38Cliches.com

Tim Wakefield

2012-02-17T18:36:00.000-08:00

Ok, this is a story I have told a few times. But,it bears repeating.

I walked up to a game at Oakland Stadium one day, and said "give me your best seat".

turned out to be in the first row down the right field line, right where the Red Sox bullpen was,
Wake was in the BP then.

I had gotten chatty with the security guy on the field during the game,. Wake goes to warm up with the KB.

Security guy ( a respectable black gentleman similar in age to me (meaning old)), turns to me and says "what the fuck is that?"

It's why I loved baseball.

Hope? Light? Trup...

2012-02-15T13:40:00.000-08:00

Longtime Houston broadcaster Milo Hamilton is announcing his retirement after the end of the 2012 season. One Houston columnist has already weighed in with this sentiment

" Some, and rightly so, might lobby for the return of Jerry Trupiano in some fashion, be it on radio or as part of the new Comcast Sports Net Houston TV deal that cranks up on the Astros front next season. "

That would be nice.

Guess Who's Mug Is Going To Be On The TV?

2012-02-14T05:20:00.003-08:00

Glenn Geffner.

God Save Us.

This Blog Has Reached The Big Time

2012-02-14T05:06:00.003-08:00

Some might say this is simply ripping me off. I prefer to think of it as an homage.

No Disrespect But

2012-02-12T07:14:00.001-08:00

The New York Times has a front page story with the byline of Benyamin Applebaum and Robert Gebeloff. What's wrong, the fake names of Lin Biao and Frank Sanchez were taken?

There Is A Diety

2012-01-29T08:58:00.000-08:00

Glenn Geffner is now on Twitter.

@glenngeffner

and, go.

Fast 12 Hours Before Viewing This Video

2012-01-10T04:26:00.000-08:00

Glenn Geffner 2012

Frick

2011-12-21T05:04:00.000-08:00

Bill Conlin is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Glenn Geffner is not and will not be.

Bill Conlin vs. Glenn Geffner

2011-12-20T16:53:00.000-08:00

Tough call.

Words to The Unwise

2011-11-16T04:11:00.000-08:00

It takes one man to make an alibi, it takes a bunch to destroy it. Al you lazy whores who are monetizing the notion of "cloud sourcing" as the wisdom of the crowds, or some stupid shit, why don't you apply it to that shit, fuck, twat hellhole that is State College PA, when football coaches fuck little kids, get away with it and call it horseplay, and where their lawyers fuck slightly older kids while representing them, impregnate them, marry them and dump them.

How about having some stones up the in State College, where you all knew about.

Right, I'm just a little pissed off.

The End

2011-09-29T07:26:00.000-07:00

Things change.

In 2003, I woke up feeling as if an irradiated sword had been shoved in my abdomen and twisted into my descending colon. Today, I have to paint something and do some paying work.

As sdu so aptly pointed out in the middle of (our) night, BG wrote that “the game is designed to break your heart”. True, I suppose. In 2003, BG, was a God of Letters. In 2011, he is the dead dad of the guy who is always the gay punchline on Saturday Night Live and the dead former president of the school where Ryan Lavarnway matriculated.

These Red Sox didn’t deserve to win. Maybe we did, the sick-fuck fans who followed every hairline fracture, HR Derby slideback, antique bookstore opening (sorry hb) and trips to Fla, API and whatnot. Also, the Laser Show might want to dial it back just a smidge. For me, I tapped out during the “Rain Delay” featuring Nick Cafardo (or was it Gordon Edes ) and Heidi (“if you can’t see my labia, you are not trying”) Watney. I skipped the John “I’m John Rish” Rish rain delay coverage on the former Dale Arnold Network. Five hours later, I learned The Truth. I posted a comment. I went right back to sleep.

Things change. As my friend, Touré points out, it’s a “post-Black” world. http://www.npr.org/2011/09/27/140854965/toure-discusses-what-it-means-to-be-post-black.
Try telling that to the Republican/Tea party honks, for whom “Obama Care” really means “Nigger Care”. And while we are at it, and I wish this was my original line, but it is not: “For the Greatest Generation, they sure said “nigger” a lot. Things change.
So, let’s move on. The sun has already come up. Bruce Chen will not be starting in Tampa at 4:07pm. John Lackey can go fucking dirty beasts whilst his cancer suffering wife reads the pre-nup again. [ Let’s face it, girls, he’s a catch.] Tito may get fired. He doesn’t deserve it. Theo may get fired. The Pink Hats will dissipate. Maybe I’ll be able to buy a ticket in May, and the gentleman of an ethnic persuasion (let’s just say they fared poorly in WWII) who stole the tickets I subsidized for ten years and then took them back may have to eat a pound or six of ticket shit.
I loved the Red Sox.

Things change.
lc

It Was Hot in Baltimore

2011-07-20T12:50:00.001-07:00

Listened to a good part of Today's game.

Dale was stuck on just a few topics.

1. It was hot.

2. Andrew Miller was kind of bad, but pulled it together. (6 different occasions in one inning.

But, the won.

Glenn in the Big Boy Chair?

2011-07-19T10:57:00.001-07:00

Dave van Horne, the Marlins broadcaster who is being honored at the Hall of Fame this weekend for the lifetime achievement of not strangling Glenn Geffner to death during the three plus years that he has suffered the indignity of being Geffner's partner, will not be broadcasting this weekend, since he will be at Cooperstown.

If it were me, I wouldn't go back.

In any event, Glenn will be the senior announcer in the booth Thursday-Sunday, and according to a hard hitting story in the Palm Beach Post today, "Bill Beck, the Marlins' recently retired traveling secretary, will fill in for Van Horne, joining Glenn Geffner in the booth."

Sounds like a powerhouse duo: Glennski and some old guy. Because I care, I will be listening and will try to give you some "highlights" unless I puke up my pancreas in the process of listening.

