Steve Stone on BP podcast

by gjdow on Feb 13, 2007 10:08 PM CST

Some of you might be interested to listen to this podcast, which features Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus interviewing Steve Stone.

I listened to it today while walking and riding on my way to catch a train to Wisconsin, and I highly recommend it. Of particular interest to us Cubs fans is a few minutes spent discussing Kerry Wood and some reminiscing about Harry Caray, but the entire interview is worth a listen. Steve Stone's not just a good analyst, but he's got a great voice and vocabulary for baseball. It's nice to hear it again, even if he does accidentally call Derrek Lee "Derek Jeter".

The poll question I added is tangentially related to this diary.

Poll

Did you secretly wish that Bob Brenly would be named manager just because it might have paved the way for Steve Stone's return to the broadcast booth?

Yes

49 votes

No

26 votes

75 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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I can't listen to it right now so....

what did he say about Woody???

WOODY!!!!

by Sarah Hope on Feb 13, 2007 10:17 PM CST reply actions

I was going to answer no...

... because there was little secret about my wish that Brenly would get a managerial gig.

DmL

by dmlichte on Feb 13, 2007 10:29 PM CST reply actions

Me too

But I wanted him to get a job somewhere else.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 13, 2007 10:38 PM CST up reply actions

Very Good

As usual, his opinion of Wood and his future is spot on, IMO.

He starts off with being dissapointed that Kerry has never made the effort to change his delivery. He falls off the left side of the mound and throws across his body. He mentions that Bob Gibson did this and was successful but he can't remember another power pitcher in his 38 years in baseball holding up while pitching this way. Sinkerballers, yes, but not power pitchers.

He gives an endorsement to Roschchild and says he knows Larry sees he problem and knows how to fix it. He believes that if Kerry can make these adjustments he can still be one of the best pitchers in the game.

He goes on to say that when Kerry pitches his first inning is usually his wildest. I hadn't thought of this and it opened my eyes a bit. i always remember him being wild in the 3rd and 4th when he was starting to hurt.

The Wood stuff is in the first quarter of the interview so you don't have to wait long for it.

WARD!

by cubbieboy on Feb 13, 2007 11:03 PM CST reply actions

Damn is he good!

It's to bad he's an insufferable bastard.

"Harlem Furniture......You'll like our style!"

by Imtrejo on Feb 13, 2007 11:41 PM CST reply actions

Insuferable bastard?

Seems more than a tad harsh. Perhaps he has an ego like just about everyone else in sports, but, IMO, you've stepped far over the edge.

DmL

by dmlichte on Feb 13, 2007 11:53 PM CST up reply actions

Again, He is a very good broadcaster!

But he is well known for his ego and for treating people poorly. I don't believe it's an accident he's having a hard time finding a job.

"Harlem Furniture......You'll like our style!"

by Imtrejo on Feb 14, 2007 12:03 AM CST up reply actions

Also,

The point I was trying to make is that he still could have been the color man for the Cubs IF he wasn't such a difficult person.

"Harlem Furniture......You'll like our style!"

by Imtrejo on Feb 14, 2007 12:07 AM CST up reply actions

Ego...

... perhaps. I've never heard anything about him treating people poorly. As to him not being with the Cubs, yeah, he could still be there if he weren't outspoken about the cancerous environment that Dusty created and the verbal abuse that players were directing towards him. No one in their right mind would have not stood up to the ridiculousness that he and Chip had to deal with.

DmL

by dmlichte on Feb 14, 2007 12:29 AM CST up reply actions

Steve Stone..

..was a mediocre pitcher with one really good year. If you listen to him talk you would assume that he was right up there with Nolan Ryan. He is very intelligent and very articulate, but he is one of the most narcisistic commentators out there. He reminds me a lot of Joe Thiesmann.

Here's to a new year!!

by santo for prez on Feb 14, 2007 3:21 AM CST up reply actions

While I would certainly prefer Stone

to Brenly, Stone's time at the Score gives a pretty good look into his personality. He fits in perfectly with B&B, being every bit as condescending, sarcastic, bitter, and arrogant. Good radio, mind you, and I absolutely respect his baseball intellect, but he gives off the impression of being an egomaniacal ass (or asshat if you prefer).

by davidalanu on Feb 14, 2007 7:02 AM CST up reply actions

I prefer

worthless...

by tyger1147 on Feb 14, 2007 8:22 AM CST up reply actions

Stone

If Stone gets mentioned as smart and articulate, I suppose that's as much an indictment of the intelligence level throughout baseball as it is a compliment to Stone. I mean, it's awfully tiring listening to people continually act like they grew up in Stone's living room. Just like players, color analysts come and go and my enjoyment of the game certainly isn't dependent upon what talking head is describing to me what I just saw. I don't need it, nor do I need Stone. The Cubs don't need him, nor should their fans.

Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. -- Lee Constantine Elia, 1983.

by krummy12 on Feb 14, 2007 8:27 AM CST up reply actions

I can...

...take or leave Stone's out-of-game commentary. It is his in game commentary that makes him stand out to me.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 14, 2007 8:35 AM CST up reply actions

I agree.

I just feel so much better when I'm drinking beer.

by deadcatbounce on Feb 14, 2007 8:40 AM CST up reply actions

Stoney

I had the opportunity to meet him when I was about 12 before a game as my Dad is best friends with one of the higher ups in the organization. Stoney actually had a nice little convo with my Dad and this was like 30 min prior to gametime. He didn't blow us off after we shook hands, which I thought was pretty nice considering he probably had better things to do. Sure, he has some strong viewpoints on things but if you thought you were right (and usually are) then you'd have a hard time with views contrary to yours.

by miltowncubbie on Feb 14, 2007 7:11 PM CST up reply actions

Bottom line..

..he is quite intelligent as an "armchair quarterback". Hell, most of ua are when the game isn't on our shoulders.

Steve Stone was a mediocre pitcher throughout his career with one great season and he is riding that season into infinity. I compare him to Joe Thiesman. Thiesman (if you listen to him) was a phenomenal quarterback in his day. When it comes down to it he had an exceptional RB (Riggins) and an unbielevable group of receivers (Monk, Brown, and Didier). But in crunch time during Super Bowl XVIII he flung the ball into the right flat and it was intercepted by Jack Squirek and returned 92 yards for a touchdown. Joe Thiesman is one of the biggest critisizers of quarterbacks in all aspects of their games. Steve stone is very much the same person.
To put this into perspective listen to a guy like Troy Aikman. He is obviously one of the greatest pocket passers of all time. Whenever his counterpart tries to give him kudos, he always turns it over to his teamates. When have you ever seen this type of behavior from Steve Stone. It will never happen because he has this overblown view of himself that no one will ever be able to duplicate.

It is always easy to sit back, watch and criticize. If Stoney would have done that more during his playing career it might have helped him out. He needs to sit back, keep his mouth shut and take notes from these pitchers that are so much more im[ressive than he could have ever been.

Here's to a new year!!

by santo for prez on Feb 15, 2007 1:37 AM CST up reply actions

Thanks!

Thanks for posting this. I'll listen to it tonight during my long, cold commute home.

I didn't have the ball, bitch!

by daver on Feb 14, 2007 12:54 PM CST reply actions

Broadcasting Notes

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-070213teddy,1,1713329.column?coll=cs-ho me-utility

This article will give people an indication as to why Stone didn't get another job. ESPN is cutting back on broadcasts, but can anyone actually say that the broadcasting network knows what its doing when it signs Dusty Baker to be their in studio analyst. Its clear that the networks want young guys and as was noted earlier this week, FOX announced that their line-up of commentators will include Joe Girardi, Eric Karros and Mark Grace. The networks are all about the young fresh face and anyone who thinks that Grace is a tenth of the commentator that Stone is is out to lunch.

Another interesting note, Pat Hughes new contract calls for him to get a full inning off of broadcasts. WGN is in the midst of looking for Andy Masur's replacement.

DmL

by dmlichte on Feb 14, 2007 4:40 PM CST reply actions

Maybe somebody here....

should do it.

I wish I could.

"I don't talk. I just let what I do talk for myself." -Johan Santana

by sparkles721 on Feb 14, 2007 7:27 PM CST up reply actions

That would be cool

You should apply for the job Sparkles.

PAGAN!

by Jesse Guam on Feb 14, 2007 8:31 PM CST up reply actions

Brilliant.

I think I have made it pretty clear, even beyond my signature tag, that Steve Stone is one of my favorite Cubs personalities ever. I literally grew up with Harry Caray and Steve Stone, beginning as a seven-year-old kid in 1984, and his departure from the Cubs 20 years later was just as disappointing as the departure of any Cubs player in my lifetime. This was a great interview, and anyone who has not listened to Stoney on 670 The Score, make sure you do so this year. But this interview was great to hear him discuss, in depth, his years with Harry Caray, which is something he never does on The Score, and which I had not heard him do for a very long time.

They talk about what a great broadcast partnership Pat Hughes and Ron Santo are, and I always enjoy listening to them, and Len and Bob have grown on me too. But Harry and Steve are etched in my memory forever, and no one will ever replace them in my mind.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Feb 14, 2007 9:32 PM CST reply actions