Dewayne Staats experienced every announcer’s worst nightmare on Thursday, losing his voice innings into the Tampa Bay Rays’ series finale at Arizona.
“[Zack] Littel’s not going to be the only opener,” warned Staats, foreshadowing his early departure. “I’m leaving after this inning.”
"I'm leaving after this inning."
Zack Littell wasn't the only opener today.
Dewayne Staats will be giving his voice a break after this inning, and Andy Freed will be the long man out of the pen. #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/rz48Q84akb
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) June 29, 2023
Fans knew Staats’ voice was giving out before he did, begging the play-by-play veteran to drink tea.
Poor Dewayne Staats voice. Maybe we should get Tricia into the booth to call the game, and Dewayne can hit the hot tub out in right-center and take it easy with some tea
— Darby Robinson (@darby_robinson) June 29, 2023
Our guy Dewayne Staats needs some green tea and honey if he's going to make it through this Rays game today…especially if Tampa Bay keeps scoring.
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) June 29, 2023
Poor Dewayne Staats, his voice is shot. Somebody get this man some tea asap! #RaysUp
— Kenny Morales (@KennyMoralesTV) June 29, 2023
Thankfully, the Rays had reinforcements ready, with the trio of Andrew Freed, Doug Waechter, and sideline reporter Tricia Whitaker spelling Staats in the Bally Sports booth.
Andy Freed got his warmup calls in and has taken over for Dewayne Staats here in the fourth.
Feel better soon, Dewayne! pic.twitter.com/BgydrsqOBB
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) June 29, 2023
Considering the vocal burden placed on broadcasters, it’s surprising this doesn’t occur more often, an occupational hazard of talking for a living. Scott Van Pelt found himself in a similar bind earlier this year, barely able to get through SportsCenter while battling severe allergies.
Here was the sign-off to the show. The SportsCenter equivalent to the Jordan flu game. Get well soon SVP. pic.twitter.com/52RlSlXPP8
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 23, 2023
Whitaker attributed Staats’ disappearing voice to Arizona’s dry climate, which isn’t the most conducive to calling a three-hour baseball game.
For those asking, we have @AndrewFreed33 coming to the rescue to do play-by-play in the booth!
Dewayne is feeling fine, just a case of a lost voice in this dry air!
— Tricia Whitaker (@TriciaWhitaker) June 29, 2023
Fortunately, the Rays—owners of the majors’ best record at 55-28 (.663-win percentage)—won’t be in the desert much longer, heading to the Pacific Northwest for a three-game series in Seattle this weekend.
About Jesse Pantuosco
Jesse Pantuosco joined Awful Announcing as a contributing writer in May 2023. He’s also written for Audacy and NBC Sports. A graduate of Syracuse’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with a master’s degree in creative writing from Fairfield University, Pantuosco has won three Fantasy Sports Writers Association Awards. He lives in West Hartford, Connecticut and never misses a Red Sox, Celtics or Patriots game.