Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully yesterday announced that he is "coming back next year" for his 66th season with the club, according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. Scully, who turns 87 in November, in a statement said, "Naturally there will come a time when I will have to say goodbye, but I've soul-searched and this is not the time." Dodgers fans received the news in the second inning of last night's game at Dodger Stadium over the "public address system" and on the videoboard. Dodgers P Hyun-Jin Ryu delivered the news in Korean and there was "barely any reaction" from fans. Then RF Yasiel Puig spoke in Spanish and there was a "little bit of buzz." But when Dodgers 3B Justin Turner made the announcement in English, the crowd "erupted in a deafening roar and a lengthy standing ovation" (L.A. TIMES, 7/30). In L.A., Steve Dilbeck notes the club filmed the announcement yesterday prior to batting practice, so "a lot of people knew about it and kept it quiet" (L.A. TIMES, 7/30). ESPN L.A.'s Mark Saxon noted the announcement came "on Vin Scully Talking Microphone Night" at Dodger Stadium. Scully "acknowledging the crowd from the broadcast booth and holding his hand over his heart." He will "continue to call all nine innings of the team's TV broadcasts" on SportsNet LA, with the first three innings of each game also "simulcast on radio" (ESPN.com, 7/29).
