Two Under-The-Radar Baseball Headlines

by Al Yellon on Jan 21, 2009 5:22 PM CST in Chicago Cubs News

Despite rumors, Joe Morgan is apparently not being taken off ESPN's Sunday Night baseball telecasts. According to this USA Today article, Morgan and Jon Miller are getting a third booth partner -- Steve Phillips.

I fail to see how this improves their broadcast. According to the article:

In baseball, ESPN's MLB deal includes its Baseball Tonight having rights to show highlights from games still in progress — a right MLB has granted to its own channel. After responding to the MLB Network with moves like beefing up its MLB winter-meetings coverage, ESPN is likely to keep shaking up coverage beyond adding Phillips to its Sunday games. One possibility: having MLB studio shows air year-round.

"No question ESPN is taking the MLB Network seriously," Phillips says. "But competition is always good."

So far, they haven't convinced me they're doing anything to really improve their on-air product. It's also interesting that I found this info via USA Today's website; there's nothing at ESPN.com about this at all.

Also via USA Today, we learn that at last week's owners meetings, new procedures for tiebreaker games were instituted:

MLB also adopted the recommendation made by general managers in November that coin tosses no longer determine home-field advantage in a tiebreaker game for a playoff berth. The Chicago White Sox won a flip last year and beat the Minnesota Twins 1-0 for the American League Central.

The tiebreaker now will be decided by performance-based criteria beginning with head-to-head records, intra-division records and records the last half of the season in intra-league games.

The article also says that MLB formalized the proposal made after last year's World Series game 5, that all postseason games will be played in their entirety. Smart moves on both parts. Now if they could only do that best record thing for World Series home field...

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Dear ESPN,

The Turdburger you serve with your Sunday Night Baseball telecasts cannot be made more enjoyable by simply adding fresher turds.

Thank you,
SWL

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 21, 2009 5:28 PM CST reply actions

Clearly

you haven’t seen the South Park episode about turd sandwiches and a giant douche.

Dan

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Jan 21, 2009 10:39 PM CST up reply actions

Expelliarmus!

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Jan 22, 2009 10:31 AM CST up reply actions

Can we

give someone intelligent the Polyjuice potion then, if just for Cubs games? Please

by chrisw95 on Jan 22, 2009 1:41 PM CST up reply actions

Goody, Steve Phillips can talk even more about how he drafted David Wright and Jose Reyes

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 21, 2009 5:41 PM CST reply actions

Tiebreaker

Well, it’s good to see MLB get something right. That third tiebreaker of record in intraleague games in the second half of the season is as good as any after the first two tiebreakers. That coin flip business was silly. The Cubs would have had home field against the Giants in the 1998 wildcard playoff with the head-to-head tiebreaker. Of course, the Cubs had the good fortune of winning a coin flip to have the game at Wrigley Field.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Jan 21, 2009 5:43 PM CST reply actions

Umm... Al?

How would the head-to-head record thing work? Most years, I’d expect the two WS teams to have not played each other at all, since they’re in different leagues. Unless you’re also proposing to have overall record be a determining factor.

by false cognate on Jan 21, 2009 5:43 PM CST reply actions

This isn't for determining home-field for the WS...

that’s what the ALL STAR GAME is for!

This is just to help sort out the rare event that a playoff game needs to be played to determine a divisional or WC winner. I think.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 21, 2009 5:48 PM CST up reply actions

Overall Interleague Head-to-Head Play (AL v. NL)

I’ve heard of that as a way to determine home field advantage in the World Series.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Jan 21, 2009 5:49 PM CST up reply actions

Sorry...

… I meant best overall record for the WS.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 21, 2009 5:49 PM CST up reply actions

I'll fix the post.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 21, 2009 5:52 PM CST up reply actions

Here comes a self-serving whine

You poo-poohed my ASG post in April, when I suggested we all vote for the worst A.L. players because of the ridiculous rule. Glad to see you’ve come around.

In 2009, we vote for scrubs! Let’s turn this farce into a farce!

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Jan 21, 2009 9:01 PM CST up reply actions

I am in

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 22, 2009 8:07 AM CST up reply actions

Need to

post the players to vote for, so we all vote the same, instead of voting against each other so to speak. or we could just vote the Royals alone

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 22, 2009 8:08 AM CST up reply actions

Will do.

I’ll post a proposed list sometime in late April.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Jan 22, 2009 12:43 PM CST up reply actions

I can see...

how adding Steve Phillips to the booth is an improvement. There’s 50% more guys calling the game. That has to mean at least a 20% reduction in time JOE-I’M-THE-GREATEST-EVER-MORGAN is blathering.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 21, 2009 5:52 PM CST reply actions

Add MORE announcers, then!

Heck, have one for every inning! Morgan might never get a word in edgewise!

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 21, 2009 5:53 PM CST up reply actions

Sorry blackhawk...

but I’m going to totally disagree here…Phillips’ inane “insights” about what’s “really going on inside these player’s heads” are going to only spark more chances for Morgan to waste 3 minutes talking about how unbelievably heroic and fantastic he was in those very same situations.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 21, 2009 5:58 PM CST up reply actions

Yes, in theory...

However, there’s a finite number of minutes and seconds for a game. The time anyone else spent talking means Joe is not.

I agree with your assessment on Phillips, however since he’s not the conceded asshole Joe Morgan is, I’ll take anyone else I can get in the booth.

