WGN Names Keith Moreland Cubs Broadcaster
by Al Yellon on Feb 16, 2011 10:07 AM CST
in Chicago Cubs News
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PrintAs many people have expected, WGN Radio today named Keith Moreland to succeed Ron Santo in the Cubs radio booth alongside Pat Hughes.
This is a logical choice, and in my opinion, the best one. Moreland represents the "next generation" of Cubs players after the 1969 group that Santo epitomized. Moreland was a member of the 1984 Cubs NL East title team and well-loved for his tough, Texas-linebacker-style play in the field. He was a good, not great, player, and has done a good job filling in at times for Santo over the last couple of years.
He'll be 57 years old in May, so he could conceivably have this job for a number of years and develop a good rapport with Pat.
No one will ever replace Ron Santo in our hearts; the Pat & Ron Show was something special that can never be duplicated. All the best to Keith Moreland in his new role.
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Outstanding choice.
Nice to hear him with Pat on the air right now.
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Totally agree.
I’ve very happy about their choice.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
I think I'd be willing to listen to just about anyone at this point...
I just miss Cubs baseball.
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
EVEN TO THAT GUY WHO CAN ONLY SHOUT?
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
Just 11 days.
That’s the first game — and broadcast.
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I get all jittery just thinking about it.
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
the JUST ABOUT is important
Judd or Joe Morgan……. as much as I love baseball that might hurt my ears
''"I always thought I was the most competitive person out there. I never thought I'd find anybody more competitive until I met him.'' Ryan Dempster talking about Ted Lilly
by Madison Cub Fan on Feb 16, 2011 10:28 AM CST up reply actions
I'm willing to listen to anyone,
Except the following:
Joe Morgan, Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, and HWSNBN. I think all four of those on the list go without saying, TBH.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
GREEN BAY PACKERS, SUPER BOWL XLV CHAMPIONS!
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Feb 16, 2011 9:17 PM CST up reply actions
Oops,
Had Hawk Harrelson, Steve Stone, and Marty Brenaman in that list as well.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
GREEN BAY PACKERS, SUPER BOWL XLV CHAMPIONS!
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Feb 16, 2011 9:17 PM CST up reply actions
best announce team ever
Buck, Morgan, McCarver, Hawk and Brenaman. now if that doesnt lead to a fun and insightful bunch nothing will
(sorry I like Stone)
Chronologically inept since 2060
Q: Why did Chuck Norris cross the road?
A: Ditka
Ditka's mustache can block a Chuck Norris round house
The WGN Internet streaming player was overwhelmed - For a good reason too - Wonderful news.
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
Congrats to Keith
So Dave is still in the TV booth, right?
[...]when Giants coach Steve Owen, a certified defensive genius, was asked how he planned to stop Nagurski, he said: "With a shotgun, as he’s leaving the dressing room."
As a fill in, I mean
[...]when Giants coach Steve Owen, a certified defensive genius, was asked how he planned to stop Nagurski, he said: "With a shotgun, as he’s leaving the dressing room."
by NobodySpecial on Feb 16, 2011 10:10 AM CST up reply actions
I assume so.
… and maybe as a radio fill-in also. They haven’t specifically said so, but it would make sense.
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After a snub like this, Dave may be calling games for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
"Elder White! Look at the talent on those Cubs!" Harry Caray, KMOX Radio, 4/22/62
"And you have to wonder – What's the matter with Broglio?" Harry, KMOX, 5/24/64
Phew!
Figured it was going to be him, but was getting a tad bit nervous when I heard it was down to him and Otto.
Very much looking forward to hearing him this seson.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." ~Alvin Dark
by DamonBerryhillsMitt on Feb 16, 2011 10:10 AM CST reply actions
I find some real irony in that you think "Pat & Ron Show was something special that can never be duplicated"
But Woody is terrible in the booth.
"Oh Crap"
-Famous Last Words by General George Custer
He didn't say
Woody would be terrible. He said Grace is. And he’s right. He’s brutal to listen to.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." ~Alvin Dark
by DamonBerryhillsMitt on Feb 16, 2011 10:15 AM CST up reply actions
I meant Grace, and I stand by how ironic that is.
"Oh Crap"
-Famous Last Words by General George Custer
Ron Santo was who he was.
He wasn’t an analyst. He was a cheerleader, and if you didn’t like that, that’s fine.
Mark Grace pretends to be an analyst. He’s awful at that, doesn’t have good timing, and the cadence of his voice on the air is brutal.
There’s the difference.
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by Al Yellon on Feb 16, 2011 10:24 AM CST up reply actions 8 recs
I like Grace.
I know I’m in the minority here on BCB, but I do. I think he’s overly bashed because of what he said when he won with the DBacks.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
I can't say I've heard him announce enough to have an opinion
But I had no issues with what he said after winning the W.S.
by Shanghai Badger on Feb 16, 2011 11:15 AM CST up reply actions
My beef with that is well known.
But that’s not the reason I don’t like him as a broadcaster. I don’t like him as a broadcaster because he’s not a good broadcaster.
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I don't think that statement is why you don't like him as a broadcaster.
