Worst Announcers!!

by beta103 on Apr 7, 2005 3:05 PM PDT Comment 51 comments

I am watching the White Sox v/s Indians game before sitting down to play my MVP 2005 pregame game.

I am being forced to listen to who I consider the worst announcer in baseball. "Hawk" Harrelson drives me absolutely nuts!!! In fact, I just turned off the tv. He used to have this side-kick named the Whimperoo who was even worse.

Just thought it would be fun to see if everyone had a favorite worst announcer!

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Totally Agree

The White Sox announcers are the WORST! I wish my nickname wasn't Hawk as well.

by TheO4Ever on Apr 7, 2005 3:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You can put it on the board...Yes!

He gone!

by OaktownPower on Apr 7, 2005 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

dont forget the pick to click

by hoyos on Apr 7, 2005 8:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was just complaining to my wife

that the WhiteSox annoucers are the worst that I have heard. She doesn't really follow baseball and she agrees that they are goofy.

I own 2 Tony Armas jerseys! I am an A's fan for life.

by Athletics fan and runner on Apr 8, 2005 5:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dude

your right. those Chisox announcers blow. They're all catchphrases and favoritism. its great and all to play to your crowd, but these guys are constantly calling their opponents the bad guys and the sox "good guys"

As an announcer you can play favorites, but you need to stay professional

by robber23 on Apr 7, 2005 3:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

we all know...

the moron joe morgan is awful and hideous. i tried watching the opening day yankee/bo sox game and had to shut it off. Absoulutely the worst!

by glitternumbers on Apr 7, 2005 3:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Red Sox announcers

are provincial homers.

by As Man on Apr 7, 2005 3:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Isn't the ECK

one of the announcers for the BOSOX.

There is a terrorist behind every BUSH.

by paul75 on Apr 7, 2005 7:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eck

He does pre and post game for the sawx

by pickinmachine on Apr 7, 2005 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your youth is obvious

Some guy named "Wimperoo" was Tom Paciorek. You sound rather young ... so I'll just tell you Paciorek used to play.

You can't take Harrelson so seriously guys. Once you get into your twenties, you'll realize this isn't life or death type stuff.

Now, don't get me wrong, I understand listening to "homers" can get rather frustrating, but you have to take it all "tongue in cheek."

I refer to your ages only half-kiddingly -- it's always easy to see the rant and rave posts and then look at who wrote them to see -- sure enough -- just out of first period English.

C'mon guys --it's almost time to go to bed by the time half these guys do their job anyway, isn't it?

VacaAsFan

by Vacafan on Apr 7, 2005 3:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"The Hawk" and "Wimperoo"

Both Ken Harrelson and Tom Paciorek are former players. In fact, Harrelson began his career with the KC A's. I haven't heard them in several years--yes, they are biggest homers on the planet--but the catch phrase I best remember is "Grab some bench!" after an opposing player strikes out.

Joe Morgan knows baseball and has some good insights. The thing that drives me nuts is he'll make a point, then repeat that same point over and over until you're ready to choke him. Joe, we heard you the first time! (Joe was an awesome player by the way, and very much deserved his election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was the best player in the NL during the mid-70's with back-to-back MVP awards.)

Ray Fosse is one of my favorite announcers. He really knows the game, but doesn't act like he's trying to prove how smart he is: very understated. His pre-game interviews are particularly good.

Bill King is my least favorite announcer. I've never liked his raspy voice, but the thing I dislike the most is his incessant whining. Somebody please get him some Midol! It's also apparent that he feels that a baseball broadcast is the opportunity to dazzle fans with his vocabulary of obscure words that would best be used to describe a performance of Swan Lake. (It's a pity that ballet doesn't require a play-by-play announcer, eh Bill?) I haven't listened to an A's game on the radio for several years. Bill King is the reason.

"The bigger the game, the better he pitched."

by Catfish27 on Apr 7, 2005 8:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh My Gosh . . . .

