Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Holy Buck! He's Back!

The dulcet tones of Buck Martinez are returning to the Canadian airwaves. Sportsnet.ca is reporting that the former Jays catcher/manager will be the team's new play-by-play voice for Rogers Sportsnet in 2010.

Buck Martinez and Royals pitching coach Bob "Troy" McClure shoot the breeze. You may remember him with such teams as the Royals, Brewers, Expos, Mets, Angels and Cardinals in the Major Leagues.

The 61 year-old Martinez served as the color man on the Jays TSN broadcasts from 1987 to 2000 where he worked with Fergie Olver, Jim Hughson and Dan Shulman. He left the broadcast booth to go into the Jays dugout in 2001 but his managerial stint didn't go nearly as well as his broadcasting career. Martinez skippered the Jays to a hot start in 2001 (much like this year's club) before crashing to an 80-82 finish. He reached the 100 victory milestone but a 20-33 start in 2002 led to his firing and he was replaced by Carlos Tosca.

Martinez returned to the broadcast booth where he has worked for TBS, ESPN, XM Radio and the Baltimore Orioles MASN TV broadcasts with Gary Thorne. With Martinez's hiring, Jamie Campbell's time as the voice of the Jays on Sportsnet comes to an end. What do you think, Bauxites? Are you happy Buck's back?

Posted by #2JBrumfield on Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 04:32 PM EST.

Holy Buck! He's Back! | 55 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Greg - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 04:55 PM EST (#209309) #

I'm fairly indifferent to announcers generally, and Buck Martinez and Jamie Campbell both seem fairly inoffensive guys to me. But I guess I'd put my vote down beside Buck's name just because it'll bring back nostalgic summer memories.

I can see myself being a lot more jazzed if this was news that Pat Tabler was on his way out, or that Rance's number of games would be stepped up.

Greg - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 04:57 PM EST (#209310) #

Come to think of it what's Dan Shulman up to these days. He was cool.

dan gordon - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 05:49 PM EST (#209312) #

I don't like Martinez as an announcer. Too many platitudes. Makes excuses for the players all the time. Nothing really interesting to say. Doesn't really seem to get the modern statistics. This offseason continues to be a big negative IMO. McDonald's contract, losing Inglett and Scutaro, no good player additions (yet), Gaston retained, Martinez added to the broadcasts. 2010 is looking less and less interesting by the day. Wake me up for 2011. Maybe.

James W - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 06:06 PM EST (#209315) #

Dan Shulman was with ESPN, doing basketball and baseball. This is why he left Toronto, so I imagine he's still quite happy doing it.

I'm happy with Sportsnet's hiring, and I'll be even happier if they drop the rotating colour-men. Or at least just drop my least favourite.

Marc Hulet - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 06:10 PM EST (#209316) #

I'm definitely disappointed that Jamie Campbell is gone... I liked his enthusiasm. Buck was always a solid, knowledgeable guy. One of these days I'd like to see the Jays pick up someone with advanced stats knowledge, even on a part-time basis along the lines of what Sam Cosentino does... with all the ex-players in the radio booth, we don't need the added scout perspective as much.

Geoff - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 06:24 PM EST (#209318) #

I don't understand... Buck wasn't ever a play-by-play announcer as I recall. Why would he become one now? And Jamie Campbell was the play-by-play guy for Sportsnet.

Are you sure he's not just joining Jamie in the Sportsnet booth?

Geoff - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 06:40 PM EST (#209319) #

Reading around, that's definitely the story but it still doesn't make sense. Hasn't Buck's primary duties always been as the analyst.

This is just weird. Obviously Rogers wants to spend money on ways to maintain interest in the team and Buck was a viable and effective option, but he's the announcer? If the analyst is going to be George Bell, I'm throwing my hands up in the air and give up trying to understand what is goes on in Blue Jays land.

Gwyn - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 06:57 PM EST (#209320) #

Reading around, that's definitely the story but it still doesn't make sense. Hasn't Buck's primary duties always been as the analyst.

Yup, McCown asked him about this on the radio this afternoon, he said the only play by play he's done previously has been for ESPN radio for some playoff games.

