Costas and Kaat broadcast

[Examiner]

I ususally watch the Sox online with MLBTV, but the game is on MLBN tonight, so I'm watching on tv. I never stop being impressed by Jim Kaat, I could listen to him do color all night. Always informative, always classy and always puts technical baseball stuff on the bottom shelf where a little leaguer could understand it. Just seems like an all around nice guy who could be your grandfather. Costas? Is an unceasing tide of annoyance and intellectual chowder that makes it seem as though he thinks he's more sophisticated than the average viewer, while adding very little actual substance to the broadcast. Furthermore, I'm confident his face is literally being held together by pancake makeup. Tonight he quoted T.S. Elliot, and with the exception of 1-2 decent jokes, we had three + hours of high brow, black tie commentary that came across more as a contest between the NY Philharmonic and the Boston Pops.

[Station 13]

I like Kaat. Too bad I don't get MLBN anymore. There isn't an option to pick MLBN feed on MLBTV.

[Elktonnick]

I ususally watch the Sox online with MLBTV, but the game is on MLBN tonight, so I'm watching on tv. I never stop being impressed by Jim Kaat, I could listen to him do color all night. Always informative, always classy and always puts technical baseball stuff on the bottom shelf where a little leaguer could understand it. Just seems like an all around nice guy who could be your grandfather. Costas? Is an unceasing tide of annoyance and intellectual chowder that makes it seem as though he thinks he's more sophisticated than the average viewer, while adding very little actual substance to the broadcast. Furthermore, I'm confident his face is literally being held together by pancake makeup. Tonight he quoted T.S. Elliot, and with the exception of 1-2 decent jokes, we had three + hours of high brow, black tie commentary that came across more as a contest between the NY Philharmonic and the Boston Pops.

 

Excellent review. Love Kaat tolerate Costas. Enjoyed Kaat's insight top notch.

[Thunder]

I dint understand how you guys hate announcers so much. It's like you're finding stuff to complain about. The only announcers I don't like are ones who aren't unique. Joe Buck? Love him. Gary Thorne? Ain't a Thorne in my side. Dan Shulman? Has a beautiful voice. Doc Emrick? Only reason I watch hockey. Dick Vitale? Makes basketball fun. Michael Kay? Informative and doesn't overdo it.

 

Why does everyone get so upset when you get a different group of announcers than normal?

[mvp 78]

The only announcers I don't like are ones who aren't unique. Joe Buck? Love him.

 

Joe Buck isn't unique. He's a slice of buttered Wonder Bread.

 

The only true baseball announcer left is Vin Scully. No one else comes close.

[devildavid]

I dint understand how you guys hate announcers so much. It's like you're finding stuff to complain about. The only announcers I don't like are ones who aren't unique. Joe Buck? Love him. Gary Thorne? Ain't a Thorne in my side. Dan Shulman? Has a beautiful voice. Doc Emrick? Only reason I watch hockey. Dick Vitale? Makes basketball fun. Michael Kay? Informative and doesn't overdo it.

 

Why does everyone get so upset when you get a different group of announcers than normal?

 

In general I agree with you, However, even I have been annoyed in the past by the likes of Tim McCarver and Joe Morgan. It's the ones who can't stop saying a whole lot of nothing that bother me. Otherwise, I kind of zone them out and do my own analysis of the game, just as I do when I'm at Fenway.

[sk7326]

Costas is very annoying - a stupid person's idea of what a smart person sounds like. He was pretty good in the 80s before he became very very impressed with the sound of his voice.

 

The broadcasts with Kaat have sounded like Waldorf and Stadler without the wit.

 

The overall broadcast involves a lot of protection of old guard values. ranting against analytics and defensive shifts. Definitely not the sort of thing which helps the pursuit of younger viewers.

[User Name]

I dint understand how you guys hate announcers so much. It's like you're finding stuff to complain about. The only announcers I don't like are ones who aren't unique. Joe Buck? Love him. Gary Thorne? Ain't a Thorne in my side. Dan Shulman? Has a beautiful voice. Doc Emrick? Only reason I watch hockey. Dick Vitale? Makes basketball fun. Michael Kay? Informative and doesn't overdo it.

 

Why does everyone get so upset when you get a different group of announcers than normal?

