Mike Breen is backing Joe Davis amid long standing claims by fans of Dodgers bias. The ESPN voice said Monday that he hears no favoritism in Davis’ national calls over the time he’s been with FOX Sports.
What We Know: Davis has served as FOX Sports’ lead MLB play-by-play voice since 2022. Meanwhile, he has called Dodgers games on SportsNet LA since 2016. Additionally, he called the Dodgers’ back-to-back World Series wins in 2024 and 2025 for FOX Sports. Thus, leading to some fan backlash claiming a sense of bias in his calls. Similarly, Breen leads ESPN’s NBA coverage while serving as the longtime television voice of the New York Knicks, who just won the NBA championship. Breen gave his thoughts on fans claiming bias in regards to local voices calling national games with the teams they work for involved.
What They Said: Mike Breen on complaints regarding Joe Davis of FOX Sports with bias: “I think he’s done an incredible job. I listen to his calls when the Dodgers do things and when the opponent does things. I don’t see any bias at all. A couple of years ago — I’m a huge Mets fan, and he did a Dodgers-Mets National League Championship Series. And as a huge Mets fan, I did not notice any bias towards the Dodgers. I think he’s done an incredible job.”
Mike Breen on complaints of bias in calling national games while also serving as the local voice: “That’s the part of the job that you just have to understand. The fans are so passionate that they’re the least objective. Probably in terms of deciding if a guy is being biased or not because they care so much about their team and they’re so emotional. Especially in the postseason. I heard some of that during the Knicks and the Spurs during the Finals last year. But you just try and do the best you can.”
What Remains Unclear: Breen has faced similar scrutiny after calling the Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals earlier this summer. Still, the debate over dual-role broadcasters shows no sign of fading anytime soon.
What It Means: Ultimately, Breen’s comments carry weight because he lives the same balancing act. Moreover, his Mets fandom gives the praise added credibility with skeptical New York audiences. In addition, the remarks highlight continued balance between local loyalty and national neutrality. As a result, Davis gains a notable ally from one of broadcasting’s most respected voices.
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