But I do think that you’re off base with regard to the statement itself.
by Shanghai Badger on Feb 16, 2011 11:34 AM CST up reply actions
Al is right on this one, he's just not that good. His
timing is bad and his style is mediocre at best. It really has nothing to do with him as a person or what he did or said when he left here. He’s just a poor broadcaster.
After listening to really good broadcasting teams like the Giants guys, there is no reason the Cubs should have to settle for weak broadcasting. The Cubs can do better than Grace and they probably have with Moreland. I am looking forward to this team growing and becoming one of the best in the business.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Feb 16, 2011 12:26 PM CST up reply actions
I don't like Brenly.
I do like Grace. So what makes a good broadcaster is all relative to the listener.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
I wasn't referencing his broadcasting
Al is still upset about the comment Grace made after the 2001 World Series about not being good enough to play for the Cubs, but good enough to play for the World Champions. I never had a problem with that comment.
by Shanghai Badger on Feb 16, 2011 12:55 PM CST up reply actions
Me either...
it’s was not only funny, it was true.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Feb 16, 2011 1:04 PM CST up reply actions
Whether or not you agree with that comment...
…. it still has nothing to do with his competence as a broadcaster.
Further, whether or not it’s true — it was absolutely the wrong time to say it. Came across as “Nanny nanny boo boo” and a real slam to Cubs fans.
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Whether or not you agree with that comment....
it had NOTHING to do with Cub fans and everything to do with the front office people that let Grace walk.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Feb 16, 2011 2:59 PM CST up reply actions
I agree that Grace's comment was aimed directly at the
Cub front office. As a Cub fan who has spent the better part of 45 years questioning moves by the Cub brass, I have no problem with Grace doing the same. Never felt it had anything to do with me as a Cub fan.
Granted, it was aimed at the front office...
… specifically, Andy MacPhail.
Nevertheless, to me personally, it didn’t come across well, it felt like kind of a slap, “Hey, look, Cubs fans, I won the World Series and you’re still out!” Whether he intended it that way or not, that’s the way it felt to me.
He should have just thanked the Diamondbacks for believing in him. That would have been enough.
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Speaking as an Italian,
You’d make a fine Italian . . . let it go.
You know I respect what you do with this site, and I like talking baseball with you.
by Shanghai Badger on Feb 16, 2011 4:04 PM CST up reply actions
But it’s been +9 years . . . even if it did rub you the wrong way.
by Shanghai Badger on Feb 16, 2011 4:05 PM CST up reply actions
Point taken.
I didn’t bring it up. Someone else did, and claimed it was the reason I didn’t like him as a broadcaster.
As I pointed out, you all may be correct. Still, he shouldn’t have said it, IMO.
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I understand
I know it’s a hot button for you.
by Shanghai Badger on Feb 16, 2011 4:19 PM CST up reply actions
I didn't say you specifically.
But I do think the comment affects the way people judge his commentating now.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
Al, for the third time in this thread
I WAS NOT COMMENTING ON HIS ABILITY AS AN ANNOUNCER.
And it wasn’t a slam at Cubs fans, as Chad pointed out.
by Shanghai Badger on Feb 16, 2011 4:03 PM CST up reply actions
Valid point...
… it just struck me differently.
And as I have repeatedly said, that has nothing to do with the fact that I don’t like him as an announcer, which is what started this whole thing in the first place. Someone up there claimed that was the reason, which is not true.
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I know, but I wouldn't have done that
I might not always agree with you, but I don’t question your reason for not liking him as an announcer.
by Shanghai Badger on Feb 16, 2011 4:20 PM CST up reply actions
Thanks.
And as I said, maybe I took it the wrong way. It was just something that, IMO, should not have been said at the time.
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Curious, I was just like 6 years old when the D Backs won
and didn’t know that baseball, but what did Grace say after they beat the Yankees to tick off Cubs fans?
by braziliancubsfan on Feb 16, 2011 11:49 PM CST up reply actions
Something like...
…I wasn’t good enough to play for the Cubs, but I was good enough to win a World Series.
And he was right. The Cubs made the wrong decision.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
The wrong decision?
Grace signed for the D-backs for less than half what the Cubs would have had to pay him – he could have only been cut 20% from his previous salary if re-signed with Cubs – it was the right business and baseball decision at the time -
That's half the story though.
Hee Seop didn’t pan out to be what the Cubs expected.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
I have great respect for Santo...
…as a player and what he went through, but I have to admit, many of their broadcasts were painful to listen to. I guess I would fall into the category of those who felt sorry for Santo during the broadcasts as opposed to one who was entertained.
The broadcast should be upgraded in my opinion.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Honesty compels me to say,
I agree with your opinion. Pat Hughes made it work somehow, and that guy has my utmost respect………..as did Ronnie for totally different reasons.
by deadcatbounce on Feb 16, 2011 7:13 PM CST up reply actions
I like this choice
He filled several times over the years, and he seemed to mesh with Hughes. As mentioned they could team for several years. He has the “sound” I like in a color commentator, and seems to know what that job means. Good choice.
Ronnie was a great guy,
But he was a terrible broadcaster. I’m actually looking forward to listening to the games on WGN this season instead of studiously avoiding them
"Oh Crap"
-Famous Last Words by General George Custer
I think Santo was great because he was terrible...
