Yay! Balls!
“He’s been good all year.”
And with those words from Detroit Tigers color commentator Rod Allen, I think it is safe to say that the 2009 baseball season is well underway. Allen was speaking about Tigers pitcher Nate Robertson…who was making his third appearance on the season.
If you’re unaware of the work of Rod Allen, it is, frankly, amazing. The amount of information he can glean from batting practice is unmatched. Or, Rod is the only one who tells you about three times per game that he talks to actual ballplayers. Yeah, Rod, we know, it’s part of your job if you’re so inclined.
I never really appreciate the ESPN baseball announcers. But this week, with DirecTV giving a free preview of the MLB Extra Innings package, you find out way too quickly that there is tons of crappy local announcing going on. The Dodgers are an exception. So are the Washington Nationals and the presence of Rob Dibble.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint, but don’t tell that to your hometown baseball announcers. Can’t have that standing in the way of Rod Allen saying how Brandon Inge should be handed a gold glove catching a pop fly into left field in game number five of the year.
Radio is always worse. It’s like they know nobody is listening.
I actually don’t mind the radio broadcasts, but I think I’m used to it because the last couple of years I bought the MLB radio package to listen to games online. Dunno, because they are on radio maybe they feel like they need to be storytellers more, so bring their A game to that format…
You are right but they are crazy homers. Watching the game on TV with the sound off and the radio on is a pleasure.