Dodgers Team News

Dodgers: Joe Davis and Robert Van Scoyoc Recognized by The Athletic

Dodgers broadcaster Joe Davis was named to the list of the top 35 ‘behind the scenes talents shaping baseball’ under the age of 35 by the top-notch publication The Athletic. Dodgers first-year hitting coach and new-age pioneer Robert Van Scoyoc was also named to the list.

Here is a link to the rest of those who made the top 35 (Davis is the only broadcaster and Van Scoyoc is the only hitting coach):



Joe Davis

Former columnist at the Los Angeles Times and recent addition to The Athletic, Andy McCullough, penned some kind words in regards to Joe Davis:

“A couple of years ago, Davis, 31, took one of baseball’s most enviable — and intimidating — jobs: Replacing Vin Scully behind the mic at Dodgers Stadium. He has emerged from Scully’s shadow as the voice of a team trying to make history of their own.”

Robert Van Scoyoc

Pedro Moura of The Athletic also penned some words about Dodgers hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc:

“Because he worked with so many of the Dodgers in the minor leagues, teaching them their swings when he was consulting, Van Scoyoc is responsible for how smooth the transition to the big leagues has been for several rookies this season. Will Smith, Matt Beaty and Edwin Ríos all credit him, and all have been better than expected. Unlike many hitting coaches, Van Scoyoc already knows exactly how players’ swings work when they reach the majors, and how to monitor them. It’s worth taking a look at how he taught them.”

Both are well deserving of the honor, with Davis filling the shoes of Vin Scully in admirable fashion and Van Scoyoc pioneering a new age of offensive firepower for the Dodgers.

Daniel Preciado

My name is Daniel Preciado and I am 19 years old. I am a sophomore Sport Analytics major and Cognitive Science and Economics dual minor at Syracuse University. When I am not in New York, I live in Whittier, California --- not too far from Chavez Ravine. I am pretty old-school for being an analytics guy and I will always embrace debate. Also, Chase Utley did absolutely nothing wrong.

7 Comments

  1. Davis is quite good, but not without faults.
    – Speaks in an intelligent adult manner and exhibits a large & colorful vocabulary
    – He knows baseball.
    – However, he often digresses into overly chatty, never ending, not game related banter. All broadcasters do it, but Davis with Hershisher & Garciaparra need to back off a bit.
    I find myself pressing mute a little too often. It’s like: ‘Will you guys just stop, there’s a game going on’.
    – And then there’s Davis’s annoying & obsessive talk about how many homers there are now. Ignoring the fact that most players are much stronger / conditioned these days, today’s players actively strive to hit homers vs.regular knocks & average, the pitchers throw harder resulting in longer fly balls when hit, so many young pitchers who throw hard but lack control to keep the ball out the hitters sweet spots.
    Well that’s a topic all by itself.
    Regardless, I really like Davis, the Dodgers are fortunate to have him.
    Thanks

    1. Check out other teams’ broadcasts. Joe Davis is as good as it gets. Knowledgeable, well-prepared, personable. I like that he and Orel don’t stick solely to the game. As a baseball fan, I can see what’s going on. Listening to those guys and the great Alanna Rizzo is like watching a game with friends. I also love the camera work that spends so much time in the Dodger dugout. This is not the standard throughout baseball. It’s something extra that serves to create a closeness between the team and its fans.

      Quick Joe Davis story: I live in the Philly area and am a college basketball fan (especially the Big East). One night this past winter, I set down to watch a Villanova-Butler game. There was Joe handing play-by-play. His insights into the teams were fantastic and went far beyond what appears on stat sheets. He was a much-better listen than the usual Big East guys. Amazing preparedness. He knew the players inside and out. This guy never just mails it in. Again, we Dodger fans are blessed.

  2. Joe Davis is a great announcer, i will admit i was skeptical at first having grown up listening to Vin, but have been very satisfied for my youngest daughter he will be her Vin my older kids got to hear Vin my oldest being 25, also Alanna Rizzo is a great part of the broadcast, i could personally do without Orel or Nomar, i think Joe could do it alone.

  3. I really enjoy Joe & Orel. they have a good chemistry. Joe & Nomar are good as well. I think it’s a great balance of broadcaster & former player. I like that Joe gives us history on all players, not just Dodgers. He gives us stats & records but what I love the most is when he asks Orel or Nomar their view as a former player. I enjoy when they “ramble on” a bit. It makes it more personable & I like to know about them too, not just the players. Baseball is a long game. There’s plenty of time to hear a lot of stories.

  4. They talk too much we need more Baseball history not Oral history we need stories like Vinny used to tell we need more backgrounds of the players in the game and how they got to be where they are today i dont need to know what they eat and how they eat it i need good history stories also Oral talks way to much about pitches so boring its a good the thing our Dodgers are doing so great and they make it so fun or i would be using the mute bitten a lot more

  5. I have been a dodger fan ever since they moved to LA and there will never be another Vin. But of all the broadcasters today, Joe and crew are by far the best. The insights and stories shared by Orel and Nomar especially about personal experiences with the players allow us to get to know the players better. It’s part of why the Dodger organization is so special. The announcers and players are not just good at what they do, they are good people. GO BLUE!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button