When news broke late Monday afternoon that ESPN had decided to shake up the Sunday Night Baseball broadcast team, ending a 21-year run by Jon Miller and Joe Morgan, many across the internet landscape applauded the change, at least in terms of Morgan. While Miller has an offer from ESPN to continue doing radio, no such offer was made to Morgan. He is now a free agent.

When you’ve been in the broadcast saddle for 21 years – for better or worse – you’re a known commodity. It’s more than likely that as soon as word broke of Morgan’s contract not being renewed he began fielding offers elsewhere. As MLB broadcasts go, Morgan really has four options (short of retirement, which as judged by the blogspehere is where they hope he saunters off to).

If Morgan wishes to continue doing the same – a weekly national broadcast on television – MLB on TBS could be a possibility. As Turner Sports has continued to gain traction with weekly regular season games and the postseason, Morgan could continue getting his weekly fix at the ballpark. The only real change would be where he is on the television dial, who he’s partnered with, and who is cutting his checks.

Along with TBS, Morgan could be tapped for the FOX Game of the Week which airs on Saturdays. Chances of a trifecta of Buck, McCarver, and Morgan seems unlikely in the regular season, but FOX could try and spice things up for the postseason with the trio.

Morgan could get picked up to do local and regional broadcasts. Maybe FOX Sports Ohio will consider him for Cincinnati Reds games. This would mean Morgan would be working more often; something that after 20-plus years of doing mostly a game a week might not be as enjoyable as it sounds.

But, if Morgan is receptive, maybe the most likely location he would land would be MLB Network. The league-owned network has seemed to gobble up former players and solid reporters such as Peter Gammons and Bob Costas at a tremendous clip. MLB Network also has Thursday Night Baseball, and continues to grow the number of games they air on Saturdays. There’s been more than enough mentioned that when opportunity presents itself, MLBN could look to pick up postseason broadcasts, as well. Morgan could also be tapped for studio shows such as MLB Tonight. With the Baseball Winter Meetings starting at the beginning of December, and given that last year the Meetings were used to surprise most everyone with the signing of Peter Gammons, it may be then that we know if MLB Network and Morgan will marry up.

So while many across the internet are dancing on Morgan’s broadcast grave today, they could be more than premature in declaring him dead behind the mic. Chances are we haven’t seen the last of Joe Morgan in the broadcast booth, much to the chagrin of Ken Tremendous

Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey, as well as a contributor to FanGraphs and Forbes SportsMoney. He is available for hire or freelance. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.

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Comments (9)

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Joe Morgan is Good for Baseball
written by BBFanRocks, November 09, 2010

I happen to enjoy games commented by Joe Morgan. He brings a lot of insight into the game.

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written by rdp234, November 09, 2010

I hope Joe lands on his feet and finds a good gig. He was a great player and I always found him very knowledgeable. I think he'd be an a*set to MLB Network.

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Morgan fired
written by therock, November 09, 2010

Based on the beliefs of logic and common sense espn is cutting their ties with baseball and trying magazine wise to compete with playgirl and play boy the sunday night baseball experience was their best work and their announcing team was the best they had they tried to sabatoge it twice with Steve Phillips and with Orel Hershhiser. Espn has lost their pride.

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joe morgan loves the game
written by gem, November 09, 2010

Not sure why many are happy to see him go. He genuinely loves and cares about baseball. Most people in this day and age don't care about much of anything. Hearing him on Sundays was an honor. Hope he stays in broadcasting for future generations to learn from and to enjoy.

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written by Ted, November 10, 2010

I think Joe's analysis about what is happening out between the lines on the yard is the best in the business. He knows the game, inside and out. Does he have a take on sensitive issues - to be sure. But he always bases his comments the notion of playing the game. Not a bunch of nonsense like so many of the so-called "analyst" they have on the air these days. ESPN screwed up big time.

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Morgan
written by TomSwift, November 10, 2010

Every Morgan homer in the world must have found this article.

He stinks. There's a reason ESPN offered Miller the radio gig but did not offer options to Morgan. He is a subjective analyst, foregoing objectivity. He scoffs at any sabermetrics in favor of "I played, therefore I must be right" mantra.

Joe Morgan, don't let the door hot you on the way out

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Joe is Joe but it is time for him to go
written by Fireboss, November 10, 2010

As a die hard fan of good baseball I look forward to every televised game. The Sunday night game was a favorite of mine but Jon and Joe got stale and need to go on to other things. They should take Joe _ my daddy was famous and I do football - Buck and Tim - did you know his daddy was a skateboarder and not a ball player - McCarver with them into the sunset. Buit that's another subject.
Unlike Jon Miler's superb radio broadcasts on ESPN and for the Giants, his TV is just boring. He and Joe talk too much and as a result say too little - probably because ESPN like Fox, and TBS feel that any moment without words is a waste of salary. So Jon asks Joe the same questions and Joe gives the same answers each game.
The game is a visual event and unlike radio TV shows it and does that well. Radio announcers have to paint the picture of the game because the listeners can't see. TV announcers don't need to give that kind of detail and so instead of using the tried and true less is more formula they babble. There are times to talk - demonstrating the nuances of how a pitch is held or how footwork made execution of a play work - and times to let the pictures speak without the distraction of mindless background chatter. TV today has forgotten that and so good commentators fill the air with noise until we can't stand them anymore. I love Jon on radio and like Joe when he's talking from his heart and not answering mindless questions to eradicate silence. I hope both do well. But it was past time for them to go.

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Fantasy Baseball Dugout
written by BallparkBob, November 10, 2010

I have never understood why so many people dislike Joe Morgan's announcing. I thought the banter between he and Jon Miller was excellent. It will be interesting to see if they find a better duo than they already have.

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Morgan and Miller
written by Bamster, November 12, 2010

Morgan and Miller provided endless trivial chatter, talking about the same things over and over, game after game. Morgan's "I played the game" egotistical attitude wore thin years ago. Sunday Night baseball games were best enjoyed by turning down the volume and listening to the local feeds on the Internet. Joe the Drone Buck and his sidekick James Timothy McCarver are the next ones that need to go. Buck and Morgan paired together would be ma*sive oneupmanship in the booth and would drive viewers away in droves.

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