Favorite Baseball Commentator

Have you listened to Sutcliffe and Piazza this week --they are dynamite together==pitcher and catcher viewpoints

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Originally posted by TRhit:
Have you listened to Sutcliffe and Piazza this week --they are dynamite together==pitcher and catcher viewpoints

I have never been real fond of Sutcliff. Piaza has the makings of a new career there.....

They are paid to be homers. Jim Kaat is very good. Kenny Singleton is smooth too. I liked Steve Stone alot in Chicago. Chip Carey is pretty good and not nearly as full of himself as Joe Buck, who is just too cool for me.

The king is Jerry Remy.

I have enjoyed the team of Sutcliffe and Piazza as well. One critique of just about everyone is that they seem to act as if it would be a sin if one moment went by without saying something. Tim McCarver is very knowlegable, however, he is the poster boy for talking way, way too much. Bob Costas can be excellent but sometimes gets too caught up in himself. Vin Scully is old school and I love hearing him call a game. My favorite baseball moment is Kirk Gibson's homerun off of Dennis Eckersley. I don't recall Vin talking during the whole trip around the bases.

As I said in another post yesterday, Vin Skully is the man. He transcends the field and blends the magic and history of the game with insight into the heart and psyche of the big league player. When he is "on", he is the Walt Whitman of commentators. You can smell the grass and feel the grit of the infield clay under your feet...

Of course, most of us really miss Harry Carey. Again, seemingly half-lit at 1:00 in the afternoon, boldly going where no commentator had gone before...no doubt he had no idea where he was headed at the time, either. The off-the-cuff stuff that slurred out of his mouth was always interesting, if not sometimes emabarrassing to someone! And he could care less! Man did he love his Cubbies! Like a father-sometimes it was 'tough love'. He never hesitated to say exactly what was on his mind or how he felt about a given player, yet he never really crossed the line on personal issues that became public.

Kaat is great, Piazza will be really good (watch and wait - he will be more visable than you might think after retirement)and I kind of like Eckersly. David Justice, in his raw state, at times can really add to the game-or not.

All this from a life-long Yankee fan.....

Eckersley, just a week ago, claimed that Mussina stinks...Well

Although I can appreciate his candor and his tendencies not to sugar coat bad performances....I thought this comment was unnecessary.

(Slightly off topic but..) Not a commentator per say, but you gotta' love Rob Dibble on "Best **** Sports Show, Period." Prime example of an intelligent baseball jock and solid member of that fraternity.

Mel Allen...best of all time. When baseball was truly "baseball" in October.

Vince Scully at #2

Jack Brickhouse at #3

The rest are pretenders.

Perhaps it's just from listening to them so much, but I like the Braves crew; Pete Van Wieren, Skip & Chip Caray, Don Sutton & Joe Simpson. I like Van Wieren & Sutton the best.

Classy, knowledgeable, excellant game analysis, we lost a Great One in Jack Buck. As was just mentioned about Scully during Gibson's homer, after McGwire broke the HR record, Jack simply said, "Pardon me while I stand and applaud", or his "Go crazy, folks, go crazy" for Ozzie's hr against the Dodgers. Everyone got to see a bit of Our Jack during his introduction to the first televised game after 9/11.

I don't think the 'homer' thing is at all necessary, particularly with radio announcers. If I want to, I can just to sit next to another fan during the game broadcast and make excuses --- I like a bit more information and objectivity from a pro. And things like Ron Santos' groaning and whining during games really makes me crazy!

Baseball fans listen on the radio when they can't see the game live or on TV. Casual fans don't. I think the good radio announcers recognize their audience.

The Cards have got Wayne Hagin and Mike Shannon and I do enjoy them --- Shannon's a character, comes out with some bizarre phrases (just in case we're still missing Harry....I have a list, even), but certainly makes the game colorful. He and Wayne are also honest about the team's strengths and weaknesses...and will let you know as quickly when we got the advantage of a bad call as when we got hosed.

The TV guys aren't in the same class as the radio announcers. Odd, as their job should be easier. Perhaps it's the face-man ego-thing that won't allow them to shut up and let the action speak for itself when appropriate. (Why, for example, do they EVER show the announcers?)

Dave Niehous is great. His calls are exciting and he not a home towner.

Joe Buck is the absolute worst commmentator in history. He is annoying and doesn't know what he is talking about half the time.

Orlando - your analysis is right on. I didn't mention Jack Buck because he is no longer with us but, he was a great one. Unfortunately, Joe Buck is not even close to his father.

From what I have read, there is a lineage that goes back to at least Red Barber. Some of The ones we consider great today like Scully have
been highly influenced by him. Ernie Harwell was another great one who has retired recently.

Growing up as a kid in NY we had Mel Allen , Red Barber and Russ Hodges--talk about great announcers

Cong,
As good as Scully is he unfortunately seems to be mirroring Chick Hearn's last years as an announcer. More senior moments to put it nicely.

Hands down, it's Joe Morgan and Tim McCarver!



Hehe...Gotcha!

Harry Kalas

Harry Caray--hands down the best ever. I like Bob Costas too and always hoped he'd take over Cubs games after Harry was gone.

