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Game 1 of the National League Wild Card series between the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs is hours away, and with ESPN having the rights to both the American League and National League Wild Card series, they have already announced the broadcast teams for each of the series. It's also a good time to remind Cubs fans that all of the Cubs' playoff games can be heard on the radio, with the sweet sounds of Hall of Famer Pat Hughes calling the action.
On the television call for the Padres and Cubs will be Kevin Brown, Jessica Mendoza, Ben McDonald, and Jesse Rogers. Rogers, who is the Cubs' beat reporter for ESPN 1000, likely will ensure that the game has the context that is otherwise provided on the Marquee Sports Network.
ESPN just locked in its Cubs playoff broadcast crew
For Cubs fans, this may be their first chance to listen to Brown, who has quickly ascended toward being one of the better play-by-play announcers in all of Major League Baseball. Calling games for the Baltimore Orioles, Brown and McDonald landed in the Top 10 of Awful Announcing's ranking of broadcasts this season.
"In the comments, there was a lot of praise for Brown in particular. That included “fun, personable, knowledgeable and tells great stories surrounding baseball and anything else,” “the best PXP guy in MLB and deadpan hilarious,” “best young PBP guy in baseball,” and “Kevin is top notch! Great sense of humor and pop culture!” He had a few critics, including “sounds like most generic PBP men” and “an annoying homer,” but there were many more plaudits than criticisms."
Interestingly enough, not being an "annoying homer" is one of the reasons why Cubs fans haven't felt connected to Boog Sciambi. Sciambi continues to rank as one of the best announcers in baseball, but Cubs fans have grown irritated by the lack of enthusiasm he has shown in calling key moments that go in the Cubs' favor.
Sciambi will be a part of ESPN's coverage of the Wild Card round and will be on the call for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Cincinnati Reds.