The Twins' New Broadcast Tandem Could Be Generational

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Minnesota Twins might not yet have a particular home for fans to find their television broadcasts, but the results could be extraordinary when the season kicks off with a new tandem in the booth.

Image courtesy of © David Berding-USA TODAY Sports

Replacing a mainstay like Dick Bremer is always going to invite a certain level of scrutiny. Even though Bert Blyleven had run his course, a segment of fans still wanted to see him on a nightly basis. Bremer had adapted to the changing game over time, but the Twins saw an opportunity for fresh perspectives to be brought in. Minnesota decided a new wave was coming, and it was time to change.

While Justin Morneau has been a regular for some time now, the pairing with former radio broadcaster Cory Provus has the opportunity to be something truly new and special. Understandably, Morneau isn’t for everyone, but his style has changed substantially since he joined Bremer in the booth. While he analyzes the game in a much more laid-back manner, it is evident that he has a passion for the role and puts in the necessary preparation to do it well. He supports narratives with well-thought-out research, and beyond personal insight from his playing days, he explains the game on a much more granular level.

Bremer operated well as the play-by-play man, teeing up his partners for their additions. While Provus can bring that to the table, he acts more like a co-panelist than as a moderator. Provus has a highly distinctive voice and can be heard throughout the offseason when calling collegiate basketball games. Regardless of the sport, his preparedness and professionalism are impressive.

When Major League Baseball consistently showcases announcers like John Smoltz or other former players who clearly do not like the game's direction, the Twins offering the pairing they will can be noteworthy. Morneau doesn’t fall into an old or new-school category and isn’t just rehashing his own exploits as a former player. Instead, he brings a well-reasoned discussion and an advanced knowledge of the game to someone who should pair perfectly alongside him. Provus has the ability to combine with different types of people, and has shown that over time in his radio work.

For years, it seemed as though Provus deserved better than what Dan Gladden offered as a radio partner, and now we will see that in action. When Provus paired with Roy Smalley or the now-taking-over Kris Atteberry on the airwaves, the product hit the highest notes. The super team now comes to television, and with both offering relative youth, there is an opportunity for the pairing to become the next household staple.

In joining the broadcast, Provus also sought to assure that more Twins fans could consume the product. He made it known during his initial public conversations that he expected blackouts would be gone, regardless of how Twins baseball is disseminated, so that many more households would have access to the action. As they grow accustomed to how Provus and Morneau present the action, there is a good chance fans enjoy what is being brought to the booth.

Eventually, Bremer will find himself in the Twins Hall of Fame, alongside broadcast greats such as John Gordon, Herb Carneal, and Bob Casey. Morneau is already in as a player, but this pairing with Provus may have both being highly regarded in the booth and make them synonymous with a generation of Twins baseball, just as those predecessors were.

Do you view Provus and Morneau as a long-term solution in the broadcast booth? What do you want most from the Twins' TV production? Discuss it in the comments below.

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[nicksaviking]

I like the pairing and I especially like Provus, but I think his partner shouldn't be locked in long term. 

I like Morneau, and he does a fine job, but he doesn't have the dynamic personality that a (pre-curmudgeon) Blyleven or Kaat had. In their prime, those two were pleasantly boisterous, while Morneau is very staid in his demeanor; basically your standard Upper Midwest (and Canada I guess) caricature. We get enough of that around here, we could use some counter-culture adventure in the booth. 

[Karbo]

Although I like Provus, I'm very sad to see Dick leave. He had such a wealth of knowledge about the Twins due to his vast experience covering them. Very few people have seen the Twins play as long as Dick has. I don't know how we will be watching games this season, but it will be kind of depressing to me not hearing the big voice of Dick Bremer!

[Ted Schwerzler]

27 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I like the pairing and I especially like Provus, but I think his partner shouldn't be locked in long term. 

I like Morneau, and he does a fine job, but he doesn't have the dynamic personality that a (pre-curmudgeon) Blyleven or Kaat had. In their prime, those two were pleasantly boisterous, while Morneau is very staid in his demeanor; basically your standard Upper Midwest (and Canada I guess) caricature. We get enough of that around here, we could use some counter-culture adventure in the booth. 

