Fox's "Saturday Baseball" debuts tomorrow with "In the
Zone," a new teen-oriented magazine show, a pregame show with
Chip Caray, Dave Winfield and Steve Lyons and four regional games
(shown exclusively on Fox). Winfield will interview Ken Griffey
Jr. during pre-game (Fox Sports).
WHAT TO EXPECT: NEWSDAY's Steve Zipay reports managers
Tommy Lasorda and Ray Knight will be miked (for delayed
reactions); there will be mikes in some bases; the FoxBox moves
to the lower right-hand corner; the pace of the broadcast will be
increased; and topics such as Albert Belle or the labor talks
will be ignored. Fox Sports' David Hill: "The manner that we're
going into this with is that the only crisis in baseball is the
next pitch" (NEWSDAY, 5/31).
NUMBERS: Fox Sports' Ed Goren: "We'll be happy with a 3.5
rating" (USA TODAY, 5/31). More Goren: "I think that the people
who buried the game of the week a few years ago did it a bit
premature. In the last season ['89] on CBS, the regular-season
rating was a 3.8. I would suggest you take a look at the weekly
Saturday ratings. How many of them do a 3.8 on Saturdays?"
(MILW. JOURNAL SENTINEL, 5/31). MEDIA PREVIEWS: In St. Pete,
Ernest Hooper writes Fox wants to be different, "but not
radically different. ... This won't be a reproduction of the MTV
Rock-and-Jock softball game. At least, not the first game" (ST.
PETERSBURG TIMES, 5/31). In L.A., Steve Weinstein writes, "Fun,
comedy, satire and a new respect for the stars is what Fox
baseball is all about" (L.A. TIMES, 5/31). In Milwaukee, Bob
Wolfley notes Fox's intention to improve audio and writes, "Hey,
is that a mike in your pocket or are you playing in a Fox
Saturday Baseball Game?" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 5/30). In
Toronto, Rob Longley writes, "Cover your ears Vin Scully, Bob
Costas and Jack Buck, this may not be for you" (TORONTO STAR,
5/31). In Detroit, Dave Dye writes, "When it comes to the new TV
contract with Fox, baseball has left its snotty attitude in the
dugout" (DETROIT NEWS, 5/31). In Chicago, Michael Hirsley
writes, "If you're ... guessing that Fox's inaugural [MLB]
telecast Saturday is going to expose your eyes to the
unconventional, guess again. Your ears, on the other hand ..."
(CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/31). HOUSTON CHRONICLE headline: "Fox adds
audio pop to national pastime" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/31). In
Atlanta, Prentis Rogers writes, "Don't look for anything
dramatically new" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 5/31). In Baltimore,
Milton Kent calls reviving the "Game of the Week" Fox's "biggest
challenge" (Baltimore SUN, 5/31).
SAME GAME, OLD FACES: In L.A., Tom Hoffarth notes the
"recyclability" of Tim McCarver -- now at his fourth network in
13 years of doing baseball. Hoffarth: "The marketing folks at
Fox, committed to force-feeding this 'Same Game, New Attitude'
slogan down our esophagus, must have shoved their fingers down
their throat when they found out McCarver had been hired.
McCarver can't fit this concept even if he's given a recurring
role on 'Melrose Place' as Heather Locklear's cable guy" (L.A.
DAILY NEWS, 5/31).
