Rays pitcher Chris Archer brings fresh analysis to ESPN

The networks have a habit of hiring current players during the MLB Postseason as guest analysts. Fox used A.J. Pierzynski and David Ortiz over the past few to mixed success. TBS has also utilized current players during its coverage. But the people who stick out and bring their “A” game to the table are few and far between.

Fox hired then-New York Mets pitcher Al Leiter for the 2004 American League Championship Series and was widely praised for his work with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. Leiter later parlayed that stint into becoming a full-time analyst working with YES Network and MLB Network.

Hey guys, I’ll be contributing to ESPN’s #ALWildCard Game telecast, plus appearing on @BBTN and @SportsCenter before the game. Can’t wait!

— Chris Archer (@ChrisArcher22) October 5, 2015

Now ESPN may have found the next analyst-in-waiting in Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer. He’s been a regular on social media as his Twitter account can produce gems every now and then.

Last night on ESPN, Archer was utilized on both the Baseball Tonight pregame show and during the American League Wild Card game between the Houston Astros and New York Yankees. Archer not only added something to the table, but he also called play-by-play for one batter for which Dan Shulman playfully scolded him and threw him out of the booth.

Archer worked well with Buster Olney in one segment, then on the regular Baseball Tonight set with Karl Ravech, Aaron Boone and Tim Kurkjian. He offered some really good analysis on Dallas Keuchel’s changeup and how Masahiro Tanaka pitches.

Then in the booth, Archer showed that he could work well with Jessica Mendoza and John Kruk showing some humor as well. If Archer decided to retire today, ESPN, Fox, MLB Network and TBS would all fight to hire him.

It’s rare that you find a current player who can bring so much to the table, but Archer showed that he did his homework for his guest stint and could offer some really good opinions in the booth.

We’ll likely see Archer again on ESPN during the postseason, but it will be in the Baseball Tonight studio as the network is finished airing live games and will hand off to Fox, FS1, MLB Network and TBS. But Archer has proven he has a broadcasting future when his playing days are over.