TOP FIVE CANDIDATES TO REPLACE LEN KASPER AS THE T.V. VOICE OF THE CUBS
12/4/20
BLOG | By: Cavan Malayter
Earlier today, it was officially announced that Len Kasper would leave the Cubs as their television Play By Play broadcaster, to join the White Sox as their radio Play By Play Broadcaster. Kasper spent 16 seasons with the Cubs and the departure came as a surprise to many. Marquee Sports Network announced that the search for a new Play By Play broadcaster begins today and I've decided to come up with a few names that could get the job. I understand a few of these names are complete long shots, but I thought they had some reasons for joining the Cubs. Besides, it's not every day the TV Play By Play job for the Cubs is available.
1. Chris Myers. This seems to be the obvious choice for many and for others, Myers is the leading choice for the job. Myers was hired by Marquee when the network launched to be a Studio Host and fill-in Play By Play broadcaster for when Kasper leaves to do national work for FOX (that never happened because of COVID). Myers has decades of experience working for ESPN and FOX, which included working the sidelines on FOX's Super Bowl LIV broadcast. Considering the franchise is in a pinch for money there's a likely chance that will carry over to the team's network as well. So going internally seems likely for the Cubs.
2. Jon "Boog" Sciambi. To me, this is my favorite choice right here and the guy the Cubs should definitely go after. Sciambi is a longtime Baseball and Basketball Play By Play man for ESPN which includes calling Wednesday Night Baseball and Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN Radio. Sciambi is one of my favorite voices and will fill the void of Kasper nicely if the Cubs were to hire him, which some Cub fans want to see happen.
3. Matt Vasgersian. Alright, hear me out with this one. I understand this is an absolute long shot, but I could see reasoning as to why the Cubs and Marquee should go after him. Vasgersian is currently the voice of ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball and has been in that role since the start of the 2018 season. His contract is up (if I'm not mistaken) and unless ESPN brings him back he's available for the Cubs to go after. Marquee was big on wanting their games to feel like a national broadcast, which is part of the reason for why Len and JD wore suits this season. So if they really want that feel, Vasgersian is your guy.
4. Bob Costas. Okay, so this one is an even bigger long shot than Vasgersian. Costas is 68 and the odds of him going on a local schedule, as compared to his once to twice a week with MLB Network seems highly unlikely. However, the difference from him to Vasgersian is that he's already been linked to Marquee. Before the announcement that Marquee had hired Len and JD to join the new network, there were reports that Marquee had reached out to Costas to gage his interest in joining the network, whether that included Play By Play, we don't know. Also, Costas didn't call a single game for MLB Network this season. The most likely reason is that they called games in the studio in New Jersey and Costas didn't want to risk traveling during a global pandemic. But, if that wasn't the reason could Costas be working a deal to join a different network, who knows.
5. Pat Hughes. This is a near-impossibility of actually happening. Hughes has worked the radio for the Cubs for so long it's hard to imagine him leaving the radio to join television. Also, if Hughes wanted to do television, I am almost positive Kasper would have stayed to switch roles with Pat Hughes to become the new radio Play By Play broadcaster. Hughes is on the list as a courtesy option considering he's the other Play By Play broadcaster the Cubs have at the Major League level. If this actually happens I will be both happy and shocked at the same time.
DARK HORSE: Ryan Ruocco. Here's my dark horse candidate for the Cubs job and he could be a legitimate contender. Ruocco currently does Play By Play for ESPN, YES Network and Boxing on DAZN. The Cubs are looking for someone young and he fits in perfectly. Ruocco filled in for long-time Yankees Play By Play man, Michael Kay, when he got surgery last season and has proven he can handle doing day to day baseball games rather than just national work. In addition, Ruocco does Play By Play for the Brooklyn Nets on YES Network. The big issue though with hiring Ruocco would be his national duties. He was recently named the lead voice for ESPN's College Women's Basketball coverage (replacing the new voice of the Bulls, Adam Amin), and has been the lead voice of the WNBA for several seasons. Despite what I just said, Ruocco should be able to balance his new job and the Cubs gig if he were hired.