Bill Beck ten years ago hugs Tony Gwynne

Also, here's an importnt update on Glenn Geffner's Twitter popularity

He has 12 followers after 4 months. I am one of them, and there are two more with the last name of Geffner who follow him. He is really catching on in South Florida

Trup.NPR. Really

2011-07-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

Apparently, JT has a gig doing the Cape All Star Game for the NPR outlet on the Cape.
The less said the better.

Hold The Lettuce

2011-07-05T06:11:00.001-07:00

Glenn Geffner interviewing an alleged All Star from the marlins, an alleged Major League Team.

By The Way

2011-07-03T19:51:00.000-07:00

I am a "recognized thought leader in Boston sports".

Fuck You Google How About an Invitation to Google Plus

2011-07-03T19:50:00.000-07:00

Just sayin'

This Or That

2011-07-03T14:29:00.001-07:00

Ok, it has been a while between posts, but the fact is that when you team is winning (mostly) and the radio people don't suck (mostly) what do you want from me? Just gratuitous oral sex references directed at J. Rish? I didn't think so.

But anyway, the BIG NEWS is that somebody's hero, Jerry Trupiano, is returning to Fenway Park for the first time since he got railed by management in 2006. You have to pay attention, but here's the news:

It's been five years since the Red Sox let broadcaster Jerry Trupiano go, but he’s also in the group of Houston radio icons that get mentioned from time to time.

And, in his case, we actually have an update to report: Trupiano is still looking for a full-time gig, preferably in baseball, but he said Thursday he is returning for the first time since the Red Sox let him go to Fenway Park, where he will broadcast the Cape Cod League’s All-Star Game.

ouch

meanwhile, although I have not posted much lately, I have been doing my research, and for you, and only you I have listened to Glenn Geffner on the Marlins broadcasts the last three nights. I have multiple illegal ways of accessing AtBat11, so don't even try. As for Geffner, he would be more entertaining if he was blowing a goat live on the air. No disrespect.

Sunday. Rish.

2011-06-19T11:58:00.000-07:00

Three straight days of John Rish in the saddle because Dave "my shit don't stink" O'Brien is calling the College World Series on the Worldwide Leader We don't even get Dale Arnold, who had laser surgery on his eyes and got railed by having to do a Red Sox game on the night of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup.

I don't understand what Entercomm is doing but they suck balls on the Red Sox calls. Rish is reprehensible. Now I have turned against O'Brien.

Things are so bad that they brought in white Joe Morgan to squeak for a few.

TO

2011-06-13T07:29:00.001-07:00

Ya well, went to Toronto for the three game set. Poor John Farrell.

Toronto is a bad team. Rogers Center is a good pahk, but they have hockey-rinked it up, with Boom Kapow, visual exclamation points, which makes it even more pathetic. I have been to a few pahks recently where the product on the field is obscured by the digital hoo-hah, and TO has fallen into that trap. A few observations:

1. J Bautista is the only thing they have going for them. So, Friday night was a four hour "Vote For Jose" flog-fest, complete with buttons, "campaign" ads and t-shirts. He'll make the All-Star team, relax up there.

2. Saturday, what to say? 16-4? Was it? I kind of lost track. Friday night's third baseman pitched in the 8th or ninth for the Jays, topping out at 75 mph. Saving the bully for Sunday I guess, How did that work out? One thing that you might not have noticed during the game was that it was Blue Jays' Kids days, and the poor little beasts/kids had to slog through another 4 hour blood bath to run the bases. It was ugly.

3. Ok, Sunday. I was sure I was going to see a no-hittah by Dashboard Lestah, except that pesky JB screamed a linah off the top of the CF fence that bounced up and out. Ells was pissed he didn't catch it. Lestah was, to put it mildly, unhittable. The problem was, he kept having to sit in the dugout waiting for the carousel of RS runners to get three outs, mostly by means of JD Drew K's. Man, does Drew look like shit. Papi's HR was one of the hardest hit balls I have ever seen, rising, as it hit the lower deck in right field.

4. On my eternal quest for beer more expensive than that at Fenway, I have succeeded. Rogers sells a half litre can of Stella for CDN$10.25. For those of you scoring at home, that's USD$10.50. Tasty, but expensive. It's 5% beer, but still.

5. This pretty much sums things up

While You Are Waiting for The Sox to Get to .500

2011-05-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

Try This

Start. Stop

2011-04-29T11:11:00.001-07:00

Don't even get me started on Rick Dempsey. What a waste of air time.

Dale for Two

2011-04-26T11:05:00.000-07:00

With Obie on West Coast on Wednesday Night, Dale will cover the first two games of the Orioles' tilt with Boston on Tuesday and Wednesday. Obie back Thursday, doubtless.

420

2011-04-21T08:48:00.001-07:00

Dave O'Brien is a pro. A real steam roller: "right through there"

Dale Arnold is a pro. Different style. I enjoy them both. Dale's facility, or should i say, obsession, with Twitter has brought a new dimension to the Same Old Joe Show this year, one which, in small doses, is most enjoyable.

More importantly, has anybody noticed this?

When O'Brien does the game, he always does the first inning now (no longer just on weekends). Neither he nor Joe is introduced as "the Voice of the Boston Red Sox"

When Dale is on, Joe goes to the first inning call, and is introduced by Dale as "The Voice of the Boston Red Sox", as has been customary for years.

Day Twelve: Dice-K

2011-04-12T14:06:00.000-07:00

If you don't have anything nice to say, well, then....

Day Eleven

2011-04-11T06:48:00.001-07:00

I went to the park on Friday, which, if you are scoring at home, and I hope that you are, was the sole win of the season before last night. I have been a critic of the lipstickonapigization of Fenway, but I got my comeuppance on Friday. The underneath of the dump, i.e the main concourse, was refitted this winter. It looks spectacular. Lots of fresh concrete for us to shed tears on for years in the future. It really opens up the look of the place and reminds you of what a modern ballpark is all about. As much as it pains me to say it, job well done. They should have done that first, rather than last, but what do I know.

