San Francisco Giants announcer serves as team bat boy as fantasy football punishment

Fans widely consider the San Francisco Giants broadcast booth, led by Dave Flemming as the play-by-play announcer, to be the best local broadcast in MLB. However, as Flemming now knows, being great at your job doesn’t exempt you from fantasy football punishments.

Flemming finished last in his fantasy football league last season. This wasn’t just any fantasy football league, though, it was the San Francisco Giants’ club league. So, the punishment for losing would be on full display as he served as the team’s batboy for three innings during the team’s loss to Tampa Bay on Monday night.

So, Flemming had a laugh, put on the uniform, and served his punishment. At the very least, it seems like he served out his punishment with a smile on his face.

Flem's office looks a little different tonight 😂 pic.twitter.com/OR2YhZuLfr

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 15, 2023

“I gotta hustle, man. You do not want to get in the way of the game,” Flemming said. “I’m going to be icing down after this. I may not make it up (to the booth) for the fourth inning, we’ll see.”

Flemming didn’t just hear it from the booth, though. Home plate umpire Bill Miller even joked with Flemming that he could take an inning behind the dish if he wanted. San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler laughed at him and said, “Have a great game dude. It’s going to be very exciting.”

Ultimately, Dave Flemming needs to improve his fantasy football skills or risk becoming a permanent bat boy for the San Francisco Giants. That is, if the team is willing to let him handle to the role for more than three innings in a season.

Duane Kuiper who also works in the broadcast booth for San Francisco was supposed to join Dave Flemming but got out of the punishment somehow.

Of course, this wasn’t the first time that fantasy football and baseball have come into conflict. Last season, then-Cincinnati Reds outfielder Tommy Pham slapped San Francisco Giants outfielder Joc Pederson over fantasy football. Another time, catcher AJ Ellis proposed a trade to Zack Greinke during a mound visit to get him angry.

Al Michaels blasts Orioles over suspension of announcer Kevin Brown

It was widely reported that the Baltimore Orioles suspended broadcaster Kevin Brown because he recounted the team’s past record against the Rays in a planned segment. This led to an outpouring of support for Brown and backlash against the Orioles.

That included Al Michaels, who blasted Baltimore over the suspension.

“When I heard and read about it Jeremy, I thought that it was either a joke or there was something much more insidious behind the suspension,” Michaels said. “And now that I realize that it had everything to do with what was said about Tampa Bay and playing the Rays. I agree, there should be a suspension here. They should suspend the doofus that suspended Kevin Brown.”