Let's put it in context. We're talking Sunday night, the lowest rated daypart in radio, on one of the lowest rated radio stations in town. Listening to the Washington Senators and New York Mets. Not much excitement for advertisers. Not much enticement for listeners. Not much justification to pay staff. You have to be realistic and practical.
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- Thread starter rivercity
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Let's put it in context. We're talking Sunday night, the lowest rated daypart in radio, on one of the lowest rated radio stations in town. Listening to the Washington Senators and New York Mets. Not much excitement for advertisers. Not much enticement for listeners. Not much justification to pay staff. You have to be realistic and practical.
Well - had to amend...Washington Nationals. Hey the Mets have former Reds' stars Jay Bruce & Todd Frazier. And the Nats had a shot at the WS last yr & have a top player Bryce Harper. If a person likes baseball on radio - it's probably something they would enjoy. But - yeah, Sunday nite like graveyard shift. All the national sports shows mainly want to push is football & basketball. (Really like ESPN John Sciambi calling baseball games.)
Ha! My bad.
The station still has a duty, or at least they should, to present their programming in the cleanest possible fashion. There aren't many stations I've heard these kinds of complaints about more than 1530. Looking down the road from Columbus, it seems pretty clear that iHeart really only cares about WLW and whatever happens on the other stations, happens.
Dan Hoard in today's post game show featured Marty in a segment, considering he's at that stage of career in cutting back. His point was that Marty is one of the all-time best. Also, he mentioned that Marty is probably the most candid announcer (which some don't like) to have called games. I agree with Dan that now is the time to state appreciation of Marty. Marty is the freaking best. You can't train to have a great voice. His voice is at a tone you can grasp every word - plus fantastic diction. There may be some who match the excitement, but I don't think anyone is better than Marty at the rising intonation of his call to match the moment. Thanks Marty for providing the great play-by-play and painting the picture, all these years for us dedicated Reds fans.
Red Sox fan here, but agree 100 percent on Marty. Love listening to him call a game and really enjoy his interplay with Jeff Brantley. I've been listening to him for decades -- on WLW at night before I got satellite radio in 2003, on XM whenever I can ever since. Many of my other favorites have retired or died -- Skip Caray, Harry Kalas, Dave Niehaus, Vin Scully -- and so many of the current crop are either generic, vocally repugnant (Glenn Gefner, Joe Castiglione) or so consumed with shtick as to be unlistenable. (Ted Leitner, Joe Angel, Jon Miller, I'm talking to you.) Besides Marty, the only announcers I make it a point to listen to as often as possible are the Indians' Tom Hamilton and the Mets' Howie Rose.
Agree with almost everything in the previous two posts. I caught myself reminding myself the other night that Marty is going to be 76 in less than three months, yet his voice and talent still are not indicative of his age. How many other announcers have sounded that good at 75 or 76? Short of Vin Scully, I can't think of another one.
Even so, I think we're probably only a few years away from Marty retiring completely. I can't see him working until almost 90 as Scully did, but if he wants to and is physically able to do so, who is stop him? He'll leave when he wants to.
As much baseball as I listen to from around the country, I do like Jon Miller and Castiglione (more than I used to) as well as Joe Angel. Ted Leitner is among my least favorite, and Tom Hamilton has grown on me over the years although I can do without his screaming at completely needless times.
Even so, I think we're probably only a few years away from Marty retiring completely. I can't see him working until almost 90 as Scully did, but if he wants to and is physically able to do so, who is stop him? He'll leave when he wants to.
As much baseball as I listen to from around the country, I do like Jon Miller and Castiglione (more than I used to) as well as Joe Angel. Ted Leitner is among my least favorite, and Tom Hamilton has grown on me over the years although I can do without his screaming at completely needless times.
Great job by Chick on rain delay, what with a recounting w/a local sportswriter buddy, memories of Wrigley; a Reds fan, describing as a young teenager, walking w/friends down from Mt.Auburn, across Liberty to Crosley - to sell lemonade! ...some passages from a baseball book, & contribution by my favorite caller: Mike from Fairfield. (Guy knows his stuff.)
I don't know....I just can't warm up to Jim Day on radio. TV he's OK. I don't like his voice or his delivery when calling games on radio. Marty and Brantley is still the best combination but we rarely get to hear those two together. I know many will disagree but my preference to replace Marty is Thom. He's just better to my ears than most of the others they keep trying out.
To use a baseball term, Jim Day is a set-up man par excellence to Marty's running gags. I never even heard of a "retriever" - but Marty waited for an opportune moment in the booth today to present one to Jim in honor of his wayward balls on the golf course. Not to mention his ability to juggle play-by-play, while ducking Marty's efforts w/camera for embarrassing Instagram material.
I love the cowboy. I never thought it was possible to replace Joe... he has. I also wasn't expecting to like Jim Day as a commentator or on play by play...yet I think he's wonderful. A huge improvement over the old Jim. Kudos Redlegs. Those roster moves were great!
Give credit to Dan Hoard on Extra Innings switching up the usual talk show format. He's introduced "Reverse Radio" where the caller has to field a random question such as "Who was the biggest bust in Cincinnati sports?" I think he also asked "Who would you say is the most hated rival to a Cincinnati team?" I would have loved to answer that one with "Bart Giamatti"! To the question of "Name your favorite broadcaster" a guy said "Joe Nuxhall" - which would get no dispute.
What're the odds of that? Rain delay St Louis, Sat. afternoon for Reds/Cards, so return back to the station where Seg is already on from Sparta for the Quaker State 400 coverage. Pretty great radio since Marty Brennaman is also there for his honorary pace car duties. Got to hear long ago about Seg manning the boards on 4th St. during west coast game when technical probs. arose, and Marty got a little testy on the phone. Result - the historic moment Seg hung up on the hall-of-famer - and managed to still keep his job. Also Marty shared another memory - of Nuxhall - how someone took a photo of the last time they played golf, & that turned out to be their last activity together.
Was driving back from Lexington and caught Marty and Seg. Well done! Mother Nature must have Iheart stock. Great radio!
Have come to appreciate Mo's baseball perspective. (Esp.since he pointed out recently that baseball is the one sport that brings out "his inner 9 yr. old".) He made a good point that the Reds should protect their biggest investment - Votto. Instead of playing on a gimpy leg in games that don't matter - he should just get fully rested. (payback btw - the pitcher that plunked Joey had a monumental blown save shortly thereafter - giving up a walk off grand slam.) Mo also pointed out Stephenson's attitude problem regarding walks. (which results in things like yesterday walking the pitcher!)
Broadcaster Call Up: Props to Lance McAlister for suggesting Reds recognize Dayton Dragons broadcaster Tom Nichols. He just passed the 4,000th game broadcast of his 31 yrs in Minor League Baseball. He will call his first MLB game TONIGHT with the Reds. Good move Reds! https://700wlw.iheart.com/featured/...standing-the-reds-are-calling-up-tom-nichols/
It's a real tribute to Tom Nichols and definite recognition to all of those announcers who put their hearts and souls into covering minor league baseball day after day, year after year.
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