And then there is the scoreboard. I fell for their gag, by the way. If you haven't read about it, it goes something like this: enter the park on Friday all giddy about green grass and the new scoreboard. I look up and the thing looks exactly like the old one. Same grainy pixels and weak ad signs surrounding the picture. Wait, what? I had seen them craning the thing into the park about a month ago, so I figured something was amiss.

Then, after Yaz trundled into the park from left field, epitomizing the shibboleth "time is a bitch", they did the big reveal and the grainy picture melted into a mega HD screen. A friend ( yup, I have a friend) who works for the Red Sox said they had been practicing that move for a week. Sweet. The Board operator was a little slow on the trigger for some of the in game stats, but the thing is massive, and not quite as distracting as the screen at Nationals park, where you find yourself watching the screen, as opposed to the game.

So, baseball's back. Now let's try to win a few

Day Eight. Evening

2011-04-08T18:06:00.000-07:00

Ah Fenway.

A return from Opening Day. Sox win. John Lackey nibbles his way to an undeserved win.

More later, but one thing to say: I have been a constant critic of the "lipstickonapigization" of the ballpark. Even so, wait until you see what they did with the piss-stained concourse underneath. Nearly breathtaking. Lots of freshly poured concrete to capture our tears and swilled beer for decades to come.

Aside from Lackey, the day was a redemption tour for the bullpen, so good for them.

Day Eight: Opening Day at Fenway

2011-04-08T05:08:00.000-07:00

Here's what you need to know:

Things got off to a rocky start for the hometown favorites, with a succession of losses that included a couple of embarrassing poundings.

Seven games into their new season, they were 2-5. They subsequently sank to 2-9 before they started to get things figured out.

And then, the Minnesota Twins won the World Series.

By the way, I listened to the Marlins game last night. Even I almost feel sorry for Glenn Geffner. I listened for two innings before I ever heard his voice. Then, he literally had to be granted permission by Dave Van Horne to say something out loud.

Day Seven- Afternoon

2011-04-07T11:51:00.000-07:00

ok, that was bad.

If my math is correct, The Boston Red Sox have won __one__ game in the last three weeks, the barnburner vs. the Astros a week ago Wednesday.

Fenway should be an ugly place tomorrow. See you there.

Day Seven- Morning

2011-04-07T06:19:00.000-07:00

Oh well.

Dice K is donating a million dollars for every game he starts that ends in less than 3 hours. The money's safe. Should have made it 100 million.

Dale is in Chicago to call a Celtics game, so his replacement, Dave O'Brien will be locked and load for the noontime tilt at the Flo.

Something good might happen.

Day Six

2011-04-06T15:16:00.001-07:00

For some reason, Blogger is not very iPad friendly.

Which is fine, since what is there to say about a 4 hit performance before 31,651 empty seats at the Jake last night. Maybe they should call it the Flo, since Progressive Insurance, home of the ubiquitous Flo has the naming rights.

On the radio side, there is another night with the estimable Dale Arnold, who, in addition to being an engaging broadcaster, also Tweets, sometimes with critical things to say about The Home Team. Good on ya, Dale. They kind of stink, presently.

But, hope springs eternal, even with the inscrutable DK on the mound.

Plus Thursday's game starts at noon, so I imagine my employer will pay me for a live blog of the broadcast.

also, a ticket for the opener fell into my lap, so I'll be there Friday

Day Five

2011-04-05T10:15:00.000-07:00

A much needed breather. Look at it this way, you might have listened (as I did) to yesterday's snooze fest between the Tigers and Baltimore. The iPad AtBat app, although substantially overpriced is like heroin to those of us who like to listen to meaningless games.

Dale Arnold is apparently on deck for the next two games--OBie being at the female final four, and then on to Wednesday night baseball.

The second season begins. Now.

Day Four

2011-04-04T06:18:00.000-07:00

In ye Olden Days, the season seemed to open in KC and there were metaphorical rugburns aplenty. I found nothing to encourage my wanting soul over the weekend, and feel rather unhappy about the state of things.

Saltini ( I refuse to learn how to spell his name until he gets a hit) was disappointing.

Even Carl Crawford had gone corporate. He must have spent half of his 2011 salary getting the bad ass tattoo faded from his neck. What next, John Beckett going all Gwyneth Paltrow in a guest star turn on Glee?

Anyhow, Mitch Albom, or whatever that guys name is looked ok on one day before they shut the lights off.

Finally, Dale Arnold is several cuts above John "I'm John Rish" Rish, so there's that. He's a real pro and his skill showed up for the two games he called over the weekend.

day Three

2011-04-02T18:47:00.000-07:00

Day Two Semi Sort of Live Blog of the First Radio Broadcast

2011-04-01T12:59:00.000-07:00

(courtesy Dale Arnold: used without any permission at all)

4:00 pm RIP Lou Gorman. He distinguished himself as the first RS GM with more than half a brain to come along in my lifetime. Anderson-Bagwell, blaHBLAH BLAH. You would have done the same thing.

The radio open, at least for today is customized to the lineup, thus rendering it even longer, if that's possible. Actually, somebody screwed up, since JD Drew was in the open, but Cameron is in right field.

Joe tells us it's 80 and sunny. I have a foot of snow in my driveway. Baseball, as A.B. Giamatti is oft quoted, is cruel. No more so than on the April day in NE.

[update] 4:06 pm

How crazy is this lineup?

[update] 4:09 pm

Although it happened on weekends last year, O'Brien actually started the call of the game as Joe C introduced him. tick tock Joe C

[update] 4:12 pm

Rangers' OF drops a fly ball, Ellsbury on second. Maybe they will go 162-0, after all.

