ESPN Moving ‘NBA Countdown’ Back To L.A.; Announces Programming Changes For ‘SportsCenter,’ Other Shows

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN’s NBA Countdown is headed back to the West Coast.

The network’s flagship NBA studio show is returning to ESPN’s Los Angeles Production Center for its upcoming season.  The change is in line with ESPN’s new NBA post-game show NBA After The Buzzer, which will feature the NBA Countdown broadcast team.

The return of NBA Countdown to its Los Angeles studio marks the first time since the 2010-2011 season that it has aired from the West Coast.  It moved to the East Coast in the 2011-’12 season and has been there ever since.

Along with the announcement of the show’s move back to Los Angeles, ESPN also announced that Michelle Beadle will leave her job as host of ESPN’s weekday morning show Get Up! and will expand her role in ESPN’s NBA coverage.  Her last appearance on Get Up! will be August 29.

Connor Schell, ESPN Executive Vice President of Content, said he was optimistic about the changes coming to ESPN’s NBA coverage, including the extension of Beadle’s contract and the expansion of her role in the network’s NBA coverage.

“We are extremely excited to launch ESPN’s first ever NBA post-game show,” Schell said.  “We’re doubling down on our NBA studio content at a time when the NBA is red hot and fan interest continues to surge, and we are doing it with Michelle, as she is so important to our coverage.  As the basketball world looks to L.A. with renewed interest, we’ll be right there to cover it.”

As an added bonus for audiences, the increased interest in the NBA noted by Schell has also led ESPN officials to expand The Jump, ESPN’s daily Los Angeles-based NBA studio show hosted by Rachel Nichols, to a full one-hour format.

Other changes that are being made at ESPN, partly due to the network’s changes in its NBA coverage include the expansion of Get Up! to a two-hour show starting Sept. 3.  Starting on that day, it will air from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. ET.  Mike Greenberg will still host the show and Jalen  Rose will also stay on as co-host on days when he does not have to appear on NBA Countdown.

Maria Taylor, Laura Rutledge, Diana Russini and Jen Lada — each of whom has served as guest host on Get Up! — will all continue to serve as contributors to the program.

During football season, ESPN’s NFL and college football commentators will appear on Get Up! in its expanded time slot.  That list of talent includes: Ryan Clark, Victor Cruz, Paul Finebaum, Dan Orlovsky, Jesse Palmer, Louis Riddick, Rex Ryan, Adam Schefter, Marcus Spears, Jonathan Vilma and Damien Woody.

One more change coming to the ESPN networks involves ESPN Radio’s Golic & Wingo.  Along with continuing on ESPN Radio, it will be simulcast on ESPN2 and ESPNEWS from 6 a.m. – 8 a.m. before moving solely to ESPNEWS from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.  This move is also set to happen on Sept. 3.

By connection, SportsCenter will continue to air on ESPN2 from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.

More information on these changes is available online now along with all of ESPN’s latest news at:

 

Website: http://www.espn.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/espn

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

 

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Mets, Phillies To Close Out Five-Game Series Sunday Night On ESPN’s ‘SNB’

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN has a National League East divisional matchup on tap in this week’s edition of its weekly Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell broadcast.

The Philadelphia Phillies (68-54) will host the New York Mets (52-69) in the closer of the teams’ five-game series.  The series started Thursday with a one and one double-header between the NL East foes.  The Mets routed the Phillies in the first game 24-6 while the Phillies won game two 9-6.

Philadelphia took control of the series on Friday, defeating the Mets 4-2.  The Mets came back Saturday and evened things back up at two games each with a 3-1 win over the Phillies.  That means Sunday night’s game will be the rubber match between the teams.

Nick Pivetta (7-9) is expected to get the start on the mound for the Phillies Sunday night. He was last on the mound August 14 against the Boston Red Sox.  The Bosox won that game 2-1 with Philadelphia’ Tommy Hunter taking the loss.

