Scully could get a standing ovation describing the fart after a burrito meal. "A pleasant good evening to you, from the Taco Bell concession stand at Dodger Stadium. Top of the hour...one in, one out...starting underwear pulled for a backup....peeeee yeeeew, I'm outta here! Jerry Doggett will call the rest of the action, after a word from Farmer John."
Baseball players don't get a day off unless it's due to injury, illness, family matters or a suspension. What a bunch of bilge. It's a privilege to be at the stadium on game day. It's not a right. Jobs are few and far between in sports play-by-play.
Please remember, that like Mike Krukow has started doing this year because of health issues, Vin Scully didn't travel to broadcast away games in his last 5-6 years. Vin would occasionally go to do games in San Diego. In his final year-last year-he did come up to SF in September. Thus, Vin was Often on assignment. As is Mike Krukow often now. Be happy with announcers you love; forgive them if, because of age or muscular challenges, they can no longer travel on the road.
@ 3:42 did you hear the last time d.greenwald filled in [about 2 seasons ago if memory serves] - he was absolutely HORRIBLE, couldn't shut up and let the game breathe, insisted on saying __ball and __ strike after every single dang pitch, didn't actually describe the action on the field...no wonder he has been in Fresno so long. I don't know if he was nervous or what but I had to turn him off and switch to an A's game.
Maybe the time off is in lieu of raises? A lot of these announcers are doing radio and TV. I also think teams are trying to guard against getting leveraged by an announcer seen as being too indispensable. There is a reason Vin Scully was among the last of his kind.
It really isn't that unusual for announcers to take time away during the season. A series here, a series there even before they hit 60.
I've heard that Scully lives in Thousand Oaks, which is a long commute to downtown LA. And quite an inconvenience in that traffic down there! He recently stated that he would leave at 2 PM for the trip to the ballpark (for a night game). That makes for a long day for a young person, let alone a regular shift for an elderly gentleman (who has had health issues).
I suspect that he had a driver, but his consistent efforts still took a lot of time and energy. A great amount of tedium too, given he did it for so many decades.
I haven't heard Javier Lopez yet (he was supposed to fill in for Krukow on the road this year along with Jeremy Afelt) but I have heard Jeremy Afelt - and he may know baseball but he does not have the voice for radio.
Vin Scully read the menu out loud at my restaurant and got a standing ovation. "Oh My God, a Burrito!!"
ReplyDeleteScully could get a standing ovation describing the fart after a burrito meal. "A pleasant good evening to you, from the Taco Bell concession stand at Dodger Stadium. Top of the hour...one in, one out...starting underwear pulled for a backup....peeeee yeeeew, I'm outta here! Jerry Doggett will call the rest of the action, after a word from Farmer John."
Deletenow you don't even know who's there anymore .let doug greenwald do some home games.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes Scully's longevity even more remarkable was that he worked the last several years mostly without a partner.
ReplyDeleteBaseball players don't get a day off unless it's due to injury, illness, family matters or a suspension. What a bunch of bilge. It's a privilege to be at the stadium on game day. It's not a right. Jobs are few and far between in sports play-by-play.
ReplyDeletePlease remember, that like Mike Krukow has started doing this year because of health issues, Vin Scully didn't travel to broadcast away games in his last 5-6 years. Vin would occasionally go to do games in San Diego. In his final year-last year-he did come up to SF in September. Thus, Vin was Often on assignment. As is Mike Krukow often now. Be happy with announcers you love; forgive them if, because of age or muscular challenges, they can no longer travel on the road.
ReplyDelete@ 3:42 did you hear the last time d.greenwald filled in [about 2 seasons ago if memory serves] - he was absolutely HORRIBLE, couldn't shut up and let the game breathe, insisted on saying __ball and __ strike after every single dang pitch, didn't actually describe the action on the field...no wonder he has been in Fresno so long. I don't know if he was nervous or what but I had to turn him off and switch to an A's game.
ReplyDeleteHave to agree. Doug is a stat reader. Anyone can do this. His lack of being able to tell a story (like Hank)
Deletewill keep him in the minor leagues.
Maybe the time off is in lieu of raises? A lot of these announcers are doing radio and TV. I also think teams are trying to guard against getting leveraged by an announcer seen as being too indispensable. There is a reason Vin Scully was among the last of his kind.
ReplyDeleteIt really isn't that unusual for announcers to take time away during the season. A series here, a series there even before they hit 60.
I've heard that Scully lives in Thousand Oaks, which is a long commute to downtown LA. And quite an inconvenience in that traffic down there! He recently stated that he would leave at 2 PM for the trip to the ballpark (for a night game). That makes for a long day for a young person, let alone a regular shift for an elderly gentleman (who has had health issues).
ReplyDeleteI suspect that he had a driver, but his consistent efforts still took a lot of time and energy. A great amount of tedium too, given he did it for so many decades.
I haven't heard Javier Lopez yet (he was supposed to fill in for Krukow on the road this year along with Jeremy Afelt) but I have heard Jeremy Afelt - and he may know baseball but he does not have the voice for radio.
ReplyDeleteI agree with 10:48 that Affelt does not have a good voice for radio/TV. Maybe OK for pregame which I do not watch or listen.
ReplyDeleteAffeldt sounds like Garth from Wayne's World.
ReplyDeleteParty on, Affeldt!
R_P