12/4/20
BLOG | By: Cavan Malayter
Earlier today, it was officially announced that Len Kasper would leave the Cubs as their television Play By Play broadcaster, to join the White Sox as their radio Play By Play Broadcaster. Kasper spent 16 seasons with the Cubs and the departure came as a surprise to many. Marquee Sports Network announced that the search for a new Play By Play broadcaster begins today and I've decided to come up with a few names that could get the job. I understand a few of these names are complete long shots, but I thought they had some reasons for joining the Cubs. Besides, it's not every day the TV Play By Play job for the Cubs is available.
1. Chris Myers. This seems to be the obvious choice for many and for others, Myers is the leading choice for the job. Myers was hired by Marquee when the network launched to be a Studio Host and fill-in Play By Play broadcaster for when Kasper leaves to do national work for FOX (that never happened because of COVID). Myers has decades of experience working for ESPN and FOX, which included working the sidelines on FOX's Super Bowl LIV broadcast. Considering the franchise is in a pinch for money there's a likely chance that will carry over to the team's network as well. So going internally seems likely for the Cubs.
2. Jon "Boog" Sciambi. To me, this is my favorite choice right here and the guy the Cubs should definitely go after. Sciambi is a longtime Baseball and Basketball Play By Play man for ESPN which includes calling Wednesday Night Baseball and Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN Radio. Sciambi is one of my favorite voices and will fill the void of Kasper nicely if the Cubs were to hire him, which some Cub fans want to see happen.
3. Matt Vasgersian. Alright, hear me out with this one. I understand this is an absolute long shot, but I could see reasoning as to why the Cubs and Marquee should go after him. Vasgersian is currently the voice of ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball and has been in that role since the start of the 2018 season. His contract is up (if I'm not mistaken) and unless ESPN brings him back he's available for the Cubs to go after. Marquee was big on wanting their games to feel like a national broadcast, which is part of the reason for why Len and JD wore suits this season. So if they really want that feel, Vasgersian is your guy.
4. Bob Costas. Okay, so this one is an even bigger long shot than Vasgersian. Costas is 68 and the odds of him going on a local schedule, as compared to his once to twice a week with MLB Network seems highly unlikely. However, the difference from him to Vasgersian is that he's already been linked to Marquee. Before the announcement that Marquee had hired Len and JD to join the new network, there were reports that Marquee had reached out to Costas to gage his interest in joining the network, whether that included Play By Play, we don't know. Also, Costas didn't call a single game for MLB Network this season. The most likely reason is that they called games in the studio in New Jersey and Costas didn't want to risk traveling during a global pandemic. But, if that wasn't the reason could Costas be working a deal to join a different network, who knows.
5. Pat Hughes. This is a near-impossibility of actually happening. Hughes has worked the radio for the Cubs for so long it's hard to imagine him leaving the radio to join television. Also, if Hughes wanted to do television, I am almost positive Kasper would have stayed to switch roles with Pat Hughes to become the new radio Play By Play broadcaster. Hughes is on the list as a courtesy option considering he's the other Play By Play broadcaster the Cubs have at the Major League level. If this actually happens I will be both happy and shocked at the same time.
DARK HORSE: Ryan Ruocco. Here's my dark horse candidate for the Cubs job and he could be a legitimate contender. Ruocco currently does Play By Play for ESPN, YES Network and Boxing on DAZN. The Cubs are looking for someone young and he fits in perfectly. Ruocco filled in for long-time Yankees Play By Play man, Michael Kay, when he got surgery last season and has proven he can handle doing day to day baseball games rather than just national work. In addition, Ruocco does Play By Play for the Brooklyn Nets on YES Network. The big issue though with hiring Ruocco would be his national duties. He was recently named the lead voice for ESPN's College Women's Basketball coverage (replacing the new voice of the Bulls, Adam Amin), and has been the lead voice of the WNBA for several seasons. Despite what I just said, Ruocco should be able to balance his new job and the Cubs gig if he were hired.