It was part of his charm. He was a fan, something that was sorely needed after we lost Harry.
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
I sorely needed someone who didn't moan so loud I couldn't hear what the actual play was
I actually DON’T need a fan in the booth. As long as the guy can get excited about what’s going on, I’m 100% okay without having a cheerleader screaming on the mike.
"Oh Crap"
-Famous Last Words by General George Custer
HaHa...
You just made me miss Ronnie even more.
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
It did me also
Good choice thought
''"I always thought I was the most competitive person out there. I never thought I'd find anybody more competitive until I met him.'' Ryan Dempster talking about Ted Lilly
by Madison Cub Fan on Feb 16, 2011 10:27 AM CST up reply actions
ahh yes the good ole
that baby is so ugly its cute argument….which I agree with, Pat is so good and played off Ronnie so well that it worked.
I loved Ronnie
and I really don’t want a quintessential broadcaster. I want someone I can connect with and make me laugh and enjoy the game, even if the Cubs are getting their butts beat. I want the color man to be a homer, too. Keith will fill that bill for me nicely, and I am glad they picked him over Otto. I never liked Otto’s style.
"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse
Good point
agree completely Big John.
by If we only had Hubbs on Feb 16, 2011 10:57 PM CST up reply actions
They made the right call. Good job Cubs.
by bourbon_and_branch on Feb 16, 2011 10:13 AM CST reply actions
Keith's nickname
back in the day was Zonk, right?
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." ~Alvin Dark
by DamonBerryhillsMitt on Feb 16, 2011 10:14 AM CST reply actions
The Pat & Zonk Show?
At least it wasn’t a goat…
There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. Who says baseball isn't a religion?
That's not a goat. It's a llama
The Lama
The one-l lama,
He’s a priest;
The two-l llama,
He’s a beast.
And I will bet
A silk pajama
There isn’t any
Three-l lllama.
—Odgen Nash
I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. -J.R.R. Tolkien
Actually there is
A three-l lllama is one helluva fire…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I'm gonna ride my llama
from Peru to Texarkana
I wanna ride him good
in my old neighborhood
I’m gonna ride him good
in my old neighborhood
And when we got on ship
He brought out something for the trip
He said “it’s old but it’s good”
Like any other primitive would
-Neil Young
by Josh Timmers on Feb 16, 2011 5:47 PM CST up reply actions
well, she's a lot better looking than the last "Pat" I remember seeing on TV...
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
About to get lucky apparently...
then again, maybe not…
There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. Who says baseball isn't a religion?
When your llama smells, zonk it...
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
Good choice. Will never forget Zonk and Sarge in '84 in that big August series vs. NY
The Mets were the Cubs’ big rival then, far more bitter than the one between the Cubs and Cards now, and the Cubs kicked their asses. Seemed like Matthews and Moreland didn’t make an out in August.
He (Bobby Keith) just mentioned that series as
one of his greatest career memories
I remember Moreland and Ed Lynch getting into a huge brawl.
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Speaking of 'The Sarge'
I just want to know if my memory is correct…
I remember that whenever he ran the bases, he was so fast that he ran right out of his own batting helmet!
Whoever was ‘The Sarge’ in our backyard baseball games had to flip off their hat a step or two out of the batter’s box…
"They say that money doesn't buy happiness...but it DOES by Cub tickets. You ever see a sad person with Cub tickets?"
Not so fast
He would knock the helmet off on purpose.
by Shanghai Badger on Feb 16, 2011 12:01 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, too bad he didn't roll tackle him when Lynch was GM
by Shanghai Badger on Feb 16, 2011 11:28 AM CST up reply actions
Or turning down Randy Johnson for Matt Walbeck
“The next Johnny Bench”
by Shanghai Badger on Feb 16, 2011 11:35 AM CST up reply actions
That one I had not heard.
I’m gonna go tackle Ed Lynch right now
"Oh Crap"
-Famous Last Words by General George Custer
Wait, it was Pat Cline, not Walbeck
Supposedly there were other players involved, but Cline was “untouchable”.
by Shanghai Badger on Feb 16, 2011 12:56 PM CST up reply actions
Zonk & Sarge
I still have most of the video highlights from that great ’84 season, and I can watch over & over again the bloop single Zonk hits in the 4th game that scores Sarge from 2nd. He slides home safely, then does a mini salute after the play. As Harry said, “Listen to this crowd!”
"It's a funny old world. Man's lucky if he gets out of it alive." W.C. Fields
Best choice.
No disrespect to Dave Otto, but Moreland is a great analyst.
Can’t wait. Forty-four days to go.
"I'm not a broadcaster! I'm me!"--Ron Santo
Hooray!
I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. -J.R.R. Tolkien
Very happy about this news.
Congrats to Moreland.
No one will ever replace Ron Santo in our hearts
Sniff…so true…I will really miss knowing who is winning the minute I turn the radio on. It’s going to be weird at first, but I think Keith is a wonderful choice and am looking forward to listening to him.
by katie casey on Feb 16, 2011 10:25 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Agreed
In a way I feel sorry for Moreland. It’s just going to be impossible to fully replace Santo. And it’s going to take a lot of time for me to get used to it, if I ever do.
by jackweiland on Feb 16, 2011 10:40 AM CST up reply actions
No need to feel sorry.
