This particular blog was written by a good friend of mine and fellow Mets fan, Ed Leyro. It’s just a sample of some of his brilliant writing. We’re trying to get him to join our staff here at MetsMerized Online. Maybe all you readers out there can help us convince him!! – Denise (MetsWrighter)
Way back in the days when the Mets were on SportsChannel, before my parents had cable TV, I would listen to many Mets games on the radio. Bob Murphy and Gary Thorne called the games and I enjoyed listening to them because they painted such a good picture of what was transpiring on the field. Now that we can watch every game on TV or on the internet, the days of listening to games on the radio have passed me by. However, I’m seriously considering going back to listening to some games on the radio again. What better games to choose than the Sunday night ESPN games when Jon Miller and Joe Morgan call the games!
Take tonight’s game for example. Apparently, the so-called broadcast team of Miller and Morgan (and Steve Phillips as well…I haven’t forgotten about you.) found it necessary to spend the early innings of the game dissecting whether or not the Mets have a team leader. I had no problem with them bringing up this point as I personally don’t believe the Mets have a “follow me to freedom” type of guy. My problem is that they did their best Energizer Bunny impression by keeping the topic going and going. Not even a commercial break could stop them. I can only imagine a Giants fan watching the game, wondering if Miller and Morgan were ever going to talk about their team.
Joe Morgan also seems to have a problem with players’ names. Apparently, David Murphy of the Texas Rangers became a Met for the day. At least, that’s the impression we were left with whenever Morgan was talking about Daniel Murphy. At least when Ralph Kiner messed up, he made it funny. When Joe does it, I can’t help but be annoyed by it. Perhaps it’s his holier-than-thou attitude or his smugness. He talks about second base like he invented the position. At least when Ron Darling talks about pitching or Keith Hernandez discusses defensive strategy, they back it up with good, sometimes exceptional points that doesn’t serve to inflate their ego, but to educate the viewer.
Speaking of players’ names, does anyone else have a problem with how Jon Miller pronounces names? I understand the proper pronunciation of Carlos Beltran’s last name is Bel-TRAN, so having Miller pronounce it properly is not a problem. However, he has repeatedly changed the pronunciation of Fernando Tatis’ name. One inning it’s TA-tis and the next inning it’s Ta-TIS. Come on, Jon! I applaud you for trying to learn proper pronunciations of foreign-born players’ names, but choose one and stick with it the whole game! It makes you sound like you’re guessing when you alter between one and the other.
The next ESPN Sunday night game is scheduled for July 19 against the Braves. It appears I’ll be revisiting my childhood that night when I listen to the radio play-by-play.
I thought the most annoying part of the “Mets Leader” discussion was Steve Phillips chiming in with his worthless opinion. It seemed apparent that he still carries a chip on his shouder as he went out of his way to criticize the Mets players. It as though they caused him to lose his job rather than his own ineptness. His contribution was totally one-sided and far from an unbiased position.
Steve Phillips should just get out of the booth, every time I hear him speak it’s like fresh lemon juice on an old cut. I like Miller and Morgan to a point but they do need to realize that sometimes silence is golden. I know a lady that can speak for an hour and never say anything. I don’t always want to hear their opinions but I do like Morgan’s baseball stories that’s what he’s good at. Maybe Bob Ueker could come in and get them drunk.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
Tonight’s broadcast was absolutely terrible. I’m glad that you wrote this piece. It needed to be said.
I don’t believe I have ever watched a broadcast as poorly called as this “team” did tonight. I understand that you want to give the nation some perspective on the team and what has been going on, but to do so at the expense of the actual game at hand is ridiculous. Let alone any Mets fans who wanted to just pick apart anything that was spewed from the booth.
It still feels like Steve Phillips has a vendetta against the Mets. The Mets were on trial tonight on a national platform. If I were Fred, Jeff or Omar, I would already be on the phone with ESPN filing a formal complaint.
Nice writing Ed!!
Thanks, John! I almost missed getting upset at all the balks being called on Pelfrey because I was fuming over Jon, Joe and Steve’s commentary! They don’t follow the team like the SNY crew does. Why were they trying to make a national audience think they did? I hope MLB doesn’t change any of the Mets Sunday day games to night games to accommodate ESPN. If so, WFAN’s ratings will go up by at least one listener.
BTW, nice yellow shirt, Jon. I wonder if he was hiding two scoops of raisins somewhere in the booth.
hahahahahahahaha
By the way, am I the only one mad about Jerry putting in Pagan instead of letting Murphy hit with the bases loaded??? Isn’t that the situation you want him to break him out of a slump??? I still think he is a better situational hitter, and Pagan last played WHEN?