[update] 4:17 pm

Youuuuuuuk. 1-0

It took eight minutes for the following phrases to be uttered:

"keep that line moving"

"the error came back to haunt them"

AGon, 2-0

[update] 4:23 pm

First veiled slam of Jeter occurs

Report From The Front-Day One

2011-03-31T11:36:00.000-07:00

report from the front:

of course, I turned on the satellite radio during the "errand" I had to run at about 1:05 pm. Kathy Griffin and The Great Oz, live from MFYS.

One of the Tigers got a "single" off of Jeter's glove in the second.

Baseball's back, and it feels damn good.

You Have Been Warned

2011-03-22T06:53:00.001-07:00

Glenn Geffner is now on Twitter. After two weeks, he now has 4 followers, including me.

Trup 2.0

2011-03-12T09:40:00.000-08:00

Then, there's this, which defies words

Trup

2011-03-12T08:54:00.001-08:00

A few days ago, I reported on Jerry Trupiano's Youtube channel, apparently designed to show off his broadcasting skills in order to get a new gig.

Now, Jerry has kicked it up a notch, creating a website to the same end

JMTMedia.com

It promotes "Media Services Available"

* Play-by-play baseball, football, basketball, hockey and boxing

* Talk Show Host

* Sports Anchor

* Interviewer

* Commercial Spokesperson

* Voice over Talent

* After Dinner Speaker

* Emcee For Corporate Functions

* Writer

It also has testimonials (dated March 2011) from both Joe Buck and Jim Nantz

Jim Nantz, CBS Sports
"Jerry Trupiano is the consummate play-by-play man. No one in the business is better at calling a baseball game than Jerry. He's smart, quick-witted, laser sharp and excitable in all the right places. I respect him more than anyone and credit him for not only hiring me while I was still in college but also with teaching me the fundamentals of broadcasting." March 9, 2011

Joe Buck, Fox Sports
"This site contains the work of one of the best announcers in the game. Jerry Trupiano is accurate, a hard worker, knowledgeable and a great guy. Any team would be lucky to have him. My dad, Jack would say the
same thing." March 9, 2011

Mike Mutnansky has a gig and JT doesn't? Come on, people....

Remembering Fenway Park

2011-03-10T10:32:00.000-08:00

As Opening Day approaches, a surfeit of baseball books hits the shelves. (I am speaking metaphorically here, since the shelves of bookstores, are going the way of the Studebaker)

The baseball fan's need for something new to fill the space between game hours is considerable.

On the other hand, we're all broke, and we have to save up for the next tablet device, so we can't buy all of the books about the National Pastime that are out there. I am grateful that, in my position as "a thought leader in Boston sports", PR people will send me baseball books to look at. ( I turned down the new Derek Jeter coloring book, so I do have my limits). Also that last sentence meets my obligations to the Federal Trade Commission, which insists that I disclose if I write about free stuff. It's a stupid rule that only I follow by thew way.

Here's one you need to buy:

Remembering Fenway Park

Now, the peiced together oral history has been done countless times, most notably in a book I still look at a couple of times a year, namely Fenway, by Peter Golenbock. But, the thing was published in 1992 and so, let's face it, misses out on a couple of things I like to call World Championships,

not to mention 1999, and, dare I say October 2003.

So, for my money (actually yours), you should pick up the Frommer book. It not only has great stories and oral histories, but it has pictures of the old ballpark (known in my house as The House that beer Built).

It also includes, at about page 102, a story by Jerry Casale, about how he felt the night he gave up the Grand Slam to Gus Triandos of the Orioles in the late innings and lost the game 5-2. This is significant to me, because I was there that night, and I have never forgotten it, have told the story countless times, to vacant stares for the most part. Up until I read Casale's comments I was convinced a) it never happened or b) I was the only person left alive who was there that night. (I just checked and Jerry Casale is still with us)

There are some good stories about Ted Williams, and the urine troughs in the men's rooms, now dearly departed are described in as excruciating detail as I remember them being. The memories about the vicious drunks in the stands are few and far between, but that's a minor quibble.

The pictures and layout are truly wonderful, and I get not a penny from its sale.

Make this the one baseball book you buy this year.

(There, that should make the cover blurb on the softcover edition)

Um

2011-03-07T11:42:00.000-08:00

I hate to say it, but it seems like Jerry Trupiano is still looking for a broadcasting gig.

On March 5, a few examples of his work -- across a number of sports-- were posted on a dedicated You Tube channel

All You Need To Know

2011-03-02T15:29:00.000-08:00

Glenn Geffner

SCORECASTING: Recommended Reading

2011-02-24T06:04:00.000-08:00

One of the benefits to being "a recognized opinion-maker in Boston Sports" is that I get free books to read and toss away or be excited about from PR people promoting the book. This is a peculiarly inefficient way of developing "buzz" or "word of mouth" for a hard copy book which might other wise be ignored. But, hey, who am I to complain.

One of the downsides to this is that I get offered books that turn my stomach (I was offered a clip show book about Derek Jeter, and basically said I wouldn't blow my nose with it, because, well, I don't like the guy). Another downside is that i have to disclose under FTC Rules which are stupid, primarily because I am the only person that follows them, that I got a free book that I am going to talk about.

But, here's one that I highly recommend: Scorecasting, by Tobias and Wertheim. It's out now.

You should both read it and buy it.

Through statistical analysis of a granularity and depth which will amaze and mystify, it shows, among other things:

1. Refs in all sports favor the home team, unconsciously, for the most part.

2. Always go for it on "4th and two"

3. Why team chemistry matters.

Sadly, it fails to explain why J.D.Drew doesn't get arrested for stealing money every week when he deposits his paycheck, or why Larry Lucchino manages to sell 54,892 eight dollar beers on game days using only 17 kegs, but maybe they are awaiting Scorecasting 2.0

There's a lot of great stuff in the book. It is lucidly written, and shows a real sports fan's sensibility, whilst dealing with a lot of data that you probably didn't know existed.