Pivetta was strong in that game, pitching six innings, allowing only one run on three hits, one walk and one earned run while striking out six and allowing only one home run in that time.  So he will be looking to get the Phils back in the “W” column in this series’ finale against the Mets, whose playoff hopes at this point are nil.

Jason Vargas (2-8) is expected to get the start for the Mets Sunday night.  The 35-year-old has had a rough season so far, pitching a total of 53.1 innings in 13 games with an ERA of 8.10.  His last time on the mound was August 14 against Baltimore.

The Orioles took the win over the Mets in that game, 6-3.  Vargas’ struggles continued in that game as he allowed two runs on five hits, two earned runs while walking three batters and striking out only one over six innings.  He also allowed one home run in that time.

Just by the pitchers’ numbers, one would think Sunday night’s game is in the Phillies’ favor, but New York has been a surprise this weekend against Philadelphia.  That could be because the Mets know they have nothing to lose and don’t want to finish in the bottom of the league, causing them to play harder.

With the two losses to the Phillies this weekend, the Mets ended their two-game losing ski and back back into the “W” column, though win or lose it won’t be enough to help the team’s playoff hopes.  Philadelphia is 41-20 at home and 27-34 on the road so far this season. Saturday’s loss to the Mets drops the Phillies to 68-55 on the season, still keeping the team in the post season hunt.  The Mets will still be playing with a ire in their bellies because they have at least something to prove since they won’t be in the playoffs, so Sunday night’s game could go either way.

Matt Vasgersian will have the call for Sunday’s game.  He will be joined in the booth by analysts Alex Rodriguez and Jessica Mendoza for additional commentary.  Reporter Buster Olney will have all of the game’s latest news and interviews.

Jon Sciambi and Chris Singleton will cover the game on ESPN Radio.  The NL East matchup will also be simulcast on ESPN Deportes and on the ESPN app.

Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell will be preceded by Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown presented by Chevrolet at 7 p.m. ET.with Karl Ravech at the helm.  Ravech will be joined by analysts Mark Teixeira, David Ross and Tim Kurkjian for additional commentary.

More information on ESPN’s MLB coverage is available online now at:

 

Website: http://www.espn.com/mlb

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/espn

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.comphilspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Bosox, ‘Stros Go Under The Lights Live Sept. 9 On ESPN

Courtesy: ESPN

As Major League Baseball’s race to the post season heats up, ESPN has announced what is certainly its own hot addition to the network’s Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell schedule.

The MLB-leading Boston Red Sox will play live under the lights against theAmerican League West-leading Houston Astros Sept. 9 on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell.  As of August 18, the Red Sox lead Major League Baseball’s standings at 87-36, the only team in the league so far this season to reach and even surpass the 80-win mark.  That puts the Red Sox both at the top of the league and the top of the American League East.

The Astros currently lead the American League West at 74-49, tying them with the Oakland Athletics for the division’s top spot.  The teams are now tied for third in the American League, too.

Since the game is still so far out, no rotations or pitchers have been announced for the key showdown.Matt Vasgersian will anchor the broadcast.  he will be joined by analysts Alex Rodriguez and Jessica Mendoza for additional commentary while rpoerter Buster Olney will have all of the game’s latest news and interviews.

Jon Sciambi will anchor the game’s broadcast on ESPN Radio.  He will be joined by analyst Chris Singleton for additional commentary.

ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell is preceded each week by Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown presented by Chevrolet at 7 p.m. ET.  Karl Ravech anchors with additional commentary from analysts Mark Teixeira, David Ross and Tim Kurkjian.

ESPN Deportes will broadcast the teams’ showdown in Spanish for the game’s Spanish-speaking audiences.  Audiences who won’t be near a television on Sept. 9 can still catch the game online via the ESPN app.

More information on ESPN’s Sept. 9 Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell broadcast is available online now along with all of the network’s latest MLB headlines at:

 

Website: http://www.espn.com/mlb

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/espn

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN Announces Extensive Broadcast Coverage Schedule For T-Mobile Home Run Derby

Courtesy: ESPN

It’s almost time again for Major League Baseball’s annual All-Star Game, and with its return next week is also the return of its heavy hitters showcase in the annual Home Run Derby.  ESPN will carry exclusive coverage of the exhibition competition live, Monday, July 16.