I can't believe it. Thank you. I've been thinking (and screaming at the radio) the same thing for many years now. You put your finger on two of the three things King does that drive me absolutely nuts: whining, vocabulary showboating, and . . . number three . . . he absolutely cannot call a play succinctly or even correctly half the time. There's a drive . . . deep to left . . . Byrnes is watching it go . . . and . . . uh . . . now . . . uh . . . oh, Kotsay comes over and puts that one away, no, excuse me, that's Kielty in center today, that's right, they made the switch and I thought that with his back turned toward the play, like he normally does with such devastating precision and an excquisite sense of where he is at all times, that that was Kotsay out there and that ball, well, the ball just isn't carrying tonight, is it, Ray? I know you know, from your years of playing here, that the air gets heavy at night due to the easterly flow of fog, isn't that right?

by camperdog on Apr 7, 2005 8:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm laughing so hard at that post...

....I can barely type!

A good cigar is like a beautiful chick with a great body who also knows the American League box scores.

by baseballgirl on Apr 7, 2005 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

braves announcers

suck too

goddamn crazy sunday driver- butters

by guy on Apr 7, 2005 3:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ken Korach is a random boring fact generator

I hate to rag on the hometown crew, but Ken Korach has the delivery of a used car salesman doing an impression of a baseball announcer. Not to mention his inane commentary, sounds like he's just reading off factoids from a sheet some intern googled five minutes before the game. No personality, no style and no insight...I can't wait until Bill King gets back in the swing of things!

by sjrp7114 on Apr 7, 2005 3:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Korach

has a great personality and a great announcer's voice.

by As Man on Apr 7, 2005 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I completely disagree

Korach to me, has the best voice and is one of the best announcers around. Sorry but I think you're way off base here. Announcing is a matter of subjective opinion, but Korach is brilliant in my opinion. What do you consider style, saying "Put it on the board, Yessss!"

You want bad announcers, watch the Angels broadcasts. Hudler is a joke and Physioc, or whatever that dude's name is is painful to listen to.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Apr 7, 2005 3:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Living in LA...

I can promise you that you are right...Physioc and Hudler define hideous.

by OaktownPower on Apr 7, 2005 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Couldn't agree with Blez more

I feel a bit offended that somebody doesn't like Ken Korach! Guess I'm too emotionally attached to the A's on the radio.

For what it's worth, I think Ken Korach is a very talented broadcaster. I don't think he spouts off meaningless factoids at all, and I love the way he and Bill King play off each other. I don't listen to any other teams' broadcasters on a regular basis, but I can't imagine many radio tandems better than King and Korach.

by Dog Days on Apr 7, 2005 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

stadium cues for announcing

ken korach's factoids are sometimes taken from what's being displayed at the Net (McAfee?) on the big screen, for better or for worse.

by sec119 on Apr 7, 2005 11:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Physioc

Used to work for channel 2 in Oakland. I don't know if he ever did gnats games but he was the sports guy there for awhile.

I own 2 Tony Armas jerseys! I am an A's fan for life.

by Athletics fan and runner on Apr 8, 2005 5:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Korach is awesome

and highly underrated. He's very smooth and I think the information he gives is pretty relevant. He's got a good voice and I think he adds a more...modern? take to the broadcast. I love King but Korach's the guy who's more likely to use nicknames or be up to date on things like websites, ESPN...references for young people (younger than Bill anyway :> )
You want useless factoids? Last night, gnats broadcast, 3rd or 4th inning. I think it was Fleming who tells us in this order:
0-0 game.
Gnats have one hit, Durham single in the first.
Durham got as far as 3rd.
Gnats are 0-2 today with RISP.
To me that runner in scoring position info, in the 3rd of a game where you're being 1 hit isn't that enlightening.
And you talk about imitating an announcer? What about Joe "Angel of Death" who sounded like a Jon Miller copy, and had the terrible "wave it bye bye" HR call which only made me think of how much better Lon Simmons "tell it goodbye" was.

by dubsea on Apr 8, 2005 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My favorite announcer ever

I went to Spain in 1998 when the world cup was in France and was watching a game where 4 red cards were given out. Those British announcers were running the refs ragged with their commentary.

Once, the ref reached for his pocket for a card and the commentator says "I hope he's giving himself a red card... this game would be much better that way!"

Opinions are awesome in a broadcast. Being a "homer" feels dull and bland to me. ChiSox announcer is terrible about that!

