I watched both the SNY/PIX and YES broadcasts of the games on Friday and Sunday, flipping around to hear how each covered the game. It was amusing. Both teams are solid (Al Leiter and David Cone joined Michael Kay on YES) but both lean towards their team. The SNY/PIX guys thought a called strike three to David Wright on Sunday was a terrible call; over on YES, David Cone said it was “borderline,” but close enough. The SNY guys chided the new Yankee Stadium, chuckling and sneering. And they killed Joba Chamberlain and Jorge Posada on Friday night. Here’s Bob Raissman, writing in the Daily News, with the skinny.
I always enjoy tuning into SNY for these games because it absolutely kills Cohen when his Mets lose to the Bombers. Cohen's hate for the Yankees is palpable, so it really makes moments like the Castillo drop even more priceless.
It's true. Cohen is a bona fide Yankee hater. He can't hide it at all.
I like the SNY broadcasts .... they're more honest about the foibles of the team they are covering, and Keith and Ron are a bit more adept in terms of being able to describe the strategies and intricacies of the game than O'Neill, Flaherty, and to a lesser extent, Cone.
They also seem to be totally tuned into each other's quirks ....
[3] While I do enjoy both Darling and Hernandez, I think the former is much more insightful. Hernandez is honest and entertaining, but I don't think he is particularly informative.
Also, I don't think anyone in a major league booth is more insightful than John Flaherty. Flash's problem, however, is he can be rather dull. Also, I don't think he really enjoy partnering with Kay.
[4]
In retrospect, yes, I believe you are right on both counts ...
Flaherty's problem is that he has a horrible announcing voice. (Maybe he is trying to sabotage Kay) :-)
Then again, I couldn't stand to listen to Fran Healy's scratchy voice, but he's made himself a nice career out of it ....
Congratulations to Chien-Ming, Chia-Ling, and the extremely young Jesse Wang!
That is: Justin Jesse Wang.
Sorry, JJ!
Well that performance by Chamberlain/Posada was eminently chuckle- and sneer-worthy.
They are right though, Girardi needs to put his foot down with Joba and tell him to just throw what Po calls. He hasn't been around long enough to call a game and Po is the best judge of what Joba's stuff is like on any given day. The only reason Joba should shake off Po is if throwing a certain pitch is causing him physical pain.
I remain impressed that none of the broadcasters calling the Friday Mets/Yankees game uttered what I did when Castillo dropped the ball: Holy Shit!
I guess that's why they're the professionals. Or why they have a seven-second delay. Whichever.
[9] Girardi's position has always been that in order for a pitch to be effective, it has to be thrown with conviction. In other words, if Joba really doesn't want to throw the fastball, he wont throw a good one. I am not sure if I agree with that, but if he is true to his past philosophy, I think Girardi is more sympathetic to Joba's cause.
Yes, Congratulations to the Wangs and the new little Wang.
[100] "Holy S%^t" was the Yankee fan response. I think Met fans went with "What the F%^k".
If Damon needs a purse, I think the Yankees should let Santana into their Food Room for a decent meal or ten! Maybe then he wouldn't try to nibble so much while he's on the mound to the tune of nine earned runs!
At least the New Yankee Stadium doesn't pay homage to Giants and Dodgers within it, but for the lone exception of Robinson's #42 with the retired numbers!
Even Castillo can catch the ridiculousness of that!
: )
I think Cone is the best baseball guy I've heard in a long long time. Slightly unpolished, smart, clever and usually says things more polished guys won't.
I also don't think there's much wrong with announcers being a little homerific. They are playing to their audience.
[12]
Little Wang .... wasn't that a Hendrix riff? :-)