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FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

FOX SATURDAY GAME OF THE WEEK Leads Into All-Star Week with Mets/Braves, Cubs/Dodgers & Twins/Tigers

McCarver: Seaver Ruined My Hand During 1967 All-Star Game in Anaheim Selig, Goren, Buck & McCarver Preview Tuesday Night’s MLB All-Star Spectacular

Torii Hunter & Leeann Tweeden Go Behind-the-Scenes of 2010 MLB All-Star Game on FOXSports.com

MLB ON FOX WRAPS UP FIRST HALF – Before the excitement of the 81 st MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 13 (8:00 PM ET), The FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK presents its final weekend of the first half with three exciting battles on Saturday, July 10 (4:00 PM ET). In a battle for the NL East lead, the Mets and Braves exchange pleasantries in Flushing, Queens. While and the Braves were tabbed by many to make noise in the NL, David Wright and the Mets have been the surprise of the division. The NL Player of the Month for June, Wright leads the Mets in Avg., HR, 2B, RBI and OPS. Out west, the Cubs make the trip to Chavez Ravine to take on and the Dodgers. Also, AL Central rivals face off as Johnny Damon and the Tigers take on and the Twins. This week, the pregame show originates live from in with host . Once game action begins, Rose joins the game crew including , Tim McCarver and as a field reporter.

For instant updates throughout the week and during games from the entire MLB on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX . Fans can gain more access to exclusive content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.myspace.com/foxsports .

GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST COV. Atlanta Braves at & 46% Citi Field – Flushing, NY MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, , Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Houston, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Memphis, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh, Tampa, Washington, West Palm Beach Probable Pitchers: Mike Pelfrey, RHP (10-3, 3.39 ERA) vs. TBA

Chicago Cubs at Joe Buck, Tim McCarver 38% & Ken Rosenthal Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles, CA MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Denver, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, , Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tulsa Probable Pitchers: TBA vs. TBA

Minnesota Twins at & Ron Allen 15% Comerica Park – Detroit, MI MARKETS INCLUDE: Austin, , Dallas, Detroit, Fort Myers, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Richmond, San Antonio Probable Pitchers: TBA vs. TBA

SELIG, GOREN, BUCK & MCCARVER PREVIEW 2010 MIDSUMMER CLASSIC – MLB Commissioner Bud Selig , FOX Sports President Ed Goren along with MLB on FOX's Emmy Award-winning broadcast team of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver participated in a press call to preview coverage of 's 81 st All-Star Game from Angels Stadium in Anaheim on Tuesday, July 13 (8:00 PM ET).

Selected highlights are transcribed below.

** A press kit containing ratings/ history, 3D broadcast details, productions facts, 1989 vs. 2010 Anaheim All-Star Game ‘Tale of the Tape’ and broadcaster bios was sent out last week. If you didn’t receive it or need more info, please contact the FOX Sports PR office in New York. **

MCCARVER REMEMBERS PLAYING IN THE 1967 ALL-STAR GAME IN ANAHEIM: “I remember got a save in that game after Tony Perez a solo home in the top of the15 th to win for the National League. He threw harder than any pitcher than I’ve ever caught in that game. I caught a lot of ’s start and he threw awfully hard. Gibson is particularly responsible for my deformed thumb on my left hand. But when I took my glove off after catching Seaver, my left hand was swollen. I don’t think I’ve ever had a swollen, black and blue hand under my index finger. I was doing pretty well the first half of that season and I went in the tank in second half. I’ve told Tom he ruined my left hand with that inning of work.”

MCCARVER ON THE MOST IMPORTANT CHANGES IN THE ALL-STAR GAME FORMAT: “I think the expansion of roster makes for a better game. It’s relieved the managers of some of the pressure. Having both teams play with a DH no matter where the game is makes a lot of sense. No one watches an All- Star Game to see a pitcher hit. And whether you agree or disagree with the home-field advantage for the being awarded to the winning league, it has caused a lot of controversy and a lot of talk. It has been better for the game than it was prior to being instituted.”

SELIG ON THE HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE RULE: “Since 2003 institution of ‘This Time It Counts,’ the difference in intensity is amazing. I’ll never forget the Hank Blalock in 2003 or the last out of the game that Rafael Furcal hit and Magglio Ordonez caught at the wall because I thought ‘we’re going to have another tie.’ The change was supposed to bring back intensity and it has.”

GOREN ON WHAT STRASBURG’S SELECTION WOULD HAVE MEANT TO VIEWERSHIP: “Over the last three years viewership for the MLB All-Star Game has increased. It is the No. 1 TV event of the summer. One player doesn’t make a difference to me and when all is said and done, it’s baseball’s game and we’re there to cover it. We’re thrilled to be in Anaheim whether Strasburg’s there or not.”

SELIG ON THE PROCESS OF SELECTING PLAYERS TO PARTICIPATE: “We have a very thorough voting procedure. We have the fans, the players and the managers all with input. We’ve really have tried to make it as fair as possible. Whether I agree with all of them or any that just adds the interest to the game. I’m very pleased where we are.”

BUCK ON THE BUZZ SURROUNDING STRASBURG: “There’s a good crop of young players coming along, Jason Heyward of the Braves is a great example. But Strasburg is at the top of my list because it’s rare someone can make people want to go to the stadiums the way he has. People are recognizing a special talent and wanting to see it first hand.”

MCCARVER’S FAVORITE MEMORY FROM BROADCATING 18 ALL-STAR GAMES (This year’s game will be his 19 th ): “There have been so many great memories. One that comes back to me immediately is Cal Ripken’s homerun after he was moved from third base to shortstop in Seattle in 2001. In that same game, went out and while coaching third base was knocked over. From a comical standpoint that was great.”

BUCK ON THE RESURGENCE OF : “It’s incredible. He’s gone from a guy who people thought the Red Sox should release earlier this year to a potential free agent trying to figure out if he is going to get a new deal from the Red Sox or where he can cash in. Now he leads the team in home runs. The Red Sox are a team that could dominate once they get on a roll and healthy with pitching. I really take my hat off to Ortiz because just as a competitor I’m sure it was just crushing him. He picked it up and got it together.”

LEEANN TWEEDEN & GIVE VIEWERS A VIP PASS ON FOXSPORTS.COM’S ALL- STAR GAME SHOW – Longtime FOX Sports correspondent Leeann Tweeden and Angels’ All-Star Torii Hunter will show viewers the sights and sounds of the All-Star break on FOXSports.com’s hour-long MLB ALL-STAR GAME SHOW on Tuesday, July 13 (2:00 PM ET). Tweeden and Hunter will give viewers exclusive VIP access to the MLB Fan Fest, Hunter’s own All-Star Game Party and put fans in the passenger’s seat as Hunter drives to the game. In addition, the MLB ALL-STAR GAME SHOW will feature analysis from columnists Mark Kriegel and Jim Bowden of FOXSports.com and MLB Network’s Royce Clayton with FOX’s Barry LeBrock hosting. FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal will report and interview players and personnel from Angels Stadium, home of the 81 st MLB All-Star Game. Fans can access the special programming by logging onto www.foxsports.com at 2:00 PM ET on Tuesday, July 13.

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