Petey Baseball - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 07:06 PM EST (#209321) #

Shulman is considered one of the best all around play by play announcers in North America. He is the lead college basketball play by play guy for ESPN and is the 2nd lead NBA guy. Behind Jon Miller, he is also the #2 baseball voice on ESPN Radio. I wouldn't be surprised if in 10 years he is doing the World Series, NBA Finals and the NCAA Basketball Championship in the same year for whoever has the TV rights. He's that good.

westcoast dude - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 07:13 PM EST (#209322) #

This is a great move! Buck Martinez has a smooth, measured delivery and he is articulate and knowledgeable. Campbell was flat out unlistenable, and his home run calls were an embarassment. The Curse has been lifted: 94 wins in 2010.

ComebyDeanChance - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 07:18 PM EST (#209323) #

That's terrific news. While I wasn't one of the children who taunted Jamie Campbell on blogs, and thought he did a reasonable job, Buck Martinez is an excellent broadcaster. Best news since Ricciardi was shown the door.

Flex - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 07:20 PM EST (#209324) #

When Martinez began, for the first few years, he wasn't very good, constantly offering excuses for players. But he improved gradually and continually until by the time he left he was a top notch colour man, one of the best the Jays have ever had.

I don't know why anyone would be shocked by the idea of a colour man becoming a play-by-play guy. If you're an ambitious broadcaster, which Martinez has become, that's an obvious stepping stone. He may not be a perfect play by play guy to start, but he sure as heck knows baseball, and he'll give the Jays broadcasts a real baseball aura the haven't had in years.

Thumbs up from me!

lexomatic - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 07:39 PM EST (#209325) #

"If the analyst is going to be George Bell, I'm throwing my hands up in the air and give up trying to understand what is goes on in Blue Jays land."

I think for one this would at least be entertaining.. when i could understand what he was saying. i could handle it for awhile for amusement's sake. i'm pretty indifferent on this move.

Seattle's offseason is more like what I wish the Jays was like... talks about trading for Adrian Gonzalez, losing out on Harden (why would he choose Texas over Seattle? he must be a total idiot... that defense could earn him HUGE $$$ in his next contract)

Geoff - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 07:42 PM EST (#209326) #

Buck's long been one of my favourite analysts to listen to. I could even care less if he was reading the same words over and again about fly fishing rather than baseball, his delivery has long been a real treat.

But Shulman has been the guy I'd heard McCown plead with to return to the Jays booth and for very good reason. Shulman still lives in Thornhill with his family despite working primarily in the US and is a regular guest on Prime Time Sports on the Fan, as Wikipedia will tell you. I think Rogers could come up with the money to interest him. But he probably doesn't find there's enough of a challenge to returning to the Jays to develop and add interest to his career. But if he became an analyst....

Thomas - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 08:01 PM EST (#209327) #

I liked Campbell, but it was also clear that he wasn't popular with many Jays fans who watch the games on TV. He knew the game and though he took some time to develop confidence, his enthusiasm for the game was always evident.

It will be interesting to see how Buck handles play-by-play duties. I hope, barring finding an excellent colour man elsewhere, that they keep the rotation going. I'm a big fan of Rance's, but I also enjoy the variety across the broadcasts.

This move couldn't have been made while JP was still GM, as I don't think that the two of them could have even pretended to be cordial towards one another (based on what I've heard of the relationship, at least). As for Buck, he was doing O's broadcasts last year, I believe, so did the network let him go/let his contract expire or did he ask for permission to leave?

Chuck - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 08:36 PM EST (#209328) #

How long till we hear about someone being a special player? Maybe the new Alex Gonalez (for symmetry's sake).

Ugh to Buck.

laketrout - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 09:13 PM EST (#209329) #

Rance's games stepped up? Please don't do that to us. Martinez was a great analyst and I look forward to him calling the game over Jamie Campbell. Campbell's "golly gee" attitude to the game was next to near impossible to listen to.
But what I'd really love is to hear Shulman back or Jim Hughson doing play by play.

Rich - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 09:23 PM EST (#209330) #

Hughson seems a lot more realistic. I think Shulman is making tons of dough at ESPN and also getting to cover lots of hoops, which he loves. Hughson is a good baseball broadcaster and he doesn't seem to be doing much in the summers. A partnership with Buck would be very good.

StephenT - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 09:33 PM EST (#209331) #

Alan Ashby has been doing 3 innings of play-by-play a game on the radio the past few years.

