AP SNY Thread Part II

[soupcan]

Calm down, I'm just making an observation.

I'm telling you though, watching a Yankee game on YES HD is pretty incredible - you gotta mute it though.

[Guest Kid Carsey]

soup: >>>I find myself watching Yankee games because of the picture. Truly.<<<

As if the Philly sweep wasn't enough, cap'n soup kicks the ribs ....

[soupcan]

I hat all of you.

[Willets Point]

soupcan wrote: I hat all of you.

I think this is just a surly George Foster post speaking.

[Guest Kid Carsey]

soup: >>>I hat all of you<<<

Just funnin' with you. I get HDTV on only one tv, and it's not wide screen but
rather one of the last 200 pound clunkers that I bought from a friend's friend
who fixes tv's in his garage right before the thin ones took off and became
mainstream.

Still, I wouldn't be compelled to watch the Yanks over the Mets if I could get
the Yankee games in 3d in my living room ;-)

[soupcan]

="Willets Point"]I think this is just a surly George Foster post speaking.

[metirish]

We might be taking the piss outta you for a while because of this.....Michael Kay in HD....I shudder.

[soupcan]

I said you have to mute it!

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

="soupcan"] ="Willets Point"]I think this is just a surly George Foster post speaking.

wham

[Guest Edgy DC]

I've been meaning to bring this up. Does anybody remember last season when Keith was in the booth analyzing a hitting prospect with a big Benny-type leg kick, I think for the Braves?

They did a slo-mo shot of his hitting form and Keith exclaimed, "Wow! His cock is bigger than Darryl Strawberry's!" or something.

All three guys must have pounded on their mute buttons because there was about 60 seconds of silence as they clearly broke up in laughter, until finally Gary composed himself, and came back in with an aside like, "Sorry, we had been cut out there, while Keith was talking about this player's leg kick (snicker) on his swing."

Anybody recall this?

Edited August 31, 2007 by Guest

[soupcan]

I wish I did but nope.

[metirish]

Interesting stuff here on SNY. Not surprising that Michael Kay would say what he said working for who he does,

] SNY talks fairly, quietly about Mets Sure, baseball gets mocked here for its glacial pace and out-sized role in Big Town media. But this week's operatic events in Flushing were a reminder of what the fuss is about - a sport whose melodrama unfolds daily over an insanely long season, starring a familiar cast of characters. That includes the voices in TV and radio booths, who at times become part of the drama (more about that later) and at their best convey it as keen observers, yet not detached ones. Consider Gary Cohen during the Mets' back-to-back, season-on-the-brink, soul-crushing Billy Wagner meltdowns against the Diamondbacks. Wednesday night, what was telling wasn't so much his call of Carlos Beltran's game-winner. It was the subtler stuff. Bottom of the ninth, one out, runner on first: "I would say the crowd is a lot quieter for a bottom-of-the-ninth, potential winning situation than it normally is after what transpired in the top of the inning." Added Ron Darling: "It's like a punch in the gut, Gary, just trying to breathe." Or bottom of the 13th, one out, runner on first: "Everybody connected with this team - players, coaches, manager, front office, fans - they'll stay up all night for a win right now." Seventeen hours later, what had been a relaxed telecast featuring a visit from Ralph Kiner derailed in the face of another Wagner flameout. This time, interestingly, the tone in the booth was less shocked, almost matter-of-fact, perhaps reflecting the numb reality that is beginning to settle in among fans and, who knows, maybe the team itself. Cohen and Darling both wondered whether playing a day game after a night game was affecting Wagner, then Cohen noted the stunned silence in the stadium for a second consecutive bottom of the ninth. "These are such strange times for this ballclub," he understated. Of course, adding to the intrigue since YES launched in 2002 and SNY in 2006 is that every announcer is viewed through the prism of team-owned TV stations, especially during tough times. So far SNY has an admirable record of objectivity, a sensitive subject at Shea since Willie Randolph's infamous shot at its camera shot selection last month. But it's complicated. Here is GM Omar Minaya during a visit to the booth Wednesday: "All of us are together in this. I know that Ron, you care; I know that Gary, you care. I know the radio guys [care]. We are all in this as New Yorkers, and we want this to happen." In this together? Like I said, SNY mostly has avoided that trap. Or taken a sledgehammer to it. During Mets-Padres Sunday, Keith Hernandez ripped the team for scheduling a charity function the night after a West Coast trip. Hernandez has irked ownership before with his political incorrectness, but this was a direct shot at Chez Wilpon. The next day on 1050 ESPN, Michael Kay, a veteran of the team-TV channel tightrope, weighed in. "I am amazed Keith Hernandez can keep his job," he said. "I'd be surprised if [he] was not called on the carpet ... If I am the Wilpons and I'm watching at home I'm throwing a shoe through the set." I have no idea about the shoe, but it's a good bet Kay accurately gauged the Wilpons' reaction. Still, it was not worth firing, or even punishing, a Mets icon. It was Keith being Keith. Speaking of which, Sunday is the 25th anniversary of the trade that brought him to the Mets. I recently spoke to him about the milestone, and he recalled having to publicly urge fans to return to the ballpark as the team contended late in the '84 season. "It was like Mets fans were afraid to come out and be hurt again," he said. "They started coming out in August. We filled it up, had great crowds. It was the beginning of a love affair for a whole decade." That love has been tested many times since, certainly this week. The drama continues ...

