but this is another big get for the MLB Network. Unlike the NFL, Major League Baseball only has one or two connected national reporters. Tom Verducci is one of them, and Rosenthal is the other. Both are now employed by the MLB Network.

In other Rosenthal news, be sure to Twitter him questions during the All Star Game. The reporter will be answering them during his time in St. Louis.

(posted by One More Dying Quail)


Your starting pitchers for today's regional FOX games:

Jake Westbrook (Cleveland) vs. Nick Blackburn (Minnesota)
Chad Billingsley (Los Angeles Dodgers) vs. Chuck James (Atlanta)
Oliver Perez (New York Mets) vs. Jamie Moyer (Philadelphia)

As noted in the previous post, most of the country, about 47%, will have the Dodgers-Braves game. I'm one of the lucky 32% that gets to see Mets-Phillies (presumably - my son has already changed the channel once. Apparently, he really wants to watch the Spanish channel today. On mute) - I wonder if today will be the day Jamie Moyer finally crumbles into dust and blows away on a gentle breeze.

I'll be here and there all afternoon, so add anything good in the comments (from any of the three games) and I'll update when possible.

Mazzone: "(Blackburn) has to stay aggressive. You don't want to pitch prevent defense." - anonymous

Mazzone is absolutely right. You always want to stay with the 4-3 when you have a lead.

I wish I was getting the Mets game. Eric Karros is possibly the blandest color guy I've ever listened to. - Signal to Noise

If Eric Karros is more bland than Leo Mazzone, then that's an accomplishment. - Rick James Bible Owner

Continuing the Chipper Jones love fest in the Cle-Min game for some reason, the topic of ball players having candy bars came up:

Vasgersian: "Did you have any candy bar players besides Aaron?"
Mazzone: "All we had was 'Chicks Dig The Long Ball.'"
Vasgersian: "Chipper should have had a candy bar."
Mazzone: "Chipper's going into the Hall of Fame. He'll take that over a candy bar." - anonymous

I know this is an MLB thread, but Breen, Jackson, and Van Gundy are on fire today with Suns-Spurs.

Van Gundy: "If I'm Popovich, I'd rip Oberto's head off in film study tomorrow for that. You know Shaq hesitates at the line. A lane violation! That's basic preparation!"
Breen: "Rip his head off?"
Van Gundy: "Well, not literally, just in the film room."
Jackson: "I've been there, he would actually do it." - Signal to Noise

The NBA! Where Amazing* Happens!

*The category of "Amazing" has been expanded to include premeditated decapitation.