End. Beginning.

2011-02-23T11:12:00.000-08:00

I had the privilege of being a listener to the last 1.5 hours of the Dale and Holley Show, today, their last day as a team.

The both handled it with clarity, class and composure.

Well done.

Dale mentioned at the end that he will be doing the Red Sox Broadcast in March at the Houston ballpark and will be doing "4 Red Sox games and 2 Celtics games" in the first week of April.

Meanwhile........

Keep Your Enemies Close, Friends on The Weekends

2011-02-18T05:48:00.001-08:00

Apparently forced into a corner by my brilliant surgical evisceration of his management style, not to mention reason for being, Jason Wolfe fired back at me yesterday in a blog posting by Rob Bradford.

He didn't sound too remorseful about kicking his "friend" Dale Arnold to the curb.

Dale's Burden

2011-02-17T12:20:00.001-08:00

Here's a link to Dale explaining his circumstances: "it's their radio station"

Memo To Jason Wolfe

2011-02-17T01:15:00.000-08:00

Listen, I'm not Dale Arnold's biggest fan, but dumping him in midday was really stupid. Have you no sense? The guy made Eddie Andleman (is he still alive?) listenable, not to mention Neumier and a few others.

When is the Yankee elimination party, anyways?

Mike Mutnansky? Please. I suppose if you are paying minimum wage... but I'd do better radio day in and out than him.

No I'm not available.

So Dale does Wednesdays for the Red Sox and fills in for D%C.

Also Larry Glick sucked for all those years. Not your fault.

If you had any balls at all, you'd dump the local midday show, which now is horseshit (or will be on 2/28) and commit to Jim Rome for 5 years.

You didn't ask but I'm just saying

BREAKING... Rish Full Time On Rain Delays, now

2011-02-16T15:18:00.000-08:00

Along with being tossed out of the WEEI midday role, reportedly being replaced by soundalike Mike Mutnansky, Dale Arnold will pick up the Wednesday duties on radio with Joe C, when Obie is being Obie on ESPN on Wednesdays. Dale's loss is our gain, as John "I'm John Rish" Rish was ill-suited for the long haul of a 7 month baseball season. Here's how it was reported in the ever-shrinking Boston Herald:

Arnold said he will be WEEI’s “designated vacation fill-in host,” which amounts to about 100 days a year. He will also be filling in for Celtics [team stats] play-by-play announcer Sean Grande and Red Sox [team stats] play-by-play announcer Dave O’Brien for about 25 to 30 summer baseball games.

@GlobeChadFinn had his rehash here
More coming..

The Futah Is Now

2011-02-09T10:23:00.001-08:00

09 February 2011. AGon in Fort Meyers

Let's Play (and Listen To) Two

2011-02-07T13:00:00.001-08:00

The Spring Training Radio Broadcast schedule has been released.

It features two games (admittedly against the college fellas) on February 26.

Untold Riches, Bitches

2011-01-31T09:13:00.001-08:00

In Red SSox news, shitty seats were being sold over the internets all weekend. I receive incessant updates from Luscious relating to good seats still being available for selected Red SSox games. having been cut off from my season tickets by a terrorist last season, I am on my own to get tickets. It worked out pretty well the one time I went last year, as faithful readers of my comments will recall that Ms. lc and I bought facevalue tickets on SStubHub on day of game and ended up sitting within beer flinging distance of the 35 year old "bat boy" that the RSS have. With much time on my hands over the weekend for reasons too gruesome to recount, I took the bait to try to snap up some of the gold that Larry was purveying.

Waiting Room on the Internet? I laugh and guffaw at such things. Got right in. Now I'm giddy. I picked a Sunday game in July against the Orioles (the dictionary definition of "good seats still available", I'm thinking). Right about the time AGon will be hitting his 100th home run over the inviting Green Monstah, not to mention the likelihood that CC Deville and Jacoby Rugburn will both be closing in on 480 steals for the summah (all things are possible in late January).

Silly, stupid fuckedinthehead me.

What sweet seats was I offered ("best available" motherfuckers, I've got cash to burn)?

GS section 36. 4 or them. Wait, what's this little red dot next to the seats? Obstructed view, you say? 55 dollars a pop? Go shit in your hat, Larry.

Then, purely for entertainment purposes, I tried another game. Sweet Standing Room tickets for 20 dollars... about ten more than I use to pay for field boxes 30 years ago. Um, no thanks.

What a bunch of horseshit. Note that for both games, over 5000 tickets are already available on SStubHub, i.e. Larry''s pocketbook.

More Rish on Wednesdays

2011-01-28T12:24:00.001-08:00

With the news today that Obie will be doing the Wednesday Night ESPN games, with Mr. Nomar Hamm, well, that means that John ("I'm John Rish") Rish will be populating the booth with Joe C unless Entercom finally figures out that he is not much of a placeholder, which I am not very hopeful about.

Also Sean McDonough and his speech imperfections will return to ESPN baseball on Mondays.

Welcome To the New Year

2011-01-25T06:41:00.001-08:00

It's a new start and more fun than stripping boogers onto your backup's coat.

The agony of defeet

Hi kids

2010-12-08T18:45:00.001-08:00

Lou and Joe

2010-08-05T05:44:00.000-07:00

As promised, Lou Merloni played second mike for Joe C. in the abysmal game versus the Massilon Indians last night. He didn't do bad.

He made some rookie mistakes, such as repeatedly saying "as I said earlier" and being terified that a wee bit of non-talking time would arise during the broadcast. The most trenchant analysis was provided by Mrs. LC, who said in the third inning, "this is going to be a long night for Joe". It was, in many ways.

Lou told a lot of stories from his playing days. You wonder what he would have left to say if he did another game tonight.

On Deck

2010-08-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

Lou Merloni will be in the booth with Joe tonight, in John Rish's absence do to the death of Mr. Rish's father.

