I just watched the Twins lose to the Red Sox on ESPN, and I don't know what upsets me more- the result, or the idiocy of the announcers on ESPN. Not only did they spend whole innings of a close, exciting game talking about such pertinent topics as All-Star snubs and the who's-making-the-Hall-of-Fame game, but it was clear that none of them knew a thing about the Twins.
I'm not one to complain about the Red Sox appearing on a nationally televised game for the third time in five days. But is it too much to ask for national announcers to actually know something about the other team? It was abundantly clear that none of them had seen the Twins play this year. During the first inning, we were told, 30 seconds apart, that the Twins "have guys who know how to get on base" and that they "have a low team on-base percentage."
Come on, Fire Joe Morgan- get on it! (Even if Joe himself wasn't there.)
Posted by Stephen Silver at July 7, 2008 10:00 PMThe part that bugs me the most is that there's no excuse for this sort of thing in the age of the internet. It's not like the announcers would have to do a lot of research and memorization before the game. They can use Google and official sources to come up with a ton of interesting history and anecdotes about the Twins right there on the spot. A blurb here and there about the All Star line-up or what not is okay, but lets have a little info about the guys on the field as well. It's not that hard. I don't know shit about the Twins, but I could if I took twenty minutes to find out. You'd think a guy getting paid might feel obliged to invest at least three times that before calling a game.
Posted by: Emily at July 8, 2008 09:44 AMYou actually think they know things about the Red Sox? I always feel like it's the remedial program for people who only tune into baseball when their team is playing the Yankees.
Living in my team's home town, I have the pleasure of muting the TV and turning on the radio for respectable commentary.
Posted by: jabbett at July 8, 2008 09:50 AMI'll be honest and say I haven't seen the Twins play this year, but judging by last night's game, I think they're a team I might want to keep an eye on.
Can't comment on the announcers on Esspin...after missing two outs of a Cubs half-inning a few weeks ago because Orel Hershiser was talking about how little-leaguers shouldn't throw breaking pitches....I've muted the guys.
Makes you wish you could choose commentators...
Posted by: Tommy at July 8, 2008 08:11 PMThat Hall of Fame quiz talk was bush league! Laughable, man! That stuff is at best morning sports radio drivel.
Which leads me to my next point: Jon Miller and Joe Morgan are odious but not nearly as bad as Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. Jon Miller reminds me of Jeffrey Lebowski, the other Jeffrey Lebowski, the millionaire.
Posted by: LilB at July 8, 2008 09:50 PMAnything beats having to put up with Joe Buck.
Posted by: Jeff S at July 10, 2008 08:26 AM