Broadcasts lack essential element

Blue Jays fans — or at least the ones who rely on television as their sole way to stay connected with the team and to gain insight into it — are being cheated.

Two of the three primary broadcasters — Buck Martinez and Pat Tabler — are faking broadcasts of home games from wherever they live, instead of from the stadium. That’s not only embarrassing in the quality they provide but the optics are terrible. And you would think or hope that a franchise owned by a broadcasting conglomerate would figure that out.

We can debate the broadcast skills of each of them but, if there are issues of cross-border travel and vaccinations and the acceptance of them, I think allowing this situation to persist is wrong.

Having three broadcasters in the building for each home game — two hosts in their outfield perch and a reporter next to the dugout — only makes it more glaring when the main voices are absent.

I get that the middle-of-theyear return to Toronto will have presented some logistical issues. But certainly not big enough issues that a majorleague franchise couldn’t figure them out.

There is no doubt in mind that everything — television, writing, radio — is better when it’s done in person. You get a feel for the game, you get to see people face to face, you get to pick up nuance that you just don’t get watching on monitors or in Zoom calls.

Any tiny bit of personal interaction is better than nothing and, as I watched games this week, there was something missing from the broadcast that didn’t have to be.

The answer to me is simple: If the announcers can’t or won’t get to Toronto, find some who will or can. Lord knows we’re not talking about replacing Vin Scully and Jack Buck.

Having in person play-by-play and colour commentary on every home game would enhance the product. And it would tell fans the team is not willing to take the easy way out.