There’s really nothing on the baseball calendar for June 26 that makes it especially memorable. (OK, maybe Derek Jeter’s birthday …) Perhaps appropriately, just a regular Thursday is a special day at one of MLB Network’s flagship programs.
For “MLB Central” hosts Robert Flores, Lauren Shehadi and Mark DeRosa, it will mark the 1,000th show since they first got together in 2018. But don’t expect them to spend too much time celebrating.
“Sure, we’re obsessed with the big events and the big milestones,” Shehadi says, “but on a random Tuesday in August, we want to be at our best.
“It consumes us how much we love this show and this job and how much we want to honor the game and the players.”
And therein lies the key to the show’s staying power.
Day in, day out
After this many shows, the three hosts have their routine down pat. Get to the studio at 6:45 a.m. every weekday from spring training through the playoffs. Plot out the segments and guest appearances before going on the air from 10 a.m. to noon ET. Then continue what Flores calls ‘the free flow of ideas’ over texts and calls throughout the rest of the day.
But “MLB Central” isn’t a typical baseball program.
“We try to show you a baseball side that maybe you didn’t see or maybe didn’t pick up on during the game,” says DeRosa, who played 16 seasons in the majors from 1998-2013.
“But we try and honor the stories of the players and we try and make you laugh.”
The chemistry they have together is a big part of that. DeRosa and Shehadi quickly agree Flores has the quickest wit among them. But there’s still something else that makes everything click.
“Authenticity,” Shehadi says, pointing out she and Flores have journalism backgrounds. “I think we consume baseball so differently, as do the fans, so we ask questions that the fans want to know.” Meanwhile, DeRosa provides the on-field experience.
“It’s a beautiful harmony,” she explains.
Silly + serious = ‘awesome’
From their collaborative process, many ideas surface. But not all of them make it on the air.
Generally, it’s DeRosa who gets the ball rolling – working with editorial producer Eric Nehs on something technical such as a player’s defensive footwork or Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s swing plane. But there’s always room for something fun, too.
“DeRo is the most unique analyst I’ve ever worked with because he has a great feel for TV,” Flores says. “There are a lot of analysts who can tell you what happened, but DeRo thinks about it like a TV producer.”
One recent example stemmed from a rash of injuries the Minnesota Twins had experienced. The three were discussing how to deal with the “injury bug” when DeRosa had a vision of Twins manager Rocco Baldelli as an exterminator.
“It was so silly … and so awesome,” Shehadi recalls.
Soon after, the production team whipped up the perfect graphics to help DeRosa pull it off.
The result is an informative and entertaining two-hour block that keeps casual fans and baseball experts equally engaged. Ratings are pacing 6% ahead of last year in the latest Nielsen figures, according to Sports Business Journal.
“We know that there are players watching, there are coaches, there are managers, front office executives, owners. Anyone connected with major league baseball, they are watching,’ DeRosa says. ‘So we take that very seriously.”
Glimpse into the future
After passing the big milestone, the “MLB Central” crew is always looking forward to what’s next.
In the near-term, they’ll be keeping their eyes on the July 31 trade deadline. The Rafael Devers to San Francisco deal was a stunner, but who else might be moved?
Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara and Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez, says DeRosa. Flores offers up Cardinals reliever Ryan Helsley, but with a caveat: “The Cardinals are just one game back (in the wild card race).”
Ah yes, the playoffs.
“I think the Cubs have a chance to win the whole thing,” DeRosa says.
“Don’t sleep on the Giants,” Flores counters. “That’s a team that could make a deep run with what they’ve got.”
Even further down the road, everyone’s mind keeps looking for ways to improve, to shake things up, to book interesting guests.
The guest they’d all love to have someday: Shohei Ohtani.
“In a world where we know everything about everyone, I still feel like he’s the most mysterious, magical player maybe in all of pro sports,” Flores says. “Maybe in all of the world.”
DeRosa goes in a different direction. “I’d like to get some A-list celebrities like Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt,” he offers.
MLB Central has made its mark by being different from other sports talk shows that may rely more on high volume, bluster and hot takes.
“While all these other shows are doing whatever,” Flores says, ‘we’re trying to give them smart analysis and insight and celebrating the game and trying to make you laugh, all in the same two hours.”