ESPN fires Morgan, Miller

[A.E]

They're out! Joe Morgan and Jon Miller nixed from ESPN Sundays

Starting in 2011, ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" will be Joe Morgan free.

The four-letter network told the New York Times' Richard Sandomir on Monday afternoon that the contracts for Morgan and broadcasting partner Jon Miller, who was just inducted into the broadcasters' wing of the Hall of Fame, are not being renewed. The tandem was the only announcing duo that the 20-year-old franchise had known.

From the NYT:

"We've decided to make a change and introduce new voices and new perspective," said Norby Williamson, an executive vice president of ESPN. He added: "Twenty one years is an eternity in this business. And today is about acknowledging the contributions they made to the franchise."

Sandomir speculates that Miller's replacement will be ESPN vet Dan Shulman, a move that Big League Stew heartily endorses. Shulman's style is among the best in the business and it's enjoyable to hear him call a game. He'll be a reason to tune in on Sunday nights.

Shulman will likely be joined by former pitcher Orel Hershiser, who joined the Sunday Night booth last season, and perhaps Bobby Valentine, if teams keep passing him over for managing gigs. Three-man booths just aren't for baseball, so hopefully they'll let the game breathe a bit (a valuable skill that's already in Shulman's arsenal).

The launchings of Morgan and Miller are predictably producing a lot of glee in Internet-land, though Miller's ousting is being categorized closer to the collateral damage side. (Miller will be fine as he still has his regular work with the San Francisco Giants and could work the radio side for ESPN's Sunday night games.)

As for Morgan, I've never been as offended by his antics — telling stories that didn't happen, despising the SABR approach to baseball — as some others, but it's nice to see ESPN making a move to get new, fresher and, ahem, younger voices on their main baseball broadcasts each week.

Now if we could just get them to mix up the rotation of the same five teams ... -Yahoo!

Facking horrible news! These 2 guys have grown on me a lot in the past few years and I actually started to like them. They're really corny, Joe Morgan says a lot of dumb sh*t, they put me to sleep a lot of times...but for some reason, I like. Shulman & Hershiser call a hell of a broadcast but they both do a lot of Wednesday night broadcasts as it is...so it's not like we're missing anything. I'd like to see Sutcliffe in the mix too, if possible. But I hope TBS snatches up Morgan & Miller quick. They might of gotten old but they were still 100 times better than Buck and McCarver.

 

[snipezo]

Morgan sucked. He was a great player but not a great commentator lol.

 

[Mexi]

YES!
ESPN!

Miller was fine, but Morgan. eeek
now if Fox can get rid of McCarver, all is well

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

<Censored> Joe Morgan...

 

[The Guid]

I've never had a problem with Jon Miller, I kinda liked him actually.

 

[cruzg24]

If only they could get rid of Buck and Mccarver for the World Series.....

Bring in someone like Vin Scully or Al leiter I love their commentary.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

There is a God....

 

[Elite]

Jon Miller's voice just sounds baseball to me. I'll miss him, but Joe Morgan, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

 

[Lake Louise]

I see i'm not the only one that's glad Joe Morgan is gone.

 

[RipCity32]

How can you hate on Miller and/or Morgan?
I'm going to miss these voices no doubt.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Dumb move. I grew up on their voices on Sunday nights during the Summer. Nothing wrong with them. I don't hate the replacements though...but still, not a good move..If anyone needed to go it's Buck and McCarver or however you spell his name. IDC if I misspelled it. He's terrible

 

[Lake Louise]

Miller I could stand. Morgan, he just said a lot of dumb things. Things wont be the same obviously, but I also can't complain about the replacements.

I agree with Maple though, especially about Buck. Buck should just stop doing everything. Baseball, and Football. I was happy MLB Playoffs were on, because I didn't have to listen to Joe Buck during football games.