National TV Dates Picked

It’s that time of the year when the holiday bells are being replaced by the holiday bills. 

January in baseball generally means the banquet circuit with spring training coming the following month.  February 12 is day one of meetings for Ruben and Charlie and their staffs.  It will take place on the second floor of the one-year-old Carpenter Field clubhouse.  That’s not far away.

Ruben is receiving the Hometown Hero award from the Anti-Defamation League for his work in promoting diversity in sports.  The banquet is January 11 at the HUB at the Cira Centre.  More about other banquets later this month.

This month also means that FOX and ESPN Sunday Night have selected their national television dates.  As you may well imagine, the Phillies will be big.  ESPN has selected two Sunday dates and the Phillies are in a pool for three other dates. 

FOX has picked five games at Citizens Bank Park and four on the road.  One of the Fox Saturdays is May 21, a 7:10 p.m. prime telecast against the Rangers.  Wouldn’t that be something if Cliff Lee started that game?

A complete list of all the national TV dates can be found on the schedule on this site.