That was it. He graduated from Northeast High School and was then drafted by the Devil Rays in the 3rd round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft. Teams. Its absolutely the front offices game.. Staats plans to take off 20-30 games, mostly during road trips, in what sounds like a joint decision between him and Bally Sports bosses and something of an industry trend. He participates in the Hillsborough County Great American Teach-In and assists with Rays community efforts, among them Tampa Bays Buddy Baseball League. The Tampa Bay Times reached out to Bally Sports twice for clarity or comment, and the silence might speak for itself. in 1995, then served as the sports director with Time Warner Cable (now Spectrum Sports) in Clearwater from 1995-97, where he received a CableACE award for the best local sports program. Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? The veteran play-by-play announcer, who started during the team's 1998 inaugural season, will cut back his workload, missing 20-30 games. Rich enters his eighth season covering the Rays on television with the Bally Sports Sun broadcast team. He was named the 2013 Florida Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. Brian was inducted to the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame on Sep 30, 2015 and made his acceptance speech by phone during the Rays broadcast. A New Jersey native, Rich has called the Tampa Bay area home for 26 years. He was selected third overall by the Angels in the 1993 Amateur Draft and the following season was named the Sporting News AL Rookie of the Year. Since its inception, the team's home venue has been Tropicana Field. So thats where we are with all that, and well rock and roll.. Im not upset. He and fellow broadcaster Dave Wills have shared play-by-play and color commentating duties for the Rays since 2005, often alternating roles for several innings at a time during ballgames. Bally is expected to announce its schedule and staffing plans in mid-to-late March. He and his wife, Jill, reside in St. Petersburg with their three children: Jason, 17; Lindsey, 15; and Bryan, 11. Early life and education [ edit] Rangers announcer 'disgusted by' fellow ESPN analysts who say team 'doesn't count' among New York franchises Fox News 49m Despite paying a boatload of money to the NHL to broadcast the league on its networks, ESPN isn't exactly winning over hockey fans. The infrastructure needs to be improved. He also fills in as pregame host for the Tampa Bay Lightning. * Cash and staff met with MLB officials Joe Torre, Peter Woodfork and Chris Young to discuss potential rule changes and similar issues, but said there was nothing definitive. By leaving the reason up to speculation, Bally Sports is either welcoming the worst interpretations, or hiding from accountability. Become a member today and receive all the best benefits to see the Rays at Tropicana Field. Fox Sports Florida's Emily Austen, who worked as a sideline reporter on Orlando Magic and Tampa Bay Rays broadcasts, has been taken off the air by the network after she made racist and. I don't understand it," Couch said. There comes a point where I obviously still want to do it and enjoy doing it and all that, but if I could get off the road once in a while, I think Ill do that, said Staats, 70. At 68 and in good health playing lots of golf during the unexpected free time he is spending mostly in his hometown of Hazleton, Pennsylvania Maddon said he definitely would be interested in managing again. Dewayne Staats (born August 8, 1952) [2] [3] is a sports broadcaster who has been the television play-by-play commentator for the Tampa Bay Rays since their inception in 1998. So its not anything really that different; almost everybody in the business is doing something like this now.. He and fellow broadcaster Dave Wills have shared play-by-play and color commentating duties for the Rays since 2005, often alternating roles for several innings at a time during ballgames. Before joining the Rays, he spent three years calling play-by-play for a variety of ESPN sports broadcasts. Top prospect Taj Bradley, Rays take on Red Sox today, Photos: Rays back at Trop in spring game against Twins, Rays Tyler Glasnow sustains oblique injury during practice, Rays face Braves with Shane McClanahan on the mound today, Rays have familiar names in lineup today to face Orioles, Rays host Twins for spring baseball under Tropicana Field roof, In Daniel Robertsons return to Rays, a clear mind is what matters, Sign up for the Rays Report weekly newsletter, Rays make interesting bullpen addition, could have another coming. December 14, 2022. In 2016, Dave was inducted into the Irish-American Baseball Hall of Fame at the former Foleys Pub and Restaurant in New York City. Taveras has more than three decades of radio experience. Because the manager has so many voices in the back of his head by the time the game begins, its not his game like it had been. Grandkids are growing quickly, Staats said. I mean, I feel like a teenager right now. Im still going to do a pretty full load of stuff. Andy was named 2015 Florida Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. Rays information: 1-888-326-7297 On deck Saturday: at Twins, 6:05; Rays, Ryan Yarbrough; Twins, TBA; 620-AM, 95.3-FM Sunday: vs. Yankees, 1:05; Rays, Tyler Glasnow; Yankees, TBA; Fox Sports. 