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Tuesday, July 20, 2004 |
Some Dodger Thoughts
Mariners Wheelhouse asks the rhetorical question, "Are there any worse announcers in baseball than Rick Rizzs and Hendu-Valle?" Oh, yes there are, but if the Pirates, Braves, and Chisox plumb the depths of craptitude, Vin Scully still sets the gold standard. Jon earlier this year eulogized his necessary handing the torch, but yesterday, we got to hear just how much he'll be missed. Porter makes an acceptable number two, but he always talks like he's got a box of marbles in his mouth, and he has the demeanor of a wet bulldog. Scully's never out of the game, always watching, always observing. And you can hear Scully smile.
Reliever Paul Shuey is out for the year, a surprise to nobody; he's due to have a third surgery on his hip for a degenerative joint condition. It's conceivable he's got some time left, and says his arm feels fine. His contract expires this year, but he could sign a minor league contract with the Dodgers if, post-surgery, he still thinks he's got some pitching left to do; DePodesta knew him when both were in the Indians organization.
The Angriest Man In Baseball is "hitting .382, with nine RBI" in his last 17 games. He also hasn't been ejected in almost a month. I say we're overdue.
Update: And of course, I've been meaning to endorse John Wiebe's idea that the Dodgers need something to draw the fans into the action on the field, especially when something good happens. Cap-tipping is as good a thing as any, and besides, it encourages cap sales.
Reliever Paul Shuey is out for the year, a surprise to nobody; he's due to have a third surgery on his hip for a degenerative joint condition. It's conceivable he's got some time left, and says his arm feels fine. His contract expires this year, but he could sign a minor league contract with the Dodgers if, post-surgery, he still thinks he's got some pitching left to do; DePodesta knew him when both were in the Indians organization.
The Angriest Man In Baseball is "hitting .382, with nine RBI" in his last 17 games. He also hasn't been ejected in almost a month. I say we're overdue.
Update: And of course, I've been meaning to endorse John Wiebe's idea that the Dodgers need something to draw the fans into the action on the field, especially when something good happens. Cap-tipping is as good a thing as any, and besides, it encourages cap sales.
Comments:
Rob, I think we can get a preview of what life will be like post-Vin by watching the current Lakers broadcasts. IMO, Paul Sunderland is a competent fellow, no better or worse than most of his peers. But even after two whole seasons, one is often acutely conscious that he's not Chick Hearn. It's not Sundy's fault, because Chick was unique, but there it is all the same.
I can't imagine how or why Vin would have his detractors. But then, when I lived in Chicago, I could never understand Harry Caray's popularity. The man made me cringe, even when he said something perceptive. If Vin was like a sturdy yet affectionate dad, Harry Caray was like the embarrassing uncle who always made a scene at the family reunion.
I can't imagine how or why Vin would have his detractors. But then, when I lived in Chicago, I could never understand Harry Caray's popularity. The man made me cringe, even when he said something perceptive. If Vin was like a sturdy yet affectionate dad, Harry Caray was like the embarrassing uncle who always made a scene at the family reunion.
# posted by 
: 7/20/2004 11:33:00 AM
: 7/20/2004 11:33:00 AM
haha exactly how I feel about harry caray, outrageously overrated announcer.
mattkew
mattkew
# posted by : 7/20/2004 01:01:00 PM
: 7/20/2004 01:01:00 PM
Tommy -- I completely agree with you. Bradley is an angry son of a bitch, but, as FDR is supposed to have said about Salvadoran strongman Somoza, he's our son of a bitch. I really think he's genuinely happy to be playing in Dodger blue.
Vin is the gold standard. No doubt about it. And when he leaves he'll be missed. But if you really listen objectively, you'll find that nowadays Vin has a hard time mustering the strength to sound excited. During the Yankee series, he was extremely animated and into it. Most of the rest of this season, he's up and down. If you listen back to his home run calls from this season, often times you'll hear a announcer who sounds shockingly bored.
As for Vin "observing" the game...come on. Usually he's observing kids in the stands or pitch counts. Over and over and over. It's pretty rare when Vin brings insight to a game that you haven't heard before.
Don't get me wrong; Vin's a legend. And he'll go down as one of the very best. But let's not let his Sacred Cow status get in the way of objectivity.
As for Vin "observing" the game...come on. Usually he's observing kids in the stands or pitch counts. Over and over and over. It's pretty rare when Vin brings insight to a game that you haven't heard before.
Don't get me wrong; Vin's a legend. And he'll go down as one of the very best. But let's not let his Sacred Cow status get in the way of objectivity.
