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They're third party observers interpreting the players' actions. They don't know how to play, coach or umpire, and really shouldn't. Now, occasionally, you get a guy who's really a sharp baseball guy as a color man, but never does the play-by-play guy seem like an expert. Some of the sharpest baseball guys I have heard do games are Bob Brenly, Mike Krukow, Don Drysdale and Orel Hershiser. The sharpest pure baseball man/broadcaster I ever heard was the Angels color man in the late-80s, a guy named Joe Torre.
Clowns like Tim McCarver and Joe Morgan are obviously standouts due to their national profile. But some of the local guys (we have to sit through Mark Gubicza in So. California) are abominable. The most telling thing I ever heard said about Joe Morgan and his vaunted baseball knowledge is that he never even smelled a manager's job. He never even coached. Because he can't fool real players, only some fans. Same with McCarver.
It's a rare breed that knows every part of the game. Two guys I'm familiar with came close: Torre and Brenly (managers and catchers).
If there was ever a great retired umpire who could effectively broadcast color commentary, it would be an interesting thing to hear.
Last edited by Kevin Finnerty; Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 01:29am.
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