25, Baseballs new rules: a pre-season study guide. Tampa Bay Rays transferred CF Kevin Kiermaier from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook. We were made aware that Emily Austen appeared in a social media video unaffiliated with FOX Sports in which she made insensitive and derogatory comments. It is appalling that any employer would deny their employee this honor, and the local media should not allow Bally Sports to remain silent on the matter. Tonights Rays game at Tropicana Field will be an historic first: an all-women broadcast team will anchor every aspect of coverage, in an MLB produced game to be broadcast on YouTube. Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. He owns bachelors degrees in speech communication and urban studies from Elmhurst, where he played baseball for three years. He and his wife, Jessica Marie, reside in Tampa. . 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One consistent lesson is the value of persistence. Tricia graduated from Indiana University with a degree in communications. Well, were on hand to help you with all the appropriate festive greetings. Yosemite National Parks first major rockfall of the year comes from El Capitan watch it in the dramatic video. In 2015, Dewayne authored Position to Win: A Look at Baseball and Life From the Best Seat in the House, which chronicles his life and career in sports broadcasting. He is improving his golf game, shooting 79 Thursday, hosting his Try Not to Suck (in the Valley) Golf Classic, benefiting his Respect 90 Foundation, and playing in recent events with former Indians and Phillies manager Charlie Manuel and NFL Hall of Famer Joe Namath, who has become a good friend. Her career experience also includes a two-year stint covering professional and collegiate teams, including the Brewers, for the ABC affiliate in Green Bay. The Rays are currently 2-0 down in the series after losing 1-5 in the first game and 3-5 in the second game. He has also called action for the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League (2003-05) and served as the Spanish voice for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002-03. He also did radio broadcasts for Providence College basketball, Rider University basketball, College of New Jersey football, and Baltimore Spirit soccer. [1] He is the oldest son of the late longtime Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Fame and Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas and the brother of professional poker player Kane Kalas. Ricardo begins his 19th season calling play-by-play on the Rays Spanish broadcast. While with Durham, he broadcast the Triple-A All-Star Game and the Triple-A National Championship Game to a nationwide audience. Currently, Anderson is the color commentator on the Rays TV crew on Bally Sports Sun . University, where he called basketball, football and lacrosse during his time at school. ST. PETERSBURG Joe Maddon is managing just fine in his first summer without pro baseball in 47 years. Staats said he is planning to work pretty much all of the games at the start of the season, then begin taking some off around the All-Star break and into the early part of the second half. Heriberto Hernandez is the 26th ranked prospect by the community. As Broadcaster. #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/Wb0K8k3NYO. But you wont see quite as much of him this year. It would appear that Tricia Whitakers contract with Bally Sports which is owned by the radical, right-wing Sinclair Broadcast Group does not permit her to work MLB broadcasts, and accordingly she was denied a chance to participate in the event. The milestone for the sport has been widely lauded, and the women involved rightfully praised for their accomplishments. I would only go into that marriage really feeling good about that Im philosophically aligned with whomever Im going to work with, he said. They need to do the infrastructure better in order to get to where we had been in the past. Dave was the radio voice of University of Illinois-Chicago mens basketball from 1997-2005 and has also done some television play-by-play for the Flames. Letsgetstarted. Her professional career began as a web reporter with the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever. During the baseball offseason, Rich handles college basketball play-by-play duties on ESPN Networks. Celebrating another milestone for the voice of the @RaysBaseball!Dewayne Staats will call the 7,000th game of his remarkable career tonight! 