Jessica Mendoza Defies Boundaries and Critics

Just when ESPN does something great ... replaces Curt Schilling with Jessica Mendoza, and strengthens their dignity in broadcast sports journalism, Fox Sports comes up with Pete Rose. Oh, the shame of it all ...

I love sports and listen/watch a fair amount. I turned on the game late, and immediately wondered who this woman was who was articulate and smart. I learned a lot about hitting strategies during the last 6 innings of the game. Keep her ESPN. If you're trying to expand your audience base, you will. Plus she oh-so gets what young women need in the age of "reality" TV.

Agree that Ms. Mendoza is fully capable. She should be hired because she is better at the job than is Curt Schilling, and, with John Kruk, ESPN has the best commentator team on T.V.

Also want to applaud David Archer for his efforts during Monday's game. His insights and particularly his enthusiasm were enjoyable to hear.

The Astros/Yankees game was my first experience with Ms Mendoza.

She's good. As knowledgeable as and much more enjoyable than Schilling, Kruk, et al.

ESPN should "keep her"...

Not sure Eddie Feigner broadcasted a major league game but he did throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Softball in the Olympics in Sydney 2000. Matter of fact Mendoza was also in Sydney and helped lead the U.S. to a gold medal.

While watching the Yankees-Astros wild card game I barely thought about Jennifer Mendoza other than that she was an analyst and did not detract from the contest which is the mark of a good color commentator. There was no link to post comments on Katie Rogers' piece on Mendoza in yesterday's Times so I posted these remarks on Facebook:

"A "gender-first" story that is being a little overplayed. The picture that accompanies the story was taken when Mendoza was doing commentary this past June for ESPN at the College World Series. Technically that is a "nationally-televised postseason baseball event," so last night's game was at best her SECOND appearance as a commentator in a "nationally-televised postseason baseball event," And is Mendoza's "milestone" more significant than those of women who have been play by play broadcasters and/or color analysts for all or part of a full 162-game season of a major league baseball team? Suzyn Waldman has been both a play-by-play broadcaster and color analyst for the Yankees since 1996. Gayle Gardner was the first with Colorado in 1993. Finally, the criticism that is being reported comes mostly from tweets. Twitter's motto should be "Make sure brain is NOT in gear when fingers are typing."

In addition I do not think that Mendoza's appearance is particularly noteworthy as other women have worked as analysts at major tournaments in men's sports, e.g. Julie Foudy for ESPN/ABC at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA Men's World Cups.

Softball? Was Eddie Feigner ever asked to work a postseason MLB broadcast?

MUCH better than Schilling!!!!

If ESPN doesn't want her, Los Angeles fans will gladly welcome her aboard once our beloved Vin Scully retires after next year. She would be the perfect person to carry on the Dodgers' wonderful announcing tradition.

“But I really like to reach out to them on body image, alcohol and drugs, and peer pressure,” she said. “It’s important to be a positive female role model in a world with a lot of Kardashians.”

I really, really dislike posters who quote lines from an article that they comment on. But this one said so much about the woman I simply had to.

What a breath of fresh air in an athletic world where overpaid athletes preen and pose before any camera they can find.

I've watched both wild card games and will say this about Ms. Mendoza. I missed her last night. With all due respect to the other guys in the TBS booth, they aren't in her league.

I'm sorry she won't be front and booth center for the rest of the baseball playoffs. We'll miss her insights.

I've watched and listened to baseball games for many, many years. I've heard lots of announcers, many of whom were just terrible. Jessica Mendoza is right up there with the best. Her analysis and insights run circles around Curt Schilling. ESPN should do its audience a favor and add her to its first team.

Jessica is terrific! Great voice and personality to go along with her excellent commentary. I predict a long and brilliant career.

No problem with Mendoza, but the ESPN broadcast was overwhelming. Seemed like about 6 announcers fighting for time on the air and there wasn't a moment of silence the entire game. And don't get me started on the distraction that is the box that defines the strike zone.

Simply not being a racist jingoistic ignoramus makes her an upgrade from the odious Schilling.

She did a great job on the game, but she sold me with her comment about her work with younger female athletes
"“But I really like to reach out to them on body image, alcohol and drugs, and peer pressure,” she said. “It’s important to be a positive female role model in a world with a lot of Kardashians.”
She certainly tells it like it is!!

