Yesterday would have been Howard Cosell’s 92nd birthday.  For you young ‘uns, here’s a clip of him broadcasting in Earl Weaver’s last game as a manager:

Yes, Cosell was outspoken, egoistic, and even controversial but even as a younger baseball fan I liked him.  I liked his voice and I liked his over-confident, outlandish style. 

There’s no doubt there are many of you out there who disliked him as a broadcaster.  And quite honestly, in this day of cookie-cutter sports analysts and broadcasters, Cosell probably wouldn’t have a job. 

Here’s to you Howard… hope you’re enjoying your birthday wherever you ended up. 

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Posted in: Broadcasters by The Baseball Zealot
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I’ll admit it.  Ron Santo isn’t my favorite broadcaster to listen to.  But like Harry Caray in his later years, I can forgive that.  For all I can tell, Ron Santo is probably as genuine as you’re going to get in a business full of cynicism and insincerity. 

Which is why I’m happy he signed a three-year extension with WGN Radio to do the color commentary with Pat Hughes (thanks, Pat).

Like Harry, no one seems to love the game or the Cubs more (and dare I say it, the enthusiasm doesn’t appear to be an act like so many in the broadcasting biz):

"I love what I do, and it keeps me alive, as far as I’m concerned," Santo said from his Arizona home. "When I go in [to negotiate], I could say I’m looking for a two-year [deal] and they’ll say, ‘Why don’t you take a three-year contract?’"

I’m normally not so sentimental in such matters but in Santo’s case, I’ll make an exception.  He deserves more (*cough* Hall of Fame *cough*) but I’m happy for the news.

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With three years left on his contract, Chip Caray just got canned by TBS.

David Levy, president of Turner Sports, wrote in a memo to Turner employees: “Since the end of this year’s MLB playoffs, we’ve had several discussions with Chip Caray regarding 2010 and beyond. Both sides have agreed that now is the right time for Turner Sports and Chip to move ahead on different paths.”

  That’s putting it nicely.

Place your bets on who his replacement will be.

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Mike Blowers, he’s quite the fortune teller.

Former MLB journeyman and current color guy for the Mariners, Blowers made an on-the-air prediction that Matt Tuiasosopo would be the Player of the Game last night.  He took further I’m sure just on a lark, and said that Tuiasosopo would hit his first major league homerun in his second at-bat… on a fastball… on a 3-1 count.. into the second deck. 

Here’s the coverage including the… well, check it out for yourself:

Pretty amazing Carnac work, I’d say.  I don’t think Tuiasosopo’s ball made it all the way to the second deck but Blowers’ prediction was pretty spot on otherwise.

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Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully has given his notice

"God willing, I will probably come back for one more year," Scully said in a phone interview. "At this moment, my health is excellent, and I’m leaning toward one more year."

And then retire?

"Yes, that makes sense," he said.. 

The last of a dying breed.  A broadcaster who can call a game by himself and not sound boring.  His secret, in my opinion?  He doesn’t feel it necessary to fill up every second with inane blather. 

The Dodgers have a year and half with him.  Enjoy these last few months and when he leaves, send him off the right way.  He is a treasure to the sport of baseball.

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Dan Plesac was a three time All Star, 87, 88, & 89. Plesac recorded his most saves (33) and his lowest ERA (2.35) in 1989. Most of Dan’s success came in his early years with the Milwaukee Brewers, 124 of his 158 saves were recorded in first five years. The highest number of saves after that was 11 in 1996 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 6’5″ lefthanded relief pitcher pitched 18 years in the major leagues, 1,064 games, with a 3.64 ERA. Upon his retirement Dan Plesac became a Chicago Cubs broadcaster, now he’s working for the MLB Network. I have to ask the obvious question, “Why is he even on the ballot?”

	Hall of Fame
	Hall of Very Good
	Why is he even on the Ballot?

While we wait for January 12 ballot results, The Baseball Zealot will be profiling those players who are on the 2009 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot.  Read the rest the of the profiles.  

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Posted in: Hall of Fame by Teddy Ballgame
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I jumped so high with delight when I heard Steve Stone would be coming over to TV to join Hawk Harrelson, replacing Darrin “Yes Man” Jackson. But soon my joy was overcome by grief when I learned DJ was moving over to radio, joining Ed Farmer. I’m sure Farmer thought, what did I do to deserve this? Ed is kind of a jokester, I wonder if he’ll play around with Darrin, just to make him look stupid, not that Darrin isn’t fully capable of doing that on his own.

Last year I turned the volume off White Sox telecasts, powered up my radio, and enjoyed Farmer & Stone (even though the sound didn’t always matchup, still it was better than listening to those two knuckleheads). It was uncanny how often Ed & Steve would say something might happen, and then it would happen just as they’d predicted. I’ve got the MLB Direct-TV package, and the Sox TV guys were, by far, the worst in the business, from whining about the umpires to being complete homers, to talking about their playing careers (was there that much to talk about, did I mention Carl Yastrzemski?).

Maybe I’ll have to brush up on my Spanish and listen to Hector Molina do the games. Heck, even if I don’t understand what he’s saying, it still might be better.

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Just found out that Skip Caray passed away.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution has an excellent obit/bio. 

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Turns out Joe Buck was only joking.  He’s such a kidder, that Joe. 

For those that missed it, Buck made comments on an ESPN Radio interview that he barely watches any sports (he prefers the “Bachelorette”).  He went on to complain about the length of the game of the baseball ad nauseam. 

I don’t what’s worse.  What Buck said originally, his lame excuse (he says that he was “joking about his TV habits” , or the a—kissing interviewer during the radio interview.  God, who listens to that guy??

A swing and a miss for Joe.

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Fresno State was down 5-0 in game 2 of the best of three game series, after losing the opener the night before. Although Georgia might’ve thought it was over, Tommy Mendonca had other ideas as he blasted a three run shot deep over the rightfield wall in the bottom of the 3rd with two aboard to make it 6-5 Fresno State. In the top of the 4th Gordon Beckham singled home the tying run from 2nd to knot the game at 6.

The wheels came off for Georgia in the bottom of the 4th as Fresno State exploded for five more runs, and then added four more in the bottom of the 5th to make it 15-6. Georgia scored four times in the top of the 7th, but when Fresno State tacked on another three in the bottom of the 7th, it was pretty much over 18-10, after seven. The final score ended up being 19-11. Can’t wait to see the finale tonight.

One thing that was kind of frustrating was when Georgia had runners on 1st & 2nd, one out, and the batter popped up a bunt, Orel Hershiser said, “The umpire should’ve called the infield fly rule”. The infield fly cannot be called on a bunt. Come on Orel, know your rules!

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Posted in: Broadcasters, College Baseball by Teddy Ballgame
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