ALCS

[DSafetyGuy]

Not really feeling the "at least the Tigers have Scherzer and Verlander" story line.

[brian]

Not really feeling the "at least the Tigers have Scherzer and Verlander" story line.

...since it has been defense and relief pitching that has blown it for them. And that shit ain't changing any time soon.

[howard]

The Mantle story, as I heard it, was actually kind of interesting. But of course McCarver was not clear in telling it.

I got that Mantle erred in remembering where he suffered his famous knee injury; that Mantle stated it occurred in game one of the 1951 series (correct) in the Polo Grounds (incorrect). And the interesting aspect, to me, that the alcohol-addled brain of Mantle failed to remember clearly an incident that was common knowledge to every baseball fan.

(That the National League won the 1951 All-Star game, gaining the New York Baseball Giants home field advantage and hosting privileges for Game 1 of the WS.)

But McCarver and Buck suck so hard man I can't listen.

[A_B]

The Mantle story, as I heard it, was actually kind of interesting. But of course McCarver was not clear in telling it.

I got that Mantle erred in remembering where he suffered his famous knee injury; that Mantle stated it occurred in game one of the 1951 series (correct) in the Polo Grounds (incorrect). And the interesting aspect, to me, that the alcohol-addled brain of Mantle failed to remember clearly an incident that was common knowledge to every baseball fan.

(That the National League won the 1951 All-Star game, gaining the New York Baseball Giants home field advantage and hosting privileges for Game 1 of the WS.)

But McCarver and Buck suck so hard man I can't listen.

Right. It was just his telling of it that was so mangled. Then he called AJ Pierzinski an ex-player and had to retract. There was some other bonehead call before I turned the game off, too.

[Gunpowder]

I must be a rare case in that announcers almost never bother me in the slightest.

[Scottie]

McCarver says 3-4 completely inane things a game.

Every inning. Not every game. Every inning. If it was merely 3-4 inane things per game, I could tolerate it.

[govmentchedda]

That Iglesias catch is a joy to watch.

[degenerasian]

I must be a rare case in that announcers almost never bother me in the slightest.

I'm the same.

Only announcers that talk way too much bother me. Last night, there were some entire 1/2 innings that McCarver barely said anything. That is nice because I can hear the atmosphere and the crowd noise.

No analyst will say anything I don't notice anyways so the less they talk, the better.

[brian]

I must be a rare case in that announcers almost never bother me in the slightest.

I'm the same.

Only announcers that talk way too much bother me. Last night, there were some entire 1/2 innings that McCarver barely said anything. That is nice because I can hear the atmosphere and the crowd noise.

No analyst will say anything I don't notice anyways so the less they talk, the better.

A good analyst in theory should pretty much only be saying things you wouldn't notice yourself. That's how the best football announcers operate.

[degenerasian]

I must be a rare case in that announcers almost never bother me in the slightest.

I'm the same.

Only announcers that talk way too much bother me. Last night, there were some entire 1/2 innings that McCarver barely said anything. That is nice because I can hear the atmosphere and the crowd noise.

No analyst will say anything I don't notice anyways so the less they talk, the better.

A good analyst in theory should pretty much only be saying things you wouldn't notice yourself. That's how the best football announcers operate.

Football is much more complex than baseball, there are 22 players moving at once. Sure the football analyst will mention something that happened at the line of scrimmage since I may not be looking at the line. (although I've gotten pretty good at it by now)

Does much happen in baseball that we don't notice? Last night when Middlebrooks ran to an uncovered 3rd base, I didn't notice right away that the ump had gotten in the way but McCarver pointed it out immediately. So he's doing his job right?

[Scottie]

No analyst will say anything I don't notice anyways so the less they talk, the better.

This is why, with very very few exceptions, any televised sporting event I watch has the volume turned down to zero. Announcers are, far more often than anything else, only pointing out the obvious. Foul ball down the right field side. Whistle on the play; it's offside. Incomplete pass, third and six. Playing the double take-out here. This putt's for bogey. And the ball bounces out of bounds.

