Joe DeLessio, at New York Mag, takes a shot at: Deconstructing John Sterling, One Call at a Time.

You know…the older he gets…Sterling’s starting to look a little like Jerry Springer. Just a tad, but, it’s there – at least to me.

I just hope it doesn’t reach the stage where Nick Swisher and A.J. Burnett start liftng up their shirts for “Sterling Beads.”

Via MultiChannel News -

New York Yankees fans who subscribe to Verizon FIOS TV will be able to stream live Yankees games via their computer as part of a deal reached between the YES Network and the telco.

As part of a multiyear agreement between Verizon and the YES Network, Verizon Internet customers who subscribe to FiOS TV and also are receiving the YES Network as part of their TV package will be able to buy access to live, streaming coverage of Yankees games throughout the remainder of the 2009 regular season.

Verizon customers will have to pay a one-time price of $29.95 or a monthly fee of $19.95 from now until the end of the season in October. The package begins with the YES network’s Aug. 14 Yankees-Seattle Mariners game

The deal is the second in-market, broadband distribution agreement for YES, following a similar arrangement with Cablevision Systems Corp. announced in June. Neither YES network or the operator will reveal how many Cablevision subscribers have taken advantage of the broadband offer.

Hey, for another $1,500 on top of the $29.95, you can watch the games on your PC while sitting in a pair of seats from the old Stadium!

Call me up when you can something Yankees-related for free…

There’s been some reader opinions left in comments recently to this blog regarding the Yankees radio broadcast team: Suzyn Waldman and John Sterling.

And, this got me thinking about how I feel about the Waldman and Sterling duo. And, to be candid, overall, I guess I’m not a fan of their work.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m somewhat sure they are both extremely nice people – the kind that you would want to have as your next door neighbor, etc. And, they’re both baseball lifers – having worked in the game for so many years. Lastly, the two of them do seem to care, very much, about the Yankees and their fans. So, those are three big things in the favor.

And, I’ll admit, at times, I do laugh at Sterling’s over the top calls, etc.

However, that all said, there’s just “something” there – regarding their work – that rubs me the wrong way. At first, I thought it was whole “Pinstriped Pollyanna” approach of theirs – where no Yankees player or member of the organization can do wrong. Anyone who knows me knows I think that’s that just living with Yankees blinders on…

More so, for me, I think the issue is that Suzyn Waldman and John Sterling “dumb it down” when they speak to you – assuming that you know less about the game (than them), and, in a sense, they “talk down” to the listener while covering the game. And, while maybe this works for some listeners…say… many of those under the age of ten or over the age of seventy…it really doesn’t work for me.

Further, I would think that most people do not enjoy being “talked down to” by anyone who knows less about a subject than they do…no matter what the subject…but, maybe it’s just me?

After all, many baseball fans today are pretty savvy. And, perhaps it’s time for broadcasters, in general, to stop playing to what they think is the lowest common denominator and start talking to listeners with the assumption that the audience has a clue as to which players are good or bad (overall or in certain situations) and that they understand what’s important or not in baseball games…ya think?

Again, this is no knock, personally, towards Suzyn Waldman and John Sterling. It’s just that I wish their broadcasts came from somewhere other than from an ivory tower – this make sense?

From Bruce Jenkins blog (with a hat tip to BBTF) –

Part of the fun of Manny Ramirez’ return to the Dodgers, scheduled for Friday night, will be the exposure of Charley Steiner as a hypocrite. Michael Kay was the first to go down, and Charley’s next.

At the height of Barry Bonds’ pursuit of the home-run records, Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow made lively, enthusiastic calls on the Giants’ network. They always loved Bonds as a ballplayer. They knew that whatever the extent of his plunge into steroids, it didn’t tarnish his reputation as one of the greatest and most entertaining hitters of all time. Most of the Giants’ fans knew this, as well, and they cheered their hearts out whenever he went deep. Kuiper’s home-run calls, in particular, go down with the most inspiring of modern-day broadcasting.

