If you were hoping to catch a lot of pregame coverage from London for the New York Mets-Phialdelphia Phillies series on MLB on Fox, then perhaps tuning into the channel that had coverage for the game wasn’t the best choice.
As Major League Baseball attempts to grow the game, Fox elected not to send Kevin Burkhardt, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, or David Ortiz across the pond. Instead, we saw them live from Yankee Stadium, doing pregame coverage for a game that doesn’t start until after 7 p.m. ET.
That’s certainly not uncommon, but with sending the trio of Adam Amin, Adam Wainwright, and AJ Pierzynski to London, it seems a bit odd not to have studio coverage on-site for a game your network is broadcasting from a site well outside of the United States.
Of course, the Yankees-Los Angeles Dodgers is a potential World Series matchup, despite it only being in June. And while the 27-35 Mets might not be as appetizing as the aforementioned teams, they’re facing the team that owns the best record in the National League and has immense playoff success the past two seasons.
And even as the quartet of Burkhardt and three former players tried to talk about the Mets, it was even lackluster at that. When Burkhardt posed the question of fixing the team with MLB’s highest payroll, Big Papi suggested moving them to Oklahoma, while A-Rod threw out the idea of Juan Soto. All Jeter could muster was saying that Hal Steinbrenner would have something to say about that.
Some hard-hitting analysis from David Ortiz, A-Rod and Derek Jeter during MLB on Fox’s “How do you fix the Mets?” segment: pic.twitter.com/WE9X9mM1tA
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 8, 2024
Although the studio crew had a chance to provide some hard-hitting analysis on one of the league’s more notable franchises with a passionate fanbase, they ultimately didn’t have much to offer.
As you might imagine, the coverage notably drew criticism, as did much of the pregame coverage.
Mets fans and Phillies fans uniting to hate on the FOX London Series broadcast pic.twitter.com/a2ySfhdGhY
— Dylan Hornik (@_Hornik_) June 8, 2024
“Move to Oklahoma,” says Ortiz of how to fix the Mets.
I mean, sure. Come on. https://t.co/Xqhf9PYAxY
— Jonathan Huskey (@jonathanhuskey) June 8, 2024
They saw the Finals and decided to be even worse. Lol https://t.co/IsjM06QFWv
— Eric (@EWRNYC1) June 8, 2024
Dear Fox,
Having your pregame show for Phillies/NYM London Series in Yankee Stadium is a crime against humanity. Expect to visit the Hague soon.
Yours truly,
Baseball Fans Everywhere https://t.co/iJnf1iIlD3— Phillies Lifer (@CallisonGhost) June 8, 2024
I was watching the MLB Network pregame show, not Fox. Was Fox doing their London series Pregame show from Yankee Stadium? Why? https://t.co/T5UXLeQmGj
— Dylan MacKinnon (@DylanFMackinnon) June 8, 2024
Yes Fox Sports – we would much rather have seen A-Rod and Jeter running around Yankee stadium for your pregame show rather than the pre-game festivities with the Phillies & Mets in a once in a lifetime game in London, which is ya know the only reason I have the TV on at 10AM. 🙄 https://t.co/NC5pRbL2j6
— Phillydude (@Fairwinds10) June 8, 2024
Pregame show from an empty Yankee Stadium, B team crew on the call for the game. Fox is really killing this
— Mike (@mhc_76) June 8, 2024
The Mets and Phillies are in London, but Fox insists on showing us a pregame of Jeter, Ortiz, and ARod at Yankee Stadium.
Makes sense.
— Lauren (@CalmYourMitts) June 8, 2024
Kevin Burkhardt: how do you fix the Mets?
David Ortiz: Move to Oklahoma. Get out of the Yankees shadow
Fantastic pregame analysis @MLBONFOX!
— anthony (@HoodieAlonso) June 8, 2024
Nothing gets you set for a Phillies game like a tour of old plaques in New York
— Franzke & LA (@FranzkeLA) June 8, 2024
That wasn’t all.
Jeter/Ortiz/AROD in Monument Park
Ortiz: “AROD, when are we getting your number here?”
AROD: “Papi, you have a better chance of getting your number retired than I do” pic.twitter.com/rWIxW8ZRKs
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) June 8, 2024
And while the Monument Park tour in Center Field was interesting, it lacked a clear connection to the Mets-Phillies matchup. Rodriguez’s comment offered a brief moment of levity, but overall, the ceremony didn’t resonate with the pregame atmosphere.
Yes, Mets and Phillies fans are predisposed to being cranky, but they seem to have a legitimate gripe with this coverage.