The Dodgers are pushing back against ESPN’s requests for players to be mic’d up during playoff games.
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts told reporters Thursday, before Game 2 of his team’s National League Wild Card series against the Brewers at Dodgers Stadium, that his players will no longer wear microphones in the field.
Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner had a microphone on him during the Dodgers’ Game 1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday and was shown on camera getting set to play his position while trying to have a conversation with the ESPN broadcast crew. Roberts said the Dodgers “got wind” of what ESPN had planned with Turner an hour before game time and were not happy about it.
“Baseball is kind of evolving, but, yeah, I don’t know,” Roberts said. “That’s a decision Justin made. I don’t see that happening with our guys going forward.”
The in-game interviews are an attempt by MLB to help grow and game and humanize its players, who have the right to refuse the interviews. Despite Roberts’ decree, players could make the choice to defy it. — thought that seems unlikely.
The decision comes after Oakland A’s outfielder Ramon Laureano was heard his on live mic dropping an F-bomb during this club’s Game 2 win over the White Sox on Thursday. He said, “Damn, he can f—king run!’ in reference to Chicago’s Eloy Jimenez’ speed after a double in the gap.