Toronto

Heads up, baseball fans: the Blue Jays will have dedicated radio broadcasts again

You'll soon be able to listen to Vladimir Guererro Jr. hit home runs on the radio again, after Rogers Communications confirmed Wednesday that dedicated radio broadcasts would begin again this week.

Many fans upset when radio broadcasts were replaced with TV simulcast

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Tayler Saucedo delivered during the seventh inning of the team's baseball game against the New York Mets on Saturday, July 24. Baseball fans will soon be able to once again hear play-by-play dedicated radio broadcasts for the Blue Jays. (Mary Altaffer/The Associated Press)

You'll soon be able to listen to Vladimir Guererro Jr. hit home runs on the radio again, after Rogers Communications confirmed Wednesday that dedicated radio broadcasts would begin again this week.

The Jays will play their first game at Rogers Centre in over a year on Friday in front of a hometown crowd that's been capped at 15,000 due the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"With the Jays returning ... the radio broadcast will now go back to having its own dedicated play-by-play call," Sarah Grossman, director of communications at Sportsnet, said in an email Wednesday. 

Like past seasons the games will air on Sportsnet 590 The Fan.

Earlier this season Sportsnet, which is owned by Rogers, axed radio-only broadcasts and instead simulcast the TV broadcast. 

The move frustrated thousands of fans, notably those who have vision issues and prefer the more descriptive call offered by radio broadcasters.

Anyone who has listened to a game on the radio this year is aware of the problems with the simulcast. Many plays are discussed, but not described, leaving listeners filling in the blanks.

Sportsnet said the decision to simulcast was a way to minimize travel for its staff during the pandemic and to streamline production.