Shepard (r) was selected from a group of finalists that included several national candidatesMATT SHEPARD
FS Detroit's Matt Shepard "will be introduced" as the net's play-by-play choice to replace Mario Impemba on Tigers broadcasts, according to Lynn Henning of the DETROIT NEWS. Shepard "filled in skillfully for Impemba last summer," and was "summoned again [when] Impemba departed in September and impressed executives." Former MLBer Kirk Gibson and Baseball HOFer Jack Morris will "be Shepard's in-booth analysts, while Craig Monroe will continue as a pre- and post-game host." Sources said that former MLBer Dan Petry will also "work on 'select' pre-and postgame shows." Shepard has "been with FSD for nearly 20 years," and has broadcast Univ. of Michigan men's basketball games, as well as Eastern Michigan football, with his "future as UM's basketball voice uncertain due to expected conflicts with the Tigers during spring training and perhaps into April." Sources said that Shepard was "selected for the Tigers job from a group of finalists that included appealing national candidates." However, a final decision, which was FSD's and "required approval by the Tigers, was based on Shepard's smooth play-by-play work and by his intimate knowledge of the Tigers and the team's history" (DETROIT NEWS, 1/15). In Detroit, Anthony Fenech notes though a "number of games for each have yet to be determined, it is expected that Gibson will continue his workload from previous seasons." This means that Morris will be the "more consistent voice in the color analyst chair." For the past 12 seasons, Morris has "been a part" of the Twins television team. Meanwhile, Gibson has "been a part of the Tigers' broadcast team for the past seven seasons" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 1/15).