Marty, you were not the only one. Tat was a terrible move and Murphy has more patience and better bat control than Pagan. We needed a disciplined hitter at the plate, and Manuel benched him for Pagan.
If anything, Manuel might have made that move because Pagan has more speed than Murphy and had a better chance to beat out a potential double-play grounder. Oops. Guess that didn’t work out too well for them, did it?
I just find myself questioning Jerry with some of the Willie-esque bullpen and bench moves that he does like leaving in Feliciano against righties. But he motivates the team well so I guess we just have to deal with the rest
CAPSLOCK=DISABILITY ACCOMODATION
MARTY, GOOD POINT; HOWEVER CONSIDERING IT WAS A TOPNOTCH LRP & MUPH IS SKUFFLING @ PLATE WITH REED @ 1B PAGAN WAS COMING IN ON ‘D’ ANYWAY WITH A RH STICK AVAILABLE(PAGAN) WHO MORE THAN LIKELY GOT A LOT MORE ABs IN BUFFALO IN REHAB WITH NO WAY OF TELLING WHAT JERRY OBSERVED IN BP THE MOVE CAN BE BOTH QUESTIONED & ANSWERED LEGITIMATLY ESP CONSIDERING PAGAN’S SUPERIOR SPEED.
OJEDA QUESTIONED ANGEL’S SWINGING @ THE 1-0 FASTBALL; BUT ISN’T THAT THE FIRST RULE FOR PHing BE READY FOR HEATER U MAY NOT SEE ANOTHER?
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE 2 WAY MOVES, BRILLIANT IF IT WORKS; BONEHEADED OVERMANAGING IF NOT.
An excellent and well articulated post. I always find myself watching the Mets games on ESPN on mute and only turning up the volume when neccesary.
I hate watching Sunday games on ESPN. I usually tune into the weekly game on Sunday night if there is nothing else on TV and it’s brutal to watch. Morgan doesn’t even research the players who play in the game, he’s constantly getting the names wrong, much like tonight with Murphy.
Steve Phillips is an idiot, no other way to say it. The guy wants the Mets to trade Beltran so Omar gets fired like he did.
I don’t have a problem with Jon except that he the one who gets Morgan talking and then Morgan never shuts up.
Great article. I think I might be listening to WFAN as well next time the Mets play on Sunday night.
couldn’t say it better
HISTORICALLY PHILLIPS’ MOTIVATIONS ARE WELL WITHIN CHARACTER. WHEN FRANK CASHEN RETIRED, HE RECOMMEDED A 2 HEADED HYDRA SPLIT BETWEEN GGGGGGGGGGIS 2 TOP ASSISTANTS AS HIS REPLACEMENTS(PHILLIPS & McILVANE) STATING THAT NEITHER WAS TOTALLY READY, IN HIS OPINION, TO SHOULDER THE ENTIRE GM RESPONSIBILITIES. PHILLIPS WAS HIS CHOICE FOR THE BUSINESS END
(CONTRACTS, BUDGETS,NEGOTIATIONS, ETC) JOE Mc RESPONSIBLE FOR FIELD PERSONNEL(TRADES, TALENT EVALUATIONS, MINOR LEAGUES, PLAYER DEBVELOPMENT, ETC). PHILLIPS WAS THE MUCH BETTER POLITICAL SAVY OF THE TWO ADVISING “OWNERSHIP” TO LET JOE INTERVIEW FOR THE GM POSITION IN SD. INHERITING TOTAL GM DUTIES, PHILLIPS PULLED A JOHN EDWARDS SHOOTING HIMSELF IN THE MORAL FOOT, WITH AN EXTRAMARITAL DALLIANCE THE TABLOIDS RAN WITH RESULTING IN THE SHORT RET’N OF JOE Mc UNTIL DSTEVE ONCE MORE MANIPULATED HIS OUSTER. STEVE, AGAIN IN CHARGE AND STILL LACKING THAT TALENT EVALUATION GENE SURROUNDED HIMSELF WITH HIGHLY QUALIFIED ASSISTANTS STRONG IN AREAS HE WAS WEAK IN(SMART BUSINESS MOVE) ONE OF THESE ASSISTANTS CAME TO THE FOREFRONT & BECAME RECOGNIZED BY THE PRESS AS PHILLIPS’ MOST LOGICAL SUCCESSOR TO WHICH PHILLIPS RECOMMENDED TO OWNERSHIP THIS LOYALTY & BRILLIANCE NEEDED REWARDING WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO MLB OFFICES AS A TOP CANDIDATE FOR THE VACANT EXPOS GM JOB AFTER EXPOS BECAME MLB PROPERTY. IB CASE U WERE BORN YEASTERDAY, THAT ‘BRILLIANT’ ASSISTANT THAT NEEDED TO BE REMOVED AS A THREAT TO PHILLIPS’ JOB SECURITY WAS OMAR MINAYA. IMMAGINE HIS CHAGRIN AT OMAR’S EVENTUALLY LANDING IN STEVE’S FORMER CHAIR DESPITE HIS EFFORTS OF PREVENTION. WHILE POLITICALLY SAVY ENOUGH TO NOT CRITICIZE OMAR DIRECTLY, LOOKING PETY IN PUBLIC, HE GOES ABOUT PATRONIZING HIM BY REFERRING TO OMAR AS HIS ‘FORMER’ ASSISTANT ATTACKING OMAR’S PRIZED ACQUISITIONS INSTEAD. THE BACKSTABBING PHILLIPS’ METHODOLOGY. SEE BELTWAY POLITICS FOR A FULL EXPLAINATION OF WAYS & MEANS OF APPLIVATION.
Neither the Mets or the Giants were the story of the game. The broadcasting team of Jon Miller, Joe Morgan and Steve Phillps were the story, NOT the game! Horrible. Simply horrible.
I have never heard an annoucing team continue on for 3 full inggs “critiquing” three players on the same team while the game played on! It seemd as though Steve Phillips and Morgan were locked in some sort of mortal battle to determine which of the two of them has more insight into a major league baseball teams internal dynamics!
Aren’t the Mets in 1st place? Isn’t Carlos Beltran off to the best start of his career and among the top offensive producers in the National League over the last three years? Doesn’t Carlos Beltran have one of the top 3 batting averages in the National League right now?
It was surreal!
What do Ryan Howard, Justin Morneau and Miguel Cabrera all have in common with Carlos Beltran? They’re the only four hitters to drive in at least 110 runs each of the last three seasons. Not even Albert Pujols can claim that as he “only” drove in 103 in 2007. The only difference between Beltran and the other players I mentioned is that Beltran is a five-tool player. He can steal more bases in one season than the other three have stolen in their combined careers and he’s a perennial Gold Glove winner. As far as the other three players’ defense goes, let’s just say they’re good hitters. It was crazy to hear the ESPN announcers talking about trading Beltran. He’s the most complete centerfielder the Mets have ever had. So what if he’s not a vocal leader? He leads by example and it’s a mighty fine example at that!
they even talked about not keeping Beltran. He’s on his hottest streak in years.
At one point Joe Morgan said that although the Mets are winning, they are not playing good baseball, too many errors and baserunning mistakes they are just taking advantage of the other teams mistakes………ok
Then two innings later, “The Giants are taking advantage of the Mets mistakes and thats what makes good baseball”…..
Really – so which is it??????
They are all unlistenable, not one redeeming quality about any of them, and I’ve tuned in for NON-Met Games, and they are just as bad with other games……..
good call, Kay!
there was no doubt in my mind that I needed to get my radio in a good position to receive WFAN before 8pm. It’s been my plan for Sunday night games, and even some FOX games, for a couple seasons now (except for the 2 Sunday nighters that I saw in person at Shea last year).
Howie and Wayne are so good on WFAN that I need to consider choosing them over Gary, Keith and/or Ron at times.
I don’t think I’ve listened to a Sunday Night game on ESPN TV in a long long time (even going as far as watching Ken Burns’ Baseball series on MLB Network, which I have on DVD, instead).
its true … some of the FOX games can be just as brutal … (McCarver) … lol
I use my computer to get the WFAN feed (I live in Virginia). No static, no loss of reception. If you don’t have Gameday, just go to WFAN’s web site.
While I agree with all the sentiments in Ed’s post Denise, let’s not go wild and call it “brilliant” writing. It was a nice post but hardly brilliant.
I didn’t say that this particular piece was necessarily brilliant- I have read some of Ed’s non-Mets related blogs and they are very good – but with over 30 comments in 12 hours, I’d say this is pretty darn good!!!
I know, I have to agree wow them 3 just bored me to hell
Due to the cable situation here, I don’t get SNY and FOX and ESPN are often blacked out. It doesn’t bother me at all because I’ve got Howie and Wayne on WFAN. Do you want to really hear about the game? The players? What’s going on on the field? With the crowd? Or, just some good old baseball stories? You need Howie and Wayne.
I fell in love with baseball on the radio as a child with the transistor under the pillow. Radio takes you to the ballpark and keeps you company while you are there. TV tries to divert you from the game with zillions of ads and announcers who think they are more important than the game.
