Roster of network TV baseball assignments; Younger MLB voices getting exposure; Notes

There’s likely to be more analysts than listed herein at this point:

• He’s worked hard and deserves the assignment. It’s been some thirty years since his visible beginnings in Miami as a producer for the late Hank Goldberg on WQAM Radio. He’s climbed the ladder neatly and fruitfully. Locally, Boog Sciambi did MLB for the Marlins and Braves, elevating to his current gig with the Cubs on TV. Sciambi is a baseball freak. Yet he would also love to do the NBA  He’d be good at it. He’s pretty prominent now, Cubs in Chicago on TV and for the first time this fall, he’ll do the World Series on ESPN Radio nationally, taking over for Dan Shulman. Not an easy man to succeed. (Jake Baskin – left)

• Fox maintains Joe Davis, holding him in high esteem. He’s the network’s top baseballer which includes the Fall Classic and he’s number two behind Kevin Burkhardt on the NFL.

• The Foxies will have the ASG from Seattle on July 11th. The Cardinals and Cubs, an historical Midwest matchup, will take their rivalry to London on June 24th.

• ESPN has an improved Karl Ravech with sidekicks Eduado Perez, son of HOFer Tony, and David Cone on Sunday night games.

• Bob Costas is the best of all casts and will be on TBS and MLB Network. His depth and talent for storytelling are unmatched. Seven decades mellifluously singing the beauty of the game.

• A young promising star is earning his merit. Brendan Burke is slowly making his national mark. He’s shown his wares in hockey and baseball. Burke’s busy, doing Islanders on local TV too. The man is earning his keep.

• Tom Verducci’s work is sparkling on Fox and MLB Network. His artistry as a baseball writer is also eye-popping in Sports Illustrated. He paints a word-picture beautifully.

• Matt Vasgersian once number one on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball will work with Peacock and MLB Network in addition to his occasional appearance with the LA Angels.

• Streaming, there’s more of it. Apple’s second year marks a change. Stephen Nelson leaves for the Dodgers. Alex Faust a full-timer with the NHL’s LA Kings on TV will do some fill-in baseball for Apple TV. Aaron Goldsmith has made a firm commitment to the Seattle Mariners. He’ll be less accessible nationally, particularly in summertime.

• Kevin Brown will get more TV stage time. A rising star with Orioles’ TV, he knows his stuff and doesn’t make a fuss of himself. Kevin’s earned himself a position on ESPN’s baseball roster

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  Sciambii filled in for Shulman for one WS game in 2018. He’ll have the entire WS gig starting this fall. The development brings back a little history. It wasn’t until 1979 that the radio rights were sold separately. CBS Radio bought them then and held it through’97. In those seasons, Vin Scully (11) or Jack Buck (6) did play-by-play separatley. (There was no series in 1994 due to a players’ strike.) ESPN Radio took over in 1998 and has had the broadcasts since. Jon Miller (13) or Dan Shulman (12) presided. Boog will do well. He has a ton of radio experience.

Fox

Lead team: Joe Davis, John Smoltz

Other Voices: Adam Amin, Jason Benetti, Kenny Albert (PxP), A.J. Pierzynski, Eric Karros, Tom Verducci, Dontrelle Willis (Color)

TBS

Lead team: Brian Anderson, Jeff Francoeur

Other Voices: Bob Costas, Don Orsillo (PxP), Ron Darling (Color)

ESPN

Lead team: Karl Ravech, David Cone, Eduardo Perez

Other announcers: Michael Kay, Kevin Brown (PxP), Alex Rodriguez, Jessica Mendoza, Tim Kurkjian (Color)

ESPN Radio

Lead  team: Jon “Boog” Sciambi, Doug Glanville

Apple TV

Wayne Randazzo, Alex Faust, Rich Waltz (PxP), Dontrelle Willis, Ryan Spilborghs (Color)

Peacock

Brendan Burke, Chris Vosters, Matt Vasgersian (PxP), rotating analysts

MLB Network

Bob Costas, Matt Vasgersian, Melanie Newman (PxP), Tom Verducci, Dan Plesac, Yonder Alonso (analysts)

Upcoming network games – hoops and on the ice: