This past March, Jeff Passan signed a new multi-year contract with ESPN. In this day and age of questionable money changing hands in big-time media, this one was a no-brainer. Since joining ESPN in 2019, Passan has established himself as one of sports’ truly great reporters.
It’s tough to make a name for yourself as an insider when you work at the same network as Adam Schefter, but Passan has done just that. His easy-going style and supreme intelligence have placed him at or near the top of baseball news breakers.
Passan has an easy-going on-air manner and speaks the language of a baseball fan. He has become a regular contributor on The Pat McAfee Show, SportsCenter, Get Up, Pardon the Interruption, ESPN.com, ESPN Radio, and the network’s social media platforms.
Passan not only breaks stories, but he also excels at breaking them down. The Syracuse University graduate made a name for himself during a 13-year stint at Yahoo Sports. He also wrote the best-selling book The Arm: Inside the Billion Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports.
Passan is not just a TV personality. He is also a writer and raconteur. That is especially evident on his podcast, Sources Tell Jeff Passan, an ESPN and Omaha Productions collaboration.
This week, Passan featured interviews with Aaron Boone and former MLB umpire Joe West. The trio discussed a variety of topics, beginning with the decline in player and manager ejections.
A Relaxed Approach
This episode of Sources Tell Jeff Passan had me at hello. It opened with 1970s and 1980s footage of diamond arguments, including the San Diego Chicken battling legendary umpire Ron Luciano, along with classic clips of Tommy Lasorda, Earl Weaver, Billy Martin, Whitey Herzog, and other iconic managers. This represents a major part of Passan’s appeal. He not only stays on the cutting edge of baseball news, but he also possesses a deep appreciation for the game’s history and lore.
During his many ESPN appearances, Passan cuts an almost bookish figure. He is well-versed in the game’s analytics and usually appears dressed in a coat and tie.
On Sources Tell Jeff Passan, however, he loosens up a bit. The suit is replaced by a hoodie, and he adopts a more conversational, relaxed style that adds depth to his on-air persona. On ESPN, it’s all business with reports, updates, stories, and rumors. The podcast feels more like a few guys talking baseball in a cool, entertaining way.
West and Boone were excellent guests for a discussion about on-field arguments. As the conversation unfolded, graphics appeared with inside information on the guests and related topics, similar to the old Pop-Up Video series that aired on VH1 from 1996 to 2002.
West shared several great memories about dust-ups with managers and players. Sources Tell Jeff Passan is equal parts stats and storytelling. It truly serves as Passan’s playground, giving him the chance to gleefully jump on the swings or seesaw while enjoying baseball conversation.
As the episode progressed, the discussion shifted to the declining frequency of brushback pitches and all-out baseball brawls. Passan spoke with Boone as a pop-up graphic revealed that Boone’s brother, Bret Boone, father, Bob Boone, and grandfather, Ray Boone, all played in the Major Leagues. That led to a really nice exchange about Boone literally being born into the game.
This is one of the things I enjoy most about the podcast. On ESPN, Passan usually serves as an information source. The network brings him on to discuss trades, breaking news, and injury updates. On Sources Tell Jeff Passan, however, he gets to showcase his impressive interviewing skills.
Storytelling at Its Best
With recent rule changes and a bevy of talented young players, Major League Baseball is experiencing something of a reboot among fans of all ages. The sport is attracting younger viewers because of its youthful superstars while maintaining its grip on older fans because of its rich history. Heck, even the powder blue uniforms of the 1970s are making a triumphant return for many teams.
Passan effectively walks the line between the game’s past, present, and future.
On ESPN, Passan is often limited to quick-hit segments that race through several stories. The time and space provided by Sources Tell Jeff Passan allow for longer-form narratives and anecdotes.
West shared an amusing story about David Ortiz. Early in Ortiz’s career, West jokingly told him, “I hope you play in this league long time. Because as long as you’re in this league, I won’t be the ugliest guy in it.”
Years later, during his final season, Ortiz returned the jab by saying to West, “Next year, you’ll be the ugliest guy in the league.”
Another interesting tidbit from the conversation revealed that umpires once had the authority to issue fines to players instead of ejecting them from games. The free-flowing, extended exchanges create opportunities for previously unknown stories and information to surface.
As the discussion continued, Boone made a strong point by stating that there is little reason to be ejected in today’s game. Replay reviews and ABS strike-zone technology have reduced heated debates. Passan referenced this while asking Boone whether managers ever get ejected intentionally to motivate their teams. Boone said he has never tried to get tossed simply to fire up the club. West sarcastically chimed in that with the game’s best pitching staff and the ABS system, Boone should never lose another game.
A Different Side
Sources Tell Jeff Passan not only offers a different side of Passan, but also of Boone. The embattled Yankees manager has taken significant criticism in New York and nationally. During games, viewers often see cutaways of Boone wearing a frustrated or pensive expression. His appearance alongside Passan and West provided a different perspective, showcasing both his personality and his deep knowledge of baseball.
The final few minutes of the show featured a pre-recorded interview with Passan speaking to Dave Roberts and John Schneider. The trio reflected on last season’s World Series and several key managerial decisions and calls.
Other than the pop-up graphics and the retro-style opening, the production does not rely heavily on technical wizardry. The show primarily features a three-shot of Passan and his guests communicating remotely, and that proves to be more than enough.
Sources Tell Jeff Passan is not designed to dazzle viewers with lights and lasers. Instead, it succeeds by entertaining audiences with knowledge, storytelling, and insight.
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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.