I cannot stand listening to McCarver or Morgan. One talks too much and the other talks too much and has nothing to say. Piazza doesn't have the voice to do it longterm.

I'm surprised that nobody yet mentioned how absolutely horrible Chris Berman is as a baseball announcer.

There was an interview with Jack & Joe Buck shortly before he died. Joe was asked how much he learned from is father, and his answer was "everything" and proceeded to give a laundry list. Then the interviewer aske Jack what he had learned from his son. His response: "nothing". Even at the time, I didn't think it was an example of Jack's sense of humor.....

You count Chris Berman as a baseball announcer?!

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Of course, most of us really miss Harry Carey.

"And now pitching for the Yankees, uh, err, Aruba Air-A-Boo."

I think he meant Hideki Arabu.

I miss Harry BAD.

Chill,
Eck is over the top as a homer. Jim Rice is the Mercedes to Eck's jacked up Camaro SS. As my mother would say "no class".

I am not sure what Chris Berman is besides a well compensated, TV baffoon, but he ain't no baseball guy. He is completely incoherent.

Jeff Brantley is a bright, credible guy who understands that Johnny Miller is the best golf announcer because he points out when a guy (or gal) screws up. He is quick to point out mental mistakes and "paycheck stealers"

My definition of a good announcer is one who keeps me watching as my team is getting blown out. Jerry Remy for the Sox does that well.

My vote would go to Vin Scully. But I really enjoy Harold Reynolds also.

I grew up with Curt Gowdy and Dizzy Dean (even though Dean cost me an "A" in English ). Even as a youngin, they kept me in the game.

Can't get too worked up about any of today's announcers except my vote for the worst goes to McCarver.

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Can't get too worked up about any of today's announcers except my vote for the worst goes to McCarver.

Why? Because he is wrong more than half the time when identifying pitches thrown, strategy. Or is it because he gets crabby if he doesn't hear his own voice in the headset? Maybe it's because he is just annoying, as the kids say?

For me its all five.

#1 Dizzy Dean

#2 Mel Allen

#3 Vin Scully

#4 Russ Hodges

#5 Jack Buck

#6 Bob Costas

#7 Harry Carey

#8 Lon Simmons

#9 Jon Miller

#10 Mike Krukow

So, Dad04, would that make Timmy a Five "Tool" Announcer?

1) Bob Elson
2) Joe Morgan
3) Hawk Harrelson
4) Tom Pachoirek
5) Dizzy Dean
6) Mel Allen
7) Ed Farmer
8) Don Drysdale
9) Bert Blyleven
10)Jim Kaat

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So, Dad04, would that make Timmy a Five "Tool" Announcer?

At the very least.

BTW, Good luck to GSU this spring! Hotlanta!

Methinks Soxnole listens with blinders on. Hawk and Paciorek? The most pathetic announcers ever. Now if you had inlcuded Jimmy Piersall on the list I could have respected you. You forgot Jack Drees too.

Hawk?.........................he is absolutely dreadful. Pure, commercial grade nails on a chalk board.

I'd prefer Boomer, Buck & Timmy Mac all talking at once.

Oh yeah, and Ralph Faucher too.

active today.........got to say Jon Miller......who does a great imitation of one of the best Vin Scully.......

Vin Scully.......so good for so long...

and the umpires choice for the worst rules knowledge by an announcer goes to:.........


its a tie!

Tim McCarver and Harold Reynolds.........both awful on the rules....

Piaaump,

I agree, I go with Jon Miller. I could listen to him call a girl's jayvee volleyball game....

If I go where I hope after my "final inning", I expect to hear a voice that sounds either like James Earl Jones or Jon Miller.

For current TV announcers, I love listening to John Miller and Joe Morgan. Listened to Miller when he was broadcasting for the O's w/ Joe Angel, a great team (still hate the O's for letting him get away). Of course, I grew up a fan of the Big Red Machine, so Joe Morgan can do no wrong!

If I'm just listening.....Vin Scully....but if I'm looking and listening....Harold gets my vote....love that smile! Should I have posted this in the Ladies forum?

We are really lucky here in the SF area to have Jon Miller, Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow do our games. Witty, students of the game, entertaining, and at an acceptable level of homer ness

Whenever ESPN decides to braodcast a non Red Sox, Yankee or Giants game, I really enjoy listening to Mike Sciambi, he always seems to be informed on the minute details of the interworkings of even the smaller-market clubs. Just seems classy to me.

I'm with Piaa_ump and hokieone -

I think that Jon Miller is the best announcer in the business, bar none -- interesting, knowledgable and funny, and he makes whoever is working with him better. We're very lucky here in the Bay Area to have him, Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper - they are the best team around.

My FAVORITE announcer of all times, though, is Bob Euker when he was in his prime calling for the Brewers. I don't think there was ever a game I listened to, where at least once (usually more) I didn't laugh out loud.

Steve Phillips and Dan Shulman are the World Greatest Tag Team, or at least they should be.

Just updated the other thread on the worst ones but wanted to cast another vote for Jon Miller. He is excellent and a very pleasing voice to listen to.