Twins TV analyst

[Bill Brown69]

90% of my games are by radio. After listening to either Cory or Chis Atteberry none of the above is even close.

 

 I vote for Chris because it doesn't look like the Twins Radio Network is going to give him a real shot unless they know something about Dan retiring that I don't.

[Vanimal46]

I know he hasn't done it in awhile, but I always like listening to Tom Kelly. He's not a realistic candidate for anything more than a handful of games because of his monotone, almost hypnotic delivery. But, I always feel smarter after listening to him. Especially with regards to game strategy. The others, as former players, really don't bring that skill to the table.

This brings up a great point:.. I could probably guess what the majority is with this group. However, it would be interesting to know from all fans what do they value more? Color commentary that is more informative of the game such as TK? Or someone that provides more entertainment like LaTroy?

[snepp]

 

This brings up a great point:.. I could probably guess what the majority is with this group. However, it would be interesting to know from all fans what do they value more? Color commentary that is more informative of the game such as TK? Or someone that provides more entertainment like LaTroy?

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AIFxjZ04jo4/UdLe31vRkEI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/nwAVjSvPWoI/s870/have+cake+and+eat+it+too.png

[BobAzar]

I am surprised by all the Smalley love, to be honest. I cant stand him. He is way too verbose, he may have some good points or insight or stories, but it takes 2 1/2 innings for him to get to the point. Notice how many times he says "to get back to my point...". 

Im not sure who I like most, probably TK, but only in small amounts. Overall, the radio guys (mainly Cory and Kris), are my favorites. but calling baseball on TV and radio are very different skill sets. 

 

but to each his/her own...

[Sarah]

I agree about Cory Provus, I enjoy listening to him as well.

[jimbo92107]

All these guys are pretty good, but the real pleasant surprise was LaTroy Hawkins. He seemed to have an easy interaction with Bremmer right from the start, and his commentary was honest and accessible to non-athletes. Torii Hunter was much better after his nervous debut, and Morris is fun because of his old-school chin music mentality. 

[Squirrel]

 

Well, with MLB Extra Innings, you don't have to listen to any of the Twins announcers if you don't want to. A huge majority of the time, I just watch the feed from the opponent.

My extra innings package doesn't always give me that choice ... only during times when there aren't a lot of games going on at the same time do they give you both options.

[Squirrel]

 

 

All these guys are pretty good, but the real pleasant surprise was LaTroy Hawkins. He seemed to have an easy interaction with Bremmer right from the start, and his commentary was honest and accessible to non-athletes. Torii Hunter was much better after his nervous debut, and Morris is fun because of his old-school chin music mentality. 

See ... I think it's in the ear of the beholder because I thought LaTroy seemed stiff and unsure. Willing to give him more time to adjust because I think he'll be good ... but I didn't think he was all that the first series he did the games. And I haven't heard him since.

[jimmer]

My extra innings package doesn't always give me that choice ... only during times when there aren't a lot of games going on at the same time do they give you both options.

i have rarely seen it where both feeds arent available. I did see it once this week on a game i watched.

[Squirrel]

 

i have rarely seen it where both feeds arent available. I did see it once this week on a game i watched.

I guess Extra Innings packages differ from city to city ... or cable company to cable company.

[Blake]

 

I guess Extra Innings packages differ from city to city ... or cable company to cable company.

Direct TV here almost always gives me both feeds in my MLB Extra innings package. Do you also get mlb.tv with your direct tv package? It's included in my package which is nice, because I can watch an archived game if I'm unable to watch the live broadcast.

[spinowner]

My vote for TV analyst is none of the above. I am a big Kris Atteberry fan. He's knowledgeable and intelligent and can turn a phrase at the drop of a dime. (See what I did there?)

[adorduan]

Smalley for me.  SSS for LaTroy, but I like him so far.  Hunter and Morris suck.

[S.]

 

I am surprised by all the Smalley love, to be honest. I cant stand him. He is way too verbose, he may have some good points or insight or stories, but it takes 2 1/2 innings for him to get to the point. 

Agreed. I genuinely didn't know anyone enjoyed Smalley in the booth. When Dick doesn't interrupt him on some of his stories, he'll talk through multiple batters without Dick getting in any real play by play or pitch by pitch calls. And it seems like he often repeats himself and just changes up the wording. He is absolutely my least favorite of all the guest broadcasters and I can't imagine listening to him for a full season.

 

I'm not sure who i would say is my favorite, but I'm not a huge fan of any of the longer running options (Bert, Smalley, Morris). Of those three, I'd probably default to Bert, since its what I'm used to after all these years. Hawkins was decent in the games he did, but a couple games is too small of a sample size to say if we're talking a long term option. Torii was serviceable in moderation, but I know I'd get irritated with him in the long run and think he'd be better served as an occasional fill in and not a regular thing. Latroy was definitely the superior of those two.

