Dan Lovallo

I have the highest respect for baseball writers Bill Madden and Mark Feinsand.  That's one of the reasons I find their reporting on the next manager of the Los Angeles Angels fascinating.  Madden, in the broadcasters and writers wing of the baseball Hall of Fame, says ex-Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon is not a lock to become the next Angels manager and that John Farrell has emerged as the new favorite.  Madden writes for the New York Daily News. Joe Maddon/YT grab Feinsand, who used to write for the News and now writes for the MLB website, says not so fast.  He has been told Maddon is still the favorite.  Which of these high profile writers is correct?  That's the subject of my podcast.  Plus a couple of other topics.

A funny thing happened on the way to the Los Angeles Dodgers' trip to the World Series against the Yankees; they got bounced by the Washington Nationals in a thrilling deciding game of the NLDS.  The game was so riveting, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts may be second guessed out of his job over how he managed his bullpen.  Meanwhile,  I can hear the critics: "baseball cannot afford a Washington-Tampa Bay World Series.  The games will take forever and ratings will be in the toilet." Well, let the doom-and-gloom crowd wallow in their negativity.  Baseball is alive and well, even if Dave Roberts/You Tube the nation's top two television markets are left by the wayside, should the Yankees not make it to the Fall Classic.  As I detail in my podcast, baseball has a lot going for it, and the success at the gate of minor league baseball is a contributing factor, according to a study. Here is the link to the story in "The Athletic" I reference in the podcast, but remember, there is a paywall.  Enjoy the podcast

With major league baseball games taking longer to play - just check out the times of the post season games - how long will it take, if a game goes extra innings?  Is it time for the majors to adopt the extra inning rule invoked at the minor league level? During the Hartford Yard Goats baseball season, as part of the pregame show, I surveyed a contingent Lovallo, Kenner, Cohen, Dooley, LaNave, Rodriguez in the press box on this very topic, after the LA Angels and Baltimore Orioles played a 16-inning game that ended at 4:30 in the morning Eastern time.  Our guests agreed to turn the interview into a podcast, so here it is.  Participants in addition to yours truly: Jim Keener- official scorer Alan Cohen- Game Day operator Danny Rodriguez- Yard Goats broadcaster on Spanish speaking radio Jeff Dooley- Yard Goats broadcaster Marco LaNave- Akron RubberDucks broadcaster

Former major league manager Buck Showalter brought a lot to the broadcast booth, when he joined New York Yankees TV voice Michael Kay for the regular season-ending series in Texas.  I thought Buck offered interesting opinions and anecdotes.  Plus, he was not shy about giving his opinion on how the Rangers "contrived" to get pitcher Mike Minor his 200th strike out of the season.  I talk about this in the podcast. Plus, what about a mercy rule in major league baseball?  In August, when New York Yankees Kay, Showalter/YT grab manager Aaron Boone suggested a mercy rule be adopted, it led to a round table discussion in the Hartford Yard Goats press box.  And yours truly served as the moderator.  We recorded the forum for a presentation in between games of a doubleheader and we offer the replay as part of the podcast. I would love to get your opinion on both topics in the podcast, so feel free to join the discussion with your comments below this piece.

As a New York Yankees fan, I recall the 1974 baseball season very well.  It was one of the few times, since I started rooting for the once perennial champions, that they were in a pennant race.  And among the combatants they were battling were the 1974 Cleveland Indians.  Therefore, I was delighted when I found out that Eastern League broadcast colleague Jim Clark, the "Voice of the Akron RubberDucks," wrote a book about that 1974 season, "Rally 'Round Cleveland: The Story of the 1974 Franchise-Saving Cleveland Indians." Jim Clark I watched many a Yankees game from Cleveland's Municipal Stadium, but when I started to follow the Bombers, they seemed to regularly lose to the Indians.  First baseman Fred Whitfield was especially a Yankees' killer, hitting numerous home runs in key spots for Cleveland in those Yankees-Indians match ups of the mid to late 1960s.  Heck, even the "Voice of the Yankees," Mel Allen, broadcast Indians games on television for a season (1968), after being dumped by the Yankees a

Dan with author Paul Hensler Growing up in Connecticut, most people had their radios tuned in the morning to WTIC 1080, and for good reason.  The station's morning show was hosted by radio icon Bob Steele.  No one in the country garnered ratings like Steele.  No one will ever approach or dominate a market the way Steele did.  To say his ratings were off the charts would be an understatement. Steele, who died in 2002, is the subject of a new book written by Paul Hensler: "Bob Steele On The Radio: The Life Of Connecticut's Beloved Broadcaster."  Those who were ardent Steele listeners knew of his love of sports, especially baseball and boxing.  It's one of the reasons I wanted Paul to be a guest.  After all, who could forget Steele's many zany sports predictions? Before a Hartford Yard Goats game, I had the chance to interview Paul.  He provides some insight about the book, while also revealing information about Steele that should make this a very good read. LINK TO PAUL'S WEBSITE AND BOOK