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I was kinda being facetious blaming Matt Yallof for the Mets troubles but I don't see SNY as a benign entity in the perception of this team at all. I think it's very existance serves to pump up expectations both by serving us state news and by generating revenues that fuel the contracts for mercenary scuzzbags like Wagner.

That's why I felt Willie's remarks about SNY were so off the wall when it's obvious the team relies so heavily on SNY to sell us the virtues of Willie.

The game broadcasts for the most part are the one oasis from the constant drumbeat of brainwashing but they are affected too.

[Guest AG/DC]

I think what Kay says speaks more to who he is than who he works for. Every broadcaster --- Kansas City or New York, whether or not they work for a team-owned outlet --- works with the balance of being a reporter and being a shill. He's planted his flag firmly in the shiill camp, and he can't stomache the notion of somebody reminding him that it was actually a choice.

[Frayed Knot]

I am the only one who finds the concept of first searching for and then dragging up a 10-month old thread rather than starting a new one to be a bit bizarre, not to mention more trouble than it's worth?

[metirish]

Frayed Knot wrote: I am the only one who finds the concept of first searching for and then dragging up a 10-month old thread rather than starting a new one to be a bit bizarre, not to mention more trouble than it's worth?

Oh fuck you.

[Guest Kong76]

I've been busy today, I love it when I open my first thread and laugh my ass off.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I am in awe of metirish for his ability to locate and revive a long dormant thread. Finding it after so much time has lapsed is hard enough, but just rememberiing the thread exixts and knowing what you're looking for is just amazing to me.

[soupcan]

metirish wrote: Oh fuck you.

Irish is my hero today.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I remember in 2006 posting something that said, more or less, "Chris Cotter brings nothing to the table."

He would just sit and talk to fans who had nothing to say.

But I have to give props to Kevin Burkhardt. He's been a much better sideline reporter than Cotter was, and he actually provides substance. I had thought that sideline reporters were lame, but I now realize that only lame sideline reporters are lame.

[Farmer Ted]

The crew did a great job during the rain delay last night. They kept me tuned in.

[Guest AG/DC]

I like that Burkhardt will pause in the middle of his sideline report to call pbp if something more interesting than his feature happens, or even someting less, and not lose his place.

It's murder when Ditzy McBigBreast interviewing somebody about "How big a fan are you?" while real action is occurring and scarcely being followed.

[Guest themetfairy]

Farmer Ted wrote: The crew did a great job during the rain delay last night. They kept me tuned in.

Agreed - these guys are knowledgeable. I can't imagine some of the other crews around the league being able to kill time half as informatively (not to mention coherently).

[metirish]

="AG/DC"]I like that Burkhardt will pause in the middle of his sideline report to call pbp if something more interesting than his feature happens, or even someting less, and not lose his place. It's murder when Ditzy McBigBreast interviewing somebody about "How big a fan are you?" while real action is occurring and scarcely being followed.

Agreed, I like Burkhardt a lot. I remember that Cotter was a last minute sideline guy and it was not what he was hired for so all things considered he did a decent job but was happy to be back in the studio.

[HahnSolo]

Past SNY personality update:

Julie Donaldson, best known (at least to me) for the champagne shower she got outside the clubhouse following the 06 division clincher, has lousy taste in boyfriends. Actually, I shouldn't joke, this guy's a real scumbucket.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/07/09/reporter_says_boyfriend_attacked_her/

[metirish]

WOW, poor Julie , please come home.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

What a douche.

[Centerfield]

Professional Slamball player ends up being a tool? Shocker.

[metirish]

Centerfield wrote: Professional Slamball player ends up being a tool? Shocker.

Dude , you're killing it all day today.

[Guest Kong76]

I had a tv crush on Julie, I used to joke about it here from time to time.
Reading that story is very disturbing. I realize that kind of violence goes
on a lot but I have trouble wrapping my brain around it most times.