MLB’s Opening Day is quickly approaching, and with new rules implemented by the league to improve the pace of play, it will also affect the radio and television broadcast crews. Sunday Night Baseball announcer Karl Ravech is aware of the changes coming to his broadcast.
“I think everything is going to be done a little bit quicker. Coming out of that and during the game, (David Cone) was concerned. ‘I’ve got to get in, I’ve got to get out’. In our world we have this running joke about ‘landing the plane,’ meaning you’ve got to start and finish either before that next pitch or break up your story so that there’s a natural break point,” Ravech said during an ESPN conference call previewing the upcoming season.
“Everything happens quicker. There’s no question about that. So in a lot of ways, I’m sure a lot of viewers will think ‘Well, this is even better.’ We’ll have more concise commentary. It will be sharper. It will be quicker.”
Ravech then admitted that adjusting to the new rules will be the responsibility of the broadcast crew.
“That’s on us to figure out the rhythm of the baseball game, and be comfortable and trust each other in the conversations we’re having. There’s a lot of eye contact that goes on. There’s a lot of hand motions up in the booth that people don’t necessarily see, so we know when it is that the other wants to talk.”
The Sunday Night Baseball crew will consist of Ravech, David Cone, and Eduardo Perez for the second consecutive season. ESPN has featured a considerable amount of turnover in the booth since the conclusion of Jon Miller and Joe Morgan’s 21-year run together, and Ravech added the current crew would like to continue working together for a long time.
“I don’t think Coney, Eduardo or I would like to see this end in the next ten years,” Ravech said. “We recognize the privilege it is to sit in that booth on a Sunday night. We’re acutely aware of the audience.”
