The madness of March is done, and the NFL Draft is still a couple of weeks away, so let’s turn our attention to the sport of the day, namely, baseball. MLB Network has a host of terrific shows to showcase the game, and one of their best is MLB Central with hosts Lauren Shehadi, Robert Flores, and Mark DeRosa.
The show features updates, game highlights, and interviews with guests, celebrities, and insiders from around the baseball world each weekday morning. I tuned into the April 9 edition of MLB Central and was greeted by a terrific opening montage with quick-hitting photos of the hosts as children leading up to present day – very unique.
Smiles are always the order of the day as the show opens with three hosts who seem to sincerely enjoy working with each other’s varied skill sets. Flores is the mischievous little brother, always looking for the unique angle, funny line, or interesting perspective on a topic. Shehadi is the de facto ringleader bringing her own personality, knowledge, and flair to the show.
DeRosa is the resident baseball expert – a 16-year Major League veteran who played six different positions and batted .268 with 100 home runs and 494 RBI in his career.
DeRosa was a member of the 2010 World Series champion San Francisco Giants and later managed Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He knows the game inside out and has seen it from both a player’s and coach’s perspective.
While they do not possess DeRosa’s technical knowledge, both Flores and Shehadi are very baseball savvy. Together, they are a triumvirate of talent, a diving catch in centerfield, a perfect pitch that paints the corner, and a home run of a television show.
I like the conversational style of the show’s beginning. On this episode, the hosts talked a little baseball, but also chatted about the recent total eclipse and other topics. It was very casual, natural, and entertaining. After the chit-chat, all three hosts dove into highlights. That’s a plus on MLB Central. It’s not just one host narrating the highlights. Everyone jumps in and gives their views.
Shehadi runs the show but leaves ample space for DeRosa and Flores. It’s a nice combination. After the Cubs-Padres highlights, Shehadi and Flores threw to DeRosa at the big screen for a demo. This particular DeRosa dissertation focused on San Diego’s Fernando Tatís, Jr.
With his sport coat off, DeRosa relaxed and got back to his roots as a baseball player and coach. He gave a nice intro, detailing Tatís’ recent history with injury and off field woes. He mixed in stats with commentary while rapid fire video of Tatis ran on the big screen. DeRosa also analyzed Tatis’s move to right field and his versatility as both an offensive and defensive weapon.
The MLB Central graphics team then presented a telling comparison between Tatis and Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez. DeRosa returned to the set, and the trio discussed the Yankees’ hot start with DeRosa providing some reasons for the Yankees’ April surge.
I like the way the technical wizardry of MLB Central complements but does not convolute the show. Coming back from the first break, viewers got a triple shot of the hosts on the left side of the screen while highlights played – similar to the ManningCast on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.
This allows us to actually see Flores, Shehadi, and DeRosa as they casually talk about the highlights, almost as if they’re just watching them on TV like the viewers. Sound from Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz was an added bonus during the Reds-Brewers highlights.
DeRosa then went back to the big screen and provided in-depth analysis of De La Cruz’s game. The frequent set shifts provide a variety of images and perspectives on the program – a strength for sure. Coming back from a break, the three hosts were center stage on high top stools and were joined by MLB Network analyst Billy Ripken.
They discussed the rash of early season elbow and arm injuries plaguing many Major League pitchers. The discussion featured on camera commentary from Astros’ pitcher Justin Verlander who implied that perhaps the pitch clock has led to the injuries. Ripken expounded on this theory with his usual gritty analysis.
Ripken is a solid contributor to a host of MLB Network shows bringing his 12 years of MLB playing experience to the table. He’s an old school dude who bristles at some of the game’s recent changes and over-dependence on analytics, but I like his style. He is straightforward, cowers to nobody, and gives you the straight dope.
The injury discussion continued in Shehadi’s Inside Corner segment with MLB Network reporter Jon “J.P.” Morosi. The discussion centered on Cleveland’s Shane Bieber undergoing season ending Tommy John surgery. Shehadi and Morosi covered a number of different topics and players in their lively exchange. Morosi is a solid reporter, kind of the Adrian Wojnarowski of MLB Network.
Ripken joined Shehadi, DeRosa, and Flores on the main couch set as the second hour of the show got rolling. Statistics, highlights, and a little bit of baseball history followed as the quartet delved into numerous aspects of the game. Graphics showed some MLB statistical leaders and also a look at the pitching matchups for the Orioles-Red Sox series at Fenway Park.
DeRosa talked a little bit about the Red Sox hot start and focused on centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela, who just signed an eight-year, $50 million extension. On a bump back from a break, we saw highlights of the recent WWE WrestleMania showcase. This pitch was squarely in the wheelhouse of Flores, a longtime, outspoken, and unabashed wrestling freak.
Flores is constantly citing legendary wrestlers and making references to classic grapplers. It is a part of is TV repertoire. He’s always brought humor and a raised eyebrow perspective to his work going back to his days as a SportsCenter anchor on ESPN.
Flores has a way of using, but not abusing, his bent toward humor and irreverence. He finds a nice balance. DeRosa, Flores, and Ripken talked a little wrestling and had a solid discussion on which MLB teams need to finish the story, i.e.- reach their full potential this season.
Shehadi then took center stage with a standup look ahead to upcoming games and matchups. She is definitely the axis on which MLB Central turns. A tremendous host, personality, and presence on air, Shehadi knows how to get the best out of baseball guys like DeRosa and Ripken, and egg on a personality like Flores. She brings spark, knowledge, and glitz to an already action-packed show.
Live interviews are also a big part of MLB Central and, on this edition, DeRosa, Ripken, and Flores interviewed Brian Reynolds of the fast-starting Pittsburgh Pirates. Host banter is great, but when you can bring in an actual player live for a conversation, it raises the level of the program.
As the show neared its end, Shehadi thoughtfully introduced a heartfelt video tribute to former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield, who passed away in October of 2023. The piece was outstanding – extremely well edited, touching, tear-jerking, and wonderfully narrated by former Red Sox manager Terry Francona.
It is this ability to move from analysis to debate to interviews to humor to heart that makes MLB Central an absolute hit. Shehadi, Flores, and DeRosa bring the power of Aaron Judge, the fast pace of Ronald Acuna, Jr., and the consistency of Mookie Betts to the airwaves every day – well worth a spot in your baseball viewing lineup.
John Molori is a weekly columnist for Barrett Sports Media. He has previously contributed to ESPNW, Patriots Football Weekly, Golf Content Network, Methuen Life Magazine, and wrote a syndicated Media Blitz column in the New England region, which was published by numerous outlets including The Boston Metro, Providence Journal, Lowell Sun, and the Eagle-Tribune. His career also includes fourteen years in television as a News and Sports Reporter, Host, Producer working for Continental Cablevision, MediaOne, and AT&T. He can be reached on Twitter @MoloriMedia.
