Tag: Broadcasters

Funnyman Joe Buck

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.

LOTTA FIGHT LEFT IN THAT BULLDOG

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!

WELCOME BACK STONER

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A little take off on Welcome Back Kotter, I’ve been singing it ever since I heard the news that Steve Stone is back on the Southside of Chicago, the baddest part of town. I’ve got to shake this medley of bad music rolling around in my head.

I was so excited to learn that Stoner would be back, until I learned he was replacing Chris Singleton on radio. Don’t get me wrong I’m glad to see Steve come to the Sox to help their most pathetic broadcast team, but why couldn’t he have replaced DJ?

DJ & the Hawk are the worst baseball announcers in the business, and I’ve got the MLB Direct-TV package so I know what I’m talking about (and that includes Tim McCarver & Vin Scully, would somebody please tell Scully to put a sock in it?).

Chris Singleton wasn’t all that bad, but Ed Farmer could make anybody look good, he’s pure genius! I’m really looking forward to hearing the Dynamic Duo of Farmer & Stone on radio. But even more than that, I look forward to having Steve replace DJ, I know it’s coming.

I know I haven’t mentioned anything about the blowhard ego maniac that is the Hawkero, but we know he ain’t going anywhere. And with Stone joining him (sometime in the future), Harrelson might be okay. Never thought I’d say that.

#35 Baseball Zealot Radio- Hot Stove plus Frick Ballot, Veterans Committee HOF Selections

 

Todd and Chuck join me for episode number 35 when we discuss all the baseball that’s been in the news lately.  It’s worth a listen just to hear Chuck do his Ron Santo impression.

Thanks to Todd for the PirateFest link.  He informed me that it still only costs $10/day.  I emailed him back with some smart-a** comment about “you get what you pay for”.

He came back with something about 2 World Series in his lifetime.

Anyway, here are the show notes:

Link to Show #35

Hosts: Tom, Chuck, Todd:

Summary: It’s December but there has been a lot of baseball news lately.  Todd, Chuck and I discuss the Ford Frick ballot, the Veterans Committee selections for the HOF as well as the latest trades and signings in light of the Winter Meetiings.

Links we talked about:

2008 Cubs Convention

2008 PirateFest

2008 SoxFest

Time: 48:35

Date Recorded: 12/9/07

Download via iTunes

Other Baseball Zealot Radio Episodes

Ford Frick Award ballot: King, Morgan and Nuxhall chosen by fans

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Like an episode of “Survivor”. all the others were kicked off the island and three remain. The fans voted for Bill King, Joe Morgan and Joe Nuxhall to join seven others to be on the final ballot of the Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting.

Those three will be accompanying Tom Cheek, Ken Coleman, Dizzy Dean, Tony Kubek, Graham McNamee, Dave Niehaus and Dave Van Horne who were selected by a research committee from the Baseball Hall of Fame Museum.

They are all legitimate winners but the voting wasn’t close. The sympathy vote for Joe Nuxhall who passed away in November gave him 82, 304 votes to King’s 7,659 and Morgan’s 6,065.

Ironically, he had my vote before he passed.

Those who want a bio snippet of each of the ten broadcasters up for the Frick Award can go the Baseball Hall of Fame website which gives some details.

The announcement of the 2008 winner of the Frick award will take place on February 19.

DVD Review: “Hello Again Everybody” The Harry Caray Story

This afternoon I got a chance to watch the biographical DVD of legendary broadcaster Harry Caray called “Hello Again Everybody” The Harry Caray Story

Now I’ve been a Harry Caray fan since watching him call Cubs games in the 80s. I even saw him receive the Ford Frick award in Cooperstown in 1989. But I learned a lot from the video.

Hello Again takes you through Harry’s life beginning with his orphaned childhood, his early days with the Cardinals then his later days with the Sox and his hey day in Wrigleyville. Throughout the documentary we see interviews with baseball people, his wife, Dutchie, co-workers and the important people… the fans who recollect the impact Harry Caray had on the game.

No doubt, the film was looking at Harry Caray in a good light. It wasn’t a investigative journalist piece and nor it should have been. That said, they DID bring up the rumor of why Harry was fired from his Cardinals’ broadcasting position (if you don’t know why, look it up or better yet, watch the DVD). Of course they couldn’t shy away from the drinking thing. They addressed it, albeit lightly.

One of the more poignant moments was Pete Vonachen’s eulogy at Harry’s funeral service. I’m sure there wasn’t a dry eye in that church.

Anyway, a good portion of our readers are either Cub fans or Sox fans so some of you might have an interest in the DVD.  I highly recommend it.  You can find out more about it (and probably info how to buy it) at their website.

TBS’ Skip Caray feels a bit left out

As you probably know, TBS will be broadcasting a good share of the postseason.  And they’ll be doing without longtime announcer Skip Caray.  TBS has elected to go with Dick Stockton, Ted Robinson and Don Orsillo for the NLDS.  Skip apparently isn’t taking it very well going as far as to talking to the media … Continue reading “TBS’ Skip Caray feels a bit left out”

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As you probably know, TBS will be broadcasting a good share of the postseason.  And they’ll be doing without longtime announcer Skip Caray.  TBS has elected to go with Dick Stockton, Ted Robinson and Don Orsillo for the NLDS. 

Skip apparently isn’t taking it very well going as far as to talking to the media about it. 

From the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

“I feel like I can do a better job than a tennis announcer or a football-basketball announcer,” Skip Caray said. “I’m not knocking Ted Robinson and Dick Stockton, but point of fact is they don’t do baseball anymore and I’m there every day.”

I’m not that familiar with Skip to make a call on his broadcasting skills.  Also, with a few exceptions, I’m not too particular about who announces the games I listen to.  Let me re-phrase that.  You be amazed at the range of opinions out there on the topic.

That all said, I will have to comment on this quote by Skip…

Caray said he’d like to be voted into baseball’s Hall of Fame along with longtime broadcasting partner Pete Van Wieren someday. “But when your employer says you’re not good enough to do the playoffs, I don’t think that helps your chances.”

Sorry, Skip, I don’t care how good you think you are but lobbying for HOF induction just doesn’t look good.  Bert Blyleven used to do it and I thought it looked bad… and I’m a big Blyleven fan.