FS1 Booth: Pierzynski, Wainwright, Amin

[Aggies7]

18 hours ago, Aggies7 said:

Honestly I enjoyed Michael Kay and ARod better than this crew 

lol wow this got 4 downvotes. I should amend this comment to say I mostly thought Kay did a good job. Arod was annoying but I think two people in the booth is better than 3. Every second doesn’t need to be filled with noise and chatter 

[Dave Borton]

On 10/8/2023 at 4:59 PM, big dog said:

Too much talking. Way too much talking.

For my tastes, that always occurs with 3 in the booth.

Can't comment otherwise; had ESPN Radio on. Not a Dan G fan. Eduardo Perez was doing color and I enjoy him.

[Shaitan]

7 hours ago, 2wins87 said:

I definitely got the impression that AJ knew what he was doing as a player being a heel, to the pro wrestling point.

You liked him if he was on your team but couldn't stand him as an opponent, and I think getting under the other team's skin was often very much the point.

AJ (with Chicago) was fun to boo, because you knew he didn't take it personally.

[Greglw3]

I agree. I really enjoyed the broadcast. I too am a Bulls fan so have become a big fan of Amin who is in very high demand as a broadcaster but makes the Bulls games a blast with his interaction with Stacy King. He does at least basketball, football and baseball, all very very well IMO.

I seem to be in the minority but I thought Adam Wainright was a revelation. I thought he was refreshingly humble and very generous in his praise and excitement for what players for both teams were accomplishing. I rate him as fantastic on my first exposure to him.

I’ve seen A.J. do other games and in this one, as in the others, he was knowledgeable, and unbiased either for or against the Twins.

I liked the way Wainright picked up Julien taking a very close pitch and how impressed he was with that ability.

 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

10 hours ago, strumdatjag said:

Actually, I thought his playing style was entertaining. And like him as an announcer too.  Then again, I’m also a pro wrestling fan, AEW more than WWE

Well that explains it. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Seth, I agree that I was pleasantly surprised with AJ and Wainwright.  But then anything would have been an improvement over A-Rod and the Yankees announcer.

[Whitey333]

AJ is very good in the booth.  I agree with others that 3 is too many.  Wainwright was ok.  AJ gives a lot of insight and knowledge to the game.  I'd much rather listen to him than some others.  I used to really like John Smoltz. Great pitcher excellent insight.  But oh how I get so tired of him promoting his old team the Braves.  He rarely misses a chance to tell us how great they are or that somehow the playoff system is at fault because " his team" is struggling.  It's especially bad when he Is assigned to do Braves games on national TV.  Cory Provus on wcco radio broadcast is awesome.  Here's hoping the Twins can keep him and Gladden together.

[Shaitan]

To add onto earlier comments, I think most of this team were decent to good. But they just talked too much. It's either too many commentators (most likely) or just the wrong pairing of styles. During a mound visit, I found myself excited for a moment of silence with an insurance commercial sometimes... Well, that at the incessant repetition.

[Logi_Clevs]

I personally thought AJ was forcing it just a tad - which can happen with newer studio guys. I feel like there was times where a hitter just simply swing and missed, but AJ tried to dig into it on WHY he swung and missed, which is OK if it is a couple times here and there, but when it is constant it gets very old very quickly. 

Just my 2 cents. 

[joefish]

I have come to like AJ.

Wainwright talked too much for me. Even being a former pitcher, I found him spewing too much detail. 

I was offended by the nyy  guys when we had them. 

[Road trip]

I don't know what the long term plan is for replacing Blyleven with a full time analyst, or even if there is a plan.  This year we got a little Smalley, a little Morneau, a little Perkins, and a small dose of Hawkins.  They all had their strengths (I guess) and weaknesses.  All are growing into their role, potentially.  I'm not certain I really have a favorite yet, though I'm confident it isn't Smalley.

If you told me a week ago they decided to hire AJ for the booth, I would probably have rolled my eyes and sighed with dismay/disgust, because his rep as a player was simply that he was a thoroughly annoying human being. 

Well, I am surprised.  Perhaps AJ has mellowed, perhaps his on-field persona wasn't his true self, or perhaps he created a new persona for the broadcast booth.  Regardless, having seen him do it in a crowded 3 person booth... I guess I'd be ok with him as the Twins primary analyst. 

[SkyBlueWaters]

On 10/9/2023 at 7:30 AM, strumdatjag said:

When AJ was a player, I hated him.  Now that he’s a broadcaster, I hate him a little less.   (Channeling Ozzie here).  

You beat me to the punch on the Guillen quote.

I liked how AJ and Wainwright broke down the Astros' approach, noting that how they were consistently behind on the fastballs indicated they were hunting Sonny Gray's breaking stuff. Telling us of the hitting machines that can duplicate specific pitcher's stuff, so they can practice against it.  (Side lament:  Are the Twins hitters aware of this? How come the K champs can't bring that to the game??)

Because AJ was so often abrasive as a player, I'm braced for it. So when he's not a jerk, but instead at times self-deprecating, it's almost...refreshing. He and Wainwright laughing about how, as a battery, they had the highest ERA of all the catchers who caught Waino cracked me up. 

And man, the way the Twins weren't hitting, I needed the amusement.

[SkyBlueWaters]

9 minutes ago, Road trip said:

Perhaps AJ has mellowed, perhaps his on-field persona wasn't his true self, or perhaps he created a new persona for the broadcast booth. 

Agreed. While he was arrogant as player, he was also very intelligent. I think some PR person has gotten through to him, shown him how arrogance never plays well in the booth, and he's smart enough to learn what does work. 

[jmlease1]

I never need to hear AJ Pierzynski call him "Wain-o" in the booth ever again.

[strumdatjag]

5 hours ago, SkyBlueWaters said:

Agreed. While he was arrogant as player, he was also very intelligent. I think some PR person has gotten through to him, shown him how arrogance never plays well in the booth, and he's smart enough to learn what does work. 

Except there have been some successful but arguably arrogant Sports pundits.  Keith Olberman, Charles Barkley, Stephen A Smith and number one all-time Howard Cosell.   I enjoyed all four on sports (Keith was annoying in politics and continues to be - Stephen A Smith is actually good on politics, but don’t get me started on Sue Charles).   If I thought longer, I could come up with more.  

[SkyBlueWaters]

20 hours ago, strumdatjag said:

Except there have been some successful but arguably arrogant Sports pundits.  Keith Olberman, Charles Barkley, Stephen A Smith and number one all-time Howard Cosell.   I enjoyed all four on sports (Keith was annoying in politics and continues to be - Stephen A Smith is actually good on politics, but don’t get me started on Sue Charles).   If I thought longer, I could come up with more.  

 

Per the Ozzie Guillen quote about how people hated AJ, but if he was your teammate you hated him a little less, think of the ways AJ rubbed people the wrong way. I don't think that translates well in the booth. Frankly, he seemed a bit petty at times. 

I don't find your examples petty in the same way.

Alternatively, perhaps Pierzynski could have been arrogant in the booth and made it work. For whatever reason, he seems to have gone with a less abrasive approach, It works, at least for me.