Turner Sports has provided the announcers for the 2013 MLB Postseason. This marks the final year that TBS will have both Wild Card Games, all four MLB League Division Series and one League Championship series as next season, it will split the Wild Card with ESPN and the LDS with Fox Sports 1 and MLB Network. MLB Network will also air a couple of LDS games this season. This MLB Postseason, Turner will air all four LDS as well as the National League Championship Series.
For the studio, TBS will utilize Keith Olbermann as host as previously announced and he’ll be joined by former Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Pedro Martinez and Tom Verducci. Toronto Blue Jays analyst Dirk Hayhurst will contribute to the studio along with providing articles to the Bleacher Report.
The announcing teams for the four Division Series will be as follows:
- Ernie Johnson/Ron Darling/Cal Ripken//Craig Sager. Tom Verducci joins them for the NLCS
- Brian Anderson/John Smoltz/Joe Simpson
- Dick Stockton/Bob Brenly
- Don Orsillo/Dennis Eckersley/Buck Martinez
Reporters for the LDS including Sager will be Matt Winer after hosting the MLB Postseason the last three seasons, Rachel Nichols and David Aldridge.
Here’s the press release from Turner.
Pedro Martinez & Tom Verducci Join TBS Studio Team for 2013 MLB Postseason
TBS Announces Commentator Roster for its Exclusive Postseason Coverage Including Both Wild Card Games, up to 18 Division Series Games and the National League Championship Series
MLB Postseason Begins Tuesday, Oct. 1, on TBSTurner Sports has added Pedro Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion, as a studio analyst for the 2013 MLB Postseason. Martinez, an eight-time MLB All-Star, will join Keith Olbermann, a long-time, award-winning sports and news anchor and reporter, and MLB Insider Tom Verducci, who will move into the studio for the first time throughout the MLB Postseason. Verducci, a Sports Emmy Award recipient who has covered the postseason on TBS since 2008, will continue to contribute to the network’s studio show while also serving as a reporter during the National League Championship Series (NLCS).
Additionally, Dirk Hayhurst, an author and former Major League pitcher who currently provides analysis for the Toronto Blue Jays, will provide commentary and insights during TBS’ studio coverage along with various contributions to Bleacher Report.
Martinez, an 18-year MLB veteran, won a World Series Championship as a starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in 2004. He also took the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies during his esteemed career.
“Pedro has a Hall of Fame caliber resume and we look forward to adding his relevant, insightful opinions and analysis to our deep roster of established commentators this postseason,” said Craig Barry, senior vice president and executive creative director, Turner Sports.
TBS will offer extensive coverage of the 2013 MLB Postseason beginning with the network’s exclusive presentation of the 2013 MLB Wild Card including the National League Wild Card Game on Tuesday, Oct. 1, and the American League Wild Card Game on Wednesday, Oct. 2. The network, in its seventh consecutive year televising the MLB Postseason, will be the exclusive home of up to 18 Division Series games, and the entire National League Championship Series.
Announce teams for TBS’ MLB Postseason coverage will be handled by a deep lineup of veteran commentators:
- Ernie Johnson will provide play-by-play alongside analysts Ron Darling, a World Series Champion, and Hall of Famer Cal Ripken throughout the postseason, including the NLCS. Verducci and Craig Sager will join them as reporters during the NLCS.
- Play-by-play announcer Brian Anderson will be joined in the booth by veteran analysts John Smoltz and Joe Simpson throughout the postseason.
- Dick Stockton will provide play-by-play with analyst Bob Brenly.
- Play-by-play announcer Don Orsillo will describe game action with Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley and analyst Buck Martinez.
- Reporters for the LDS will include Sager, in his seventh year as a reporter for the MLB Postseason on TBS, and David Aldridge, in his sixth year. Matt Winer will also be a dugout reporter this postseason during the Division Series. Additionally, Rachel Nichols, who has reported for Turner Sports’ coverage of the NBA Playoffs and NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, will contribute to the network’s MLB Postseason coverage for the first time during the Division Series.
MLB on TBS
In October, TBS will exclusively televise the American League and National League Wild Card Games, along with coverage of all four MLB Division Series and the exclusive presentation of the National League Championship Series. TBS has broadcast MLB games for more than 35 years, televising the MLB Division Series and one League Championship Series since 2007, and was the home of the Atlanta Braves from 1977 to 2007. In 2012, Turner and MLB extended their agreement through 2021. The partnership represents one of the longest-running relationships between a media company and league in the history of televised sports.
That will do it.
