After Fans and Players Push Back, MLB Does 180 and Saves Intentional Talk on Its Planned Finale
Farewell becomes a reversal
MLB had planned to end Intentional Talk on Nov. 4, after the World Series. The network announced the decision on Oct. 19, and Wednesday afternoon was set to be the show’s send-off.
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported that Commissioner Rob Manfred, Noah Garden and other league executives changed course after fans and players lobbied to keep the program. Millar, Dempster and Santos were expected to address the reversal in their regular 3 p.m. ET slot on MLB Network.
A show with a long run
Intentional Talk began in 2011 with Chris Rose and Millar, who later said he thought the two would be fired within three months. Their unscripted style helped turn a weekday broadcast into a popular cult favorite, despite changes to the cast.
Rose left after a decade when MLB Network did not renew his contract following pandemic-related budget cuts after the 2020 season. Stephen Nelson later took over and departed in 2023 to join the Dodgers as a broadcaster. Santos and Dempster joined Millar for the show’s latest four-year stretch.
Uncertainty beyond the show
The reversal keeps the program on air, but the report says it does not settle the larger challenge facing baseball. Owners and players are approaching a potential lockout at the end of the month as labor talks continue.
Manfred rejected what he called a rush to negativity in coverage of the negotiations in January and said he wanted a full 162-game schedule next year. Whether owners and players reach an agreement before the month ends will determine if the sport has that schedule or is halted by a lockout.
Key points
- MLB reversed its plan to end Intentional Talk after fans and players pushed for the show to continue.
- The scheduled farewell on Nov. 4 became the day the hosts were expected to discuss the reversal.
- Intentional Talk launched in 2011 with Chris Rose and Kevin Millar.
- A potential lockout at the end of the month could put next year’s 162-game schedule at risk.