The Astros announced Todd Kalas and former MLBer Geoff Blum will be their broadcast team on Root Sports Southwest in ‘17. Kalas will replace former play-by-play announcer Bill Brown, who retired after 30 seasons with the team. Blum, who spent the last four seasons as the primary TV color analyst for Astros road games, will now take the full-time color analyst role. Kalas spent the last 19 seasons as part of the Rays' TV broadcast team (Astros). In Houston, David Barron notes Kalas and Blum will be "employed by the Astros." The remainder of the telecast crew is employed by Root Sports Southwest and is "expected to be announced after the first of the year, although the primary incumbents -- studio host Kevin Eschenfelder, analyst Mike Stanton and field reporter Julia Morales -- are expected to have the opportunity to return." Astros President of Business Operations Reid Ryan said that he "received 70 applications from local and network television and radio broadcasters for the job vacated by Brown and brought in six to audition with Blum." Kalas said that he has been "selective in his search for his first full-time chance to do play by play on television because of his fondness for the Tampa Bay area" and Rays announcer Dewayne Staats, who "filled the role of a second father or older brother since Harry Kalas' death" in '09 (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 12/23).
DREAM COME TRUE: In Tampa, Roger Mooney notes Kalas has been "part of the Rays TV team since the inaugural" '98 season, and he "served mostly as the in-game reporter, conducting clubhouse interviews with the manager and players before and after games." Kalas "endeared himself to Tampa Bay fans by his ability to wade into the stands for midgame interviews, especially with those Rays fans who popped up in stadiums around the majors." He has also "called college football, baseball and basketball, worked on the USF radio team and filled in as the Lightning's television host." However, Kalas "always wanted to be a full-time play-by-play voice of a major-league team" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/23).