It seems this didn’t go over too well in other cities. Kay, who anchors the Yankees’ telecasts, ripped Krukow and Kuiper in a public forum for getting so excited over a steroid guy. Steiner, part of the Dodgers’ radio team, made some equally rude comments (off the air), establishing himself as a real high-and-mighty beacon of integrity.

Except it doesn’t work that way. Alex Rodriguez opened the season in disgrace after the steroid-related embarrassment of spring training, but that didn’t stop Kay from going nuts when A-Rod slugged his first home run. Presto — instant hypocrite! Now we get to hear Steiner when Manny rocks Dodger Stadium for the first time. What, he’s going to treat it like a funeral while the place is going crazy?

I’ve known Kay since his days as a Yankee beat writer in New York, and he’s a good guy. So is Steiner, who livened up many an ESPN “SportsCenter” before he joined the Dodgers. Ripping the Giants’ broadcasting team, to say the least, was not their finest hour.

I cannot blame a broadcaster for getting excited about a player on “his team” hitting a homer, etc., even if the player was caught for using PEDs. That’s pretty much their job. That said, Jenkins has a point here – in that said broadcasters should not have thrown stones, if they really did, at another time.

Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see if Kay responds to this claim. Nothing like a little coast-to-coast media tinkling contest to throw another log on the Yankeeland entertainment/circus fire, right?

Via the YES Network Site -

The YES Network, the most-watched regional sports network in the country for the past six years, and Verizon, the only major provider that delivers all-digital TV service over an advanced all-fiber network straight to customers’ homes, have reached a multiyear video-on-demand agreement.

The agreement will provide Verizon’s FiOS TV digital subscribers throughout New York state and in north and central New Jersey access for the first time to telecasts of New York Yankees games and other YES programming on demand. The YES on-demand programming will be available beginning Wednesday (April 8). This makes Verizon the first distributor to offer Yankees games on demand.

In addition to YES’ Yankees telecasts, FiOS TV customers will have access to other YES programming such as the network’s Emmy Award-winning Yankees post-game shows and “Yankees On Deck” series, the Emmy-nominated “CenterStage” interview show, “The Joe Girardi Show” and “Yankees Magazine.”

Sweet…makes those 13 hours now worth it.

Via Bryan Hoch -

Alex Rodriguez believes the other 103 positive tests from Major League Baseball’s 2003 survey program should remain anonymous, the Yankees slugger told the YES Network in an interview to be aired Tuesday.

Speaking with host Michael Kay for a segment taped before the slugger’s March 9 right hip surgery, Rodriguez said that he does not think releasing the identities of that year’s other positive tests for performance-enhancing drugs would help his own situation.

“This is really about my mistake,” Rodriguez told Kay. “You know, many nights I fell asleep thinking about who I can blame, and this guy, or that guy. And when I woke up I kept coming back to the same person; it’s me. I mean, there’s no one to blame. I hope those 103 names never come out.”

In the interview, Rodriguez again apologized for his use of banned substances during his three seasons with the Rangers from 2001-03.

“I’m very sorry,” Rodriguez said. “You know, we’re role models, and I think athletics plays a big part in our culture, especially in the world we’re in today. There’s so much negativity and sadness going on around the world and the U.S. … people look at baseball for a savior or for inspiration, and I know that I’ve let a lot of people down.

“I know there’s kids out there that I’ve never met before, and I probably never will, that I’ve hurt them, and for that, I’m very sorry. I’m not very good with words, but no matter what I sit here and tell you today, it’s not going to express how truly sorry I feel for what I have done.”

Given all the other press that Alex has received in the last two weeks, since A-Rod taped this interview with Kay, would it have killed YES to delete this interview from their Tuesday night special? At this point in time, do we really need to see and/or hear from Rodriguez at all – even if the content is favorable? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a full week in Yankeeland where we didn’t hear something about Alex Rodriguez that was off-the-field related? Really, just seven days in a row…that are “A-Rod Free”…wouldn’t that be sweet?

