Houston Astros Radio Broadcaster Robert Ford Recalls Time Spent In Yakima, Previews Upcoming Series Against Seattle Mariners [VIDEO]

The Seattle Mariners return home tonight (Monday, April 25) after closing out a successful nine-game, 11-day road trip that saw them go 6-3 following a 9-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels Sunday. They open a six-game home stand with their first look at the Houston Astros tonight at 7:10. Calling the action on radio for last year's surprising AL wildcard entry will be Robert Ford, whose earliest professional broadcasting roots can be traced back to the Yakima Valley.

One of Ford's first paying gigs in baseball was calling games (on this station) back in 2002 for the now-defunct Yakima Bears. I caught up with Robert on the phone after his team got into Seattle from Houston.
Robert clues us in on his radio journey since Yakima to the big leagues, what the biggest surprise has been since becoming a Major League broadcaster, what his favorite ballparks and cities are, how he thinks this series between the M's and the Astros will play out -- as well as his prediction for the rest of 2016.

Follow Rob on Twitter @raford3