Coverage of the T-Mobile Home Run Derby is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.  Karl Ravech will anchor Monday night’s showcase.  Former World Series Champion and current ESPN analyst Marx Teixeira will join Ravech in the booth for additional commentary.  Jessica Mendoza will be on the field with all of the latest interviews with this year’s field of hitters while reporter Buster Olney will have all of the latest news from the field.

While coverage of the competition starts Monday night, ESPN’s networks will have on-site coverage starting Monday afternoon at 3 ET.  It all starts with a special 90-minute edition of Baseball Tonight, Baseball Tonight: All-Star Media Day from 3 – 4:30 on ESPN live from Nationals Park.

Baseball Tonight: Home Run Derby — Around The Cage follows from 4:30 – 5:30 on ESPN.  The broadcast will include interviews with the competitors.  Adnan Virk will anchor the broadcast.  He will be joined by David Ross, Tim Kurkjian and Eduardo Perez for additional commentary.

Pardon The Interruption continues the afternoon’s coverage live from Nationals Park from 5:30 – 6.  Over on ESPN2, Chris Rose and Kevin Miller will be have even more coverage on Intentional Talk from 5 – 6.  The anticipation keeps building at 6 p.m. on an hour-long edition of SportsCenter on ESPNwith Keith Olbermann and Karl Ravech co-hosting.

The Home Run Derby Preview Show leads into the “big game” at 7 p.m. on ESPN.  Adnan Virk, David Ross, Tim Kurkjian and Eduardo Perez will have broadcast duties during the hour-long broadcast.

Those who won’t be near a television during the derby can still catch it online as it will be simulcast online via the ESPN App.  Over on ESPNEWS, viewers will get a first-of-its kind broadcast of the derby — a graphics intense broadcast loaded with data from Statcast. Jason Benetti and Eduardo Perez will partner for the broadcast.

ESPN Radio , ESPN Deportes and ESPN Deportes Radio will also simulcast Monday night’s showdown.  Jon Sciambi and Chris Singleton will have the call while Marc Kestecher and analyst Tim Kurkjian carry pre-game coverage.

Coverage on ESPN Deportes starts at 7 p.m. with a on-hour edition of SportsCenter.  Ernesto Jerez will anchor the broadcast of the derby itself.  He will be joined by analyst Luis Alfredo Alvarez for additional commentary.  Reporter Guillermo Celis will be on the field for all of the latest interviews and news.

Over on ESPN Deportes Radio, Eduardo Ortega will have the call for Monday night’s matchup of hitters.  He will be joined by analyst Renato Bermudez for additional commentary while reporter Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez will be on the field for all of the latest interviews and news.

More information on the ESPN networks’ coverage of the 2018 T-Mobile Home Run Derby is available online now along with all oh the latest Major League Baseball headlines at:

 

Website: http://www.espn.com/mlb

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/espn

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

 

 

ESPN To Offer Full Day Of MLB All-Star Game Coverage Tuesday

Courtesy: ESPN

Major League Baseball’s annual All-Star Game is returning to ESPN Radio again this year.

The Worldwide Leader in Sports announced Thursday that for the 21st consecutive year, ESPN Radio will serve as the national radio broadcast home of the league’s annual mid-season spectacular, which is scheduled to be played July 17.  Broadcast of Tuesday’s All-Start showcase is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET.  The broadcast will also stream online via the ESPN App.

The ESPN Radio broadcast team of Jon Sciambi and Chris Singleton will have the call for Tuesday night’s game.  Reporters Buster Olney and Tim Kurkjian will also be on hand for all of the latest in-game news and interviews.

While coverage officially starts at 8 p.m., ESPN’s coverage of the All-Star game starts early in the day with live coverage on SportsCenter AM with host Pedro Gomez.  Coverage continues at 4 p.m. ET with a special 90-minute edition of Baseball Tonight: Around The Cage anchored by Karl Ravech.  He will be joined by analysts Marx Teixeira David Ross, Eduardo Perez and Tim Kurkjian for additional commentary.