That sounds harsh, and it is not meant to be. I think Cub fans will be very gracious. We know that Ronnie can’t be replaced, so there will be no expectation that he will be. Much like when Harry passed, nobody thought any less of his successors because of Harry’s long shadow.
Eamus Ursuli!
This makes me very happy.
Baseball is back!!
by cowsarecool220 on Feb 16, 2011 10:28 AM CST reply actions
IIRC, Keith Was A Good Clutch Hitter
In 1985, he seemed to get that runner home from third with less than 2 outs the majority of the time.
2011 - The 103rd time is the charm.
I seem to recall that, and also that he delivered a lot of big hits in 1984
Check out his 1985 stat line – he had a really good year, and even managed to steal 12 bases.
by Jody Jody Davis on Feb 16, 2011 2:42 PM CST up reply actions
Awesome pick
I didn’t think Moreland wanted to leave his current gig to take on a 162-game, six-month deal, but I’m glad he did.
Otto would have been OK, but Moreland is much better.
I cannot wait to hear how good Pat Hughes is going to be without having his partner strapped to his back for three hours a day. (I loved Santo as a player and for what he did against adversity and long odds, but he was a horrible broadcaster.)
by Not Bruce Froemming on Feb 16, 2011 10:40 AM CST reply actions
Great news!
Glad to hear this, and excited to get to hear some form of Cubs baseball hear very soon!!!
Santo
Surprised by all the “he was a terrible broadcaster” comments. There’s more than one way to skin a cat. He was poor maybe in a technical sense, but he was also incredibly unique, and incredibly emotional.
They’re just different things. That doesn’t make him terrible, it just makes him different. Some people liked it, some people didn’t I guess. He was incredible at what his on-air persona was, and he was an awesome dude by all accounts in real life. No need to bash his style at this point.
by jackweiland on Feb 16, 2011 10:43 AM CST reply actions 2 recs
I suppose you’re right. For my money I’d take Santo and his passion for the club over the same monotonous, repetitive dialogue and analysis any day of the week. If it was faked passion that would be one thing, but there was nothing fake about Ronnie’s love for this organization and this town. Nada.
by jackweiland on Feb 16, 2011 10:50 AM CST up reply actions
Saying Santo was unique
is like the scene in “This is Spinal Tap” when their manager explains away decreasing crowds by saying their fans are becoming more selective.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Feb 16, 2011 10:52 AM CST up reply actions
Well, yes and no.
Moreland will be more of a traditional analyst. Santo wasn’t. Absolutely true. But people loved him for who he was. You can’t deny that. Whether you were one of those people or not, his popularity is undeniable.
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I loved Santo as a player
And for the way he handled a bad situation with class and dignity. That he broadcasted as long as he did was a triumph of the human spirit.
But as a broadcaster, Santo was a pretty good third baseman.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Feb 16, 2011 10:58 AM CST up reply actions
Get Your Point About Santo; Post-Stroke Caray
Santo left something to be desired as a technical analyst. I still liked to listen to him on night games, when I was in my car with WGN’s staticky signal reaching all of middle America. Harry post-1987 wasn’t much of a broadcaster in my opinion. He never fully recovered from that stroke. That is more than completely understandable given the age Harry was when he had the stroke, so I’m not questioning Harry’s toughness in the least. Ron and Harry were both tougher people than I am. I’m amazed Harry came back to the booth at all. He still made a trip to Tim McCarver Stadium in Memphis in 1987. He held to his word with George Lapides, the Chicks GM at that time. Caray really became more of a caricature of himself after 1987. He was already getting to be that way before the stroke. I loved Harry, but honesty compels me to report that he wasn’t that great after his stroke.
2011 - The 103rd time is the charm.
P.S. There Is No Good Age In Which to Have A Stroke
Strokes at any age can be devastating.
2011 - The 103rd time is the charm.
Just the other day a young reporter for KCBS Los Angeles (IIRC)
looked like she was having a stroke while live on the air covering the grammys. The look on her face was one of, I don’t understand what’s happening. People made light of it, but that video is scary stuff.
Serena Branson
It was so strange and sad, especially the confused look on her face. Imagine trying to say something and then listening to the garbled words coming out of your mouth. In fact I just finished watching the KCBS morning news and still no update on her condition.
There is now an update.
She had a severe migraine which can mimic the effects of a stroke. Apparently she’s going to be OK. That video was frightening.
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Agree totally
Harry definitely wasn’t the same after the stroke.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Feb 16, 2011 12:15 PM CST up reply actions
Your night time Santo memory reminds me...
Of when I was in college in Southwest Ohio and although we didn’t get most Cubs games on TV, I could drive my car onto a hill and catch enough of WGN 720 radio to know what was going on. Now, the reason I could tell what was going on was because in between static blasts Santo raw screams of pain or joy would let me know how the game was going.
Yes, I’m a big enough loser that I actually sat through games I could barely hear to try and catch in real time what was happening at the Cubs games. Should’ve just gone to school closer to Chicago!
We agree!
