Sports Media World Weighs In on New ESPN ‘Sunday Night Baseball’ Crew and Debut of ESPN2 ‘KayRod’ Cast

With the 2022 Major League Baseball season just getting underway, Apr. 10 marked the season premiere of ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball.” Debuting on the main Sunday telecast were play-by-play announcer Karl Ravech and analysts Eduardo Perez and David Cone. Ravech and Perez had frequently appeared together for MLB coverage on ESPN and ESPN2 in recent seasons; Cone, the new ESPN acquisition, is a longtime analyst for the Yankees’ YES Network and had a brief stint with Fox Sports during the MLB playoffs.

The instant Twitter reaction for the new SNB trio from those in the sports media world was overwhelming positive, especially for Cone:

Yes, I am fully biased BUT….

This @karlravechespn / @dcone36 / @PerezEd broadcast is shaping up to be awesome.

Perfect mix of analytics, behind-the-scenes insight, and just calling the game.

— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) April 10, 2022

It’s been excellent. https://t.co/4AHIK0l9MU

— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) April 10, 2022

.@dcone36 is so good. Such a treat on #SundayNightBaseball

— Anish Shroff (@AnishESPN) April 11, 2022

For years, I feel like people have bellyached about the Sunday Night Baseball broadcast for one reason or another. But this combo is super enjoyable. They seem to compliment one another already.

— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) April 11, 2022

This is the @PerezEd factor, imo. He’s so easy to build chemistry with because he’s smart, respects everyone, loves to have fun, shares the stage & makes EVERYONE feel comfortable. Unique talent & person https://t.co/FZ3kgWM8EZ

— Mike Ferrin (@Mike_Ferrin) April 11, 2022

A true pleasure to hear our man @dcone36 on Sunday Night Baseball! https://t.co/cB9TMngv66

— Samit Sarkar (@SamitSarkar) April 11, 2022

They got three people who
– Are intelligent
– Aren't constantly trying to do a bit
– Most importantly, don't think that the modern game is an affront to all things holy and constantly say so https://t.co/B3ojkrGPcX

— Nick Stellini (@StelliniTweets) April 11, 2022

David Cone is such a good broadcaster, loving him in this booth

— Jeremy Schneider (@J_Schneider) April 11, 2022

absolutely LOVE this segment idea on Sunday Night Baseball with @karlravechespn, @PerezEd, @dcone36, @Buster_ESPN

just as i love 'what stood out' on BBTN, h/t @GreggColli !! pic.twitter.com/qL3h9AIlSp

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 11, 2022

Whole world learning how good @dcone36 is.

Grateful he's on the mic, but man, he should be in a dugout. https://t.co/MWbDQev89s

— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) April 10, 2022

Red Sox centerfielder Kike Hernandez wore a wireless microphone during the game and briefly spoke with the three ESPN announcers

Pretty great stuff on ESPN with a mic'd up Kike Hernandez. Karl Ravech asked him how Yankees-Red Sox stacks up to Dodgers-Giants: "Pretty similar, but colder."

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) April 11, 2022

Meanwhile, over on ESPN2, it was the premiere of the alternate Sunday night MLB telecast entitled the “KayRod Cast.” It was established months following the network’s successful ManningCast on Monday nights last fall with brothers Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. “KayRod” was hosted by Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay and former Yankee Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez had been on ESPN’s main SNB broadcast from 2018 thru 2021.

As opposed to ESPN’s new SNB trio, the reviews of the “KayRod Cast” were less than stellar:

A bowl of popcorn would be more interesting for this KayRod broadcast…😂

— KJ (@kjcarson) April 10, 2022

pic.twitter.com/DA1XO9FaVl

— – (@OldHossRadbourn) April 10, 2022

I would agree with this. The goal is not to do too much pbp. https://t.co/25lR0HoIcU

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) April 10, 2022

There is so much dead air on this #KayRod broadcast. Something feels missing.

— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) April 11, 2022

Ravech, Cone and Perez have been really good. Kay asked good questionsn of Clemens. And Rod was one hell of a ballplayer. https://t.co/R6pU8N5DVz

— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) April 11, 2022

Rod asking questions and not listening to the answers. He’s in midseason form.

— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) April 11, 2022

I’m forcing myself to watch this KayRod telecast on ESPN2 and in the voice of Chandler Bing, can Alex Rodriguez BE any more boring?

— Ken Fang — Get your shots!!!! (@fangsbites) April 11, 2022

Look. The #KayRod broadcast is just like the Manningcast.

Except it has absolutely none of the intellect or insight and instead of using two of the most likable personalities in the sport, they used the two LEAST likable.

Literally the same thing. Outside of what I said.

— Shane Riordan (@shane_riordan) April 11, 2022

The most discussed portion of the “KayRod Cast” was when former Red Sox and Yankee great Roger Clemens joined in to chat with Kay and Rodriguez.

Although Clemens’ career numbers would certainly suffice to get inducted in to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Clemens has not been voted in by the nation’s baseball writers for he had long been suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs for at least the latter half of his career.

It's almost like @espn wants us to hate the #kayrodcast. If so, y'all are the Joey Gallo of programming!

— Matt Villano (@mattvillano) April 11, 2022

Some ninja-level sidestepping by Clemens on the steroid questions

— Jesse Pantuosco (@JessePantuosco) April 11, 2022

ESPN2 did a good job of not cutting off Clemens as he answers Kay's question on PEDs and HoF.

Pretty sure the commercials are linked up with ESPN, which went to commercial during pitching change.

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) April 11, 2022

learning from the ESPN KayRod broadcast that Roger Clemens now DJ’S and that he always plays ABBA!!!!!! (and also Closing Time and ends with ELVIS)

— evan romano (@EvanRomano) April 11, 2022

Just when you thought this train wreck couldn't get any worse, no they overtly schilling for Roger Clemens https://t.co/G6RjMiQIcW

— Brian Webber (@bwwebber) April 11, 2022

Clemens claims he played the game the right way on #KAYRODCAST pic.twitter.com/ilf3E8KEvt

— Shlomo Sprung (@SprungOnSports) April 11, 2022

And, not everyone lashed out at “KayRod”

With @RealMichaelKay and @AROD doing the new #KayRodCast, it definitely has a @YESNetwork feel to it on @ESPN. #KayRod

— Doug Rush (@TheDougRush) April 10, 2022