Confirmed with Link: Kenny Albert to Replace Sam Rosen

[kovazub94]

I'm not so certain that Joe wanted to retire. As romantic as it is to suggest he knew all along and didn't say anything to take the spotlight away from Sam, he may not been thinking retirement at all. If you listen close towards the end of that final game, he talks about having worked with Kenny in the past. To me that was him looking forward to working with Kenny this season. I'm not sure if that was him simply playing along knowing what he was going to announce. That would be quite calculating of him in that moment.

I have it on good authority that Chris Drury isn't friendly with the broadcasters so don't expect Dave Maloney to get promoted to the TV booth as outspoken as he has been on the radio.

Not sure what you're trying to say. Announcements that I've seen say that Joe retires and yes - it would be this calculated to not start any side chats - oh, Joe retires too so let's commemorate him too - to take away Sam's spotlight.

 

[Mike in Houston]

Not sure what you're trying to say. Announcements that I've seen say that Joe retires and yes - it would be this calculated to not start any side chats - oh, Joe retires too so let's commemorate him too - to take away Sam's spotlight.

What I'm saying is that I don't think Joe really wanted to retire.

 

[Tawnos]

What I'm saying is that I don't think Joe really wanted to retire.

I had been thinking he was close to retiring for a couple of years. The guy is 70 years old, and while I'm sure he grew attached to the Rangers, it wouldn't be the same kind of lifelong thing that it was for Sam. We'd heard before that he was extremely close with his family, who are mostly in Minnesota, and when his brother died in 2023 I figured Joe would start really thinking about moving back there. If he didn't retire this year, I don't think it would've been much longer.

 

[Mike in Houston]

Here is a podcast with Joe. It sure sounds like it was his choice.