In S.F., Ron Kroichick noted the "wildly popular" Giants TV broadcasting tandem of Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper "each signed a multiyear contract extension." Krukow and Kuiper, Giants teammates in the '80s, are "starting their 24th season as partners in the booth." They will "work together on NBC Sports Bay Area broadcasts, with Kuiper also spending time" on KNBR-AM radio broadcasts. Krukow, who "continues to battle a degenerative muscle disease called inclusion-body myositis, is expected to call about 120 games." Kuiper will work "nearly all of the team’s 162 regular-season games" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/1).
MIGHTY JOE YOUNG: In California, Tom Hoffarth profiled new Dodgers TV play-by-play man Joe Davis, and wrote if there is "anything somewhat scripted for him, it’s a response he has to those who asks him what it’s like to be the one replacing" Vin Scully. Davis: "If they say I’m ‘replacing’ him, my approach has been: You don’t replace the greatest anyone of all time in anything. ... That’s just a fact. Second, for me, mentally, it doesn’t do me any good either to think I’m replacing someone as good as Vin." Davis also will be doing TV only -- "no more simulcast of the first three innings, as Scully did on radio with the team’s KLAC-AM affiliate" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 4/1).
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND: In Dallas, Barry Horn noted Rangers TV broadcaster Dave Raymond is "set to call 144 games in his first full season on the job after filling in last year for the now-departed Steve Busby" on FS Southwest. Raymond is "scheduled to work with veteran analyst Tom Grieve during 65 games and the remainder" with C.J. Nitkowski. Raymond's "last full-time major league job" was with the Astros, as he "called games on radio and television" from '06-12. Raymond said of the relationship between an announcer and his audience, "It evolves over time. It definitely starts with trust, though. And authenticity. Baseball fans are smart. They know good baseball from bad, and they know when broadcasters are feeding them garbage" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/1).
ALEXANDER THE GREAT? Alex Rodriguez is joining Fox Sports' coverage full time this season, and THE RINGER's Katie Baker wrote as "great as A-Rod once was at playing baseball, he might somehow be better at talking it." Rodriguez has "found his true place in the world: in a studio conference room, getting clowned on by Pete Rose." Listening to Rodriguez on TV "makes you feel like you’re right there in the dugout, learning from a baseball savant who is part genius and part awkward lurker" (THERINGER.com, 3/31).
STILL GOING STRONG: In N.Y., Tyler Kepner profiles Jaime Jarrin, the Spanish-language voice of the Dodgers who is in his 59th season with the team. Jarrin "allows himself a two-week vacation at midseason now, but otherwise he embraces the grind of the punishing schedule." His wife, Blanca, "still supports his career, and he plans to finish his contract, which runs" through '18. That would "give him 60 years calling games, but Jarrin thinks he might continue." Jarrin said, “I love the game so much. My wife told me, ‘You know, Jaime, if you retire you still will be going to the games, so you might as well get paid’” (N.Y. TIMES, 4/2).
