Comments on: Random observations from ALCS Game 2

By: Waffeleisen

Waffeleisen — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:14:39 +0000

Fine Post. I searched the whole cyberspace for something like “Random observations from ALCS Game 2 – HardballTalk – Baseball – NBC Sports”. Thx very much, it had helped.

By: Larry Ryan

Larry Ryan — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:34:32 +0000

I think your blog is great. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Found it on Bing though. I love the suggestions and just trying to wrap my head around it, it’s mind boggling. Thanks

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:51:00 +0000

All good points on the anti-Yankee bias and the call of the “neighborhood play”. There was no reason for Aybar NOT to touch the base, he was under no pressure. In my mind, you have to touch the base to get the out call. Everyone knows that they are given some latitude about WHEN they touch the base (and whether they actually have the ball at the time), but I never thought you could just stand there next to the base and expect to get the call. You would think that after so much discussion between them, either Buck or McCarver might have said, “It might have been a good idea to tag the base since he was right there”, but no, instead go after the umpire and suggest that Aybar NEVER touches the base, which McCarver then had to swallow. Those other three DPs were more difficult turns than that last one, again, no comment on that point

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:30:12 +0000

I was so glad to hear Joe Buck’s voice. As much as I hate him, it was a blessing not to have to hear the sounds of the TBS announcers inhaling and exhaling with the nose whistles. So gross.

By: AvaP

AvaP — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:20:45 +0000

He was referring to Jeter’s entire 2009 season, not the homer last night.

By: soxrocker

soxrocker — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:02:44 +0000

I thought McCarver’s kissass routine on Jeter after the HR was particularly sickening…plus he totally missed the point. I don’t think Jeter got much criticism for his offense. It was mostly his fielding that was under scrutiny. He hits a dinger, and suddenly Tim claims all the evil naysayers are “hiding in their caves,” or something to that effect.

By: Len

Len — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:49:21 +0000

No. McCarver said the same thing. Then he looked at the replays and found that he was wrong and admitted it, that Aybar did indeed hit the bag on the other DP’s.

By: Len

Len — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:44:37 +0000

Respectfully disagree. Joe Morgan is easily the worst. He repeats everythng 4 times, and is almost always wrong on anything he says. I pity Jon miller having to put up with him. I’m certain that in his heart, Jon agrees with me.

By: XTrust_No1X

XTrust_No1X — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:16:26 +0000

I think that the YES Network, should be at least televising the game, like Channel 9 does, only not in SAP, that way, the Yankees fans don’t have to listen to idiots like Carry & Buck. Between them, they don’t have a brain! In the first round against the twins, I shut the souund off, and just watched the game, much beter. Now, I’m at the same point trying to listen to McCarver & Buck, it’s like listening to Quint scrtach his nails on the blackboard. Well, I guess I’m willing to put up with those two numbskulls, to be able to watch my Legendary New York Yankees spank the rest of MLB, on they’re way to their 27th World Series Championship in the very first year of the $1.5 Billion Dollar Shrine, “The House That Derek Jeter Built”. That’s the only way the New, New York Yankees Stadium could’ve opened, not like the second rate New York team over in Queens. The Mutts should’ve named their new park, the same name as the town it resides in, FLUSHING Park, home to a team that let the opening of their new park, go down the drain! Well, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has his minions cutting up Millions of pounds of Ticker Tape, having Key’s to the City made and poliched, and getting the Greatest City in the World, ready for the biggest Ticker Tape parade ever down the Canyon of Heroes for the Millions of New York Yankees fans, the Greatest fans in the World!, The New York Yankees Universe!

By: Nacho

Nacho — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:04:48 +0000

I have the MLB package and watch a ton of Angels games. I actually like Rex Hudler, it’s Gubicza I find incredibly boring. I never realized how deadly boring some of these teams are. Ever hear Frank White and Paul Splittorf (or whomever it is)? The Mariners, The Rangers and Tampa Bay also have horrible announcing teams. It’s not so much what they know or impart…they are BORING! Yes those teams have had their struggles, but give me a homer like Hawk Harrelson or Michael Kay (as grating as he can be) every time. Rex Hudler is colorful (get it color man?)! He’s got enthusiasm. Just my two cents…

By: Rick

Rick — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:05:40 +0000

Angels tore my heart out last night! Followed them all year…great season, now THIS?? My team hasn’t shown up yet!
As to the announcer debate, I’m spoiled rotten, having grown up listening to Scully… And if you guys think McCarver’s an idiot, you’ve never listened to a game with Rex Hudler as the color man!
He gives new depth and breadth to the words MORON and HOMER!!
(And I don’t mean Simpson!!)
Honestly I thought Buck was doing a better job this year so far, than last, but the Master of Malaprops, the man who get’s literally EVERYTHING wrong…The Moron of Midtown still has to be that dumber than dirt idiot Tim McCarver! What a douchebag!!
He’s only qualified to call the crossing guard follies in whatever podunk, redneck poophole he comes from!

By: Yankee Fan in Boston

Yankee Fan in Boston — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:30:37 +0000

The Aybar safe call is worth talking about because Aybar was doing it *all night long.* I’d love to be able to go back and check all those double plays and see Aybar not actually touch the bag.
This neighborhood call thing is kind of ridiculous. We’re pouring accolades on all these double play combos, and it comes to be they’re not actually turning double plays. The 2B is just letting the shortstop throw to first.
Go back and see if Jeter does the same thing. If he does, shame on him, too. It was the first time in a while I felt it was so blatant, so I wasn’t shocked that they called it. I was shocked that they *finally* called it.
Touch the bag. Play it right.

