• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, July 2, 2025

A-Rod: More Mic’d Up Players a ‘Game-Changer’

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

Major League Baseball’s challenge is attracting a younger fanbase. ESPN analyst Alex Rodriguez has pinpointed a ”game-changer” for the Grand Old Game: putting microphones on players during live play.

“One of the things people would always ask me is, ‘Hey, what were you and Mariano [Rivera] talking about?’ Or ‘What were you and [Andy] Pettitte, what were you and [Derek] Jeter, talking about?’” said Rodriguez, a 14-time MLB All-Star.

Rodriguez called a Philadelphia Phillies-Atlanta Braves game last August where Bryce Harper wore a mic. Harper didn’t just talk to ESPN announcers between innings or from the dugout — he joined their discussion during live play. 

Rodriguez, who starred for the Mariners, Rangers, and Yankees, was blown away. If A-Rod had his way, he’d mic up players in batting cages, in the clubhouse, and even in their cars.

“I want to see them driving home and coming to the stadium,” A-Rod said. “The more, the better. The young people don’t just want generic content. They want the things behind the scenes they can’t get anywhere else.”

With an estimated net worth of $350 million, Rodriguez knows baseball and business. Warren Buffett is his financial mentor and he calls George Steinbrenner, the late Yankees owner, his “North Star.” 

Rodriguez led an investment group that almost bought the New York Mets, and he’s a player in CGI Merchant Group, a $650 million hospitality fund looking to acquire hotels. The Rodriguez-backed SPAC Slam Corp. went public via a $500 million IPO last month.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

exclusive

ESPN, Fox Reluctant to Share Talent With Netflix for Christmas NFL Games

ESPN talents who worked last year’s games include Laura Rutledge and Mina Kimes.

Bobby Bonilla On Annual $1.2M Payday: ‘It Doesn’t Suck’

The former MLB star receives another $1.19 million from the Mets today.

ESPN, MLB Relationship May Not Be Over After All

The parties restart rights talks amid a high-profile divorce in February.
Rob Manfred, Commissioner of the MLB, speaks to the media during Cactus League media day at the Arizona Biltmore on Feb. 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

Manfred, MLB Owners Pitch Directly to Players Ahead of CBA Expiration

Owners see a disconnect between union leadership and individual players.

Featured Today

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Seattle Rough & Tumble
June 28, 2025

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.
June 27, 2025

Shitposters Have Taken the Reins of Pro Sports’ Official Voices

Meet the social media pros turning sports teams into internet trolls.
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena
June 26, 2025

Stanley Cup’s International Summer Tour: Rules, Repairs, and Raucousness

No pro trophy tour compares to the NHL’s three-month global victory lap.
Leo Messi

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
June 23, 2025

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
June 19, 2025

Pacers Force Game 7, Could Spark Big Ratings Boost for NBA Finals

Game 7 could boost NBA Finals ratings after a slow start this year.
June 17, 2025

Stanley Cup Final Delivers Drama but Struggles for Eyeballs in U.S.

U.S. viewership fell while Canadian audiences for the event rose slightly.
June 17, 2025

Streaming Tops Linear for First Time, Sports Still Key to TV’s Resilience

Streaming hits another critical milestone in an accelerating media transition.
June 17, 2025

Zaslav Takes Pay Cut, TNT Sports Future Unclear in WBD Shake-Up

The TNT Sports parent company retools its executive pay after shareholder pushback.