SI.com's Richard Deitsch reported Fox Sports has hired former MLBer Raul Ibañez "as a studio analyst for its pregame and postgame coverage." Ibañez "will also contribute" to "Fox Sports Live," "America’s Pregame" and "MLB Whiparound." Fox Sports "has also assigned Joe Davis and Aaron Goldsmith for play-by-play work this season," as the broadcaster "will air a minimum of 65 MLB games" between Fox and FS1. Davis will "call 12-14 games," while Goldsmith will "do around six" (SI.com, 3/29).
PUTTING DOWN ROOTS: In Denver, Dusty Saunders writes Rockies viewers can expect former MLBer Ryan Spilborghs to do more two-man booth work for Root Sports Rocky Mountain this year, "because he's the obvious replacement" for analyst George Frazier, who is "considering ending his 20-year broadcasting career at the end of the season." Spilborghs, who "made his analyst debut" last season, "made his solo analysis debut in a Root Sports broadcasting booth" March 20-22 (DENVER POST, 3/30).
KNOCK KNOCK JOKE: In S.F., Scott Ostler wrote, "Please, HBO, please, please, please choose the 49ers for this season’s 'Hard Knocks.' Please, please, please, 49ers, say yes to HBO." Agreeing to be featured would be "a favor" to 49ers fans. It also "might be the only chance fans get to see their 49ers next season, because the 16 actual games might be unwatchable" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/29).
