Last week in the Coors Field press box I chatted with Tom Helmer of Root Sports. Tom usually does the pre and post game stuff but I complimented him, deservedly so, on his play-by-play skills while filling in for Drew Goodman.
Tom told me he likes doing play-by-play for the 10 games a year that Drew gets off.
Wha, wha, what?
Drew gets 10 games off during the baseball season?
Look, I love Drew. He's as nice a man as you will ever meet, with a sly sense of humor and a very capable broadcaster. But taking days off during the season? I don't get it.
If I had a big league broadcasting job I would never take a day off for a few reasons, the main one being I don't want to miss anything. What if I took a day off and a guy throws a no-hitter? That signature moment, that will go down in baseball history will be forever be heard coming from the backup announcer? That would kill me. There are so many story lines covering a team on a daily basis that I wouldn't want to miss out on anything.
Also, what if the backup guy catches the attention of some higher up? I would hate to take a few days off and in the off-season hear that they are making a move to go with the backup guy for whatever reason. I would hate to be looking over my shoulder.
I wouldn't want to get Wally Pipped.
If I was a Major League announcer, and I should be actually, I would be at all 162 games, plus all spring training games and post-season games. I would live at the ballpark.
Anyhow, Helmer grew up in Michigan as a Tigers fan and of course that meant he loved Ernie Harwell, my vote for greatest baseball announcer ever, just edging out Vin Scully. I said to Tom, "I'm guessing Ernie Harwell didn't 10 games off a season." Tom just smiled and said, "I hear ya."
Again, I think Drew is great and I enjoy his broadcasts immensely. He's also a very good basketball announcer. But I can't understand taking 10 games off a year. Other than a funeral, birth of a child or a wedding of a son or daughter, I don't think an announcer for any team in any sport should take a day off. Maybe that's just me.
Plus, for a baseball announcer, after the grind of a long season they get...oh, four months or so off?
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Tell you what Bill, you do the Rockies play by play, Ill do the color... the gimmick is we won't take no stinking vacations! and... we can call one game a homestand or roadtrip from some long forgotten park.. say Connie Mack Stadium...
ReplyDeleteCount me in Bob.
ReplyDeleteI say at Forbes Field, Ebbets Field and The Kingdome to the list!
BR