BoSox Injection had the pleasure of interviewing Dan Shulman, the voice of ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, to discuss the Boston Red Sox & the New York Yankees.
It’s vital for the voice doing the play-by-plays of any sports broadcast, whether by radio or television, to capture every moment with just the right balance of emotion, professionalism, and clarity of the event’s importance. Fans don’t want to listen to a voice that makes them think of doing their taxes; however, they also don’t want it to sound sloppy and immature, like an awkward teenager’s first passionate kiss, either. Each call from the booth may, potentially, be words that fans will want to relive forever, encapsulating the very event that had brought them so much joy.
Red Sox fans have had play-by-plays done by the likes of Don Orsillo, Sean McDonough, Dave O’Brien, Curt Gowdy, and a host of others, all attempting to bring some semblance of reality and importance to the events happening in ballparks across North America.
Being Canadian, I heard the likes of the vocal icon Bob Cole bring the true meaning of hockey’s magic into my living room. I heard the passion in Tom Cheek’s voice, his heart leaping into his very throat, as he told Toronto Blue Jays legend Joe Carter to touch all of the bases because he would never hit a bigger home run in his life than the one he hit to win the 1993 World Series. I continue to hear the stoic pride in Jerry Howarth’s voice, as he paints a baseball tapestry every time that I listen to the radio, during clashes between the Red Sox and the Blue Jays. However, for many fans of multiple sports in Canada, ESPN’s Dan Shulman is the voice we grew up with and look forward to hearing any time he takes the microphone.
One of Shulman’s present partners on the mic, former MLB player Aaron Boone, whom I interviewed back in May, stated that the 49-year-old Canadian announcer, “no matter the sport, is one of the best play-by-play announcers around.” From football, to college and professional basketball, to even the 1994 Olympic hockey games in Lillehammer, Norway, Shulman knows how to call a game because he knows what he sees on the court, on the ice, and on the field.
Shulman, winner of the 2011 National Sportscaster Of The Year award, was the first Canadian-born announcer to receive the honour, and it was my honour to have an interview him about the Red Sox and New York Yankees series starting the second half of the MLB season. Specifically Sunday night’s game, considering Shulman is the voice of ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.
Regarding the Red Sox rivalry with the Yankees, I didn’t want to ask the popular and overused question like how it has been asked countless times before: why is the rivalry so special to baseball fans? I decided to ask Shulman if he had a different take on the rivalry because of growing up as a Canadian. I learned right away, however, how much baseball transcends nationalities, because Shulman was quick to say, “I don’t have any difference in perspective because I’m Canadian, but the rivalry over the years has meant so much to the baseball world that it’s always going to be something special.”
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In terms of the last decade, Shulman also pointed out that while many fans enjoy the history of the rivalry, and rightfully so, “the two teams haven’t been as successful at the same time for a number of years.” The Red Sox and Yankees have flipped the balance of power to each other multiple times, making it “still a great rivalry,” but that there are many rivalries involving other MLB teams that are just as good to watch at present.
When asked about Sunday night’s game, with David Price pitching for Boston, Shulman sounded optimistic about fans “starting to see the real David Price,” based on some of his recent starts. In his last game, Price blanked his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays for eight innings, allowing just four hits while striking out 10 batters. He matched that strikeout total in the previous two games, as well.
Not to be forgotten, the Yankees begin a 10-game homestand, which has them face three teams that have better records than them: the Red Sox, the Baltimore Orioles, and the San Francisco Giants. When asked about how New York will approach this challenge, Shulman said that it would “definitely be a tough test for them,” and that “we’ll really see what are made of.” Being 7.5 games back in the American League East division and 5.5 games back in the wild card race, the Yankees need to find out if they will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, and the success of this homestand will impact that decision.
The Red Sox have a chance to help the Yankees make that decision a bit quicker, and Sandy Leon‘s bat may be part of that equation. “I’ve got to give credit for playing the hot hand,” was what Shulman expressed about the catching situation in Boston. He mentioned the many changes that have happened this season with the starting catcher role, and how Boston has been unafraid to do what they think is right to earn more wins. In 19 games, Leon has hit .455 with a .500 on-base percentage, while young Christian Vazquez was sent to Triple-A after playing for Boston in 51 games and hitting .226 with a .278 OBP this season. Backup catcher Ryan Hanigan has hit .189 with a .250 OBP in 23 games.
