Softball World Series - ESPN

Coming off a very strong ratings performance last year, this years coverage has included the new voice of former major leaguer John Kruk.  Kruk has been involved in ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" program as a panelist/analyst.  I wasn't terribly excited to see him added to the roster for the WCWS coverage, but he has been changing my mind and, apparently, the minds of many others in the blogosphere.   He confessed to some nervousness at the outset, but he has seemed to find his groove.  It hasn't hurt ESPN nor Kruk that his partners in the booth have been Beth Mowins and Jessica Mendoza.  These two women, along with field reporter Holly Rowe, provided an exceptional series of broadcasts a year ago that ended with Arizona's amazing "upset" of Tennessee.  Mowins is articulate, smooth and smart on the mike.  Mendoza adds the player's perspective without being obnoxious or self-aggrandizing.  To his credit, John Kruk has displayed amazing restraint, not speaking unless he has something to say that helps the audience understand and enjoy the games.  Still, I can't quite get past the idea that ESPN thought this keystone women's sports championship somehow needed a male voice, and also thought that softball needed a voice from pro baseball.  Much of what softball fans love about their game is that it is NOT like baseball in ways that matter.