ESPN play-by-play man Sean McDonough may be one of the most versatile announcers of all time, having been behind the mic at points for each of the Big Four leagues, college football and basketball, tennis, golf and the Olympics.
Despite his reputation as a pro’s pro, McDonough has long maintained a playful-to-provocative streak—put on full display during Game 2 of the American League Wild Card series between the Rangers and Rays.
With Texas jumping out to a 4–0 lead on Tampa Bay a day after winning Game 1, McDonough commented on a smattering of boos from the audience.
“Some boos starting to come down from the group—I’m not sure we can call it a crowd—the group here at the Trop,” McDonough said.
"Some boos starting to come down from the group. I'm not sure we can call it a crowd. The group here at the Trop."- Sean McDonough ⚾️☠️🎙️ pic.twitter.com/xsg0CWFwxP
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 4, 2023
McDonough’s broadside toward the Rays came a day after they drew 19,704 to their 4–0 loss to the Rangers in Game 1—the smallest non-pandemic MLB postseason crowd since 1919.
Tampa Bay fans can take heart in the fact that the Red Sox—or which McDonough has called games on and off since 1988—had a playoff attendance of zero this season.