The New York Yankees and WFAN have a big decision to make before the start of the next baseball season. The question, of course, is who they will choose to be the full-time replacement for John Sterling as the Yankees radio play-by-play announcer. That topic came up today for a bit of a different reason during Boomer & Gio on WFAN with Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti.
“I was thinking,” Giannotti started out. “Let’s just assume for a second that the Yankees do end up in the postseason and they don’t completely fall off the face of the earth. Next time I see Ryan Hurley and ‘The Architect’ (Chris Oliviero) I am going to ask them, ‘How are you going to determine who is calling these playoff games? Who is the person that gets the playoff games?’ I don’t think you can alternate during the playoffs.”
“Probably the cheapest guy,” said Esiason, which was followed by discussion about which one that might be and if Ricardo might be getting additional pay when he fills in on the English broadcasts.
“This is the playoffs and yes, we know that frugality rules in media these days,” said Giannotti. “I still think that if they’re in the playoffs, they gotta go with the guy that they think is best, regardless of the money situation. Especially because it could be just a handful of games. Now it could be a run to the World Series, or it could be a handful of games.”
“There also could be memorable calls and you’re going to want the guy on there that you feel is going to give you the best call possible,” said Esiason.
All of the conversation led to Giannotti to give his full opinion on the matter.
“Alright, so this is my take,” he said. “You got two young guys [Justin Shackil and Emmanuel Berbari] who are working their asses off and there’s no two ways about it and they’re doing a nice job, and I am rooting for them…However, when you get into the playoffs, you could have potentially one of the moments that will be in the memories of Yankees fans forever. Could happen in the playoffs…You have to have either Brendan Burke or Rickie Ricardo making that call, that’s what I think. Because I think those guys, they are just more seasoned at this point, and I believe in a playoff scenario you gotta count on them.”
He would later add, “If I had to choose between one or the other, I would have, this postseason, it would be Ricki Ricardo. Now, going forward and full-time, I would look into Brendan Burke and his availability.”
Esiason said, “I do know how important the Spanish broadcast is for the Yankees, and [Ricardo] is the lead guy and all year long, with the exception of a handful of games, he has been the lead voice on that part of the broadcast. I think you’re doing a disservice to your Spanish listening audience by removing the voice of Spanish Yankees radio.
“If you start off next year and you decide Ricki is your guy, then Ricki is your guy. But this year, I feel like he is so important to that audience. You’re asking me my opinion, so I would not consider him for the English broadcast because of how important that broadcast is and how good he is on that broadcast.
“I will say that if they do decide to go with either Emmanuel or Justin, it’s a big moment for them and it may solidify their future if you think about it that way.”
“I know Ricki and Brendan Burke in those situations would deliver, I don’t know if the other guys would,” replied Giannotti.