Pardon The Interruption and SportsCenter continue ESPN’s pre-game coverage from 5:30 – 7 with PTI up first from 5:30 – 6.  It will broadcast live from Nationals Park.  Keith Olbermann and Karl Ravech will co-host SportsCenter from 6 – 7 on ESPN live from Nationals Park.

A half-hour Baseball Tonight: 2018 All-Star Game Preview Show airs at 7 p.m. with Ravech hosting and Teixeira and Ross serving as analysts once again leading into Tuesday night’s game.

More information on ESPN’s 2018 MLB All-Star Game coverage is available online now along with all of the latest MLB headlines at:

 

Website: http://www.espn.com/mlb

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/espn

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

 

Le Batard And Weiner Ink New Deals With ESPN

Courtesy: ESPN

Two of ESPN’s most beloved figures will officially remain at the network after finalizing new deals this week.

Dan Le Batard and Jon “Stugotz” Weiner signed new deals with ESPN this week that will keep the pair with the worldwide leader in sports for the foreseeable future.  Precise terms of the deal were not announced, though the new deal will see the pair taking on some new duties.

Along with co-hosting duties on The Dan Le Batard Show, Dan Le Batard will continue to co-host Highly Questionable with his father, Gonazlo “Papi” Le Batard.  Weiner will make appearances on ESPN’s flagship sports news program SportsCenter as per his new contract.  He will also continue guesting and hosting other programs on ESPN Radio.

The co-hosts of The Dan Le Batard show, which airs daily from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on ESPN Radio (and simulcasts on ESPNEWS), were both upbeat as they talked about their new contracts.

“ESPN has given us ridiculous freedom to have fun, and made us more popular than we deserve,” Le Batard said.  “A whole lot of people have supported our nonsense in a way that isn’t always easy to support, but easy to grow.  As an added bonus — and we’re especially thankful for this — they also pay us.”

Weiner shared a sense of that nonsense as he jokingly said he wished the contracts were more extensive.

“I was hoping for the lifetime contract, to be honest,” Weiner said.  “I’m a little disappointed. Maybe next time.”

ESPN Senior Vice President of Audio and Talent, Traug Keller, was anticipating the pair’s continued presence at ESPN just as much as the duo itself.

“Dan and Stugotz have a chemistry and a viewpoint that is among the most unique in the business,” Keller said.  “They take what they do seriously, but not themselves, which bonds them with a growing group of loyal listeners.  Dan’s sensibilities and intelligence combine with Stugotz’s incredible lack of either quality is a winning combination.  I look forward to the stress of having to listen to the show in the years to come.”

More information on The Dan Le Batard Show is available online along with all of the latest sports news and more at:

 

Website: http://www.espn.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/espn

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

 

ESPN Radio Launches New Program

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN has added another new program to its radio broadcast schedule.

Covino and Rich debuted June 30 at noon ET on ESPN Radio. The series first premiered in 2005 on SiriusXM with co-hosts Steve Covino and Rich Davis. With its addition to ESPN Radio’s broadcast schedule, Covino & Rich will air every Saturday and Sunday from noon – 4 p.m. ET.

Along with the duo’s experience in radio, both men also worked together on NBC Sports’ New York station and for SNY.  The pair also has hosted a variety of red carpet events including the MTV VMAs, MTV Movie Awards and Super Bowl and MLB All-Star Week broadcasts on SiriusXM.

Both men have other radio work on their resumes.  Davis previously worked at Z100 WHTZ/New York, WWHT Hot 107.9/Syracuse and WIOQ Q102/Philadelphia.  Covino also works on SirisXM’s Pop2K and Hits 1 channnels.

More information on Covino & Rich is available online now along with the pair’s latest news and more at:

 

Website: http://covinoandrich.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/covinoandrich

Twitter: http://twitter.com/covinoandrich

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.