Changes to M’s broadcast crew
This has been discussed in the mid-week news thread and we ran the Sims thing a while ago, but here’s the word, from Larry Stone at the Times:
Former Mariners’ infielder Mike Blowers will join the team’s broadcast crew in 2007, along with veteran play-by-play announcer Dave Sims.
…
Blowers replaces former analysts Dave Henderson and Dave Valle, who may appear in more limited roles.
Woo-hoo! Until we get tired of Blowers, that’s great news! At least it’ll be a change. How will this all work? Stone attempts to run down the complicated scenario:
The Mariners’ plan is for Niehaus to begin each game in the TV booth for the first few innings with Blowers, and then move to the radio booth with Rizzs. For most games, Rizzs will work on the radio side only. Sims and Blowers will team up when Niehaus goes to the radio booth.
Except on Tuesdays. On Tuesdays the Moose does color on the radio for innings 1-4, then radio 6-9. In the event of extra-inning games, he’s replaced in the 10th by anyone still in the stands.
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You do have to admit, Fairly’s IQ is probably greater than Valle, Hendu, and Matt Morrison’s combined.
Oh and I forgot Angie Mentink on that list, sorry.
My favorite Mariners broadcasting moment from last season though was when Brad Adam was on FSN Live in August, the team was in Oakland in the middle of that horrendous losing streak and we were 10 games out of first. And he and Eduardo Perez rambled on and on about how the team was still in the race and there was still a chance we could get back in it like the ’95 team.
lol, ya. . .
The funny thing I’ve met a couple of these FSN people, namely Bill Krueger and Mickey York, and they are actually smarter than you think. I even remember someone even remark once how Mike Hargrove was boring, lol. The problem is their network, the Mariners, or both, have sucked these people into being puppets and have a “everything is sunny” attitude regardless of how the team is doing, which is kinda stupid.
And it was pretty obvious this year that Brad Adam’s observation of the Mariners being in the pennant race while 10 games out in the West didn’t conjure up any extra fan support for this team. In fact, it only made FSN and the Mariners more of a laughing stock to people with common sense.
But whatever, it’s not my problem, right?
The first pitch is at 7:05, not 6:30, which is why I don’t really wish to partake in a little FSN Live action.
For those of us who always seem to be driving home at the start of the game, the best thing about this approach is that we don’t have to listen to Rizzs tell a story on radio and then tell the same story when he moves to TV.
And if it means more Dave on the radio, that’s even better. He’s at his best when he spinning stories on the radio.
I’ll miss the part as A-Rod comes to bat when Valle, his voice dropping low and extra sensual, would marvel at the size of A-Rod’s hands: “Wow. Just look at those hands . . . *long uncomfortable silence* . . . look at the way he grips that bat with those tremendous hands of his. The sheer power. I wonder . . . . . .”
Rizzs interupts: “Well there’s no question his hands allowed him to turn on that Washburn fastball back in the 3rd inning. Say friends! Aflack Insur-”
Valle: “Yeah, but look at ’em. If you were to axe me who has the biggest hands in the league, I would have to say it’s Alex, hands down. Tremendous. I wonder . . .”
Rizzs interupts again: “Say friends!”
I like it how DMZ never comments when it wanders to this point.
Yes, but if we get beyond this point, he’ll start commenting.
Like if I asked if Rizzs likes the traffic in McCall Idaho.
That said, these should be some neat changes. Yay changes that are good!
Well, there’s no chance of a “Doyle” showing up in the in-game ticker this year, so we need some relief.
Count me among the group that has liked Blower’s aftergame comments this past couple of years. However — and correct me if I’m wrong — wasn’t he being employed in that role by the radio station, and not by the Mariners? And once he is on the M’s payroll, can we expect him to be quite so insightful? I often wonder if the repetitive and braindead nature of so many of the color men is just the result of their employer not allowing them to say what they really think.
The plural of Mike Blowers is Mikes Blowerses.
#54: there’s a term I have been using for several years to describe exact situation — “rizz-sawed” … akin to whipsawed.
#55– djever notice that when Alex wears his white batting gloves it is kinda like seeing Mickey Mouse up at bat?
#63 – I don’t see Mickey Mouse. I see the Hamburger Helper guy, one on the end of each wrist. Who swatted that ball out of Bronson Arroyo’s glove? Hamburger Helper guy. Who made 24 errors last season? Hamburger Helper guy. Who gives Jeter the best post-game rubdowns? Hamburger Helper guy.
I can’t take these changes as anything but positive. Virtually all commentators in these situations are apologists for their team to one degree or another. But maybe what we see and hear now will stop being so sickeningly sweet.
#18:
“He can take his ‘happy totals’ and stick them.”
What’s wrong with that phrase? Aren’t you happy when the M’s win?
I thought Fairly was the best play-by-play guy on the broadcast team. Great voice, and he was the one you felt was actually watching the game, which Niehaus hasn’t done for years, and Rizzs is unable to describe because of his overblown excitement.
I’ll miss Red. I wonder if my wife will continue to “channel” him…
I’m sure the Blowers drone will just put me to sleep.