Even if one wants to buy into the whole Yankees as Evil Empire image, what was that ridiculous opening to game one of the ALCS, with "Star Wars" clips being interspersed with players' images? Light sabers replacing bats??? Yuck!!

Oh, and of course, the Fox decision to have baseball start both games at 8 pm (edt) so they get primetime ratings. Stupid in the extreme.

~Adam

I found Tim McCarver particularly annoying last night by giving us his usual dribble. Incidentally, I don't think it was mentioned enough that Curt Schilling's ankle was bothering him. No one seemed to question why this same injury didn't bother him in the last couple of outings that he has had the past few weeks. In other words, give the Yankee hitters a little credit. But, like death, taxes, and the Yankees making the playoffs, we must be subjected to FOX's inane broadcasting every October. At least Al Leiter looked hot!

The Yankees-Red Sox hype, not just by Fox but by everyone, is completely out of control. It has been all year -- almost every time the teams met the games were nationally televised on ESPN or Fox. I'm almost hoping the series is over in 4 or 5 games.

Having both LCS games on at the same time is terrible, but it's probably here to stay.

Wonder what movie will be newly released on DVD that Fox will be promoting next year? Tie in was so obvious I didn't even think they'd mention Star Wars is now out on DVD, but of course, it was mentioned after the opening sequence.

In all fairness, they did point out that this was an injury (I guess it's now an injury as opposed to a condition?) that was sustained at the tail end of the ALDS game against the Angels, so it would not really have had much impact on his last few outings.

However, I have always found Tim McCarver to be completely unbearable - nobody is as impressed with him as he is with himself.

Joe Torre has been pretty critical of the media for inciting fans by continuously showing the fights between the two teams over and over. FOX needs to wake up and realize that most of the people that are watching the baseball playoffs have already seen the footage between Alex Rodriguez and Jason Varitek or Don Zimmer and Pedro Martinez just weeeeee bit too much.

Yeah, I was at the final Blue Jays game of the season and they did a big Star Wars thing on the JumboTron when announcing the Yankee lineup (they were the visiting team). And then later... a commercial for the Star Wars DVD.

Just a few things:

1} Does Thom Brenneman sort of resemble Jon Stewart?

2) I read in the paper yesterday that Steve Lyons was suspended by Fox late in September after making some sort of comment about Shawn Green's not playing in a game during Yom Kippur. Anyone know what Lyons said?

3) Does anyone think that the "Diamond Cam" adds anything to a broadcast? Anything at all?

4) Are they going to have someone sing God Bless America for every game in both the National and American LCS (and the World Series, for that matter)? I thought it was just a New York City thing.

5) I'm not sure which I'm more sick and tired of: Scooter or the NFL Sunday Ticket commercial featuring the guy dreaming that "Carmen Electra is hitting on me but she has the body of my high school gym teacher." I'd like them all in the People Who Should Be Shot thread, please.

6) Did I just hear the announcers say that Craig Biggio said that "I will never EVER root for the Dallas Cowboys"? Swooooooooon.

and...

7) how do you have the incredibly sexy and beautiful joe nichols sing the national anthem and then NOT show close-ups of him??????? :confused: frown

[ October 14, 2004, 09:48 PM: Message edited by: CatcherInNY ]

I don't get why Scooter sems to come on only late in a game---well after the kiddies should be asleep (though I am waiting for Scooter's explanation for why players' wear cups wink ) And, like Joe in Philly, the Diamond Cam makes me scratch my head and say "what???"

If Fox is going to have an animated charcter explain the game to us, why didn't they choose Lisa Simpson?

~Adam

Scooter is just repeating himself at this point. Did anyone learn anything from that?

Is it just me, but does Al Leiter look hotter in a suit than in his baseball uniform?

Bury the diamond cam!

[ October 15, 2004, 10:38 AM: Message edited by: batboy ]

I have learned, I watch the games on mute and put a cd in. The visuals from Fox are great, they have lots of cameras so you get to see different angles and shots. If you just watch the games without listening it is much better.

I agree, scooter and the diamond cam have got to go, the diamond cam especially is a waste. Now if they showed closeups of, errr, the legs and a bit higher, now that would be one thing, but....

I agree with all of the comments on the FOX team calling the games. I have been spoiled by some really great announcers that the Braves have had over the years. Unfortunately, Don Sutton is giong to the Dodgers and will be replaced by Chip Carrey, so there will be a father/son duo calling games for the Braves starting next year.
I do wish that this playoff season, Harold Reynolds, Tony Gwynn, and Peter Gammons would call all of the games I watched. In my opinion, Harold Reynolds is the best out there of all the new guys. Oh, and by the way, the next time I hear Joe Morgan call a game it will be too soon.

Tonight, as the Sox were down 19-8 in the 9th, they showed fans wearing their "rally caps" and McCarver said that was "the pinticle of optimism". No, that's not a typo...

The other announcer, tho I think he's kinda cute, could he talk with any more saliva in his mouth ?

Please swallow !

Which announcer? Each of the games (NLCS and ALCS) has 3 in the booth.

