Announcer Greg Caserta

[DocBauer]

I know this is kind of a throw away topic, but I was initially confused when I turned on the Twins game Sunday and didn't recognize the play by play voice. I even thought I had the Rangers announcers for a moment.

It's my understanding that with Atteberry out on a break, Provus asked to cover the radio broadcast with old friend Gladden. So MLB broadcaster Greg Caserta is taking Cory's spot briefly. While I LOVE Cory's, i just wanted to say that I thought Caserta was very good. He was very professional and fun to listen to. And despite being under the MLB umbrella, he sort of "played up" fandom for the Twins a bit, as if he was a normal team broadcaster. 

I wouldn't mind him being a future fill in for games in the future.

[Dave Borton]

18 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

I wouldn't mind him being a future fill in for games in the future.

Maybe Atteberry can take a much longer break, like till end of season?

I admit to turning into opponents radio dial via MLB radio whenever I have a Twins game on. Chris just drowns two of God's gifts to all performances. Silence and timing.

He was phenomenal on between innings work and I marveled at what he could share in the moment's break, substantial updates and game scores. But PBP requires a different skill set.

[Possumlad]

16 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I know this is kind of a throw away topic, but I was initially confused when I turned on the Twins game Sunday and didn't recognize the play by play voice. I even thought I had the Rangers announcers for a moment.

It's my understanding that with Atteberry out on a break, Provus asked to cover the radio broadcast with old friend Gladden. So MLB broadcaster Greg Caserta is taking Cory's spot briefly. While I LOVE Cory's, i just wanted to say that I thought Caserta was very good. He was very professional and fun to listen to. And despite being under the MLB umbrella, he sort of "played up" fandom for the Twins a bit, as if he was a normal team broadcaster. 

I wouldn't mind him being a future fill in for games in the future.

Interesting perspective, as I felt the exact opposite. Caserta almost never stopped talking, and nearly all of it was superfluous. Trevor could hardly get a word in, and I remember thinking many times that Gregg had been talking for a full minute or two without providing a single word of entertainment or insight. Made the broadcast feel like a peppy, vacuous morning sports talk "roundtable" (an insufferable format). 

[amjgt]

I generally like variety, so in a small sample I'll take just about anyone. 

Caserta was fine. I think he and Plouffe are cut from the same cloth, so I think they work well together, but that style isn't really what I'm looking for in a broadcast. I think Provus does a good job of balancing out Plouffe's "morning sports talk" vibe, so if it was any more than a handful of games of Caserta and Plouffe, I'd probably grow tired of it. 

I'll be glad to have Provus back next week, but wont be complaining about the temporary fill in the rest of the week. 

[jctwins]

He sounds like he's calling an A game, not an MLB game. I can't place why, but it's something in the style and phrasing.

[Linus]

I turned the sound off last night in the 6th. Couldn’t take the silly banter. 

[big dog]

But does he know the high school mascots of each player the way Atteberry does? I don’t think he can be worse until he works those mascot names in at least twice an inning. 

[stringer bell]

Is he the backup quarterback or the hated substitute teacher?

Honestly, I don't mind different voices behind the mircrophone and he gives a little different perspective. My criticism would be he made the events of the game try to fit with the narrative he established. On Monday, Kreidler was Ozzie Smith on plays where he would have been charged with an error if he had not retired the hitter and on Tuesday it was all about Buxton who had one hit and made no stellar defensive plays. 

[Vanimal46]

47 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

 

Is he the backup quarterback or the hated substitute teacher?

Obligatory yes. 

I got a chuckle out of the question. For most, it’s probably the latter. The thing that sticks out to me the most is his voice. It lacks depth and conviction. Hard to shake that when we had Dick Bremer over 40 years and now Cory Provus. To me, Caserta’s voice sounds like something I hear streaming a high school football game. 

[stringer bell]

I don't think a deep voice is the be-all and end all of play by play. 

[Vanimal46]

14 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I don't think a deep voice is the be-all and end all of play by play. 

The legendary ones have a deep unique voice. Vin Scully, John Sterling, Jack Buck and Joe Buck… Or they’re the funniest person on the planet like Bob Uecker. 

Caserta in that department is AAA talent. 

[ashbury]

10 hours ago, jctwins said:

He sounds like he's calling an A game, not an MLB game. I can't place why, but it's something in the style and phrasing.

Broadcasters in the low minors usually don't have a color analyst so they have to keep talking to avoid too much dead air.  Maybe that?  A tendency to say something, anything?

[jctwins]

13 hours ago, ashbury said:

Broadcasters in the low minors usually don't have a color analyst so they have to keep talking to avoid too much dead air.  Maybe that?  A tendency to say something, anything?

I bet this is largely what we're all perceiving.

[C-Gangster]

"And happy 40th Trevor Plouffe" has to be in contention for top 10 calls of all time.

[Linus]

They cannot 86 this guy fast enough. I’ve turned the sound off the last several games. There is nothing wrong with coming up for air once in a while. I miss broadcasts where there is dead air time and you can hear the sounds of a ballgame. 

[Church of Kreidler]

10 hours ago, Linus said:

They cannot 86 this guy fast enough. I’ve turned the sound off the last several games. There is nothing wrong with coming up for air once in a while. I miss broadcasts where there is dead air time and you can hear the sounds of a ballgame. 

While Morneau has similar Talk-a-Lot tendencies, Morny at least talks about the game. Caserta just talks about nothing.

[Yoke]

Didn’t love him, but if he pops in for a series every now and then it’s fine. It’s hard because Provus is so good that just about anyone feels like at least a little bit of a downgrade.

[AmesJ]

I think he is absolutely AWFUL. He pronounces any word that begins with “st” as though it’s spelled “scht,” like “schtrike” or “schtreak” or “schtretch.” Not like those words are used a lot when calling a game. 🙄  How can he be doing this for a living when he has a complete lack of diction? I think all the former Twins are great to listen to and  it’s hard to beat Cory, but this guy’s gotta go. Sorry to those of you who may not have noticed this, it will be all you hear from now on. 

[lecroy24fan]

This is the biggest downside to MLB have control of the broadcast. They get to pick the fill in  from their roster of PBP guys.