 

So you're complaining about other poeple's complaints? COMPLAINTCEPTION!!

 

Listen to a whole broadcast with Hawk Harrelson (White Sox), and if you don't complain afterwards, opinion substantiated. Otherwise, remember that people are allowed to say what they please as long as it's not offensive to other members (or annoying nicknames/insults to players etc) in this very public forum. Honest criticism of public figures (which announcers very much are) is fair game.

[a700hitter]

Costas is very annoying - a stupid person's idea of what a smart person sounds like. He was pretty good in the 80s before he became very very impressed with the sound of his voice.

 

The broadcasts with Kaat have sounded like Waldorf and Stadler without the wit.

 

The overall broadcast involves a lot of protection of old guard values. ranting against analytics and defensive shifts. Definitely not the sort of thing which helps the pursuit of younger viewers.

I agree 100% with your comments about Costas. He is so impressed with himself that he forgot that people are watching the event and not listening to him.

 

The Yankees had a big teary goodbye for Kaat a few years ago. I thought he was retiring.

[a700hitter]

I generally do not enjoy National Broadcasts, because I know more about the Red Sox than they do. I even find this to be true when teams other than the Red Sox are playing. In general, they need to do more homework.

[a700hitter]

The Mets radio announcers are excellent -- a very informative and entertaining listen. The Yankee radio broadcast is atrocious.

[Examiner]

The idea that Costas is a stupid person's idea of what a smart person sounds like is absolutely dead on, you could not be any more on target, it's genius, I love it! I always liked John Miller, and didn't have the problem with Joe Morgan that a lot of people have. McCarver has vast knowledge, but he's also part Costas in that he wants to make sure you know he knows it and has been everywhere and seen everything. He's also seemed slanted against the Sox at times, and so does Joe Buck, especially when it involved the Cardinals. I agree about Vin Scully, but I'd add a name that none of you have. I grew up listening to Marty Brenaman in Cincy--one of the all time best announcers ever. He's not in the HOF for no reason. When I first started listening to Sox games, I was shocked at how easy they were on the team. I didn't realize not everyone is as hard line as he is when the team screws something up. Thom I don't care for as much, I tolerate him, but I love Marty. Edited May 1, 2016 by Examiner

[a700hitter]

The idea that Costas is a stupid person's idea of what a smart person sounds like is absolutely dead on, you could not be any more on target, it's genius, I love it! I always liked John Miller, and didn't have the problem with Joe Morgan that a lot of people have. McCarver has vast knowledge, but he's also part Costas in that he wants to make sure you know he knows it and has been everywhere and seen everything. He's also seemed slanted against the Sox at times, and so does Joe Buck, especially when it involved the Cardinals. I agree about Vin Scully, but I'd add a name that none of you have. I grew up listening to Marty Brennaman in Cincy--one of the all time best announcers ever. He's not in the HOF for no reason. When I first started listening to Sox games, I was shocked at how easy they were on the team. I didn't realize not everyone is as hard line as he is when the team screws something up. Thom I don't care for as much, I tolerate him, but I love Marty.

When Joe Morgan started off as an announcer, he had excellent insights into the game. He would often be able to analyze the game spot on several innings in advance. He had a great sense of the game, but those skills eroded rapidly at some point and his broadcasts were very subpar.

[redsoxdirtdog]

Yes. Costas has become very impressed with himself. But... I tune most of them out.

 

I still find Remy to have very good insight into the game. I liked Orcillo, but I know it got to be a bit much watching the two of them do a song & dance through the last two years of losing.

 

Still, being in Oregon, it felt like home. So I was ok with it.

[mvp 78]

Listen to a whole broadcast with Hawk Harrelson.

 

I belive this would violate the Geneva Convention.

[Thunder]

So you're complaining about other poeple's complaints? COMPLAINTCEPTION!!

 

Listen to a whole broadcast with Hawk Harrelson (White Sox), and if you don't complain afterwards, opinion substantiated. Otherwise, remember that people are allowed to say what they please as long as it's not offensive to other members (or annoying nicknames/insults to players etc) in this very public forum. Honest criticism of public figures (which announcers very much are) is fair game.