Bob Lorenz is blogging now. He’s the closest thing we have today to Frank Messer – so, check it out.

By the way, I thought this movie rocked…

It was right up there with this one.

In-game chats with Jim Kaat? Oh, boy, I hope Kitty knows what he’s getting into…

Via the Sports Business Journal -

The YES Network this week plans to relaunch its Web site, with the enhanced online presence influenced significantly by a new three-year agreement with MLB Advanced Media.

While there is no leaguewide agreement yet on live in-market streaming of games — an issue that has been actively debated within baseball for several years — YES’s moves are emblematic of regional sports networks seeking to maximize their online profiles within the current framework.

The new-look yesnetwork.com will feature three video highlights per game, up from two in the prior accord with MLBAM; a new design that resembles MLB.com and the Yankees.com team site; an extensive series of text and video blogs from both network personnel and outside sources such as the River Ave. Blues blog; and greatly expanded social-networking capabilities.

“We want this to be a complement to Yankees.com,” said Michael Spirito, YES vice president of business development and digital media. “We certainly don’t want to duplicate what they’re doing and think we can bring forth a lot more content and value to the fans.”

Despite the anemic advertising market, YES sold several title-sponsor deals for the updated site, including Chevrolet returning for a player-of-the-game segment, and Papa John’s and Avis buying into text-messaging functions supported by YES and MLBAM.

Financial terms of the YES-MLBAM pact were not disclosed, but the deal includes revenue-sharing provisions.

Other new content initiatives for the YES site include a weekly video feature that explores the intersection of sports and entertainment culture, and in-game chats with former YES announcer Jim Kaat.

“The idea is to go way beyond just that [Derek] Jeter went two-for-three last night, and have a full range of experiences,” said Kevin Sullivan, yesnetwork.com managing editor.

YES Network is not alone in retooling its Web site. Other RSNs have been similarly active over the winter, ramping up for the 2009 baseball season.

Continue reading »

Via Bob Raissman -

The MLB Network is looking to open the new Yankee Stadium in style, unleashing a formidable trio of voices who have never shared the same broadcast booth.

When the Bombers crack the regular-season seal on the new joint, April 16 against Cleveland, Bob (Rapping Roberto) Costas will handle the play-by-play, joined by analysts Harold Reynolds and Jim Kaat.

The surprise here is Kitty’s return to the Bronx. The other surprise is that Kaat wanted to return to the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network booth, but YES suits put the kibosh on it.

Kaat “retired” from broadcasting following the 2006 campaign after 12 consecutive seasons (13 overall) behind a Yankees’ TV microphone. In July of 2008, his wife, Mary Ann, died after suffering complications from bladder cancer.

In an interview last November, Kaat expressed displeasure with the state of the game. Watching a game as a “civilian” revealed warts he didn’t see as a broadcaster.

The fact that he’s headed back to broadcasting likely means Kaat became tired of being just a “viewer.” Kaat’s first return engagement was with MLB International during its coverage of the World Baseball Classic. Spies say Kaat is also likely to work more games for MLB Network and pop up in the studio on select occasions.

Acquiring Kaat, even on a part-time basis, is a coup for MLBN suits. Already recognized as one of the top analysts in the game, a rejuvenated Kaat, during the WBC, had plenty to say.

Although he is back in the mix, Kaat won’t be returning to YES’ Yankees booth. MLB sources said Kaat reached out to YES suits, offering his services on a limited basis at a reasonable price.

Sources said Kaat, who was not looking for major dough or a monster schedule, was told YES had no room for him because of budgetary constraints and scheduling.

Budgetary constraints? Sounds like a whitewash job to me. Sure, its an economic downturn. But, there’s no way to squeeze Kitty in? Really?

