As a Minnesotan who's been forced to listen to Chip Caray announce the most important games of my beloved Twins' season I'm in complete agreement with Richard Sandomir of the New York Times, who basically eviscerated the TBS play-by-play man in his column today.
Sandomir gets into all the gory details of Caray's ineptitude--including his numerous screwups from Game 1 of the ALDS--but here's the short version:
Caray is still prone to bad play calls, descriptive exaggerations and factual errors. Every announcer makes mistakes, but Caray's lips form a pattern of an announcer out of his element. The producer, Glenn Diamond; the director, Lonnie Dale; and the statistician are either failing him or he is spurning their advice and support. No one in the production truck could rescue him from his 10th-inning classic faux pas during the Twins-Tigers tie breaker Tuesday night. Caray called the Twins' Nick Punto's sharply hit liner to left field this way: "Line drive. Base hit. Caught out there. The runner tags. Throw to the plate. On target. And in time! A double play."
Sandomir's description of that play doesn't even do it justice, as Caray completely botched the call of one of the most important and action-packed moments of the season. Worse, he made zero mention of the massive blunder and then did the exact same thing the next night, breathlessly announcing another line out to left field as a "base hit" before trying to save himself by acting as if the ball nearly dropped for a single.
Those are the two most glaring mistakes, but Caray is incredibly tough to listen to even when he's not making huge errors. Every ball hit with any sort of authority is "belted" or "smoked" and every pop up is "fisted." He fills the broadcast with non-stop babble focused on hyperbole, lavish praise of mediocre players, half-truths passed along as facts, apocryphal stories and anecdotes, and the blatant misuse of statistics. And at least once an inning he says something that's just flat-out wrong.
Phil Mushnick of the New York Post described Caray's announcing style perfectly when he wrote: "He's like an interpreter who can speak with a French accent but doesn't know French." It's almost as if Caray is playing the part of a baseball announcer, rattling off the lines he's supposed to say with the inflection he's supposed to use, but unlike his legendary grandfather Harry Caray and his highly underrated father Skip Caray he's not fit to actually do the job. I'm already dreading listening to his mistake-filled nonsense tonight.
Further proof that nepotism sucks.
Or, if you're a Caray, further proof that nepotism rules. I'd rather listen to Mariah Carey than Chip Caray. Dick Stockton does a much better job, and he's not even that good. Although, no one on TBS is as eardrum dissolving as the ESPN trio of Miller, Morgan, and Phillips.
Mariah Carey or Chip Caray? No contest. It might be fun to listen to an entire game called in the whistle register.
Oh, please, nobody can hold a candle to John Sterling, the Yankees' radio man. Although I am a Met fan, I can listen to any game. However, I usually can make it through no more than an inning of Sterling. I play a little game called "see how long it takes for John Sterling to say something completely stupid (or just plain wrong)." It usually takes less than a minute -- I am not kidding.
A couple of recent examples:
o He said that Orlando Cabrera had over 90 RBIs one year with the Angels -- he did not.
o I have heard him say about a hitter coming up: "He is batting .300...that's pretty good." -- what is that?
o More generally, he does his ridiculous "cut on..." on every swing, calls home runs that are caught and basically seems to not even be at the Stadium.
The man is an embarrassment to a storied franchise.
And, his partner Suzyn Waldman is possibly more annoying, and less informed.
"Oh, please, nobody can hold a candle to John Sterling, the Yankees' radio man."
I was thinking the same thing as I read the article. A game does not go by where Sterling doesn't scream out "Great Play!", and oftentimes mor than once a game. I can go weeks without seeing a real 'great play', but on radio, great plays seemingly happen several times a game.
The worst broadcaster by far is Gus WIlliams. Wheter he is calling bseball, football or boxing or whatever, he puts way too much on it. Guy runs for 6 yards last week & first thing out of his mouth his & there he goes on hus way, play ends. He over exagerates on every call.
TwinkieTown has a nice parody of Caray & Sterling's obsession with Tigers SP Rick Porcello's age: http://www.twinkietown.com/2009/10/8/1077003/breaking-news-rick-porcello-just
I couldn't agree more. Sterling and Waldman are the worst combo out there. If I ever swallow poison I will turn them on to enduce vommiting. Plenty of announcers root for the team but these two clueless boobs are sickening.
