MLB Media Notes: Fox' Rays-Marlins Announcers Called "Awkward"

In Tampa, Tom Jones notes Marlins TV play-by-play announcer Rich Waltz and Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson "teamed up to call Saturday's Rays-Marlins game on 'Fox's Baseball Night in America' game of the week." Jones writes it was "an awkward broadcast," because the pair "had no chemistry." There were "moments when this viewer wondered if Anderson had left the booth for some reason." There were "other moments when this viewer wondered if Waltz was being paid by the word" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 6/18).

TAKING A BREAK: ESPN VP/Communications Mike Soltys on Twitter stated that former MLBer Curt Schilling will take a leave of absence from his role as analyst for ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" as he deals with the issues of his company, 38 Studios. The tweet read, "We mutually agreed w/CurtSchilling to take a leave as he works thru his business issues. We expect he will return on air later this season" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 6/16).