On Yankees TV, I've heard Ken Singleton do play-by-play at times with another player as an analyst. (YES has been rotating multiple analysts something like Sportsnet has been doing. The current Yankees manager is also a former YES analyst.)

Mick Doherty - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 09:34 PM EST (#209332) #

why would he choose Texas over Seattle?

Because TEX guaranteed him a LOT more money than SEA, which offered him the same money, only in terms of massive incentive bonuses. An injury history like his, that's the smart play. And incidentally, especially with Hamilton moving out of CF, the TEX defense is outstanding.

King Ryan - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 09:54 PM EST (#209333) #

Campbell seemed like a nice guy, and that was a plus. A lot of announcers just seem like bitter old pricks nowadays; Campbell at least enjoys the game. So I feel somewhat bad for him, but at the same time, my goodness was he annoying. A lot of people go for the enthusiasm, but I found it incredibly irritating the way he squealed over every single play that was anything but routine (and even some routine ones.) "You can kiss that one goodbye" made me flinch on every homerun we hit and his non-stop re-caps of what happened last inning, what happened 2 innings ago, 3 innings ago, last game, the last time these teams played, etc. etc. etc. Finally, the way he constantly talked as if he was from some 1950's sitcom despite the fact that he's like 35....

...so yeah, I wasn't a big fan, but again he seemed like a nice guy and I suppose most people do get annoying when you hear them for hours and hours on end. He had a pretty good run, all told, but I'm excited for listening to someone different.

Geoff - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 10:08 PM EST (#209334) #

The usual order to things is that if you're a baseball vet, you become an analyst. If you are a studied and talented broadcaster without experience in pro baseball, you make hay as the announcer.

Every now and again, a baseball vet makes a career as the play by play announcer. Often, and I think this is no coincidence, this rare breed is born in radio. Radio analysts most always have a better feel for describing the action, out of necessity of course. Less can be assumed and the radio audience's senses are more attuned.

Seeing baseball vets doing play by play is rare, but seeing them do it without starting doing so in radio?

Not to doubt Buck, who is an accomplished broadcaster, but this is a bit weird.

Thomas - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 10:18 PM EST (#209335) #

And incidentally, especially with Hamilton moving out of CF, the TEX defense is outstanding.

Tell that to the team with Gutierrez and Ichiro in the outfield and Jack Wilson at shortstop. The other considerations may be true, but his ERA could well have ended up more than a half-run lower in Seattle with that defence (even without Beltre) and pitching in Safeco instead of Arlington.

Original Ryan - Thursday, December 10 2009 @ 10:21 PM EST (#209336) #

Even though Campbell was knowledgeable and had a passion for baseball, I never cared for his play-by-play work. I think he's best suited to the studio host role, and I hope Sportsnet retains him in that capacity.

I recall a game or two in the mid-90s when Martinez filled in for Howarth in the radio booth. He wasn't bad overall as a play-by-play guy, from what I remember. He did seem a bit excitable, though. I think he'll be fine with a bit of practice.

My understanding is that Shulman is able to spend more time at home in Toronto while working for ESPN, compared to his days at TSN. I think he only works a couple of nights a week right now. It's for that reason I'm doubtful we'll ever see him covering the Jays regularly again.

rtcaino - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 12:05 AM EST (#209338) #

Adding Lowell won't hurt their D either.

However, I have to agree with the guaranteed money being somewhat of a trump card.

Spifficus - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 04:16 AM EST (#209339) #

I'm kind of extremely excited at this news. I was enjoying a beverage or (uncountable amount) when I saw the news tick across the screen. I wasn't fortunate enough to hear Martinez and Shulman in their hayday (accursed cable conglomerates!!! Oh... wait...), but I listened to a lot of Martinez with Gary Thorne this year. When I first read the news, I raised both hands in childish glee and asked my girlfriend if it was april yet. Don't get me wrong, I think Jamie Campbell is a really good person, but I really didn't think it was working out from a play-by-play standpoint. I compared what we had to crews like Florida, the Giants, the Twins, Oakland, Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, and others, and it just wasn't the same. Heck, it wasn't close. There is a whit there, an unspoken humor and understanding that just wasn't coming across with the current crews. It felt like everyone was always trying to teach me the game of baseball, as opposed to assuming I knew a little bit already (or caught on quick enough).

