Dillard, others to join Brewers’ TV crew
There will be some familiar faces joining the Milwaukee Brewers' TV crew this season.
Tim Dillard and Vinny Rottino, both of whom played for the Brewers, as well as former major-leaguer and ESPN personality Chris Singleton, will assume roles as the team's telecasts receive a bit of a makeover on Bally Sports Wisconsin (formerly Fox Sports Wisconsin).
The additions were announced jointly by the Brewers and Bally Sports on Wednesday.
Dillard, who spent 16 years in the Brewers organization – including parts of four seasons in the major leagues as a right-handed reliever – will serve as the primary “Brewers Live” pregame and postgame analyst as well as provide color commentary on select telecasts.
"It's fantastic. It's a dream come true," Dillard said. "I think anybody that's a part of the game wants to be with a family. I was with the Brewers organization dating back to 2001 in some capacity. That's a long time.
"I know everybody in the organization. They're awesome and I'm just happy to be a part of it."
Rottino, a Racine native who was signed as an undrafted free agent out of UW-La Crosse in 2003 and played 18 games for the Brewers over parts of three seasons, will also provide pregame and postgame analysis.
Singleton will fill in for game analyst Bill Schroder on approximately 20 telecasts.
After a six-year career as an outfielder with four teams, most notably the Chicago White Sox, Singleton became a broadcaster for the White Sox and ESPN. He held a prominent role on the network's popular “Baseball Tonight” show and also served as lead analyst for ESPN Radio's baseball coverage beginning in 2011.
As a player, Singleton hit for the cycle for the White Sox on July 6, 1999 and was part of the Chicago team that played the Brewers in the first game played at then-Miller Park on March 30, 2001, an exhibition.
"It was very cool," Singleton recalled. "As you get older, you try to grab onto anything and say, 'Yeah, I was the first guy to do this.' And I played in the old stadium, in '99, and I remember Mike Myers coming out of the bullpen and throwing that hook from the first-base dugout and getting dressed underneath the stands.
"I've got a little connection here, from the old ballpark to the new."
Singleton has also been involved in the ministry for over 20 years.
"I've been ordained, and I served for probably 4-5 years as an associate pastor at a church in Atlanta," he said. "That's my heart. That's my life. My relationship with God is at the core of everything I do."
Dillard has become a fan favorite since playing for the Brewers in 200809 and 2011-12 thanks largely to his presence on social media, where he chronicled his time as a minor-leaguer in humorous ways.
He continues to entertain on Twitter, has his own website and also hosts a podcast. True to form, he spoke to reporters on an introductory Zoom call wearing a suitcoat over a tuxedo t-shirt.
"For a formal announcement, I thought it was appropriate," Dillard joked. "But I'm gathering that it's just kind of strange."
Dillard joined the Texas Rangers organization in 2019, playing at Class AAA Nashville, and closed his career last season with the Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association.
As recently as last season Dillard was invited back by the Brewers to take part in telecasts, with many fans hoping he'd be offered a more regular role once his playing days were finished.
His latest run with the Brewers won't be limited to TV, either, as he'll also be lending some of his social-media expertise as well.
"I'll do whatever. It's pretty simple," Dillard said. "I helped with a video today that was posted. I'll do whatever they let me do. If I have free rein of the stadium, I'll take advantage of that. If they want me to do some stuff on social media, I'll take advantage of that.
"The sky's the limit."
Rottino is a Racine St. Catherine's graduate who played nine games for the Brewers in 2006, eight in 2007 and one in 2008 before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Claudio Vargas in 2009.
After playing nine games for the then-Florida Marlins in 2011, Rottino played 18 games for both the New York Mets and Cleveland Indians in 2012. He wrapped up his career in Japan (2013) and Korea (2014) and spent the previous four seasons as a scout for the Texas Rangers.
"Look, I grew up a Brewer fan. I was lucky enough to get a shot to play for the Brewers," said Rottino, who refers to himself as a lifer in both baseball and Racine, where he lives with his wife and three daughters. "I kind of bounced around for a long time, grinded for a long time. Really passionate about this game. I actually scouted for a little bit.
"So, I think I'll add some pretty unique insights to the pre- and postgame show. It's just really exciting."
Primary play-by-play man Brian Anderson was the point man in helping bring both Rottino and Singleton aboard.
"Brian reached out to me a couple months ago just to kind of kick the tires, see if I had some room in my schedule and everything like that," Singleton said. "From the first day, he used the term 'team' and I've seen that every step of the way. This is a unique experience, and something that started to bud for me a couple years ago when I did the first couple of postseason series from Milwaukee (for ESPN).
"One of the hats I had growing up, my big brother gave me a Milwaukee Brewers hat with the old logo, with the M and the B and the glove, it was just something that has always been sort of a connection. So it's sort of cool to have a more formal connection and be able to contribute to the broadcasts."
Rottino said he'd never thought about broadcasting until Anderson brought it up to him as a possibility.
"I've had a relationship with BA because I worked with his brother, Mike, with Texas and Mike and I have become really close," Rottino said. "He suggested it and I was like, 'Yeah, why not? I love baseball and I'm passionate talking about the game.
"I just started exploring the idea of it, one thing led to another and they're giving me a chance to do some games."
Returning to the booth along Anderson will be Matt Lepay, Jeff Levering and Craig Coshun, while Schroeder remains as lead analyst and Sophia Minnaert as primary sideline reporter.
Coshun and Dario Melendez return as the hosts for "Brewers Live," the pregame and postgame show, where they will be joined by Dillard and Rottino.
Former Brewers pitcher Jerry Augustine will continue to provide analysis and coverage on the WTMJ postgame radio show with host Matt Pauley.