For fans of baseball, the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) broadcasts on ESPN have been a much-needed distractions as they wait for the MLB to return. You can have a cup of coffee or get up extra early in the morning to watch the game, depending on where you are. Sometimes, you might get a surprise along the way.
Throughout the broadcasts, the broadcasters will do interviews in the middle of the game. Early Sunday morning, Jon Sciambi and Jessica Mendoza were talking with Trevor Bauer. Bauer brings an analytical side to pitching when talking about the game. However, I am sure he did not expect for his phone number to be leaked as he called in via FaceTime:
It would be easy for Bauer to be irate about this, but he turned the mistake into a positive by doing a giveaway as people called his number to get his voicemail. Sure, it might require Bauer to change his phone number down the road, but you never know how the giveaway can help someone during some tough times.
ESPN did take the phone number off the screen quickly before it went to commercial break. That being said, as we all know on social media, once people see it, it can’t be taken away.
We all make mistakes and this mistake should not take away from the strong job ESPN has done a good job in airing this game with the broadcasters calling the games from their homes. They have mixed in calling the game with giving the viewer a knowledge of the KBO and the history behind it.
For Bauer, he took brushed off the mistake and is going to end up making someone’s day in the process. It just goes to show you that you never know what to expect when watching a KBO game, both on and off the field, and that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s a bad thing.