Mendoza has been doing color commentary from her home in Bend, Ore., for the seriesESPN IMAGES
ESPN's Dave Flemming and Jessica Mendoza were on "opposite sides of the country, neither broadcaster in Oakland," for Game 1 of the A’s-White Sox Wild Card series, and it was "evident that Mendoza was hearing Flemming on a slight delay" during the broadcast, according to Steve Berman of THE ATHLETIC. Flemming said that syncing Mendoza's audio was an "impossibility with Flemming hearing everything in real time in an ESPN studio in Charlotte and Mendoza doing color commentary from her home in Bend, Ore." Flemming: "We had major, major audio issues all game long, so something was going on with our audio." He added, "We had enormous problems today, way above and beyond what should be normal. And it bled into those managers interviews." Flemming "explained how broadcasting in such a faraway location is the rule in 2020 -- and not Major League Baseball’s rule." He said, "It’s been the policy of (ESPN's) baseball people that all of the play-by-play for Major League Baseball is done ... in an actual television studio. So for us, that means either Bristol or Charlotte." Flemming: “The game is 20 miles from my house and I came 2,000 miles from my house.” Berman noted the policy "only applies, however, to ESPN’s baseball broadcasts," as Flemming has "already done college football games for the network from home." And since "only play-by-play broadcasters are required to be in an ESPN studio," Mendoza "didn’t have to travel" (THEATHLETIC.com, 9/30).
CLEVELAND BROADCAST WORKS WELL: In Cleveland, Marc Bona noted ESPN's Matt Vasgersian called Game 1 of Yankees-Indians with Alex Rodriguez, who has "proved to be a fine analyst in his post-season career." Buster Olney "added analysis," while Marly Rivera was "in Progressive Field." Bona: "Solid broadcast, though Rodriguez has an annoying, and distracting, habit of mumbling 'hmm!' between observations." Rivera was "used occasionally, offering a few salient observations, though she needs to slow her speech a tad" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 9/30).
GOOD AND BAD IN CHICAGO: In Chicago, Jim O'Donnell gives his "final short-season grades" for Chicago's primary baseball broadcasters: White Sox TV announcer Jason Benetti was "sharp and appropriately framing with a tremendous sports and pop cultural vertical." So the "question keeps ticking: How long can Chicago hold him?" Grade: A. Meanwhile, Cubs TV announcer Len Kasper was as "colorful as a loading dock full of clear anti-bacterial hand gel. ... Imagine if the Marquee Sports Network had a theatrical impactor such as Jack Brickhouse or Harry Caray lighting up its inaugural season." Grade: C- (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 10/1).