In fact, I think that was my largest issue with the direction of the telecasts over the last half-dozen years - I was always getting presented something as though it had never existed before for these wacky igloo-inhabiting Canadians. Every last detail was explained ad-nausium. There was no room to discuss the why (is it worth it to bunt with no out in the 9th, or if the hit-and-run is executed, what next) because it seemed they were to busy explaining what a bunt was. I don't believe this was a flaw with the people doing the broadcasts so much as the direction they seemed to be given. At the same time, I interpret Martinez's hiring as a signal that we can get back to actually knowing baseball and discussing it as opposed to sending out 90th birthday greetings to whatever longtime fan happens to own a TV.

So... yeah... feel free to mark me in the pro-Martinez corner.

Spifficus - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 04:21 AM EST (#209340) #

And, ignoring the rambliness of the post above, I'm definately excited as to what this may bring to the telecasts. It's hard to find good chemistry for an on-air personality, but I've heard Buck as part of a couple of good tandems.

Under 4 months until games that matter are on TV!!

Yup. I'm pretty much a kid in a candy store, here.

Denoit - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 07:09 AM EST (#209341) #

This is probably the best news so far of the offseason. I live too far away to get to many games at the Dome, so I watch amlost all of them on TV. Lets just say the product was subpar. I dont like to see anyone lose their job but it was a move that needed to be done. Hopefully Jamie lands on his feet in an area he has a little bit more knowledge about, baseball just wasn't his thing.

85bluejay - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 08:01 AM EST (#209342) #

Finally some good news - Martinez is kinda meh to me, but I couldn't stand Jaime Campbell -I'm sure he is a nice guy but for most of his tenure I

turned down the sound (the 1/2 second delay prevented me from listening to the radio)

Also reading Richard Griffin in the star today saying the Halladay situation is further along and more quality offers than fans imagine makes

me hopeful that AA is up to the challenge.

rpriske - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 08:37 AM EST (#209344) #

I hope Campbell mans the desk. Who will BUck's partner be? The rotating Tabler/Fletcher/Rance/etc. spot?

Sheldon - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 08:54 AM EST (#209346) #

I'm excited for nostalgia purposes. Buck is a tad bit predicatable. I remember watching games with my Dad, and seeing how often we could predict what Buck was going to say before he did. My Dad had an uncanny ability glimpse into the inner Buck, and would often beat me to the punch with predicting what Buck was going to say.

Gwyn - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 09:00 AM EST (#209347) #

I haven't seen any news about who will be working with Buck, which probably means it's the same crew, or some of the same crew.

William Houston has this about Jamie Campbell on his blog:
Campbell will stay with Sportsnet, where will do studio work and perhaps news features. He�s calling freestyle skiing for the CTV-Rogers consortium at the Vancouver Olympics.
�I think Jamie improved every year,� Briggs Jude said. �What struck me was he shone during the post-season when he was in the studio. Different jobs suit different people in different ways, and in that role he showed what an excellent broadcaster he is. It made sense from my perspective that we weren�t using him in his best area of strength.�

Gerry - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 09:32 AM EST (#209348) #

Jamie is a likeable guy but his favourite phrase was "pardon me" as he seemed to make a couple of mistakes every game that he needed to correct.

jgadfly - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 09:56 AM EST (#209351) #

This seems to raise some questions... so is this a one year contract or a mgr-in-waiting and has anyone spotted Garth Iorg and do we really want to go there ?

jmoney - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 09:58 AM EST (#209352) #

I like Buck and he'd be great with Fletcher. (Catchers are the best)

Chuck - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 10:07 AM EST (#209353) #

Buck and Tabler in a booth together for three hours may jeopardize CRTC regulations governing cliche usage. RSN may have no other choice but to go to dead air from the 5th inning on.

Mike Green - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 10:54 AM EST (#209354) #

Martinez and Shulman would have been fine. As it is, the mute button will be well used in homes across Canada.

Brent S - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 11:44 AM EST (#209355) #

Honestly, I'd like to see Alan Ashby get the nod for analyst with Buck. Perhaps they could borrow the idea of the dual play-by-play that Jerry Howarth and his partner have utilized so well lo these many years.

Gerry - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 01:21 PM EST (#209357) #

Buck was on with McCown last night and I just listened to it. Buck will do about 110 games and he will miss a handful as he has TBS responsibilities. Jamie Campbell lovers might get a handful of games with Jamie back at the mike.

He said he thought he would be working with Tabler and Mulliniks which he liked as they were all friends. I don't think that necessarily means Fletcher is out as Buck was talking about his buddies and he didn't play with Fletcher as far as I know.

He did say that Sportsnet had been after him for a few years but reading between the lines he didn't want to take the job with JP still in town. That could be because Buck was still bitter or he thought it would be a conflict of interest. I would bet on the former.

#2JBrumfield - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 02:43 PM EST (#209359) #

We lose our biggest national booster as Mr. Campbell has mentioned this very site the odd time on the broadcasts and I believe he used to post here back in the early days. I'm thrilled about Buck coming back but I feel sad for Jamie at the same time. I do hope he and Gregg Zaun will be back to analyze the post-season on Sportsnet next year.

Mylegacy - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 02:49 PM EST (#209360) #

In defense of wee Jamie Campbell.

I thought the guy bled Blue Jay blue, was intelligent, articulate, didn't use 1,000 year old baseball bon mots, passionate and the kind of guy I'd like to have shared a few beers with. Or - preferably - a few single malts. I'm clearly in the minority (not an unusual place for a contrarian such as myself) but I'm going to miss the guy.

Good luck Jamie - I'll miss you!

The only good news is I'm a big fan of Buck Martinez. I still remember being in the stands in Seattle the day he broke his leg and made two outs on the play (if my mind can remember things that far back in time and space). I wonder what pattern and colour the Martinez tartan is?

Ski - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 03:11 PM EST (#209362) #

Maybe Sportsnet will rehire Joe Carter to be Buck's Colour man...........Joe and Buck........sounds like a 40's radio tandem, hows THAT for nostalgia!

love the Buck hiring BTW. Really tired of Jaime's inane "Look at (player)!" Yes, I can see him, thank you. I do happen to be watching the broadcast. Not that I can hear him though, with this handy mute button on....

BCMike - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 03:29 PM EST (#209363) #

<blockquote>Buck and Tabler in a booth together for three hours may jeopardize CRTC regulations governing cliche usage. RSN may have no other choice but to go to dead air from the 5th inning on.</blockquote>

I've always liked Buck, but this is what I'm afraid of as well. It's bad enough having one ex-player spouting baseball cliches and obsessing over "old school" stats like avg and wins while completely ignoring anything as complicated as OPS. Sportsnet is one of the more progressive baseball broadcasts (at least they show obp), but this could be a step backwards in some ways.

TimberLee - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 03:37 PM EST (#209364) #

I think Jamie's boss is right - he did improve every year, I would say to the point that he was entirely competent this season, although veteran Sportsnet watchers probably still remembered his rather bumbling early days. He always seemed to have a feeling of "Jeez, am I really supposed to be here talking baseball with real Major League players?" But he was not tiresome or obnoxious like several of the bigger-name US play-by-play men.

Buck is quite capable as an analyst, if a bit tedious after a while. My biggest peeve is that he seems to think he has to come off as an expert with every utterance, so that he comments quickly, sometimes with the stupidest stuff I've ever heard. He and Shulman were very good together, but I've heard some of Dan's US work, and he's always very good. I am anxiously awaiting word of Buck's booth partners, and hoping it's like the current arrangement with Tabler most of the time and Rance and Fletch some of the time.

Some of us remember Dan Chevrier and Fergie Olver....

TimberLee - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 03:39 PM EST (#209365) #

DON Chevrier, of course.

MatO - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 04:19 PM EST (#209366) #

"How about those Blue Jays!"

Mike Green - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 04:44 PM EST (#209367) #

MatO - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 05:03 PM EST (#209368) #

Ah memories. In those days every Blue Jay game seemed to be important (yes it's really true to all the youngsters out there). My buddies and I (all rabid Blue Jay fans) were watching a particularly tense game when the opposing batter's swing produced a "high fly ball!!" from Fergie which nearly caused a collective heart attack.. Fergie then followed up with "and Garcia backs up into short right field and makes the catch" which resulted in a slew of expletives being hurled at Fergie. After that, every pop-up would incite someone to yell "high fly ball!!"
.

