McCarver, Fox pumped up about getting to do the NLCS

FROM KEITH GROLLER

This year is their year to do the NLCS. They rotate each year with TBS.

TBS will do the ALCS.

Based on the comments that came from a Fox release, they're really happy they have the Phillies and Giants, even though the New York market is larger and will have the ratings-king, the Yankees, involved.

Fox's Tim McCarver, the former Phillies catcher and close friend of Phillies analyst Chris Wheeler, is really excited about Saturday's Game 1 which will match Roy Halladay against Tim Lincecum. He said: "It's one of the most extraordinary matchups I've seen in my 52 years in the game."

He added: "It’s easy to be excited about Saturday night’s incredible matchup with two outstanding pitchers coming off of two ridiculous games. There were 54 outs made in their Division Series starts out of 58 hitters that Lincecum and Halladay faced. That tells you what we are dealing with.

"If you ask me to give one the ‘edge’ I guess it’s Halladay since it’s in his home park but I don’t think that’s much of an advantage. To have that kind of speed and deception come from someone of Lincecum’s size is remarkable and Halladay’s control and movement of his fastball is fascinating."

Fox announced that Mitch Williams and Eric Karros will be joining Chris Rose on the pregame and postgame shows.

Karros thinks the Phillies will win, but he's also just thrilled about the Game 1 matchup.

“I don’t recall a pitching matchup of this magnitude in the last 20 years," he said. "While pitching will get the well deserved spotlight and emphasis, I see this game coming down to defense and speed. Philadelphia’s defense is stronger and they’re faster on the base paths than San Francisco. I think that is what gives them an advantage in this series.”

Ken Rosenthal, who covered the Phillies-Reds series for MLB, will be working for Fox as the roving reporter.

Add him to the list of folks who can't wait and make him one of the first to look forward to a potential Halladay vs. Cliff Lee battle in Game 1 of the World Series on Oct. 27.

“Like most fans, I'm excited just thinking about the matchup between Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum in Game 1 of the NLCS. The anticipation is similar to Roger Clemens vs. Pedro Martinez in the 2003 ALCS, or Clemens vs. Curt Schilling in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. Lincecum won the past two NL Cy Young Awards; Halladay is favored to win this year. Both were brilliant in the Division Series - so brilliant that some debated whether Lincecum's 14-strikeout performance was better than Halladay's no-hitter (it wasn't).

"Halladay and Lincecum are different in virtually every way, and the contrast between them only adds to the fascination. Perhaps the only matchup that could top this would be Halladay vs. Cliff Lee - Phillies present and past - in the World Series.”

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