It’s always interesting to see and hear how people around the world call American sports. There are frequently some notable differences from region to region in everything from terminology to enthusiasm. The latest great international call came from Darren Fletcher on the TNT Sports British broadcast of MLB’s London Series, with that covering the last moments of the New York Mets’ come-from-behind win over the Philadelphia Phillies in that series’ second and final game:
Darren Fletcher of TNT Sports (British MLB Broadcaster) calls the game ending double play as the Mets win 6-5 over the Phillies in London: pic.twitter.com/EnYhJPRYxZ
— MLB Clutch Moments And Walk Offs (@MLBWalk_Offs) June 9, 2024
“With the pressure on his shoulders. And Castellanos’ bat explodes! Are they going to get the runner at home? THEY’RE GOING TO GET THE DOUBLE PLAY! TO WIN THE GAME! WHAT AN END! The shattered bat, the runner out at home plate, and the ball fired into the glove! And the first baseman, Pete Alonso, and the New York Mets, somehow withstand the Phillies’ rally, and they win Game 2 in London 6-5! 17 hits, what drama, what a game, what a finish!”
For comparison, here’s Michael Kay’s U.S. call on ESPN:
The Mets win in London in THRILLING fashion! pic.twitter.com/pAefZmWJkJ
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) June 9, 2024
“Slow roller in front of the plate. There’s one! There’s two! And the Mets win! The Mets hold on to win 6-5! What a play by [Luis] Torrens, as he turns a 2-3 double play to end it.”
There’s certainly nothing wrong with Kay’s call, and it had its own emotion and merits. But Fletcher’s was a fun twist on this, and it’s definitely enjoyable to hear an announcer’s “What drama!” call on an MLB game in London rather than a Premier League soccer match. Fletcher is mostly known for soccer commentary across the BBC and BT Sport platforms, but he did a great job on this baseball call.