L-R: Chuck Kaiton, Jeff Dooley, Dan Lovallo Legendary NHL play-by-play broadcaster Chuck Kaiton returned to Hartford recently, as part of the Hartford Yard Goats "Whalers Alumni Weekend."  For the last three seasons, the Yard Goats have paid homage to the Whalers, inviting former players and Kaiton to the city for the weekend.  It's not all fun and games either, as the group pays visits to hospitals and schools. Chuck sat down with me for my "The Baseball Beat" podcast, to reminisce about his days in Hartford as the "Voice of the Whalers."  We also discussed other aspects of his career, including broadcasting games for the Carolina Hurricanes and what may be in his future. While visiting Dunkin' Donuts Park, Chuck sat in on the radio broadcast with the "Voice of the Yard Goats," Jeff Dooley and me.

As far as I'm concerned, MLB umpires are getting a bad wrap in this study by Boston University.  The Dodgers want to know what happened to 42,000 Tommy Lasorda bobblehead dolls and the Phillies are packing them in, since signing Bryce Harper.  Those are the topics I discuss in the latest The Baseball Beat podcast. My look back interview is with Ralph Garr, which I recorded in June of 1986.  Garr was one of the best hitters of his day and in 1974 led the National League in batting with a .353 average.  I hope you enjoy the interview, as much as I enjoyed posting it.

As the 2019 Major League Baseball season gets underway, word is MLB is reducing the television package it has with Facebook and removing the "exclusivity" tag.  That is among the topics I talk Phil Rizzuto/Credit: You Tube capture about in the latest edition of The Baseball Beat.   Other items we discuss: MLB is considering buying the Fox regional sports networks Payroll is lower than a season ago MLB continues to use the minor leagues as an incubator for rules changes And I look back at the time former New York Yankees shortstop great and broadcaster Phil Rizzuto visited my hometown of Torrington, CT.  Rizzuto's visit and talk that night - which you hear on the podcast - was a special night in the history of sports in the city. Enjoy!

Willie Stargell/Credit: You Tube Mar. 26, 2019 turned out to be a busy day for the New York Mets, as we explore in my latest edition of The Baseball Beat.  The Mets and pitcher Jacob deGrom have agreed to a contract extension and Mets owner Fred Wilpon is buying back more of his ballclub. The Boston Red Sox and catcher Sandy Leon were in the news and so are uniforms, as Sports Illustrated examines uniform changes for the coming season.  You can read the article by clicking here. We also take a look back at my interview with Willie Stargell.  At the time the former Pittsburgh Pirate was a member of the Atlanta Braves coaching staff.  The Braves were in Richmond to play their AAA affiliate, when I caught up with Willie and hosted a press conference at which he was featured for being elected to the Hall of Fame. Enjoy!

What a difference 24 hours make.  On Saturday, Mike Tauchman was on the bubble not knowing if he would make the Colorado Rockies big league roster or be farmed out to their AAA affiliate Albuquerque.  On Sunday, Tauchman had been dealt to the New York Yankees, made the roster and will be at Yankee Stadium on Opening Day when the contending Bronx Bombers play the Baltimore Orioles. Mike Tauchman/Credit: You Tube The trade is reminiscent of one between the Atlanta Braves and Yankees on June 29, 1986.  At the time, I was broadcasting games with Bob Black for the Braves' AAA affiliate Richmond.  On a sunny, Sunday afternoon at The Diamond, word starting sweeping through the press box and the ballpark that Richmond shortstop Paul Zuvella had been traded to the Yankees.  It was my assignment that day to conduct the post game interview on the field. After the game, the trade was announced and I asked "Zoo" if he would be my guest.  He said "yes" but that he had to talk to the manager first.  That was when

It appears Chris Sale has cashed in with the Boston Red Sox, as the trend continues to keep players from entering free agency.  In this edition of The Baseball Beat, I talk about this latest approach to signings, Opening Day and the time I interviewed Chuck Tanner. Tanner, who died in 2011 at the age of 82, was the manager of the Atlanta Braves when I interviewed him on May 29, 1986.  A successful manager with the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates - a club he led to a World Series title in 1979 -Tanner was in his first year as Atlanta manager. One of the reasons I dug out this interview is so you could hear a classic example of how a manager could answer your question without answering your question.  Tanner was a master at it, particularly talking to someone like me, who he did not know.  I was a broadcaster for the Richmond Braves, thus was not on the Atlanta Braves beat.  Tanner was polite and considerate, but as you would imagine guarded.  Of course, in this day and age, I woul

Major League Baseball is changing the All-Star game.  The owners and leaders from the players' association have announced the changes in addition to several other moves. In my latest The Baseball Beat podcast, I talk about the changes and also reflect on the latest news, involving Tim Tebow.  My interview focuses on Tom Gorman, the late, great National League umpire. While broadcasting Richmond Braves games in 1985, I had the chance to interview Gorman, whose son Brian is an MLB umpire.  Tom Gorman had an illustrious career, which I detail in the podcast, before replaying my interview.  Gorman offers several interesting observations, which apply even today to aspiring umpires.  At the time of the interview, umpires were still under the control of the separate leagues, the National and American.  Now they are all under the domain of MLB, working both National and American League games.

