Jim Kaat destroyed my idolizing of athletes in about 1970 when he was pitching for the Twins at night game at Comiskey Park. We would get to the game early and as players walked by, they would sign autographs. Kaat comes by and we asked him for an autograph. His response was “stay away from be you stupid snot nosed brats.” Talk about devastion as a 14 year old! What a jerk, it’s something you never forget.

John Powley
Munster, IN

// YES has some good new blood like Leiter and John Flaherty \\

What the heck are you watching?? Leiter is not good. He is just terrible. He will hammer a point, long after it is dead and buried even longer than McCarver did. A couple of games ago he was talking about a pitch from the first inning 4 or 5 innings later. He is terrible and probably never would have got the job except for his being Kay’s best friend.

I don’t mind Kay, or Flaherty and I like Kenny, just don’t count on him staying. I heard he HATES Leiter and doesn’t want to work with him. (WFAN, WCBS or ESPN I forget who was talking about this.)

When will the Yankees come to the senses and FIRE Sterling? The guy is a complete joke.

YES also spent about 10 to 20 minutes on the JIMMY FUND that night.

Kay’s mother passed away today thats where he is. (ESPN had that this afternoon.)

BTW,
Kenny just gave a very insightful analysis of how Boog’s BBQ has been expanding their locations… during a 2-1 game.

Bails

//…And of course the YES broadcasters are going to be better than the opposing team’s broadcasters. Even if those guys aren’t homers, they still know more about their own team and their information about the away team is usually inaccurate. That’s not a big shock..//

Not having knowledge of the visiting team is only part of the problem. Misapplying stats, yammering about fans holding up posters or the pre-game hot dog eating contest, talking about the last time the (fill in the team) was in the post season or WS (usually twelve years ago, or more), talking in hushed tones about Randy Johnson as if he was the same guy from 4+ years ago, (same applies to Bernie), not admitting their own bullpens are awful, Not getting in their own guys for failing to move a runner over, etc… On balance Kaat has been objective, enjoyed the Yankees success without being a homer, and admitted when a player, ours or theirs, isn’t ready from prime time. The NESN guys spent 30 minutes during one game in the last series talking about the Jimmy Fund. I understand the role of charity work in baseball and I’ve even donated to the Jimmy Fund, but that’s not why people tune in. Guess they didn’t want to focus on the game. Wonder why?

I like Kaat, and will miss him. I do have to say that the NESN guys are not too bad, either. As others have said most of the rest of the league’s announcers are horrible. Listening to Rod Allen (?) on the Tigers is a horrible experience. The first game of any series on the road for the Yanks (which is when I usually get the other announcers) and within ten minutes there will be the brilliant insight that the Yankees have a higher payroll. Ugh.

This isn’t the first time Al has worked in the booth; he did the playoffs a few years ago. I just find it odd that a guy who’s always done so well in front of a camera is so clumsy on a microphone.

I won’t miss Kaat. In fact, you could record about five phrases from him, play them back, and it would be like Kitty was still there (he repeats himself that much).

Kenny, on the other hand, who I think treats the players fairly (and doesn’t pretend they’re superhuman), and who understands when to speak and when not to speak, would be missed greatly. I can’t stand Kay because his voice is grating, he’s a blowhard, and he thinks he’s a god of baseball (though he’s never played).

YES needs to go with Kenny and someone new (maybe Flaherty).

And of course the YES broadcasters are going to be better than the opposing team’s broadcasters. Even if those guys aren’t homers, they still know more about their own team and their information about the away team is usually inaccurate. That’s not a big shock.

I think the worst announcers in baseball are Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez. Talk about homers. Keith never saw a Met he didn’t want to hug and kiss and make excuses for. They are insufferable. Even worse than Kay — if you can believe it.

#15 makes a good point about other broadcasts. I am at the mercy of Extra Innings for Yankees games and a lot of them are the home team broadcasts. I also watch the Diamondbacks and Red Sox fairly regularly and will watch other teams over just about anything else on TV. The YES guys aren’t Messer, White, and the Scooter (whom I sure most of you would find fault with anyway), but they’re a whole lot better than 90% of the guys out there. Yes, even Kay. TV isn’t radio. As long as the production is halfway decent, you can see almost everything that happens. The announcers are primarily there to fill in the details and entertain (or create controversy) the casual fan. Furthermore, you can’t expect the new guys to be smooth right out of the gate. It takes most of them a season or two to get the timing and to be comfortable in the booth and with the other announcers, who are frequently changing. Chances are we’ll all miss Kaat after about 2 games with his replacement. And if it’s really that hard to listen to somebody, there’s always the Joe Morg- er, I mean, mute button.

Leiter is okay, but he’s very raw and unpolished and he can be irritating. He almost whispers into the microphone, he’s too tentative, and he occasionally starts a thought and just sort of drifts away (not to mention that he doesn’t speak after the third inning).

Also, he cannot be put in the booth alone with Kenny. Those two don’t get along. That K.C. series was brutal.

//Speaking of Kay, where the hell has he been? I keep hoping he has been fired.//

Unfortunately I think he’s just on vacation. But it does seem that he’s been taking a lot more vacations this year than in the past.

No Leiter or Kay, for the love of God.