A male caller to Mike Francesa on WFAN yesterday(10/7/15) castigated Jessica Mendoza because the caller said she knows nothing about baseball. I think this caller just cannot accept a woman doing commentary on professional baseball, I find Ms. Mendoza no better or worse than all the male baseball commentators. By the way, I think the same of Suzyn Waldman and I think her partner, John Sterling is the worst radio play by play announcer I ever heard in my 55 years of following baseball!

Fine, ESPN got rid of half of "Dumb and Dumber" Schilling. Now get rid of Kruk and I'll turn the sound back on.

I am totally in favor of female announcers handling sports broadcasts but let's be honest - Mendoza is a terrible announcer. She speaks in partial sentences, throws out non-sequiturs and her "analysis" makes little sense - so little that her comments often lead to dead air because neither of her partners can figure out how to react so they simply move on to the next topic. When Mendoza is part of the announcing crew I simply turn off the TV sound and listen to the radio.

Jessica was awesome covering the Yankee game. I am really looking forward to her work next season. As regards a woman covering baseball, really? That sort of attitude is so 1960s. Let's all wake up and let this talented woman entertain us.

Her bar is low. Schilling might be the worst ever, with his constant babbling about every pitch. That said, she is good. Clear, understated, good voice. But can't we just go back to the Vince Sculley approach. Silence can be golden!

I think she did a fine job. I thought she was superior to Schilling as a color commentator regardless of his other issues. A breath of fresh air who seems to want to talk about the game and the situation without hitting you over the head with 'personality'.

My husband and I thought she was wonderful the other night - she knows her stuff yet comes across as extremely personable. So much better than Schilling. Keep her on!

Jessicas analysis is quiet good, the problem is there is just too much of it.
Frankly, that can be said for most of the retired jocks who now occupy the booths.
Give me Orsillo, Vin Scully, and some of the professional announcers anyday.

I especially like Jessica's analysis of hitting, and her comments in general. She jumps in at the appropriate moment, and is concise. Good for her. Perhaps it is not surprising. After all, she went to Stamford where there are smart people!

I've been following women's softball for years and one reason I enjoy it so much is the high quality of the announcers, Mendoza in particular. I'm thrilled that she might replace Schilling on ESPN for MLB.

Mendoza is not as good as Shilling, and never will be. But she also isn't going to share her political views, which is safer for ESPN. But lets get real here, she is not that great. Not horrible, but not that great.

In the very end it all comes down to "Are you good". And she was not only good, she was great. Insightful, pointed and fun. The opposite of all the dumb jocks ESPN has decided to employ. And then you compare her to TBS coverage tonight, when they don't even say a word when a ball is a foot outside the strike zone for an important strikeout? My gosh. I hope ESPN is smart enough to put her on coverage for 2016.

Color involves story telling from the game. What do ballplayers say about their playoff beards. What are some crazy superstitions and pre-game routines what's it like your first time in the majors. Ms. Mendoza lacks the experience to do color. But, with hard work, she could do play by play I'm sure she'd prefer to do the work to do a job well than to be handed a job for which she is incompetent. Women, after all, have long sought equal treatment.

Jessica Mendoza is exceptionally competent and insightful. She's not as good a pitcher as Curt Shilling, but she's a far better announcer/commentator. Hopefully, ESPN will "do the right thing" and give her even more opportunities to shine.

Mendoza's terrific. A great listen.

But a woman calling baseball is old news to us New Yorkers. One Susan Waldman has been bringing her insights - and quirky personality - to Yankee radio for ten years.

I have really enjoyed her analysis. It's really about the first insightful analysis that I have heard from an espn color analyst on mlb since Joe Morgan and O.Hershiser left the network.

At first I was coming to say "another article on Jessica Mendoza?!" Bur I was unaware of the suspension of Schilling (my Mets haven't started playing yet, so it's not official postseason yet)... but great angle, and good follow up article. I really like her approach to analysis, cerebral, yet not overwhelming to the casual fan. AND... it all of this while striking a chord for inclusivity. If not ESPN I can see her working at MLB Network... but her future certainly seems bright.

She's quite good. Kudos to ESPN for giving her a chance, and recognizing her talent.