I'M HERE, for you, as always. What would you do without me? (Insert joke)
TWO ULTIMATE QUESTION MARKS:
*Where's Dennis O'Donnell? He's been MIA for well over a month and will be MISSING tonight's (Sunday) 49ers-Chargers pre-season game; in fact, all three I'm told (by a source) --O'Donnell has taken a LOA from both KPIX (sports anchorship) and is dealing with a medical issue, apparently. No one seems to know or isn't willing to talk, Dennis himself. KPIX isn't saying anything at all and not privately or publicaly. Even at PIX, his own friends are wondering what's going on (not gossip) just plain worried and pondering. To PIX's defense, they have hipaa laws to honor but they have handled this matter very poorly. I'm being diplomatic.
*Why did the Giants radio team; Miller (Jon), Flemming (Dave), Krukow (Mike) do the Bay Bridge series broadcasts from Oracle Park (SF) and not from the Oakland Coliseum? There's NO Alameda County restrictions regarding Covid although the Coliseum requires masks, but OK, that wouldn't prevent Miller/Flemming from crossng the bridge. And agin, there is NO explaination from anyone and everyone, including state radio, (KNBR) --already, the conspiracies are high and mighty: Larry Baer wanted to SNUB Oakland; the Giants broadcasters were lazy and decided not to travel (which is sort of creul) if true.
Either way, it's all fairly bizarre. You have the BEST team in MLB and another playoff team (A's) literally 10 miles away and you do NOT send your broadcasters to cover game? Worse, you don't explain and you figure your amen corner won't give a crap. I don't buy that. I'd love for some transparency here but that's just me.
The Giants tv/radio have not traveled all season, nor have the A's..and nobody seems to have an explantion..the broadcasts really are subpar when they are calling the game of tv monitors hundreds of miles away..its more of a national thing still, not so much local..
ReplyDeleteSimple explanation: MLB mandate. It's league-wide. ESPN announcers have been working from their HQ in Connecticut or from home, too. The NHL had similar restrictions last year. It saves the broadcasters a fair amount of money, so it may continue past COVID.
DeleteI think this is a league-wide thing. No, this is not some anti-A's conspiracy.
ReplyDeleteBTW, Kruk wasn't doing the games this weekend, Kuiper was.
Rich, it isn't just the pbp talent. But all the support people. Majority indoors. Heck the plumbing doesn't work and the place has rats. You think the fear of Covid is gone? Travel (in vehicle) and working indoors, yes there is a window there that the pbp folks can open during the game but after and before? Too much risk when the game can be called remotely, with few, if any hiccups.
ReplyDeleteLong distance travel is one thing. But a trip across the Bay is another issue. It was ridiculous to be sitting in SFO during those exciting games. And it meant we had to listen to Dallas Braden as well. He is no Xavier Lopez!
ReplyDeleteCovid is still a problem and teams are also just saving money by not traveling their broadcasters. Most teams are only traveling their radio announcers. All TV games are being telecast from the home ballpark or studio for all road games
ReplyDeleteFleming said on the radio last week that because the radio and tv guys go back and forth during the game, the radio crew stayed in SF.
ReplyDeleteHe said MLB dictates TV travel and they still haven't given it the greenlight which he said was disappointing.
PBP staff is elderly. Conditions to go to and fro when the job can be done remotely are too chancy for those at high risk.
ReplyDelete