Rodriguez is a part of a revamped "SNB" crew that includes Jessica Mendoza and Matt VasgersianESPN IMAGES
Alex Rodriguez reiterated he will "remain fair and balanced" calling games on ESPN while maintaining his consultant job with the Yankees, according to Evan Grossman of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Rodriguez joined his "Sunday Night Baseball" crew members Matt Vasgersian, Jessica Mendoza and Buster Olney for Thursday's Yankees-Twins Spring Training game, and the crew wasted no time "addressing the elephant in the room." Rodriguez said that working for both ESPN and the Yankees "shouldn't present a conflict, especially when calling Yankees games." Vasgersian during the first inning put Rodriguez on the "hot seat about his perceived conflicts of interest." Rodriguez said, "I've been there since 2004 and this is my second year as a special adviser to [Yankees Managing General Partner] Hal Steinbrenner and [Senior VP & GM] Brian Cashman. You know, my role is interesting. It's a big brother/mentor role to a lot of our -- a lot of the young players here with the Yankees." He added, "My job, as I work here for ESPN, is to tell you the what and the why, same thing as Jessica. My job is to do it objectively and fairly." Vasgersian asked, "What if we're in Houston doing a Rangers-Astros game and Hal calls and says, 'I need to you talk to Gary Sanchez today?'" Rodriguez: "Any time Hal calls, I'm available 24/7" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/23). In N.Y., Justin Terranova notes Rodriguez as a broadcaster has "proven to be as intriguing as the player he was early in his career." Mendoza said, “His baseball IQ is off the charts. His brain has always kind of been wired that way, to be inquisitive, to ask questions" (NYPOST.com, 3/23).
ESPN KEEPS ADDING: In Boston, Nick Cafardo notes former Red Sox manager John Farrell has joined ESPN as an MLB analyst and will "start in his new job next Wednesday on a season preview show." Farrell also will "work Thursday’s pregame show for the start of the season." Farrell will often be paired with David Ross and Mark Teixeira (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/23). Also in Boston, Steve Buckley writes Farrell "deserves a role in baseball" as he is an "intelligent, well-spoken man." Buckley notes Farrell "underwent some training this offseason in anticipation of a new career." Farrell "needs to be candid and avoid the empty-calorie excuses." He also "doesn’t have to spit out one-liners." He just needs be "less Harvard Business School and a little more Harvard Lampoon" (BOSTONHERALD.com, 3/23).