In recent years, it has seemed customary for any Yankees discussion to, at least, have a mentioning of Alex Rodriguez. CBSNew York noted a few days ago that “A-Rod is reportedly spending his All-Star break fielding ground balls. The 40-year-old, a shortstop and third baseman before shifting to DH, played two games at first base last season, committing one error.”
I requested Shulman’s thoughts on the subject, asking if he saw any similarity to the situation in Boston involving Hanley Ramirez, a former All-Star shortstop who made the transition to first base, after multiple injuries and poor play at the six-spot on defense dictated a change. Ramirez has reaped the benefits, earning a .995 fielding percentage at first base, after a .969 FPCT and an infamous shoulder-plant into a foul wall as Boston’s left fielder last season. Shulman answered, “The difference is Hanley knew it was coming before the season started.” The ESPN announcer said that he was going to ask Yankees manager Joe Girardi about the possibility of A-Rod playing first base, as he was sure many other reporters would do the same; however, he also added, “ can field as many ground balls as he wants, but it doesn’t mean Girardi will start him there.”
It’s worth noting that the CBS article also reported Girardi saying, “I tried last year, and it didn’t work out […] It’s something that we could talk about, but I think you look at the position that he could possibly play, and it would be first base. That would be it. We’ve been running [Rob Refsnyder] out there for right now. It’s something we could definitely look at, but we haven’t.” Girardi hasn’t said that the idea is impossible, and neither did Shulman, but it also seems premature to make any assumptions that just because Rodriguez has decided to practice first base that he’s going to start there any time soon.
Wrapping up the discussion, the question of David Ortiz arose, as if anyone could leave him out of any conversation involving the Red Sox lately. Shulman addressed his respect for what Big Papi has accomplished this season, let alone his entire career. “The doubles alone,” which stands at an ironic 34, Ortiz’s jersey number, had Shulman expressing how the face of the Red Sox franchise has had “an incredible performance” in his final season, thus far. Ortiz also leads the team in home runs (22), RBIs (72), batting average (.332), OBP (.426), and slugging percentage (.682). Not bad for a 40-year-old veteran on the verge of retirement.
From “what he’s done for the city of Boston,” with his famous speech on the mound during the Boston Strong movement, to “all of the latin players who’re in the majors and back home,” Shulman believed that Ortiz’s legacy has impacted so many people over his long career.
Shulman’s own legacy is also one for the ages, although he’s by no means close to retirement. From calling Barry Bonds‘ 754th home run to teaming up with basketball icon Hubie Brown for NBA broadcasts, it’s been a long road from the days of doing play-by-play calls for the Mustangs football team at the University of Western Ontario. Now, Shulman even has baseball legends coming to visit him:
Great visiting with Joe Carter last inning @MLBonESPNRadio pic.twitter.com/COsIm0Hoq6
— Dan Shulman (@DShulman_ESPN) October 20, 2015
Hopefully, it will be a long time before Shulman contemplates retirement. He’s one of the best at his job because, much like he handled our interview, he brings the right balance of passion and professionalism. He is very clear about defining the importance and relevance of any sports issue. Is it any wonder that, before he became a famous sports announcer, Shulman graduated with a diploma in actuarial science, the study of statistical methods to assess risk in finance? He has a keen eye for determining the material moments in any baseball game, not just the championship, and emphasizes them with poetic fluency that locks in fans’ memories forever.
Hopefully for the city of Boston, Shulman will have a chance to show off that same balance in their favour at Yankee Stadium on Sunday night.
** Here are coverage details of the game between the Red Sox and the Yankees on Sunday, July 17th:
7 p.m. ET – Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown presented by Chevrolet
- ESPN, WatchESPN
- Karl Ravech, Dallas Braden, Tim Kurkjian
8 p.m. ET – Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees presented by Taco Bell
- ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes TV, ESPN Deportes Radio
- Dan Shulman, Aaron Boone, Jessica Mendoza, Buster Olney