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Feb 16, 2011 11:57 AM CST up reply actions
Is the earth still spinning
on its axis?
by Not Bruce Froemming on Feb 16, 2011 12:12 PM CST up reply actions
Nope.
That explains why the weather up here is so wacky all of a sudden.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
GREEN BAY PACKERS, SUPER BOWL XLV CHAMPIONS!
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Feb 16, 2011 9:22 PM CST up reply actions
Ron was the best.
No one will ever come close. But Moreland is as good a replacement as it will get.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Feb 16, 2011 11:28 AM CST up reply actions
He screamed over the actual calls, he would give scouting reports that were completely inaccurate
and half the time he didn’t know what inning we were in.
Look, I get that people have an emotional bond with Santo. Say you love that he was a cheerleader, say you loved having an actual fan in the booth.
But as a broadcaster, he was the among the very worst. He could not do his job as his job has been presented by every other color commentator in the business.
"Oh Crap"
-Famous Last Words by General George Custer
...
Ron Santo pretended to be a color man. He’s was awful at that, he didn’t have good timing, and the inaudible mumbling and constant random mistakes on the air were brutal.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Feb 16, 2011 1:08 PM CST up reply actions
He most certainly was a "color man".
He was not a baseball analyst — that’s true. But he did add “color” to the broadcasts. Whether you liked that type of thing or not was up to you.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Santo was the definition of a "color man"
I think people aren’t really following the point of a color man. They are there to add more to the game than just stats, play by play and analysis.
He was there for his incredible stories, insight and love of the game – in my personal opinion, you can’t get anymore colorful than Santo.
I get why people didn’t like him in the booth, but those people tend to like more of the analytical side of the game, and to me, listening to and watching Cubs baseball is SO much more. numbers are for the box scores.
by bdlugz on Feb 16, 2011 3:49 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
You are over-simplifying this
I respected the hell out of the person. Still do.
I LOVED the banter and humor. I didn’t like the fact that in the last 3 seasons or so, when anything when wrong, he sounded like a 3 year old who had his toy taken away. It was painful to listen to, and in a way, I resented the way that it made him look bad.
by Shanghai Badger on Feb 16, 2011 4:08 PM CST up reply actions
That's okay, I tend to like things overly simple!
I understand not everyone agrees with me, and that’s fine. I don’t think it took away from the person or player Santo was in his prime, but we’ll agree to disagree, nothing wrong with that.
It didn't take away from the person or the player
Have you ever seen a relative or close friend start to “lose it”? It’s rather uncomfortable . . . this is somewhat analagous.
I like stats, but I don’t NEED them as part of the radio broadcast. I would prefer that the announcer know what the hell is going on in the game. I am not bothered in the least by talk of tuna fish sandwiches or sweaters, really. I found that aspect very entertaining. But there’s no need to whine every time the other team scores, and that’s what it became.
by Shanghai Badger on Feb 16, 2011 9:39 PM CST up reply actions
I have no problem...
…with a color man sharing stories and being funny and I think it can add big time to the broadcast.
The problem is, I didn’t see Santo as funny and I didn’t think many of his stories were coherent either. Again, I felt sorry for the guy more than anything and that isn’t how you should feel about a broadcast.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
I never once felt sorry for him because he loved what he was doing.
And no matter what anyone else thought of him, he loved life.
I refuse to feel bad for someone because others think he/she is making a fool of themselves – good for him, because he was a better person than I ever will be and lived life to its fullest.
Was he always the best at story telling? No. Did he get facts mixed up/confused? Sure. But the guy brought life to the game that I grew up loving, and I loved him for that.
I don’t need people to see eye to eye with me on this. You’re all right to have your own feelings on the matter. But I don’t think anyone should ever feel sorry for the man…
Your entitled to your opinion...
…but I did feel sorry for him, because I think he was put in a spot that (IMO) made him look foolish, because the Cubs and WGN knew he had fan appeal. In doing that, I believe they trashed the professionalism of the broadcasts, even though Santo was enjoying himself.
IMO, several years ago, they should have made Santo an ambassador to the team and used him to occasionally sing the stretch and visit the booth maybe once a week to still be involved with the team. I know there are people on both sides of this, but it was very painful for me to listen to, especially when I remembered how hard he played the game on the field.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Ronnie's broadcasts were from
his heart . He meant well and had a differant style . Yes when you turned the radio on you knew who was winning . He loved the game, its fans, and made the Cubs part of his life . I for one will miss him on 4-1-11 .
No. Again, it has nothing to do with wanting someone providing me stats
It has to do with not wanting a “color man” who screams over what is actually happening to the point that I can’t tell what the action is.
It has to do with not wanting a color man who after you can clearly hear the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd, Ronnie wouldn’t interrupt his story about someone he met in an elevator so that Pat could actually tell us what the hell was going on.
And yes, when WGN actually made giving scouting reports as part of his job, and he couldn’t do it, then yes, that makes a bad color man. Again, I get you guys liked him. He was still a horrendous broadcaster.
"Oh Crap"
-Famous Last Words by General George Custer
Absolutely. And "color" is exactly why I loved listening to him.
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
I think you mispelled it.