I described this on Twitter as not feigning-excitement. I think Blyleven just was so forced all the time. Maybe Justin couldn’t be a bit more upbeat, but think he shows emotion at the right times and provides significantly higher quality analysis. I’m fine with Perkins and Smalley rotating in plenty.

[Brett]

I haven’t listened to a lot of games on the radio, so I’m excited to hear from Provus.

Now we collectively need to campaign to get John Bonnes in the analyst rotation. It’s a step down from the celebrity bartender role, but he probably wouldn’t turn it down.

[DJL44]

I like when they rotate the color guy - new stories, new insights. It's hard to come up with new things to say 162 times a summer.

[nicksaviking]

18 minutes ago, Ted Schwerzler said:

I described this on Twitter as not feigning-excitement. I think Blyleven just was so forced all the time. Maybe Justin couldn’t be a bit more upbeat, but think he shows emotion at the right times and provides significantly higher quality analysis. I’m fine with Perkins and Smalley rotating in plenty.

Blyleven was forced but mostly later in his career. When he first got the job, he felt genuinely organic and had an extremely unique personality.

To me, late stage Blyleven was much as you described Smoltz. Often grouchy, less invested and with plenty of undertones of resentment.

[MMMordabito]

Ted, you get bonus points for using "disseminated" in the article.  Being able to say that word is a key part of the color job. 🙂

Provus is going to be great.  Morneau is growing on me.  A series or two with Hawkins is always fun - "That's not a strike!".  More Perkins and less Smalley can fill out the rest of Morneau's off-days, IMO.  The Trevor Plouffe experiment can also be over.

[USNMCPO]

This team will work great also when they a third guy to the booth such as Perkins or others that have joined in. The baseball conversation seems to take off in different directions and that is a good thing.

[h2oface]

Jim Brockmire. We only need one in the booth, then.

Hawkins would be great for Little League games.

[Teflon]

1 hour ago, USNMCPO said:

This team will work great also when they a third guy to the booth such as Perkins or others that have joined in. The baseball conversation seems to take off in different directions and that is a good thing.

I agree. The best broadcasts from last year were when Perkins or Plouffe were in the booth with Morneau. It was more animated and jocular.

[Beast]

Say what you want about Bremer and Blyleven, but they’ll never be replaced.  Bremer had an iconic voice, endless stories that catered to Minnesotans, and an encyclopedic knowledge of baseball history.  Blyleven was a loose cannon who never seemed to know when he was and wasn’t on air.  And the circle me thing, as much as some hate it, was one of the most successful gimmicks from a broadcaster to generate fan involvement in the league.

Morneau just feels forced.  I’ve never been a fan of Provus.  He’s somehow monotone and annoying try-hard Casey Casum radio voice simultaneously.

Bright side, they may be able to sell some of the broadcasts to a sleep assistance app to make up for the TV revenue that’s already torpedoed the season before it started.

[darin617]

I just hope when that day comes that Justin gets the Dick treatment and doesn't realize he's out.

I loved him as a player but Justin doesn't bring anything to a broadcast. We haven't gotten any outrageous stories or anything for a new viewer that didn't know him as a player to get excited about.

 

[Hubie29]

Maybe we can make a trade and get Ryan Lefebvre back.  I thought he was very good and still enjoy listening to him on Royals broadcasts.

[CRF]

"Generational" is a very strong word. Like a HOF word. Let's dial that back for a bit. Provus is good on the radio, so I'm reasonably sure he'll be ok on tv too. Bremer is the only pbp guy I've known on the tv side since I moved here 40+ years ago, so it'll take a bit of getting used to, with him being gone. I like(d) him and will miss him. Morneau still hasn't learned that less can be more...he needs to shut up every once in a while, but he does know his stuff. Perkins was a nice surprise...he's pretty good, and also knows his stuff. Smalley and Hawkins are both poor communicators and bring nothing at all to the broadcast, and they can be annoying at times. I'm looking forward to seeing what the tv broadcasts will be like, and where they'll be. I'm ready...bring it on!