Obie, of course, is on the ESPN Wednesday game as per (mostly) usual.

No word on whether Nomar, Jr. will actually do PBP or just be second mike. He does a well above average job on his other media gigs.

I Know Nothing

2010-07-21T06:32:00.000-07:00

Dave O'Brien was in Oakland last night, presiding over a Red Sox loss. Rish sounded like he was in an oatmeal box back in Boston.

Rish In The Saddle

2010-07-20T13:29:00.000-07:00

Apparently Dave O'Brien chose not to follow the foundering team to Oakland, given his east Coast duties for ESPN on Wednesday.

Therefore, we look forward to three loooonnngggg games with John Rish and Joe C. from Oakland. Rish is serviceable in small doses, but he's not a major league announcer.

No Ink Is Bad Ink

2010-07-02T07:50:00.000-07:00

Unless...

you make the list of the FIVE WORST BASEBALL BROADCASTERS OF ALL TIME.

Update

2010-06-29T06:15:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted for a while, and you have all survived, so I guess that's progress.

As far as Robert Byrd goes, good riddance.

Joe becomes Part Of the Story

2010-06-14T07:15:00.000-07:00

Daniel Nava

What A Treat

2010-06-06T06:49:00.000-07:00

"Marlins lead radio play-by-play announcer Dave Van Horne had an off-day Saturday, and he will be back on Sunday. Bill Beck, the Marlins' senior director of team travel, filled in for Van Horne, joining Glenn Geffner"

Clown Suit

2010-06-01T05:22:00.000-07:00

Is this really necessary?

I've Lived Too Long

2010-05-28T17:21:00.001-07:00

Kevin Millar is in the "Legends Box" at the game tonight

Wiki

2010-05-26T12:37:00.000-07:00

That's the Florida manger's nickname for our lost soul,

Genn Geffner

I guess I don't have to explain it to you people, but in case you can't figure it out, here's the story

Day Baseball At Fenway

2010-05-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

Dennis Drinkwater is on the radio!!!!!

Hoo-rah

He said John Rish does good work, by which I took him to mean that Glenn Geffner is gone.

2010-05-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

RIP ERNIE HARWELL

Taking Stock

2010-05-03T05:47:00.000-07:00

Well, ok then. 25 games into the season and the RS are at a blistering .440 pace, with no evidence of effort or talent being displayed by the team.

So, rather than dwell on that, try these on for size:

The Red Sox Broadcast is actually pretty interesting, given the substance of what is happening on the field.

Dave and Joe seem very comfortable with each other, and Dave even gets in a few jabs now and then (in a friendly way of course).

The new announcing pattern, first discussed here has taken shape: weekend games (Fr, Sa, Su)

O'Brien calls innings 1 and 2, Joe, 3 & 4, and so on. During the week, the pattern is reversed. Rish is on Wednesdays, as always. The pregame show lasts about 6.5 hours now, so Rish has a lot of content responsibility. I'm still not a big fan, but he's no Glenn Geffner. I'd be speculating if I thought that Obie was just trying to avoid three weekly reads of that stupid memorabilia spot that someone has to voice in the third inning. But, that's inside baseball, and I'm just a dopey listener.

Another curious development is that the music bumpers into each half inning now seem to have some relevance to the game (e.g. a couple of Rush songs when it was mentioned that Geddy Lee was at the ball park in Toronto on night last week; the song "Pressure" leading into, well, a pressure situation during the execrable finale of the Oriole's game on Sunday). All in all, who ever is doing it has caught my attention and admiration. It makes it fun.

First Sunset Of The Long Season

2010-04-30T08:19:00.001-07:00

Say Goodnight, Boston

More Here

Gone, Forgotten

2010-04-26T11:40:00.000-07:00

At least here's not coming here and forcing Geffner on us again.

Has It Come to This?

2010-04-22T06:34:00.000-07:00

Justin Bieber

Here's a guy who refers to Glenn Geffner as ("one of the best in the biz").

Um, OK

Taylor Swift

Changeup

2010-04-16T17:39:00.000-07:00

{updated Monday April 19]

The pattern remained changed Saturday and Sunday, but the reverted for the Patriot's Day game.

All of the games sucked, by the way

A bit of a departure tonight on the Red Sox Broadcast....

Dave O'Brien and Joe C have switched positions... Dave calling the first two innings, Joe the third and fourth. Dave back on in the fifth.

This is the reverse of the normal pattern.

I don't know if they referenced it on the broadcast, since the local affiliate apparently has a 4 year old on the board, who insists on running spots into the first batter of every inning.

Developing?

Willie Mays

2010-04-15T12:03:00.000-07:00

I realize that most people read this space because I am a cranky, short-tempered individual who (occasionally) has something to say.

So, if you are looking for a zinger today, look elsewhere. Several weeks ago I read the new biography of Willie Mays. It's called Jim Hirsch’s “WILLIE MAYS: The Life, the Legend” (Scribner). I highly recommended it. Here's why.

Hirsch had access to Mays and his family and the story is well-researched. Equally as important, it doesn't pull punches, describing Mays' childhood in the South, his almost suicidal tendency to work himself into the ground on the field, and several racial/racist experiences he had, particularly in San Francisco.

It's a story of baseball life in a different time and space, although not that long ago. The reason I haven't written about it before is that i wanted to test my reaction on someone else-- in this case my mid-20's aged son, who grew up in an era of (relative) racial enlightenment and who loves baseball. he also loves the book and seems to be reading it as a cultural archaeologist, rather than a baseball fan. I was alive in the 50's-he wasn't. These are different lives and lives that are lost without being reminded of the hard work, rough knocks, separate hotels and downright stupidity of the 40's and 50's in racial America. As always, baseball provides the vehicle for cultural commentary without the author's risking being preachy or moralizing.

Hirsch pulls it off, for both me and my son. Well done, sir.

Here's a link to it on Amazon.

