Favorite MLB radio announcers?

by CaughtInTheVines on May 28, 2009 7:26 PM CDT Comment 37 comments

So I've been home with the flu the last couple of days, and listening to ballgames via my iPhone to distract myself.

In the interest of offering a little change of pace, and because a number of folks here have access to all the MLB radio broadcasts via the iPhone app and Gameday Audio, I thought it would be interesting to ask what baseball radio broadcasters people enjoy listening to.

I haven't done exhaustive research, but so far I've enjoyed:

- Jim Price for the Tigers, especially with Al Kaline filling in doing color - Price has a great, old-fashioned radio voice and knows the game, and Kaline adds a lot of knowledge of his own.

- Uecker and old WGN pal Cory Provus for the Brewers do a good job (despite having to talk about the Brewers all the time)

- Joe Castiglione for the Red Sox is pretty great, too - New England deadpan

I really think Pat Hughes on WGN holds up well by comparison - he's exceptionally good at giving you a sense of what happens when the ball is hit, and keeping you posted on runners, the count, etc. He really paints a picture of the scene.

We all know that Santo doesn't add a ton of actual information to the broadcast, but from what I've heard, he DOES add the most honest emotion of any broadcaster I've heard. And by doing what he does, he creates a certain unique sense of engagement and intensity. So on balance, I'd say the Cubs are doing well with their radio team.

Anyway, I'd be interested in other people's comments - have at it!

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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Ever heard of Vin Scully?

n/t

"I always tell the truth -- Even when I lie"

by calicubfan on May 28, 2009 8:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

sure -

but he doesn’t do their radio now, does he?

"[I]f we get a Jumbotron, I can't pull the instant replay thing on all the rookies. Every time there's a good play, we're like, 'Oh, look at the replay,' and you get the rookies to look at the scoreboard." - Ryan Dempster, 2 January 2009

by CaughtInTheVines on May 28, 2009 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He does a tv/radio simulcast...

…for the first 3 innings, then tv only beyond that. He only announces home games and road games that are played in Denver-west.

"I always tell the truth -- Even when I lie"

by calicubfan on May 28, 2009 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, OK, thanks!

That’s a really nice piece of info to have – I’ll definitely work the early innings of some western Dodger games into the schedule!

Pretty creative use of personnel by the Dodgers media arm….I guess that’s to be expected in such a TV and radio-savvy city.

by CaughtInTheVines on May 29, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love Pat & Ron best..

but I find Charlies Slowes & Dave Jageler for the Nationals enjoyable. They sort of blend the play-by-play and color commentary so that both guys do some of each. They do have their lighter moments. For example, IHOP is a sponser and after they read the ad, they regularly have some additional discussion about IHOP .

"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"--The Brain

by brook on May 28, 2009 9:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

MLB Network

I love Bob Costas normally, but tonight was the first time I heard him call a Baseball game, and to tell the truth; not impressed. Just something about him and they guy in there with him doing color commentary. Not very good. Maybe they will grow on me, sort of like Chrs Collinsworth and NFL Network

The sun will shine in '69

by gaclaudy on May 28, 2009 10:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The "guy in there," doing color commentary was our old pal Dan Plesac

He wasn’t the most fluent of English speakers during his tenure in Chicago.

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on May 29, 2009 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can tell you who I don't like

Jon Sterling and Suzyn Walman – BARF

by CaliCub on May 28, 2009 10:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Sterling isn't bad

But, Suzyn Waldman by her presence alone ruins it — and once she starts in with her “first name basis remarks” about players it becomes unbearable.

"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"

by StevenABQ on May 29, 2009 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love listening to Tom Hamilton call Indian games.

I also agree that Jim Price is very good. Poor Dan Dickerson hurt himself jogging so it sounds like Al Kaline is filling in for him.

I’m also fond of John Rooney and I still don’t understand why the White Sox weren’t willing to pay him market value to keep him in Chicago.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on May 28, 2009 11:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

+1 for John Rooney

by CaliCub on May 29, 2009 11:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rooney is good.