[SD happy]

1 hour ago, Beast said:

Say what you want about Bremer and Blyleven, but they’ll never be replaced.  Bremer had an iconic voice, endless stories that catered to Minnesotans, and an encyclopedic knowledge of baseball history.  Blyleven was a loose cannon who never seemed to know when he was and wasn’t on air.  And the circle me thing, as much as some hate it, was one of the most successful gimmicks from a broadcaster to generate fan involvement in the league.

Morneau just feels forced.  I’ve never been a fan of Provus.  He’s somehow monotone and annoying try-hard Casey Casum radio voice simultaneously.

Bright side, they may be able to sell some of the broadcasts to a sleep assistance app to make up for the TV revenue that’s already torpedoed the season before it started.

 

[SD happy]

I totally agree with the first half of your statement. But, I guess I’m going to have t o totally disagree with your second half statement.

[TopGunn#22]

I like Provus a lot.  Happy they picked him.  It just made sense.  I think Justin Morneau has come a long way and I like him too.  Smalley has that LONG time connection to the game that always makes him interesting.  Once we find out HOW and WHERE we can watch Twins baseball, it's going to be GREAT !!

[Parfigliano]

Need to get Plouffe in along with Morneau more.

[Dlee]

i have listened to Provus and Gladden a lot over the years and enjoyed it.  was comical when Gladden would get off on some old playing days stories during his innings and Provus would have to jump in to call the game.  I thought they were a good pair on the radio.  

I still believe that baseball should be watched on the radio. 

[DocBauer]

Honestly, I'm going to miss Bremer a lot. He was solid, professional, nuanced, had some great references to Twins history and Minnesota in general, and I thought he found  a new vitality with Bert gone.

But Provus is excellent! He's a great mix of old school and the new attitudes/changes in MLB. He was the right choice as a replacement.

I am quite happy with Morneau, and enjoy his dry humor along with his knowledge. Not sure everyone likes his dry humor, but I get it. I also really enjoy Smalley and Perkins. Loved hearing Plouffe this year and want more. I'd be really interested in bringing in Cuddyer sometime as well, though I'm not sure about his obligations.

I also agree that I love a 3 man booth here and there. It opens up different stories and different discussions, which I appreciate a lot. 

I'm also a fan of Gladden and all his rough edges. His somewhat unpolished nature is exactly why I like him. His difference from so many other color guys is why I like him. And I thought he and Provus had good chemistry. I've generally liked Atteberry on the radio and think he'll do just fine as the main play by play. A radio voice needs to paint the picture. Atteberry can do that fine, just needs to reign it in a bit.

[Terry Kent]

I enjoy Dan Gladden

[Melissa]

I only catch the Twins on the radio when I’m driving In my car. This often means I don’t know where we are in the game.

Provus is excellent, in my opinion, though switching to television should mean he can scale back his descriptions and add more analysis. but he always tells the audience what inning we’re in, how many men on base, who’s at bat, and so on.

When Gladden has the mic, so many times none of that info is mentioned till way into the inning. So often when a ball is put in play, Danny says “wow, that was hit hard,” or the like. Hit where, Danny? Did it make an out? Maybe ,..

I know he’s a favorite of many Twins fans, based in part it seems on his World Series, but he is so erratic. Quite often Dan refers to replays … that the radio audience doesn’t see. He offers color commentary on the TV picture.

I quite like Morneau and Perkins and Plouffe. Smalley and Hawkins need a game or two each time to get into rhythm. Roy hems and haws at fIrst, but his observations about fielding in particular are insightful. Too often LaTroy simply echoes whatever Dick has just said,

[Johnny Ringo]

Provus is great. I am happy that he got the chair.

Morneau seems like he is on an endless strong of first dates. He feels the need to talk incessantly, often with very little to say. The beauty of baseball on television is that the game often paints a picture itself.  Constant chatter can be unnecessary and annoying. Justin must think he is paid by the word. 

Morneau also suffered in comparison to Plouffe last year, who was considerably better.  Early on in the year, Dick seemed  unaware of Trevor's prominence in the podcast world and annoyed by his presence. He was often banished to the cubby by the dugout. The whole thing was actually hilarious at times.

