This is part one of a two part series and Monday in the print edition we will hear from F.P. Santangelo about his new job.
The Nationals have hired San Francisco Giants broadcaster F.P. Santangelo to replace Rob Dibble as the color analyst on their MASN telecasts. He will have the distinction of being the fifth color analyst the team has had since moving to Washington in 2005.
He began his career in baseball as an outfielder for Montreal and played seven years in the big leagues for the Expos, Giants, Dodgers and Athletics.
Santangelo will join popular play by play man Bob Carpenter on the game broadcasts and it is expected (but not yet officially announced )that Ray Knight will return to his role as Nats Xtra with co-host Johnny Holliday handling the pre and post game duties.
For many Nationals fans Santangelo is an unknown but to Ted Griggs the vice president and general manager of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area we are about to get “ one of the most entertaining broadcasters in the business.”
I spoke to Griggs about the Nationals newest color analyst.
JW: You were his boss what impressed you about him?
Griggs:”I am impressed with his versatility. He has done the pregame shows for us; he has been an in-game reporter and covered the Barry Bonds run to break Hank Aaron’s homerun record. He has also filled in doing color on both our Giants and A’s telecasts. He has served as the host of our popular daily talk show Chronicle Live and has even done sideline coverage on our football telecasts. He also hosts a popular sports talk show on the top rated station in the San Francisco Bay area Monday – Friday’s 7pm to 10pm on KNBR so he is one the most popular guys in the area.”
JW: What kind of broadcaster is Santangelo?
Griggs:”He is impossible not to like. He is a hard worker, has a great sense of humor, is a wonderful storyteller and really understands baseball both from a player’s perspective as well as a fans perspective. I really think that he is a great talent and while I am very sorry he will be leaving us I told him that there are only 30 Major League Baseball broadcasting jobs out there and he really should take the spot in Washington because it would be a great opportunity for him.”
On Thursday night showed his sense of humor on his KNBR radio using the LaBron James line that “I am taking my game to the Nation’s Capital.” His listeners had great time poking fun with about the new job and wished him well.
Let’s hope he gets a long run here in Washington.
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