Dewayne Staats experienced every announcer’s worst nightmare on Thursday, losing his voice innings into the Tampa Bay Rays’ series finale at Arizona.
“[Zack] Littel’s not going to be the only opener,” warned Staats, foreshadowing his early departure. “I’m leaving after this inning.”
Fans knew Staats’ voice was giving out before he did, begging the play-by-play veteran to drink tea.
Thankfully, the Rays had reinforcements ready, with the trio of Andrew Freed, Doug Waechter, and sideline reporter Tricia Whitaker spelling Staats in the Bally Sports booth.
Considering the vocal burden placed on broadcasters, it’s surprising this doesn’t occur more often, an occupational hazard of talking for a living. Scott Van Pelt found himself in a similar bind earlier this year, barely able to get through SportsCenter while battling severe allergies.
Whitaker attributed Staats’ disappearing voice to Arizona’s dry climate, which isn’t the most conducive to calling a three-hour baseball game.
Fortunately, the Rays—owners of the majors’ best record at 55-28 (.663-win percentage)—won’t be in the desert much longer, heading to the Pacific Northwest for a three-game series in Seattle this weekend.