Father and Son in the Reds Broadcast Booth

[Kahuna1]

Cincinnati Reds Chief Executive Officer Bob Castellini announced Wednesday the hiring of veteran broadcaster Thom Brennaman for Reds Radio and Reds TV broadcasts.

Brennaman signed a 4-year contract through the 2010 season.

The Cincinnati native will work alongside his father, Hall of Famer Marty Brennaman, for selected radio broadcasts on 700WLW and also will sit in the booth for Reds TV broadcasts on FSN Ohio. Next season, the club?s television broadcast schedule will increase from 100 to 145 games.

 

[mattsledge]

Here's the link:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061004/SPT04/310040017

 

[LocalGuy]

So much for the vehement denial. :

 

[RandyKlemme]

So where does that put George Grande in the TV booth.....you know Mr repeat every stat three times in a game...George is good but TOMMY would be better on TV

 

[MikeStandardsFromIndiana]

Well with Thom still Working his Fox Schedule and the Reds Uping the TV Deal by 45 games Nuxhall will still be working PT on Radio and Grande took some games off with Jim Day filling in on tv. So I think Thom will be more on Radio This year but Thom will End up with Either George or Marty's Spot since Marty will End up Like Nuxie was in Nuxie's last Full Season going to doing home Games Only. the Question is where does Grande stand in the Radio/TV Situation

 

[BobinPhoenix]

Congratulations on getting Thom to do the Reds games. He's been the voice of the Diamondbacks since their first pitch in 1998. He will be missed here in Phoenix. As one Phoenix broadcaster put it tonight: "no more Luis Gonzalez in left field, new red uniforms, and no more Thom Brennamen. Things are sure going to look and sound different for the Arizona Diamondbacks next year."

 

[ouuc]

Is Chris Welsh going to be the odd man out here? Or could he be kept as the former player on the radio team? No real learning curve if he is. It would be a good choice.

 

[gjward]

According to an article in The Cincinnati Post, Chris Welsh will perform the color work for about 120 games on FSN Ohio. The article also reports that they're still looking for another former player to be a color commentator for both radio and TV.

On the television side, FSN Ohio will increase its coverage from 100 to 145 games beginning next year. Play-by-play man George Grande will continue in his role for 100 of them, with Thom Brennaman stepping in for the other 45. Analyst Chris Welsh is expected to return for about 120 games, and the color work on the other 25 or so will be done by the next hire the Reds make.

Source: http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006610050326

 

[JimWilliams]

You folks in Cincy are so lucky. Congrats to Thom on getting the chance to come home again to Cincy. For my money, the Brennamans are probably the most talented father/son broadcasters in baseball. Yes, I rank them over Harry and Todd Kalas, the Carays, and the Bucks. Thom is a pro's pro and is so smooth while Marty is an absolute joy to listen to. As an out of market poster here, I do get a chance to listen every so often on the satellite radio to Marty and the various other announcers, and it's always a joy to listen to greatness. Should be fun times in Cincy on the radio this coming season.

 

[brian65]

I haven't really heard much direct feedback about this deal from fans. But I have heard alot of feedback from the media who all think "Isn't this just great. Won't it be great to have Marty working with his son...and Oh, what a huge sacrifice it was for Thom to pull up stakes and come to Cincinnati."

Most of the fans I have personally talked to (and a few callers to talk shows) don't seem to be 'drinking the kool-aid' about this deal. Too much is being mentioned about how great it is for the Brennamans(sp?) but I don't hear where its of any benefit to the listeners.

The problem with Steve Stewart wasn't Steve Stewart..it was Marty being in the both with him. There is no reason to have two 'announcers' in the booth. It just keeps a former player out of the mix. And trust me, that booth definately needs more 'mix' and less Marty.

It might not get voiced much in here or in the media, but this sure seems to be nothing other than a Gimmick that benefits the fans little, if any, and may possibly be seen as a drawback.

 

[DJJack1]

It's the beginning of the end of the Marty era, IMO. He said as much when he was on with Bill Cunningham last week. I'm paraphrasing, but he said that he had nothing left to prove, he'd like to go three more years after his contract expires at the end of the season, and if the Reds decide to make Thom the primary play by play announcer and move Marty into the Nuxhall/Stewart position, he was fine with it. Marty said he wouldn't do it for Joe Schmo from Tupelo but he would gladly do it for his son.

I think in four years, Thom is going to be the chief play by play voice for the Reds, and the player that comes on board this year will be the analyst. <there will be a former player coming on board to do the games that Thom won't be calling with his Dad>

I'm 40 years old and I"m not a huge sports fan, but I adore Marty Brennaman. I've grown up with him. I had my reservations when I first heard about this....I thought "this is nepotism, Daddy is just getting his boy a job" but I had no idea that Thom had been doing major network sports. I don't watch major network sports. If it ain't the Reds, I don't care.

Will this benefit the listener? I don't know. I'm pretty certain it's not going to HARM the listener, though...and after 33 years of service to the Reds, I'm inclined to let Marty live out his dream for a while. Thom clearly has paid his dues and has the talent, so.....why not?

 

[brian65]

I don't see where we owe Marty anything. I look forward to him leaving the booth as soon as possible. I think he left the booth mentally about 10 years ago.