I really enjoy listening to Hawkins. I'd be interested in hearing him and Hunter do a game together if Dick needed to take a game off, just to hear how it would go.

I really enjoy listening to Hawkins. I'd be interested in hearing him and Hunter do a game together if Dick needed to take a game off, just to hear how it would go.

Even though it is television, you do kinda need a play by play guy, which is what Bremer is.

Now that everyone has had their runs complete and it's Bert the rest of the way I'm interested to see if any opinions changed. Anyone grow on you? Get tired of anyone?

 

Now that everyone has had their runs complete and it's Bert the rest of the way I'm interested to see if any opinions changed. Anyone grow on you? Get tired of anyone?

 

I originally voted for Hunter, but Hawkins has won me over big time. He's started to loosen up and have some fun in the booth. He's definitely my favorite of the five right now.

I voted LaTroy and that hasn't changed.

 

I'd go like this right now (spacing for emphasis)...

 

1. LaTroy

 

 

2. Bert

3. Roy

 

 

 

 

4. Jack

 

5. Torii (he's great an inning or so at a time, but full game is beyond intolerable)

I voted LaTroy and that hasn't changed.

 

I'd go like this right now (spacing for emphasis)...

 

1. LaTroy

 

 

2. Bert

3. Roy

 

 

 

 

4. Jack

 

5. Torii (he's great an inning or so at a time, but full game is beyond intolerable)

"what is that, velvet?" Got real old, real fast

Excited Carlos Gomez would be a different option?

The best thing about Hawkins is him hacking on Bremer.  Other than that, he's pretty boring on TV announcing games (In real life, I'm sure he's very interesting).  I'd like Morneau in the booth on a regular basis. When he did a couple innings, that was the best we've had in years.

Edited September 4, 20179 yr by jimmer

I find myself being kind of disappointed when Bert is doing a game now. Morneau was pretty good those few innings he was in the booth. He seemed to be a natural at it.

Now that everyone has had their runs complete and it's Bert the rest of the way I'm interested to see if any opinions changed. Anyone grow on you? Get tired of anyone?

I think my mind has changed to continue with variety and not go with just one person. While I might like one better than the other, I'm not sure I like anyone that much better to be 'the one' for a whole season.

I find myself being kind of disappointed when Bert is doing a game now. Morneau was pretty good those few innings he was in the booth. He seemed to be a natural at it.

I'd agree with that. I'd like to see/hear him for some more games.

I have enjoyed LaTroy keeping it real. He is not afraid to speak his mind but is also not bombastic. I am not a Smalley fan as he reminds me of Joe Morgan. They each broadcast as if they invented baseball. When Smalley starts speaking from the Mount, I reach for the mute button.

We need more options.  Start with someone who has a really pleasant voice,  That way even if what he says is BS, he sounds good anyway.

The best thing about Hawkins is him hacking on Bremer. Other than that, he's pretty boring on TV announcing games (In real life, I'm sure he's very interesting). I'd like Morneau in the booth on a regular basis. When he did a couple innings, that was the best we've had in years.

I bet he gets some games next year. He probably didn't want to commit to games when they were making the broadcasters' schedule because he was still hoping to have a team call him.

 

I voted LaTroy and that hasn't changed.

 

I'd go like this right now (spacing for emphasis)...

 

1. LaTroy

 

 

2. Bert

3. Roy

 

 

 

 

4. Jack

 

5. Torii (he's great an inning or so at a time, but full game is beyond intolerable)

I agree with this.   Keep 1-3 and see what else is out there.   How about Gardy?  Feels like we have a whole generation of players that need new nick names.   Buxtie, Vargie, Miggie, Berrsie, Escie, Garvie, Dozie, Keplie. Ervie.

To be honest, I have only seen a handful of games from each analyst. I think people are either going to love or hate Hunter. He's way out there. Smalley knows what he's talking about, but much like Blyleven he has phrases he repeats "really, really" far too often, making him hard to listen to. "Big end of the bat" grates me almost as much as "uppercut swing". I like Hawkins best, he doesn't demand the spotlight but has good commentary. Also he played with or against a great number of the players he is commenting on (same is true for Torii) and I like that perspective moreso than Bert and Roy who have been retired long enough so that mostly they only know the coaches and managers from playing in their eras.

 

I think I've only listened to Morris once. Again he knows his topic (pitching) but he preaches and plays the curmudgeon (maybe not playing that role, he probably is).

After giving it more thought and listening more critically I think Smalley is the best of the five overall. He does get a bit pretentious but I think he is the best combination of knowledge of the game and being able to communicate it well. I like Hunter and Hawkins because of their more recent involvement as players. For example I really enjoyed hearing Hawkins and Nathan talk pitching the other day. Hunter's positives turn into negatives quickly, though, whereas I think Hawkins has potential to be a really good analyst once he accumulates more experience.

