Midwest League Annoucers on twitter

Just a quick list of some of the announcers around the league on twitter.

Also, their most recent tweet.

There's the guy with the Timber Rattlers: And somewhere...@nbaliva is gloating. Which team didn't get any sleep last night?

Nathan from Peoria: Introducing Friday's Hardee's strikeout batter: none other than @Nick_Devlin 's man-crush Aaron Hicks. Free Little Thickburger when he K's!

Nick with Burlington: @BaseballGirl101 Hope I didn't bore you too badly. At least we won a game for you (if you listened that long).

Dave in Clinton: I keep forgetting I have twitter.*

Looks like the West is representing!

We are dominating with the non-broadcasters, too.

For example, Fake John Rodgers from Fake Cedar Rapids: I sure wish Bob Brooks had a Twitter feed.

*-This comment is so Dave Lezotte that I think that it may actually not be Dave Lezotte.

New guy in town

In both the broadcasting and blogging sense.

Nick Devlin, the new radio announcer for the Bees, has a blog called Bees Lines.

Here is his latest post titled Blogging around the MWL.

It contains, perhaps, the most accurate description of Rattler Radio ever.
But, you'll have to click through to read it.

Oh, and...

Extending the traditional "Rattler Radio" welcome

Welcome to the party, pal.


Or -- in this case -- welcome back to the party, pal.

The West Michigan Whitecaps announced today that Ben Chiswick has been named the new radio play-by-play announcer for the Whitecaps.

Chiswick spent the last four seasons as director of broadcasting and media relations for the fellow Midwest League Quad Cities River Bandits.

Whitecaps about to seen an uptick in mail...

...from radio announcers.

One and done.

Steve Lloyd-Jones, the radio voice of the West Michigan Whitecaps who worked his first season in 2009, decided not to renew a contract with the Detroit Tigers' Class A minor league affiliate after the two parties failed to reach an agreement on his on-air schedule for 2010.

One of the radio voices for sports at Grand Valley State University, Lloyd-Jones, 36, has three children younger than 5 and cited family as his reason for leaving the job.

The Whitecaps play a 140-game regular-season schedule, 70 games on the road. It's not uncommon in minor league baseball to be on the road for a week or more.

"Based on my family needs, my career needs to take a back seat right now. I have very young kids and they need their dad," Lloyd-Jones said. "I underestimated the toll of being gone on my kids, and we couldn't reach a compromise on a more family friendly schedule and my needs and their needs as an organization.

"Working with the Whitecaps was great. They are a Triple A organization in every way, and I'm going to miss calling baseball games and the Whitecaps people. Whoever comes in will have a great opportunity, but I won't have any regrets because of my decision."

Was the 'One and done.' lede really necessary? Especially since Steve worked with Rick Berkey for a summer or two before Dave Skoczen's run in west Michigan.

I don't understand a word he is saying in that fifth paragraph.

Seriously though...Good luck, Steve.

The Kind of New Guy

"New" radio guy in West Michigan. Oh, and if you want to why radio guys are a little odd look at these numbers:

Thirty-five people inquired about the vacant West Michigan Whitecaps play-by-play radio position for the 2009 Midwest League season.

Although four of the resumes stood out, only one person was interviewed.

That person was Steve Lloyd-Jones, 35, who today was named play-by-play radio announcer for the Whitecaps.

Lloyd-Jones is no stranger to the Whitecaps' radio booth. He was the color commentator from 2002-04 and worked with Rick Berkey, who was the play-by-play voice in West Michigan's first 11 seasons.

Berkey currently is the radio voice for Michigan State women's basketball.

Lloyd-Jones will replace Dave Skoczen, who was West Michigan's radio voice the past four seasons. He resigned after the 2008 season.

35 play-by-play guys going after one opening. Steve is understandably happy:

"I'm thrilled about this opportunity," said Lloyd-Jones, who has been the play-by-play radio announcer for Grand Valley State men's and women's basketball since 2005. He also has been GVSU football's color commentator. Plus, he has provided the play-by-play for Lakers' baseball the past two seasons.

"I got a first-hand look at how unique Whitecap games provide a special time, and I see my role as providing that enjoyment to the listeners," Lloyd-Jones said.

Enjoyment to the listeners? I'll have to try that this year.

MWL Announcer News

A couple of announcements by Midwest League teams yesterday.

Alphabetically, Lansing is up first.

The Lansing Lugnuts have announced that Jesse Goldberg-Strassler will become the next "Voice of the Lugnuts" beginning with the upcoming season. He will be taking over for Brad Tillery, who is leaving to pursue educational opportunties.

Goldberg-Strassler comes to Lansing after spending last season as the play-by-play voice of the Frontier League Champion Windy City Thunderbolts, where he was named runner-up for Ballpark Digest's Broadcaster of the Year. The Greenbelt, Maryland native previously spent two seasons as the number two voice for the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (2006-2007) and one season working for the Can-Am League Brockton Rox (2005).

Brad has been great to work with over the last few years. Now, who will I talk to about wrestling? Good luck to him as he returns to his beloved Auburn!

South Bend, you're next.

The South Bend Silver Hawks announce the addition of Owen Serey as Media Relations Coordinator and the Voice of Silver Hawks Baseball on ESPN Radio 1490 AM.

Prior to joining the Silver Hawks, Serey spent the 2006-2008 seasons as the Media Relations Assistant and Color Commentator for the Dayton Dragons. During that time, he made numerous trips to South Bend to broadcast games for the Dragons and is excited to continue his career in the Midwest League.

Owen knows the league and the personalities in the league so he better not spoil it for the new guys (remember there is a new guy in Fort Wayne and there is still an opening in West Michigan) before their respective first series against the Timber Rattlers.

Welcome to the club, guys. I'll be in contact about the association dues