Attending a game, y'don't hear that. Why would you want to hear it at home? Announcers in North America talk far far far too much as it is. The fact that they rarely have anything to actually contribute makes it even more painful. There are very few Vin Scullys. There are shitloads of Vic Rauters, Ken Harrlesons, Tim McCarvers, Chris Cuthberts, Dick Vitales, Joe Theismanns and on and on.

[degenerasian]

Scottie: watch Sutcliffe tonight, he'll talk your ears off. He talks right over Gary Thorne like he's not there.. he even talks into commercial breaks!

[Gunpowder]

Another sacrilege: I don't think Vin Scully is the awesomest ever and I don't really get his huge draw.

[Scottie]

Another sacrilege: I don't think Vin Scully is the awesomest ever and I don't really get his huge draw.

That puts you in a minority of about one.

Scottie: watch Sutcliffe tonight, he'll talk your ears off. He talks right over Gary Thorne like he's not there.. he even talks into commercial breaks!

Again, volume off for that. The upside is that Friday night is league curling night so the game gets PVR'd and watched later on with the fast-forward button under my thumb.

Thorne and Sutcliffe used to be great. Then Sutcliffe got, well, more confident behind the mic. Color guys were originally created to chime in once per inning or so. Now you get the McCarvers who start babbling the split-second that the Bucks pause for breath.

[sancarlos]

Yeah, I hate the Dodgers, but I love Vin Scully. I also love Jon Miller.

[Gunpowder]

Scully was cool at first because I hadn't heard anybody like him but after that, I just wasn't like "wow, he's awesome". For Pirates-Dodgers games I kept the Bucco crew.

[sancarlos]

One of the things I like about both Scully and Miller is that they aren't homers. Many local crews openly root for the home team.

[DSafetyGuy]

My preferred method of ignoring Buck and McCarver is to read long magazine articles online during the game with the volume on a little lower than if I was just watching the game. Read a sentence or short paragraph, look up to watch pitch. Return to reading.

The thud of pitch in mitt or crack of bat helps call my attention if I have drifted too deep into reading.

[degenerasian]

Cabrera can't keep chasing outside putches

[cerrano]

Cabrera can't keep chasing outside putches

only indoor coup d'etas's permitted.

[DSafetyGuy]

The only thing the Tigers taking the lead really means is that the Sawx will see at least two relievers tonight, including Benoit. This is one hell of a silver lining for them.

[howard]

Why the fuck did you stop, Prince? Worse that happens is you lose a base; likely you score.

[degenerasian]

Why the fuck did you stop, Prince? Worse that happens is you lose a base; likely you score.

Yeah just run the catcher over.

[howard]

Max is so great. Nasty heat, nasty change.

[DSafetyGuy]

Between his lack of steals, GIDPs, and that pick-off, I'm pretty sure Austin Jackson is the slowest fast guy in MLB.

[howard]

Drew can't even bunt, such a slump. Good thing he saved a run with his glove top of the inning.

[DSafetyGuy]

Of course that was strike three. Of course.

"Bullpen Adventure Hour" is now on your television.

[howard]

Well, Smily did his job.

[DSafetyGuy]

Phil Coke, please get ready for the inevitable Ortiz at-bat this inning.

[howard]

And we're done.

[DSafetyGuy]

Six outs away from thankfully not caring about baseball any more this season.

[DSafetyGuy]

Hey, Verlander still starts tomorrow, right?

[teeteebee]

Mr de la where's head has asploded. Without a doubt. Victorino is now a Red Sox legend.

[howard]

He starts preparing for the Fox pre-game show Wednesday.

[Johnnie]

I can't believe I missed this earlier in the year. (But in my defense on 23 May I was living in billeting in Korea...so yea. Other priorities.)