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FILLING GIANT SHOES
- Thread starter 345palm
- Start date
S
searadiofreak
Guest
Agreed, Calabro is excellent. However, I have never heard him call Baseball. I suppose a real pro could adapt to any sport, but I'm not 100% on that one. And Baseball IS a different animal.
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searadiofreak
Guest
I will add that this is one of those unfortunate job replacements, as anyone who comes in will be compared and contrasted with Dave. So, a Seattle guy, or a current M's announcer, (Rizzs) would be the odds-on favorite. An outsider would have a much tougher road.
searadiofreak said:
Well Calabro has actually worked a few Mariners games filling in on a few occasions over the years but as much as it would be nice to have him around I doubt with a rumor of an NBA team coming back to our city that his heart would be into calling baseball... In fact I would imagine if Steve Balmer can pull and NBA rabbit out of his hat that Calabro has already been courted for that job...
Here is name that nobody seems to be mentioning and somebody who might actually consider the gig... Harold Reynolds??? Harold Reynolds despite any off air issues of the past is a solid baseball announcer and somebody whom the Seattle fans appreciate, and he might be a great fit with Blowers...
Otherwise the M's will go with Rizzs simply because of the bond he had to Dave and who better to offer up the fond memories in this first post Dave season than the guy who worked with him more than anyone else...
Well that is my .02 cents
This could go several ways, but here is my suggestion:
Rick moves to #1 for now, and probably for a while. We know him, and we're comfortable with him. He's earned the right to be #1.
Bring in a couple of other folks, possible local, to keep the other seat warm. Maybe Harold Reynolds can morph into a play-by-play guy. It's not the same as doing TV color. Not even close.
Over time, bring in someone who's been a second or third chair elsewhere and let him grow into the market and into the #1 job over a few years. Experience in the game and experience in the market make for a beloved icon. It won't happen during this decade.
Jon Miller had bounced around 2-3 gigs before getting the #1 seat in Baltimore. Only idiot managment/ownership made him move to San Francisco. He'd turned down the Yankees and other big bucks offers to stay with the O's.
Michael Kay went from Yankees beat writer to radio color guy, waiting a couple of years before they let him do an inning or two of play by play. A decade later, he was splitting PBP time with John Sterling, then becomming the primary TV guy when the Yanks formed the YES Network.
As for the pull of baseball, consider this: Bill Schonley had already acheived 'beloved' status in Portland by the late 70's, but pushed hard for the Mariners job. He had been the voice of the Pilots and many other teams around Seattle in the 60's. How 'interesting' would it have been to call the '77 NBA championship, then head up the freeway to call the Mariners?
And, dare I say it: Dave was very good, but not great, when he came to Seattle, graduating from the #3 chair with the Angels. He grew into the gig and transcended the comings and goings of the team: players, managers, owners and venues to achieve much-deserved Hall of Fame status.
We'll get one of those 'signature' voices again if management realizes that it will take a decade. And it will happen with the right guy - someone who (like Kevin and Dave and Rick) comes from somewhere else but decides to become a Seattle lifer.
Rick moves to #1 for now, and probably for a while. We know him, and we're comfortable with him. He's earned the right to be #1.
Bring in a couple of other folks, possible local, to keep the other seat warm. Maybe Harold Reynolds can morph into a play-by-play guy. It's not the same as doing TV color. Not even close.
Over time, bring in someone who's been a second or third chair elsewhere and let him grow into the market and into the #1 job over a few years. Experience in the game and experience in the market make for a beloved icon. It won't happen during this decade.
Jon Miller had bounced around 2-3 gigs before getting the #1 seat in Baltimore. Only idiot managment/ownership made him move to San Francisco. He'd turned down the Yankees and other big bucks offers to stay with the O's.
Michael Kay went from Yankees beat writer to radio color guy, waiting a couple of years before they let him do an inning or two of play by play. A decade later, he was splitting PBP time with John Sterling, then becomming the primary TV guy when the Yanks formed the YES Network.
As for the pull of baseball, consider this: Bill Schonley had already acheived 'beloved' status in Portland by the late 70's, but pushed hard for the Mariners job. He had been the voice of the Pilots and many other teams around Seattle in the 60's. How 'interesting' would it have been to call the '77 NBA championship, then head up the freeway to call the Mariners?
And, dare I say it: Dave was very good, but not great, when he came to Seattle, graduating from the #3 chair with the Angels. He grew into the gig and transcended the comings and goings of the team: players, managers, owners and venues to achieve much-deserved Hall of Fame status.
We'll get one of those 'signature' voices again if management realizes that it will take a decade. And it will happen with the right guy - someone who (like Kevin and Dave and Rick) comes from somewhere else but decides to become a Seattle lifer.
A
AQH
Guest
Rich Johnson said:
Agree. Vin Scully and Ernie Harwell are above Dave.
But no question Niehaus is a legend in this town, as he should be seen as.
All treats to listen to on a nice summer day.
An addendum to my last paragraph. I don't mean to say that Seattle couldn't raise one of its own to baseball broadcasting greatness. My actual point: To become a legend, you have to commit to staying in town. Jon Miller (Baltimore, SF) and Harry Caray (St. Louis, Chicago) are exceptions to the rule. Most legends start early and stay late with the same team.
RJ
RJ
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searadiofreak
Guest
Rich, I agree with your assessment. Dave's replacement will probably take many years. And you can add in a bit of provincialism in the NW that exists due to geography and other factors. As I mentioned earlier, this is one of those replacement jobs that most probably wouldn't want. Instead, you want to be the guy who replaces the guy who tried to replace the legend. It's one of the darker sides of media, but is so true.
searadiofreak said:
Are you even close to being serious?? Rick Rizzs was probably going to take over PBP in 2011 regardless of Dave's passing. You're kidding right? Callabro coming in for lead?? What do you think Rick has been groomed for over the last decade or so??
Randy Roadz
A
AQH
Guest
scrap said:
He's doing radio play-by-play, should he do his job in Morse code?
He was in Detroit for three years.
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