<p>Ahhh yes, Joe Morgan. He never missed an opportunity to talk about himself. </p>
<p>And back in the early/mid 90s, ESPN had an announcing team that aurgued with each other throughout the whole game, like those sports radio talk shows. No matter what one of them said, the other took the opposite stance. It was like your two kids standing by the tv bickering for 3 hours. I actually met someone who worked for ESPN during that time and begged him to tell the higher-ups to get rid of those guys! Wish I could remember their names.</p>
<p>One thing about this series is that the gasbags have been shown to be that, they all predicted a slugfest and it has turned into a pitchers duel so far. </p>
<p>As far as announcers go, I don’t like Joe Buck and Tim McCarver at all. Buck, whether football or baseball, doesn’t really know the game that well, and he has the personality of oatmeal without cinnamon. Whatever kind of catcher McCarver was (and I am old enough to remember the end of his playing days) he is one of the biggest irritants to watch, if I have to hear one more time how he caught Steve Carlton or Bob Gibson or his pronouncements on ‘the sanctity of the game’ and so forth, I’ll puke. I hated him when he was a Mets announcer years ago, and it hasn’t gotten any better. TBS had a much better team, Ron Darling and Smoltz know a lot more about the game frankly and when they criticize it doesn’t come off sounding like they are doing so bolstering themselves as geniuses. Yeah, I am biased, and I happen to love the Mets announcing crew on TV and Radio, unlike the mealy mouthed suckups the cross town team employs, they aren’t afraid to rip the team and do so. </p>
<p>I don’t really have a horse in this race, it would be cool to see the Rangers win, if just to see Nolan Ryan finally smiling, and the Cardinals have a great team as well, and for once it is a tight, close series (least so far). About the only thing that drives me nuts is La Russa with his ‘pitching strategy’, I prefer Nolan Ryan’s attitude that pitchers should go deep into games and this ridiculous right-left stuff is just that (hey, he knows, Ryan holds the record for the largest pitch count in modern baseball, I think it is like 259 pitches…compare that to the 80 pitch weenies we have today…). La Russa doesn’t have to worry about a Halloween Costume, if he puts in contacts, wears a hoodie sweatshirt and a head warmer band, he could easily pass as Bill Belichick…</p>
<p>I am a Mets fan, too, but don’t get to hear their announcers. I have a good friend who plays for the Mets, so I follow the games on my computer. </p>
<p>It is a beautiful day here in North Texas. Weather is perfect for baseball and, according to those all-knowing FOX guys, the warm temperatures will have the ball flying out of the park. Get ready for the slugfest! LOL</p>
<p>I am SO NOT into baseball. I don’t know the terminology and I called every “run” a “homerun” until my DH looked at me sideways. Then, when I asked if it the bottom of the 8th or the top, and he asked me where are they playing, I wondered, why does that matter? Anyway, I did watch nearly the whole game tonight and really enjoyed it. Guess I’m a Cardinals fan. Who knew?</p>
<p>Well that was very special indeed! I was so angry after the umpire missed that call, I could hardly watch the rest of the game. It was not so much that he was called safe, but then having to listen to the announcers (after showing the replay half a dozen times and concluding he was out) say that the defense let the pitcher down. No, you moron, the defense made the play. The umpire blew it. And much later in the game, my D had come home from work and was watching with me. Tim said blah, blah, blah…“and other things.” My D looked at me and said, “Who ARE these guys?” I know, I know–I should hit the mute button, but I enjoy the other sounds of the ballpark. :)</p>
<p>You know, way back in the mid-80s when I first became a rabid baseball fan watching Mets games, Tim McCarver was their announcer and I learned baseball from listening to him. He’s like a different guy now, a parody of himself. He really did used to be good.</p>
<p>While I do agree that the umpire missed that call and obviously did so… the defense did let the pitcher down. The player at second had all the time in the world and threw the ball wide allowing for a blown call to occur. Throw a strike to the bag and it’s not even a bang-bang play.</p>
<p>Then throwing the ball away at home allowing two runs to score? Another one where the fielder rushed and it cost them…</p>
<p>Agree with hops. Blown call, but the defense wouldn’t have had to rely on the ump if they’d taken care of business in the first place. First time all year that I’ve seen the Rangers fold like that.</p>
<p>The wild throw to home had not occurred at the time they were saying the defense let him down. After that point, the defense DID fold, no arguement there. I don’t think a play should have to be slick and pretty in order for the umpire to make the right call. However, umpires are human and make mistakes. That is an unfortunate part of the game until they go to some sort of instant replay system. I just am not enjoying the announcers. You know, I think what makes a good announcing team is when you don’t even know their names or realize they are there. Kinda like umpires. If you don’t have to mention them, you know they did a good job.</p>
<p>It was tied 2-2 when I fell asleep on the couch. This morning when I read about the mistakes, I thought I must have been reading about Little League.</p>
and make mistakes. That is an unfortunate part of the game until they go to some sort of instant replay system. I just am not enjoying the announcers. You know, I think what makes a good announcing team is when you don’t even know their names or realize they are there. Kinda like umpires. If you don’t have to mention them, you know they did a good job.</p>