My newest question is how did Boston get away with having the Cowsills perform the anthem? The Cowsills? They're obviously not in the 18-49 Fox demographic! wink

The Cowsills really performed the anthem? Wow! My older sister loved them back in the day. But I bet 98% of the people watching the game had no idea who the Cowsills are/were. Do they have some affiliation with Massachussetts?

And what was with the Massachussetts State Police Officer who performed God Bless America. He looked like he was trying to squeeze out a dookie that just wouldn't come out. Dude take an Ex-Lax. I am not trying to bring politics into this, but I haven't seen such facial contortions since George W in the first debate.

In onfield interviews following the games, is there a reason Alex Rodriguez seems to be wearing blue lipgloss??

~Adam

Joe - Josh Lewin - the one that needs to swallow !

I remember the Cowsills well. I'd bet my life they're Red Sox fans as they're from Rhode Island. Newport, I think.

And speaking of obscurity, nice use by FOX (who god knows I don't have much nice to say about) of the Monroes' "What Do All the People Know?" on tonite's ACLS pre-game show.

I'll take Obscure '80s New Wave One Hit Wonders for $500, Alex!

I agree that the Braves have had some terrific announcers over the years but you and I apparently have a different opinion on Don Sutton, Wade....he has always struck me as far too arrogant and comes across as a "know it all" on the air but maybe his overly long playing career has influenced my objectivity a bit....I actually think his son, Darren Sutton, who is one of the Brewers broadcasters, does a better job than his father despite his more limited experience.

Please tell me that Don Sutton is not going to JOIN Vin Scully in the booth....maybe the aging Scully has chosen to broadcast fewer games and Sutton will fill in when he is gone but the Dodger legend is one of the few play-by-play announcers who is BETTER when he is alone in the booth -- I guess after 50+ years in the business he's finally learned how to call a game wink ....Vin may be in his mid-70's but he still sounds as sharp as ever and is almost worth the price of buying MLB's Extra Innings TV package all by himself.

As for Fox's postseason coverage (after all, that is the topic of this thread, right) I agree with all the anti-McCarver comments but have been pleasantly surprised by Al Leiter's insightful analysis this postseason....there appears to be little doubt what his post-playing career will be when he decides to hang up the spikes....Josh Lewin has always impressed me going back to his days covering the Orioles (before Peter Angelos foolishly let him go, as he did to Jon Miller for not being enough of a "homer" and a "shill" for the O's ) and Josh has clearly honed his broadcasting skills since moving on to Detroit and now Texas....Lewin's youthful enthusiasm and exuberance in calling a game has always come across to me as genuine without being too one-sided for the club that is paying his salary (referring to his regular season Ranger broadcasts, of course).

~Joe

[ October 17, 2004, 06:53 PM: Message edited by: gamecock ]

I thought there was talk of him running for Congress as a Republican?

It will be interesting to see... should the Yankees (with McCarver being a former Yankee broadcaster) and Cardinals (with Buck being a current Cardinal broadcaster) advance to the World Series how the telecasts bear out. Who will be the third man in the booth? Leiter? Lyons?

You now what's worse than McCarver? That Jeanie Zelasco that does the pregame show.

My guess is it'll be Leiter in the booth since he's been working with the number one team of Buck and McCarver (and I don't mean "number one" as a compliment). Lyons will be working the stands/locker room/etc.

From what I understand, Sutton will be used as Ross Porter has been used over during his many years with the remarkable Vin Scully. It won't become a two-man booth (you're right about Vin being better working alone) but Don Sutton will do middle innings and an occasional complete game.
I cannot imagine listening to the Dodgers without Vin Scully; the Lakers' just aren't the same without Chick Hearn.

~Adam

I don't know about that, but I do know that I find the "Right Now" box (who's batting; who's pitching; who's on base; who's taking a leak) to be useless AND annoying.

Actually I find the 'Right Now' graphic to be rather helpful. For those of us over 40 eek! it's sometimes hard to remember which player is on each base, particularly during a long inning, or when pinch-runners are inserted, or when players don't have their names on their shirts (for which both the Yankees and Red Sox are notorious).

The "Right Now" box is also good if a viewer is only half paying attention to the game, as when said viewer has it on at work and is able to glance at the screen occasionally. Just speaking hypothetically, of course.

My favorite visual addition of the past few years has been the pitch velocity. I like knowing how hard the pitcher is throwing--it came it very handy during Schilling's outing this series.

~Adam

Stop showing Schilling's bloody sock!!!

~Adam

I did not watch Fox coverage last night, but instead was half listening on WCBS in the car. Why was Schilling's sock bloody? And wouldn't he have to be taken out of the game for medical treatment like in basketball? :confused:

(Edited to add -- Adam if you mean "bloody" in the British sense, please feel free to slap me. )

[ October 20, 2004, 09:13 AM: Message edited by: BPT336 ]

BPT, no it was a visible red stain on his white sock. Gutsy performance to say the least.