 

There are currently 6 announcers whose voices and calls I scramble to hear daily via highlights on mlb.com. They are Thorne, Scully, Kay, the Kuipers (OAK and SF), and Hawk. I don't think I would hate Hawk.

[User Name]

May I suggest a visit to the nearest psychiatric ward?

[Kimmi]

There are currently 6 announcers whose voices and calls I scramble to hear daily via highlights on mlb.com. They are Thorne, Scully, Kay, the Kuipers (OAK and SF), and Hawk. I don't think I would hate Hawk.

 

Oh geez Thunder. Well, you will get your chance to hear Hawk in the coming series.

 

I recently found out that I get MLB.TV free with my Extra Innings package. Why does this excite me? Because unlike with Extra Innings, I get to choose which feed I listen to. Not having to listen to Hawk is a dream come true.

[Jasonbay44]

I dint understand how you guys hate announcers so much. It's like you're finding stuff to complain about. The only announcers I don't like are ones who aren't unique. Joe Buck? Love him. Gary Thorne? Ain't a Thorne in my side. Dan Shulman? Has a beautiful voice. Doc Emrick? Only reason I watch hockey. Dick Vitale? Makes basketball fun. Michael Kay? Informative and doesn't overdo it.

 

Why does everyone get so upset when you get a different group of announcers than normal?

I don't care a bout a lot of announcers, but there is two broadcast teams I hate: Orioles and Yankees. Michael Kay is annoying, and the Orioles guys are biased idiots, besides that I really don't care. I like the Blue Jays announcers, I really enjoyed the Braves guy during that series and Astros guys were good as well.

 

I've also been watching a lot of west coast games when I get off work and Brandon Webb does a solid job doing D-Backs games, and of course Vin Scully is amazing.

[Youk Of The Nation]

You can put it onnnn the boooaaaard, UH-YES! You scramble to listen to that every night? I think that's one of the first signs of a future serial killer.

[Jasonbay44]

I honestly completely forgot about the White Sox, they are by far the worst of any team, in any sport. I literally would rather sit in complete silence then listen to that s***.

[Thunder]

Oh geez Thunder. Well, you will get your chance to hear Hawk in the coming series.

 

I recently found out that I get MLB.TV free with my Extra Innings package. Why does this excite me? Because unlike with Extra Innings, I get to choose which feed I listen to. Not having to listen to Hawk is a dream come true.

 

Um, no I won't, because I'll be too busy studying for the Calc exam on Thursday.

When I do get some free time, I'll turn on the radio broadcast.

[Examiner]

There aren't very many announcers on par with Hawk when it comes to pure annoying homerism and worn out cliche. The Rays guy is neck and neck with him, and some of the whiny Cardinals announcers have been in the running. Mike Shannon sounds like he is perpetually drunk. He's the Cards radio guy who was making fun of the Sox when Koji was throwing over to first when Wong was there in game 4. He kept saying it was a two run game and I don't know why they're throwing over there, and with a laugh. Wong got picked off, and his partner said "that's why they were throwing over there". Michael Kay is almost unbearable, and for a while Seattle had a tv guy that stomped on my last nerve. I could not be happier than I was when MLBTV started letting me choose feeds.

[Jasonbay44]

I wish Extra Innings would let me choose feeds, I know it comes with MLB.TV, but its more convenient to just watch on regular TV. Especially if I want to watch multiple things, such as tonight I am going to be keeping track off Raptors/Pacers game 7 along with the Sox game.

[sk7326]

I'm 38 years old and spent most of my childhood without NESN on basic tier. For me, the best of the Red Sox broadcasts were McDonough and Remy - because Sean pushed Remy much harder than any of this partners have - and it showed in the results. Droll, informative, cynical - probably the best broadcast of any tier outside of Scully and some of the better Skip Caray years. Living in DC, Jim Palmer is generally good - but Gary Thorne is insufferable (which is deeply ironic given his background).

[CliffKlowers]

I have the Extra Innings package and get two feeds for each game every day. The channels are from 720 - 747. Each team can be seen on their Regional Sports Network ( NESN is on Ch. 628) however that game will also have two feeds within the 720-750 spectrum.

[CliffKlowers]

Not mentioned above is the fact that Aaron Boone brings back a terrible memory of hitting that ALCS winning HR off of Tim Wakefield in the 2003 post season.