OVER EXAGERATION !!! How about Suzyn Waldman's call the day Roger Clemens rode in on his white horse and announced to the Yankee Stadium crowd from Steinbrenner's box, that he is back. ROGER CLEMENS IS A YANKEE. It was funny.
I personally like any of the Carey's and not to mention they were and are all grossly overrated. Harry was sort of a character and was around for a long time and his son and grandson fed off that. Let the former two R.I.P
As a Met Fan I think you have more pressing issues to worry about other than a Yankee radio announcer. For instance the 2009 season of 72 wins and 90 losses. And yes I am a YANKEE FAN.
Pat -- I am fully aware of my Mets issues (but thanks for reminding me). I didn't say anything negative about the Yankees -- just the announcing crew. I can handle Michael Kay OK, loved Scooter (yes he was ridiculous, but he was funny). As I said, I am a baseball fan, and can listen to almost any game (and even punish myself with Sterling when the Mets are playing late or off that night)...
And, they were 70-92, not 72-90.
Has anyone ever heard "Hawk" Harrelson do the White Sox games. Brutal.
Being from Chicago I can attest to the "awful" that is Chip Carey. He did the Cubs games for a few years. He always reminded me of some high school kiss ass. And what is with that phony voice? He sounds like he is sucking in air to make to lower his voice more announcerly.
Orioles - worst team but best announcers
Skip Caray was a notable exception, but in general children and grandchildren of announcers should go into some other field.
The nation's gain was our loss in Cincinnati when Thom "Idiot Son" Brenneman came home to the job Daddy had always promised him, Reds broadcasts. He'll read any old dung the Reds people put in front of him, no matter how ridiculous, and like Sterling, every play is a "GREAT PLAY!" so long as a Red is making it. No one on the other team has ever made a great play, though; if the most routine fly ball is caught, the Reds batter was "robbed". And he wouldn't know a fastball from a slider from a changeup if someone didn't tell him.
Worse yet (yes, even worse than when Thom calls Marty "Dad" on the air, thanks for reminding everyone how you got a career) is when he's teamed with Jeff Brantley. All Idiot Son does is talk about what Brantley eats and how much, ignoring the game itself a la Rizzuto. At least "Scooter" was charming and did know the game even if his mind had long since turned to mush. Thom is one of those guys you knew in HS and college with no ability except to talk about how he was going to inherit Dad's job or company.
Other announcers--As much as I loathe both Sterling and Waldman, the title has to go to "The Hawk".
I won't tell you how good Dave Niehaus and Rick Rizz are doing the Mariners' games; you might try to steal them! Sorry, a poor job by an announcer just grates on a person; you have to hang in there or miss the game.
Vin Scully. Nuff said.
Yes, Mr. Doug-Tucson. Vin Sculy. I also liked listening to Red Barber and New Martin (Red Sox)
I work two part-tie jobs andI'm not going to waste my free time by watching television (The Vast Wasteland). I prefer the radio.
I whole-heartedly concur with you, that a great voice on the radio enhances this game. While Mel Allen was very good, too, Red Barber was, "magical," to me. I'm probably a, "tad," older than you are. I was used to seeing Phil Rizzuto play shortstop, but he did allright in the radio booth, too.
Back when the World Series was a special sports event, the formula for the television for the televison announcers was simple. There were four people. Two play-by-play announcers (one from each team) and the two helpers ("color men). The home team's radio play-by-play announcers did the first and last three innings on the television side. The same for the visiting team's color helper. It was just the reverse on the radio. Then, the radio did the middle three innings.
You didn't need ego ridden special people. you had announcers that knew the game and traveled with the team. It was great listening to radio baseball. Yet, I would still prefer to be at the game, even a minor league game, than listen to the radio. My Dad and i used to go to Offerman Stadium (The Buffalo Bisons - International League) very often. I even got to see Satchel Paige pitch, in person, three times. I used to whine to go. I couldn't, "stand," the Bison's radio announcer. I listened to the radio announcers of the, "lords of Flatbush," the, "G'ints," and the Yankees.