It’s b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l.
by SouthWabashSoul on Feb 16, 2011 5:10 PM CST up reply actions
I think you’re WAY too hung up on what you define a good color man as. There are different ways to do the job. Saying that he should be more like everyone else strikes me as odd. When did uniqueness qualify as a fault?
Having an emotional bond with Santo means he was a successful broadcaster. Picking apart his style as defined by you means he wasn’t your cup of tea. You can’t pretend your definition of “a good broadcaster” is the same for everyone across the board. Again, there are multiple ways to go about something. And his job wasn’t to make sure you knew what inning it was or what exactly was happening in the game at that moment. That’s what Pat Hughes is for, and he does a great job of it.
by jackweiland on Feb 17, 2011 8:15 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Then every other team in MLB
had a different definition of what a “good broadcaster” is than the Cubs did. Whom do you think was right, 29 other teams or the Cubs?
by Not Bruce Froemming on Feb 17, 2011 11:12 AM CST up reply actions
You really think that other teams could supply someone like Santo for their broadcasts?
This is a pretty ridiculous argument.
Every franchise has a Santo-like character
who’s beloved by the fan base.
They just don’t let him near a radio microphone for 162 games a season.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Feb 17, 2011 3:24 PM CST up reply actions
You (Cubs) have chosen wisely ... !!
http://www.hark.com/clips/zjyhltddpr-chosen-wisely
Just win the next game...!
Congrats Zonk!
I’m just glad it wasn’t going to be Joe Carter!
Proud member of the Lee Elia 15% club!
Very cool.
Can’t say I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Moreland on the air (or if I have, I don’t remember it.) But if you guys say he’s a good pick, then I’ll definitely have to tune into some more Cubbies broadcasts this year.
But I still miss the hell out of Ron. The interplay between him and Pat was just fantastic.
Before each game, please remember to feed the bats.
He did some fill-in work for Santo
the past few years. He’s also done University of Texas baseball and football for a while.
I think you’ll like what you hear.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Feb 16, 2011 10:59 AM CST up reply actions
I hope that’s the case. And obviously Ronnie isn’t coming back anytime soon, so it’s a matter of necessity as well. I’m just still bummed about Santo’s death and this season is going to be hard for me. Since the Cubs play so many day games I’ve followed the team mostly via radio, from work, and it’s been one of my simple joys in life.
Also there’s the fact that the Cubs have had like three enjoyable seasons in my lifetime, and the banter between Pat and Ron salvaged a measure of fun for me during the bad ones.
by jackweiland on Feb 16, 2011 11:04 AM CST up reply actions
Yeah
I know I’ve heard him before, just can’t remember what I actually thought beyond being bummed that Ronnie didn’t make the trip and what not.
by jackweiland on Feb 16, 2011 11:54 AM CST up reply actions
Meh
I guess he was the best of the “pool”, but the pool just was not that strong to choose from in my opinion.
Several candidates were under contract, the Flagship wants a “homer” announcer – with preferably, experience on the home team’s baseball team.
So, Zonk fits the bill as best he can.
by The E-Man on Feb 16, 2011 11:03 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Exactly
Neither thrilled nor disappointed. Moving on.
WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station
by Gibbon Jockey on Feb 16, 2011 11:12 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Same here...
Might listen to a dozen games on the radio a year is all. I liked Moreland as a player, so, I’m sure he’ll do a good job.
"I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die." - Anonymous
3rd man in the booth is still needed (Hughes' break time)
Unless Moreland can do pbp, which have never heard. I doubt if he can do this.
No offense, but it would have been nice to see another professional broadcaster next to Hughes.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Feb 16, 2011 5:33 PM CST up reply actions
In your scenario, when Hughes takes his break, the new guy would have gone solo?
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
How much do you think the gig pays?
I’m just curious as to what you think Moreland will make per year.
"I'm not a broadcaster! I'm me!"--Ron Santo
My guess would be
in the $200K range.
As far as I know, more than what he has been used to making recently!
Thank goodness it was Moreland instead of Otto!!!!!
I hope he calls it like he sees it and does not sugar coat things….I don’t believe he will….
Be ready Soriano….
Gotta agree with the Cubs here.
Moreland is the best choice.
I can’t wait til I here Pat Hughes say “Chicago Cubs baseball is on the air!” in a couple of weeks from Hohokam…and then at Wrigley on April 1.
But it’s going to take me a little bit of time to get used to not hearing Ronnie anymore.
Keep that Q Train rollin' in '11. Let's win it for Ronnie.
I can't wait for the next Cubs CD
with Keith cheering in the background while Pat is calling the play.
♪"Have Keith Moreland drop a routine fly"♫
Zonk may be the only MLB broadcaster working today immortalized in a song.
Wish I could link to the YouTube vid but at work now and that stuff is blocked here..
by JFCubFan on Feb 16, 2011 11:30 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
I guess that means
his ‘analysis’ will routinely butcher the explanation of a sac bunt or double switch.
:p
WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station
by Gibbon Jockey on Feb 16, 2011 12:39 PM CST up reply actions
It's always time for Steve Goodman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xBxZGQ1dJk
Where is Mick Kelleher when we need him?
by 3744nsheffield on Feb 16, 2011 1:42 PM CST up reply actions
Good choice.....question though....
Will Moreland have to give up all his duties as baseball and football analyst in Texas? I would assume so.