 

Smalley is fine, I could see a split with him and Bert.

 

Whomever said TK is spot on.  He is a great communicator and teacher.

 

Morris is horrible.  No surprise the definition of a "me" player is the same in the booth.  All he wants to do is talk about himself.  Please now go to Toronto and do commentary there.

 

I haven't seen Torii or Latroy. 

 

Now that I have seen LaTroy, I'd like to see more.  Torii is fine, not as good as I was expecting, but at least he's not Morris. 

 

Honestly a rotation of 4 guys might be a great idea.  No one gets too old and stale.  Assuming no Kelly, Bert, LatTroy, Torii, and Roy. 

 

 

In reality, they are all good to very good, and have their unique angle on things.

 

I like 'em all, and think they should add Cuddy too.

 

Compared to the Wild broadcast team, Twins' fans are spoiled spoiled spoiled.

 

LaPanta ruined Gopher hockey broadcasts, and he is awful for the Wild. They definitely made him change a few things though ie not cheering opposing goals. 

 

Smalley knows his stuff but tends to be too long winded at times.

 

I have enjoyed LaTroy keeping it real. He is not afraid to speak his mind but is also not bombastic. I am not a Smalley fan as he reminds me of Joe Morgan. They each broadcast as if they invented baseball. When Smalley starts speaking from the Mount, I reach for the mute button.

 

Thank God somebody else hears this. I get blasted on twitter consistently for my hatred of Smalley but this post is how I feel about Smalley. Also him one time saying Liriano is to the Twins what Pujols is to the Angels and another time when asked who you would start a team with Trout or Mauer, he picked Mauer no doubt about it.

"Gotta keep the ball down" 

 

Funny how they never say that when people hit a low fastball for a HR.

I agree with those that would like to see Cuddy & Morneaux next year get a crack at it.  Along with Roy and LaTroy.

Love Dick.  Bert sounds bored with it all.

 

LaPanta ruined Gopher hockey broadcasts, and he is awful for the Wild. They definitely made him change a few things though ie not cheering opposing goals. 

I find LaPanta's Wild play by play to be pretty good. But, I also ****ing hate Doc Emrick, who lots of people seem to think is a good hockey broadcaster, so maybe I'm the outlier here. LaPanta can be a total homer, but I'm not sure why you'd consider him to be awful.

 

Smalley knows his stuff but tends to be too long winded at times.

 

At times?

 

 

It takes him 10 minutes to describe a routine 6-3.

I've come to the awful conclusion that it's not as easy as it looks, and none of them are preferable to Bert.  Hawkins puts me to sleep, Smalley could be good if he cut his output in half but I don't think that's in his nature, Torii is entertaining at first but grows tiresome, and Morris is awful.

 

I would like to see Cuddyer get a shot next year.  

 

I find LaPanta's Wild play by play to be pretty good. But, I also ****ing hate Doc Emrick, who lots of people seem to think is a good hockey broadcaster, so maybe I'm the outlier here. LaPanta can be a total homer, but I'm not sure why you'd consider him to be awful.

 

I'm going to have to completely disagree with you on this. Doc Emrick is one of the best in the game! He has a great voice and enunciates when he speaks so you can understand everything he says. I watched a behind the scenes episode of him and he puts in a ton of work getting to know the players and their stats so he knows what he's talking about during the broadcast.  By far the best hockey announcer.

I don't get the Smalley love. I can't stand listening to him broadcast a game. He starts talking a mile a minute before he even remotely knows how he'll finish the sentence. And at times seems to have a tenuous grasp on the language. His "big end of the bat" comments have surpassed Burt "downward plane" BS as the most obnoxious term in Twins territory.

 

Latroy seems to be the best fill in guy, and he's not great. I do feel like the more games he does the better he'll get. I don't think Torii is cut out to be in the booth, good for a few games to mix it up but I couldn't deal with a whole year of him.

 

I like Bert but he seems like he has been phoning it in for a year or so. Time for someone new... NOT ROY!

Baseball, in and of itself, is an inherently boring game.  Couple that with the average time-of-game currently at an all-time high of 3:09-  and these are not good things.  So within that time, I need something to stimulate my brain (please don't take a rip at the hanging curve ball I've left here).  Roy explains what is happening and what each side is trying to accomplish.  It is that very 'game within the game' that I enjoy about baseball.  And with Bert on the mic, we get next-to none of that.

If the goal was to groom an eventual replacement for Bert, I think they need to keep looking. LaTroy (my original vote) started off strong, but fell off the more games he called. Torii does nothing for me calling a game. 

Edited September 5, 20179 yr by Vanimal46