By Chris Brown / STL Baseball Today | @cbrown_STLBBT | Feb. 27, 2016, 11:12 am CT
Edmonds speaks at Ballpark Village during Cardinals Hall of Fame inductions in 2014. By Flickr user buzbeto / CC Image
A familiar face will bring a unique perspective to Cardinals games in 2016, as the team announced on Friday that former All Star outfielder Jim Edmonds will join the broadcast booth as color commentator for a handful of contests this season.
Edmonds, who wore the birds on the bat for eight seasons from 2000-2007, will be in the TV booth alongside play-by-play announcer Dan McLaughlin for 30 regular-season games, in addition to appearing as a pre- and postgame analyst for approximately 20 other games, MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch reports.
“I’m excited because it’s something different. It’s a challenge,” Edmonds, who is serving as a guest instructor for the Cardinals at Spring Training, told reporters, including Langosch. “I have to figure out how to approach it. I’m just going to try to do the best I can. I’m going to try to bring a different take.”
A member of the Cardinals 2006 World Championship team, Edmonds spent a total of 17 years in the majors, smacking 393 home runs while posting a career OPS of .903 in addition to fantastic defensive in the outfield, which earned him eight Gold Glove awards.
It’s experience the 45-year-old believes will help him in his new role.
“Hopefully, I’m not just a one-dimensional person that has an expertise in one field,” Edmonds said. “I know a little bit about every position on the field. I played all three outfield positions. I played first base. I was in a lot of pitchers’ meetings and catchers’ meetings over the years. And I was a hitter. I think that will help me. I have a lot of knowledge about what’s going on. And I’m still learning. I have always paid attention to every aspect of the game.”
As Langosch reports, Edmonds, just like the players on the field, will get in some practice this spring, calling five Grapefruit League games for Fox Sports Midwest. He’ll be in the booth for his first Spring Training game on March 9.
