Right idea, wrong guy.
That was my first thought when seeing the news of Alex Rodriguez’s new ManningCast-style show for the 2022 baseball season.
The premise (an ex-player watching the game with fans in an informal broadcast with guests and breakdowns) is great. The Peyton and Eli Manning alternate Monday Night Football broadcast has been the simplest, yet smartest sports media innovation in a long time. It was just a matter until the other big sports followed suit.
Yet, it shouldn’t be Rodriguez.
And this is coming from someone who’s always liked and appreciated Rodriguez’s storytelling, baseball memory bank and knowledge of the game more than most. But even I can acknowledge this fact: A-Rod isn’t likable, and comes across as phony to many fans. That doesn’t work on a show like this. It can work as a color analyst. It can work as a studio guy. But if you’re asking fans to virtually hang out with you for hours while the game is the side attraction, likability matters.
Which is exactly why another former Yankees star, CC Sabathia, should have been ESPN’s choice.
Yes, Sabathia is a little rougher around the edges. Yes, the dump button may have been needed for FCC violations early on in the season. But Sabathia is more likable, can bring a pitchers perspective (something a broadcast like this could use, similar to the Mannings breaking down quarterback play with a keen eye), and would likely have more natural fun with guests from the past and present of the sport.
Plus, Sabathia’s post-playing media experience (R2C2 with broadcaster Ryan Ruocco) is a better training ground for this project than anything Rodriguez has done on camera at ESPN or FOX Sports.
Rodriguez and Michael Kay feel like a square peg in a round ESPN hole. Sabathia and Ruocco would have been a natural and seamless transition.
Perhaps ESPN went for the easy choice, and hope for something decent. They could have gone outside the box and hit a home run. I’ll be shocked if Rodriguez’s show has half the success or buzz as the ManningCast, even when you factor baseball’s popularity vs. the NFL.
If (or when) it fails, Sabathia should get the next chance at it.
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Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com
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