 

Of all the options listed, I believe I'd have to say Bert until we get a bigger sample size on Latroy. 

 

If we're actually talking about replacing Bert, I would prefer they try to get someone from outside the Fox Sports North/Twins families who has some experience in the booth and not a recently retired Twins player or one of the fill-in guys.

[spinowner]

And let me also say that anyone who makes a living in major league baseball should have some ability to use the Spanish language. At the very least one should be able to correctly pronounce Spanish names. It's Rosario, not Rozario. It's Ah-drianza, not Ay-drianza. This is how Blyleven and Gladden sound to me:

 

[Jax]

Kelly was good I thought, but I like Bert the best I guess.

[Jham]

I thought Hunter gave a ton of insight from a batter's perspective after hearing decades from an HOF pitcher. His predicting pitchers and what both pitchers and hitters are trying to do in different game situations, base runners too, I find very interesting and informative.

[howeda7]

Comparing Bert to Torii and LaTroy is not easy. Anyone will sound fresh relative to someone who's done it for 20 years, but I think both would get old fast. For me it's TK and Bert. Smalley is OK too. Morris is the worst. 

[BobAzar]

Anyone watch the game last night (6/12) when Bert was going off about the minor league coaches? Ornery Bert is better than normal Bert.

[70charger]

 

Anyone watch the game last night (6/12) when Bert was going off about the minor league coaches? Ornery Bert is better than normal Bert.

 

No but I watched a game against San Francisco where was like 62% sure Bert was drunk. How is he so terrible at pronouncing people's names!? 

[Ryan Atkins]

I voted for Jack! He "tells it like it is" more than any of the others and I enjoy that honesty and it meshes well with Dick's homerism.

 

I will say that I was very impressed with and thoroughly enjoyed listening to LaTroy Hawkins in his first go-around. I just have not heard enough of him yet to rank him 1st, but he may be headed there.

 

I also like how they mix in these guys and give us a break from Bert, who is enjoyable all the same. It must be a bit of a challenge for Dick Bremer to adjust to the rotating color man, but he is a pro and does a brilliant job IMHO.

 

Now, how about another poll/thread on favorite side-line reporter?  My favorite is Marney Gellner, but Audra and Gorg do a good job too.

[bluechipper]

Who else enjoyed Jack going in on Yunel Escobar last night?

[Roaddog]

I like Jack. Doesn't beat around the bush. Dont like Smalley

[jud6312]

None of them are real great options, but I voted Bert just because he seems like the lesser of evils. 

 

Jury's out on Hawkins, but they might have something there.

 

I ended up muting virtually every inning Torii was up there.

 

Morris might be a straight shooter, but if I have to hear one more "old school" story, Frank Tanana reference or fabricated story (the one about the Cleveland Indians bunting on him to start a game - Brett Butler and Kenny Lofton were never teammates), I'm going to scream.

 

Smalley? Another "back in my day" guy who wasn't all that great back in his day.

 

Didn't Larkin fill in once or twice a ways back? If it was him, I enjoyed it. If it wasn't, then I still enjoyed it and would like to figure out who it was.

 

I'd also like to hear what a guy like Cuddyer could do - certainly not camera shy, well-spoken, knowledgeable.

 

Maybe they're just keeping Bert around until Mauer can bring his personality to the booth. Imagine that!

 

[DJSim22]

Smalley is fine, I could see a split with him and Bert.

 

Whomever said TK is spot on.  He is a great communicator and teacher.

 

Morris is horrible.  No surprise the definition of a "me" player is the same in the booth.  All he wants to do is talk about himself.  Please now go to Toronto and do commentary there.

 

I haven't seen Torii or Latroy. 

[Brandon Warne]

Roy

Torii

LaTroy

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Jack/Bert (tie)

[peterb18]

I am surprised by all the Smalley love, to be honest. I cant stand him. He is way too verbose, he may have some good points or insight or stories, but it takes 2 1/2 innings for him to get to the point. Notice how many times he says "to get back to my point...". 

Im not sure who I like most, probably TK, but only in small amounts. Overall, the radio guys (mainly Cory and Kris), are my favorites. but calling baseball on TV and radio are very different skill sets. 

 

but to each his/her own...

Agree with all of the above especially the observation of Smalley. However, don't like TK as I find him with too much of a subtle ego. An example is refferring to Bremer as Richard instead of Dick. I do agree that the radio guys are better.

[jctwins]

The Richard name never got old for me.

[Monkeypaws]

In reality, they are all good to very good, and have their unique angle on things.

 

I like 'em all, and think they should add Cuddy too.

 

Compared to the Wild broadcast team, Twins' fans are spoiled spoiled spoiled.

[DocBauer]

I was going to bring up Larkin but got beat to the punch. I remember hearing him a couple of times and liking him. Has to be 2 or 3 years ago though, doesn't it?