The Reds are on the TV
Anyone else a little taken aback by the, um, tartness of Thom and Chris Welsh the last few nights? I realize that, after George Grande, a loud sneeze would seem candid. But man... Thom took off on Mark Berry and Adam Dunn for chatting at third base... last night, he and Welsh both ripped into Kyle Lohse for grooving a 3-2 fastball with a base open, that Chad Tracy hit for a 3-run homer. And I'm not even talking about Jeff Brantley or Marty. The former is already very comfortable opining from the booth, especially about pitching. The latter has never been shy, as we know.
Personally, I think it's great. But I'm not a Reds fan, at least not in the traditional sense. I appreciate smart candor, and these 2 guys -- and Brantley and Marty -- provide it consistently. I just wonder (1) if ownership understood what it was getting into when it brought Thom in and (2) what you, as a fan, think of such frank talk. Do you want pointed commentary? Or would you prefer platitudes and oh-wells? Lemme know.
posted by Paul Daugherty at 7:35 AM
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Post a Comment*i would rather have "opinion" than the george grande "mr. rogers" approach to calling a game...seemed tense between thom and chris when thom ripped freel for swinging at the 1st pitch and flying out when the d-backs pitcher was struggling...then hamilton comes up and works a walk...
I think Thom has been listening to his Dad too much the last few years.
Marty has become increasingly cynical as the Reds have floundered. I think his patience is gone.
Marty is at his best in the pre- and post-game. His intervews with Jerry Narron are great and his wrap-up of all the games played is good, too.
But during the game, I think his play calling has become a bit tiresome and he can really get on the players, too.
I love it. Have not heard Brantley yet, but I know Marty can get upset with pitchers real fast. Thom and Chris seem to have a good understanding of the game. As long as they are not too harsh, I hope they keep it up.
I think the candor actually makes the viewer think a little bit. It actually makes us smarter baseball fans, which is never a bad thing. I also thought it sounded tense after the Freel take, but my impression was that Welsh was taken aback that his booth-mate would actually have an opinion, rather than cheery milquetoast commentary. And, in the end, Thom was right, and Welsh knew it.
I like when they tell it like it is...Thom stated last night that the Reds have been losing for 6 years and it's more than 1 thing causing this problem. He stated this after a Arizona pitcher who has a history of wildness came in and the batter went 1-0 and then swung at another ball and made a weak out. Thom was stating the obvious.
LOVING the new announcers (Thom B. and Brantley) and DELIGHTED whenever George Grande isn't calling the game. He drives me nuts.
And they had every right to jump on Lohse for grooving a home run pitch with first base open.
They're not negative, the team is just very very sloppy. They do things that you're taught in little league not to do.
Look what happened last night. Men in scoring position in the 11th, and three guys can't manage to choke up and knock in the RBI.
Hell yeah, I want pointed commentary! Are you kidding? There is already more than enough butt-kissing and sugar-coating in announcing....especially for announcers who have to travel with the team. It's about time someone calls out these "professional" millionaire ball players when they deserve to be. That's part of an announcers job. And part of the job of a professional athlete to be subjected to it.
Personally, I love it. Thom is right on the money with Lohse, that single pitch cost the Reds the ballgame. That single pitch is also why the guy will never amount to anything as a big league pitcher, and kudos to Thom for calling Lohse out on it.
That pitch was absolutely inexcusable. Couple that with the 11th inning fiasco, a weak hitting shortstop who is unable to get a bunt down, only to compound the problem by grounding into a DP?
Freel? Simply put, the Reds gave the game away last night.
Up here in the wilderness I haven't seen any Reds TV broadcast, but I've been very happy with the radio via the web. Brantley is great. The discussion last night about Lohse in the first inning was really informative. Brantley is a worthy heir to Nuxhall.
I'm not sold on Thom yet; I never really liked him on Fox. But he does have a place in my early season highlight. Marty was criticizing Bob Huggins for a lack of loyalty, giving up a job just to go home, when Thom said, in effect, "Gee, dad, that's what I did."
Love the candid commentary and, if you really pay attention, Jeff will "predict" what will happen - what they "predict" will often occur.
A little Joe and a little George platitudes go a long way after all these years of the Reds ignoring baseball basics.
Tuesday night DirecTv had the Arizona announcers but on Monday Thom and Chris were on and I liked Thom's approach and I also thought that Chris was taken aback and a little slow on how to respond to Thom's comments.
Hey -- they're saying everything I'm thinking. 'bout time.
I really like the new "banter" that is happening between Thom and Chris. However, last night went a little too far. I think they are still getting used to eachother. As the season rolls on, and they learn eachother's style, I think we will really see some great "discussions" on baseball. I say keep it up!
I live out of town and listen through mlb's Web site. Brantley's great. He explains pitching in a way most people can understand. I was real skeptical when they named him because I'm generally not all that impressed by former players in the booth.
I love the candor. The Reds haven't had a winning team in how long? As a fan I'm frustrated and I enjoy listening to guys who aren't going to sweeten things more than they should be. I say keep it up.
The announcing this year (both radio and TV is great! much better! I don't always agree with them, but a lot more knowledge they have than I. Telling it like it is is great...and refreshing. - maybe the Reds will learn something.
Who knows, maybe even George will learn something. With Thom on the TV, maybe I will listed to the TV every now & then. Anyway to get a schedule?
I like the honesty and wealth of baseball knowledge that Thom brings. He clearly calls it like he sees it. However, I've actually sensed a little tension between Thom and Chris. Thom has seemed to challange Chris' analysis and opinion a fair amount for the season only being a week and a half old. In Thom's defense I think he has been correct when disagreeing/challenging Chris. I wonder what Chris' take is. Anyone else notice a little tension?
I have sensed the tension as well. I think as another poster said CW has been a bit taken aback by Thom's bluntness. I think it will smoothe out over time. CW seems more at ease tonight (4/11) and has been some critical himself when warranted. Such as EE not running out the pop up.
I like George...why I'm not sure but he is always sugarcoating everything. The change in banter is refreshing as are the many technical insights that have been brought by Brantley and even CW has been throwing out some gems. I like the broadcast team this year.
With Brantley and Thom, the Reds have, without a doubt, the best broadcasting team in the business. I swear, this is a dream team to me. In addition to the old reliables, Marty & Joe, we have one of the best sports announcers in Thom and a tell-it-like-it-is former player like Jeff.
I, for one, appreciate the candor. I get tired of commentators sugarcoating and taking the company line. They're broadcasters, not Yes men.
As I said, I couldn't be happier with the team in the booth. Now let's work on the team on the field.
I think it is refreshing. It's about time somebody in the booth voiced the same things that we fans are thinking as we watch the game at home. The hunky dory approach of George Grande gets stale quickly.
Having Thom on TV over Grande. Now when a pitcher covers first base on a ground ball, I won't hear commentary like, (CW, "Harang looked like a big cat running over to first base", GG, "HeHeHe, yeah like a Panther"
Thom is great and knows the game. Perfect for Reds fans.
Who listens to the commentary on TV? You can't tell what's happening when you watch a game? If you need someone to tell you, "Ground ball to Phillips to first and there's one out" you're weak.
Put on a Clash or Johnny Cash album, crank it up and turn the volume on the TV down. Or watch it in a bar.
I love how Cincinnati people, who live three blocks from where they grew up, talk about how we have "the best in the country" about all kinds of stuff.
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