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Music to My Ears

What a pleasure it is to listen to Vin Scully.  Being in Southern California, I truly take for granted that we have a legend down here - one of the prices of being an A's fan in SoCal I guess (that and listening to bandwagon Angel Homers every day).

Vin's unique voice, his encyclopedia of knowledge, his ability to blend his wonderful, descriptive play-by-play (that radio voice) with his player profiles (I like how he lists the player's height and weight too), including their high school, college and pro careers, and stories...he is one of the greatest.  The was he covers play-by-play and color with no dead air is just amazing.

I know everybody on AN has heard Vin but I thought I would share a few of his stories and observations from last night's game since I assume most folks heard the A's broadcast.  I learned more new things about the A's on this broadcast than I have all year listening to other announcers (including Oakland's) on Extra Innings.

On Zito's strikeout of Jose Cruz Jr.: "Oh what a breaking ball.  You could have seen that from San Francisco."

Zito's second grade teacher had all of her students draw a picture of who they thought they would be when they grew up.  Zito drew a pitcher and across the top wrote `making a million dollars.'

Dan Johnson dreamed of becoming a forward for the Minnesota North Stars.

Jay Payton was one of the rare non pitchers to have Tommy John surgery.

Kielty redshirted as a pitcher at USC before transferring to Mississippi.

Referring to Ramon Martinez' head first dive into third as a "belly whopper."

Swisher has the initials of his deceased grandmother tattooed on his chest.

Chavy's parents had him playing baseball as soon as he could walk,  He wanted to be a fireman.

On Dan Johnson's sense of humor:  He has a second persona, Dale Edwards, captain of the Nebraska bowling team.

Payton lived with Barry Larkin while playing Connie Mack ball.

Scautaro "batting ninth, not a butter and egg man."  Not sure what that means but it sounded funny.

I have heard many Zito/Randy Jones stories over the years but never this one.  Jones would tell Zito to practice 500,000 windups.  If he did one incorrectly, Jones would spit his tobacco juice on Zito's new white Nike sneakers.

Swisher does yoga for 90 minutes in 120 degree heat.  Helps with fatigue.

Kielty's GPA in high school was 4.3.

Hope some of you enjoyed.  I know it is not the same as listening yourself.

Tonight, my son watches the game (and not Playstation) with Dad to listen to a legend.  That will be a wonderful pre-Father's Day gift.  And something I think he will have to look back on when he is older.

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What a great bunch of vignettes
All of them, news to me.
"If you think there's a solution, you're part of the problem." -George Carlin

by eshock on Jun 17, 2006 12:56 PM PDT   0 recs

brought to you by farmer john
the eastern most in quality and the western most in flavor, farmer john.
the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005...in 2006?...prove it.

by ak_A on Jun 17, 2006 1:30 PM PDT   0 recs

I have a Dodgers cap that I got in '02
and I'd like to get it autographed by Vin. Any suggestions?
"Death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth!"

by Lanway13 on Jun 17, 2006 2:11 PM PDT   0 recs

Sweet! Thanks for posting...
"There's not a moment of peace and quiet in this damn clubhouse." ~~ Nick Swisher

by luvsthecurveball on Jun 17, 2006 2:27 PM PDT   0 recs

aww!
I love Vin Scully! I have been so excited for this series, I couldn't wait to hear him talk about the A's. It's always refreshing to listen to an announcer who loves and knows the game that much and recognizes good baseball when he sees it. I'm sure tonight's will be just as fun!
"I never saw a hooligan I did like. They're like left-handed pitchers, they all have a screw loose somewhere." - The Asphalt Jungle

by drmmerchk on Jun 17, 2006 2:35 PM PDT   0 recs

But really
Remember that K*rk G*bson call back in '88?

OMG

Bunts are for Chumps

by Hit4TheCycle on Jun 17, 2006 4:27 PM PDT   0 recs

"You talk about a roll of the dice...
...this is it."

I honestly prefer his call over Jack Buck's.

"Death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth!"

by Lanway13 on Jun 18, 2006 5:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

"not a butter and egg man"
Means he's a little on the skinny side. IE, he doesn't eat much butter or eggs.
Vegetable medley!

by senork on Jun 17, 2006 11:27 PM PDT   0 recs

Oh thank God.
I thought it meant he wasn't kinky.

by Nico on Jun 17, 2006 11:42 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

No...
he's skinky.
Cotton Candy

by Ice Cream on Jun 17, 2006 11:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

WooHoo!
Nebraska Bowling is the best!
I don't believe in clutch hitters. But I do believe in Marco Scutaro. - salb918

by paige20 on Jun 18, 2006 10:09 AM PDT   0 recs

I Love Vin, but....
it is also true that he needs to be coached by his production crew as to the pronunciation of opposing players' names (he originally called Scutaro ScuTARo (accent on the second syllable) before being advised as to the correct way to say Scoot's name, and he did the same with Gaudin.  Ok---no biggie---but he does tend to repeat the same stories and tidbits over and over as the game goes on.  Don't get me wrong, he is wonderful, and his erudition is profound (referencing Gertrude Stein a few times was nice), but I like it better when he improvises about what is happening on the field. He does approach poetry every now and then.
"Greatness is achieved one day at a time"---Huston Street

by Buck18 on Jun 18, 2006 11:02 AM PDT   0 recs

I'm probably the only one
who finds his voice to be slightly annoying, and his broadcasting to be "quite good" but not legendary.

<ducks>

by Nico on Jun 18, 2006 11:06 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

<Geese>
Really?
I know everyone has their own opinion...but really?
Give me someone with a unique voice over the bland, boring voice any day.

by easyraider on Jun 18, 2006 1:04 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

OK, how 'bout
Bob Goldthwait?

"HERZA PITCHANDITZ OUTS-SS-SIDE!!!!!!! AAAAHHHH!!!!"

by Nico on Jun 18, 2006 4:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yikes --
BobCat would keep me awake for 17 innings, no problem! (What is that, hairball?)

by schnucken on Jun 19, 2006 10:24 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

hard to complain
when BB himself can't seem to pronounce Scutaro's name correctly!
"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on Jun 19, 2006 12:10 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

This is great stuff
Thanks for sharing. We sit directly behind the plate for about 15 games a year, so you can bet I'm going to be yelling to DJ about Dale Edwards when he's on deck.

by RLangford on Jun 18, 2006 11:30 AM PDT   0 recs

good stuff..
Always been a fan of Vin :)

by high street on Jun 18, 2006 12:41 PM PDT   0 recs

i feel spoiled
having vin call a's games in my livin room.  
A's Raiders Ducks

by mcbronsh on Jun 18, 2006 10:54 PM PDT   0 recs

Legends
Between Vin and Bill, we've had two of the best calling games in California the second half of the 20th century and into the 21st. We've been pretty lucky. When I was a kid, I would sometimes tune my little clock radio into the Dodgers broadcasts at night when the signal would carry up here. His voice was (and presumably still is) so soothing. There was always something very comforting about listening to Vin do a game, like all was right with the world. And as easyraider illustrates, he brings a lot of unique backstory to the game. With the tremendous void I feel without Bill bringing his magic to the microphone, it's nice to know the other legend to the south is still on the air.
A's 2006 record when I attend: 5-5

by peanut gallery on Jun 19, 2006 8:59 AM PDT   0 recs

Amen brother
I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to listen to both in my lifetime.

by easyraider on Jun 19, 2006 9:48 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

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