Where will he land on our list?
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This series will take a sabermetrics approach with these lists so it should point out that these rankings take into account the overall exposure of the MLB Network personalities as well as the makeup of each individual. Consider it a blending of Old School scouting and New School progressiveness. And remember this series should be fun and engaging and spark some passionate and insightful debate among myself and you, the readers. So here we go with the Sports Network Television Shredder's Top 10 MLB Network Right Now-Hosts and Reporters edition.
1. Lauren Shehadi-Taking the the top spot on our list is Lauren Shehadi. Shehadi has become one of the more recognizable faces at the network since her debut in 2012. Appearing on The Rundown during the regular season and Hot Stove in the offseason, Shehadi brilliantly navigates through the boys club of the sometimes tough baseball world very well. She is the kind of person who will make you feel like whatever you have to say at any given moment is very important to her. Even if all you have to offer at the time is utter nonsense, she is not afraid to play along up to a certain point. That shows that she can be fun, engaging or serious depending on the what the situation calls for. It also doesn't hurt that she is easy on the eyes. She gets bonus points as well for having a sweet tooth, even if it is not always the healthiest thing to do in your life but who am I to judge. In addition, Shehadi is passionate about the sport she covers on a daily basis and it shows. The effort she puts into her craft is excellent. What it all boils down to is Shehadi is the quintessential Five Tool player of MLB Network.
2. Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo-What can I say about the Mad Dog. When he first appeared on High Heat about a year ago I thought what is a radio guy doing on TV? Well, I started watching the show from day one and I haven't stopped watching since. The Mad Dog moniker says it all. You never really know what he's going to say at any given moment. As a lifelong card carrying member of Old School baseball, Russo's rants are one of a kind. And let me tell you, when he gets in the zone, such as his spirited debates with New School poster boy Brian Kenny, HE REALLY GETS IN THE ZONE! All I can say is when these "zone" moments happens you better have your popcorn ready!
3. Bob Costas-First off, does the man ever stop working! I mean seriously! It's like he addicted to staying busy. All kidding aside though, Costas is one of the best broadcasters in the business along with Vin Scully. If there was a Mount Rushmore of broadcasters, they would definitely be included. Studio 42, MLB Network's 20 Greatest Games and MLB Network presents are fantastic pieces of sports television that detail the history of the game.
4. Greg Amsinger-Having been with MLB Network since its inception in 2009, Amsinger, a noted St. Louis Cardinals apologist, has become a stalwart in Secaucus. Serving primarily as a rotating lead anchor on MLB Tonight Amsinger's quick wit and sharp humor is a nice ingredient which adds to the chemistry he has with his fellow anchors and analysts. From time to time, he's been known to get a funny feeling in his knee when he feels something big is about to happen in a game such as a home run. He's also not afraid to throw out various crazy trade proposals on a whim.
5. Brian Kenny-Let's face it. A list like this probably wouldn't exist if it wasn't for the masterful work of Kenny and for that he earns the number 5 slot on our list. Brian is at the forefront of innovation and progress in the broadcasting industry with MLB Now. Say what you want about WAR and those other crazy formulas and calculations, the bottom line is Kenny is willing to keep an open mind when discussing our national pasttime.
6. Matt Vasgersian-Along with Greg Amsinger, Matt Vasgersian is one of the funnier guys at MLB Network. From his near flawless impressions like Thom Brennaman and Kevin Millar to his clever use of sound effects, Vasgersian's seemingly comedic mind is always one step ahead of everybody else. He's also not afraid to speak his mind whenever a thought strikes him. A good example was his diatribe of the Oakland Athletics and GM Billy Beane following the Athletics second half collapse and loss in the AL Wild Card game in 2014 and Beane's subsequent penchant for tearing everything down and seemingly starting from scratch earlier in the offseason on Hot Stove. If you don't know what I'm talking about you can easily find it on YouTube.
7. Matt Yallof-Yallof lands at number seven on our list. Yallof appears primarily on MLB Tonight and The Rundown. It's on The Rundown where he is at his best. Here, he teams Lauren Shehadi. On The Rundown Yallof and Shehadi provide the latest news and analysis once the regular season gets underway. They talk with fellow players and beat writers about the latest stories that come about as the regular season unfolds.
8. Chris Rose-The more serious half of MLB Network's Odd Couple, Chris Rose could easily have the trickiest job at MLB Network that nobody else probably wants. That is trying to figure out just what the heck is coming out of Kevin Millar's mouth on Intentional Talk. Christopher we feel your pain.
9. Sam Ryan-Sam Ryan is another versatile tool in the MLB Network arsenal. She appears on Hot Stove and Quick Pitch just to name a few. Of the female presence at the network with the most veteran experience, she provides a nice bargain to those who still excel at what they do as they get older.
10. Fran Charles-Nabbing the final spot on our list is Fran Charles. Charles appears on MLB Tonight and Hot Stove. In the past few months his exposure on the network has greatly increased since his debut in 2013.
Those That Just Missed The Cut-Scott Braun, Heidi Watney, Paul Severino, Kristina Fitzpatrick. Maybe with more exposure once the regular season commences, these individuals may have a good shot at cracking the Top 10 MLB Network Right Now list next time.
Tim Musick
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