We'll miss you Big Boy. #10 for Hall of Fame.
Pleasantly Surprised
I didn’t think he would take the Cubs job because of his love for the Longhorns. Keith will move back up north. I wonder if he’ll go back to Deerfield, Illinois.
2011 - The 103rd time is the charm.
KEEEEF
I would have preferred Keith Richards to Keith Moreland
Yes!
Although they’d have to modify the press box’s no-smoking, no-shooting-up policy….
"Every day when I show up, I try to provide a little laughter...some days when I pitch it gets pretty funny, too." -- Ryan Dempster, 5/2010
by CaughtInTheVines on Feb 16, 2011 1:54 PM CST up reply actions
His autobiography is fantastic
I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. -J.R.R. Tolkien
Keith Richards and Jerry Lee Lewis
How are those two still alive?
2011 - The 103rd time is the charm.
Great News!
I enjoyed his style of announcing when he filled-in for Ronnie, so this should be a good mix.
I too feel this was the best choice.
Here’s to a great season of Cubs baseball on the Radio!
If you think you've seen it all...just wait!
by CubFanSince1970 on Feb 16, 2011 11:45 AM CST reply actions
My first choice was Doug Glanville.
But maybe with his other business interests he didn’t want to be tied down to a regular radio gig. Besides, he might have been too intellectual for the average fan.
Agreed
I think Glanville is brilliant, and his New York Times columns are excellent. But he’s a better writer than a talker.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Feb 16, 2011 12:14 PM CST up reply actions
I have another destination in mind
I want Glanville as the next commisioner.
Nothing happens unless it's first a dream
by puckishcubsfan on Feb 16, 2011 1:40 PM CST up reply actions
there is zero chance that will happen. He'd be far to player centric for the owners to hire him
"Oh Crap"
-Famous Last Words by General George Custer
Good point. Selig is Commissioner in name only.
Who better than a former owner to do the owners’ bidding?
Every commissioner
serves at the whim of the owners. All of them carried out their wishes.
That’s what a commissioner is.
by Josh Timmers on Feb 17, 2011 2:07 PM CST up reply actions
Props to Otto
He’s always been a consummate professional and I imagine he’ll continue to sub for both radio and tv games when necessary. He seems like a really nice guy and while he isn’t the most exciting to listen to, he does a nice job.
by dmlichte on Feb 16, 2011 11:59 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Best basketball player
Elk Grove High School ever had.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Feb 16, 2011 12:14 PM CST up reply actions
hey, I go to that school!!
And yeah, I like the decision, but a bit of me wanted Dave to go so I can say “Hey, the guy that does radio work now next to Pat went to EG!!”
by braziliancubsfan on Feb 17, 2011 12:02 AM CST up reply actions
Do they have any Dave Otto shrines
in the trophy case at Elk Grove or anything?
by Not Bruce Froemming on Feb 17, 2011 1:17 AM CST up reply actions
Yeah, they have a plaque, and where he played for
And they have a picture of him wearing an Oakland A’s hat. It’s disappointing, but it is EG colors
by braziliancubsfan on Feb 21, 2011 2:03 PM CST up reply actions
I was rooting for the Packers because
“Hey, the guy that is the youngest player to start in a Super Bowl went to Marian Central!”
My kids went to school with Bryan Bulaga-not the same grade, but at the same time. So they didn’t know him, but they knew of him.
I met Otto once. He seemed like a solid, genuine guy.
Really happy he didn’t get the job though. People talk about an “it” factor, and while I admit I don’t know what that really means, he just doesn’t have it. I’m fine with him filling in for Moreland though.
GM's are in charge of Managers, not the other way around.
Otto is a good guy. Funny and not full of himself at all.
He did a little “man on the street” interview with the ballhawks once several years ago. He understood about how people in the bleachers go crazy after home run balls, but he didn’t quite get the whole outside the park on Waveland thing. But once we started talking, he picked up on it real quick and really got a kick out of talking with us.
What made it absolutely priceless during the interview was you could see the wheels start to turn in his head as he started to think back about his career and some of the homers he gave up back in the day. Remember, he’s the one doing the interview but then he just starts laughing and says something like “Boy, I gave up a few beauts in my day. You guys must have loved me…”
We did and we do. Not as much as Howry though… ;-)
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Feb 17, 2011 7:37 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Keith Moreland
Glad to see that the Cubs chose Keith. I’m not sure how long it will take me not to miss hearing Ronnie and his “brand” of calling the games. Always loved the banter between him and Pat and will probably miss that the most.
This was my pick
from day one…so I am good with it.. Now, if I could just get WGN Radio more frequently in my truck
"All I want is food and creative love" - Rusted Root
by TheRiot Police on Feb 16, 2011 12:18 PM CST reply actions
Terrible Choice Y'all!
Thought I had escaped former UT announcer Moreland when I relocated back to my hometown from Austin. Having heard Keith call those games I can only summarize my feelings by quoting that great 20th century philosopher and sage Bartholomew JoJo Simpson: “I didn’t think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows” My condolences to Pat Hughes.
"It sucks while it cuts!"
“Well, it certainly does suck!”