The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.

by JJ on Apr 7, 2005 3:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

McCarver Unlistenable

There is nothing I hate more about the televised playoffs than the non-stop inanities of Tim McCarver. He NEVER shuts up and has little of substance to add...

by reztips on Apr 7, 2005 3:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

"They call it a 'curve ball' beacuse it curves." - Tim McCarver

aka: The Gusher

by Mission1929 on Apr 7, 2005 11:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dont Forget

Scooter, although not necessarily all his fault

by pickinmachine on Apr 7, 2005 11:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hawk Harrelson

Hawk Harrelson was the GM of the White Sox in the early to mid 80's. He fired Tony LaRussa and his poor decisions almost caused the White Sox to move to Florida. He was a horrible GM.

He owes his career to the owner of the White Sox, Jerry Reinsdorf and has basically become a paid mouthpiece for that organization. The best part about listening to him broadcast a game is when they are losing.

Hawk pretty much clams up then. He partner Darin Jackson is pretty brutal as well. To his credit, he has improved a bit and once in awhile can actually be objective.

Another pair that I cannot stand is the Angels.
Steve Pysioc (sp?) and Rex Hudler. They are pretty amatuerish as well.

by RudiFan on Apr 7, 2005 3:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

bloddy joe morgan

it has to be joe morgan, god i hate that guy with a passion, also i agree with braves announcers being utterly boring. i hate Mr. Ted Turner for ruining some perfectly good days by playing every freaking braves game on TNT/TBS i mean i know he owns them so its his right.

" Only WonderWoman has a strong enough uterus to support Superman's baby"

by OakAs33 on Apr 7, 2005 3:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I dont get it

How is Ted Turner ruining anyone's day by playing braves games? You don't have to watch them just because they're on.

by Furious George on Apr 7, 2005 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's because

he colorized them! :)

"I refuse to belong to any club which would accept someone like me as a member." - Groucho Marx

by McFood on Apr 7, 2005 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Joe Morgan

Morgan's not that bad. He's a very smart guy. His problem is that he takes himself too seriously. He needs Jon Miller (who is great, btw)to take the edge off. The Braves announcers suck. Still, I'll watch the Braves if there's no other game on. Baseball's like sex and pizza - even when it ain't that good, it's still pretty good. ;-)

by kent1 on Apr 7, 2005 9:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Hawk" Harrelson

Is that the moron who goes "And you can put it on the boooooooard... YES!!"

That has to be worse than Joe Buck's fictional, "Slama-lama-ding-dong!"

Whoever the ChiSox lead TV announcer is, I can't imagine there being a worse announcer in baseball.

by dchu on Apr 7, 2005 4:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Back int he late 70's

the A's started the season without a radio contract and the Cal radio station KALX did their radio. Those guys were just students and were somewhat painful at best and excruciating at worst, but after a while the ameteurishness of it kind of grew on me and I would turn down the TV and listen to them instead. It only lasted a week or two into the season before the A's signed a contract with KNEW, I think. Anyway, those guys were bad, but they were meant for better things.

One is Larry baer, Executive VP of the Giants.

"I refuse to belong to any club which would accept someone like me as a member." - Groucho Marx

by McFood on Apr 7, 2005 4:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

MarinerZZZZ

Seattle anouncers need some of that Starbucks! They will put you to sleep!

by beta103 on Apr 7, 2005 4:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Bad announcers in SD

These guys are worse than anything everyones mentioned. Every player is a nickname "Brian Lawrence - B-Law", B-Giles, X-Nady etc etc etc.

White Sox anouncers: I actually think its funny. Just because they are so terrible and such homers. The guy is really pissed at the white sox when they dont produce. Hes just a jackass, that you have to laugh at how ridiculous he is. "Get in there" "Stay Fair".

Dont consider him a real announcer and more of a sideshow attraction. Laugh AT him next time.

Hudler smoked too much crack and is bad too I agree

by pickinmachine on Apr 7, 2005 8:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Beat me to it.

