Three weeks after joining ESPN’s broadcast of the Astros-Yankees AL Wild Card game, Rays P Chris Archer will be returning to the net as an analyst during the World Series. Archer will be utilized for pre- and postgame coverage on “Baseball Tonight” during Games 1 and 2, as well as Games 5 through 7 if necessary. He will also work an inning or two in the ESPN Radio booth during each of those games. Archer’s cameo as a dugout reporter for Astros-Yankees was widely acclaimed by media critics (Charlie Frankel, Staff Writer). SI.com's Richard Deitsch noted ESPN's World Series coverage also includes "an onsite 'Baseball Tonight' set featuring Jessica Mendoza and Curt Schilling." Both will travel to K.C. and N.Y., "along with host Karl Ravech, analyst John Kruk" and Archer. It is the "first time Mendoza and Schilling will work together" since Schilling was suspended last month. Dan Shulman and Aaron Boone "will work the Series for ESPN Radio" (SI.com, 10/25).
GET WELL SOON: In N.Y., Bob Raissman reported SNY and Fox Sports director Bill Webb recently "was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer" and has "started radiation treatments." His friends say that he is "doing ok," but he will not "be in the director's chair when the Mets, a team he's covered for most of his over four-decade career, go to the World Series." Fox' Joe Buck said, "After so many years the Mets are now at the final stage and he’s not here. It’s ironic and in some ways must break his heart, which makes me want to cry." Raissman noted John Moore, the "very capable veteran director of Yankees telecasts on YES, who has also worked extensively for Fox Sports," was "already filling in for Webb during the ALCS." He now will "be in the truck for the World Series" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/25).
KEEPING IT SIMPLE: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Kevin Helliker profiled Royals radio play-by-play announcer Denny Matthews, who "never sounds excited" on broadcasts. The "chorus of complaints about Matthews has intensified," and some fans are "calling for the departure" of the 72-year-old. Matthews is the "longest-standing active MLB broadcaster with one team" behind the Dodgers' Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrin. Matthews recently "laughed off criticism of his low-key style." When it comes to "calling home runs, he acknowledged that he’s not a yeller, saying he prefers to leave that reaction to fans" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/24).
HOT CORNER: The ’15 LCS averaged 5.5 million viewers across Fox/FS1 and TBS for 10 games, up 17% over 4.7 million viewers in ’14 for nine contests. In the U.S., the postseason has averaged 4.616 million viewers, up 18% over last year's 3.904 million (Josh Carpenter, Staff Writer)
