The discussion around Major League Baseball broadcasters during the playoffs, specifically around national announcers calling games instead of local ones, has led to some vitriolic commentary on social media.
ESPN, TBS, and Fox have offered a cast of national announcers during the MLB playoffs. The criticism over their perceived lack of enthusiasm or broadcasting mistakes has led several to speak up in response . One of those announcers, Michael Kay, even went as far as to say fans should be able to listen to their favorite local announcers as well if that’s what they choose.
While Kay, Adam Amin, and A.J. Pierzynski have taken their lumps, no one has faced more negative feedback than Bob Costas. While calling the ALDS series between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals for TBS, the broadcasting legend has been accused of lacking enthusiasm, focusing on history over the game, and making critical mistakes on his calls. Despite the decades of accolades and historic calls, a lot of current viewers seem to be in open revolt against him .
On Thursday’s episode of The Michael Kay Show on ESPN NY and YES Network, the Yankees’ TV voice and co-host Don La Greca had a spirited discussion about Costas and how fair it was for him to be on the receiving end of so much criticism.
“I’ve never seen such vitriolic hatred toward a guy,” said Kay of Costas. “I’m not being hyperbolic, and you guys could both correct me if I’m wrong. Bob Costas is one of the greatest sports broadcasters that has ever lived. Alright? Now, if you listen to Bob Costas call a baseball game, cause he used to be the backup to [Vin] Scully, and then he took over the number one job. If you listen to him call those games then, he called them the same way then as he calls them now. Understated. Kinda teaching you as he goes along. All of that. I think that the industry has changed. But to see these young people on social media eviscerating a broadcasting god… You can say, ‘Hey, I don’t like the cut of his jib, but he stinks.’ You’re out of your minds!”
“Let’s be fair. Listen, I love Bob Costas, and I get along with Bob, and I love when he’s on. But his legend is not for play-by-play,” responded La Greca. “They think of him as a host. And he’s provocative… He called games in the NFL, but NFL fans know him. Olympics. You put a camera in front of him, give him a microphone, he is going to entertain you with his stories, the behind-the-scenes, and the history. I don’t think he’s a legend for his play-by-play. I think he does fine. I’m cool with him. But, Michael, you talk about he’s a broadcast legend, not for play-by-play. He’s done it, but that’s not why he’s a legend.
“And a lot of the fans that are watching this, Michael, don’t know Bob Costas the way we know Bob Costas. Bob Costas has been working at the MLB Network for the last 20 years. Outside of the Olympics… and a little bit of football. He’s not in the [collective consciousness] the way he was for us when we were growing up. So I protect Bob. I think of him as an institution. But if you’re in your 20s, you’re going to judge him just as a play-by-play guy, and that’s not what made him a legend.”
The discussion is similar in some respects to the one that’s been circling Al Michaels and Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football . Even though he’s legendary in the business, modern fans don’t really take what happened before they started watching into account, and they hear a guy who sounds out of step to their ears .
Costas will be on the call for Game 4 of the ALDS series and Game 5 if necessary. After that, Brian Anderson takes over play-by-play for the ALCS.
[ TMKS ]
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