Bert will be back in 2017 and 2018, but with even fewer games

[jimmer]

 

If I had a $20 bill for every time Bert said a pitcher "left the ball up" when in fact the pitcher did NOT actually leave the ball anywhere in the upper half of the strike zone when giving up another bomb, I would buy everyone on TD their very own copy of the next TD Prospect Handbook.

 

Lazy and feckless. Both of them.

Or, you know, California math ;-)

 

BTW, couldn't agree more.

[USAFChief]

 

If I had a $20 bill for every time Bert said a pitcher "left the ball up" when in fact the pitcher did NOT actually leave the ball anywhere in the upper half of the strike zone when giving up another bomb, I would buy everyone on TD their very own copy of the next TD Prospect Handbook.

 

Lazy and feckless. Both of them.

Well, when a pitch is left up, it obviously didn't have a good downward plane, probably the result of not reaching that balance point, which makes it easy for the hitter to not! miss! it! with an uppercut swing.

 

Resulting in a Bremergasm.

[70charger]

 

If I had a $20 bill for every time Bert said a pitcher "left the ball up" 

 

But wait. Did he or did he not miss it?

[Circus Boy]

A little Bert always went a long ways. That said, for whatever reason, I always get a kick out of him.

[notoriousgod71]

The thing that annoys me the most about Smalley is that it takes him so long to make his point, and then he repeats his point two or three more times in slightly different ways, that by the time he has actually made his point it is no longer relevant.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

I used to really appreciate Bert, before he started completely mailing it in a few years ago. I don't think he's said anything new since.

[snepp]

I used to really like Bert when he would actually dive into full-on pitching breakdowns, which were imho, really good.

 

But that was years ago, and he hasn't provided anything outside of generic repetitive commentary since.

[jctwins]

I think I read this whole thread, and haven't seen any mention whether his home/road games are by contract.

 

If Bert was able to negotiate a new deal for two years with 20 fewer games on the road, that is essentially the equivalent to 3 additional weeks of vacation time to him in a 6 month work year.

[Rosterman]

I'm not sure why Bert has to stay with the Twins. You'd think he could get a national commentator job for limited series, or the All-Star game, or something that would pay equally as well, leaving him more time for Hall of Fame events and such. Or even switch teams to be closer to home.

 

At some point, between retirement, baseball pension, signing fees and such, he doesn't really have to work.

 

 

[lecroy24fan]

 

The thing that annoys me the most about Smalley is that it takes him so long to make his point, and then he repeats his point two or three more times in slightly different ways, that by the time he has actually made his point it is no longer relevant.

 

I feeler dumber when i listen to Smalley. He talks down to the viewer.

[David HK]

 

paul molitor?

All for it!

[Brock Beauchamp]

I used to really like Bert when he would actually dive into full-on pitching breakdowns, which were imho, really good.

 

But that was years ago, and he hasn't provided anything outside of generic repetitive commentary since.

Yeah, this is my general sentiment as well. Blyleven used to be a capable announcer but he becomes less so by the year.

 

I still don't think he's awful, though. He doesn't grate on me like, say, Rex Hudler.

[TheLeviathan]

Yeah, once you experience other markets on a regular basis you realize that "not awful to listen to" is enough to put you in the top half of broadcasters.  Bert's not terrible, but you can tell he's checking out.

[DJSim22]

I don't hate any of their broadcasters, nor do I think any of them are Vin Scully.  So I like the multiple broadcaster approach with different opinions.

[DJSim22]

 

I'd love to see them hire someone who actually gets the big picture of baseball like Doogie Wolfson or Phil Mackey.  Maybe Brandon Warne is interested.  Or even Seth Stohs.

 

Gets the big picture=Doogie Wolfson?  lmao.  Wolfson's biggest sports contribution was a drunken meltdown on the Gophers Rivals board where he challenged other posters to fights. 

[adorduan]

 

Bremer is absolutely horrible.  I can't believe ANYONE thinks he still belongs in the booth if he ever did to begin with.

 

As a team, they are likely the least prepared I've ever listened to and they can't fact check at all.

 

There are only 30 broadcast teams.  Only the best should occupy those booths and there are few worse than our normal combo.

There are plenty worse than Bremer and Blyleven.

[jimmer]

 

There are plenty worse than Bremer and Blyleven.

If you say so.

 

I disagree.  There are some worse MLB TV broadcast teams, for sure, but not many.

[Doomtints]

 

Or, you know, California math ;-)

 

BTW, couldn't agree more.

 

That's been said by announcers for as long as I can remember.  After many years I simply started assuming "left the ball up" means something different to old timey baseball guys than we think it does.  Perhaps it means a pitch that was supposed to break but didn't.  We assume it means high in the strike zone, but maybe it simply has nothing to do with that.