Hagin 2012?

[HahnSolo]

Maybe Eddie can get the postgame Mets Extra back at least.

[metirish]

HahnSolo wrote: Maybe Eddie can get the postgame Mets Extra back at least.

Ed does all that just fine, but when he steps in to the pbp role to give Howie a blow he's just not that engaging.

[Ceetar]

Burkhardt?

[Fman99]

Phil Mushnick [Fri - NYPost]: It�s doubtful Wayne Hagin will be back for a fifth year as Howie Rose�s partner in the Mets� radio booth. Hagin�s contract has expired and WFAN has been interviewing possible replacements.

Edited December 16, 2011 by Guest

[Lefty Specialist]

Howie needs a Met fan to play off of. Someone who knows the history of the franchise and will understand Howie's jokes. Oh, and someone who can describe the action clearly, concisely and who sounds like he cares about whether the Mets win or lose.

I have no idea who that person is. That's the job of the Mets HR Department.

Wayne Hagin sometimes sounded like he was stuck at an airport and forced to keep talking for three hours or his connecting flight to St. Louis would never arrive. There was very little joy in his delivery, and very little of the gobsmacked holy-shit-I can't believe-they screwed-up-that-badly feeling when they kicked a game away.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Lefty Specialist wrote: I have no idea who that person is. That's the job of the Mets HR Department.

Kevin Burkhardt?

[HahnSolo]

I'm growing tired of Burkhardt even in just small doses on TV.

[Ceetar]

pretty sure you're in the minority there.

[Frayed Knot]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Howie needs a Met fan to play off of. Someone who knows the history of the franchise and will understand Howie's jokes. Oh, and someone who can describe the action clearly, concisely and who sounds like he cares about whether the Mets win or lose.

I never bought the idea that an announcer has to be a fan - especially seeing as we already have the prototype in both the TV and radio booths.
Finding a guy who can describe the action well is much more important than is limiting yourself to trying only those who can match Howie memory for memory. Particularly on radio that's the much more important part of the job anyway. So as long as the guy knows baseball inside and out (I hate general purpose announcers dropped into baseball games) and isn't totally ignorant of team history I don't feel the need for a history of blue and orange footie pajamas as a prerequisite.

[metirish]

Ceetar wrote: HahnSolo wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: I have no idea who that person is. That's the job of the Mets HR Department. Kevin Burkhardt? I'm growing tired of Burkhardt even in just small doses on TV. pretty sure you're in the minority there.

Kevin might be too much of a feel good fan, he's fine doing what he does with the field stuff and occasional studio duties. Love lefties description of Hagin in the airport, agree with FK, a good pbp guy is a must, chemistry with Howie would be nice. I remember loving the radio booth of the Giants during their WS run.

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, sheesh, Matt Yallof got all the jokes, but enough inside jokes already.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Give me a guy who can call the action without making it sound like a logic puzzle. In lieu of a Metly-by-birth sort, give me one who does a semi-decent job of selling his partner's anecdotes. You don't need Howie II in the seat; you just need someone who won't step on Howie's remembrances, jokes, or extemporaneous trivia niblets... or let them fall flat without a reaction/response (a Wayne specialty, IIRC).

[Guest themetfairy]

I like Burkhardt - I'd be happy to give him a shot in the booth.

[bmfc1]

themetfairy wrote: I like Burkhardt - I'd be happy to give him a shot in the booth.

"And here are the guys in the field for the Mets... the guy at first is Ike Davis. The guy at second is Daniel Murphy.... and now for the first pitch, the radio voice of the New York Mets, Howie Rose... guy."

[Guest themetfairy]

bmfc1 wrote: themetfairy wrote: I like Burkhardt - I'd be happy to give him a shot in the booth. "And here are the guys in the field for the Mets... the guy at first is Ike Davis. The guy at second is Daniel Murphy.... and now for the first pitch, the radio voice of the New York Mets, Howie Rose... guy."

LOL - If we get that for a season, I'll be willing to rethink this

[Ceetar]

bmfc1 wrote: themetfairy wrote: I like Burkhardt - I'd be happy to give him a shot in the booth. "And here are the guys in the field for the Mets... the guy at first is Ike Davis. The guy at second is Daniel Murphy.... and now for the first pitch, the radio voice of the New York Mets, Howie Rose... guy."

I've enjoyed the couple of games he's called in spring training, albeit on TV.