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:51:05 +0000

I turn the sound off. During the playoffs I listen to the WCBS broadcast of all Yankee games on MLB.com. Even with a slight broadcast delay, the game is 1000% better. John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman are the best when the YES network announcers are not available for a televised broadcast. End of story!

By: Rd

Rd — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:36:06 +0000

How about Pete Rose for TV Announcer, Id Take him over McCarver any
day. Or get Boomer over from TBS. Great Game in spite of announcers
Yankees are a team of destiny in 09. Exciting game, better than football.

By: Jon

Jon — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:30:19 +0000

Well, now I am sold on Direct TV, thats for sure! Also, great game.

By: Mike Trofinoff

Mike Trofinoff — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:18:48 +0000

There are duds and studs in every occupation, even sports announcing. If you don’t like them do what I did…hit the mute button and run on the treadmill while watching the extra innings with the earphones on to your favorite music. It worked this morning.

By: nfieldr

nfieldr — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:10:34 +0000

Skip Caray’s youngest son, Josh, does PxP for the AAA Gwinnett Braves. I think that he is head and shoulders above Chip.

By: char in miami

char in miami — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:24:05 +0000

you know – i thought that i was the only one who thought the game calling was awful so am pleased to realize it isn’t my imagination.
i subscribed to mlb and watched many more games than i normally do and when the same game was being sent by both the home team and the away team, sometimes you had to wonder if both anouncers were calling the same game.
as to the yankees – having been a fan since back in the 60′s, i hope they can keep up the good work – teamwork that is.
i hope in the off-season, they can manage to trade joba chamberlain to toronto for halladay. and they can have the prima donna burnette back also.
go yankees!!

By: Val

Val — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:56:02 +0000

At first it was tough to watch the games with the announcers. I agree with all your comments on Buck & McCarver. I’m just used to the teams’ usual broadcasters all year, as I watch just about every game.
Yankees are unstoppable this year. I get so tired of the whining about their payroll though. If you made a purchase, wouldn’t you buy the very best your budget would allow? That’s exactly what the Yankees and every other team do. They just have more money, and historically the best attendance in mlb.
It will be nice to see Torre come back to Yankee Stadium, even though I hope his team gets trounced.

By: inRI

inRI — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:30:09 +0000

I think Aybar’s mistake was being about a foot BEHIND the bag that he was supposedly straddling. He wasn’t in the ‘neighborhood’….

By: YankeesfanLen

YankeesfanLen — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:22:38 +0000

I don’t need no stinkin’ baseball announcers on TV! Except Vin in Dodgerland. Let me listen to Fibber and Molly on the radio, let them get silly once they figure out what’s happening.
Seriously, don’t want to spend the afternoon looking this up, are the Yankees 145-0 in four hour+ games?
A-Bombs from ARod and Mets defense will do this every time.

By: AJ

AJ — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:00:37 +0000

Joe Buck may be God-awful. I totally agree. But Tim McCarver has to be, just has to be, the all-time worst, and stupidest, announcer on TV. How can someone get so many things wrong and still have a job?
At least Buck is smarter than McCarver in that he does a better job of covering up his anti-Yankee bias.

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:54:21 +0000

You couldn’t be more correct regarding Chip Caray being one of the most awful broadcasters. And yes, gramps and pop was responsible for this inhuman jesture. If fact, I’d heard the entire Caray family broadcast, I think they were/are all terrible.

By: Christian

Christian — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:47:52 +0000

Joe Buck is the absolute worst. Is it me, or does he ooze contempt for the yankees? I’m glad Artie drove a steamroller over his terrible HBO show.

By: lar @ wezen-ball

lar @ wezen-ball — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:23:13 +0000

I’m with you, Craig. For the neighborhood play to be called, you have to at least be kind of close to the bag. Neither of his feet were any closer than a foot or so at any time. You’ve *got* to do better than that.
And re: the Twins & Angels being fundamentally sound, here’s a couple of tweets from FJM’s KenTremendous last night:
“Weather forecast for NYC: chilly, windy, 80% chance of inexplicable mental errors by visiting team. Definitely favors Yankees.”
“I just simulated a game between the Yankees and a team of Datas, from Star Trek: TNG. The Datas made four key mental errors and lost 6-2″
“If Sherlock Holmes suspected the Yankees of murder, he’d make four crucial errors in his investigation and they’d get away scot-free.”
Well, i thought it was funny…

By: Charlie

Charlie — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:05:45 +0000

I’m definitely NOT a Yankee fan but it’s undeniable that they are playing great baseball right now.

By: Sal

Sal — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:04:43 +0000

Craig, you did not mentioned that the A-Rod homer was eerily similar to the Jeff Maier’s homer by Jeter… didn’t that homer also tied the game?
For that matter, you have not written about the old Yankee Stadium’s Ghosts moving into this one with free rent….

By: Craig Calcaterra

Craig Calcaterra — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:03:56 +0000

I know. I meant that, of the two announcers who owe their jobs to nepotism, Buck is better.

By: greyghst

greyghst — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:02:04 +0000

“I never thought I’d say this, but after a round and a half of Chip Caray, Joe Buck is actually a sound for sore ears. He’s still basically terrible, but he’s less offensive than the other terrible announcer who only has his job because of nepotism.”
And why is Joe Buck there? One of, if not the worst announcer in sports, is only there because of his father. If not for Buck sr, none of us would ever know who Joe Buck jr. is.