AA Podcast: Ken Rosenthal on MLB Opening Day, Rob Manfred, Shohei Ohtani, and more

On this week’s episode of the Awful Announcing Podcast, host Brandon Contes interviews Fox Sports MLB field reporter/The Athletic MLB insider Ken Rosenthal. With Opening Day upon us, Brandon and Ken discuss a wide range of topics including not liking the idea of the golden at-bat rule, not being retained at MLB Network and Ken’s relationship with Rob Manfred, Shohei Ohtani being a star, and more.

Here’s the full breakdown:

• :43: Excitement for Opening Day
• 1:17: First full-time season
• 2:11: What Ken likes about covering baseball today
• 3:17: Favorite rule change while covering baseball
• 4:01: Golden at-bat rule
• 6:02: Going from local to national
• 8:59: Being comfortable on TV?
• 10:00: Bowtie origins
• 12:08: Interviewing someone in dugout during game
• 13:21: Fan feedback from in-game interviews
• 15:06: Does MLB do a good job promoting their stars?
• 16:34: Does Shohei Ohtani embrace being the “Face of MLB?”
• 18:22: Do the Dodgers want Ohtani to be more available to the media?
• 18:50: Working with Joe Buck
• 20:52: Importance of an MLB and ESPN relationship
• 21:48: Working at MLB Network
• 23:12: Fear that criticism about MLB or Rob Manfred would cost Ken his MLB Network job?
• 24:13: Relationship with Rob Manfred
• 24:52: Work on Astros cheating scandal
• 26:06: Not realizing how big story would be at first
• 27:01: Anyone tried to get story quashed?
• 27:47: Story that had biggest impact to Ken’s career?
• 28:46: Odds there will be a lockout in 2026?
• 30:15: Is MLB headed for realignment?
• 31:34: Potential 2025 MLB storyline that Ken is most excited for

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