"Those were the days, my friend ....."
Missy Susan
I go back to what you simply stated, Vin Scully. Well said.
Ok, here is a day in hell, how about Johnny Miller doing baseball! I would shoot my self. I miss Ernie Harwell so much.
I can't believe so many people are willing to jump on Caray. He makes mistakes, but so do all announcers. I listened to him back in Chicago when he did the Cubs and enjoyed his soothing voice and his knowledge of the game, which he came by honestly in a family rich in baseball history. I think it's a case of piling on after someone tries to make a case in print and it's fun to take swings at the guy and join in the fun. It makes no sense to me. I have listened to more announcers than probably anyone contributing to this carnage -- beginning with Arch MacDonald in Washington, D.C. in the 1940's, and believe me, I have heard a lot worse from guys who have been praised over the years. Lay off of Caray. He's trying to do his job and I believe he does it quite well.
THANK YOU PAUL!~! I personally think Steve Stone is one of the most interesting and informed announcers in baseball - hated it when he left the Cubs - and if Hawk calls him "Stone Pony" again I think he should turn around and belt him!! I won't even listen to them because of Harrelson.
I agree - I like Chip Caray.
Grew up in Detroit with Ernie Harwell: one of the greatest.
Now we have Dan Dickerson, who thinks he has to yell to keep us interested. When Verlander got the last out for his no-hitter, Dickerson said something like: "Justin Verlander has just thrown the 7th no-hitter in the 106-year history of the Detroit Tigers." I may not have quoted correctly, but you get the flavor.
Nationally, Jack Buck is near the bottom of the heap. It would be nice if he would pay attention to the game. He's usually too busy kissing the rear of the commissioner or whatever dignitary is visiting in the broadcast booth.
Ken Harrelson, the White Sox announcer, leaves much to be desired. There was a game in early September where the audio feed from the booth was not working, so we could just hear the regular ball park sounds for half an inning. That was great!
Hey lets not forget how bad Buck and McCarver are and how even worse Morgan and Miller. And as the the John Sterling comments, yes the guy does make some bad calls but he has to carry the broadcast and play by play alone, Susyn is the problem not Sterling, back in September when Kim Jones filled in for Susyn it was a totally different broadcast. Go back to when it was Sterling and Kay they each took turns with the play by play and fed off each other good and bad. Susyn is terrible but don't knock Sterling, now as far as Chip Carey yes nepotism rules (see Joe Buck) but the games should not be on TBS and the networks and MLB really own the fans alot more then they have. If that is the best MLB can do they need to wake up these games need to be broadcast by the best not these bums. The networks also have to wake up, you are selling advertising but when you drive the audio portion for most fans to the radio which I know a lot of Yankee fans who do you short change your advertisers. The schedualing has been terrible for Phillies fans ( and they should be treated better the Phillies are the reigning Champs) and the Boston-LA games having to be started on a different station due to the Yankee games running long is not fair and to the Yankee fans come on 6:00 starts,for those fans watching not everyone is home from work by then and for those going with traffic I had to leave at 3:00 to get there in time and that was only 60 miles I had to travel. Normally I leave for a game 2 hours before and have time to spare.
Dodgers: Best team AND best announcer...and we only get him for another year
I miss Tom Cheek - he's still the best baseball broadcaster I ever heard.....
His replacement, Alan Ashby, is pretty good, though.....
Jerry Howarth is coming up on 30 years in the Jays' radio booth.....pretty impressive in this day and age.....
Old Chinese proverb says it all:
富不过三代 (fu bu guo san dai)
Literally: Wealth does not pass three generations
Meaning: It's rare the wealth of a family can last for three generations (the 2nd may see the value of hard work, the 3rd, forget it)
Explanation: In business, the first generation works extremely hard, so that the second generation reaps the benefits. By the time the third generation arrives, the wealth is squandered.
In this case, I think the wealth is wealth of knowledge.
I hope he gets better and, also, that he stops using the word "fisting" in place of "He got handcuffed," or "He hit it off the handle."