[I am bound by the idiotic rules of the Federal Trade Commission to disclose that I got a free copy of the book from the publisher, in hopes that I would read and comment on it. I was under no obligation to like the book, nor write about it, so take that FTC.]

Good Sign

2010-04-15T10:26:00.001-07:00

Dave O'Brien is back in the early afternoon saddle today, after doing a late ESPN game in HOU last night.

He has a different approach on TV than as Joe C's sidekick.

[nice to see Mike Lowell spank a single his first time up]

Back In The Saddle

2010-04-10T06:05:00.000-07:00

Dave O'Brien was back with Joe C last night.

He sounded fairly bored.

Now, That's Baseball

2010-04-07T17:24:00.000-07:00

Great to see Steven Tyler and Peter Wolf's wig in the NESN broadcast booth tonight announcing the Aerosmith/Geils(really?) concert at The House That Beer Built later this summer.

Meanwhile, Obie has made it back to Fenway, just not on the radio.

Read About A Real Pro

2010-04-05T18:10:00.001-07:00

Ernie Harwell

2010 Game One- Same Old Jive

2010-04-04T16:29:00.000-07:00

Yup it's Opening Day, and the blood courses through one's veins as the Boston Red Sox prepare to return to, and so forth and so on.

Joe Castiglione and Dave O'Brien are in San Antonio for the NCAA Women's Final Four on ESPN. [go Cardinal].

Fortunately, the Joe Castiglione in San Antone is the Athletic Director of Oklahoma ( at least until he gets fired later this month).

Unfortunately, the Real Joe Castiglione is at Fenway with-- wait for it-- John Rish on the radio.

Same Old Shyte

[early game update]

I am in a far away place tonight, so I have to listen to the game on MLB Gameday Audio. Now, this is a self-renewing annual subscription and the crooks at MLB charged my card about two weeks ago. Tonight, I went looking for the link. Couldn't find it. In it's place was Game Day Audio with some graphics add-on. Something I would have to pay another fee for. After about 20 minutes, I found the "old" Game Day Audio under "alternative audio". It was buried. I bet a lot of people can't find it.

[further update]

Glad to see that the tradition of in game yammering by advertisers has started up again. The dope Elliot from Jordon's furniture got to yap about his free furniture giveaway for about 25 minutes. it's a sham. He buys an insurance policy to underwrite the eventuality that the condition of the contest will be met (in this case a RS player hitting his sign--that old gag). He also changed the rules during the inning. He started out by saying that if a player didn't hit his stupid sign, then everyone would get "20% back". He later said that if a player didn't hit the sign, then the dopey customer would get 20% of his purchase off a future purchase. Big difference and insulting even to the intelligence of RSN.

Good Evening, Dennis Drinkwater!

RIP Fess Parker

2010-03-18T13:06:00.000-07:00

A gentleman.

Words, Words

2010-02-25T11:47:00.000-08:00

OK, a sign that things are picking up, or breaking down, depending on your perspective.

Glenn Gefner has a blog from Spring Training 2010.

This is probably because the local press doesn't care much about the Marlins. Sort of like the
hockey team that paid a blogger to cover them.

Kindly note that there is a tedious bonus: video from Glenn

Old School

2010-02-19T05:43:00.001-08:00

It's Alive

2010-02-16T05:27:00.000-08:00

Dan Meyer

Rick VandenHurk, whoever that is.

Glenn Geffner at Marlins FanFest.

Glenn, salad bar. Salad bar, Glenn. I'd like to introduce you two.

Can Geffner Be Far Behind?

2010-01-29T09:20:00.001-08:00

On a cold day, some bone-chilling news:

Larry Lucchino, who has longstanding ties to Steinberg dating to their days with the Orioles in the '70s, said on WEEI's "Dennis and Callahan" program this morning that the club has made Steinberg an offer to return.

Steinberg, of course, was personally responsible for the execrable Glenn Geffner, both in the Red Sox front office and on the radio broadcasts.

The Dandy Dentist and the Scourge of the Airwaves

Stay Focussed, Stop Struggling

2010-01-26T06:10:00.000-08:00

In a sure sign that there will be baseball sometime in our immediate future, the annual visit of Joe C. to Bangor, Maine to do their live Hot Stove show.

Read about it here in the Bangor Daily News

Dave hasn't hit many salad bars in his basketball travels.

On a positive note, no mention of Glenn Geffner.

Fair Warning

2010-01-09T06:38:00.000-08:00

One Man's Meat

2010-01-05T07:44:00.001-08:00

This Red Sox team is boring

Ouch

2009-12-30T05:46:00.000-08:00

Here

During the few painful minutes I listened, Troop uttered the phrase "my career has come to this" at least two or three times. Sadly, I don't think it was part of his radio-show banter...it sounded sincere. I guess it can happen to anyone.

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

2009-12-21T12:41:00.000-08:00

{As always, apologies to Roger Angell]

Greetings, Friends
Please draw near
To hear about last Red Sox' year.

The triumphs, the failures
The weak and the strong
The boneheads, the Lugos
J.Bay and beyond

Say hey, Kevin Youkillis,
He of the chin mop,
Zut Alors! D. Pedroia
His motor don't stop.

And on to Jacoby,
then Nancy and V Mart
Two out of 3
Can make Theo look smart.

A Wassail for Heidi!
Some cheese for the Eck
Welcome Back Jerry Remy!
The fill-ins were dreck.

A toast for the bullpen!
Fill up your tankard
Oki, and Wagner,
Saito and Bard.

Of course, a special word of thanks
For Tito, always closing ranks.
Millsy, Bogar, Hale and all the others
You'd think these guys were really brothers.

They're not! You cry.
You're Right, I shout.
Mike Lowell
Are you in or out?

Redass Beckett
Dumbass Paps
All the broads in
Their Pink Caps

This is the season!
One happy nation!
We hope Manny liked
His summer vacation

Which reminds me,
Huzzah Big Paps
We're still convinced
You have the chops.