Anyone listen to him calling football? Could it be that letting him (and I assume SNY had to grant permission due to overlaps) go do Cowboy games was a way for them to 'try him out' so to speak, before perhaps offering him a role? I believe they denied a similar request for him to call games on Fox or something a couple of years ago. I'm sure that's where his career is heading in any case.

He's not a Mets fan, but he's been here a while and knows the team and the players and it's history. So he'd have plenty of 'remember when?' conversations to have about things, but also would allow Howie to tell older stories without the other host interrupting with "That reminds of this game in Colorado.."

[Gwreck]

Ceetar wrote: He's not a Mets fan

Yes, he is.

See the part about how Gary Cohen was his childhood idol.

I think Burkhardt would be a fantastic choice to partner with Howie.

[metirish]

He's not a Mets fan??????, IIRC this gig is his dream gig because he is in fact a huge Mets fan.

[Ceetar]

Gwreck wrote: Ceetar wrote: He's not a Mets fan Yes, he is. See the part about how Gary Cohen was his childhood idol. I think Burkhardt would be a fantastic choice to partner with Howie.

I guess I misunderstood. I thought he wasn't. Even better.

[HahnSolo]

I thought Burkhart left his FAN gig to go to SNY because he wanted his future in TV.

[Gwreck]

Maybe, but moving from field reporter to being one of the full-time radio [crossout:372m0kk8]guys[/crossout:372m0kk8] broadcasters is definitely a promotion.

[Lefty Specialist]

Radio is a much different talent than TV. Not everybody can do it. Former athletes are color guys generally, not play-by-play guys. Ever heard Keith do PBP? Neither have I. I heard Ron do it once, and while I love the guy, he was horrible.

On radio, you're describing all the action all the time. One of the complaints about Hagin is that he's terrible at describing the action. On TV that can be glossed over because you've got pictures and replays. Not on radio.

Howie needs someone who he can play off of. Hagin just wasn't that guy, he wasn't steeped in the Metliness that's needed to announce games for this starcrossed franchise. Someone who gets his jokes and his New York area references. While I'm not a big Ed Coleman fan, I'd rather see him get it than some guy with good pipes from Dallas or Seattle. Burkhardt strikes me as a guy who doesn't want to be locked up in the radio booth for nine innings. I have a feeling that after a few months he'd hate his job and we'd hate his performance at it.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Not that WFAN would be interested necessarily in investing even a day beyond the length of its deal to broadcast their games, but the Mets for their part could probably stand to bring along a younger contemporary of Howie/Gary, and insert him/her in the radio booth for a summer of learnin and growin alongside an old pro (who by Murphy's standards is a beginner but you know, he's a veteran).

[Edgy MD]

Ruby Tuesday wrote: Report: Jim Duquette, Chris Carlin, Ed Coleman, Billy Sample candidates for Howie Rose sidekick.

[MFS62]

Billy Sample!
Billy Sample!
I want Billy Sample!

I heard him interviewed when he was a player (Texas) and my wife and I both commented that he had the pipes to be an announcer.
He was crisp, clear and booming.
Later, he wrote a sports column for USA Today.

He would be perfect.

Later

[metirish]

Edgy DC wrote: Report: Jim Duquette, Chris Carlin, Ed Coleman, Billy Sample candidates for Howie Rose sidekick.

an inspiring bunch, haven't heard much of Duke but I like him , who is Billy Sample......any ,uh samples of his work? pass on Carlin, give it to Ed I think.

[Edgy MD]

Billy Sample is a former big league outfielder, mostly with Texas. I've seen/heard him do MLB.com spring training games, but he's worked for a few teams. Genial, jocky guy. Low voice, if I remember correctly. Also has written a bit.

I get the idea that MLB uses the MLB.com spring training broadcasts to showcase some broadcasting prospects to teams, and may try to focus on trying to get more non-whites some opportunities. It seems like the closest thing to a non-Caucasian presence the Mets have ever had on English-language broadcasts is the half-Polynesian Ron Darling.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

As long as the job requires 4 innings of pbp a nite, I can't see it going to Duke or another jock with limited broadcasting experience.

Carlin is a clown, we hear enough idiots pretending to be knowledgeable on FAN when Met games aren't on.

Coleman, good pipes, experience but kinda boring and lacks a passion for doing journalism.

Sample it is.

[Guest themetfairy]

Not Carlin. Please, ANYONE but Carlin!

[Edgy MD]

The Billy Sampling.