For the third time in the past two seasons, MLB on FOX is screwing over fans of the Boston Red Sox in the state of Connecticut by not showing their game against the Chicago Cubs. Instead, fans will have to watch the New York Yankees and New York Mets do battle in yet another Subway Series.
Last year when the Red Sox played the Philadelphia Phillies, FOX61 in CT showed us the Mets/Yankees. We ended up missing a near no-hitter by Daisuke Matsuzaka. Just a month later, when the Yankees were taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers, FOX 61 decided to show that instead of the Red Sox/San Francisco Giants game.
I know for a fact that FOX61 gets to choose which game they want to broadcast in the Hartford market. I had email conversations with them about this very problem. Once was okay, twice was not and now a third time is just downright ludicrous.
Let’s see, since interleague play began, the Yankees and Mets have done battle while the Red Sox and Cubs have played just once. And what makes this Red Sox and Cubs matchup on Saturday night is not the pitching matchup of Carlos Zambrano and Alfredo Aceves but rather the fact that the Cubs haven’t been to Fenway Park since 1918.
You may remember 1918. It was the last time the Red Sox had won a World Series before 2004. The last time the Cubs won the World Series was in 1907 and they haven’t been there since 1945 when they lost to the Detroit Tigers.
So why on earth would Red Sox fans want to watch the Yankees and Mets when they could see a little history with the Cubs coming to the Fens for the first time in 93 years.
Now for the record, I am complaining on behalf of Red Sox fans here in Connecticut. However, I will not be watching it on television.
When I won an opportunity to purchase Red Sox tickets for any of the Yankees games or the Cubs series, I went with the Cubs. I’ve seen the Red Sox/Yanks in person so many times, both at Fenway and the old Yankee Stadium, that I decided it would be cool to see the Cubs knowing the history I told you about above.
I lucked out and was able to get a ticket for Saturday’s game. So I’ll be there watching it in person as I know some fans of the Red Sox from Connecticut will be doing. But for the others here, they’re stuck watching the Yankees and the Mets.
And that’s just right or fair to Red Sox fans in Connecticut.
The only thing we can do is complain to FOX 61 by lighting up their phone lines at 860-727-0082, fill up their fax machine at 860-293-0178 or send them an email complaining.
For a full look at the MLB on FOX breakdown for Saturday, May 21st, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
Here’s the MLB on FOX breakdown for 5/21 courtesy of Ken from Fang’s Bites.
New York Mets at New York Yankees – 36%
ANNOUNCERS: Joe Buck, Tim McCarver
MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Buffalo, Charlotte, Cleveland, Columbus, Denver, Detroit, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Jacksonville, Miami, New York, Norfolk, Orlando, Raleigh, Richmond, Tampa, Washington, West Palm Beach
Chicago Cubs at Boston Red Sox – 32%
ANNOUNCERS: Kenny Albert & Eric Karros
MARKETS INCLUDE: Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dayton, Fort Myers, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, Providence, Salt Lake City, San Diego, St. Louis
Texas Rangers at Philadelphia Phillies – 19%
ANNOUNCERS: Matt Vasgersian & Tom Grieve & Ken Rosenthal
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Memphis, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, Tulsa
Oakland Athletics at San Francisco Giants – 12%
ANNOUNCERS: Dick Stockton & Mark Grace
MARKETS INCLUDE: Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle
