Comments on: The Boys In The Booth

By: tlagee

tlagee — Wed, 25 May 2011 00:52:08 +0000

Alan – well put! Thanks

By: Annie Savoy

Annie Savoy — Tue, 24 May 2011 16:19:18 +0000

What a group – you’ve reminded me of all the announcers who came before TV was a daily program for baseball. Ralph Kiner’s name has been mentioned and he certainly deserves a lot of credit for his kids’ TV show as well as his announcing. It’s always an occaision in the booth when Ralph sits in for an inning or two.

You’ve also brought up some names I wish I had remembered and one – Vin Scully – who is golden.

It’s also nice to know that I wasn’t the only kid in America who had that transistor radio under my pillow every night during the baseball season.

By: jdon

jdon — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:48:18 +0000

I loved the original broadcast team. Like you, Bob came in third for me but he grew on me. I have always liked Kiner, malapropisms and all. Ralph always tried to keep it simple for the viewer.

By: jdon

jdon — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:46:10 +0000

I don’t say we do not have one of the better teams. I just wish they made it two in a booth EVERY game. When there are three of them it is too much talk and not enough game. If I want sports talk radio I will tune in somewhere else. I know people who do TV think baseball is boring and want the announcers to spice it up. I do not find baseball boring at all.

By: jdon

jdon — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:43:34 +0000

I think Tim is shot and has been for several years. He used to beat the play to the punch. Now he just hacks it.

By: jdon

jdon — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:42:12 +0000

I cannot believe I forgot about Healy. I don’t get angry at broadcasters. But I used to want to punch Healy in the face. I agree about Barber. I loved his approach, though. Let me watch and listen to the game as much as possible. But that is just me. I thought Vince Scully in his prime was smooth as they come. But vive la difference.

By: sarge

sarge — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:08:33 +0000

What I like most about GKR is that they are not homers.
I have watched many games, living in FL you are obligated to listen to Marlins broadcast crew and they are some of the biggest homers in town. The Rays announcers are pretty good.
I remember when Dribble was part of the crew with the Nats but is seems this year they dumped him and brought in Santangelo but wow what a pain.

I enjoy the fact that Keith will say it as it is while he may say some dumb things at times he calls it as it is and is not just toeing the company line.

Harrelson is a joke in Chicago, I hurt for those that have to hear him every night.

By: Alan

Alan — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:53:31 +0000

Yes, we do have a great broadcasting trio of Gary, Keith and Ron. They are informative, funny and not afraid to criticize the team’s play when it is so deserved. I remember listening to Lindsay, Bob, and Ralph as a kid in the early 60′s and Kiner’s Korner was everyone’s favorite. In those days we made fun of Lindsay’s colorful wardrobe and the country style of Bob Murphy’s broadcasting. Never cared much for Murph in those days but then 30 plus years flew by and we had the joy of “it gets by Buckner”, his unforgettable “the Mets win the damn thing” and so many more classics. Believe me when Bob passed away, I cried like a baby because he was a part of my childhood, my adolescence, and growth to adulthood.

Growing up in New York sure spoiled us as listeners to the great broadcasters. Nobody has ever called a basketball or hockey game like Marv Albert did in those days.Football games with Marty Glickman were special events.

These men should be revered for the excitement that they have created for us over the years and the great memories they have forged in our lives….

By: Pat H

Pat H — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:09:46 +0000

Just try listening to the Marlins announcers, Rich Walz and Tommy Hutton they make you want to bang your head against a wall.

By: Des

Des — Tue, 24 May 2011 03:36:59 +0000

McCarver may have caught Gibson a lot, but Gibby kept his distance from him otherwise. Maybe Bob had a low tolerance for B.S.

By: tlagee

tlagee — Tue, 24 May 2011 03:19:49 +0000

Cosell – the guy we loved to hate – much like Dick Young…but you nailed it when you mention arrogance…we never ignored what they had to say. And they are missed.

But I doubt I will ever miss hearing Timmy say “That’s like throwing a lamb chop by a hungry dog” or how he had to say “They call that Lord Charles” every time Doc threw a curve ball for a strike.