Via SportsBusiness Daily:

YES Network will continue to simulcast Mike Francesa’s daily radio show, “Mike’D Up: Francesa on the FAN,” opting to match an offer the radio host signed with MSG Network. The multi-year deal also will see YES simulcast Francesa’s NFL pre-game show “The NFL Now,” which airs Sunday mornings during football season, from 9:00am-12:00pm ET. “YES had the right to match, and they matched,” Francesa said. “I always thought that we’d stay with YES. … From day one, YES has been exceedingly committed.” YES has simulcast Francesa’s radio show since the net’s launch in March ‘02, signing a series of one-year deals. Francesa split from his long-time partner Chris “Mad Dog” Russo last summer. Francesa and YES verbally agreed to the deal in November and ultimately inked an agreement at the end of the year. He said the show will move into new studios in the coming months, and he plans to use more YES Network talent in his show, specifically mentioning clubhouse reporter Kim Jones as someone who will see more airtime.

Pretty interesting. I thought that the feeling in the industry was that the MSG Network would get Francesa – and that it was pretty much a done deal.

I guess that the YES Network figured there were not enough White Shadow repeats out there to cover the block of time left open if Francesa bolted. (Yeah, I’m kidding. I know that YES finally started to cool it with the Shadow shows.)

Hey, look at the bright-side…it could be worse. YES could have given Michael Kay more air-time, or something, if Francesa’s slot became open. Sometimes a hot poker in the eye is better than a chainsaw to the throat…right?

Just saw this one from Neil Best on Friday -

Two months before the Yankees move into a new stadium, their TV voice has “no idea” where he will do his day job on game days.

In recent years, Michael Kay’s 1050 ESPN show has originated from a trailer outside the stadium because CBS Radio will not permit him to set up inside. It owns both the Yankees’ radio rights and WFAN, 1050’s competitor, and has the power to bar other stations’ shows from the building.

Kay said logistics at the new stadium won’t allow for a trailer, so he is not sure where he will be until 6, when he leaves for the YES booth.

“They’ve always said we’re not a threat to them and they don’t worry about us,” Kay said. “There is nothing I gain from doing the show in the stadium other than for me personally, it’s easier … They’ve been petty and vindictive about it from the beginning.”

ESPN bars its personalities from being guests on WFAN. Three industry sources said WFAN offered to lift the stadium ban if ESPN lifted its guest restriction. ESPN declined.

WFAN operations manager Mark Chernoff declined to comment.

But, he’s Michael Kay!

Here’s the report from MLB.com.

Senator Al is becoming Savoir-Faire – he’s everywhere!

Click here to see the announcement. (Hat tip to Pete Abe.)

Use the comments section below to lament.

Hazel Mae left the New England Sports Network this year and will become the on-air face of the MLB Network (which is set to launch on January 1, 2009).

I wonder if Kim Jones was up for that MLB job too? For the record, Mae is exactly seven months younger than Jones. So, maybe MLB just wanted a younger person… [wink]

Per Neil Best (with a hat tip to XM MLB Chat) –

Michael Kay has re-signed for another three years as YES’ Yankees play-by-play man, which will take him through his 10th season with the network…

Ah, three more years of hearing pretentious sesquipedalia verba and tediously repetitive phrases. Oh, boy, I can’t wait…

Well, if you are…I just wanted to say I would be more than willing to participate…if you wanted to copy (on Yankees Magazine?) the great idea that SNY and the Mets recently had with respect to team bloggers for a feature on Mets Weekly. (Hat tip: CSTB.)

Watching the Yankees game, on YES, this evening, I was saddened to hear the news about Jim Kaat’s wife passing. Bob Raissman had a report on it as well:

Heartfelt condolences to Jim Kaat, whose wife Mary Ann, 64, died yesterday after suffering complications from the bladder cancer she was diagnosed with in 2004.

