Top 5 MLB Network Personalities

[Omar 382]

Such a great network, with a lot of great minds (and a lot of stupid ones). Here's my top 5 regulars on MLB Network in order from least favorite to favorite:

5. Ken Rosenthal

He always seems to break news first, and I think he's a pretty likable guy.
4. Dan Plesac

Funny guy who doesn't take himself too seriously. He's not great with statistics, but he still gives an informed opinion
3. Eric Byrnes

Just an overall good guy- high personality. I enjoy listening to him.
2. Mark DeRosa

Of all the former players, he's my favorite. He's like the perfect mix: he knows statistics, he's a former player, and he's just hilarious. I love all his nicknames, my favorite being "Klubot" for Corey Kluber.
1. Brian Kenny

I like advanced statistics. So does he. But even though he's their network's "stat head," he's not even truly a pure stat head (and neither am I). He does understand that intangibles exist in baseball; he just uses quantifiable measurements in every other instance.

 

[Villain]

I never really gave DeRosa much thought as a player, absolutely love him on TV. He's exactly what I want from former players. Don't be a know-it-all, be entertaining. I also like Kevin Millar, even if he has a bit too much in common with Guy Fieri at times. He's not making fun of nerds, he's just staying within his limits and being fun with the players and personalities that they interview. Also, any of the stuff they show of Millar at home with his kids is awesome.

Brian Kenny is fine but he sometimes gets too much credit for being the stat guy on MLBN. Like, I've seen him involved with SABR panels sitting next to Bill James, and that just seems silly. He's not a stat guy, he's a TV who has adapted into a stat-advocate role. I don't mean that to disparage him, because he does his job well, I just don't see him at home with stat sheets and calculators. I do think Kenny deserves a lot of credit for how well he has jumped into the deep end with advanced statistics and how well he has performed on TV with ignoramuses like Harold Reynolds.

Matt Vasgersian can be a bit egotistical at times, but all-in-all I like what he does and I think he does a decent job doing play-by-play. I'm also a sucker for "iSANTA MARIA!"

I would add Alanna Rizzo, but we stole her and she lives on SportNetLA covering the Dodgers. She does a fantastic job. Excellent interviews. She's got rapport with the whole team. Honestly, she's the only sideline reporter (outside of maybe Rosenthal) who actually adds something to the broadcast. She's kinda like the 4th man in the booth when Vin Scully isn't calling the game. I've never yelled "shut up" at the TV when they've gone to her (but I have with Orel Hershiser many times).

 

[Omar 382]

I never really gave DeRosa much thought as a player, absolutely love him on TV. He's exactly what I want from former players. Don't be a know-it-all, be entertaining. I also like Kevin Millar, even if he has a bit too much in common with Guy Fieri at times. He's not making fun of nerds, he's just staying within his limits and being fun with the players and personalities that they interview. Also, any of the stuff they show of Millar at home with his kids is awesome.

Brian Kenny is fine but he sometimes gets too much credit for being the stat guy on MLBN. Like, I've seen him involved with SABR panels sitting next to Bill James, and that just seems silly. He's not a stat guy, he's a TV who has adapted into a stat-advocate role. I don't mean that to disparage him, because he does his job well, I just don't see him at home with stat sheets and calculators. I do think Kenny deserves a lot of credit for how well he has jumped into the deep end with advanced statistics and how well he has performed on TV with ignoramuses like Harold Reynolds.

Matt Vasgersian can be a bit egotistical at times, but all-in-all I like what he does and I think he does a decent job doing play-by-play. I'm also a sucker for "iSANTA MARIA!"

I would add Alanna Rizzo, but we stole her and she lives on SportNetLA covering the Dodgers. She does a fantastic job. Excellent interviews. She's got rapport with the whole team. Honestly, she's the only sideline reporter (outside of maybe Rosenthal) who actually adds something to the broadcast. She's kinda like the 4th man in the booth when Vin Scully isn't calling the game. I've never yelled "shut up" at the TV when they've gone to her (but I have with Orel Hershiser many times).

I like Vasgersian. I can pass on Millar. Actually, he's ok on MLB Tonight, but I just hate that stupid Intentional Talk show. I agree about Kenny- he himself hasn't invented any new statistics, but he has adopted that role (probably on direction from on high) and I find he actually knows what he's talking about. The worst are Pedro, Harold Reynolds, and Smoltz I'm not huge on- but he's not awful. I have come to grudgingly like Bill Ripken. I just love that whole network- they all do such a great job in being able to cover non- Boston, New York, and LA teams (and on the flip side- they don't do a whole 180 and just ignore those guys. They truly are fair to everyone).

What's your favorite program they have? MLB NOW makes my 4 PM's on the weekdays, and you can't beat Quick Pitch at night. Also, Hot Stove is surprisingly very entertaining and enlightening. I like to watch it at my gym on this machine called the Arc Trainer (I haven't been to the gym in a while because I've been so busy, but come summer I'll probably be watching every day).

 

[The Q]

Byrne's voice is just raking.

I do like odowd as well.

 

[Omar 382]

Byrne's voice is just raking.

I do like odowd as well.

Yeah, he's not my favorite with his voice and mannerisms, but he also knows what he's saying most of the time

 

[Villain]

I don't like Smoltz at all. He's too smug and condescending for how little he says in terms of enlightening comments.

I agree on Dan O'Dowd. He's a good guy.

I like MLB Central in the morning, if I'm awake for it (it comes on a 7am on the West Coast). It's a nice, harmless morning show with some fun segments.

Intentional Talk doesn't bug me, even if it's leaning a little too much towards the frat boy audience. Rose and Millar have enough self-deprecating chemistry to make it work, and their interviews with players are always good stuff. I loved when Michael Young put tape on AJ Ellis' nipples.

Dodgers’ A.J. Ellis, with his nipples taped up and bemoaning Mattingly’s bunt signs | Farther Off the Wall

 

[calsnowskier]

Byrnes grew up a huge Giants fan and he kept that throughout his playing career, which is kinda odd seeing as he never actually played for the Giants. I cannot name another former player who rides the cock of a team he never played for more than him. That is kinda weird...

 

[Villain]

I never thought I'd say it, but I like Jeremy Affeldt when he's on. I didn't recognize him one morning and I was like "who is this guy? He's pretty cool." Then they started asking about his playing days and I was like sonofabitch!

 

[calsnowskier]

I never thought I'd say it, but I like Jeremy Affeldt when he's on. I didn't recognize him one morning and I was like "who is this guy? He's pretty cool." Then they started asking about his playing days and I was like sonofabitch!

I didn't realize he did work for MLB as well. I knew he has been doing a lot for CSNBA, though. He will be successful in his post-playing career. He is a natural in front of the camera.

 

[The Derski]

Questionable thread. Kind of off topic but Byrnes is absolutely jacked for a retired player. Ripped as fuck.

 

[The Q]

Looking forward to when they add A-rod.

he really made himself a lot of money during the playoffs...without even having to play in them.