Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
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TV and more ...
1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with
First of all: Wow. And, whew.
Now ...
The story I'm about to tell is a new story, and an old story. Practically a fable, yet 100 percent true.
5:38 p.m.: I get in my car to drive home from work.
5:46 p.m.: Dodger radio announcers Rick Monday and Jerry Reuss update me on the Dodger score for the first time.
5:54 p.m.: Second score update.
Between 5:38 and 5:53 - 15 minutes - one score update.
Really, it's incredible.
New listeners turn on the radio every second. Giving them the score as quickly as possible is simply the most important function announcers have. But these guys just can't do it.
Something I noticed in particular tonight is that for at least three consecutive half-innings, play-by-play man Monday did not give the score when coming out of commercial. If failing to provide the score every minute or two is like missing a free throw, failing to do after a commercial break is like blowing a layup. Monday is laying bricks left and right.
This, of course, has been going on for years with Monday, as we all know, but I'm still honestly trying to imagine what he is thinking. He goes on and on about baseball players and fundamentals, yet he can't get a grip on the most fundamental aspect of his own job.
People have been complaining about this forever. There's nothing else to say. After all these years, how can this not have been corrected by now? I really think Monday owes it to Dodger fans to start giving the score every minute or two, or explain why in the world he won't do it. Really, explain it - it's not like you don't have all this time.
Monday, the score or your life!!!
Please?
If not, it's well past time for an intervention. Dodger brass needs to say something.
* * *
With Andy LaRoche battling injuries in Las Vegas, general manager Ned Colletti got itchy again about the team's depth. So he scratched by signing Shea Hillenbrand to a minor-league contract, who I at first ventured to concede might be a better alternative pinch-hitting in the 12th inning of a September game after rosters expand than Ramon Martinez ... but I'm not even 100 percent sure of that.
I had the same thing yesterday morning. The schmuck went through an entire inning, both halves, without giving the score. He even gave a (sponsored) "scoreboard" of the entire MLB active games without mentioning the current Dodgers-Reds game. Otherwise he just rabbited on about whatever passed through his little mind.
This is one issue where an email to Joel Rawitch alerting him to your post (though he most likely will read it anyway, an email should prompt a response) would be in order.
Enough.
LAT'd Eddie Murphy Hot talk --->>
http://tinyurl.com/33c3a9
-- Russ Langer on Jon Meloan
Meloan goes 1-2-3 and now has a 1.74 ERA for Vegas.
Eek -- and now the IBB to 19-year old Upton. I hate the IBB to load the bases.
But I'm certainly open to other answers.
He needs to join the big club already!
Then they could bring in a fourth guy whose job is to shoot Rick Monday.
[giggling]
Daron Sutton doesn't sound much like Thom Brennaman at all. The latter's voice is what I would call "faux-stentorian." The former is far more of a wisecracker.
This keeps happening. Is it Brenneman or Brennaman?
It's the latter.
Whatever. I hate him, too.
Because they all stink.
Wow, Garagiola is doing the game tonight. I'd like to hear Garagiola do play by play with Ralph Kiner on color.
He's like the new version of Gameday.
Thom Brennaman may do more to destroy the BCS than anything else in college football.
The man is an abomination of an announcer. His father should disown him.
It's kind of unnerving.
Joe Buck isn't as bad as Thom Brennaman. Even Chip Caray is better than Thom Brennaman.
But have you seen that thing?
I guess he really wants run support for once. ;) Screenshot here in case they've fixed it:
http://www.trolleydodger.com/2007/08/10/lowe-to-battle-dodgers/
Tim McCarver has basically been the lead baseball color announcer for 20+ years. I can't fathom how that has happened.
Lowe must be really angry over Mark Sweeney arriving in St. Louis and immediately hitting on Carolyn Hughes.
Happens all the time.
In Jacksonville, down 12-3 in the 8th, Jimmy Rohan came out to pitch, and after a scoreless 8th, gave up 7 runs in the 9th. AJ Ellis came in to get the last two outs (along with a 2 run double to drive in some of Rohan's runners). Both positions players had previously pitched, although neither appears to be the next James McDonald...
