Baer Fumes Over Excess 'On -Assignment' Giants' Broadcasters; Closed-Door Meeting; Cincy Event Was Boiling Point; 415 Media Exclu

Larry Baer

THERE IS NO JOY IN GIANTSVILLE ON THE FIELD; Now, according to a source I spoke to, there is no joy either when it comes to the team's broadcast set-up and the big boss has had enough of the shenanigans …

415 Media has learned Giants' President and CEO, Larry Baer, recently had a closed-door meeting with team officials over the many, lengthy, broadcasters non-Giants activity, commonly referred to as "on-assignment" duty.

The meeting last week saw Baer fuming and angry to the point of him (Baer) having to call off the sit-down and retreat back to a conference room to personally vent. The meeting consisted of at least two, high-up, team employees who were not named but heard the brunt of Baer's frustration.

Keep in mind, it was Baer himself that signed off to the schedule before the season knowing the arrangement but apparently was still angry over the current trend of repeated off time for the bulk of the season, especially late in the '18 campaign.

Baer's temper hit the boiling point in mid August; immediately after the LA Dodgers' series, the Giants took to the road in Cincinnati where three of the regular broadcasters; Jon Miller, Dave Flemming, and Mike Krukow were absent both on TV and radio. Adding insult, Miller not only missed the entire Reds series but the first game in NY too (against the Mets) --Furthermore, Miller was already in NY the prior Thursday and had dinner that night (with his wife) with a friend, Herb Cohen.

Left to Right: Dave Flemming, Jon Miller, Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper

Flemming took a sabbatical to broadcast Little League World Series for ESPN; Krukow doesn't cover any games east of Colorado (due to an ongoing medical issue) but the broadcasts on TV still looked and sounded rather empty. At least Baer seemed to think so.

The Cincy broadcasts were left to Kuiper, ex-Miami Marlins broadcaster, Rich Waltz, and Javier Lopez.  Not helping matters, the Giants were swept by the last-place Reds and the entire series amounted to a perfect metaphor for the 2018 season. Whatever the case, Baer was unhappy.

And still is today.

All current broadcasters are under contract for the 2019 season.

Baer's anger might be muted when the season comes to an end but don't be shocked if someone off the current roster were to retire or take a permanent break.

More Hollyfield. Less Anthony. Recipe for Success at KGO-TV; Leslie Griffith Didn't Take Dennis Richmond's BS. A Short Story; Why Does Giants' Broadcaster Duane Kuiper Refuse to wear a Suit? I'm Just Asking; Saturday 415 Media Coffee

Amy Hollyfield

SATURDAY 415 MEDIA COFFEE

Laura Anthony

I'M NOT ONE TO BE PC HERE; I like Amy Hollyfield quite a bit on KGO-TV; I just wish I saw a lot more of her because she's a fine GSA Reporter and usually makes even the most boring stories quite interesting and provocative; speaking of boring, there's fellow Circle7 reporter, Laura Anthony, who is the polar opposite of Hollyfield; dull and dreary. My goodness watching Anthony stain the screen happens every time I see her. Anthony doesn't have any magic and her voice and look is vanilla, I know that sounds harsh but I'm giving you the truth. It's like watching paint dry. Does Anthony ever smile? No, not since the birth of Jimmy Carter, I don't care if she was covering the county fair. She looks eternally gloomy like someone fed her melba toast and tofu for lunch with a cold glass of water. Anthony needs something; a good jolt. Maybe a trip to the ocean.

Hollyfield, on the other hand, seems rather frenzied by comparison.

She oozes confidence and happiness. This may sound strange but if she were covering a murder, as bad as that would be, I could smile because at least there's some passion in the story and Amy looks like she would be having a good time. That's no knock on Hollyfield, my point is she is one happy camper.

Nurse Ratchet as portrayed by Louise Fletcher

Anthony is instant downer. A veritable Nurse Ratchet. What a turnoff. Am I being tough? Maybe but it's the truth.

*OK, so now that I've ruined your breakfast, tell me why I must suffer that schmuck on the Petersen Dean roofing ads? Terminal indigestion would be more favorable then watching this solar panel schmendrick. Pass the Maalox.

Dennis Richmond and Leslie Griffith

*Sure, Leslie Griffith was slightly disturbing and troubled but she was damn good on the air. She was smart as a whip and sort of acted like she was talking directly to you as opposed to merely reading copy off the teleprompter. Yeah, she had a brain and didn't take any shit which probably cost her a job at KTVU but I really like her. A throwback to an era when some anchors actually knew what the hell they were talking about; Griffith projected power and supreme confidence. Too bad the boys at 2 couldn't handle her.