But now to think of it, I’ll just turn down the TV audio and sync ’GN 720 to the video.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 21, 2009 6:27 PM CST up reply actions

Joe Morgan is

about the worst excuse for an announcer. I will generally change the chanel to watch the other guys feed on DTV if Len and Bob are not available.
Just wondering if espn has really learned??
Going from one rambling idiot to having TWO rambliing idiots is just way too much for me.

by chrisw95 on Jan 21, 2009 6:18 PM CST reply actions

ESPN has far and away the worst baseball coverage

why don’t you just put Buster Olney in the booth so we can listen to his insufferable rants of how incredible the red sox/yankees are

by SamuraiMike50 on Jan 21, 2009 7:20 PM CST reply actions

GREAT INVENTION--- REMOTE CONTROL.....

To change the chnl when I see JOE MORGAN and JON MILLER on ….Can’t ESPN do better than this duo ??? THings won’t change with STEVE PHILLIPS either….

by cubs north on Jan 21, 2009 7:27 PM CST reply actions

The volume button works better

Unfortunately there usually isn’t another baseball option on Sunday night.

by rlpete on Jan 21, 2009 8:43 PM CST up reply actions

I disagree.

I nominate:

—Combustion engine

and

—Surround sound home theatre systems

as better inventions.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Jan 21, 2009 10:40 PM CST up reply actions

or the bikini

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 21, 2009 10:42 PM CST up reply actions

ESPN hopes...

… that Phillips ineptitude will help distract the audience from Morgan’s incompetence.

In the middle of a good time, Truth gave me her icy kiss. Look around, you must be joking. All that way, all that way for this? -Oysterband

by Ross on Jan 21, 2009 8:46 PM CST reply actions

that won't distract me

from hitting myself in the head during Sunday Night Baseball

by SamuraiMike50 on Jan 21, 2009 9:49 PM CST up reply actions

Just hit the mute button.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 22, 2009 4:20 AM CST up reply actions

Hey guys

I’m new here. Looks like a pretty cool website for Cubs fans. As for this Steve Phillips addition to SNB, I think it is good. I’ve always liked Phillips and I think he has a valued and respected opinion around the league.

Chicago Cubs 2009 World Series Champions

by CUBSfaninYANKEEcountry on Jan 21, 2009 9:09 PM CST reply actions

Um....

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 21, 2009 9:29 PM CST up reply actions

Don't listen to SWL.

He’s about to be banned for “Insufficient BCB Points”. He hasn’t had a positive BCB Points balance for years.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB! Best site for Cubs info anywhere.

Dan

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Jan 21, 2009 10:42 PM CST up reply actions

There will be a reckoning between us Mr. Pollitt....a RECKONING!

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 21, 2009 10:49 PM CST up reply actions

that's a fantastic

pleather tie you have there…

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Jan 22, 2009 10:35 AM CST up reply actions

Steve Phillips is a blowhard!

All he ever talks about, it would seem, is what he would do with such and such team if he were the GM.

You notice how all the owners are bullying past each other in an attempt to make him THEIR GM! I swear, the guy thinks he is the only one who knows anything about baseball.

He and Morgan deserve each other. I wonder how long it will take Miller to explode!

"I lof to hit de home ron!"

by Tekboy on Jan 21, 2009 9:25 PM CST reply actions

Agree

I do agree with you, Phillips does tend to ramble.

Chicago Cubs 2009 World Series Champions

by CUBSfaninYANKEEcountry on Jan 21, 2009 10:13 PM CST reply actions

On ESPN Radio...

They said Phillips would be the on-field reporter, NOT in the booth. Which is sort of verified by the article mentioning Gammons no longer being a part of the SNB broadcasts. But we’ll see.

by bison on Jan 22, 2009 12:14 AM CST reply actions

Then they really haven't changed anything, just rearranged the deck chairs on the Titanic.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 22, 2009 4:21 AM CST up reply actions

True

but IMO, Gammons was the only one who had a real clue about what he was speaking.
SO, with the revelation, will I be able to get the WGN radio broadcasts via the internet??

by chrisw95 on Jan 22, 2009 7:04 AM CST up reply actions

Only if you pay for MLB Audio.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 22, 2009 7:07 AM CST up reply actions

Ugh

I think I just need to move to Chicago and bear the winters. Seems a moot point to pay for the DTV package, and still be forced to listen to the espn crew.

by chrisw95 on Jan 22, 2009 7:09 AM CST up reply actions

That would be for a maximum of five Sundays a year.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 22, 2009 7:36 AM CST up reply actions

For the record, the Titanic floated until it hit the iceberg. This crew is underwater

before launch.

by N Oakley on Jan 22, 2009 7:56 AM CST up reply actions

I don't know how good of a tv personality he'd be...

but I wish they’d have people like Rob Neyer in the booth. Or someone of similar baseball acumen. Though that would interrupt the flow of Red Sox Nation Celebration programming coming out of Bristol…

I actually like Jon Miller (though he’s better on radio). And I do have to say that while I am loathe to hear Joe Morgan on the tv, I do kind of feel sorry for him in the sense that it seems pretty clear that everyone save his mother hates his soul. He may have earned it, but it’s still kind of sad. Also, while it may be some sort of masochistic gene of mine, I’m so used to hearing him that it’s almost comforting to hear his arrogent blather. Like the inanities put forth by Tim McCarver, it’s a clear reminder that it’s baseball season. And it’s hard to be upset about that…

by CubsWin!Oregon on Jan 22, 2009 1:52 AM CST reply actions

Everyone?

I’m sure the Devil would love to claim his soul. Must be pretty tasty.

by northernsails on Jan 22, 2009 2:00 AM CST up reply actions

I don't watch baseball when Morgan and Miller are in the booth

unless the Cubs are playing. I have the greatest respect for Morgan’s accomplishments on the field but as a broadcaster, and I use that term extremely loosely, he is very incompetent. I think he just sits there and makes stats up to fit what ever he’s talking about.

"A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five." ~Groucho Marx

by Jettero2112 on Jan 22, 2009 6:06 AM CST reply actions