Who Cares?

I was at the game today.  The reason Ron was heard saying that was because a fan was standing on a seat, reaching up into the booth and asking for his autograph.

on WGN is painful.  I want Ron to get into the HOF almost as I want him to retire from the booth.

I know he is a "nice guy" and a hero to many, but his time has passed.  Please bring in someone who can add something to the game.

and respect for the many thrills and disappointments he gave me while playing. And I have nothing but admiration for his tireless struggle with JDF and his own poor health.

But, BOY, he is OUT OF IT in the booth.

Last year, in one of the Phillies game, he remarked (during an inning break), that the pitcher had changed his motion, and named him.

What he didn't realize was that it was a new pitcher - and Pat had to tell him it wasn't the same guy! I mean COME ON!

I have an appriciation for radio, and work in the industry, but he just adds zip at this point. I suppose the only way things will change there is if he makes it to "the great diamond in the sky" while on the air.

Don't know where you get your Mesa weather report, Al, but at my house, about 6 miles as the crow flies from Hohokam, it was 68 degrees in the shade st 1:30pm and noticeably warm and sunny outside.

It is forecast to be in upper 70s over the weekend and may hit 80 next week.

It is me or does the after taste of the past season show up in spring training and the earlier part of the new season before the team really knows what it's got? The errors and the team failing is a good thing to see. The Cubs need to see what's broke so they can fix them for the long hall of the season. Jason M. was okay. He didn't blow up or get hurt. So that means, to me, that it was a success. I believe pressure and tension are good for this team and Lou will address these things. So it was a good first game in a good/bad sort of way.

Other than Steve Stone (who would never do it), who would you have doing the color on radio?  There are a million different ways to go about that job, and each have their own merits, but be careful what u wish for.  God help us if Joe Carter ever steps into a booth in Wrigley again.

There will be folks complaining no matter WHO is in the booth.  On this very site I've seen people rail on Vin Scully, Bob Uecker, and even the best baseball mind in broadcasting, Stoney.

What I like about Pat & Ron's broadcast is that over the coarse of a season, you feel like you KNOW them.  Radio is a much more intimate thing than tv, and I like it that way.  When I'm sitting at my computer all day I enjoy listening to my old friends talk about the ball game in the afternoon.  I laugh along with them as much as I do O&A and Ron&Fez (XM202)

Ron's time will pass soon enough, and whomever replaces him will be completely different.  When that time comes, I'll enjoy the things that THAT guy does well.  But I'll miss hanging out w/ Pat and Ron every afternoon.  

I think the reason this whole setup works as it is right now is because you feel like these two guys like eachother. And you would get that same feeling if you threw Steve in the booth as well. And, in that area I think we as Cubs fans are blessed when we listen to the radio. I would say with a lot of broadcast teams, including Len and Bob, you have trouble seeing the guys being friends outside of the booth. I think that is why I am tolerant of it. Does it get old? Of course. But do I like the fact that the guys broadcasting my favorite teams games not only love my team but are friends? More than anything. Would I love more insight and inside information? Sure, but I don't want to sacrifice the chemistry I have now in the booth for some stiff who "knows his stuff" but has zero people skills. That said, I really do hope that whenever Ron hangs it up, and really, you have to believe he knows it must be coming soon, I hope they bring in Stone or someone else that not only knows his stuff, but has a personality that fans can relate to.

I think a lot of baseball broadcasts can get very dry and Santo and Pat do a great job of keeping things lively.  

Santo gets a bad wrap especially for how they handle spring training games.  They obviously play them very loose due to the whole atmosphere of Arizona.  Ron was (lightly) making fun of their new spring training director for the way he could be heard announcing they were back on the air after breaks and also had some insightful comments about Colvin's swing after watching him take BP.  

Pat is great but without Santo the broadcasts would be cold and not have nearly as much "life".  

I think some of the "dumbing down cub nation" comments because Santo is well liked is unfair.  I don't need to be taught the game on air, I already know it. Let Pat describe what is happening and let Ronnie fill in the dead air.  

Is ill informed, bumbling, and out of touch.

It adds NOTHING in my opinion. It is not "charming" anymore when the "color" guy doesn't know what is going on, can't communicate when his job is to communicate. Radio is extremely intimate. I have no problem developing long-term relationships with on-air talent. I LOVED Ron as a "color guy" up through the 2003 season. Now - It is like putting your 95 year old grandpa behind the wheel of a car. Sure he "can" still drive and has a license, but should he REALLY be on the road anymore?

You Ron-on-the-Air supporters out there have nothing to worry about, though. Unless he is physically unable to perform, he will be in the booth forever.

As an audio professional, in my opinion, it would be great if they retired him from the booth and created an office or PR position for him.