Karros tortures ears with non-stop yakking

Last Updated: 5:28 AM, July 26, 2010

Posted: 2:58 AM, July 26, 2010

Comments: 11

Phil Mushnick

Show of hands: How many would like to be at a ballgame seated beside a fellow (or between fellows) who kept leaning toward you, giving you his take on almost every pitch and swing?

How many of you turn on a baseball telecast hoping that the analyst or analysts will examine nearly every pitch and swing?

Thought so. Then why is it that's what we get? When did this start, who started it, and why does it not only persist but grow worse?

Based on what he has for years heard, did Fox's Eric Karros, Saturday, figure that's what Fox and its audiences want, or was he instructed to inspect pitch after pitch, swing after swing? He started early. One out in the top of the first of Mets-Dodgers, he began daring us to hit the mute button.

Getty Images; (AP)

TAKE A BREATH! Saturday's L.A. starter, Carlos Monasterios (above), had barely warmed up when Fox's Eric Karros, the former Dodger, started analyzing every pitch and every situation in excruciating detail.

First he told us that Dodger starter Carlos Monasterios "has a good off-speed changeup" -- is there another kind? Seconds after, before a 3-2 pitch to Angel Pagan, this:

"It'll be interesting, with a 3-2 situation, and you've got first base to play with, so you just don't wanna lay something over the middle of the plate. You've got a young hitter at the plate; [Dodger catcher] Brad Ausmus, I'm guessing, is probably going to expand the zone a little bit."

Usher! Security! Remove this man! Or kill me. Just make it quick.

And that "young hitter at the plate"? Pagan is 29, in his fifth big-league season, with 1,100 at-bats.

Did anyone suggest to Karros that because it's TV -- because we tuned in to watch more than listen -- that it's often OK, and even preferred, to say nothing?

But Karros likely was just doing what he thinks analysts are supposed to do. Remember: In TV, no bad idea is unworthy of duplication!

Consumers are scoring 'Direct' hits

PRAISE the Lord, and pass the ammo! We've got 'em on the run!

We're now hearing from more (and more) readers who have done what we've lately urged: Tell DirecTV to take a hike; don't fall for its advertised "preseason special" for the Sunday NFL Ticket package.

The price tag on that act-now! early-bird "special," $315, not only is $25 more than last year's fee (recession? where?), it's the price DirecTV hopes will be swallowed by suckers, by those most easily fleeced.

DirecTV's advertised, set price isn't set at all. It's individually negotiable. We've now heard from at least a dozen

NFL package subscribers who,

under their threat of cancellation, have had that $315 fee reduced by a lot -- $45 -- to a whole lot -- $126.

What we're left with is the NFL again serving as paid party to the abuse of its fans/customers by a business to which the NFL has sold its logo, license and authority. And then that NFL business partner, with the NFL's see-no-ripoffs blessings, is allowed to do as it pleases -- as long as the NFL gets its take.

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bill012150

07/26/2010 1:35 PM

I've never had Direct TV so I've never had Sunday Ticket. I did have Redzone (from ComCast cable) last year and you know what? Screw Sunday Ticket. I don't know about you guys but seeing the scoring drives from every game being played at the time beats watching (and having to listen to) games I care nothing about. If the Jets or Giants are on I'll find a bar that has Sunday Tickey (I live in Frisco) if I feel like it. But to spend 300 and change when I get Redzone for free? NFW.
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JamesLingk

07/26/2010 11:42 AM

Karros was bad but few people are worse than Gary Cohen in not understanding that he is on TV and not radio. Hey Gary, WE CAN SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING. You don't have to yell over every play describing what's happening in a nonstop monologue! And someone needs to tell him he has to work on the difference between his excited and non-excited voices. Mets down 7-1 and someone hits a solo home run and he's screaming like they just won the world series with a walk-off grand slam. Sheesh.

I thought Ed Coleman was great BTW. I wish he was doing SNY play by play. Insightful, understated, pleasant on the ears. A complement to the broadcast and not a distraction. Not trying to BE the show.

I cancelled my DIRECTV NFL package last year because it has become way too expensive. Maybe it's worth it for fantasy junkies who like to watch lots of games, but I only want it to follow one out-of-market team. And I figure at least 3 or 4 regular season games and all playoff games will be shown on network or ESPN/NFL network anyway, so that basically leaves 12 games for over $300. $25 a game to watch on TV!!

DTV needs to at least create a package to watch one particular team for like $99. They are playing a dangerous game because for a LOT of people the only reason to have DTV is for the NFL package, and if it is too expensive anyway then why not just switch to cable??
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socalbob

07/26/2010 11:02 AM

as some might already know i mute all sports events. but sometimes that's not enough.
switching from game to game i came to the yankee telecast only to be greated by the faces of geraldo,o'riely, and beck. couldn't change the channel fast enough.
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The Pope

07/26/2010 9:47 AM

@1954 - I sure do miss Hank Stram.
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The Pope

07/26/2010 9:46 AM

I hope all you people who think Barack Obama is a "socialist" see Phil's rant about DirecTV and the NFL package for what it is. It is an anti-capitalism tirade about a corporation attempting to maximize its profits by selling a popular product for as much as they can. Hey, if you can negotiate a lower price, good for you - that's Adam Smith's "invisible hand" at work. As for Mushnick - since capitalism turns him off so much, I suggest he moves to Cuba, where the concepts of supply-and-demand have been expunged from the textbooks.

Adios, Comrade!
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ms1099

07/26/2010 9:27 AM

Say what you want about Karros, but I barely noticed him and his partner, which is more than I can say when McCarver and the Forehead are doing the game.
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Mr_Bill

07/26/2010 8:46 AM

And how Karros droned on and on about how risky it was for Reyes to go from first to third on an infield hit. He actually said he would rather have a guy on 2nd with low risk than a guy on 3rd with high risk. Oh, really? You would actually rather have a guy on 2nd than on 3rd? Then why don't you just put on a skirt and join your knitting circle, or is it too risky to play with those pointed knitting needles?
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Since 1954

07/26/2010 8:07 AM

Thanks Phil...rght on the head once again

Cossell was the first... Lucky we had Hank Stram on radio back then
Today no decent radio play by play man or station to my knowledge where I live here in the South by way of Brooklyn .. so sadly the MUTE buttons lives almost every moment !
TV and announcers conceptions---"they on the other side of us and these microphones are complete idiots to this sport, any sport" !!!

Very sad