SportsNet LA should ‘Manningcast’ Dodgers games

The Dodgers recently added an entire posse of names to their broadcast team. But using the same old format is a failure for the fans. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers are hiring more broadcasters. This move may signal the loss of current lead Joe Davis due to Joe Buck’s departure from Fox — or, at least, a lessening of his role. The move also opens an opportunity for SportsNet LA to change their current format.

The Dodgers recently added Adrian Gonzalez, Eric Karros, Jessica Mendoza, Jose Mota and Dontrelle Willis to the broadcast team. On the surface, this will add a variety of voices due to the variety of backgrounds.

This is a good move in that it keeps the perspectives fresh for Dodgers fans listening or watching games. But it fails to capitalize on the recent change in broadcast format implemented by ESPN. Yes, I am talking about the Manningcast.

Dodgers should add Manningcast to the broadcast rotation

The Manningcast was an experiment by ESPN in which brothers Peyton and Eli Manning would “broadcast” the Monday Night Football games. Instead of the traditional “commentator plus former athlete color commentator” model, the Mannings held football conversations like fans watching a game with friends at a bar.

The difference from a traditional broadcast was that ESPN gave the Mannings total control over the format. Instead of announcing play by play as if one could not see it on the TV, they gave a longer and more in-depth analysis of the plays. They would openly discuss strategy before the play. They even discussed the process of audibling at the line of scrimmage. For the fans, this was a window into the world of NFL football. But the best part of the broadcast was watching the two brothers make fun of each other like good friends do.

Former Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Kendall wrote a fascinating book titled Throwback: A Big-League Catcher Tells How the Game is Really Played. In the book, Kendall explains how catchers call games, how pitchers signal pitches and how moves are made late in games. It is a window into the game that that average fan does not access.

What if, instead of having to read Kendall’s book to get that information, it was right in your living room night after night? Imagine Karros and Mendoza discussing hitting at an in-depth level. Or Adrian Gonzalez and Dontrelle Willis discussing thoughts behind a pitcher-hitter matchup, each giving insight to how a pitcher or hitter approaches an at-bat.

Such a broadcast would be perfect for a fan looking to dive deeper. This broadcast would not have to displace the traditional model fans are familiar with, but it could be an alternate option for fans wanting a more in-depth and less formal approach.

At this point, SportsNet LA has the ability to put very good athletes with significant knowledge of the game in a room and let them go at it. They could start this style of broadcast on high viewer nights and big games.

Every exit is an opportunity. SportsNet LA has a great opportunity in front of it. Should they capitalize, the fans would be the big winners.

Dodgers add overload of famous names to announcing team

The Los Angeles Dodgers have named several famous faces to their 2022 MLB broadcast team, highlighted by Adrian Gonzalez and Eric Karros.