Varitek? Eh,
Though you implore us
We sort of hate you,
Scotty Bora$

Dice-K, styling, won the Classic
Then he nibbled, I got carsick
Bucholz, Lester, Wakefield's legs
Monster seats, foul-smelling kegs

Month- old beer, dogs a-plenty
Larry, is there change from twenty?
"I think not. We've mouths to feed.
We'll squeeze you till your eyeballs bleed"

A special hug
To the dirty dickhead
Who shut me out from
My season tickets.

No disrespect, sir
(no intent, but)
I hope you're hit
By a cement truck

Back to the park and have a drink
My infield's now a hockey rink.
We have to monetize the Winter
Frozen as the Splendid Splinter

Joe Castig and Dave O'Brien
Rish, God Bless him, keeps on trying.
Henry, with his wife-slash-daughter
Was that a Kobe Ring he bought her?

And so we look to Twenty-Ten
Whither Gonzalez?
If so? When?

Collect the Mistletoe and Holly
Kiss those red socks, embrace Wally
It Christmas Time, a Holiday
(Not Matt or Roy: we wouldn't pay)

Spring arrives, the Sox are better;
Feed the baby, mail your letter.
Christmas again, and peace on earth:
Godspeed, good friends, for what it's worth.

Your pal

lc

Mike Cameron?

2009-12-16T10:02:00.000-08:00

Sure, why not?

He'll wear number 23, which is a bit unsettling once you look at who else has had that number:

George Stumpf        1931
Ed Morris            1931
Joe Judge            1933
Bob Seeds            1934
Dick Porter          1934
Stew Bowers          1935
George Dickey        1936
Gene Desautels       1937
Johnny Peacock       1938-40
Bill Fleming         1941
Bill Conroy          1942-44
Billy Holm           1945
Clem Dreisewerd      1946
Tommy Fine           1947
Neil Sheridan        1948
Tom Wright           1948
Tom O'Brien          1949-50
Clyde Vollmer        1950-51
Harry Taylor         1952
Hersh Freeman        1953
Tom Brewer           1954-61*
Dave Morehead        1963-66
Dick Williams        1967-69
Mike Derrick         1970
Chuck Hartenstein    1970
Luis Tiant           1971-78
Don Zimmer           1980 (MGR)
Dennis Boyd          1982-89
Tom Brunansky        1990-92
Ivan Calderon        1993
Rob Deer             1993 
Dave Valle           1994 
Tom Brunansky        1994
Herm Starrette       1995 (COACH)
Phil Clark           1996
Reggie Harris        1996
Herm Starrette       1997 (COACH)
Billy Ashley         1998
Brian Daubach        1999-2002
Casey Fossum         2003
Brian Daubach        2004
Ramon Vazquez        2005
Alex Cora            2005-06
Javy Lopez           2006
Julio Lugo           2007-09
Adam LaRoche         2009
Joey Gathright       2009

________________
* Tom Brewer was a pretty good pitcher
who played for some horrific teams
(Boston Red Sox) in the 50's.
I attended the last game he ever
pitched on September 27, 1961.
He was the starter, and as I recall,
walked off the mound in the middle
of the 2nd inning, never to pitch again.

Oddly, I cannot find any reference to it in a search.

Geffner Non-Update

2009-12-10T05:49:00.000-08:00

The big news from South Florida is that the Marlins' flagship radio station is starting up a two hour radio show on Saturdays to discuss baseball.

How quaint.

Better yet, Glenn Geffner was the host of this extravaganza last year, but wasn't asked to do it this year. Maybe they are getting tired of him, too.

Christmas Shooping Woes? Problem Solved

2009-12-09T06:20:00.000-08:00

Dated, but still, who wouldn't want one?

Marco Scutaro

2009-12-04T08:06:00.001-08:00

Really?

Hello Darkness, My Old Friend

2009-12-01T11:52:00.000-08:00

Well, it's a long Winter, but I have a special treat for you guys right now.

Glenn Geffner, in full throat talking to a guy on a college radio station (WNUR at Northwestern)

Kinld note at about 2:45, he embellishes a wee bit, saying when he left Boston, he was working "full time" with Joe C.

Thanks, and WhatNot

2009-11-25T06:04:00.001-08:00

Hey all you reprobates.

I hope that the Thanksgiving Turkey comes down your chimney to greet your family and friends with harmony and peacefulness.

and so forth.

That said, here is what I am thankful for this year.

1. VMart
2. My Little Pedroia
3. Jacoby
4. Rockets Matsusaka
5. Tito
6. Theo
7. Truck Day
8. Soxaholix

Here's what I am not thankful for.

1. ___________ of the WCMFNYYankees
2. The guy who fucked me on season tickets for next year.
3. Fenway Park, the House That Beer Built.
4. Wally
5. Sarah Palin
6. Nancy

Love you, love the show.

xxoo

It's A Long Off-Season

2009-11-18T04:52:00.001-08:00

RUST NEVER SLEEPS

2009-11-12T11:24:00.000-08:00

(Neil Young)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIR

New Maine State Motto

2009-11-04T13:29:00.000-08:00

STRAIGHTCATIONLAND

Vote For Pedro

2009-11-04T06:31:00.001-08:00

Yankees suck, Thhhe Yankees Suck

Never Happened

2009-10-24T09:08:00.000-07:00

Update on Jerry Trupiano:

He's got a profile on LinkedIn

In his summary of past accomplishments, there's not a mention of the Boston Red Sox:

Past

Play-by-play Broadcaster/Talk Show Host/Emcee/Commercial Spokesperson at JMT Broadcasting
Play-by-play Broadcaster at Westwood One
Play-by-play Broadcaster at College Basketball

To be fair, he mentions it

way down

in his profile

For That? V. 2.0

2009-10-23T06:46:00.001-07:00