Mendoza, A.F. Boone replace Schilling, Kruk

E5 Yaz

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Jessica Mendoza has been named as one of the voices of ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball coverage, joining newcomer Aaron Boone and play-by-play man Dan Shulman in the booth.

Mendoza, a former Olympic softball star, joined the Sunday Night booth late last season after Curt Schilling was suspended. She seized the opportunity and was rewarded Wednesday when the network announced its new team.

Schilling moves to Monday Night Baseball, and John Kruk returns to "Baseball Tonight."

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14560502/jessica-mendoza-joins-sunday-night-baseball-full
 

Buzzkill Pauley

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I read the headline and immediately thought Ramiro Mendoza would be paired with Aaron Boone in their booth next year, allowing ESPN to salute Red Sox with both middle fingers.
 

Hee Sox Choi

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Kruk was a neanderthal. I like Mendoza. In real news, THE HAWK's schedule for the White Sox has been trimmed down! Grab some bench, Hawk! MERCY!
 

glennhoffmania

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I like Schilling in the booth. Kruk is useless. I don't really like Mendoza or Boone but my expectations for ESPN are so low that I guess the choices aren't too bad.
 

HangingW/ScottCooper

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There is nothing wrong with Mendoza and Boone, but I think this is a step backwards in quality for a step forward in political correctness. ESPN is now in the business of not losing sponsors.
 

Al Zarilla

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Mendoza is boring and Boone has an annoying nasal voice. I liked both Schill and Kruk; Schill for the great analysis and Kruk for OK analysis and some humor. This sucks as far as I'm concerned.

Guess I'll be watching Monday Night Baseball because of Schill more than Sunday next year.
 

grimshaw

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Boone is actually a pretty solid upgrade over Kruk in that he probably wants to be there. I haven't heard Mendoza.
I barely watch those broadcasts anymore anyhow.
 

joe dokes

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There is nothing wrong with Mendoza and Boone, but I think this is a step backwards in quality for a step forward in political correctness. ESPN is now in the business of not losing sponsors.
It is not "political correctness" to be worried about losing sponsors. (It's also not "political correctness" in a thousand other ways, but those run far beyond a media thread).
 

timlinin8th

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Is that really the best ESPN can do? I mean, I would never tune into Sunday Night Baseball with Schilling and Kruk to catch just two random teams because while Schilling has knowledge of the game I never liked how he presented it, and while I'd chuckle at Kruk occasionally its was in more of a "I'd grab a beer with this guy but he's not who I want on my baseball broadcast" way. I'll admit I don't know Mendoza enough to really comment but Boone does nothing for me.

I'm tired of the trend of bringing in ex-players to be broadcasters. Give me a guy with decent knowledge of the game, a set of pipes and exceptional command of the English language (which most of these ex-players do not have).
 
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It is not "political correctness" to be worried about losing sponsors. (It's also not "political correctness" in a thousand other ways, but those run far beyond a media thread).
Hey now, let's be real, the only reasons you'd give a woman a job are (A) looks, (B) it doesn't require them using their brain, or (C) out of pity / charity. It's not like they'd be qualified or good at it or something.

...sarcasm aside, I imagine sponsors care first, second and third about the number of people watching (fourth about the demographics thereof), and the announcers have fairly little influence on that unless they're obvious screw-ups. Mendoza is certainly a downgrade from Kruk in terms of name-recognition, so ESPN is probably either taking a bet that (A) she's enough smarter than Kruk that audiences will quickly appreciate her, or (B) her presence expands the demographics of their audience enough, and favorably so, to make up for that familiarity gap.

Haven't heard much from Boone, but I'll miss Schilling because when he's talking baseball I actually learn something.
 

Granite Sox

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Boone's analysis is actually pretty good, and he communicates in a way that is digestible to knowledgeable as well as casual fans. It's his pipes that fail him. Mendoza is very generic, i.e. nothing stands out good or bad about her insight or views.

Kruk's role was always "see ball, hit ball, smoke cigarette, eat hot dog", but he didn't really offend me. I liked him in that role as a self-aware ex-jock. Schill is Schill... don't think I'll miss him on Sunday, but I do like some of his takes.
 

E5 Yaz

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Kruk's always been better in the studio, anyway. His "everyman" routine plays better there