13 Miami, Editorial Cartoons for Saturday and Sunday from Times Wire Services, Pasco man used fraudulent ID in attempt to purchase 2 Mercedes, deputies say, DeSantis, Warren and the rule of law | Editorial, Jasmins journey: Wimauma girl makes profound recovery after tragic crash, Mailers from mystery backers attack council critics of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, Theres an interesting reason Rays shuffled their locker assignments. He and his wife, Carla, support a number of causes, including military combat veterans via their 501(c)(3) charity W.A.R. NFL - Bills' Damar Hamlin released . "You thought things were crazy with (former owner Vince) Naimoli. They had every ounce of me. Austen called Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love "a little bitch" several times, noted she "didn't even know Mexicans were that smart" and said the "Chinese guy is always the smartest guy in math class.". He did say there are a couple guys running teams he wouldnt say who that he appreciates and respects for having the kind of strong balance between the old and the new that he finds appealing. He began his major league play-by-play career as the radio and TV voice of the Astros from 1977-84, then for the Cubs from 1985-89. Tricia Whitaker is widely respected in the industry, in the Rays organization, among Rays players, and by the fans but not, evidently, by her employer. Its always nice and then well get a week in and you get over playing games that dont count, he said. The Tampa Bay Rays are currently playing the Baltimore Orioles in a four-game series. They also have a dog named Charlie Brown. But Maddon made it clear in a phone conversation Friday night that he does not miss the game or at least not the analytics-driven, front office-run version it has become in most places and would have to find an absolutely correct situation to manage again. Should T-shirts be allowed on The Villages golf courses? Emily Austen has been fired by Fox Sports for making racist comments in an interview on Barstool Sports. It's the first spring no-hitter since March 24, 2017, when In 1975-76 he was sports director at KPLR TV in St. Louis and received an Emmy nomination. Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? The first Tampa Bay Rays game of the year takes place on Saturday, February 24th, Tyler Glasnow to miss start of season with oblique injury. Douglas Michael Waechter (born January 28, 1981) is an American former professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Florida Marlins and Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball. Theres a lot of things that need to be improved there, Maddon said. Doug is a St. Petersburg native and graduate of Northeast High School. Couch said he is the fourth member of the event production staff to be fired, including producer Becky Shultz. [6][7], On September 29, 2019, it was announced by the Astros that they had extended Kalas contract through the end of the 2021 season, along with that of his TV-broadcasting sidekick, color-man Geoff Blum.[8][9]. 1975Announcer, Assiniboia Downs, Winnipeg, Manitoba. So its all good. Itll be a lengthy spring but there should be some excitement with some youth and the unknown of guys playing some different positions that will keep us more engaged., #Rays planned lineup for Friday opener vs. #Phillies, but things can change: pic.twitter.com/iebZeiFozb. Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) March 2, 2023. Andy was also the voice of the Double-A Trenton Thunder (Red Sox) for five seasons (1996-2000) and was inducted into the Trenton Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018. I still text with a lot of the players, I text with a lot of the staff. He received the Alexis Arguello Award, given to the top sports figures in Nicaragua, and the Nicaraguan Sportswriters Association Award for his accomplishments in the world of sports during the 2016 season. And all of a sudden, you're not good enough. Staats last year called the 7,000th game of a career that started in 1977 with Houston. FanSided.com FanSided MLB Sites That could include taking a family summer trip that previously had been unworkable, and even more since a son-in-law is former big-league reliever Dan Wheeler, who played through the 2013 season. NFL - Cardinals fire HC Kliff Kingsbury, GM Steve Keim to step away. Andys baseball radio career began as a broadcast assistant with the Orioles flagship station WBAL conducting postgame interviews for all home games during the 1990-93 seasons. Infielder Matt Duffy is going to be out a couple days in a preventative measure after feeling tightness in his left hamstring during baserunning drills Wednesday. Carson Williams excited for 2023. I thought I deserved better.". So it just kind of grew out of one of those conversations.. That would mean one, or a combination, from the group of Bally pregame host Rich Hollenberg, and radio broadcasters Andy Freed, Neil Solondz and Dave Wills. This makes that look stable. I carried a lot of water for this franchise when they've had very bad baseball teams. He is the subject of the award-winning 2009 documentary Henry O!, filmed by Boston-based Rosemont Productions during the 2007 season. Im excited about the opportunity to call games for one of the most underrated teams in baseball and cant wait to watch the Rays in action this season, he said in a release. Check back soon for information about Red Sox broadcasters! This week, the sitting US High Noon has just announced a brand new tequila seltzer and heres where you can buy a pack. The tense thriller Fall gripped audiences last year with its epic heights and intense plot of two women stranded on top of a radio tower, Lego has announced some new sets for Disneys 100th anniversary including 18 adorable collectable minifigures. They reside in Houston. Transaction. Buck Martinez returns for a 12th season in the broadcast booth after returning to the