Like, say, Dennis Richmond, who didn't like Leslie because she dare speak her mind. I'm not talking on the air, mind you, I'm talking about off the air persona. Griffith often battled with Dennis because Dennis thought he was king. It could be two battling egos but it was more than that. Leslie often felt (with good reason) that Richmond was a power jerk and liked to intimidate. She wasn't the only one; she was the only one who refused to put up with Richmond's BS. Something you'll never read in the local press except here.

Duane Kuiper

*Another thing that really irritates me is Duane Kuiper's lack of fashion technique. While the other guys regularly wear suits (except Dave Flemming) Kuiper has to put on the windbreaker --why is this a constant? Kuiper should respect the broadcast and wear professional-looking clothes and not dress like he just left the ski slopes at Tahoe. Is that too much to ask for? I think not. Yeah, I'm a little critical, sue me.

When you're broadcasting a major league baseball game you should always wear a suit and tie. Remember, you're not just some shlunk with a microphone you're representing the Giants and professional baseball; you should look like you belong.

I like Kuiper for the most part unless he sounds like he's bored and eating peanuts on the air but he can at least wear a suit and tie and try to win me over. Not an especially difficult chore and I welcome a transformation.

Like today, perhaps? I'm not holding my breath.

Rating the current SF Giants Broadcasters

It's real easy now, after a couple of World Series victories, to give this current crop of SF Giants' broadcasters an A+ on all counts.

Wrong.

Not even close, in fact.

Let's start by stating that the very BEST Giants play-by-play broadcaster was Lon Simmons. Period. End of story.

Hank Greenwald was a master wordsmith too, on radio especially where his style and delivery suited the format. Greenwald, like Simmons, preferred radio over TV.

Let's go broadcaster to broadcaster:

*Jon Miller is a very accomplished baseball PBP broadcaster, no doubt about that, but he's not even close to Simmons nor even Greenwald. Miller has HOF and numerous industry awards but he's also, at times, too much in love with himself and his voice.

On technique, Miller is strong. He obviously knows the game of baseball and his nuances are just fine but frankly, on one count, he's dreadful. Miller, and the rest of his team, have a bad habit of NOT giving the score. Yes, I'm anal on this subject because if  you're driving around and don't know the score and the announcer fails to mention it, it drives you crazy. Ken Korach, over in Oakland, gives the score, on average, every three minutes. Miller, at times, is more interested in telling stories.

Sometimes, the endless Vin Scully impressions get stale and old. The "Adios Pelota!"call each time a Latin player hits a homer is starting to grate too. Just my opinion. Maybe Miller thinks it's unique and a trademark. I think it sounds gimmicky.

*Mike Krukow: Krukow has the love of the fans and is considered God so even remotely criticizing him here is tantamount to blasphemy, but I'll try.

Krukow also, by virtue of playing the game, knows his stuff, no doubt. But his constant bickering on umpires is getting tired. And yes, Krukow is a homer. A good homer, but the rampant, Timmeh has good velocity, just needs location, is repetitious and banal. I know he works for the Giants but seriously...and the trifecta, Grab some pine, meat!...gamer babes....ownage is forever uber-annoying even to the most loyal Giants fans.

*Duane Kuiper: In my opinion, the weakest link. Kuiper's dreadful, OUTTA HERE! home run call is loud and highly overrated. It is nowhere near the vaunted Simmons, "Way back, Way back--You can tell it goodbye!"nor even close to Greenwald's exciting "It is gone!" staccato simplicity.

*Dave Flemming: I saved the best for last.

Flemming, in my opinion, is the best out of the bunch and that's remarkable given the fact that he's perceived the "kid" in the foursome. Flemming gives the most consistent, on-point, excited-when he-needs-to be--objective account of the action. He's fluid, he has a great delivery and he's quick to point out subtle aspects of the play, the game, that the others simply ignore or are too busy trying to be cute. In addition, I like the fact that Flemming has a no-nonsense approach, both in style and substance. He doesn't need any gimmicks--he just broadcasts the game. What a concept.


*Follow me on Twitter

10 Questions on why the SF Giants Announcer, Duane Kuiper, Appears to be Acting Strangely with a Microphone

1. Blowing his nose?

2. Didn't have dinner and in sudden brain fart, considers actually, eating the microphone?

3. Pissed off that Kruk took his guy for player of the game and is showing disloyalty?

4. Pondering the idea of sequestration?

5. Contemplating a morning chit-chat with Murph and Mac?

6. Had to pay full pop for tickets to the Rolling Stones Sunday?

7. Just found out that Amy G got a ring too?

8. Hearing strange voices from the mic uttering "OUTTA HERE!?"

9. Perhaps was out of Kleenex and went to trusty standby, (see #1)?

10. Hard case of the hiccups and nobody cares?

*Follow me on Twitter