Mike Krukow’s run in the SF Giants broadcast booth is winding down fast, with his final game of the season set for September 27 before he retires. That puts the club and its broadcast team on a ticking clock, and it also opens up the obvious question: who steps in next?
NBC Sports Bay Area will likely make the final decision, but Duane Kuiper figures to have a major voice in the conversation. Krukow’s longtime partner, former teammate and best friend has already made it clear he wants to be part of the process, and that makes sense. Kuiper should get some real input on who sits alongside him as this era comes to a close.
If Kuiper truly had the first crack at the choice, there are a few names that stand out.
The most natural fit might be Glen Kuiper. On a comfort level, there probably isn’t anyone Duane would feel easier with than his brother.
Glen Kuiper briefly played minor league baseball, but broadcasting has defined most of his career. He was the play-by-play voice of the Oakland A’s from 2006 to 2023 before being fired for seemingly accidentally saying a racial slur during a pregame broadcast.
The Giants have already had Glen Kuiper around this year as a fill-in on the radio side, so it isn’t hard to imagine him being pulled into the TV mix after Krukow steps away. That would bring obvious controversy with it, but if Duane Kuiper wants his brother involved, it remains a real possibility. Since both brothers are play-by-play voices, Duane could shift into the color role if that’s what the booth needs.
Another name floated into the mix is Dennis Eckersley. Steve Rissotto suggested the former Oakland A’s star on social media, pointing to a few connections: he and Kuiper were teammates in Cleveland, he previously worked as the Boston Red Sox color commentator, and he lives in the East Bay.
It would be a surprising hire, and there’s no way to know whether Eckersley would even want the job. Still, he fits the same old-school pitcher mold as Krukow, which at least gives the idea some logic.
Then there’s the possibility that Kuiper decides this is the right time to think beyond the familiar names and help bring along the next generation. Hunter Pence, Javier Lopez and Shawn Estes are all possibilities in that lane. Kuiper has called games with each of them before, so there’s already a comfort level there, and each would make sense as a former Giants player stepping into the color role.
However it shakes out, Kuiper is expected to be heavily involved in the decision. When the Giants eventually settle on Krukow’s replacement, don’t be surprised if Duane Kuiper’s preference carries plenty of weight.
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For Giants fans, the bigger issue is what kind of support hell have if he gets another season to work with. The article points to the teams recent trades and the state of its prospect base as the backdrop for whatever comes next, which makes this more than just a manager watch. If Vitello is staying, the front offices next moves matter just as much, because the shape of the roster will determine whether this first MLB managerial run becomes a reset or just another chapter in a frustrating stretch. [Read more 🡒]