Kaat, who retired from the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network booth following the 2007 season, said the family will hold a private service in Ripon, Wis. A celebration of Mary Ann’s life will be held later this year at Kaat’s Florida home.

Actually, Kitty retired after the 2006 season – and not 2007 as Raissman wrote. Nonetheless, hearing of Mrs. Kaat’s illness, now, it makes sense as to why Jim retired (when he did) to travel about the country in an RV with his bride.

I’m glad that the Kaat’s had a chance to be together as much as they were during 2007. And, I hope that Jim realizes that death only ends life, and, not relationships. His wife will always be with him – and nothing can ever change that.

Yankee Stadium Insider has the story and the video. Way back when, Paul Katcher had the audio from Earl Weaver that slipped out over the air this evening. (It’s NSFW or the kiddies. But, it’s an absolute classic if you’ve never heard it before…)

Terry Crowley, after the game, about YES said: “They’re the artists, I’m the canvas. They paint the picture the way they want to.” (Yeah, I’m kidding about that last part.)

My Pinstripes takes apart Michael Kay with their feature “Michael Kay, Yea or Nay?”

It’s a read worth checking out.

Yankee Stadium Insider has the smoking gun on this one. (Hat tip to Subway Squawkers.)

Too bad there was no happy ending for Ian on this one.

The YES Network has a fun little feature up now with some historical Yankees stats. Click here to see it.

At least I think it’s new. Happy clicking!

Via the YES Network site with a hat tip to BaseballThinkFactory.org:

The Joe Girardi Show, a weekly half-hour show presented in high-definition featuring first-year New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, will premiere on the YES Network (www.yesnetwork.com) on Sunday, April 6, at 5 pm ET, immediately following the Tampa Bay-Yankees post-game show. A new episode of The Joe Girardi Show will premiere each Sunday during the season.

On his show, Girardi, a former Yankees analyst on YES, will discuss the overall state of the Yankees, review the team’s previous performances and dissect its upcoming schedule. In addition to his weekly YES show, Girardi will participate in weekly chat sessions on YESNetwork.com.

Let’s just hope this is not something that gives Randy Levine an excuse to whisper into Kim Jones’ ear. O.K., seriously, I’m looking forward to this – it could be very interesting. Or, then again, it could be a weekly puff piece – like a Yankees On Deck for adults. Time will tell.

Until that first exhibition game coverage (this year) on YES. Anyone else jonesing for some live Yankees baseball, on TV, really bad?

From Bob Raissman:

Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network suits have already cast aspersions on George Mitchell’s report on steroids in baseball.

After watching YES’ “Hot Stove” feature on Phil Hughes, it appears, according to YES, certain allegations made about Roger Clemens don’t really exist. They are imaginary – just like the Tooth Fairy.

Much of the Hughes piece shows the pitcher going through his daily offseason workout regimen (lifting weights, etc.) at the Yankees’ Tampa facility.

At one point in the story, Hughes says: “God-given ability can only get you so far, then it’s up to you to maximize that. Even if I can just take a little bit of what Roger did for us last year, (to) see the way he works out … see the way he goes about his business, it kind of gives you an idea of what you need to do to stay in this game as long as he did.”

It seems the “idea” of what Clemens needed to do “to stay in this game as long as he did” is contained in Mitchell’s report. Or, at least, allegations of what Clemens did. In the report, Clemens’ former trainer, Brian McNamee, alleges that the seven-time Cy Young Award winner had been juicing since 1998.

If the Hughes feature was shot before the Mitchell Report came out, it would have been a good idea for YES – perhaps through “Hot Stove” host Bob Lorenz – to mention that fact. And if the Hughes interview was shot after the report was released, well, YES made the young pitcher look like a fool.

Someone should have edited the Clemens line out of the story. Unless, of course, it was left in on purpose to further discredit Mitchell’s report.

Probably not the best choice of words for Phil. But, he’s a kid. You have to cut him some slack there. Still, I agree, YES should have used some better judgment and some editing on that one.

