Fox Misses Out On Dream Yankees-Dodgers World Series Matchup
The Nationals and Astros will face off tomorrow in Game 1 of the World Series, and Fox "really can't be thrilled about the way things have shaken out in the postseason," according to Anthony Crupi of AD AGE. A Yankees-Dodgers matchup "not only would have featured the teams from the nation's two largest media markets," but would also "mark the return of one of the MLB's greatest rivalries to baseball's grandest stage." It is "not a worst-case scenario for Fox, not by any means -- Washington is the nation's seventh-largest DMA, and Houston is No. 8." Fox will have a "narrative to spin in Washington, a town that last earned its way to the World Series in 1933." This is by "no means a disaster, but given what might have been, nor is it the best of all possible outcomes" (ADAGE.com, 10/18).
DESERVING OF THE MOMENT: In Chicago, Phil Rosenthal writes Fox' Joe Buck had an "absolutely pitch-perfect call" of Astros 2B Jose Altuve's walk-off homer against the Yankees on Saturday night. It "complemented Fox's great camera work and direction beautifully." Rosenthal: "Even Buck bashers, if they're honest, would have to agree" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/21). Meanwhile, reactions came pouring in after Buck's call of the big moment, with FS1's Colin Cowherd tweeting, "Great play and great call by Joe Buck." WIP-FM's Ike Reese: "Don't get why people hate Joe Buck, GREAT call on the walk-off HR." The Athletic's Grant Brisbee: "Buck is good at calling important baseball games." KSTP-AM's Phil Mackey: "Buck absolutely stuck this landing." Baseball Prospectus' Rich MacLeod: "Just an epic, phenomenal call. Suck it, Joe Buck haters" (TWITTER.com, 10/20).
IMPRESSIVE WORK: In N.Y., Bob Raissman noted when ESPN "SNB" analyst Jessica Mendoza called the NLCS on ESPN Radio and was "teamed ... with play-by-play mouth Jon Sciambi, it was like listening to a different person." Maybe Mendoza "prepared differently," or was "more comfortable in a two-person booth." Was this "just a case of Sciambi steering her in the right direction?" The result was a "more relaxed, detailed and humorous Mendoza." None of that "'SNB' shtick with the boys." Just "solid baseball analysis, which helped a snoozer Cards-Nats series become very listenable." Raissman: "Nice, nice stuff" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/20).