clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Roxy Bernstein is out as a Marlins Radio Announcer

The Marlins have made a change to the radio lineup.

The Marlins have decided not to renew the contract of No. 2 radio announcer Roxy Bernstein, the team disclosed Monday night. The Marlins declined to give a reason.

---

Lead radio announcer Dave Van Horne and TV announcers Rich Waltz and Tommy Hutton are expected to return.

---

The team will conduct a national search for a replacement.

That not giving a reason thing only lasted one night.

Roxy Bernstein's dismissal as a Marlins radio announcer this week had a lot to do with the fact he never gave up his University of California basketball radio job, didn't live in South Florida during the winter and, in the Marlins' eyes, didn't make the Marlins his clear-cut No. 1 priority.

Bernstein said he believes he could have kept his Marlins job if he relinquished the Cal basketball job and lived in South Florida year-round, but team sources said his contract would not have been renewed regardless.

''Cal is where I went to school and it's very important to me,'' he said. ``It's my passion.''

Asked if he's disappointed, he said ``yes and no. I don't have any hard feelings.''

---

Marlins senior vice president P.J. Loyello said the team needs ``someone who wants to be here year-round and help promote the team.''

Dave Van Horne will remain the Marlins' lead radio announcer.

I probably listen to the games on the radio more than most.  My commute from work and given the time that I'm unchained from the desk dictates that.

Which isn't all bad since baseball is a good radio sport and I happen to like the Marlins announcers, though I know some of you don't.  I would probably rather be watching the game but reality doesn't permit that.  But enough about me.

Roxy did a good job as the Marlins second chair announcer, and he will be missed. But this imples something kinda of interesting, especially with it following on the heels of the Kranitz dismissal.

The only major league baseball organization where I knew some of the front office members, coaches, players, player's wives and got to attend the games for free was the Houston Astros in the 90's and they were all about loyalty.

If a coach thought he could better himself with a position elsewhere, that was fine, but the club would immediately look for someone else who wanted to be a part of the organization.

The announcers didn't have a second job during the offseason.  They were on the offseason tour helping to build up fan support.

The Marlins to my knowledge have never taken this tack and it is intriguing they are doing it now.  Does it mean anything?  Not sure.  But I do get the idea that the front office is getting very serious about things.

And if that is the case, it could be an interesting offseason.