At least this year, I’ve actually found the radio team of Ed Farmer and Darrin Jackson for the White Sox to be quite tolerable. Farmio’s style—sort of curt and sometimes a little smarmy—was a bad fit with Steve Stone, who was Farmer x 100. Hearing Jackson freed from having to play along with the Hawk’s cornpone shtick is a revelation.

"I'll never forget how I felt last October." ~Kosuke Fukudome

by Goodie1969 on May 30, 2009 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uecker calls an excellent game.

I’ve always enjoyed listening to him.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on May 29, 2009 8:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Love Uecker as well.

Calls a great game.

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on May 29, 2009 8:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uecker calls good midget wrestling also!

Uecker and Jesse Ventura were GREAT here.

by TheHawkRules on May 29, 2009 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's the match...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3zfe-X2THQ&feature=related

Worth listening too!

by TheHawkRules on May 29, 2009 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely

by chitownhawkeye on May 29, 2009 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Staats

I’ve always liked Dwayne Staats. Wished he could have stayed with the Cubs.

"It's a funny old world. Man's lucky if he gets out of it alive." W.C. Fields

by KedzieKid on May 29, 2009 10:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

A few to mention

First off, I listened to Provus and Uecker on Wednesday’s afternoon game before the Cub game started. While I really like both as announcers, I don’t like the one-man booth with either of them. I think both would do much better with a color man to have some interaction with but IMO, unless you’re Vin Scully and can really fill the broadcast with stories, its just plain boring and as I was listening to the Brewers-Cards game I was struck with how absolutely boring the broadcast was.

My favorite non-Cub team would be Twins radio broadcasters John Gordon and Dan Gladden. I listen to them whenever possible. I really like both men’s style and intonation. “Dazzle” Gladden does a great job when doing Play-by-play, something ex-players do not thrive at.

A few others worth mentioning… Denny Matthews (Royals), Dave Niehaus (Mariners) and Jeff Kingery (Rockies) all get high marks in my book.

by dmlichte on May 29, 2009 10:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Good point

about the one-person approach. That’s a lot to ask of someone – I know people like Harry, Scully, Harwell, Barber, etc., could do it beautifully. But on the current-day solo broadcasts I’ve listened to, it sometimes seems like more variation would be nice.

I’ll definitely check out a Twins game and the others you mention – thanks!

by CaughtInTheVines on May 29, 2009 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I listen to the Brewers broadcasts when the Cubs aren’t on and I need to get my baseball fix, and it can be a bit boring with the single announcer. I like Uecker, but some of his tangents make it hard to follow a game. At least when Ron goes off the reservation Pat is there to keep an eye on the game.

I’m also a fan of what I’ve heard of the Twins broadcasts, though the sample size is pretty small. I’m up in MN a good deal for work (and I’ve actually seen more Twins games on TV than Cubs) and when I get sick of the iPod I’ll scan the airwaves. I’ve caught a couple of good games.

by wallrock on May 29, 2009 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uecker can handle a game by himself.

Provus is fine at PBP, but he could use some help.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on May 29, 2009 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uecker

To be honest, I really thought that during slow parts of the game, or during a pitchers dual, Uecker was really dull. Its one thing when he hsa the opportunity to have some fun, but during the remainder of the game I was really surprised at how dull Uecker is. I know that the highlights that I had heard of him in the past were great, but this may have been the first time I was able to listen to several innings of him and it was just plain boring.

by dmlichte on May 30, 2009 7:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know their names

But I enjoyed listening to the Rays’ guys yesterday in Cleveland. Descriptions were good and they were critical of the Rays when necessary. I particularly enjoyed what they said after the loss and the resulting four-game sweep: “We need to get the heck out of Cleveland.”

Also, I would love to hear Vin Scully do the entire Dodgers game. I still can’t get used to Charley Steiner doing play-by-play because I remember his ESPN days, especially that “This is Sportscenter” promo: “STEINER!” (I wish I could remember who was yelling that. I think it was Evander Holyfield.)