Some day a book will be written on Gladden. How he made it to the Twins HOF despite a replacement player career. How he endured for years and years in the broadcast booth despite lacking skill, humor, knowledge or even a rudimentary command of the English language.  I will sleep overnight at a book story to get the first copy.  The explanation for all of this will be the greatest story ever told. 

[Whitey333]

Provus was excellent on the radio.  Gladden is good but Provus makes him better.  While the TV broadcasting may be significantly better with Provus I'm afraid it will be to the detriment of the radio broadcast.   Provus painted a great picture of the game for fans.  Kris Attaberry needs to to done it down a lot.  Like a previous person said less can be more.  He needs to slow down with all the bantering about past experiences, and mundane stories.  When him and Gladden start talking it seems they forget there is a game going on.

[Strombomb]

So many people complain about Gladden. I understand he is quirky and unique but that is what I love about him. He makes listening fun and interesting when the Twins are striking out or the game is slow.

On the other hand, I can't listen to Smalley. I totally respect his experience and knowledge of the game but his hem-haw stuttering is just not what a professional communicator should sound like. 

I totally agree that the TV crew needs to shut-up every once in a while and let us enjoy the game!!!

[Daniel Anderson]

9 hours ago, Melissa said:

I only catch the Twins on the radio when I’m driving In my car. This often means I don’t know where we are in the game.

Provus is excellent, in my opinion, though switching to television should mean he can scale back his descriptions and add more analysis. but he always tells the audience what inning we’re in, how many men on base, who’s at bat, and so on.

When Gladden has the mic, so many times none of that info is mentioned till way into the inning. So often when a ball is put in play, Danny says “wow, that was hit hard,” or the like. Hit where, Danny? Did it make an out? Maybe ,..

I know he’s a favorite of many Twins fans, based in part it seems on his World Series, but he is so erratic. Quite often Dan refers to replays … that the radio audience doesn’t see. He offers color commentary on the TV picture.

I quite like Morneau and Perkins and Plouffe. Smalley and Hawkins need a game or two each time to get into rhythm. Roy hems and haws at fIrst, but his observations about fielding in particular are insightful. Too often LaTroy simply echoes whatever Dick has just said,

I thought the radio broadcasts with Provus and Gladden were excellent for 6 innings but Gladden should not be doing play by play. Please use this transition to allow Attebury to call 9 innings now.

[JD-TWINS]

19 hours ago, MMMordabito said:

Ted, you get bonus points for using "disseminated" in the article.  Being able to say that word is a key part of the color job. 🙂

Provus is going to be great.  Morneau is growing on me.  A series or two with Hawkins is always fun - "That's not a strike!".  More Perkins and less Smalley can fill out the rest of Morneau's off-days, IMO.  The Trevor Plouffe experiment can also be over.

I gotta agree - Hawkins sense of humor comes through……..Smalley seems worn out - my biggest issue is that it sounds like he’s not miked up for about 60% of what he says. I like Roy but maybe, at approximately 72, he should hang up the booth duties?

[Otaknam]

Provus is on the professional upswing as a broadcaster, as is verified by the football and basketball play by play he does for other media outlets. The Twins are lucky to have him, and I think his pairing with Morneau will be very good. However this means the radio broadcast will be downgraded by pairing Atteberry and Gladden. IMO Atteberry chatters too much and tries too hard with factoids to fill in between pitches. And it is really hard to listen to Gladden  as he struggles to describe the action. I’m sure he’s a great guy and would be fun to have a beer with. But he is a below average color guy who should not be doing play by play for three innings, where I usually turn him off. Why they would move on from Bremer but keep Gladden is a real head scratcher. Clearly this shows the team doesn’t understand its audience.

[Otaknam]

48 minutes ago, Strombomb said:

So many people complain about Gladden. I understand he is quirky and unique but that is what I love about him. He makes listening fun and interesting when the Twins are striking out or the game is slow.

On the other hand, I can't listen to Smalley. I totally respect his experience and knowledge of the game but his hem-haw stuttering is just not what a professional communicator should sound like. 

I totally agree that the TV crew needs to shut-up every once in a while and let us enjoy the game!!!

Agree on Smalley, as he stammers to make his point almost every time he speaks. It’s very hard to listen to.