GQ Names Gary, Keith & Ron 2nd Best MLB Broadcast Booth
#1 is tough to argue with. The worst announcers are also named.
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Pretty good list
I ordered the Extra Innings package in 2008 and compiled a bottom five and top five as well. I am in total agreement with their top five, though I would also suggest that the Baltimore Orioles should get an honorable mention, especially when it’s Thorne and Palmer doing the play-by-play.
The bottom five are tougher. There are just so many bad announce teams that it’s tough to pick the worst of the lot, though I would argue that Arizona and Florida should be on here as well, and probably are the two worst. Pittsburgh’s announce crew is also tediously boring, and I’d say even worse than the pair from Cleveland.
I agree Arizona is irritating
what with “Gracie” and all. I listened a bit to San Diego when we played them, and I like Dick Enberg, although that might just be that I find his voice (like Scully’s) pleasant to listen to. Carpenter/Dibble (which I hear a lot of as a DC resident) make me want to throw things.
by dontstopbelieving on Jul 12, 2010 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
This list is pretty excellent
They’ve been gone for longer than double the time I’ve been alive, but sometimes I still get mad that the Dodgers left, only b/c they robbed me the opportunity to grow up with Vin Scully as my hometown team’s broadcaster. But, since we can’t have Scully, I’m perfectly happy with GKR, who are easily the best of the rest.
I don’t watch much AL baseball, but from the very little bit I’ve seen, the White Sox announcers are very much deserving of that top spot, though I think the Nationals give them a run for their money. The only glaring admission is the Marlins announcers, though they admittedly haven’t been quite as annoying since “the Hammer” came to DC (which, incidentally, made the already awful Nats announcers even worse)
2009 Did Not Happen
my friend is a white sox fan
so i end up occasionally watching hawk’s broadcasts. i can’t bear him at all.
well...
on the other hand, we did get to enjoy Bob Murphy for many years, and (though before my time) Lindsey Nelson, and Kiner.
yea, that's true
I was too young to really appreciate Murphy though. New York really has produced some fantastic broadcasters.
2009 Did Not Happen
which, incidentally
make’s it that much more incredible that the Yankees emply the likes of Sterling and Kay. Seriously, that’s the best they could do?
2009 Did Not Happen
In reality,
Vin Scully transcends numbered lists, so GKR are actually number one! The Marliners, I’ve seen a few of their broadcasts, and I like their booth.
Can’t disagree with the worst #1. Does anyone asides for the White Sox like Hawk? The Nats’ announcers should be higher than #5, and the Marlins’ announcers should really be on the list, too.
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jul 12, 2010 1:34 PM EDT reply actions
I'm probably in the minority here
But I think the “you can put it on the boarrrrd” home run call is pretty cool. Haven’t really listened to a full White Sox broadcast though so I can’t comment on the overall experience.
by James Kannengieser on Jul 12, 2010 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I will forever have
“Alexei!?” burned into my mind. Dumbass mentioned that Buerhle had a perfect game going. I hate when announcers do that.
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jul 12, 2010 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Why?
They’re supposed to inform the viewer, so if you’re just coming in during the 7th inning or something, they have to let you know the guys throwing a perfect game.
You don't say that [Pitcher] has a perfect game going.
You say things like, “Though X innings, [Pitcher] has not allowed a hit.” You say things like, “[Pitcher] has a chance to do something very special.” You say things like, “[Pitcher] has faced the Major League minimum.” Let the camera pan in on the scoreboard, and let it show all 0’s.
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jul 14, 2010 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree with BDMF
Err on the side of caution… then again, I’m a hockey player – and a goalie on top of that
(in case you don’t get the joke, hockey players are hugely superstitious… and goalies are just plane weird.)
Save Jenrry Mejia!
I'm sorry, but you don't mess with a no-hitter.
It’s straight bush league.
by Thomas Wachtel on Jul 14, 2010 1:59 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree with this
Baseball is a superstitious game. Obviously there’s no tangible proof that it effects anything (and it doesn’t) but I still believe in a lot of stuff like that, mainly when it comes to baseball.
by James Kannengieser on Jul 14, 2010 7:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh come on
How does an announcer mentioning that there’s a perfect game going on have any effect on what is happening on the field? I can sort of understand them not talking about it in the dugout so as not to psyche the pitcher out, but I don’t get this ridiculous fear of guys who are well beyond earshot saying what’s happening.
It's totally irrational and flies in the face of how I approach the game otherwise
But it’s how I feel. That’s my stance.
by James Kannengieser on Jul 14, 2010 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
I want a no-hitter now
not 3 years from now. That’s my stance.
You don't cheer for the Mets. You drink for the Mets.
agreed 100%
I’m convinced that the Mets will never throw a no-hitter as long as Gary Cohen is up in the booth jinxing them in the 2nd inning.
I love Cohen, but anytime a Mets pitcher has one going I cringe, b/c he feels like he has to mention it every 5 pitches.
2009 Did Not Happen
Yeah I'm sure that's the reason we don't have a no-hitter
Personally I’m just going to start boiling chicken bones and dancing in ceremonial headgear. I’m sure that will reverse the Cohen jinx.
it's not like I really believe that Cohen mentioning it is the reason it ends
but, I mean, I also don’t really believe that a persons soul is trying to escape every time they sneeze, but I still say “God Bless You” to anyone who sneezes.
2009 Did Not Happen
That's cool
But now we’re definitely going to have to go to a Nats-Mets game together so that I can mention how Sanatana’s got a no-hitter going after he gets the first batter out. :)
My dad did that last Saturday before Pelfrey threw the first pitch,
and he gave up like a first-AB hit. He totally fucked things up.
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jul 14, 2010 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Because you don't.
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jul 14, 2010 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I love the no-hitter jinx thing
purely because it seems to be the one pure-superstition-based topic about which even the most otherwise rational Mets fans can’t keep their shit together.
People, I promise you, Gary Cohen will call the Mets’ first successful no-hitter, and he will call it objectively and informatively, without superstitiously refraining from mentioning the no-hitter while it’s in progress, and it will be better that way. The slow-building “will he do it?” tension is the most important thing about a no-hitter, something you can’t discuss and describe during the game without even mentioning what’s happening. If announcers have to refrain from describing what’s happening on the field for fear of jinxing it, they’re unable to call games at all.
I don't get the negative reaction to not mentioning a perfect game thing.
It’s tradition, superstition, and most importantly FUN. It’s like playoff beards in hockey. If you shave in the middle of a semi-final, is that going to cause your team to lose? Hell, no. Is it fun to think that refraining from shaving will help your cause? Hell, yes. If the announcer mentions that there is a perfecto in progress in the 7th, will it cause the next batter to line one through the gap? Hell, no. Is it fun for the audience if the announcer goes without mentioning the perfect game in progress? Hell, yes.
Save Jenrry Mejia!
matter of opinion, I guess
To me, it seems way more fun to hear a good broadcaster like Gary Cohen call a great feat while it happens. I get that it’s fun to do some superstitious stuff, like rally-caps or whatever, but this one seems like handcuffing the announcers, preventing them from doing what they’re supposed to do.
Definitely a matter of opinion
but I don’t even see it as handcuffing the commentators really. Just because they can’t say the words “perfect game” or “no-hitter” or “hasn’t allowed a base runner/hit today” doesn’t man they can’t describe the game. As BDMF said before, there are other ways for the announcing crew to get the point across (like “in case you’re just joining us, something special is happening and you won’t want to miss it” or “[name] could be on his way to a once in a career game, today” with a lot of camera shots of the scoreboard).
Save Jenrry Mejia!
but is that really what the "jinx" crowd wants?
