D-backs search for candidates to fill broadcast booth
The D-backs announced the day after the season that television play-by-play man Daron Sutton and analyst Mark Grace would not return in 2013.
Since then, the D-backs have been making a list and checking it twice.
"We've begun talking to some candidates," Hall said. "I have a short list of play-by-play people and a longer list of analysts."
The top name on the list of analysts, Bob Brenly, is a very familiar one for D-backs fans.
Brenly was the team's television analyst from 1998-2000 before he served as manager from '01-04. He led the D-backs to a World Series title in '01, and was popular while in the booth as well.
"Obviously I would [be] lying if I didn't say I reached out to Bob Brenly right away," Hall said. "Bob was my first call. We've had a few conversations ... we just have to see if we can get creative to get competitive."
The need to get creative is because Brenly, whose contract to call Cubs games expired at the end of the season, made quite a bit more in that capacity than the D-backs are willing to spend. Brenly has been talking with [Cubs network] WGN about an extension, but has a fondness for Arizona, where he and his wife, Joan, still have a winter home.
Hall has said that his preference would be that the new analyst have a previous tie to the organization in some way, and Hall has reached out to some former players to gauge their interest.
On the play-by-play side, there are a number of different ways the club could go.
"We have some veteran play-by-play guys, as well as some new blood," Hall said.
Hall declined to identify any of the candidates, but should the club decide to go with someone who is not a veteran, ESPN Baseball Tonight host Steve Berthiaume is someone who will get a long look.
When the club hired Sutton following the 2006 season, Giants broadcaster Dave Fleming and The Baseball Network's Matt Vasgersian were candidates. Both are now well entrenched in their current jobs and do not figure to be candidates.
"We've gotten a lot of interest," Hall said. "There are some real good candidates out there. The process has begun. We want this to happen quickly."