Thank you! Yes, the Padres announcers - I'm looking at YOU, Mark Grant - are completely unlistenable. No insight, terrible play-calling, and a constant stream of jokes that make "Blue Collar TV" look like Noel Coward. And if that wasn't bad enough, they used to have Rick Sutcliffe sit in sometimes! Another terrible, arrogant announcer!

But with all that, I still have to agree that Harrelson is the absolute bottom-of-the-barrel. Hudler and Physioc are also a good call - ghastly and head-slapping.

And please, can we reserve a special wing-of-shame for the Carey family? Harry got away with being terrible because he was an icon - an old, drunk, icon. But Skip and Chip (there's your hint about the level of taste and intelligence we're dealing with: Skip and Chip) are just as incompetent, and nowhere near as funny or entertaining. Thank God for Steve Stone in Chicago - he may be a tightass, but at least SOMEONE in that booth knows what they're talking about.

Aaaaaaaand one more thing: One of the worst announcers I've ever heard? Joe Torre when he was calling games for the Angels. He's a changed man now that he's managing the Stankees, but at the time he was between gigs and must have been a bitter, bitter man, because he was the ANGRIEST announcer I've ever heard. Pissy and snarky and snippy... and you'd never guess he knew the game like he does, because his advice to kids about how to play "Angels baseball" was always off the mark and hilarious. (Though maybe that was his point - at the time if you played "Angels baseball" you were guaranteed about a .400 winning percentage...)

Ah. It's good to vent.

by seedspeed on Apr 9, 2005 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rex Hudler...

The Halo blowboy!!!

by saint on Apr 7, 2005 8:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Harrelson ran White Sox into ground as GM

even more ridiculous than Harrelson in the booth was the 1-year GM experiment in the mid-80s.

I guess he conned Jerry Reinsdork into handing him the reins and he promptly drove the White Sux chariot off a cliff.

I agree that Harrelson is a joke ... a characture of an announcer ... it is particularly enjoyable to listen to him when the White Sux melt away every year in the eminently winnable AL Central.

As long as the White Sux stay in the Al Central, they will lose it in August OR September.

and remember Harrelson has to watch it year after year

by HerbWashington on Apr 7, 2005 8:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He Falls Down

When they lose, I remember Bobby Kielty hitting a walkoff against them last yr. There was no play by play, just "game over".

HAHAHA what a loser

by pickinmachine on Apr 7, 2005 8:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

HERB WASHINGTON

I love your screenname. I wish that I could have seen herb play, or at least pinch run. Great screen name idea.

I own 2 Tony Armas jerseys! I am an A's fan for life.

by Athletics fan and runner on Apr 8, 2005 5:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I LOVE the Baltimore announcers!

Since my MLB-TV cable and my XM radio were both on the Baltimore feed for this entire series, I got very familiar with the Baltimore broadcast team. They are very complementary of the A's, they understand "Billy-ball", and they are seriously funny, excited about the game, and fairly knowledgable. Very much enjoyed listening to them, which is strange, since I usually go to great lengths to hear the A's broadcasts.

A good cigar is like a beautiful chick with a great body who also knows the American League box scores.

by baseballgirl on Apr 7, 2005 9:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

hawk harrelson

besides being the "worst" (which is much better than being boring) announcer in baseball and previously an awful GM, he has another claim to fame according to Fosse on the telecast tonight -- he was the first major leaguer to wear a batting glove. Seems he played 36 holes of golf (against the rules) thinking he wouldn't play that night, and when they put him in the lineup his hands hurt so bad he had to keep his golf gloves on.

by vk on Apr 7, 2005 10:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hank Greenwald

The best ever period!!!!

by bionic basterd on Apr 7, 2005 11:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Greenwald

Greenwald
A) Can't see
B) Seems bored
C) Adds nothing unless the A's are playing the Giants or Yankees...then his input can actually be deemed to be in context

I don't like the homer announcer any more than the next guy...(ala Atlanta Braves TBS telecasts) but Greenwald doesn't seem to know anything about the A's nor does he seem to like the team at all.

The team of King & Korach is unbeatable. The are genuinely enthused about the game and their jobs,,, as they should be. They'll also give an inspirational call when the other team does something phenomenal.

by yellowman on Apr 8, 2005 11:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs