Jeanne Zelasko: Dodgers broadcast candidate?

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Jeanne Zelasko was talking to a reporter for the Arizona Republic last week about the demise of Fox Sports’ pre-game Major League Baseball television show and mentioned her interest in the vacant Los Angeles Dodgers part-time television play-by-play job.

Zelasko, who is in Dallas preparing for her Cotton Bowl sideline reporter duties, said that while she hadn’t meant to sound so much like a candidate giving a stump speech, she has, indeed, sent the Dodgers an audition tape and that she would love to do Dodgers play-by-play on television.

‘I wouldn’t have applied if I didn’t think I’d succeed,’ Zelasko said from Texas. ‘I believe a woman could do this job. I’m not big into self-promotion but one of the reasons I tossed my hat into the ring is because I’ve been around the game a very long time.’

Zelasko, who is married to ABC 7 television sports reporter Curt Sandoval, said Yankees Manager Joe Girardi and former Dodger player Eric Karros have told Zelasko they would recommend her for the job. ‘They both called me and said, ‘What can we do to help?’ I’ve been around the sport. I’m not just a girl in the game. They know me as a colleague, they know I love the sport, they know my work ethic.

‘I don’t mean to be a self-promoter and that wasn’t why I was talking to any reporter. But, really, why not me? Why not now? Especially with this franchise that is known for breaking down barriers. It’s not brain surgery.’ Zelasko had worked as host of the Fox baseball pre-game show since 2001.

Dodgers spokesman Josh Rawitch did not return a message Monday about Zelasko’s application.

-- Diane Pucin