TBS Releases List Of Announcers Who Will Be Calling The MLB Playoffs

Thursday, September 18, 2008


Last year it seemed like the "very funny" TBS crews were hastily put together without much thinking and a lot of local guys (Don Orisillo) were grabbed up at the last minute. TBS tried to nip that in the bud this year by hiring some people in the middle of the season, and even though they still picked up some locals, I think they have a good collection of leads and analysts for this year's playoffs.

The biggest addition though could be the very personable, Curtis Granderson of the Detroit Tigers. Granderson should add some energy to a studio show that was somewhat boring last year. The teams haven't been decided yet but here are your players....

Studio: Ernie Johnson, Cal Ripken, Dennis Eckersley and current Detroit Tigers centerfielder Curtis Granderson
Play-By-Play: Chip Caray, Dick Stockton, Don Orsillo and Milwaukee Brewers announcer Brian Anderson
Analysts: Ron Darling, Buck Martinez, Tony Gwynn, Joe Simpson, John Smoltz, and Harold Reynolds
Reporters: Tom Verducci, along with field reporters Craig Sager, Marc Fein and David Aldridge.

Caray, Darling and Martinez are on the call of the ALCS, but if I'm guessing on the rest of the teams, here's what I've come up with. They'll probably have Orsillo and Simpson back together, and then go with Stockton, Reynolds and Smoltz and then have Anderson and Gwynn round out the crews. Gwynn could very well end up with Stockton though as well.

Obviously it's early on, but I already like what I'm seeing here on paper. The Playoffs are right around the corner people, I hope you're ready.

Posted by Awful Announcing- at 10:33 AM

37 Comments:

No Joe Morgan or Joe Buck always looks good.

GMoney said...
Sep 18, 2008, 10:46:00 AM  

Cheesey Chip Caray again? If anyone watched last year's Yankees-Indians series they know how painful he is to listen to. The guy sucks.

Anonymous said...
Sep 18, 2008, 10:57:00 AM  

Keep Dick Stockton away from the Cubs games! The Dick Stockton curse lives!!

Anonymous said...
Sep 18, 2008, 11:17:00 AM  

Losing Ted Robinson, one of the best voices in broadcasting, and bringing in some nobody = instant fail.

Anonymous said...
Sep 18, 2008, 11:24:00 AM  

Anon- 11:24,
I gotta say I live in Wisconsin and even though I dont root for the Brewers I think Brian Anderson is an excellent announcer, he is a real rising star in the business.

Anonymous said...
Sep 18, 2008, 11:37:00 AM  

Sad to see Steve Stone absent from the list. He's like the anti-Joe Morgan. He and Robinson were solid last year.

Am I the only one who is already hearing Chip Caray saying, "And here come the Yankees!!!" even with the Yankees absent from the AL playoffs??

Anonymous said...
Sep 18, 2008, 12:03:00 PM  

Where's Steve Stone? I thought he was great.

god, I hade dick Stockton. How many players names and counts will he get wrong this year? I put the over /under at a thousand.

Rahul said...
Sep 18, 2008, 12:06:00 PM  

No Harold Reynolds?

Anonymous said...
Sep 18, 2008, 12:06:00 PM  

You have to think the people at Fox are licking their chops at how lucky they've become.

Let's say the Rays win the AL East, and it's Tampa - White Sox and Boston - LA. And it ends up being the Rays - Angels in the ALCS.

In the NL you're looking at potentially the Dodgers, Philly, Mets, and Cubs all making the playoffs. And no matter how that shakes out you are looking at big time markets for the NLCS.

The AL might be better from top to bottom, but from a ratings standpoint, Fox could catch a major break.

Mez said...
Sep 18, 2008, 12:07:00 PM  

and don't forget the series involving the nl teams will be on free tv, compare to the al series which will be shown on cable

Anonymous said...
Sep 18, 2008, 12:17:00 PM  

Steve Stone does radio for whitesox. They are most likely to be in playoffs

illini81887 said...
Sep 18, 2008, 12:22:00 PM  

I love listening to Cal talk baseball... Maybe just because he's been my hero literally for as long as I can remember, but still.

Also happy to see Gwynn, Smoltzy and Reynolds.

Anonymous said...
Sep 18, 2008, 12:48:00 PM  

I enjoyed Ted Robinson as well but I'll miss Steve Stone. He's fun and informative and did a pretty good job in the Playoffs last year.

There's also a rumor that the White Sox are going to switch their radio and TV crews next season, so prepare for Stoner in the booth again.

Sep 18, 2008, 1:07:00 PM  

AA: I thought just Steve Stone & DJ were switching places. The only way Ed Farmer could get worse is if he has to do TV.

Sep 18, 2008, 1:14:00 PM  

Ah, that could be correct. I just saw it in passing a week or so ago.

Sep 18, 2008, 1:15:00 PM  

Here's the link. The White Sox made a mistake letting John Rooney go.

Sep 18, 2008, 1:23:00 PM  

Get ready for endless Frank TV ads, everyone!

Anonymous said...
Sep 18, 2008, 2:06:00 PM  

Brian Anderson? Oh lord. After having Matt Vasgersian and Darren Sutton do Brewer games for the past 5 years, Brewers fans have been subjected to the lost repetitiveness that is Brian Anderson. Have fun TBS.

Tim said...
Sep 18, 2008, 3:07:00 PM  

I don't care it'll be synch up the dvr to the broadcast and listen to Pat Hughes and Ron Santo.

