McCarver's idea of a good call

[SanDiegoSteve]

And while I've got a harangue, Joe Buck must know better than to call a foul ball a foul tip. Tonight he said, "That's a foul tip" when the batter fouled the ball off the edge of the catcher's mitt to the ground. I don't mind when they say "foul tipped in and out of the glove" or something similar, but to come right out and declare it to be a "foul tip" when it's not is just an unacceptable practice.

Why couldn't Buck just call it a foul ball, or explain what a foul tip really is? I'm sure he knows better. He could actually educate the uneducated fans out there instead of perpetuating their ignorance of the rules.

[bobbybanaduck]

more mccarver...in one word he continued to show how much of a moron he is.

"changeup"

after okajima threw a nice 11-5 sweeping curve.

good work, tim.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by bobbybanaduck

more mccarver...in one word he continued to show how much of a moron he is.

"changeup"

after okajima threw a nice 11-5 sweeping curve.

good work, tim.

He can't read Matsuzaka's pitches either. Threw a nifty 87 mph slider in the ALCS. McCarver: "That's a wicked changeup!"

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

And while I've got a harangue, Joe Buck must know better than to call a foul ball a foul tip. Tonight he said, "That's a foul tip" when the batter fouled the ball off the edge of the catcher's mitt to the ground. I don't mind when they say "foul tipped in and out of the glove" or something similar, but to come right out and declare it to be a "foul tip" when it's not is just an unacceptable practice.

Why couldn't Buck just call it a foul ball, or explain what a foul tip really is? I'm sure he knows better. He could actually educate the uneducated fans out there instead of perpetuating their ignorance of the rules.

This type of criticism, in my opinion, is unfounded. Everybody watching the game knew exactly what Joe Buck was talking about when he used the term "foul tip."

It just so happens, from an umpire's perspective, the term "foul tip" has a certain, important, meaning.

I'm quite certain that Joe Buck understands the "rule."

If you think about it, the very term "foul tip" is a horrible description from what we, as umpires, understand it to be. Why use the word "foul" when the ball is not foul? It's a bad term that leads to some minor misuses.

Big deal.

I don't think any less of Joe Buck as a result - and neither should you or the viewers.

I knew what he meant - and so did you.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

I'm quite certain that Joe Buck understands the "rule."

Really? I'm not quite certain. Joe Buck (AKA Dumb) and his partner (AKA Dumber) have shown time and again that they don't understand a great many of the rules.

Originally Posted by David Emerling

Big deal.

It is a big deal. There are other ways to state it, such as "foul ball."

Originally Posted by David Emerling

I don't think any less of Joe Buck as a result - and neither should you or the viewers.

You're right. I coudn't think any less of Joe Buck than I already do. His father was a great announcer. There is not much resemblence.

Originally Posted by David Emerling

I knew what he meant - and so did you.

You and I and the other umpires around the world knew, but some fans will think that it is a foul tip when the catcher drops the sharp, direct foul. Some of these same fans will be screaming at their local umpires as a result. That's what makes it unacceptable.

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Joe Buck (AKA Dumb) and his partner (AKA Dumber) have shown time and again that they don't understand a great many of the rules.

Apparently your negative assessment of their commentating abilities has completely eluded the networks since Joe Buck and Tim McCarver do an incredible amount of broadcasting. You should know that networks only care about one thing - RATINGS.

Believe me, if the networks thought, for one second, that they would be losing viewers simply because of their selection of announcers - they would have different announcers.

The fact of the matter is that, for the most part, people like Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. Personally, I think they do a pretty good job even though they may not know the rulebook as well as most of us. Substantively, it does not take away from their body of work.

I dare say that we (as umpires) know even less about how to succeed as a sports commentator.

We are not the "typical" fan when watching a game.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

[UMP25]

I highly doubt the network's announcers will have any real impact upon the ratings.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by UMP25

I highly doubt the network's announcers will have any real impact upon the ratings.

I highly doubt you're right.

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by fitump56

I highly doubt you're right.

Oh, I'm right all right. The average fan doesn't care much about who announces or commentates. However, using an extreme like Pee Wee Herman's a different story.

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by UMP25

I highly doubt the network's announcers will have any real impact upon the ratings.

Dennis Miller, participating on the Monday Night Football crew, had a negative impact.

If PeeWee Herman was announcing, I think they'd lose viewers.

I know fans who hate certain announcers so much, they turn the volume of the TV all the way down and listen to a radio announcer.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

[greymule]

--tipped strike--

Yeah! I like that one.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

Dennis Miller, participating on the Monday Night Football crew, had a negative impact.

If PeeWee Herman was announcing, I think they'd lose viewers.

Like a car wreck, he would peak ratings for a few minutes...before the public began turning away.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

Dennis Miller, participating on the Monday Night Football crew, had a negative impact.

If PeeWee Herman was announcing, I think they'd lose viewers.

I rather liked the usually unbearable Miller on MNF. He was a hoot.

Paul Ruebens would make a great color commentator when compared side-by-side with Tim McCarver. Or Jim Palmer. Or Joe Morgan. Or Harold Reynolds. Or Orel Herscheiser.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

The fact of the matter is that, for the most part, people like Joe Buck and Tim McCarver.

So it's an established fact that most people like Joe Buck and Tim McCarver? Hmmmmm, my research shows otherwise. Like I said, just Google "Tim McCarver is an idiot" and check out the many websites that contain those very words. Actually, many people, not just me, do not like them.

Slamalamadingdong

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

So it's an established fact that most people like Joe Buck and Tim McCarver? Hmmmmm, my research shows otherwise. Like I said, just Google "Tim McCarver is an idiot" and check out the many websites that contain those very words. Actually, many people, not just me, do not like them.

Slamalamadingdong

Google is "researching" a skewed set, Steve; let me think about this.

Steve v.s. the Marketing Professional of the Networks. Hmmm.

Tough one.


I have to hand it to you, when you go it out for someone like McCarver, hungry, rabid, dog-bone, etc.