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

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.

-: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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