Note the carefully placed Cubs pennant in that photo.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
For those of us, like me, that aren't privy to the background...
How/why did he get the nickname of Zonk?
I hope
I hope this turns out better than the last 2 times I posted news here first (I had a fanshot on this that there was going to be an announcement on WGN)
The other 2 times I posted it was on the Score that Kevin Gregg meant Kerry Wood was gone.
The other time I broke that there was about to be an announcement on WGN about a trade and it was Oh God I forgot his name the Canadian pitcher besides Dempster.
Great choice I think this is going to work out.
Nothing happens unless it's first a dream
Way to go Zonk! Now there's a second "Z" on the team.
We "Z"s gotta stick together…
There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. Who says baseball isn't a religion?
ISWYDT 'lassie'!
There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. Who says baseball isn't a religion?
Keith was my choice
so this makes me happy. I wish him the best.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
good for Zonk, congrats
Chronologically inept since 2060
Q: Why did Chuck Norris cross the road?
A: Ditka
Ditka's mustache can block a Chuck Norris round house
As someone who has never listened to Keith Moreland before,
What is he like in the booth?
Regardless of his merits, Ron Santo was a unique voice in the radio booth. It’s going to be a while before I get used to hearing “Pat and Keith” as opposed to “Pat and Ron.”
I wish Moreland nothing but the best, and I hope he and Pat become as good a radio team as Pat and Ron were.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
GREEN BAY PACKERS, SUPER BOWL XLV CHAMPIONS!
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Feb 16, 2011 9:26 PM CST reply actions
I have enjoyed him both as a Cubs fill
as well as calling Texas Longhorns baseball and football games. I feel he does a really good job
Chronologically inept since 2060
Q: Why did Chuck Norris cross the road?
A: Ditka
Ditka's mustache can block a Chuck Norris round house
good choice...
Zonk was a great Cub player. Versatile, hard working, smart & coachable. Those traits will serve him well in the booth.
Ronnie? We all will miss him- some more than others; as he was, at times, insufferable. I hate to say it, but it’s true. Doesn’t diminish my respect for Ronnie though. Ol’ no. 10 was obviously, (to me at least), in a state of mental decline for at least the last ten years of his life. The multitude of health problems/surgeries/hospitalizations I believe took their toll. Repeated exposure to anesthesia, (esp. older people), can effect the onset of, or increase, dementia. Much in the same way that Harry was never the same after the first big stroke, Ron wasn’t the same after about 2000 or 2001… RIP Ronnie.
Welcome home again Zonk & best of luck!
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Feb 16, 2011 10:18 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Good choice
Congratulations, Keith. Nothing against Otto, he sounds like a solid guy, but Keith will do just fine. He knew Ronnie well, and is smart enough to handle following in his footsteps. In more than a few ways, he’s lot like Santo.He won’t win any GQ contests, doesn’t sugarcoat a damn thing, knows his baseball, is a lot of fun, and certainly has his own style. And just based on Zonk alone, the Cubs radio broadcast team (let alone teaming with Brenly on the TV side) becomes the odds on favorite to win an after game bar fight. He’s still got some forearms.
I want to put in my two cents on Ron Santo. Many people here seem to want to portray him as a goofball due to the way he was on the air. The man was anythng but that. He knew exactly what he was doing on the air. He knew he wasn’t a polished mike guy like Hughes, but he was paid well to be himself, and so he was. I was privileged enough to have several one on one conversations with him in the last few years, whether it was in a hotel bar in San Diego or San Francisco, Hundley’s fantasy camps, or Spring Training. The man forgot more about baseball than some people will ever know, and still knew more than most even after that. To his last days, nothing escaped him. He knew all about the criticisms, sloughed it off,and still had kind words for every single person he met. So if he didn’t meet the radio expectations of some around here, frankly, big deal. He made sure he had as much fun as he coujld doing what he did, and it’s a shame some people can’t just accept that having fun is supposed to be a part of the baseball fabric. Ronnie lived by that.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
by BeerCub on Feb 17, 2011 8:03 AM CST reply actions 5 recs
Who is painting Santo like a goofball?
Why is this black and white? Not one person here has said anything disparaging about Ron Santo the person. Not one.
by Shanghai Badger on Feb 17, 2011 9:35 AM CST up reply actions
Huh?
Not sure what you mean by “black and white”. I’m also not sure why you think I said anything about disparaging him as a person. The sentence read “Many people here seem to want to portray him as a goofball due to the way he was on the air.” ON THE AIR.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
You still said portray him as a goofball. AS A GOOFBALL.
Many people here seem to want to portray him as a goofball due to the way he was on the air.
That would indeed be disparaging him as a person. Had you instead written, “Many people here seem to want to portray his on-air persona as that of a goofball.”, it would have had an entirely different meaning. What you actually wrote implies (actually, really states) that people are criticizing the person because of the way that he acted on the air.
The black and white comment is an allusion to the fact that the “Ronnie was a great broadcaster” camp seems to be taking a “You’re with us or against us” stance, and it’s just not that simple.
by Shanghai Badger on Feb 17, 2011 2:51 PM CST up reply actions
That's your interpretation
And not what I meant. You’re reading far too much into this. Goofball on the air is just that. Not his entire self.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
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