I'm not sure I like this move. Can Tim even breakdance?

I don't have as much of a problem with the fact of Eldon's firing as with the method. Murray has been the PA man for a long time, and for many fans, he represents the past face (and voice) of the franchise. That's both good and bad, obviously, and change is sometimes necessary. With so many other fresh starts this year -- new ownership of the stadium, new turf, new scoreboard, newish manager, new first baseman -- you could defend the team's decision to make a change and introduce a newer, younger PA voice geared towards a younger audience. I might not like the decision, but I can understand it.

But if the Star account is accurate, I sure don't care for the way they went about it. Longtime employees in any capacity -- public or private, PA announcer or secretary -- deserve a proper farewell, surrounded by colleagues, deluged with presents and tributes. Morale is a funny thing, and employees judge their own situation by how their long-time coworkers are treated. I would hope the Jays plan various Eldon-related events, most importantly an on-field tribute before a Saturday or Sunday afternoon home game in April or May.

As a fitting tribute to Eldon, I suggest Bauxites relate their favourite Blue Jay name, as announced by Murray. For me, the gold standard will always be:

Dam-a-so....Gar-ci-aaaa......

Maybe we need the mayor of Philadelphia to come to Toronto and throw around some clever insults that cut close to the bone

Was I the only one who, watching the election coverage in Nov., saw the Governor of Pennsylvania all over the TV and thought "Gee, he looks oddly familiar".

I hadn't realized that Mr. Stottlemyre's old friend had gone onto such bigger and better things. (DNC chair during the 2000 Election? How did I not notice that?)

Look at Herbie Kuhn, the PA announcer at Raptors games. You don't think that guy helps make the ACC an entertaining place -- a "total entertainment experience"? Especially for younger fans.

Yes, granted, baseball and basketball are very different games, but the analogy holds.

That's the blueprint the Jays need to follow. Last year they tried to sell the product ("You Gotta See These Guys Play"). That obviously didn't work. Now they need to switch gears, create some sizzle and sell it. Not many people are coming out for the steak alone.

This team has no idea what it's doing on the marketing side of things. If Ryan Greer improves things on the attractiveness of the Jays to youth front, it's lost on me, and I'm only 25. I loathe the guy, although it's probably as much that I hate all the nonsense as I do him in particular. I had no problem with Murray Eldon-I liked him, to be honest, but this won't have an impact on me. That said, I don't really see why you make this move. This is a game of traditions, and I can't see any particular reason to break this one.

Anyone else get the feeling that someone with the Jays has to justify their spot on the payroll by coming up with ideas like "We need to fire Eldon. The kids don't want to listen to a guy named Murray."

You'd think a competent Senior VP Communications & External Relations would realize the negative impact that such a move could have...

That's exactly what I'm worried about. Kuhn is loud, braying and obnoxious. The NBA "entertainment experience" is an appalling trainwreck of noise and diversion. Sadly, this assault on the senses has been embraced by all of the professional sports. If part of the reason behind the Rogers Centre upgrades is to better bombard us with canned music and promotions and do everything the marketers can think of to remove our focus from the game, count me unenthused.

What the Jays should bear in mind is that it doesn't really matter how much the kids prefer a hip-hop concert to a baseball game, because it's their parents who are buying the tickets. If the Jays put on a show back in the 80s like they do now, my dad would never have taken me. He was a season's ticket holder, he still watches or listens to every game, but he won't go the park now, and I don't blame him.

For me, the best was Jesseeeeee...Barfield.

But I also liked the simple Jooooooooeeee...Carter.

Yes, granted, baseball and basketball are very different games, but the analogy holds.

Even if the analogy holds, not only do many baseball fans not want a Raptors environment at the game, but the analogy doesn't prove anything.

Do more younger fans come out to a "total entertainment experience" than would otherwise come out to regular baseball game? Perhaps. Do other casual fans, such as those who prefer tradition or more elderly fans, come out less to a "souped-up" baseball game? Perhaps, as well and you don't seem to account for that.

Furthermore, how essential is the PA announcer to this entertainment experience, especially to a restless 12-year-old? I would postulate that the PA announcer has fairly minimal impact and that "fan-friendly" improvements elsewhere would have a much larger sway on whether young kids come back than the difference between Langdon and Eldon. As Four Seamer said, their parents are the ones buying the tickets in the end anyway.

I've always thought Murray's calls were fairly memorable, and I don't even know how much Langdon could do that would make it more appealing to youngsters. I went to a game in 2003 with a baseball team of 11-12 year old kids and they spent like 10 minutes mimicing his "Orlando Hudson" call.

Maybe there were other reasons behind the decision that we don't know about. However, if it was done purely to change things for the sake of difference or to make the game more "fan-friendly" then I have to strenuously disagree with the move. And even if there were other reasons, as was said above, the manner in which it was done seems poor.

But that's just the point. Not everyone is into the traditions of baseball. To some it seems boring. They're making a progressive change rather than sitting on their hands.

That's exactly what I'm worried about. Kuhn is loud, braying and obnoxious. The NBA "entertainment experience" is an appalling trainwreck of noise and diversion.

That's what you think. 10,000 to 15,000 screaming people at the ACC disagree. And the Raptors do suck but fans keep coming out for the experience.

Do other casual fans, such as those who prefer tradition or more elderly fans, come out less to a "souped-up" baseball game? Perhaps, as well and you don't seem to account for that.

That's very true and that's unfortunate. It will turn some people off. However, what bodes better for the health of the game? A stadium full of 14-45 years olds? Or a group of 60+?

If they're actually screaming, as opposed to being screamed at, it's because it's the only way they can make themselves heard above all that racket. How are people supposed to learn to appreciate the game if it's impossible to hold a conversation about the game when you're there?

And in any event, I'd be very cautious about using the Raptors as some sort of example. Their attendance levels continue to deteriorate significantly, in a year when they don't even have hockey to contend with. That suggests a certain dissatisfaction with the "product". The Jays certainly need to do better at the gate than the Raptors are currently doing.

But I freely concede that at the grand old age of 28, I may have become just another grouchy oldtimer, moaning about the good old days! It would be nice if just one sport would resist the temptation to crank up the volume and put the spotlight on the actual game, but that horse left the barn a long time ago, I suppose.

Which once again 'proves' the old saw about sports in Toronto: If you aint the Leafs, and you aint winning, people arent coming.

Part of the reason that I gave up a (very small) share in Raptors season tickets this year is that well... the Raps just arent very good. At all. The other part was that the constant yelling from the PA dude after each 3-ball (and the accompanying flashing on the screens/scoreboards) were driving me to distraction.

at the grand old age of 28

You young whippersnapper :)