I don’t think that most don’t-jinx-it people would be okay with what you’re describing here. It’s not a prohibition just on the word “no-hitter,” it’s a prohibition on mentioning or discussing the feat while it’s in progress. If cute “something special” circumlocutions were enough to get rid of the jinx, that’d certainly be less restrictive, even if still silly and pointless, but what people really seem to want is for the announcer to pretend that nothing special is happening.
I actually like the "he gone" K call.
it’s different
I support Jenrry Mejia as a starter. Screw you Jerry Manuel for thinking he's a set-up man.
If radio announcers were included
I’d probably have to throw Sterling and Waldman in there. They are unbearable…Suzyn Waldman’s voice is like nails on a chalkboard.
TV wise, Michael Kay is bad but the Marlins and DBacks announcers are much worse (and they all may be topped by Mr. Kevin “I’d take Eric Hinske over Roy Halladay and Albert Pujols in free agency because he’s been in the WS 3 straight years” Millar).
The one and only mistermet on teh Interwebz!
by Steve Schreiber on Jul 12, 2010 2:02 PM EDT reply actions
I think Millar was joking when he said that
http://www.doublebobbyjones.com/ -Double Bobby Jones: a Mets blog
Oh really?
Because I don’t think he was. Did you hear all of the other garbage spewing out of his mouth? I’d like to think he was joking but I honestly don’t have a clue whether he was or not.
The one and only mistermet on teh Interwebz!
by Steve Schreiber on Jul 12, 2010 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions
He'd be cheaper than Pujols or Halladay, in free agency, and easier to sign, anyway...
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jul 12, 2010 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I've been lucky enough to have MLB Extra Innings for the past six years...
and my personal favorites are San Francisco and Seattle, leaving Vin Scully out of the picture. Kuiper and Krukow always do a good job, and I happen to really like Dave Sims for some reason. With that being said, we are more than LUCKY to have GK&R.
Oh yeah, and Victor Rojas is very good on Play-by-Play for the Angels broadcasts. Better than what the Angels used to have, without a doubt. Their announcers used to sound underwater.
As for Hawk, he does have interesting catchphrases, but his whole “good guy/bad guy” angle gets sickening within the first 10 minutes of a broadcast. Washington is terrible too, because Dibble is THAT obnoxious.
i have to ask
how did the fox team not make this list? there could be no one worse than them
I like Ike
i mean i know
but their stink is worse then any other possible group of announcers. they are just sooooo terrible
I like Ike
This list sucks
Give me one good reason why Joe Morgan and Jon Miller are not the worst
Gas prices today are a lot like a pitcher's ERA. Anything under 3 is amazing, under 4 is pretty good and anything 5 and up is something you want to avoid.
because the fox teams are worse
I like Ike
Debatable.
Although, that’s like debating if you’d rather die of drowning of compression.
Save Jenrry Mejia!
I think I'd take Fox
Barely. McCarver’s become a shell of what he used to be, but at least he isn’t arrogant in his stupidity. I mean, he’s an idiot, but an affable one. On the other hand, Miller is certainly better than Buck. Close call, but I’m going with Fox.
Wow, I'd take Buck and McCarver over ESPN's crew.
Buck is okay and was probably even good at one point. He just seems to be bored by the games he’s calling. McCarver is an ass but not in the same league as Morgan.
buck is the worst of all in my opinion
thing is, its not just buck and mccarver – its karros and millar and other idiots who were ok but not great at baseball, are boring, have no personality and no idea what is happening in the baseball world – then they cut to rosenthal who gives awful updates.
at least jon miller doesn’t come out monotone and is somewhat listenable and they bring in guys like orel h, although when they had steve phillips i would have put them at the top of the shit list for that reason alone
I like Ike
they just need to have miller do the games by himself
sometimes it sounds like he’s pissed off with morgan’s stupidity. orel could be replaced with a parrot that’s learned every baseball platitude and i wouldn’t notice
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