The newest announcer for the Yankees has come under some scrutiny.
WFAN’s Boomer Esiason commented after Dave Sims opted out of the Yankees’ recent series against the A’s, marking less than 40 games into his time as the team’s radio play-by-play announcer.
“I’ve worked with Dave, and he’s a great guy,” Esiason mentioned on Monday morning’s “Boomer and Geo” show. “We have a lot of love for Dave Sims, but I have to say what I see. You just started as a Yankee announcer, and you’ve only done around 40 games, yet you decide to take some time off.”
Before criticizing, Esiason added, “Unless something significant happened that I’m unaware of, I stand by my comments.”
Still, he didn’t show much sympathy for Sims’s decision.
With the Yankees set to play three games in Seattle after the A’s series, Sims, who worked with the Mariners for 18 years, opted to take time off to visit Seattle instead.
“I might be a New Yorker, but I feel at home when I’m back in Seattle,” Sims shared. “I decided to skip the A’s series and spend a few extra days with family and friends. Thank you very much.”
The show recognized Sims’s announcement, especially since it fell on Mother’s Day weekend, but Esiason countered nonetheless.
“There’s plenty of time to spend with family in the offseason,” he argued. “All those players and coaches have moms too.”
Sims took on the play-by-play role this season after John Sterling retired following 36 years.
“What are you thinking? You just landed a dream job with the Yankees! It should be what you dedicate your life to,” Esiason said, adding that if John Sterling were still around, taking a weekend off after such a long career would be more acceptable.
In the end, Esiason seemed to grasp Sims’s perspective, but it felt premature to him for Sims to take a leave.
“I just found it surprising to have taken a weekend off after only 40 games,” Esiason stated. “That’s just where I stand.”
