Connect with us
Jim Cutler Demos

Sports TV News

Carlos Beltran Joining YES Network Broadcast Analyst Rotation

Beltran is expected to call 36 games, which should make up the difference from David Cone’s reduced schedule on Yankees telecasts.

Avatar photo

Published

on

AP Photo

Carlos Beltran is returning to the New York Yankees… as a broadcaster. The 20-year major leaguer, who played for the Yankees from 2014 to 2016, is joining YES Network as a game analyst.

YES Network studio analyst Jack Curry reported the official news Friday evening:

As Curry mentioned, the New York Post’s Andrew Marchand first reported earlier in the month that YES Network was considering Beltran for an analyst gig along with Jeff Nelson, the just-retired Cameron Maybin, and John Flaherty (who already works for YES).

Beltran is expected to call 36 games, which should make up the difference from David Cone’s reduced schedule on Yankees telecasts. Cone is joining ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball booth this upcoming season and told reporters on a conference call that his workload would be pared down to 55 or 60 games from the 100 telecasts he called last season. YES also has to fill the opening left by Ken Singleton’s retirement. Flaherty and Paul O’Neill are also game analysts for the network.

Joining the YES Network broadcast team marks Beltran’s return to baseball after being fired as New York Mets manager before the 2020 season. Beltran was dismissed before he even managed a game for his key role in the Houston Astros’ 2017 sign-stealing scheme. (Those Astros defeated the Yankees in a seven-game American League Championship Series.)

Beltran will also be on the 2023 Hall of Fame ballot. A .279 career average with an .837 OPS, 2,725 hits, 435 home runs, 1,587 RBI, and 312 stolen bases give him a strong case for induction. (Those numbers include a .270 average, .797 OPS, 311 hits, 56 home runs, and 180 RBI in nearly three seasons with the Yankees.)

But will his association with the Astros’ cheating scandal cost him election, especially in his first year on the ballot? If Beltran draws praise as a broadcaster, showing insight and knowledge, that could help how he’s remembered. Strong work in the booth could possibly make him a managerial candidate again.

Sign up for the BSM 8@8

The Top 8 Sports Media Stories of the Day, sent directly to your inbox, every morning at 8am ET.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Sports TV News

Conflicting Reports Surface About Patrick Beverley, Ability to Appear on ESPN Studio Shows

Beverley was subject to criticism around the sports media industry for his actions after the Bucks’ season-ending loss to the Pacers on Thursday night.

Published

on

Patrick Beverley
Courtesy: Bill Streicher, USA TODAY Sports

After Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley declined to answer a question from and eventually directed ESPN producer Malinda Adams to leave postgame media availability on Thursday night, those in the sports media industry and beyond called him out for his unprofessional and unacceptable behavior. This occurred after Beverley asked Adams if she was subscribed to his Barstool Sports podcast, to which she replied that she was not. As a result, he informed her that he would not speak to her and soon thereafter said to remove her microphone from the media scrum.

Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports has reported that Beverley is banned from making guest appearances on ESPN studio shows, including Get Up and First Take, after he had appeared on programming during the NBA Playoffs last year. Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal, however, has cited a source close to the situation saying that this is not the case.

Beverley, who since apologized to Adams over the phone along with the Bucks organization, is also under investigation by the National Basketball Association surrounding an incident where he hurled a basketball in the direction of Pacers fans twice in the fourth quarter of the game while on the bench. From the moment these incidents occurred, Beverley has been criticized for his behavior and could face further repercussions depending on a decision from the league. The 12-year NBA veteran will be a free agent this summer upon the expiration of his contract.

Sign up for the BSM 8@8

The Top 8 Sports Media Stories of the Day, sent directly to your inbox, every morning at 8am ET.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Continue Reading

Sports TV News

Tom Ackerman to Once Again Back Up Chip Caray Calling St. Louis Cardinals Games

If the Cardinals are the superior team in the series, I may have some fun things to call…and make it as exciting as possible.”

Published

on

Photo of Tom Ackerman of KMOX in St. Louis
Credit: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Tom Ackerman, sports director at KMOX in St. Louis, will once again have the chance to call some St. Louis Cardinals games on Bally Sports Midwest. Ackerman called eight games last season as he filled in for primary play-by-play voice Chip Caray.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Ackerman will be on the call this weekend as the Cardinals host the Chicago White Sox for three games. Ackerman told the newspaper this is the only assignment he has on his calendar currently, but that he is ready if more games should come available.

Ackerman was asked about getting games with struggling teams as the White Sox come in sporting a 6-25 record on the year. He told the Post-Dispatch, “If the Cardinals are the superior team in the series, I may have some fun things to call…and make it as exciting as possible.”

Ackerman co-anchors the morning show on KMOX, Total Information A.M. The station is the radio flagship for the Cardinals. In year’s past, Ackerman has called Spring Training games, however, last season was his first doing regular season games.

Sign up for the BSM 8@8

The Top 8 Sports Media Stories of the Day, sent directly to your inbox, every morning at 8am ET.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Continue Reading

Sports TV News

Report: Michael Irvin Out at NFL Network; ‘NFL Total Access’ to End

“An NFL spokesperson said the league-wide cuts were made to ‘ensure the continued strength of our game and the business.'”

Published

on

Michael Irvin
Courtesy: Alika Jenner, Getty Images

As layoffs continue at NFL Network, Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post has reported NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin will not have his contract renewed. Irvin had been with the NFL Network since 2009.

Irvin had been a part of the network’s ‘NFL GameDay’ show, hosted by Rich Eisen, along with Kurt Warner and Steve Mariucci.

Irvin had been suspended by the network following misconduct accusations stemming from a brief encounter he had with a woman at a Phoenix hotel in February 2023. Irvin filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit in the matter, which was settled paving the way for Irvin to return last year.

Glasspiegel’s report also says the NFL Network’s ‘NFL Total Access’ show will have its final episode later this month. The show has been a part of NFL Network’s programming since 2003.

Earlier today, A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports had this report on his X account:

“The NFL concluded a round of layoffs over the last 24 hours, cuts that impacted some NFL Network employees. The league-owned cable channel is expected to have an altered programming schedule this upcoming season, sources told Front Office Sports. An NFL spokesperson said the league-wide cuts were made to ‘ensure the continued strength of our game and the business.'”

Last month, the NFL Network let go of Melissa Stark, Andrew Siciliano, James Palmer, and Will Selva.

Sign up for the BSM 8@8

The Top 8 Sports Media Stories of the Day, sent directly to your inbox, every morning at 8am ET.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Advertisement

Upcoming Events

Barrett Media Writers

Copyright © 2024 Barrett Media.