Blue Jays for the first time since managing the club in 2002. The veteran play-by-play announcer, who started during the teams 1998 inaugural season, will cut back his workload, missing 20-30 games. [DIRK SHADD | TIMES | Tampa Bay Times], Theres an interesting reason Rays shuffled their locker assignments, Rays face Braves with Shane McClanahan on the mound today, Photos: Rays back at Trop in spring game against Twins, Rays spring opener at Twins, 1:05 p.m. today, Top prospect Taj Bradley, Rays take on Red Sox today, Rays Tyler Glasnow sustains oblique injury during practice, Why Rays Drew Rasmussen will slow down this spring. CF Kevin Kiermaier elected free agency. He is a part of the University of South Florida basketball radio broadcast team. The mayor of Park College City submitted Find out how much tickets are for Post Malones just-announced UK tour in May 2023. Carson Williams speaks on his excitement to start the season, improving his game . By contrast, Baltimore Orioles sideline reporter Melanie Newman will be part of the broadcast. Dewayne has also handled play-by-play for FOX Sports national baseball coverage. These guys cant do it alone, obviously. PORT CHARLOTTE Fox Sports broadcaster Kevin Burkhardt will join the Rays TV crew this season. He moved to Tampa Bay as sports director at Vision Cable in Clearwater. Baltimore Orioles Baltimore Boston Red Sox Boston New York Yankees NY Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Tampa Bay Toronto Blue Jays Toronto. He also said his unexpected June 7 firing as Angels manager, with a 27-29 record amid a 12-game losing streak, ended his relationship with the organization he called home for 33 years, including his first 30 before returning as manager in 2020. Its always about the inability of coaches and managers to get the best out of a player. Staats, 66, said he was fine with the move, and has no plans to step down anytime soon, having been with the Rays since their 1998 inception. He also appeared as a regular contributor on Solamente Pelota (Only Baseball) on SiriusXM, hosted his own show on WQBN 1300 AM and has been a guest analyst on USF Spanish broadcasts and on baseball broadcasts and talk shows in Managua, Nicaragua. Freed is a graduate of Towson State (Md.) But he wouldnt take just any job, given his disdain for how many teams are currently structured, insisting on having mutual trust with his boss You just cant shut it down because you go through a losing streak, he said and a commonality of purpose. He remains one of three Rays players born in St. Petersburg, along with Casey Kotchman and Ryan Weber. He began his play-by-play career with the St. Lucie Mets of the Class-A Florida State League in 1994-95. The Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez drama has resurfaced again in 2023 and many are talking about their matching G tattoos. He delivered the keynote address at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blinds 100th commencement in May 2014. Baltimore Orioles Baltimore Boston Red Sox Boston New York Yankees NY Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Tampa Bay Toronto Blue Jays Toronto. Rays were fearless on the bases in 2022. Hebron grad makes the big leagues as announcer for the Tampa Bay Rays", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Andy_Freed&oldid=1096397783, This page was last edited on 4 July 2022, at 06:48. 40-Man Roster; Non-Roster Invitees; Depth Chart; Coaches; Red Sox Top 30 Prospects; Starting Lineups; Transactions; Injury Updates; Draft . 26, 2023 DRaysBay Community Prospect List No. Neil attended Rutgers University, where he received a bachelors degree in English. Its not just bright, shiny objects they have that. He joinedthe Rays after serving as the voice of the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox for four seasons. Im not angry. So were good to go.. pic.twitter.com/OOV1XaGTSW. Brian spent 13 seasons pitching in the majors with the Angels, Indians, Royals and Diamondbacks, and was a member of the latters 2001 World Champion team. (Warriors at Rest). It doesnt make me feel better, it doesnt make me feel worse, Maddon said. Unfortunately, the regional sports network that carries Rays broadcasts Bally Sports denied Rays fans from seeing their local woman broadcaster honored as well, per the Tampa Bay Times: The historic game could have had more of a local angle, as Rays in-game reporter Tricia Whitaker was invited to be part of the crew but was not allowed due to Bally Sports Sun rules. She was not speaking on behalf of FOX Sports, nor do we condone any of the statements she made in the video. Melanie Newman, Sarah Langs, Alanna Rizzo, Heidi Watney and Lauren Gardner spoke to @LesterHoltNBC ahead of their history-making broadcast of the Baltimore Orioles-Tampa Bay Rays game. In 2017, Doug and his Bally Sports Sun crew won a Suncoast Sports Emmy Award for "Demo Day," a one-time special program that aired during a Rays home game. He has two daughters, Stephanie Wheeler and Alexandra, and three grandchildren: Gabriel, 16; Zachary, 13; and Evie, 10. Thats something that should be done. It will be the first time in MLB history where the broadcasters for a game are all women. Greg joined the BallparkDJ team in February of 2019. Columnist John Romano will send