Rohan (over 4 seasons): 6.2 IP, 6 K, 7 BB, 12 R
Ellis (over 2 seasons): 8 IP, 3 K, 3 BB, 4 R
vr, Xei
It was in the 80s Downtown today. It wasn't exactly oppressive. You won't confuse it with St. Louis or Taipei.
How's about Hu?
Certainties:
LaRoche (if healthy)
Abreu (if healthy)
Meloan
Houlton
Probables:
Hu
Hillenbrand
Valdez
Stults (who got ripped tonight)
Possibles
McDonald
Pinango
Davis or Huckaby (3rd catcher)
Freeman or Ruan (pinch runner)
I am sure others will point to Juan Pierre as the Dodgers biggest blunder. Players come and go, but broadcasters (good and bad)have a much longer stay.
Stan from Tacoma
The last 25 years of futility are a result of that.
Personally, I'm ready for a break from bashing the usual suspects. Why don't we find someone new to pick on? Ralph Branca maybe.
{That's funnier if you think of FotC)
I'd like that very much. Jerkface Niedenfuer...
{punches open palm repeatedly}
vr, Xei
Next question.
Oh...Nevermind.
Scott Graham was fired by the Phillies last year. He is way better than Steiner/Monday.
The Pedro/Delino trade has to be up there in the list of biggest blunders. But after that trade, I found that I could pick up the Dodger broadcasts most nights at my home in Tacoma over KNZR Bakersfield. I listened to Vin, Ross and Don and enjoyed what I was hearing. I remember the Dodgers finished last one of those years. lost 99 games I think. I still listened. The Dodgers could win 99 games and I still would not listen to Steiner/Monday. Those two are almost as bad as the Padre and Yankee radio broadcasters.
Stan from Tacoma
Professor Zappala...Never, in my wildest dreams, did I envision a situation where you would be put on notice. And you won't be. But knowing that you forgive Tom Niedenfuer. Well, I just don't know what to make of it.
"Forgiving Tom Niedenfuer" is a great name for a book.
I was at a SABR chapter meeting in Lake Elsinore and George Hendrick spoke (extremely quietly) to us about his career and he had absolutely nothing good to say about Gene Mauch. He said Mauch was a control freak who called every pitch of the season.
He still can't figure out why Gary Lucas came in.
Campanis's early departure didn't seem as deleterious as Greg Brock makes it out to be. Campanis couldn't have stayed on in the job many more years. Who would have been his logical replacement other than Fred Claire? The Dodgers weren't going to go outside the organization to hire a GM back in those days.
vr, Xei
(7*6)/(5-1) is half right. ;-)
This ends your late night report.
Yes . No.758.
Next question? Using the numbers 7,6,5,1 and using each number exactly one time, come up with the value of 21 using any combination of multiplication, division, addition and or subtraction. vr, Xei
I'm using each number exactly one time, right? so it works!
Thanks!
vr, Xei
Nice one.
Arg! I had best just go to bed.
Maybe I could stay with Marty in Altadena.
We'll buy a big Craftsman in South Pasadena and share the mortgage costs.
This fall, on CBS.
I want to be the "street smart" one, but Brock can be the one who gets all the women, even though he spends most of his time using a wide array of high tech gadgetry to find the bad guys.
I just have a network of informants with colorful nicknames.
I just got done watching the 9th inning on MLB.com (I was at the state fair tonight and missed the game). I noticed that Saito came very close to balking on almost every pitch tonight. (He had jelly legs after he came set).
I know those weasels La Russa and Duncan notice crap like that and will talk to the umps about it before Saturday's game. I hope Honeycutt mentions it to Sammy so he can cut it out.
But nevertheless, what a great win. I'm going to bed a happy man b/c of Loney and company.
God, I hate those Cardinals.
