One thing I hate about playoff baseball

[F1ghtinPhils]

No hometown announcers.

I spend 500 hours with these guys in my living room throughout the course of a season. They become friends. They root for the home team, just like me. We share the ups and downs together. Their genuine emotion and excitement is contagious and adds to the experience of watching a game. Come playoff time, my old friends just get tossed aside and I am left to watch my team all alone.

When I watch a game with “neutral” announcers, I feel somewhat detached from the game. These guys don’t care whether my team wins or loses. The excitement level is not the same. Hometown announcers have a personal relationship and personal knowledge of the players on the field that is totally lost in playoff baseball. Two times during the Phillies opener, the announcers started talking about Brad Lidge. Both times the camera switched to the bullpen and showed Scott Eyre sitting there. One announcer kept mispronouncing Pat Burrell’s name. Nitpicking? I guess so. But these guys don’t know my team like me and my old friends do. I miss my old friends.

[partydude1377]

I have to agree.

Joe Simpson, one of the announcers for the Phils/Brew game, usually announces for the Braves TV telecast. I have to say that he usually sounds 100 times better when he is announcing for the Braves.

Yesterday the entire broadcast team was very akward, reading stats wrong, butchering people's names, etc.

Unfortunatley John Smoltz didn't do very well either. He has broadcast a handfull of times on the braves tv broadcast and sounded much better then.

Hopefully as the playoffs move on, the announcers will become more comfortable with eachother and the teams.

[PVNICK]

You could be one of us Met fans having to listen to Ron Darling and rueing what might or should have been.

[NYMets523]

I can tolerate some announcers. Others I wish I could mute.

[Imgran]

I do miss Don and Jerry. They are very quirky but it's a great and unique chemistry they have going, and Orsillo is the perfect guy to be Remy's straight man.

If Buck and McCarver become too much to bear, I can always switch on the radio and listen to one of the best of baseball on the radio, Joe Castiglione. If you really miss your friends, and want to hear the voice of someone who knows your team, go ahead and turn on the radio. The radio guys are still right where they always are.

[F1ghtinPhils]

If you really miss your friends, and want to hear the voice of someone who knows your team, go ahead and turn on the radio. The radio guys are still right where they always are.

I know, but it stinks watching with the TV delay. The play is already over on the radio before I even see the pitcher step on the rubber. It's like I can see into the future and know what's going to happen before it does. :rofl:

[KevinWI]

No hometown announcers.

I spend 500 hours with these guys in my living room throughout the course of a season. They become friends. They root for the home team, just like me. We share the ups and downs together. Their genuine emotion and excitement is contagious and adds to the experience of watching a game. Come playoff time, my old friends just get tossed aside and I am left to watch my team all alone.

When I watch a game with “neutral” announcers, I feel somewhat detached from the game. These guys don’t care whether my team wins or loses. The excitement level is not the same. Hometown announcers have a personal relationship and personal knowledge of the players on the field that is totally lost in playoff baseball. Two times during the Phillies opener, the announcers started talking about Brad Lidge. Both times the camera switched to the bullpen and showed Scott Eyre sitting there. One announcer kept mispronouncing Pat Burrell’s name. Nitpicking? I guess so. But these guys don’t know my team like me and my old friends do. I miss my old friends.


That 'neutral' play by play guy on TBS is Brian Anderson, who calls for Brewers TV on FSN Wisconsin.

[F1ghtinPhils]

That 'neutral' play by play guy on TBS is Brian Anderson, who calls for Brewers TV on FSN Wisconsin.

:grouchy :radio :grouchy That's it!!! I demand my Harry Kalas!!! ;-)

[hudsonharden]

I'll throw in the Frank Caliendo commercials. Those things are BRUTAL.

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

I hate how long the postseason takes. Every game has to be broadcasted so "el moolah" can be collected.

[Stumanji]

Try being a Mariner's fan... When we made the playoffs (so... long... ago...), we had to put up with announcers that genuinely didn't know anything about, nor did they care for, the Mariners. 97% of all topics covered in games were players/managers/former players for the other team.