the latest Rays insights and analysis to keep you updated weekly during the season. [3], "Tampa Bay Rays sign radio announcer Dave Wills to three-year extension - Tampa Bay Times", "Andy Freed - Discover Towson - Towson University", "Mt. Dewayne began his baseball career as the radio voice of the Oklahoma City 89ers (1973-74). Did the decision come from Bally Sports or Sinclair Media? Tampa Bay's own Rays Baseball Announcer, Orestes Destrade joins us to talk about hte upcoming season for the Rays and what . In his first major league start, on Sep 3, 2003 at Tropicana Field, he pitched a 2-hit shutout against the Mariners. Or was the decision made in order to distance Sinclair Media from an event that celebrates an historic accomplishment by women, and therefore toes the line too close to feminism? Tricia Whitaker is widely respected in the industry, in the Rays organization, among Rays players, and by the fans but not, evidently, by her employer. They reside in Lutz. Im not lamenting anything. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. When people keep blaming the dugout for a lot of the things theyre seeing, they need to understand they shouldnt be doing that, he said. He also broadcast for The College of New Jersey football and Baltimore Spirit soccer. He spent a number of years as a national reporter for NFL Network as well. Two former Rays outfielders with Tampa roots, Denard Span (who also serves as a special assistant in baseball operations) and Matt Joyce, are being added to work 25-30 games each as analysts. List of Tampa Bay Rays broadcasters Broadcasters for the Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball team. Sports Extra" for WTVT FOX-13 from 1996-98, the in-arena voice for the Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Bay Storm from 19992002 and a host for a variety of other regional programs. Columnist John Romano will send the latest Rays insights and analysis to keep you updated weekly during the season. Toward the end of the session, Barstool's Dan Katz told Austen, "We might have to hire you because you're going to get fired.". LAKE BUENA VISTA Dewayne Staats is looking forward to extending his run as the primary TV voice of the Rays for a 26th season and has no plans to retire any time soon. Neil begins his 10th season on the Rays Baseball Network as host of the pre- and postgame shows, This Week in Rays Baseball, fill-in play-by-play voice and studio analyst. Odds & lines subject to change. Torre declined comment. He was also selected by the Diamondbacks as their first pick in the 1997 Expansion Draft. 2023 DRaysBay Community Prospect List No. I feel like Im on summer vacation out of Lafayette College. After his father Harry's death on April 13, 2009, Todd, along with his younger brothers Brad and Kane, threw out the first pitch at the first home game in Philadelphia four days later. He spent six years in the majors with the Devil Rays, Marlins and Royals and 11 seasons overall in professional baseball. Kalas worked on Fox Sports Florida and Sun Sports in his primary role as pregame and postgame host and in-game reporter, and also substituted as color commentator when needed. Columnist John Romano will send the latest Rays insights and analysis to keep you updated weekly during the season. The network planned to do something similar in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused a major disruption. 40-Man Roster Depth Chart Non-Roster Invitees Coaches Top 30 Prospects Transactions Front Office Broadcasters Player Search Pronunciation Guide Minor League Affiliates. Freed and his wife Amy have three children named Sarah, Casey, and Madeline. New rules could make them more aggressive. Meaning, it has to be a balance, it just cant be lopsided analytically. Prior to being selected out of high school by the Devil Rays in the third round of the 1999 Amateur Draft, he had signed a letter of intent to play football at the University of South Florida. Melanie Newman, Sarah Langs, Alanna Rizzo, Heidi Watney and Lauren Gardner spoke to @LesterHoltNBC ahead of their history-making broadcast of the Baltimore Orioles-Tampa Bay Rays game. He also anchored the pre- and post- game shows for Notre Dame football and basketball, and served as co-host of the Kevin White Show while with ESPN Radio 1000 (Chicago). Dewayne has also handled play-by-play for FOX Sports national baseball coverage. Television [ edit] Play by Play [ edit] Dewayne Staats (1998-present) Todd Kalas (1998-2016) Rich Hollenberg (2014-present) Kevin Burkhardt (2019-present) Color Commentary [ edit] Joe Magrane (1998-2008) Kevin Kennedy (2009-2010) [1] Theres no anything. PLAY-BY-PLAY ANNOUNCER. "You've been there 10 years, you think you'd get a better deal. Staats did all the road games last year, as the crews were trying to make up for the missed time. I think this was a function of them finding a guy. Doug begins his seventh season providing in-depth pitching analysis as a member of Bally Sports Suns pre- and postgame shows. That the Angels are heading to an eighth straight season of missing the playoffs and seventh straight losing record, despite having one of the games best players in Mike Trout and another in Shohei Ohtani (the past five seasons) is strange and frustrating, Maddon said.