Major League Baseball’s postseason has officially arrived. For 30 teams playing 162 games each, the tournament begins today. Which teams will be the one to raise the Commissioner’s Trophy? As much as the sport of football has commanded the country’s attention, there is nothing quite like the rush of postseason baseball. That energy continues to fuel MLB Network analyst Dan Plesac year after year as he prepares to wrap up his 18th season on baseball’s flagship network.
“The ups and downs of this season have made it so unpredictable,” said Plesac. “I’ve never seen a season where expectations for some good teams were so high that they never performed. Yet, there are some teams you couldn’t predict and don’t want to play right now. But this is the time of year when it’s fun.”
Plesac is an MLB Network original. He joined the network when it first launched in 2009 following several seasons working locally in Chicago, covering the Cubs for Comcast SportsNet. A son of Gary, Indiana, Plesac’s Midwestern roots drove him to take a chance on becoming a face of a national network. Despite the challenges that came with the position.
Aside from moving from the Midwest to New Jersey, the role required more study, knowledge and depth in his analysis than he had faced before.
“This was a giant take-on because there’s over 700 players on 30 teams. I wasn’t just concerned with the Cubs and who they were playing anymore,” explained Plesac. “I can’t know everything about every team and every player. But I have to know enough to know what I’m talking about.”
From Local To National
During his 18-year MLB career, playing for six major league clubs, Plesac never once envisioned himself entering sports media as his second act. When he played the game, he had the opportunity to interact with plenty of different media personalities. During that time, he never had an issue with a single media member.
The pivot proved difficult at first for Plesac. After being hired by the Cubs, he was often encouraged to bring more of his personality behind the camera to the forefront. Over time, he built enough of a connection with the local audience to grab the attention of MLB Network executives, who brought him in to audition in the winter of 2008.
“The biggest adjustment I had coming to MLB Network was coming here on a national level and getting comfortable being myself,” said Plesac. “On a national level, you have to play it down the middle. Although we all have a favorite team, it’s about the information and analysis of every team. People tune in because they want to know my knowledge of the game, but also to find a balance with entertainment.”
The goal for Plesac this postseason, and every season, is to be the teacher. Bring the baseball fan closer to the game by providing a nugget of information from a perspective few have. Plesac admits his style may not be liked by everyone, but he is fine with the result. That’s why he doesn’t shy away from conversation and engagement with the MLB Network fan base.
In fact, he encourages it. Plesac regularly posts his Top 25 list of starting pitchers in Major League Baseball online, which generates the most engagement. While he doesn’t respond to many replies, Plesac enjoys the amount of feedback he receives.
It’s the community that surrounds baseball that resonates with Plesac the most. It’s a game that generations played throughout their youth. A game they grew to love and celebrate every autumn as a new champion is crowned.
“When you get a chance to be on the field for so many different events on a national level, not every day is the greatest day ever. Just like a player, there are the dog days in July and August. But when the postseason starts, I have to pinch myself,” said Plesac. “There are moments when I realize what I do on MLB Network is hard to do anywhere else. We get a little spoiled from time to time.”
A Hometown Call
As much as Plesac is thankful for his national stage, he’s enjoyed reconnecting with his local roots over the last two seasons. When Chicago White Sox analyst Steve Stone wanted to pare down his work schedule, the South Side called Plesac and inquired about his services.
“There’s nothing like being at the field. That’s my home. When I’m at the ballpark, that’s where I feel the most comfortable,” said Plesac. “The simplest way I can explain this is. I love baseball. I don’t necessarily love television. When you’re doing games, you get to do a little bit of both.”
Plesac grew up as a White Sox fan in nearby Gary, Indiana. He recalled going to games at Comiskey Park to see Greg Walker, Ron Kittle and his favorite player, Harold Baines. Over the last two seasons, Plesac has called roughly 20 games a season as a fill-in game analyst. The opportunity allowing him to relive his childhood.
“I was surprised how that little boy in me started coming back out calling White Sox games,” explained Plesac. “I found myself emotionally invested in it and realized it’s OK to let people know I grew up a White Sox fan. It’s OK to feel bad about a tough loss. Even though I told myself not to be emotionally involved. Damn it, I’m emotionally involved.”
The 20-game slate that Plesac occupies balances well with his duties at MLB Network. As much fun as the opportunity with the White Sox has been, a return to working local broadcasts full time isn’t in the cards.
“It would be hard for me to leave MLB Network,” said Plesac. “It’s a great place to work. They treat people well. I’ve been here since the beginning. I got a great job here. But I get the best of both worlds with 20 White Sox games as well.”
Balanced Approach
As the postseason begins later today, what looms beyond it will be a much bigger story to tackle for Plesac and MLB Network. With the current collective bargaining agreement ending Dec. 1, many speculate that Major League Baseball will experience a work stoppage of some sort.
Admittedly, Plesac says he’s not looking forward to covering something he feels would hurt the current state of the game itself. He recalled that, as a player, he didn’t pay much attention to the labor talks between the union and the league. Instead, Plesac always leaned on the player representatives for their insights and experience in those discussions.
Be that as it may, he expects some sort of lockout will indeed happen and hopes for a resolution with no games missed.
“The game is a great place right now,” says Plesac. “We’ve had conversations about our availability this winter. I typically have January off the last six years. This year, I won’t. So, I’m planning to be on a few days a week without knowing exactly what we’ll be talking about as of yet.”
When it comes to his analysis, Plesac admits labor law is not his expertise but says he will enter the conversations with an open mind. As a former player, he acknowledges that he is in an uncomfortable spot because he personally benefited from these types of discussions during his playing career.
“I’m respectful of the players’ side because I played, but I’m also respectful of baseball and the owners,” said Plesac. “Things aren’t the same today compared to when I retired. To be honest, I haven’t given it much thought because I’m solely focused on the postseason. I’ll worry about December when we get to it.”
For now, though, Plesac isn’t looking too far ahead. The questions surrounding the next collective bargaining agreement can wait. December will bring its own set of challenges, but October offers something much more familiar: the opportunity to talk about the game he has spent his life playing, studying and loving.
After 18 seasons with MLB Network, Plesac has found a second act that never took him too far from his first love. Whether he’s breaking down a pitching matchup on a national broadcast, calling a White Sox game from the South Side or debating his latest Top 25 list with fans online, the mission remains the same.
Teach the game. Celebrate the moments. And when the postseason arrives, allow himself to be that kid from Gary, Indiana, once again.
Because for Plesac, baseball was never just a career. It was home. And nearly two decades into his second act, he still gets to come home every October.
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