Where will free agent Bryce Harper end up?  And Major League Baseball cracks down on stealing signs.   Those are some of the topics I talk about in the latest edition of The Baseball Beat. Baseball is determined to stymie clubs from using the latest technology to steal signs.  And even though Manny Machado has signed with the San Diego Padres, there is still tension between the owners and players over free agency signings.  I talk about that and other recent baseball topics. Also, I look back at the late, great Red Barber, one of the pioneer, baseball broadcasters.  I interviewed Red in 1978 and provide some background in the podcast.  I also replay the interview I recorded with Red, who along with Mel Allen, were the first broadcasters to be inducted into the broadcasters wing of the baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

It looks as if Manny Machado has found his team. In this edition of The Baseball Beat, I discuss some of the topics making baseball news: Machado to the Padres? Will Bryce Harper be a Philly? The free agent battle between owners and players Bruce Bochy about to call it a career and much, much more. Plus we have my podcast interview with Danny Rodriguez, who broadcasts on Spanish radio, the games of the Hartford Yard Goats, the Eastern League affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.

I recently read Jane Leavy's excellent book, Big Fella, about Babe Ruth.  In it, she manages to uncover interesting nuggets about Ruth - especially in his youth - all sandwiched around a nationwide barnstorming trip Ruth and Yankees teammate Lou Gehrig took, following the New York Yankees historic 1927 season. In the book, Leavy mentioned Lefty Gomez, who pitched for the Yankees and Washington Senators and made it into the baseball Hall of Fame.  It got me to thinking about the time I interviewed Gomez, before the 1983 Carolina League All-Star game - which I broadcast - in Hagerstown, MD. Gomez was affable and shared some interesting insights in the interview including: His thoughts on Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak What it was like playing on those great Yankees teams, including what Ruth told him The salaries players were earning in 1983 compared to his era and his current regimen to maintain his health Gomez died nearly 30 years ago in February of 1989.  His interview is one I will alw

Jim Valvano loved baseball.  The great, college basketball coach, who died from cancer in 1993, coached the North Carolina State men's team to the national championship in 1983. I got to thinking about "Jimmy V" the other day, when I read that North Carolina State will name the arena at Reynolds Coliseum the James T. Valvano Arena.  The formal dedication is scheduled for Dec. 5. I had the chance to interview coach Valvano in 1987, while broadcasting games for the Richmond Braves, at the time the Atlanta Braves Triple-A affiliate.  Valvano dropped into the broadcast booth, while the "Voice of the Richmond Braves" Bob Black and I were working the second game of a doubleheader between the Braves and the Maine Guides.  The game was being played at The Diamond, at the time Richmond's sparkling new ballpark that was the envy of all of minor league baseball. Valvano talked about where his love of baseball developed and how baseball even influenced his national championship basketball team.  Fortunately, I saved t

Michael Kay, Mel Allen When New York Yankees television broadcaster Michael Kay posted a tweet the other day of him sitting side-by-side with Mel Allen, it evoked memories of the time Allen came to Torrington, Connecticut, my home town. Allen was truly the only "Voice of the Yankees."  First on radio and then on television in the 1940s, 50s and early 60s, Allen got the assignment to call the big events, whether it be the World Series - which the Yankees were almost always in each season - the All-Star Game, the Rose Bowl or the Kentucky Derby for Fox's Movietone reels in theaters. Allen was everywhere.  How many people know, for example, that he and Ronald Reagan teamed up to co-host the Rose Bowl Parade television coverage in 1960?  Or that in the early 60s, that Mel called New York Giants football games on radio? But the New York Yankees were his first and some say only love.  And when the Yankees fired him in 1964 at the still relatively young age of 50 - for reasons the ball club never disclosed - i

So what if the New York Mets want Tim Tebow on the roster!  That's the topic of my latest episode on "The Baseball Beat." There has been some controversy stirred up on sports talk radio, since the Mets announced last week that Tebow, the former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback, would be assigned to the Mets AAA affiliate at Syracuse come spring.  New general manager Brodie Van Wagenen even hinted a great spring training could earn Tebow a spot on the big league roster come Opening Day 2019.  That really sent the opinion makers into a tizzy. On this podcast, I explain why the Mets are justified to consider Tebow for a big league spot.  

As we approach this important Election Day, 2018, did you know that Willie Mays once ran against Don Drysdale for President of the United States?  And that Mickey Mantle and Casey Stengel once squared off in a U.S. Senate race?  They did.  And in this edition of “The Baseball Beat,” I will explain what’s up with that?