Go back to the radio folks, and hear what you’ve been missing.
Let’s Go Mets.
ANNIE, ONE OTHER FINE WAY OF APPRECIATING OUR ROSTER MORE IS TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE EXTRAINNINGS PKG ON TV & CHOOSE THE OPPOSING TEAMS BROADCAST INSTEAD OF SNY. AS LONG AS U CAN STOMACH THE “BLAME NY SPENDING” EXCUSES AND OTHER HOMER INUENDOES, THE ESTEEM WITH WHICH THESE “OUT-OF-TOWNERS” HOLD OUR PLAYERS IN ie BELTRAN,REYES,WRIGHT. WILL CERTAIBLY PROVIDE AN OPPOSING VIEWPOINT FROM THE USUAL NY CRITIQUES. NO MATTER THE OPPONENT, ONE USUAL CONSTANT ID THE “KEYS TO THE GAME” LISTING WHERE ALMOST $1 ON EVERY KEY FOR THEIR TEAM IS #1 JOSE REYES THAT’S TRUE REGRDLESS OF SLUMP OR HOTSTREAK. THEY ARE OFTEN INCREDULOUS AT THE FLAK NY PUTS UP TOWARD THE KEY INGREDIANT.
i totally agree I hate it when the Mets are on ESPN they always seem to lose.
I detest Jon Miller; also there had to be bias in that game, Miller calls the Giants radio games doesn’t he?
also the way he says Beltran is not correct, yeah he emphasizes the correct syllable but it sounds like BelTRON, theres an A for a reason, it’s BeltrAN!
I agree with a lot that has been said. I believe Joe Morgan is not a bad announcer, but he can be anal on any topic that is discussed. I think he takes himself too seriously, and makes it a night of labor because he inserts too much unecessary information, when he should be enjoying and watching the game unfold. Relaying the experience of baseball as was previously mentioned. Jon Miller is funny to me (has he ever played a game of baseball?), this guy says so many things during a game that have you say: “Is he watching what I am watching?” Or, what the “hell are you talking about? What’s that got to do with the current game?”
Don’t even get me started on Steve Phillips, because I would like to know who he blew to get on the Sunday night game. Talk about your video game GM, did we not see the evidence when he was the GM of the Mets (who did he blow to get that job?)that he had no clue how to build and sustain a successful franchise. I would take “Great Ceasars Ghost” before I let Phillips manage anything more than a Taco Bell, and he would get the hook so fast if he did not sell enough Chalupa’s! Anyway, that is a terrible group to be calling a 3+ hour game and have to hear each annoying snigglet from the Larry, Curley, and Moe!
I think Steve Phillips is beyond awful. His bitterness for the Coupons is never ending. If he is such a great baseball man, why hasn’t any other team hired him to be GM? I like Jon Miller. I have no issues with him all. He is a true professional, Morgan is just plain bad. I should mute any game Phillips, or Sutcliffe does, one is a drunken oaf the other is just a Freddy Coupon “skill set” guy with no skills other than over inflated opinion of what he thinks. Ripping Beltran, particularly this season was a joke.
I’m not usually that critical of broadcasters – a lot of people hate Tim McCarver, but I always thought he ads a lot of insight. But…last night’s game was PAINFUL to listen to. Morgan and Miller talk and talk and say nothing.
They (and the guys in the producer’s truck apparently) totally missed that Cora hurt his hand in the first, it was so obvious from the moment he paused on the ground before getting up and then how he was shaking his hand.
We need to start a boycott movement, here’s my suggestion for a website: millierandmorganmustgo.com
I just read a dozen blogs about Steve Phillips, it’s nice to see one that was completely original, and considered the other two boneheads in the booth last night. Came by way of MB and I like the site.
Ed, looks like you’re a hit!! Good job my friend!! Welcome aboard?? lol
http://thebronxbombersblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/muteus.jpg
Lets also not forget that not only do the ESPN announcers suck, but the camera work is so much worse than SNY.
For example, when the Red Sox were playing on ESPN and Ellsbury stole home, they didn’t show a replay for like 5 minutes, they just panned the crowd cheering. And when they finally played a replay, it was from one terrible angle. That never would have happened on SNY. On SNY we would have seen at least 10 replays from 5 or 6 different angles withing 15 seconds of it happening.
I hate Baseball on ESPN.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/joe_posnanski/05/19/carlos.beltran/1.html
Great article!!!
listening to Vin Scully on the Dodgers radio network, he pronounces Beltran the same way you would pronounce “air tran”, as in the monorail system at various airports. I don’t know if he’s right or wrong, but I don’t mind listening to him say it. It doesn’t sound forced or anything.