Dave Till - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 06:50 PM EST (#209372) #

"How about those Blue Jays?" is one of my favourite conversation pieces, to the extent that it is a family joke. Awkward or inappropriate comment, respond with a silence and then "How about those Blue Jays?"

I do that too!

Fun fact about Fergie Olver: he played two seasons of minor league baseball in the Chicago White Sox chain (he was an outfielder), and was once a teammate of Denny McLain. (Source: the 1987 Jays media guide.) He must have been a tremendous athlete when he was young to get signed like that, given that he is, um, not exceptionally tall.

As for Jamie Campbell: I always liked him as an announcer, though he doesn't have the classic broadcaster's voice. And, yes, he used to post on Batter's Box back in the day, before he became an announcer. He genuinely loves baseball - I once saw him sitting up in the fifth deck, watching a game (this was a couple of years before he became the Jays' play-by-play guy).

Buck knows baseball, but I like him better as an analyst than as the play-by-play guy. His tone is a bit too nasal and strident for my liking; I think I might have to go back to putting Jerry and Alan on the radio and muting the television. Still, you never know.

ayjackson - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 07:18 PM EST (#209373) #

Nobody's tone is more nasal than Vin Scully. I think Buck's tone is similar, and I am looking forward to hearing him do play-by-play. I was not a great fan of his colour commentary.

Matthew E - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 08:17 PM EST (#209376) #

I don't have a problem with Martinez as a colour guy, although I give most of the credit for how great the Shulman/Martinez team was to Shulman. As a play-by-play guy, I guess we'll see. I don't really care, though; I don't recall the last Jays game I watched on TV. Could have been years ago. I'm all about the radio, and since Alan Ashby came on board, I'm happy.

christaylor - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 09:32 PM EST (#209377) #

I have a hard time thinking that most people's issues with this signing are because of a) how great is was to hear Shulman do play by play and b) how good the radio play by play is...

I am skeptical about Martinezb ut hearing him on American TV (TBS?) during the playoffs over the past couple of seasons has allowed me to give him the benefit of the doubt. If him being play-by-play guy allows the Jays to go outside the Ex-Jay with Platitudes role filled right now, this is a good hire. If we get broadcasts with two ex-Jays spouting platitudes, I'll have the radio on more than I've had during the Campbell years (he was always tolerable, given that my tolerable level was/is below Faulds/Black).

I'll add: here's hoping he has success in his future endeavours, he always seemed the lesser of two evils of whomever he was in the broadcast booth with (sorry recycled ex-Jays)...or, should I say, "pardon me", ex-Jay fossils.

How about that "local sports team"?

Geoff - Friday, December 11 2009 @ 10:28 PM EST (#209380) #

Joe and Buck........sounds like a 40's radio tandem, hows THAT for nostalgia!

When I hear the names Joe and Buck, I think of a broadcaster whose career is spiraling out of control into some deep abyss. Back in the summer, he was looking to start a new and interesting challenge to his career. Did not go well.

Episode two, in case you're really curious, is available at hbo.com (be sure to select US site if prompted) and could only be less bizarre, with athletes rather than comedians interviewing each other.

I can only hope that Martinez is smoother in his new duties than Joe is as a talk show host / interviewer / entertainer.

King Ryan - Saturday, December 12 2009 @ 01:25 AM EST (#209382) #

I thought the guy bled Blue Jay blue, was intelligent, articulate, didn't use 1,000 year old baseball bon mots, passionate and the kind of guy I'd like to have shared a few beers with. Or - preferably - a few single malts. I'm clearly in the minority

Not really. In fact, not at all. I agree with all of that and do not see what that has to do with him as an announcer. He did seem like a smart, fun guy that would be great to have a few drinks with. That doesn't mean I enjoyed listening to his play-by-play.

To be fair though, I don't care for PBP in general...

christaylor - Saturday, December 12 2009 @ 04:36 AM EST (#209384) #

Ouch. It was almost painful to watch some of that, however, it was certaainly less painful than being exposed to anything Bob Costas has ever done:

http://crooksandliars.com/media/play/mov/6035/

Uh, who's that guy he's talking to...?

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