Honest to God, I've lived in the PNW (Pacific Northwest) my entire life, and had never, ever, heard the phrase "The mountain is out" until Chris Berman enlightened me to the fact that we, in the northwest, say "The mountain is out" when it's clear enough to see Mt. Rainier. (All-Star Game, 2001)

Also, if I hear any more announcers, or any TV personalities for that matter, say "The birthplace of grunge" or refer to us as "the flannel-wearing folk of Seattle" I'll stab someone.

Go to Seattle. You won't see flannel, and no one listens to, nor performs, grunge music.

[spark240]

Also, if I hear any more announcers, or any TV personalities for that matter, say "The birthplace of grunge" or refer to us as "the flannel-wearing folk of Seattle" I'll stab someone.

I hear you folks also drink a lot of coffee.

[philkid3]

I would absolutely detest openly and clearly biased announcers in the playoffs.

I have enough trouble with Tom Grieve's homerism and I'm a Rangers fan. If Hawk and DJ (ew) were calling the White Sox-Rays game, I probably wouldn't watch.

[Uncle Charlie]

Try being a Mariner's fan... When we made the playoffs (so... long... ago...), we had to put up with announcers that genuinely didn't know anything about, nor did they care for, the Mariners. 97% of all topics covered in games were players/managers/former players for the other team.

Honest to God, I've lived in the PNW (Pacific Northwest) my entire life, and had never, ever, heard the phrase "The mountain is out" until Chris Berman enlightened me to the fact that we, in the northwest, say "The mountain is out" when it's clear enough to see Mt. Rainier. (All-Star Game, 2001)

Also, if I hear any more announcers, or any TV personalities for that matter, say "The birthplace of grunge" or refer to us as "the flannel-wearing folk of Seattle" I'll stab someone.

Go to Seattle. You won't see flannel, and no one listens to, nor performs, grunge music.Don't forget the obligatory shots of fish being tossed around at Pike Place Market.

[philkid3]

Don't forget the obligatory shots of fish being tossed around at Pike Place Market.

That has a plus. Whenever I'm in other parts of the country and people find out I've been to the "flying fish place," I'm a celebrity for the next 15 minutes.

It's weird, but enjoyable.

[Imgran]

Look on the bright side. We're all officially Hawk-free until next year.

[KCGHOST]

I really prefer to listen to a game called by the home team announcers. There familiarity with the teams isn't forced.

[hudsonharden]

For all you guys who want to hear a hometeam announcer, let me throw out a shameless plug (http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelpage.xmc?ch=175). They usually feature the national, home, and away broadcasts. Well worth the monthly fee, plus I enjoy the Talk and Music formats as well.

[cardsfanatic]

look on the bright side. We're all officially hawk-free until next year.

put it on the booooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaard! Yes!

[Evangelion]

I'll throw in the Frank Caliendo commercials. Those things are BRUTAL.
I believe 20-30 of those commercials run a game. So, you're looking at 70-90 Caliendo commercials during a three game slate. TBS knew people thought they showed too many last year, and what they do? Show us even more. Even one where Caliendo makes fun of the fact there's a number of commercials for his show.

That's just awful.

[KevinWI]

I graduated from the same high school as Frank Caliendo, albeit, about a 10 year difference from the year we got our diplomas.

[Los Bravos]

I agree with this, completely. McCarver and Buck are execrable and always cut into my enjoyment of any postseason game. Instead of Skip Caray's classic call of the Frank Cabrerra-Sid Bream play in '92, I was having to listen to Sean McDonough's Russian Wolfhound impression.

[gman5431]

Great point and so true. You have the hometown announcers who are biased AND THEY SHOULD BE. This is great. You listen to them all year and for most cities, they are good (Cincy's are pretty weak). Then in the playoffs the announcers not only arent related to the teams, they suck. These guys who do the games on TBS are horrible. Its funny, my dad and i always made fun of Tim McCarver announcing all these WS games because he is so horrible. Its like i almost want to watch the game on mute instead of listen to these college educated white guys in suits who dont know anything about the teams, less about baseball and only that they got a masters from so and so or their daddy was an announcer before them. When i watch a White Sox games i want the Hawk and DJ, not Johnny Suit.

G Man

[SHOELESSJOE3]

How many times do we have to hear............. this is the first time a team in post season did this or that.................... no team ever did this in post season......first time a player did this or that....blah....blah..blah... blah.

STOP, some of the comments do have some significance but many others............who cares.

