Watchdog

** I posted this under the Mike Francesa Monday Night Football post, but not sure if you are in the habit of checking older posts or not, so reposting here. I apologize if this upsets anyone ***

Hi Neil,

Don't know if you caught it or not today, but as discussed on the ever popular mikefrancesa.com/forums site, Mike today told a caller he was one of the first people to receive an Athletic Administration degree from St. John's. Is there any way to verify this? Could be another Monday Night Football boast that Mike needs to be called out on. Sounds like a job for the pitbull, errr I mean watchdog. :)

I wonder if the Mets would look at any players with media experience. Maybe a studio-type from SNY or WFAN's sometime-host John Franco... just a thought. I'd like to see the Yanks shake up their radio booth eventually too.

I think it's time for me to take a break on Mike investigations.

How about if the Yankees finally pull the plug on Jon Sterling? I don't care who replaces him. He has ruined listening to a Yankees game for me. I am a die-hard fan but just can't take Sterling any more. He is so egotistical, his fair/foul, homerun/"he caught it"/safe/out miss-calls are to the point of sickening. How can this guy be allowed to continue for another season?

Sterling is pretty bad sometimes. An announcer should not be in love with the sound of his/her own voice. Yanks announcers should be like the SNY guys. They're "fans" but they tell it like it is, no gushing, no shreiking, no tears, just the facts.

Anyone remember that Mets game in late September against the Marlins when Reyes got into a fight by 3rd base with the catcher? If I recall, Hernandez said, "too late, Jose, should've done that three weeks ago.". We'll never hear that from a Yanks announcing team.

Sterling: It is high it is farrrrr iiiiiit isssss.....*silence*
Waldman: Jawn, he cawt it in centah...
Sterling: "Susan, did you see that, I lost the ball in the lights"...
Waldman: Lemme tell you how good Rawjah is....

If you're interested, it was a Sunday afternoon game, bright sun, not a cloud in the sky....

Phil from LI:

You hit the nail on the head. Excellent example. I have lived through that type of thing for years and can't take it any more. Sterling ruins the joy of listening to the Yankees on the radio. Michael Kay on TV isn't much better. I'm not a Mets fan, but I have to say that Bob Murphy was an absolute gem of an announcer and was the best on radio that I have ever heard.

I know there is this thing that radio and television should be separate but it hasn't always been that way...also simulcasts have always been an integral part of baseball in LA and I think the Mets could take a page from their book...

Here's the perfect solution that would recognize the fact that Gary Cohen is the Mets lead announcer (every team has 1 announcer who is considered the lead announcer and for the Mets it's Cohen)...

Do a simulcast for the first 3 innings with Cohen, Hernadez and Darling on both SNY and radio.

From the fourth inning on, you can have Howie Rose pick up the radio cast the same way Charley Steiner does in LA...he could work with a true color person maybe either Ron or Keith or perhaps Lee Mazilli or whomever.

On those days where SNY is not doing the game (Fox, ESPN), let Cohen work with Rose....

Perfect keeps the broadcast professsional at all times and recognizes Gary Cohen as indeed the Mets lead announcer.

But for pete's sake, Ed Coleman, a nice guy, is not a play by play man, never has been and never will.

NY's loss is our gain down here in Florida. At least Tampa's broadcasting is major league. Now, if the Mets would really like a good announcer and Scott Graham is interested in the job, they should jump at him. He was lead radio announcer the last time McCarthy worked there. His problem--he is so serious he makes Howie Rose look like Rodney Dangerfield. But it could work.
The only reasons simulcasts are an integral part of the broadcast in LA, Jeff S., is because it's Vin Scully and he broadcasts the entire game on TV, and radio wants him as well. When he leaves, so do the simulcasts. I can't see an egomaniac like Rose deferring any of his time to the TV simulcast and his ex-partner.
As far as Sterling, I was horrified 20 years ago when he returned to NY after basically being run out of town 8 or 10 years before due to his extreme unpopularity as a talk show host and unprofessionalism as a p-b-p announcer. I doubt the Yankees will do anything to get rid of him because he does nothing to offend his bosses, unfortunately. He is only in his mid-50s so NY is probably stuck with him for at least another decade, unless he retires. Because he won't get any other job.

Let Howie do it on his own!

Seriously though, how about Chris Carlin? I've listened to him do a Brooklyn Cyclones game or two, he's got some cred with the Rutgers job...why not?

What about that Pawtucket Red Sox guy mentioned as one of the 3 top candidates? A lot of good announcers came from there. Andy Freed, Jon Sciambi, and our own Gary Cohen to name a few in recent years. I would like to a get a young guy in the booth to officially start a new era and not just another retread from another team.

I understand all kinds of stuff is said on the internet--who knows by whom or why. I have a lot of experience listening to baseball play by play. I could not listen to the Yankees without John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman. I have XM and have listened to most other baseball radio play by play guys and for whatever reason many of the
newer ones are completely unlistenable.John Sterling's #1 advantage to me is he speaks in a conversational tone of voice. Many others use an artificial high pitch, sing-song approach perhaps to make their delivery sound peppy, youthful, or lively. This doesn't substitute for having a personality or other required talents of play by play, which very few people can do by nature. Their speech is very affected and they mostly try to fill up every second with meaningless words instead of letting you get the feel of the game.I like Joe Castiglione, one guy on Mariners radio, one guy on Phillies radio, and a couple scattered others. A lot of radio guys are listening to themselves speak but that's the least of their inadequacies. After their tone of voice, you're left with what they actually say and most importantly how they interact with whomever else is in the booth. The proof is there for anyone to hear.It doesn't matter anyway--the only opinion that counts is the one that signs the checks.

Why won't the fan just give job to ed coleman? what is wrong with ed coleman? he calls a nice game.

Why not look in house--Rich Ackerman has done some nice work recently on TV with basketball. He's done football before--why not give him a shot?

Ed Coleman calling an nice game is a matter of opinion. I personally believe he is not even a good beat reporter.

Eddie C is great. Personally, I hope he replaces Screech Roberts on the Midday show on FAN.

When Evan went on vacation -- presumably to act like a raving idiot at Nets game -- Eddie C and Joe B were great together.

Evan is the worst thing EVER to happen to the FAN.

A great day for Rays baseball. So the Rays may not get their new stadium in downtown St.Pete, but we still have our radio voice. Hey in Raysland, these past few weeks Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes waved goodbye to Tropicana Fruit Dome faithful. And a lot of people are extremely happy. Andy Freed sticking around is a plus. Can't wait for the Hot Stove Rays Reports on WHNZ radio after the first of the year...Nothing like talking about fifth place baseball....

The plans for the new stadium are all wrong. Augusta block brick should be put along the inside of the field. The home run balls should go into left field opposite of San Fancisco. In right field, there should be a 40 ft. high wall called The "Red monster" with the only marker in the majors in the 290's. Boat slips for parking could be placed on the far right and far left. Since the configuration has be shifted the fans in back of home plate would be looking directly at the Tampa skyline. A retractable roof could be built and games would start at 8:00 to avoid heat and rain. If this plan is followed this park would be the most awesome park in the majors.