Rosenthal: K-Rod just got played

From Fox Sports -

FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL Kicks-Off Second Half at 4:00 PM ET

Rays/Red Sox, Phillies/Mets, Tigers/White Sox, Angels/A’s

Rosenthal: K-Rod, You Just Got Played

DIVISION MATCHUPS KICKOFF SECOND HALF – Fresh off a second-straight victory for the National League in the 2011 MLB All-Star Game, the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK presents its first weekend of the second half with four enticing matchups on Saturday, July 16 (4:00 PM ET). Sporting the American League’s best record, Adrian Gonzalez and the Red Sox begin their second half push towards a playoff spot as they host Evan Longoria and the Rays. In Queens, the Phillies arrive with the best record in all of baseball to face their rivals, the New York Mets. With a staff full of aces, Cole Hamels is scheduled to toe the rubber for the Phillies in this NL East battle. Winners in eight of their last nine games, the Angels aim to ride that momentum into the second half when they visit the A’s in Oakland. In the Midwest, the AL Central-leading Tigers welcome the White Sox to Detroit.

The MLB on FOX pregame originates live from the Citi Field in Flushing, NY with host Chris Rose. Once game action begins, Rose joins Kenny Albert, Mark Grace and Ken Rosenthal 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 FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports.

Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays (41% of nation)
Dick Stockton & Tim McCarver
Tropicana Field – St. Petersburg, FL
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Austin, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Denver, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Hartford, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Louisville, Memphis, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, Tampa, Tulsa, Washington
Probable Pitchers: John Lackey, RHP (6-8, 6.84 ERA) vs. TBA

Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets (25% of nation)
Kenny Albert, Mark Grace & Ken Rosenthal
Citi Field – Flushing, NY
MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Greenville, Knoxville, Miami, Nashville, New York, Norfolk, Philadelphia, St. Louis, West Palm Beach
Probable Pitchers: Cole Hamels, LHP (11-4, 2.32 ERA) vs. John Niese, LHP (8-7, 3.88 ERA)

Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics (18% of nation)
Matt Vasgersian & Eric Karros
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum – Oakland, CA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Dallas, Los Angeles, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle
Probable Pitchers: Hiroki Kuroda, RHP (6-10, 3.06 ERA) vs. Ian Kennedy, RHP (9-3, 3.44 ERA)

Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers (15% of nation)
Josh Lewin & Rod Allen
Comerica Park – Detroit, MI
MARKETS INCLUDE: Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Minneapolis
Probable Pitchers: Edwin Jackson, RHP (5-7, 4.30 ERA) vs. Max Scherzer, RHP (10-4, 4.69 ERA)

ROSENTHAL: K-ROD, YOU JUST GOT PLAYED – FOX Sports reporter and FOXSports.com senior MLB columnist Ken Rosenthal points out that shortly after hiring Scott Boras as his new agent, Francisco Rodriguez got something he didn’t want – a job as a setup man. “For once, Boras looks like he was out-maneuvered, even though he will benefit financially if K-Rod does not finish 21 more games and vest his $17.5 million option, becoming a free agent instead,” writes Rosenthal. “In reality, Rodriguez has no choice but to be a good teammate with the Brewers, much as it might wound his ego. He’s destined to hit the open market this offseason, and throwing a hissy fit will only diminish his value. In the end, the Mets got what they wanted, escaping K-Rod’s onerous option. The Brewers got what they wanted, adding another quality reliever to their late-inning mix. The only one who didn’t get what he wanted was K-Rod, the “historic closer” who became a setup man less than 48 hours after his new agent vowed that such a thing would not occur. You’re Francisco Rodriguez, and you just got played.”


To read Rosenthal’s complete column, visit http://tinyurl.com/6ejdlwx.


CHEAP SEATS HITS HOME RUN DERBY BP – Each Wednesday, former MLB All-Star pitcher David Wells hosts The Cheap Seats on FOXSports.com. This week, Wells roams the field and chats with some of his buddies and the All-Stars at Chase Field during batting practice. Notable guests include: Ryan Braun, Andre Either, Heath Bell, Brandon Phillips, Hunter Pence, Curtis Granderson, Michael Young, Jose Bautista, C.J. Wilson and Adrian Gonzalez.


To watch the show click here: http://msn.foxsports.com/video/shows/cheapseats


FOX SOCCER’S ‘SOCCER NIGHT IN AMERICA’ HEADS TO SEATTLE FOR SOUNDERS VS. RAPIDS – FOX Soccer’s “Soccer Night In America” brings together two of the Western Conference’s best to the Pacific Northwest Saturday afternoon, when the Seattle Sounders and their frenzied fan base welcome MLS Cup holder Colorado Rapids to CenturyLink Field with kickoff on Saturday, July 16 beginning at 4:00 PM ET/1:00 PM PT. Not only do the Sounders bring in an eight-game unbeaten streak, but the second-best record in Major League Soccer (9-4-8/35 points), four points adrift of the LA Galaxy in the West. The Rapids are on a three-game unbeaten streak, all in a six-day span. Much of that can be credited to forward Conor Casey, who has scored six goals in his last seven games and carried the inconsistent Rapids back from mediocrity. Mark Rogondino has the play-by-play, with former MLS All-Star Kyle Martino handling analysis and Keith Bleyer contributing sideline reports.


Former U.S. National Team and MLS players Eric Wynalda and Christopher Sullivan team up for the pregame, halftime and postgame coverage, beginning at 3:30 PM ET/12:30 PM PT.


For the latest MLS news, information and FOX Soccer’s 2011 telecast schedule, visit: http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/mls.


NEW MOTORCYCLE SPONSOR MIGHT BE FACTOR WITH NATE ADAMS AT RED BULL X-FIGHTERS SPAIN - According to Andy Bell, FUEL TV Announcer for the Red Bull X-Fighters Freestyle Motocross Series, tour leader Nate Adams recently switched to riding a 450cc Honda, and it might be affecting his riding. “Although he won last contest, Nate didn’t put down a perfect run, and was going long on a lot of the jumps,” says Bell. “The new bike is more powerful than what he used to ride and he’s not used to it yet.” Having won the last contest, the American is still the favorite going into this weekend’s competition in Spain that airs on FUEL TV Sunday, July 17 (8:00PM ET).