Just call the game!

 

 

I am a fan of baseball.  On any given night, I will watch almost any game, regardless of which teams are playing.  Almost any baseball telecast, that is, except ones in which the announcer is a homer!

It is not unusual for me to watch a regular season MLB game in favor of a playoff game in another sport.  For the past few years, I have enjoyed my MLB Extra Innings as it allows me to watch both the home and away broadcasts of every game.  How do I choose?  WIthout a doubt, I choose based on the announcers.  I tune in to the broadcast in which the announcers are more objective.  As soon as an announcer starts whining, I flip to the opposing team’s broadcast.  It’s wonderful!

I am not going to name any names, but you know who they are.  For these homers, when things are going their team’s way, it is because their team is great.  On the other hand, when they don’t get a close call, it’s because the other team got lucky or more than likely because their team got cheated.  Just call the game!

Just as bad, are the analysts that spend the entire telecast talking about themselves and when they were playing.  STOP!  You are not playing anymore.  You are retired for a reason.  You are old and can’t play anymore.  We get it, your era was different.  That does not make you or your teammates better.  Just call the game!

I do not really mind announcers rooting for their team, but don’t act as if you are a victim of bad umpiring every time a close call does not go your way.  Tell me interesting facts about both teams, the players, and baseball in general.  Don’t give me your biased interpretation.  Leave the interpretation up to me.

There are many talented announcers that are great at calling the game objectively.  Vince Scully in Los Angeles, Dick Enberg in San Diego, and the recently retired Tim McCarver, who I listened to growing up.   Certainly there are others.  The game of baseball is better because of individuals like these who shared their knowledge of the game, not their biases.

 

Who is your favorite announcer?