[Trickyhop]

Try being a Mariner's fan... When we made the playoffs (so... long... ago...), we had to put up with announcers that genuinely didn't know anything about, nor did they care for, the Mariners. 97% of all topics covered in games were players/managers/former players for the other team.

Honest to God, I've lived in the PNW (Pacific Northwest) my entire life, and had never, ever, heard the phrase "The mountain is out" until Chris Berman enlightened me to the fact that we, in the northwest, say "The mountain is out" when it's clear enough to see Mt. Rainier. (All-Star Game, 2001)

Also, if I hear any more announcers, or any TV personalities for that matter, say "The birthplace of grunge" or refer to us as "the flannel-wearing folk of Seattle" I'll stab someone.

Go to Seattle. You won't see flannel, and no one listens to, nor performs, grunge music.


True M's fans in '95 listened to Neihaus on the cheap battery powered radio that was found in the garage while watching the game on the big screen (muted of course)! :D The delay wasn't so bad back then. The radio was maybe 1-2 seconds ahead.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

I certainly agree there is some bias but I think some viewers overplay this.
Guaranteed, team A playing team B and some team A and some team B fans listening to the same broadcast team will say they are biassed, in favor of the other team.

Human nature, both fans listening to the same broadcasters see and hear a different picture.

[Seattle1]

No hometown announcers.

I spend 500 hours with these guys in my living room throughout the course of a season. They become friends. They root for the home team, just like me. We share the ups and downs together. Their genuine emotion and excitement is contagious and adds to the experience of watching a game. Come playoff time, my old friends just get tossed aside and I am left to watch my team all alone.

When I watch a game with “neutral” announcers, I feel somewhat detached from the game. These guys don’t care whether my team wins or loses. The excitement level is not the same. Hometown announcers have a personal relationship and personal knowledge of the players on the field that is totally lost in playoff baseball. Two times during the Phillies opener, the announcers started talking about Brad Lidge. Both times the camera switched to the bullpen and showed Scott Eyre sitting there. One announcer kept mispronouncing Pat Burrell’s name. Nitpicking? I guess so. But these guys don’t know my team like me and my old friends do. I miss my old friends.


I read you loud and clear.

[gman5431]

True M's fans in '95 listened to Neihaus on the cheap battery powered radio that was found in the garage while watching the game on the big screen (muted of course)! :D The delay wasn't so bad back then. The radio was maybe 1-2 seconds ahead.

Yeah! I used to do this with Marty and Joe here in Cincy. Then the delay got pretty bad and sometimes we just listen to the radio instead of the TV.

G Man

[Buczilla]

Human nature, both fans listening to the same broadcasters see and hear a different picture.

Just like the reading of a novel or watching a debate. Yin and Yang....

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Just like the reading of a novel or watching a debate. Yin and Yang....
You got it, thats why I say, there is some bias but probably not as much as we think, depends on your team.

Watched a Raiders/ Jets game in a bar some years ago. Guess what, on some close calls the Raider fans saw it thier way, the Jet fans saw it their way, the exact same play. Kind of like the republicans and the democrats who PROMISE not to follow party lines on issues......................sure

[philkid3]

Great point and so true. You have the hometown announcers who are biased AND THEY SHOULD BE. This is great.
I would really, really prefer Lewin and TAG weren't biased. I prefer journalistic integrity, which includes objectivity.

I understand that hometown announcers are basically pitchmen. I get that, I just don't like it.



Its funny, my dad and i always made fun of Tim McCarver announcing all these WS games because he is so horrible. Its like i almost want to watch the game on mute instead of listen to these college educated white guys in suits who dont know anything about the teams, less about baseball and only that they got a masters from so and so or their daddy was an announcer before them.
OH NO! COLLEGE EDUCATED WHITE MEN! :crazy

I don't think TBS announcers are good, but they do know more about baseball than Tim McCarver (which isn't saying much), and I'm not sure how "college educated white men" matters. Race is meaningful? An education is a bad thing?


When i watch a White Sox games i want the Hawk and DJ, not Johnny Suit.
Dude, I'd rather here Frank Caliendo and Dane Cook in the booth than Hawk and DJ. They are the worst at what they do of anyone in the planet at anything that can be done.

[gman5431]

You're crazy. Hawk and DJ are one of if not they best. They make the game fun and interesting. I like that.

G Man