Anonymous said...
Sep 18, 2008, 3:51:00 PM  

I thought Ted Robinson was the best play by play guy to begin with... disappointing

Anonymous said...
Sep 18, 2008, 3:58:00 PM  

im just glad theres no jose mota

Anonymous said...
Sep 18, 2008, 4:49:00 PM  

For any Ted Robinson fans - he was the Versus studio anchor for the UCLA-BYU game last week. Never saw him in the studio before, but he was sharp, as he always is. That conflict could be why he's not doing TBS baseball coverage this year.

Anonymous said...
Sep 18, 2008, 4:56:00 PM  

Brian Anderson? a failed Golf Channel announcer? In the Playoffs?

Ugh.....may as well have picked Jose Mota again.

The absence of Robinson and Stone who were so good on the Sox/Angels ALDS last year is a blow.

Anonymous said...
Sep 18, 2008, 7:14:00 PM  

Ted worked as a play-by-play for Versus's college football last season, and there were no conflict issues there. I had no problem with Ted as a baseball play-by-play. He probably would have continued for the Mets if MSG held the rights.

Anonymous said...
Sep 18, 2008, 7:29:00 PM  

I like Anderson. His calls r on Sportscenter all summer. And as a Red Sox fan, Robinson and Stone were awful.

Anonymous said...
Sep 18, 2008, 10:15:00 PM  

With the White Sox having a chance to be in the playoffs, Steve Stone would have a conflict with him working the radio games this year. he will be on TV with Hawk next year. Stone signed a 6-year deal, go the White Sox web-site for the story.

Anonymous said...
Sep 18, 2008, 10:47:00 PM  

Interesting... being trapped out of the Chicagoland area, I've been subjected to Anderson and the HORRIBLE Bill Schroeder more than is at all reasonable. That being said, I'll be interested to see how Anderson does when he's not handicapped by the gaggle of fucktards that FSN Wisconsin puts with him in Schroeder, Jeff Cirillo and Davey Nelson.

But, for the love of GOD, keep Dick Stockton away from the Cubs series.

Rob in WI said...
Sep 18, 2008, 10:49:00 PM  

Am I the ONLY one that realizes how boring the Stone/Robinson team was last year? All of TBS' coverage failed, that included.

I'd say if it stays like it is now:
Cubs/Mets- Carey, MArtinez, Darling

Red Sox/Angels- Stockton, Gwynn

Phillies/Dodgers- Orsillo, Simpson

Rays/White Sox- Anderson, Smoltz

Odd pairings, but this SHOULD satisfy all.

Anonymous said...
Sep 19, 2008, 12:36:00 AM  

Its bad enough I have to listen to Stockton while watching a Bears game now I have to listen to him doing a Cubs game???? How the hell does this guy keep getting a job

Anonymous said...
Sep 30, 2008, 11:19:00 PM  

Response to above post: I don't what games you are listening to, Ed Farmer is fantastic on the radio, it's too bad Steve Stone is moving to TV, he and Farmer were very good together, Darrin Jackson sucks.

Anonymous said...
Oct 1, 2008, 1:31:00 PM  

Sure takes the enjoyment out of the game with the one sided comments by the tbs sportscasters. I shut them off and turned on the radio.

Anonymous said...
Oct 2, 2008, 12:29:00 AM  

Okay this is just crap listening to these two idiots on the ALDS game with the Angels and Red Sox. Are they on the Boston payrole? TBS is right about one thing it is 'very fuuny" they pay these guys. Thank God for the mute button and AM radio!

Anonymous said...
Oct 2, 2008, 1:14:00 AM  

The guys in the studio for the pre-game of the Rays-Sox game were very negative to the Rays.
This is th first game I have ever heard Harold Reynolds call and he is horrible. It took him 8 innings to say anything positive about the Rays-and he basically admitted he hadn't seem them play all year! And if he says "And I know what I am talking about" or "I have lot of experience in this..." again, I m going to throw something at my tv. TBS's coverage stinks.

Cindy said...
Oct 2, 2008, 5:50:00 PM  

a comment for the comment posted by 'anonymous'...
the reason you don't the brewers announcers is because you even mentioned chicago so that just says you are a fucking ass. brian anderson is a great announcer and bill schroeder has been announcing for almost 15 years. he is one of the best announcers i have heard. if he's so bad why don't you get on the mic and talk about how sammy sosa jerked himself off with HGH cream.

Unknown said...
Oct 5, 2008, 12:21:00 AM  

Okay this is just crap listening to these two idiots on the ALDS game with the Angels and Red Sox. Are they on the Boston payrole?

What? During Game 2, I swore Caray/Martinez were auditioning for a "Hawk Harrelson job" with the Angels for 2009? What else could explain their near outright cheering for the Angels to come back? I watched on mute for the last 4 innings.

allan said...
Oct 5, 2008, 1:47:00 PM  

Do the TBS announcers know the red sox are playing too? it's hard to watch a game where everything they say is how great tampa is. I love watching TBS coverage on mute b/c they're so one sided.

Anonymous said...
Oct 13, 2008, 7:46:00 PM  

tbs announcers suck so much. may as well be TBS = Tampa Bay Sports!! all dey talk bout is tampa an how great dey r! dey make me so mad. go sox

Anonymous said...
Oct 13, 2008, 7:52:00 PM  

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