no contrived "added entertainment" value....don't try to impress us.  And when Nico begs for an autograph..."good luck kid, best wishes, vince."

NOT to compare him to King. That would be completely unfair. If he's knowledgeable about the A's as well as about the game, and keeps things descriptive while not going too far off (after all, the radio guys paint the whole game for listeners), I'll be happy.

Try to be like Bill and Ken.
That's all.
Andeux

More specifically?

1. Always put the game first, not yourself.
   
2. Let your personality come through (without violating #1).
   
3. Have a sense of humor.
   
4. Establish a good rapport with your partner.
   
5. Don't be too much of a homer and don't fake excitement. Just tell me what's happening, and let the game's emotions come naturally.
   
6. There is no rule 6.
   
7. Find a way to make the game enjoyable even if the A's are losing 17-4. Baseball is supposed to be fun.
   
8. Make me want to tune in again tomorrow.
   

with what's already been said. As tempting as it might be to go overboard and make a big impression right off the bat to establish oneself in a situation like this, there's no need to try and compete with the fans' memory of Bill King. Much better to be yourself, I think, and take it easy. Let the rapport with Ken develop naturally.
One fun idea aside from that would be when there's a break in the action, or during a real blowout game, to even ask Ken and Fosse about the A's players, coaches, front office, etc. and discuss. Nobody could possibly expect you to know everything about the organization, having just come here. Those conversations would likely be enjoyable and provide insight for many listeners, too.

http://joe.siegler.net/archives/2003/09/texas_rangers_r.html

I'm praying that Mitchell's (insert MST3K joke here) comments about him being an ego maniac are as another poster characterized as coming from "an idiot whose small mind and self serving ego is so frail that you lashed out at Vince Cotroneo with unfounded criticism".

Either way, welcome to the club Vince.

Not that I'm asking anyone to imitate Bill King, but I'd love to hear the occasional interesting word -- but only if it's used naturally and correctly, not in a phony way.

Also, is it too much to ask that the new guy be more interested in the A's than in the Giants?

You'd think that would go without saying, but then....

Congratulations on the job.  I think overall, Ken Korach just sounds like he'd be fun to work with.  I'd let him drive for the first few months until I got the feel for it.  

Texas and Oakland are much, much different markets, which actually may bode well for you, considering they accused you of not connecting with the fans there.  

As a collective group, I think I can safely say it makes us happy that Texans would not bond with you.  Damn dirty chair throwers...

This is like asking "What do you desire most in a closer" just after Eck left... we've been spoiled!  I know that I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ANOTHER GAME BY HANK GREENWALD!

Andeux nailed it with the rules... I hope Ken & Vic become good friends, and more laughter is brought in with the addition of Ray!

 

and respect the job that you have been given to call A's baseball.

There's nothing worse from a broadcaster than someone who is 'always on'. Be a guy, talk to us like you would across a bar, with a cold one in your hand. Not a polished TV guy, and not an ESPN 'catchphrase' geek.

We will, in turn, pay homage often.

...not a game show. Don't be Wink Martindale.

I think Steve Martin said it best...

"Be courteous, kind and forgiving,
Be gentle and peaceful each day,
Be warm and human and grateful,
And have a good thing to say.

Be thoughful and trustful and childlike,
Be witty and happy and wise,
Be honest and love all your neighbors,
Be obsequious, purple and clairvoyant.

Be pompous, obese, and eat cactus,
Be dull and boring and omnipresent,
Criticize things you don't know about,
Be oblong and have your knees removed.

Be tasteless, rude and offensive,
Live in a swamp and be three-dimensional,
Put a live chicken in your underwear,
Get all excited and go to a yawning festival."

Words all of us could learn something from.

http://catfishstew.baseballtoaster.com/archives/312510.html

1. A voice that doesn't annoy.

Silky, deep, scratchy... whatever. As long as it doesn't get in the way.

2. Cadence.

Fosse doing play-by-play is a good example of poor cadence. Love his color work though.

3. An ability to build tension properly.

#3 is the one that gets me with most announcers. Bill King and Lon Simmons really spoiled me growing up, because there was almost never a play where the end result surprised me based on their calls. For example, there was never a "fly ball, left field, home run" moment from either one of them. They conveyed the tension I would feel about a play if I were sitting in the stands watching myself.

As a former broadcaster and mentor to young broadcasters, I always focused a lot on cadence. Nothing separates amateurs from professionals faster than this issue, and Ray Fosse is an excellent example--a fine color commentator who could never develop the cadence necessary to be a competent play-by-play guy.