Home MLB Wednesday Night Baseball on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra

Wednesday Night Baseball on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra

by Matt Smith

Mlb5XtraHlWhile commenting on the Minnesota Twins’ loss in the ALDS, I noted that some of the fans went down the ‘be pessimistic and we won’t be disappointed’ route.

I admit I was doing the same thing when I stated that the Texas Rangers might get steamrollered by the New York Yankees after Game One of their American League Championship Series.

I don’t have anything  against the Yankees particularly, but like most ‘neutral’ fans, I feel that they have enjoyed plenty of success already (not least with last year’s triumph) and would prefer to see someone else having their day in the sun rather than watch a pinstriped party for the second year in a row. I think I can put that sentiment down to first falling for baseball back in 1998 and seeing nothing but Yankee World Series wins in my first three seasons.

So when the Rangers lost the ALCS opener in such heartbreaking fashion, I went into self-defence mode. Hurry up and get it over with, just sweep them and be done with it.

But I should have had more faith in Texas.

They’ve battled back magnificently and now stand on the brink of making their first ever World Series. Bengie Molina, another eighth spot hitter please note, came through in Game Four with a three-run homer as the Rangers turned a 1-0 series deficit into a 3-1 lead. That fourth win is always the hardest to get, and we all know this New York Yankees team will do all they can to get back into the series, but the Rangers now have every chance of winning it.

First pitch of Game Five is set for 21.07 BST tonight and BBC 5 Live Sports Extra will be broadcasting the game live from 21.00.  Will the Yankees start their fightback or will the Rangers take their first chance to seal the series?  With C.J. Wilson and CC Sabathia on the mound, it should be a fascinating encounter.

5 Live Sports Extra’s MLB coverage can be found on DAB radio, digitial TV and, for UK residents, on the BBC.co.uk website.

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4 comments

Joe Gray October 20, 2010 - 8:08 pm

As Texas go from good to great, MLB headline puns go from bad to worse… “Texas pain-saw massacre” described game 4. The only thing that was massacred was the art of headline writing.

Really looking forward to a key post-season match-up that has been scheduled with the British audience in mind!

Reply
Paul October 21, 2010 - 1:12 pm

I am a Giants fan living in England and I’ve just found this site. So far I have to wait until the next day and check the internet to see if they won, or stay up late watching Yahoo refresh. I knew BBC 5 Live Sports Extra broadcast games on Sunday night, but I never managed to hear a Giants one, and they don’t have any further baseball games in the published schedule on their website – do you have some inside information for where they publish their schedule – I assume they’ll be broadcasting others?
Cheers, Paul

Reply
Matt Smith October 21, 2010 - 8:39 pm

Hi Paul

Their schedule from now on is that they’ll broadcast Game 7 of the NLCS on Sunday night/Monday morning if the series goes that far (I’m guessing you’ll be quite happy if it doesn’t!).

Then they will be broadcasting every game of the World Series.

Cheers
Matt

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Paul October 22, 2010 - 4:33 pm

Thanks Matt. It’s a shame they’re not broadcasting game 6 – that’s at a really convenient time for me. Actually, it was the silver lining in the game 5 loss. But as game 7 is at 1am, I hope it gets wrapped up in game 6. And that there will be some day games during the World Series. A selfish view I know. But the Giants owe me something for my loyalty. Cheers, Paul

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