TIME FOR CHANGE? YES!
Cone’s SNB gig means network should call broadcast bullpen
When ESPN suits lured David Cone to their “Sunday Night Baseball” booth, they not only pilfered the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network’s No. 1 baseball analyst, cutting the number of his YES 2022 assignments in half (from 100 to 50 games), but sent the regional sports network’s executives scurrying off on a crucial search to replace the former pitcher.
To find a voice who comes close to matching Cone’s original stylings will be challenging, to say the least. Yet, it’s not the only challenge the creative team at YES faces as the network moves into its third decade. For 20 years, YES has been the picture of stability in terms of live baseball offerings, and the shoulder programming (Yankeeography, Yankee Classics, Center Stage, etc.) surrounding it.
Still, other than replacing Cone, and the retired Ken Singleton, there are “issues” that could blow the winds of a philosophical change through YES. The Yankees will always sell their history.
Unfortunately, YES’ Way-Back Machine is rusty. Are there any fresh “Yankee Classics” on the horizon that would make that show relevant today?
What about a series called “The Empty Years: 2010-2021?” Get it? The “history” format needs to be tweaked to somehow focus more on the future. After all, how many current Bombers are worthy of a fresh “Yankeeography?” Aaron Judge, perhaps?
And with COVID-19 making face-to-face “Center Stage” interviews impossible, will that show, hosted by the TV voice of the Yankees, Michael Kay, make a comeback? And will celebrities’ ability to analyze — and promote — themselves on social media make them reluctant to return to the days of in-depth, one-on-one chats? Kay can still call himself YES’ marquee interviewer, but only over a telephone as part of YES’ daily simulcast of his ESPN98.7 radio show.
There are other new, serious, challenges that could force YES to refresh and retool. Like Mets owner Steve Cohen. He has already demonstrated his willingness to spend Big Moo-la-dee while Big Star Hunting. His spending spree enhances the Mets ability to be a TV attraction. In the Bronx, the fan base isn’t sure if Hal Steinbrenner is more concerned with not busting through the luxury tax (whatever it is when/if the MLBPA and MLB reach agreement on
a new contract) than spending on high-priced talent, stars who can juice TV ratings. In other words, how will the Yankees measure up in terms of on-field quality.
Going into the season, it’s likely the Yankees will not be as interesting a reality show, or generate as much sizzle, as the Buck Showalter-led Mets with Max Scherzer and Jacob de Grom at the top of the rotation, doing their thing on SportsNet New York. With Cone only working 50 games, it also gives SNY, with Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling, and Gary Cohen, an edge over YES’ booth (Kay/Paul O’Neill will be returning).
That’s why it’s time for YES to also shake things up in their Yankees booth. YES’ production honchos should look at all this stuff as an opportunity. What better way to pump some sweet air into their live baseball telecasts, than to bring two totally fresh faces into the booth.
Voices who bring a different perspective (much like Cone does) to the game. Fresh faces? Like two voices with no, or little, TV experience.
There are no shortage of former players and managers wandering through a vast baseball desert looking for some suit, with a vision, to give them an opportunity to be a star.
And a chance to be part of a change.
ANOTHER GIANT FAIL
The Giants Way (TGW) recently drown in a sea of medium Pepsi’s, but still left a residue of sweet arrogance Wednesday when the organization thumbed its nose and would not allow media outlets to air John Mara’s press session live.
Not only did Mara & Co. shaft their media partners (WFAN, MSG, NFL Network) by insisting on the blackout, but did a tremendous disservice to fans who actually hung in to watch the non-competitive (61-100 over the past 10 seasons) shlock the organization tried passing off as professional football.
Didn’t these fans deserve to hear Mara directly answer the media’s questions in real time on all available platforms? Think about it.
Mara admits to the organization hitting “rock bottom” and those who actually pay to see the Giants play cannot watch him utter those words — live.
The Giants hurt their own cause too. For Mara, it was a time to spread the word, (and what’s left of his message), to the largest available audience. To reach out to friend and foe alike. The Giants organization made a conscious decision not to do this.
Short sighted. Stupid too.
DON GETTS MAD
ESPN-98.7’s Don La Greca is known for his rants, but he mostly comes off as a voice of reason.
That he wanted his pound of flesh out of former Giants GM Dave Gettleman was surprising. DLG was ticked over Mara and co-owner Steven Tisch allowing Gettleman, 70, to retire instead of firing him. La Greca contended the GM, “got to go off in a wave of positivity.”
Why? Because Gettleman and his family dared posing for pictures before the Giants-WFT tilt last Sunday? Or because the organization put out a statement thanking him?
Please. It sure sounded like DLG would not have been satisfied unless Gettleman was marched to the 50-yard-line, put in a pillory, and stoned by the unwashed masses.
DON’T KNOCK IT
The final episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks in Season: The Indianapolis Colts,” provided the grim reality of Indy seeing the hand-writing on the wall, but being powerless to erase it.
Colts coach Frank Reich, early in the final episode, strongly warned his team, needing a win over the 2-14 Jaguars to make the playoffs, that they were ripe for the taking. His message was followed by similar warnings to players from other coaches.
Reich was right. The Colts unraveled early. Stunning that Reich, billed as a master motivator, could not get any inspirational juice flowing on the sidelines. Hopefully, “HKIS” won’t now be viewed as some sort of a jinx for the participating team. The series, was compelling and, for many reasons, had more emotional flow than the traditional summer “HK.”
AROUND THE DIAL
Just wondering why a segment of scribes and commentators were miffed over some of their colleagues asking Mara (they were playing the nepotism card) about his brother Chris’ long-time role as senior VP/ Player Personnel and John Mara’s nephew, Tim McDonnell, who is the team’s co-director of player personnel? The rule we subscribe to in these matters is: The more someone (an executive or another media schlub) tells you something is not important, bet the ranch it IS important . ... Flip Flop: Norman Julius Esiason went from whining about “fake news” over his Aaron Rodgers “tip” to saying he deserved a “bonus” from Audacy suits for generating clicks and stirring up controversy. Guess money does change everything.