Chicago Cubs announcer Len Kasper unsure there will be baseball
By Mark Carman
Cubs announcer Len Kasper is prepared for no baseball in 2020
Just like everyone else, the TV voice of the Chicago Cubs wants Major League Baseball back. A roughly 80-game schedule starting sometime in July would be delightful, but baseball is going to look very different whenever it returns.
Despite the increased danger of travel due to the coronavirus, Len Kasper would love to be traveling with the team like he has been for the past 15 years calling Cubs baseball with his partner Jim Deshaies. Kasper though is skeptical he will leave Chicago this summer.
“My hunch is we’ll probably do road games from a studio,” Kasper told Da Windy City podcast. “I suppose there is a tiny chance we could travel. I know that that has been talked about and no final decision has been made. The bottom line with the traveling party is, they are going to pair it down to only the essential people. I think there might be some coaches who are not going to be able to travel. I think they are going to really limit that group.”
Interesting that Kasper does not believe the TV announcers will be considered essential. Many Cubs fans may disagree with that assessment. They want their Len and JD at the ballpark close to the action. Kasper would love to be included in the road party.
“I’m willing to do whatever they ask to do,” Kasper said. “I think philosophically I would always rather be at the ballpark to call the game, but that may not be in the cards this year and I’ll do whatever they ask.”
MLB still has a lot of work left to do to get a season underway, starting with the league and the Players Association coming to an agreement on pay. Owners want to further cut salaries due to fans not being in the stands. Players object, but may be willing to defer some of their payments to future years get a deal done without losing as much salary.
Kasper is optimistic a deal will be struck, but still skeptical there will be baseball because of the complications of the coronavirus.
“I think its 50-50. I’d like to lean 55-45 to the yes,” Kasper said. “They’re going to try like hell to do it and if will matters it will happen because both sides have a major vested interest in getting it done, but the obstacles are real.”
Kasper discusses a lot on Da Windy City Podcast including the Cubs being more likely to keep Javy Baez long term instead of Kris Bryant, the greatness of Joe Maddon, getting the Cubs job when he thought he had no chance.