One of the most important aspects of broadcasting baseball at any level is to learn the game thoroughly. The casual fan will rely on you to explain parts of the game that they may not know, or took the time to understand. That’s why they are a casual fan.

As a play-by-play announcer, you build your credibility with the audience by demonstrating your understanding of the nuances of the game. This takes time and experience, but you can take certain steps to expedite the process.

When I was growing up as a baseball fan, I thought I had an advanced-level of knowledge of the game. When I began broadcasting professional baseball, it didn’t take me long to realize that my level of knowledge was cursory at best. As I began to hang around people that played, coached and managed the game their entire lives, I understood that I had a lot to learn.

Tips for learning the strategies of the game

1. Watch each at-bat with a more discerning eye. In other words, pay attention to pitch sequences. Why was a certain pitch thrown in a certain count? What is a good count to run on for a baserunner? Know what the pitcher throws. A knowledge of his arsenal will help you understand why he attacks a hitter the way he does.
2. Ask questions. I was reluctant to ask a manager or player a question early in my career for fear of seeming ignorant. Bad move. The quickest way to learn the game is to leverage the experience of those you cover. Also, understand that you will likely never stop learning. I was still being exposed to philosophies and strategies thirty years into my career. If you have a question, ask it.
3. Pay attention to the analyst. If you are watching or listening to a major league broadcast these days, you are likely going to hear a former player in the booth. As play-by-play announcers, we tend to only focus on how the play-by-play announcer is calling a game. Don’t tune out the analyst. If they are good at what they do, you will learn the nuances of the game from a player’s perspective. In my career, I had the opportunity to work with some former players that had long and distinguished careers on the field. Names like Kirk Gibson, Jack Morris and Jerry Reuss. It took me a while to realize that I shouldn’t just concentrate on delivering the play-by-play, instead I should also pay attention to how the analyst was explaining the game. You’d be amazed at what you can learn from guys that have been on the field.