In a tweet early Saturday morning, Angels television play-by-play broadcaster Victor Rojas announced that he will not be returning for the 2021 season.
It’s time! ✌🏽#ThankYou pic.twitter.com/2YndF36Go8
— Victor Rojas (@VictorRojas) January 9, 2021
Rojas, 52, has occupied the television play-by-play role since 2010, succeeding Rory Markas, who passed away in January of that year and had been recently picked to take the reins from Steve Physioc. As he states in the tweet, his voice formed some of the most memorable calls over the past decade, including more than a few milestones for Albert Pujols and the rise of Mike Trout.
Victor has always been good to us, whether on the old site or here. In the early days of the 2020 season, he chatted with our Jeff Joiner about the state of baseball. Even though the quality of the team fluctuated over the 2010s, the broadcast tandem of Rojas and Gubicza never did, hitting “Big Fly” after “Big Fly” out of the park. We wish him the best with Big Fly Gear and whatever else he puts his mind to. And for one last time…
Light that baby up!
Signed, “A Simple Man”
“That’s a great f##king song”
I am hoping for Chris Meyers. I love that guy. And he is precisely one day older than I am!
pure speculation, but he probably got butt hurt and wanted out. Maybe he was unhappy with the interview for GM process and thought he didnt get a fair shot, then on top of that probably got some sh*t for selling dodgers championship tshirts and decided he didn’t want to come back.
Personally didn’t care too much for him in the booth, just wish he took Gubi with him.
Damn, 2021 is starting out horrible. Wish you the best, victor! Your game calling will be missed.
Thank you for all the good years, Victor. You will be missed. Best of luck in all your future endeavors.
I am still confused as to the “why”. I am not encouraging speculation, just want to know if anyone has any first hand knowledge as to the reason for this rather significant and seemingly sudden step. Has there been anything published other than the ‘simple man’ statement.
I too will miss him but if you want to speculate, maybe he was to honest about the condition of the Angels during his interview for GM with Arte
Maybe the interview started off with, “Arte, this is all your fault.”
or plainly “Thou art cheap”
Victor also never whitewashed in the booth, and called out poor performances by the team.
We all have our personal opinions on what makes a good play-by-play (PBP) announcer. For me, have the right voice, don’t intrude on the game, keep an even keel until the moment occurs, try not to be overly critical of a play or player. Paint the picture. It is expected to point out when misjudgment or an error that as occurred but to be “critical” is beyond the rules of engagement. Just seems way to personal, PBP guys are not the boss. Let the color guy be the first inline to do the critiquing or iron brushing. On the Angels, we have it reversed. Gubi is not critical. Notable Victor bashings were centered on Upton this year (with whom I happen share that frustration…) but was equally lacking calling out Puljos and his keen ability to kill rallies and adding to his MLB record GDPs. Nobody dare to touch Albert. If you’re gonna bash, everyone should be fair game.
I recall Thom Brennaman (now fired from the Reds) with the D-Backs blasting how stupid(!) it was for a D-back player to swing at the first pitch when runners on base. It was over the top. Or his dad, Marty, lashing out and calling the Cub’s fans “losers” for throwing the ball back after an opponents home run.
All-in-all…Victor was easy enough for me to listen to and did not come across too loudly as a homer. However, I welcome change and a make-over of the color analysts. Mota seems to be the most technical to my ears and that is not too technical. As a radio guy, I like Mr. Terry “Tight-to-the Line” White. He has a great voice. I really liked Jon “Boog” Sciambi. Cubs fans are very happy with this hiring.
Super sad for the fan base!
I am devastated by this news. I will admit I actually cried. It’s like the whole world is falling apart. I love that guy, Cookie’s son, a true mensch. God bless him. I will miss him.
One of my favorite goofy Victor moments was hearing him recite the pitch description from Baseball Bugs- “Watch me paste this pathetic palooka with a powerful paralyzing perfect pachydermous percussion pitch.” Not to mention Gubi and Victor dressed up as bad 70s big hair and umlaut metal band refugees.
This one was pretty memorable too: https://larrybrownsports.com/baseball/angels-broadcasters-put-on-wrestling-masks-for-good-luck-in-extra-innings/66757
Hey! That one worked!!! We won that game!
Best news of the off season, for me anyways. Now hopefully Gubi will follow suit.
I’m not his biggest fan, but I would have much rather seen Gubi take a hike.
I’ll agree with you there. Gubi is worse than Victor and if only one of them were to leave I’d rather it be him. I just hope the Angels replace both of them but I’m betting Gubi stays because it was Victor’s choice to step down.
