As you may or may not know, I am based in Chicago. From time to time, I provide updates for the hometown readers:
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My good friend Jeff Nuich wants everyone to know about a new show debuting Sunday on Comcast Sports Net Chicago. Here are the details:
Comcast SportsNet, the television home for the most games and most comprehensive coverage of the Chicago Cubs and White Sox, along with StarPilot Productions, is bringing a brand new Chicago baseball trivia game show to the network as The Batter’s Box presented by Midas will officially debut on Sunday, July 1 at 5:00 PM(time approx. following “Cubs Post Game Live”). The show is hosted by Comcast SportsNet’s Luke Stuckmeyer.
Beginning July 1 and, over the course of 15 weeks, 16 Chicago-area contestants, who auditioned for spots on The Batter’s Box in May, will be competing against one another as eight “Cubs trivia experts” & eight “White Sox trivia experts” battle it out to represent their respective, favorite team, which will ultimately lead to a thrilling “Cubs vs. White Sox” trivia expert finale this fall.
“The Batter’s Box’ is the first show of its kind in Chicago to pit passionate and knowledgeable White Sox and Cubs fans against each other in a fun, competitive baseball trivia game show,” said Greg Bowman, Vice President of Programming for Comcast SportsNet Chicago. “This is truly a unique, local, original programming venture for us that definitely caters to both old and new Chicago baseball fans. Plus, viewers at home will also enjoy playing along to see how much they know about these two historic baseball franchises.”
The basis of the game in this half-hour weekly show is simple as contestants must answer multiple-choice questions, while applying baseball logic to move “runners” around the bases and score runs. The level of difficulty of the questions ranges from a “Single” (for easier questions) to a “Home Run” (for the most challenging questions). The player with the most runs at the end of three innings wins. When a player wins, they will advance to the next round.
“The Batter’s Box” grand prize winner will receive the ultimate “Game Day Experience of a Lifetime,” which includes a luxury suite for the winner & their guests at either U.S. Cellular Field or Wrigley Field for a to-be-determined game in 2013, along with a visit to the broadcast booth to the meet the announcers, a visit to the CSN production truck, the opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and much more.
In addition, viewers at home can also participate for their chance to win some great “Batter’s Box” prizes by visiting CSNChicago.com and correctly answering the “Midas Trivia Question of the Week.” One random winner among all the correct entries will be chosen each week.
Note the following “scheduled” first run air dates/times for “The Batter’s Box presented by Midas,” along with the Chicago-area contestants participating in the first round (PLEASE NOTE: additional replay airings take place throughout the week; visit CSNChicago.com for “The Batter’s Box” TV listings information):
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Return of Aaron Rowand to the Sox. Well, sort of. From ESPNChicago.com:
Former Chicago White Sox outfielder Aaron Rowand will be a guest radio analyst for the team on Saturday and Sunday, the organization announced on Thursday.
Rowand will fill in for Darrin Jackson, who will be unavailable for the two games due to a family matter.