Los Angeles Angels, Matt Vasgersian, play-by-play; Mark Gubicza, color
When the exceptional Victor Rojas left the Angels booth this past January to spend more time with his family, Angels telecasts lost a lot in the category of familiarity.
The Angels quickly moved to replace Rojas with Matt Vasgersian, widely recognized as a popular figure on MLB, Fox and ESPN telecasts.
With respect to ability, Vasgersian has nothing to prove. There is also little doubt about his credentials in working a team booth: he’s done the exact same thing in both Milwaukee and San Diego.
But there remains the question of identity with the team itself in the eyes of its fans. That might take a bit of time for Vasgersian, especially given his previous identifications with two other big league teams.
His naturally likeable personality should work to his advantage in that respect over time, but that process will require more than the one month Vasgersian has had to date. How precisely does a former Padres and Brewers voice with strong national credentials persuade Angels fans that he has suddenly become one of them?
Gubicza has no such problem. Although spending all but one of his 14 major league seasons on the mound in Kansas City, Gubicza is in his 15th season doing color for the Angels. His perception is hard-wired in.
That perception is of a solid, knowledgeable, articulate performer who deals in the factual. Shortcomings? Gubicza is not generally recognized as a humorist, and all of the chemistry that separates good telecast teams from bad ones will have to develop between Gubicza and Vasgersian over time.
Given Vasgersian’s obvious talent, one is tempted to want to wait for a year or two to see whether this team’s rating rises. In the interim, he will be supplemented by fill-in Daron Sutton, a proven play-by-play talent in his own right who will do Angels games on dates when Vasgersian’s network assignments conflict.
At this early date, though, the expected rookie gaps remain.
Experience: 3
Likeability: 5
Knowledge: 5
Humor: 3
Rapport: 3
Oratory: 4
Total: 23