SI Media Mailbag: Jeter on Fox; Russo Impact on ‘First Take’; Where’s Greenberg, More

Welcome to the 12th installment of a weekly mailbag that I will be writing about the world of sports media (and anything else you want to chime in on). Please email me any questions you have to Jimmy.Traina@si.com or send them via Twitter.

Stay until the end of the mailbag to see the most persistent emailer ever.

is @MadDogUnleashed helping first take in the ratings, and are @espn higher ups happy with his performance?

— Ack (@avck25) June 13, 2023

Clearly the ESPN higher-ups are happy with Mad Dog’s performance on First Take because they re-signed him to a new deal earlier this year, which Russo discussed on last week’s SI Media With Jimmy Traina.

It’s hard to gauge Russo’s exact impact on viewership because he’s only on the show once a week, but First Take’s ratings have recently hit some milestones.

The show also had its most-watched April ever.

Last month, viewers showed up for @FirstTake with @stephenasmith & @MollyQerim

✅ Most-watched April ever! pic.twitter.com/kIlbxfNUU9

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) May 4, 2023

And May marked the 10th month in a row of a year-over-year ratings increase.

Strong May viewership for @FirstTake with @stephenasmith & @MollyQerim

☑️ 10 months in a row of year-over-year growth! pic.twitter.com/3z3RtcSduL

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) June 1, 2023

I think it’s safe to say Russo has contributed to the recent ratings success for First Take, and he’s also given the show buzz on social media and across the internet for clips that range from the absurd to the hilarious to the awkward.

What do you think it will be like behind the scenes at FOX with just the dynamic of ARod and Jeter? Who defers to who? Is Papi key to make it work?

— Dallas Henry (@DallasHenry84) June 12, 2023

I have no idea what the behind-the-scenes deal will be with Derek Jeter and A-Rod. My guess is that it will be professional, and then they will act like best friends on the air. Keep in mind, though, that Jeter is working for Fox only during the postseason and one regular-season game. He’s also going to work the All-Star Game, but that’s not a fake game. I have zero expectations of Jeter making any significant impact on Fox’s studio show. He’s there for name factor/star power more than what he’s actually going to say.

Greeny & SAS are both on NBA Countdown. SAS does first take every day but Greeny never does his radio show. Why is that?

— x- Suffering JIM (@JIMfan523) June 12, 2023

I’m amazed how often I get this question. Every week, I get emails from people who are annoyed that Mike Greenberg rarely does this radio show. Obviously, Greenberg’s TV duties are going to be a priority over his radio show. If he has to host Get Up and then do NBA Countdown, halftime and postgame during the Finals, the radio show is going to get shafted. 

Thoughts on the Messi to Miami move AND what it means for MLS. Does this mean they need to change the Beckham rule.

— Fintech Dion doing Fintech Things (@dionlisle) June 12, 2023

I don’t follow soccer, but you don’t have to follow soccer to know that Lionel Messi becoming part of MLS only helps MLS. On the day it was announced that Messi was joining Inter Miami CF, the team went from 1 million Instagram followers to 4 million and now has 8 million followers. There’s no doubt he will sell tickets not just for Inter Miami CF, but he will also become an attraction during road games.

I don’t know what the Beckham rule is so I can’t answer that part of the question.

How many times have you watched/listened to Pa Sterling’s amazing reaction to that ball hitting him?

— Aaron B (@APBoynton) June 12, 2023

Definitely have to address John Sterling wearing that foul ball.

— Dave (@davedecanio) June 12, 2023

Is your hatred of the Red Sox renewed because Justin Turner almost killed John Sterling with a foul ball

— Mongo Nation (@Mongo__Nation) June 12, 2023

My initial reaction when first watching the video was, “This is not funny” and “I hope John is O.K. because that was scary.” 

The video everyone has been asking for.

No, a foul ball cannot stop John Sterling from calling a Yankees win ???? #SterlingCam pic.twitter.com/avHu9w6XfY

— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) June 11, 2023

But clearly, John handled it like a champ, didn’t miss a pitch, was back behind the mike the next night and had a laugh about the whole thing, so how can you do anything but tip your cap to the 84-year-old New York legend?

Which afternoon drive sports show in NY is more unlistenable?

— Kevin Riveras Biggest Fan (@ilovemfrancesa) June 13, 2023

I don’t listen to either New York afternoon-drive show, so I can’t answer this question. My advice to New Yorkers who don’t like the afternoon-drive options are (a) make sure you subscribe and listen to all episodes of SI Media With Jimmy Traina and (b) get a Sirius subscription (call and haggle for a low price) and listen to Mad Dog.

Which sopranos character would be the best nba color commentator? I’m going with Silvio. Not many words but very effective.

— Patrick Webb (@webb_02) June 12, 2023

Silvio would be O.K., but there’s really only one answer here. When it comes to sports analysis, Uncle Junior is the man for the job.

An email question: 

Hi Jimmy, the pitch clock has become a clear boon to the game of baseball. With its obvious impact on even a pitch-by-pitch basis, why are most broadcasts neglecting to show it on the screen? Thank you. —Floyd Stahl

It seems most broadcasts flash the pitch clock when it gets down to five seconds, which I think is fine. My guess is that having the full pitch clock on-screen for every single pitch is just too much and too distracting. I will say, though, that the fact that not one team or network shows the full 15 seconds makes me think there might have been an edict from Major League Baseball to keep it off the screen.

We close this edition of the mailbag with a compilation of emails I've received from reader John Sabini. These have all been sent from John to me over the past month.

May 13: I know I have mentioned this before, but here I go again: FS1’s coverage of MLB does not have commentators at the game sites.

I have reason to believe this and sometimes real evidence such as commentators who are present at in-studio shows only a few hours before in Los Angeles then claiming they are covering games at sites hundreds of miles away in a few hours. They should be honest with their audience.

May 20: They should just admit that their commentators are not on-site. No evidence of it again this week.

May 22: Once again, FS1 tonight has Kevin Kugler and A.J. Pierzynski calling the game tonight, describing the perfect weather in Minneapolis but no indication that they are actually present.

May 27: Braves-Phillies 4 p.m. start. Alex Faust and Tom Verducci as commentators. No tangible evidence they are in attendance

May 29: Special Memorial Day game. Alex Faust and Tom Verducci with no evidence that they are actually at the game. 

First off, props to John for being a legit baseball fan if he’s watching all these games. Second, major props to John for being such a legit baseball fan that’s watching all these games on FS1. Third, hell of a job by John to catch FS1’s chicanery.

To address John’s concerns, yes, FS1, when they air a regional game and not a national game, has their broadcasters call the action from a studio instead of sending them to the city and stadium. Fox is not going to admit that this is done to cut costs, but a decision made by every company is about one thing and one thing only: money.