# posted by : 7/20/2004 03:44:00 PM
: 7/20/2004 03:44:00 PM
>>If you listen back to his home run calls from this season, often times you'll hear a announcer who sounds shockingly bored. <<
Come on. Try listening to his call of Gibby's '88 bomb. There's a difference between bored and calm. Baseball has a lot of empty space in it. Deal.
Come on. Try listening to his call of Gibby's '88 bomb. There's a difference between bored and calm. Baseball has a lot of empty space in it. Deal.
It's me, back with another comparison between Vin Scully and Chick Hearn.... Man, maybe I should just register.... Anyway, it occurs to me that, as with Chick late in his career, there may be an entire generation of fans who don't remember him at the peak of his powers. In his later years, Chick slowed down a lot and misspoke more often than he used to. Similarly, Vin doesn't have as much zip as he used to, and he misspeaks more often than he did 20 years ago. But with both men, those of us who remembered them way back when can still see traces of what made them so great in their prime.
To the poster who says that Vin sounds bored: Well, maybe that's what happens to subtlety and understatement when it enters its late 70's. I've listened to that man's work for most of the last 35 years. I also have a recording of him calling the last pitch of Koufax's perfect game (pitched just before my 2nd birthday). His presence isn't as commanding now as it was then, but I can still recognize in his work many of the characteristics that made him so damn good at his peak, and I marvel that he can still bring so much game at his age and after so many years.
To the poster who says that Vin sounds bored: Well, maybe that's what happens to subtlety and understatement when it enters its late 70's. I've listened to that man's work for most of the last 35 years. I also have a recording of him calling the last pitch of Koufax's perfect game (pitched just before my 2nd birthday). His presence isn't as commanding now as it was then, but I can still recognize in his work many of the characteristics that made him so damn good at his peak, and I marvel that he can still bring so much game at his age and after so many years.
# posted by : 7/20/2004 10:36:00 PM
: 7/20/2004 10:36:00 PM
To submit Vin's '88 Gibson home run call as your argument that Vin still crackles in 2004 is specious at best. We're not talking '88, we're talking now.
I've listened to Vin since the late 70s and it's important to keep all this in perspective. Listen, nobody is saying Vin ISN'T a legend and that it still isn't a pleasure to listen to. BUT, when it comes to bringing the energy and zip to critical situations, Vin has lost a step. There's no shame in that. It's the circle of life.
Last Saturday night (7/17), the Dodgers were down 6-4 in the ninth when Beltre hit a towering double to cut the deficit to 6-5. With Beltre on 2nd as the tying run, clearly things looked promising. To listen to Vin, though, you'd think the Dodgers had cut a 12-1 deficit to 12-2. There was no urgency or excitement in his voice AT ALL. In fact, he sounded a bit disappointed. Only when Ventura went yard to give the Dodgers the lead did Vin perk up.
Call it "calm," call it "bored," call it "tired," call it "aging gracefully." Regardless of where he's at now, we've all been lucky and privileged to have him as our play-by-play guy.
I've listened to Vin since the late 70s and it's important to keep all this in perspective. Listen, nobody is saying Vin ISN'T a legend and that it still isn't a pleasure to listen to. BUT, when it comes to bringing the energy and zip to critical situations, Vin has lost a step. There's no shame in that. It's the circle of life.
Last Saturday night (7/17), the Dodgers were down 6-4 in the ninth when Beltre hit a towering double to cut the deficit to 6-5. With Beltre on 2nd as the tying run, clearly things looked promising. To listen to Vin, though, you'd think the Dodgers had cut a 12-1 deficit to 12-2. There was no urgency or excitement in his voice AT ALL. In fact, he sounded a bit disappointed. Only when Ventura went yard to give the Dodgers the lead did Vin perk up.
Call it "calm," call it "bored," call it "tired," call it "aging gracefully." Regardless of where he's at now, we've all been lucky and privileged to have him as our play-by-play guy.
# posted by : 7/21/2004 09:23:00 AM
: 7/21/2004 09:23:00 AM
>>To submit Vin's '88 Gibson home run call as your argument that Vin still crackles in 2004 is specious at best. We're not talking '88, we're talking now.<<
Me, too. Look, my point is that Vinny just doesn't get that excited. He's never going to be Ron Santo. He's not a homer. I don't know what you're expecting, but I simply find your comments completely, utterly, and totally unfounded.
Me, too. Look, my point is that Vinny just doesn't get that excited. He's never going to be Ron Santo. He's not a homer. I don't know what you're expecting, but I simply find your comments completely, utterly, and totally unfounded.
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