As MLB teams navigate social distancing for their on-air crews, Mets TV announcers Gary Cohen and Ron Darling, as well as Yankees radio announcers John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman, "were at Citi Field" for Saturday's exhibition game, according to Joel Sherman of the N.Y. POST. However, Yankees TV announcers Michael Kay and David Cone "called the game for YES from a darkened Yankee Stadium, from where DJ LeMahieu had done a Zoom call earlier in the day with reporters to publicly talk for the first time about having had COVID-19" (N.Y. POST, 7/19).
WORKING FROM HOME: In Baltimore, Jon Meoli cited sources as saying that MASN's Gary Thorne and Jim Palmer are among "several longtime broadcast voices who won't be part of the reduced in-person group" for the shortened '20 season. Both home and away Orioles games "will be called from Camden Yards." Palmer and studio host Rick Dempsey "could be on the broadcasts via Zoom." The same goes for Brian Roberts and Gregg Olsen, "all of whom aren't based in Baltimore and would have to fly to get to the ballpark." It is "unclear whether Thorne will participate in those Zoom segments" (BALTIMORE SUN, 7/19). In DC, Jake Russell noted a MASN spokesperson "originally cited a lack of revenue during the coronavirus pandemic and the heath risks associated with covering a game as reasons to not broadcast" today's and tomorrow's Nationals-Orioles exhibitions, but the net later announced that it "will in fact broadcast" the games (WASHINGTON POST, 7/18).
SHIFTING PLACES: Giants radio play-by-play announcer Jon Miller said as broadcasters prepare to work the Giants-A's games tonight and tomorrow, they are realizing "the whole process is bizarre." In S.F., Bruce Jenkins noted radio and TV staff for both teams "will work the season from their designated locations" at Oracle Park and Oakland Coliseum. Giants TV play-by-play voice Dave Flemming will be seated with "proper distance from engineer Darren Chan in the regular KNBR booth; Miller in what is normally the visitors’ TV booth; Duane Kuiper in the regular NBC Sports booth, and [Mike] Krukow in what is called the Willie McCovey Booth." Meanwhile, A's radio play-by-play voice Ken Korach will be in the "visitors' TV booth; Vince Cotroneo with engineer Michael J. Baird in the regular home radio booth; the home TV booth reserved for a cameraman in his customary spot; Glen Kuiper in the visitors’ radio booth" and Ray Fosse in a "booth used for various purposes" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/19).
BRAVES' NEW WORLD: In Atlanta, Tim Tucker notes FS South "considered sending" in-game reporter Kelly Crull to N.Y. on a commercial flight for the opening series against the Mets "before deciding a few days ago that didn’t make sense" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 7/18).