Joel Sherman has the story.

Can’t wait for the first Cone-Leiter debate.

I wonder if it will be anything like this:

Patrick Reusse of the Star Tribune has a nice feature up today – getting us up-to-date with Jim Kaat.

The Yankees rewarded Kaat for his excellence with generous pay, but they were unable to talk him out of retirement after the 2006 season. He went home to Stuart, Fla., and started making plans with his wife, Mary Ann, to see the country in their Itasca-Meridian model Winnebago.

“We left Florida at the end of May and didn’t get back until the middle of November,” Kaat said. “We traveled 10,400 miles through 27 states, with stops at 60 different golf courses and twice as many art galleries.

“Mary Ann doesn’t golf, so she brushes the cats while I’m playing golf, and then I pay her back by visiting art galleries.

“We hit every state where we have relatives. We saw every brother, sister, son, daughter, grandchild, niece and nephew we could find.”

“I know it’s fashionable for retired people to get on a plane, fly to Europe, then come home and talk about how great Rome is,” Kaat said. “To each his own, but I’d say to those people, ‘You don’t know what you’re missing — the scenery, the beautiful little towns, the great people — by not hitting the highways and seeing this country.”

Looks like HankdeStein Jr. is making a list, checking it twice, and finding out who’s been naughty or nice – and then applying the A. Bunker philosophy of “There’s nothing wrong with revenge, it’s the best way to get even!”

From Neil Best with a hat tip to Hot Foot -

Tom Verducci is out as an analyst on YES’s “Yankees Hot Stove.”

Why? His recent, scathing column on SI.com regarding Joe Torre’s departure might have had something to do with it. Actually . . . it had pretty much everything to do with it.

YES spokesman Eric Handler said Verducci’s “recent remarks pertaining to the Yankees’ ownership were extremely personal and cutting, and we decided it would not be in our interests to have him on the show going forward.

“Also, Tom is collaborating with Joe Torre on a second book. It’s unfortunate, but we figured it was an action that had to be taken. We appreciate the work he’s done for us in the past.”

What does his book deal with Torre have to do with it?

“The recent disclosure of Tom’s collaboration with Torre on yet another book highlights a conflict in his ability to write a balanced column about Torre’s departure from the Yankees,” Handler said.

Another Newsday baseball writer turned SI writer, Jon Heyman, was on the show when it debuted Thursday night.

Verducci, who appeared on the show for four seasons, said, “The people who put the show together are really first-class people, and I enjoyed working for them. The on-air product is very good.I’ll miss working with them. As for management, it’s their network and I fully respect their decision.”

Anyone watch the Yankees/YES via FiOS TV? I’m thinking of switching from Comcast Cable. Thanks in advance for any feedback that you can share.

The Postmen (A Sports Blog) has an entry with the audio of Suzyn Waldman crying on the air about Joe Torre last night.

When you listen to it, you’ll hear John Sterling jump in and take her off the mike as she starts to cry.

I’m not sure what to make of her reaction here. Part of me feels bad for her – no one likes to see people cry, or, at least, they shouldn’t like to see it. But, part of me also says “Now, watch, if Mattingly or Girardi is named manager, she’ll gush, on and on, about them when they’re hired.”

In some ways, Suzyn Waldman is just Michael Kay in a dress. When it comes to the both of them, I wonder if anyone in charge of broadcasting at YES TV and Radio knows that there are probably hundreds of candidates out there who could do a better job than them – and that the fans would probably welcome the upgrade.

Dear YES Network:

How about just having Singleton, Leiter and Girardi in the booth – and have Kay replace Kim Jones – from here until the end of the season?

Allow Murcer, O’Neill, Flaherty and Justice to take turns and handle pre- and post-game in the studio with Bob and Nancy.

Thanks for taking the time to consider this request.

Sincerely,
A Yankees fan with a functioning set of ears and a brain that’s not dead.