I got home starting reading the Sunday paper and turned on the last couple of inning of the Sox game. When the game ended I checked the scores looking for a good game. Cardinals-Rockies 2-2 in the 7th was the choice. And there he was. Argh! Tim McCarver. Poor Cardinal fans. At least I could switch to the Rockies feed.
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He's not bad on a Cardinals broadcast IMO. It's when he does national games where he's supposed to be neutral, that I feel like he has struggles.
I got home starting reading the Sunday paper and turned on the last couple of inning of the Sox game. When the game ended I checked the scores looking for a good game. Cardinals-Rockies 2-2 in the 7th was the choice. And there he was. Argh! Tim McCarver. Poor Cardinal fans. At least I could switch to the Rockies feed.
Suddenly, re-reading the Saturday paper was an excellent option! 
IMO, he had done a very good job as a Cardinal broadcaster. Sure he can drone on with a story or two. However, he shows some great insights as well. For example, today, in the bottom of the 9th and a runner on 2nd with 1 out, he commented that the Rockies would do well to walk Grichuk. They didn't ad Grichuk got an infield hit which put the winning run at 3rd. McCarver feels at home in St. Louis and knows that the fans here support his efforts, for the most part, in the booth. JMHO!
CoachB25,
Please keep him in St Louis all to yourselves. We may be able to raise enough national funding to build a fence around St Louis to keep him in....secure the border if you will.
He used to really annoy me. Now I see him as sort of a "dopey uncle" and I like him a lot more. In truth I think he is probably a very bright and interesting guy. I like that he is so proud of his family. Gives him a lot of wiggle room with me.
Love the "secure the border" comment. That's funny.
How about joe morgan dueing color at wrigley?By the 3rd inning its completly obviuos he not only hates the field but, the organazation as well.Santo had to die before Joe gave his nod which allowed others to follow.
Never been able to figure the McCarver hate. I listened to him early in his broadcasting career when he was doing NY Met games for a good decade in the Gooden/Strawberry days. He was a bolt of insight and clarity after listening to Ralph Kiner mail it in for years.
The thing I did notice was there was a difference between his approach to the local call vs. the national call. In the local game he was more conversational making pretty good observations about what was going on in the game and mixing in a few stories. Anytime Carlton or Gibson came up was pretty good.
In the national games I always thought he tried too hard to seem smart and pressed points that didn't need it. There was just more forced commentary in a less pleasant style. Never thought it was terrible but it wasn't as good as his local work.
What is it about Tim that so repulses you, RJM?
Heck, I grew up listening to Jack Buck, Bobby Costas and Dan Dierdorf on my way home from work every night ... so I've been exposed to some of the best. And I don't think Tim's that bad.
Tim is clearly a storyteller and play analyst -- not a play-by-play guy -- and while he sometimes says silly/funny things, he also points out many interesting things and offers insights into the game within the game that are compelling. I could give examples, but I don't think you want to hear them.
Really, I just want to understand why you (and others) have such a visceral reaction to the guy.
(agree with above. I listen to Tim call Card games).
I'm sitting on both sides of this fence. Watching McCarver do postseason games with Buck Jr. is torture. But I also lived in NYC while McCarver worked Mets games with Ralph Kiner, and really enjoyed them. And their partner Steve Zabriski too. I've met him since and he's a heck of a nice guy.
What is it about Tim that so repulses you, RJM?
Heck, I grew up listening to Jack Buck, Bobby Costas and Dan Dierdorf on my way home from work every night ... so I've been exposed to some of the best. And I don't think Tim's that bad.
Tim is clearly a storyteller and play analyst -- not a play-by-play guy -- and while he sometimes says silly/funny things, he also points out many interesting things and offers insights into the game within the game that are compelling. I could give examples, but I don't think you want to hear them.
Really, I just want to understand why you (and others) have such a visceral reaction to the guy.
(agree with above. I listen to Tim call Card games).
He talks too much. He makes a lot of mistakes. Ironically, McCarver has a syndicated half hour talk show I enjoy. Most of the athletes he interviews are from his era when I was growing up as a fan of sports.