I'll be the jaded guy who fights the good fight, but doesn't care anymore. Actually, I'll be whatever it takes to grab the hot broads. Whatever archetype it takes to be that guy, that's what I'll be.
I just want the women. Write my character around getting hot women.
Friday night featured Alice Cooper and ABBAMANIA!
But it looks a guy from Minnesota took home first place in the Super Bull competition.
Probably because Jonathan Broxton was in St. Louis.
Charlie Sheen, with hot broads, and depth. Is such a thing possible?
The depth is really important. But the hot chicks thing is more important.
I'll just take the hot broads. Write me shallow. Just let me pull hot broads.
I have a really good idea who should play who now. My casting eye is far more acute now. I have a really good sense about the cast.
You probably do not watch Adult Swim, but the first thing I thought when I saw you was that you reminded me of Tim Heidecker from "Tom Goes to the Mayor" and "Time and Eric's Awesome Show."
He works with Bob Odenkirk, so that is something to be proud of.
aw man, and I thought I was being so clever. nicely done.
Jon: Dustin Hoffman
Marty: Richard Dreyfuss
Icaros: Josh Lucas
Scareduck: Paul Giamatti
bhsportsguy Ken Watanabe
Eric Stephen: John Candy
ToyCannon: Denis Leary (with a goatee)
Again, this is just a taste. Sam, Bob, and others have to be recast.
And Suffering Bruin would be played by Aaron Eckhart.
If he was 25 pounds overweight.
Maybe Patton Oswalt instead.
I'm pretty convinced that Canuck is JT Walsh.
JT Walsh and Patton Oswalt are great, but Ken Watanbe was in Tampopo and Tampopo is awesome. I only wish I was cool enough to be in Tampopo.
Professor Zappala...Never, in my wildest dreams, did I envision a situation where you would be put on notice. And you won't be. But knowing that you forgive Tom Niedenfuer. Well, I just don't know what to make of it.
I'm the forgiving sort. After what happened to Donnie Moore, I can forgive any baseball player who blows a game while trying his best . Especially after the Dodgers won it all 3 years later and I got to see the clinching game in person. I do appreciate not being put on notice, but I would have forgiven you if you had.
Daniel, you do the whole Italian genealogy thing, right? I have a friend who wants to trace his family name(s). Consalvo and Martello. He has no clue where his famiglia comes from. I told him I know a guy who knows some stuff about some Italian stuff, especially some name stuff.
Now that you want something we're on familiar terms, eh? :-) Have your friend go to http://storia.zappala.org and read the first post (not too hard since I've only had time for 3). Basically, I'll get him started for free and show him how to go on from there. Have him send me email.
Maybe the guy made too much money, but the company line was that the broadcast needed to be more entertaining. It is the opposite.
Monday is typically awful, and Charley Steiner is brutal (say it with me, EN-CAR-NA-SEE-OWN.)
I can't help but look at the Porter situation as a metaphor for what the McCourts really think about Dodger fans.
It's PR 101 Frank - know your audience.
No rational person can think that the broadcast has improved under the McCourts, and certainly no Dodger fan I've spoken to.
If you are going in a different direction in an effort to improve the product - THAN THE PRODUCT HAS TO IMPROVE.
Yeah, because we're a regular bunch of Babe Ruths here with the Dodgers. Too power-depended, all home runs, I often say.
Sigh.
He hasn't done much acting since the 80s, but I also get a lot of Sting comparisons (the singer, not the wrestler).
My favorite, though, was when some people started referring to me as a "better-looking Jeffery Dahmer."
And now we're off to hike with a friend who reminds me of Pete Puma. (Jutting chin, big dumb grin, elongated laugh, squinty eyes. "I'm the little critter's mother, and I've been so woooooooooooooooried about him.")
Have a day!
The Padres put Michael Barrett on the DL with a concussion. They sent down Jack Cassel also and called up Pete LaForest and Mike Thompson. I have lost track of how many times Thomspon has gone back and forth between San Diego and Portland in the last two years, but I'm sure it's over 10.
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