The Giants and A’s seem playoff ready. Too bad their announcers,
along with Channel 36, Channel 2 and Fox Sports Net are not.
Here are my thoughts on the Giants, A’s postseason chances , as
well as, everyone else involved.
The Giants and A’s seem playoff ready. Too bad their announcers, along with Channel 36, Channel 2 and Fox Sports Net are not.
Here are my thoughts on the Giants, A’s postseason chances , as well as, everyone else involved.
-Channel 2 (KTVU) missed the live version of Edgardo Alfonzo’s second-inning grand slam Tuesday in Houston. Viewers came back after a commercial break during a pitching change to see the ball clearing the left field fence. If that’s in a playoff game, it’s angry calls to the station in spades. Worst yet, it wasn’t even the first pitch in the count. It was the second.
-Heard Duane Kuiper bobble the call of Alfonzo’s slam on KNBR’s midnight replay of the game. Kuiper must have been stunned that the ball was headed out for he didn’t realize it until it was too late. Apparently still stunned, he said Alfonzo’s HR made the score 9-0. Seconds elapsed before Kuiper said the correct score of 10-0. Again, not playoff ready.
-Greg Papa ruined the suspense for A’s TV viewers Tuesday night as the game wore on. Papa felt compelled to give us what was happening in Anaheim between the Angels and Mariners. Nearly every pitch. The A’s were down a run to the Rangers in the bottom of the ninth. That was the more important drama as far as we were concerned and certainly drama enough. Stay with that, Greg. It’s confusing and annoying to talk about another game. It detracts. Do it during breaks.
-Mike Krukow, Giants color man, has gotten too talky, unfortunately. He needs to wrap things up more quickly and not talk while the pitcher is in the stretch. That moment should be given to the play-by-play man. Krukow’s “Meat” and “Cheeks” euphemisms are also insulting and should be shelved. Not good examples for children or anyone over the age of 65. I don’t really want to hear about how a strange man put “both cheeks into it”. A little too much information, thank you.
-Krukow, a former pitcher, also has to halt the habit of calling pitches. I don’t want to know what pitch is coming. I want to be surprised. Just like I didn’t want to hear former NFL head coach and football broadcaster Hank Stram predict what plays were coming or what direction the play was going. “Look at the right side, it’s wide open!” said Stram, even though he was on radio and we couldn’t see what the heck he was talking about.
-FSN’s constant panning to the same fan(s) in the stands is extremely annoying. The picture is cute or funny once. Not after the 12th time. The viewer’s turn on the television to watch the game, not what goes on in the stands.
-Still trying to figure out what Glen Kuiper, Duane’s brother, brings to the party. No personality. And that Professional Grade thing during games is a nuisance. Wonder how Glen got his job? Hmmmm.
As for the teams themselves……
-Giants would be best advised to have a big lead going into the late innings. Tim Worrell and Felix Rodriguez are the kind of relievers to give Giants fans ulcers.
-Great pickups by the Giants – Marquis Grissom and Ray Durham.
-Great pickups by the A’s – Erubiel Durazo and Keith Foulke.
-Will they pitch to Bonds?
-If the Giants don’t win it all this year, they might not ever win it. This team is not getting any younger. (Should have won it last year).
-And in 2003, John Lackey, Game 7 winner is just an average pitcher for the Angels, one year too late for Giants fans.
-NL pennant could come down to former Giant Russ Ortiz pitching Game 7 against Jason Schmidt.
-A’s would rather face the Yankees than the Twins. That’s just a hunch. Neither will be easy draws and that’s assuming they’ll get by Boston.
-Oh, if the A’s had a healthy Mark Mulder.
-Oh, if the Giants had a healthy Robb Nen.
-Don’t know why I would prefer the Giants play the Phillies in the first round instead of the Marlins. Probably because the Marlins’ pitching is more feared.
-Cubs-Giants showdown would be like last January’s Super Bowl with Tampa Bay-Oakland Raiders. Dusty Baker emulating the role of Jon Gruden. Get it?
-Ray Durham could be the best leadoff hitter in Giants history, if he stays healthy and with the team for the next seven years.
-Here’s hoping all the fans stay in their seats and don’t come over the rail to snag fair balls during the playoffs. What if the fielder falls down and wrecks a knee? That double could be a triple, or even a homer to the club the fan is rooting for. Think about it.
-The Giants will go as far as its starting staff takes them. The A’s will have to rely on a lot of offense to win.
That’s enough venting and troubleshooting from me. All of you are on your own. Keep that remote control at the ready and know where that mute button is.