Though you opinion is respected, prior to this combo of TV announcers we had a good duo but not as good as these two. But prior to that was tough to listen to. Rojas is not maybe a top fifty all timer in play by play, but he was the best we have had on just TV ever. Compare Victor and Gubi to what the Dodgers currently employ and you will see that we come out on top in our own market. Gubi is as good as they come knowing and explaining the game to us with his vast knowledge of not just pitching, but the game. 75% of the listening and watching folks that are Angels fans will miss this duo very much as the chemistry was most of the time energetic and fun. Sometimes late in games they would blabber on about who know what but that was just Rojas and Gubi doing their thing and forgetting we were still around.. Most to be missed is the memories each one contributed from their past in the game. Maybe we get lucky on the next PxP guy while holding on to Gubi.
Sorry but I disagree with you. I thought Physioc and Hudler were a much better duo than Victor and Gubi and I was sad to see them go to KC.
I would rather have all my fingernails yanked off simultaneously than ever have to endure another game called by “Fizz and Hud”. How many times do we have to hear “IT’S A PLAYOFF ATMOSPHERE HERE TONIGHT!!!!”
Or endless Yankee love.
Ot Rex telling the same, tired, Ed Whitson/Billy Martin story.
Good for you.
But nobody compared to Ken & Ken..
The Dodgers broadcast team makes me fall asleep. I’d rather be in a 4 hr zoom meeting.
Gubi might have pitched in the bigs, but listening to him talk about pitching is brutal. When his explanation for every pitch choice is “you have him set up, you could go fastball in, or throw the curve, or maybe even a changeup” that’s not explaining anything, that’s literally just naming every pitch.
Apparently Gubi is staying so hopefully they get someone really good to counter him. Tough shoes to fill.
Larry Beil
Well that sure is a gut punch. Gonna miss him terribly.
Just interviewed to be Gm and now claims to want to spend more time with family.
Hmm…
Yeah, I was thinking that he wants to be thought of more than just a TV announcer if he ever is going to get into the GM side of things. He’s gotta quite this TV gig and back into the front office type stuff. If that’s his long term goal, then I thank him for his time with us and wish him on his newest endeavor.
Victor doesn’t seem like a guy who would quit, but create. He did create the Big Fly Co. And he did interview for the GM job. Maybe… maybe… Victor will hit his Big Fly?
I’m just hoping the next guys Home Run call isn’t just the cliche “Otta Here”
How about “THAT’S A TROUT CLOUT!!!” or “ANTHONY REN-GONE HITS ANOTHER ONE!!!” that crap won’t get old super fast.
And if somehow, during his farewell tour, Pujols hits a grand slam…” Its gonna be a Grandpa Granny”
Remember “oppo taco”? I will not miss his forces attempts at trying to create catchphrases.
That one and “Three-run Jimmy Jack” were some of his worst.
Yeah, the Jimmy-Jack and Grand Salami felt a bit forced. But appreciate Victor’s hard work and dedication to his craft.
Whomever we end up with, I would hate to get someone like John Sterling who likes to be cute with names, homers and wins. Just call the damn game, like Dan Shulman of ESPN Radio and Blue Jays. Just missed on Jon Sciambi.
While we are searching, maybe it is time to shuffle the deck with the Angel color commentators. I never found Gubicza to be real technical. He is a like-able and one of the guys but not too insightful. I’d swap Tim Salmon in if we half to keep it in within the family. Langston can put you to sleep.
Speaking of cute with names, watch us end up with Roger Lodge.
I have heard “Oppo Taco” on other broadcasts
“gone”
John Sterling.
Wow, I didn’t expect this. I’m going to miss Victor in the booth for the season opener.
May the road rise to meet you Vic, enjoyed every minute.
So VR doesn’t get the GM gig and now he’s quitting his day job?
He will definitely be missed . No more “Oppo Taco”, “3 run jimmy jack” or “LTBU” ?. This really stinks.
Sad for us Angels fans but happy for Victor. I wish I could’ve heard you call the last out as the Angels won another World Series.
Thank you for everything, Victor!
This really has been a Fucked up last year or so……
Thanks for the memories,
The banter between Gubbie and you that was fun,
talking about growing up out on the field and in the sun,
We enjoyed it a ton,
So thanks for the memories.
You arrived to do your best,
You proved to be better than the rest,
Simply at the top and you passed the test,
We enjoyed it all,
So thanks for the memories,
We will miss your play by play,
We listened to all you had to say,
We will miss from Opening Day,
Even a bad day was made better by you,
So thanks for the memories,
Enjoy you friends, family and future,
Much love from your SoCal Angels family here,
And once again from the heart,
Thanks for the memories our friend……
Thanks Vic for your calls and also sharing some time with this site.
I remember murmuring, don’t start cycle hit talks after just a HR and a double on the Shohei 2019 TB game, but being astonished that it was completed afterwards.
Your calls and your name and even “Big Fly” has crossed the Pacific and has some recognition in Japan too.
Hope you the best.
Big BIG loss. Huge bummer. This really bums me out. Damn. Best wishes Vic.