Sterling's new home run call translates roughly to "Giancarlo, you cannot stop it" in ItalianGETTY IMAGES
On Long Island, Neil Best noted Yankees radio announcer John Sterling "gave no indication that he will change his much-maligned home run call" for DH Giancarlo Stanton. The call is an Italian phrase that "translates roughly to 'Giancarlo, you cannot stop it.'" He said, "This is so different, I kind of like it." He added, "I don't know how there can be any controversy on a play on words for a home run call. But anyway, I'm really happy about all the attention I guess" (NEWSDAY, 3/31). In N.Y., Bob Raissman notes Sterling "could care less if his audience doesn't understand the lingo." If he did, he "would not have left most of them hanging with his totally self-indulgent" call when Stanton hit his first home run with the Yankees last Thursday (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/1).
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: ESPN's Matt Vasgersian talked about being part of ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" team along with Alex Rodriguez and Jessica Mendoza and said, "There were people that made this happen, who put their faith in us. For us, and for them, we want this to be really good, the pre-eminent presentation of the game on Sunday night." He noted Rodriguez is "for sure the star" of the broadcast team. Vasgersian: "I’m happy to assist in maintaining that. But more so than just highlighting Alex the Renaissance Man, I want to bring out what a good baseball guy he is" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 4/1).
CLIFF DIVING: In Toronto, Doug Smith writes he liked what Blue Jays studio analyst Cliff Floyd "brought to the broadcast" during the team's opening weekend series against the Yankees. Sportsnet should "load up on him," as he offered "good insight." Smith added having an African-American on set "kind of drags Sportsnet's baseball crew in the 1990s, which is very good to see" (THESTAR.com, 4/2).
FOUL BALL: FS South Braves reporter Kelsey Wingert "suffered a fractured eye socket" after being struck by a foul ball Friday night while "standing in the camera well past the Braves' first base dugout." She is "expected back on the job soon" (AJC.com, 3/31).
