In this column on Sept. 26, we told you that the Nationals would be returning to 1500 AM/107.7 FM and last Thursday, they made it official. So fans will be able to hear the team on 3WT for years to come but who will be calling the games?
In the announcement there was no mention of Charlie Slowes and his partner, Dave Jageler. We know that the team is working on contract extensions for the duo. Slowes is the only broadcaster that has been with the team since they relocated to Washington.
The Lerner family and team president Stan Kasten have done a commendable job developing a blue print for a winning franchise — one that will build the Nats into a contender for years to come. Their attention to detail with the new stadium will make the fans’ experience at the ballpark something special, but their handling of their broadcasting matters has been a whole different story.
The Nats have not taken the steps to secure broadcasting assets that will make fans want to come to the new stadium. The team’s broadcasters are their link to the fans — they sell the team on a daily basis and keep the loyal fans interested and make the casual fan excited enough to come to a ball game a or two and maybe get hooked.
Slowes and Jageler are two fine broadcasters who have been wonderful voices for the club. They have created a buzz, kept fans interested and sold the Nationals when selling the team was far from easy.
They should be well-paid. After all, this is a Top 10 market and every other major sports franchise in the Washington market has a top-notch and well-paid broadcast team. So sign Slowes and Jageler to long-term deals, pay them what they deserve and show the fans you care about the messengers as much as you care about the message.
Which brings us to Bob Carpenter, the TV voice of the Nats. He is a class act who was told he would not be back with the team next season
The idea was to replace Carpenter with ESPN broadcaster Dan Schulman. Schulman, while a great guy, is no true upgrade over Carpenter. However, Schulman has a three-year deal with ESPN and did not reach a deal with the Nats.
So sometime in the next week to 10 days, the Nats will announce that Bob Carpenter will return to the TV booth to join Don Sutton — one of the best color analysts in broadcasting — and the very talented field reporter Debbi Taylor as the MASN broadcast team.
The Carpenter, Sutton and Taylor team is one of the best in baseball and the fact that I have to tell the Nats that is not only mind boggling, it is sad. So please do the fans a favor sign Carpenter to a long-term deal and keep you radio and TV teams intact.
For the fans’ sake, stick to building a winning baseball team and let your broadcasters alone – they are already winners.
Correction
» In Monday’s column, Dave Pugh was mis-identified. He is Dan Patrick’s brother and Clear Channel Washington regional vice president.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on www.examiner.com.