"You know, you should be a lot more careful crossing the street like that, otherwise you could die - if that bothers you."

by gauchodirk on May 29, 2009 1:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

While I've heard people criticize...

I really enjoy the Giants broadcasters after living out there for a bit. Jon Miller has a great radio persona (better than his tv one). I also really enjoy Mike Krukow color commentary.

I’m not a fan of the Giants by any means, but found that I enjoyed listening to their games.

Dave Neuhaus for the Mariners is great as well (though he might just do tv; I forget. It’s been a while since I was up there).

by CubsWin!Oregon on May 29, 2009 2:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Krukow and Kuiper are a very good team.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on May 29, 2009 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Krukow

tells more anecdotes about his days playing for the Cubs than he does his days playing for the Giants in the Giants broadcasts.

I just think those late 70s Cub teams just had more characters on them.

by Josh77 on May 30, 2009 3:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In general...

… teams in that era had more characters than teams do today, mainly because MLB frowns on originality these days.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on May 30, 2009 4:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

WERD (as we used to say back in the 80s)

Organizations and even players are extremely derivative in their behaviors. Everyone has a goatee, everyone wears their pants down to their shoes, every ballpark practices contrived fan participation…I guess it’s true when they say that baseball is a very superstitious sport.

by CaliCub on May 30, 2009 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

MVP 2005 ruined this team for me. Thanks, Electronic Arts.

“Grab some pine, meat!”

Judd Sirott is responsible for EVERYONE'S injury. And all the current slumps.
Bradley watch -- out 11 games of 47

by znohitter on May 30, 2009 8:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh GOD...

I hadn’t put two and two together on that one….

Ugh.

by CubsWin!Oregon on May 30, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Listening up here in Milwaukee

I can usually get a few different announcers. In Chicago I absolutely love Pat Hughes. He’s my favorite announcer but I know saying so makes me sound like a homer. :)

Ronnie, I can do without. I love him to death and appreciate everything he does for the Cubs but I don’t want to hear him in the booth. I realize many people love him, and I understand why. I just don’t enjoy it. I don’t like his voice, or his delivery, or most of the points he makes, or the things he says.

On the South Side I do enjoy Farmer and DJ, not as much as liked Farmer and Chris Singleton last year, but all-in-all I think they do a good job. Farmer and Stoney would be even better, and a Hughes/Stone pairing in Wrigley would give me chills.

I don’t like Uecker here in Milwaukee. There are many things wrong with the way he calls games. I don’t like the long spots of dead air, or the fact that he only tells you the score every fifteen minutes, or that he makes every single ball sound like a home-run off the bat. Not my cup of tea.

Non-local teams, I do enjoy the Yankees broadcasters, though I do hate the team. Also, as mentioned, Vin Scully is still the best.

by cublessinmilwaukee on May 29, 2009 5:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think we're in the minority

but I would also love to hear a Hughes/Stone pairing.

by chitownhawkeye on May 29, 2009 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They were great

on radio during the 2003 playoffs.

by Not Bruce Froemming on May 29, 2009 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

absolutely

Best broadcast pairing I had ever heard. It was tremendous.

by dmlichte on May 30, 2009 7:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Loved Ron as a player. I’ll leave it at that.

My favorite all-time were Jack Quinlan and Lou Boudreau.

by thermal54 on May 30, 2009 8:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dodgers-Angels announcers

It’s a given that Scully is a god, but I’d like to say that Charlie Steiner and Rick Monday are rather pleasant to listen to. I’ll admit to being a little biased because I’ve been Steiner fan going back to the days of Sportscenter when he and Bob Ley would crack each other up all the time.

The Angels rotate two different tandems: one is Rory Markas & Terry Smith, and the other is Steve Physioc & Rex Hudler. Myself, I prefer Markas and Smith – they lend a little more class than the salivating lap dogs that “Fizz and the Wonder Dog” are.

by CaliCub on May 29, 2009 11:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs