Fai makes the call for Canadians fans
Veteran radio play-by-play man connects with listeners by putting unique stamp on games
Rob Fai tried to jump to the Toronto Blue Jays from the Vancouver Canadians in spring training.
Fai, who’s been the C’s radio play-by-play man since 2007, called some Jays exhibition games in early March.
He was one of several candidates to take over from the longtime radio voice of the Jays, Jerry Howarth, who retired in February after 36 seasons. Ben Wagner, who was calling the action for the Buffalo Bisons, Toronto’s triple-A affiliate, eventually won the job.
The C’s are also a Toronto farm club. They play in the Northwest League, a single-A loop that’s one of the entry levels for pro baseball.
A player jumping directly from Vancouver to Toronto in a season would receive national attention.
Right-hander Miguel Castro came close, starting 2014 with the C’s before moving up two levels that summer and then beginning 2015 in the Jays bullpen.
Right-hander Marcus Stroman made his first appearance with Toronto two years after his first action in Vancouver. It was three years for righthander Aaron Sanchez.
“Will I apply for another major league job? I think maybe, eventually,” said Fai, 44, who was born in Toronto but grew up in North Vancouver. “This was maybe a blessing in disguise. I have a daughter who is starting high school, my wife is working toward her master’s degree. Sometimes the job you don’t get is the best thing for your life.”
Fai announced on Twitter Tuesday afternoon that he’ll finish the C’s’ season, but plans to take some time away in the off-season to deal with health issues.
He didn’t elaborate. Last winter, he hosted a late night show on TSN 1040, and he’s been an MC at a variety of events in recent years.
He plans to be back calling C’s games next season.
He says the job still makes him happy because C’s owners Jake Kerr, Jeff Mooney and Andy Dunn give him freedom.
Fai’s work isn’t the traditional way of calling a ball game.
He’ll sneak in the odd WWE reference instance.
He does have a background in the game. His 97 strikeouts in 1993 remain the single-season record at Grace College, an NAIA-level school in Winona Lake, Ind.
Fai is a former News 1130 sports broadcaster who used to do PA announcing at university basketball games back in the day.
“I think a part of me really wanted that job with the Blue Jays because I’m the exception,” said Fai, who’s dad to Nolan, 15, and Jayda, 13.
“I didn’t go to school for broadcasting and I haven’t gotten this far with a prototypical style. I love baseball, and I think that shows when I call a game. I will never cram a broadcast with stats when
I can blend it instead with stories and things that everyone can appreciate — not just the sabermetrician in the family.
“My style is loose and inclusive, and something I hope brings new fans to the radio as well as engages the longtime listener. I’m young at heart and I believe there is always room for a hip-hop reference along the usual narrative of a baseball broadcast.
“The best part of my job calling games with the C’s is having the support of my bosses. They allow me to be me. They know that I’m not going to hurt the team or the organization.”
It’s rare for a player to return to the C’s for a second season. High-end prospects are sometimes based out of Nat Bailey Stadium just a few weeks.
Stroman, for instance, made seven relief appearances with Vancouver in 2012 before being promoted double-A.
Fai called his 950th C’s game this past week. And he’s certainly not alone in that regard in the eight-team Northwest League.
Mike Boyle is an example. He’s been relaying the action for listeners of Spokane Indians games since 2010. Before that, he did three years calling the action for the Tri-City Dust Devils, another C’s rival.
“One thing that caught me by surprise was how many times they referenced me as a short-season baseball broadcaster,” Fai said of his stint trying out for the Jays gig.
“I’ve listened to a lot of baseball at all levels, and there are two or three guys in the Northwest League alone who I think could walk in to tomorrow and call a major league game right now.”
Fai maintains that his experience with the Jays has made him a better broadcaster, helping with the “little details ... I score games better, for instance.”
“I’m so different from the guy who started in 2007. I don’t even recognize the guy who was calling games in 2007,” said Fai.
“I think when I got into this, I was trying to sound like I thought a baseball broadcaster should sound. I think it was after the third championship (the C’s won three straight Northwest League crowns from 2011-13) that I realized, ‘You can just be yourself.’ My voice changed. My pace changed. My delivery shifted.”