Or how about: “That outfielder is playing too far in and I’ve been saying this for years”. The outfielder in question would then catch what normally would be a bloop single in front of him and Tim would say: “Now that shouldn’t have happened, he shouldn’t have put himself in position to catch that ball. Under normal circumstances there is a much greater chance of the ball being hit over his head. I still say he was playing too shallow.”" and on and on…

By: Des

Des — Tue, 24 May 2011 03:05:29 +0000

Exactly, tlagee. I’m really surprised that Joe Buck gets no real help anymore with good analysis of the games from Timmy. In Howard Cosell’s last couple of years, he became a walking book of trivia and irrelevance, just as McCarver is now. At least Howard was arrogant most of the time, so some of us remember him as the guy we loved to hate. McCarver is just impertinent.

By: tlagee

tlagee — Tue, 24 May 2011 02:52:56 +0000

Hey Des…

Yeah, way back when, the first time you heard him say something was insightful…the third time might be clever…the fifth time might be appropriate…but the 25th time…the 50th time…the 1767th time…

He got to a point where he was no longer reporting on what was going on in the game but how many times he was right. And when he was wrong with his prediction he would take ten minutes to explain how the play should have been different to accomodate his prediction.

By: Des

Des — Tue, 24 May 2011 02:37:44 +0000

McCarver, as you said was good at one time, becomes more insipid each year. He dotes on the obvious. Ugh! Joe Buck has him in his hip pocket.

By: tlagee

tlagee — Tue, 24 May 2011 02:16:48 +0000

I have been watching Mets games since the middle 60′s and this is the best team they’ve ever had.

Having said that – I loved Tim McCarver for years – until he became in love with his own voice and was repetative – then bitter against the Mets. But he was great when he began broadcasting Mets games.

By: JPMNewYork

JPMNewYork — Tue, 24 May 2011 01:10:54 +0000

Have to say I agree with you about Wayne. I know Annie feels differently, but I find him rather Ted Baxter-ish — big deep voice but not much going on upstairs. That’s where I differ with you, too — I rather like Gary’s voice and don’t find it at all screechy, but though he’s a legend and consummate professional, I’d have to say Vin Scully’s voice is not exactly a case of classic pipes. Nor, certainly, did someone like Red Barber have a great voice. Howie Rose is on a par with Gary as far as Mets knowledge goes, and he’s practically part of the furniture; I remember listening to his Mets Extra when it was still on WHN. I just wish he were partnered with someone less annoying. Though my personal vote for worst Mets announcer ever is Fran Healy. Luckily, I didn’t get SportsChannel, but the few times I heard him filling in on the radio, I had to shut it off.

By: XtreemIcon

XtreemIcon — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:44:08 +0000

Stop. You’re giving me flashbacks.

By: jdon

jdon — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:40:48 +0000

While they are 50 times better than the yankee clowns-I have to say that I am not a fan of 3 in a booth. In any sport. I want to focus on the game, hear game sounds, not stream of consciousness, which is what a lot of broadcasting has become. I am sure this is a directive from the top. I honestly think that there is more talking on television now than there is on radio. Who needs it? I liked Gary on the radio more than TV. Just as I like Howie Rose on the radio more than TV. They are better suited to the radio, IMHO. TV play by play guys should be less nerdish. And his voice is not high quality. The announcers on TV in the old days all had fuller voices. Think about Gowdy, Scully, even our own Bob Murphy. They had pipes. There is something soothing about a good voicet. Gary screeches a little. He has an angry home run call. He thinks he knows more about baseball than anybody, when what he really knows is baseball trivia. He is certainly better than Dave O’Brien or whatever his name was, and the Steve Zabriskies of the world. He is better than Jon Miller, who has a nice voice but no brain. Wayne Hagens is the most annoying announcer I have ever heard. He is better than a lot of guys. I just think that the pool that stations have to choose from is seriously diluted.

By: Hitman

Hitman — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:40:31 +0000

YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARDDDDDDDDD…..YES!

MERCY!

By: Russell Zanca

Russell Zanca — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:14:58 +0000

Yes, HH sucks, even Sox fans will admit it.