In St. Louis, Dan Caesar noted longtime MLB Cardinals radio voice Mike Shannon, who "gave up doing road games four seasons ago," is "scheduled to be on the call" for all the team's postseason games this fall. John Rooney, who "broadcasts home regular-season contests with Shannon, and Ricky Horton, who does road games with Rooney, will team with Shannon to form a three-man booth." They "won’t all work simultaneously for the most part, but generally two will be on together." Mike Claiborne, the "other member of the booth, will be on pregame and postgame programming" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 9/27).
UP & UP: In Tampa, Ryan Kolakowski notes the Rays "saw an increase in television and online viewership" through FS Sun from '18-19. Through 153 games, viewership increased 15% year-over-year, and viewership through Fox Sports Go increased 103% year-over-year. Viewership this September is up 18% over last year. The increase "comes in a season in which the Rays are competing for a postseason berth" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 9/27).
ON THE CALL: In Detroit, Tony Paul noted Univ. of Michigan basketball has hired a new radio voice in Brian Boesch, who will "work alongside longtime analyst Terry Mills." Boesch had been "hosting halftime and postgame shows on the basketball broadcasts" and also previously served as the voice of the Single-A Carolina League Winston-Salem Dash. Former radio play-by-play announcer Matt Shepard, who became the lead TV voice of the Tigers this season, "had hopes of staying on the call for Michigan men's basketball on the radio." However, given the "likelihood of conflicts," the school "decided to go with one constant voice" (DETROIT NEWS, 9/26).