Memo to Fox: you're going to turn me in to an ADD person before the World Series is over, I swear. Cut to manager-cut to fan holding up a witless, stupid sign-cut to player-cut to owner-cut to fan clutching their friend-back to manager-Pore Cam shot of pitcher, so close that I can tell the pitcher has a slight scar on his upper lip-another fan shot and then finally, blissful relief as the ball is pitched and Fox can't cut away to yet another shot of the manager.

Not to mention all the times they've come back to the game in the middle of the first pitch of an inning because they just HAD to cram one more f**king promo for Richard Branson's new reality show in. I wonder if the geniuses in the marketing department realize that while the promos are fine for casual viewers who may watch an inning or two, that for the people who watch every pitch, they're ANTI-ads, making me determined not to watch their shows?

Luckily, my "sound off" policy doesn't subject me to that smarmy asshat Joe Buck and the hideous Tim McCarver.

Schilling had had a shot of a painkiller before the game. Apparently it bled some after he put his socks on. Good.

Fox is just awful. If I were to ever meet Tim McCarver I think I'd rip his arm off and beat him with the bloody stump.

God, I sound so bitter. I feel like I'm channeling Jim Allen.

Actually, he had had minor surgery the day before, in an effort to stabilize the tendon:

[ October 20, 2004, 12:56 PM: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by redsoxbreath:
[QB] Actually, he had had minor surgery the day before [QUOTE]

Even better.


Oh, yeah,

From Aaron Gleeman's Game 7 diary:

"BOTTOM SIXTH

Captain Dreamboat begins the inning with a weak grounder to shortstop. Jeter is now 6-for-29 (.207) in this series, giving him a career batting average of .268 in ALCS play. Someone might want to pass that note along to Buck and McCarver if they ever release their lips from Jeter's butt and come up for air."

God, I sound so bitter. I feel like I'm channeling Jim Allen.

Nope, my anger is righteous and pure. I'm like the Samuel L. Jackson character in Pulp Fiction. Though, to be fair, I don't have a wallet that says Bad Motherf**ker on it.

Ah, the sun rising in the morning, setting in the evening, Bill W. moaning about Derek Jeter: these are the constants in life.

Aspect I find most interesting/weird: prior to performing the surgery on Schilling, they practiced on a cadaver!

~Adam

In the fourth inning of the Cards/Astros game seven, did I really hear Steve Lyons say that Roger Clemens has shooken off signs from Brad Ausmus?? SHOOKEN???

~Adam

Very funny blurb in the new Entertainment Weekly, in their “Is It Just Us?” feature:

Is it just us, or does FOX Sports’ baseball coverage suck? … FOX has created a character even more annoying than Tim “Master of the Obvious” McCarver: Scooter is the devil child of the Pets.com sock puppet and Microsoft’s talking paper clip. Hey FOX and MLB: Want a younger audience? Try scheduling games likely to end before bedtime.

Please let this series end in a sweep, so I don't have to listen to McCarver anymore. I just cannot fathom why they bring this guy back, year after year.

Why did they keep showing fans in bars in New York City ??

OSUFan, I was wondering that too.

As Joe mentioned on the WS thread, Fox may have hit an all time low when they had Chris Myers interview the actor who plays Curtis in all those annoying Buttwiper ads, including the one with Cereal Box Forehead Joe Buck, but having the actor do it in character. f**king awful, that was.

I believe the Boston mayor prohibited TV stations from broadcasting live shots from inside bars and restaurants during games after the recent tragic incident which resulted in the death of Victoria Snelgrove.

Oh my goodness, "Scooter".

f**k Scooter!

I hope "he" doesn't return next year! I don't know how I would've reacted to him if I was his targeted audience, kids, but I think I would've said the same shit, f**k Scooter!

So, how many more years is the FOX contract? Can CBS reclaim the postseason soon?

Was it just my local Comcast, or did Fox have trouble with the audio during the final inning? All I could think was, "Wow, what Red-Sox luck would it be for their fans to not see the final three outs live on TV."

The mute button was created for use when Tim McCarver speaks. Now we need a similar device to block the "Tom Hanks in 'Polar Express' Game Summary." I'm willing to accept that Fox will have the stars--and I'm using that word loosely--of its series show up for games, but sponsers for a game summary or highlights is one step too far.

I wonder if ESPN is going to try to outbid the other networks the next time the Series tv contract comes up?

~Adam

I think that FOX has it for the next 50 years or so. (Seriously, though, I believe their contract runs through 2007. Someone can confirm this for me, however.)

It doesn't matter who gets it if FOX loses MLB, because McCarver will go with whomever picks up MLB. Remember, McCarver was with CBS, ABC, et. al. before coming to FOX. Why these networks believe they have to hire this moronic windbag is beyond me.

He should be included in that People who should be Shot thread just for being himself!

McCarver *is* gaseous and repeats himself... too bad, he was much better 20 years ago.

That said, because he still has some insight I'll take him over any of ESPN's foolish analysts -- including Joe "You Have to Manufacture Runs in the Postseason" Morgan. Theory disproven (most recently) by the Red Sox, Joe.