The other day, I wrote a little bit about the MLB International broadcast that I heard here in Japan. I poked fun at the announcers because, well, this is what I do, and I got a comment from Dave O’Brien. I wanted to post it here in the main blog to give the man equal time.

(And I should add — I do think that Dave’s right — he and Rick Sutcliffe had a good broadcast. And it really was good to hear some voices from home while here in Japan, where, sadly, I have no idea what anyone’s saying. I was nitpicking because, let’s face it, I’m a smart ass. But good job Dave. Thanks for reading).

Joe:

Glad you had the chance to hear our broadcast on MLB International.

All in good spirits, allow me to dig you back.

The phrase “one swing of the bat” on Kielty’s home run is dead-on and appropriate. What if he had fouled off 9 pitches before hitting that home run? He didn’t. It was his only cut. When a hitter takes one swing in his entire World Series, it should be reported for the highly unusual occurrence that it is. This is a common phrase in baseball announcing, and one also echoed by many of the people who later talked about it that night (francona, Lowell, etc.) You are wrong to wag a finger at me.

Also: I never said the game was over before Colorado mounted a comeback. The fact that in the end I was correct in assuming the game was all BUT over didn’t deter you from needling us. I’ve called 17 years of major league baseball, and although anything CAN happen, I was also aware that Papelbon was prepared to pitch and the chances of Colorado overtaking Boston were slim with a 3-run lead (at the time). You should also have credited me for saying, several times, “This one isn’t done” when Boston took the early leads. We committed no faux pas - we were there watching a superior ballclub sweep the Rockies aside, and if we felt their chances were small, you can believe that was the mood at Coors Field, too.

Again, this is all meant in a positive spirit - not to demean you. I would consider your comments nit-picky, and you may too. I thought we had a strong broadcast.

All the best, Dave O’Brien

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 30th, 2007 at 11:12 pm.
Categories: Baseball.

13 Comments, Comment or Ping

  1. Joey Conkers

    Hats off to both of you: Dave O’Brien for taking you to task about your remarks; you for having the good grace to highlight it.

    Oct 31st, 2007

  2. Colin

    is thsi the same Dave O’Brien who writes for the Atlanta paper? I like that guy’s work a whole lot, a very close second in baseball writing to Joe.

    Oct 31st, 2007

  3. Kirk

    Smart man once told me, when you read something you don’t like and feel the need to respond, STEP AWAY FROM THE KEYBOARD. The man was not Dave O’Brien.

    Oct 31st, 2007

  4. robustyoungsoul

    That was fun!

    Oct 31st, 2007

  5. Greg S.

    What a crybaby. Joe was correct in his assessment. Having broadcasted for “17 years”, O’Brien should have been big enough to stay silent. What a crybaby….

    Oct 31st, 2007

  6. Dan

    I was in Shanghai a few weeks ago and got to watch games 3, 4 and 5 of the ALCS with DO’B and Sutcliffe. Even though Sut sounded drunk half the time, I was able to watch the games and not have to mute them like I would have if I were watching on Fox. Sut even made one of the better color-man observations I’ve ever heard — that Victor Martinez was tipping off pitches in Game 5 by his stance. When his feet were close together, a fastball was coming. When he spread his legs wide, an off-speed pitch was coming (he spread his legs so he could get down easier in case the pitch broke to the ground). I don’t know if that’s why Sabbathia was getting hit so hard or not, but I just remember being surprised that I could actually learn something about the game from the announcers.

    Oct 31st, 2007

  7. Wm. Don

    For some reason, we Canadians were condemned to watching the ALCS on Fox - the TBS broadcast was unavailable due to some ridiculous Canadian broadcast rights issues and the fact that TBS came up with Peachtree TV. Blame who you like.

    At any rate, I very nearly turned off the TV during Game 6 due to the Fox broadcaster’s sycophantic drooling over the greatness of the Red Sox, and their director’s bizarre tendencies to show anything but the action on the field. (Note to Fox Sports: when I’m watching baseball, I’m much more interested in seeing how much of a lead the runner on first is taking than I am in counting the pores in the pitcher’s face.) I honestly wasn’t sure if I would be able to watch the World Series if I had to sit through another Fox broadcast.

    And then, like a beacon in the night that welcomes a weary sailor home to a safe port in a storm (I can use hyperbole, too), I happened to turn to Sportsnet and their TBS broadcast, and found Dave O’Brien and Rick Sutcliffe calling the game in a reasonable, laid-back manner, and camera operators who were interested in what was happening on the field and not just in the Red Sox’ dugout.

    I’ll admit that the TBS broadcast was not without its flaws, but when I compare it to the absolute travesty that the FOX coverage was, all I can say is:

    Thank you, TBS and Sportsnet for salvaging the post-season for this sorely deprived Canadian baseball fan. I’ll take Dave and Rick over Joe and Tim any day of the week.

    Oct 31st, 2007

  8. skott

    Dave is one of the radio guys for the Red Sox during the regular season…i think he’s pretty damn good. WAY better than anything on TBS or FOX.
    though to be fair, FOX (buck and mccarver) were no where near as insufferable this year as they have been in the past.

    Oct 31st, 2007

  9. Tim Lacy

    Joe: Stand up post from stand up guy. I expect no less. It’s a shame we can’t see stuff like this more often in print news. - TL

    Oct 31st, 2007

  10. Barnhart

    I dunno, I think I could quote back your A-Rod post when it comes to what baseball fans don’t like about DOB … he has Sutty for a color guy …. he has Sutty for a color guy ….

    For some reason, Sutcliffe seems to rub people the wrong way. He’s fine with me, though I always think he’s reading off a script because of that lilt in his voice. But I agree with the commenters who say he’s on the ball more often than not.

    As usual, I was listening to Jon and Joe call the game. I think even DOB would agree that Jon Miller is in a league of his own.

    Oct 31st, 2007

  11. Mark

    Rick Sutcliffe, drunk on air??

    Shurely not (hic!)….

    Oct 31st, 2007

  12. Andy

    As somebody based in Dublin, Ireland I’ve been watching the MLB International feed for a number of years. The one good thing, referred to above in another comment, is that they really do concentrate on the action on the field without the messing about that happens on some of the other networks (yes, FOX, I’m looking at you in particular). However, Sutcliffe does seem to speak verrrrrryyyyy sloooooowwwwwlllyyyyy for whatever reason. It’s weird, but doesn’t really detract from the broadcast.

    Nov 7th, 2007

  13. Young Opie

    It doesn’t surprise me that someone made not of an item Dave O’Brien said. He says the same things over and over in a boring monotone voice. The radio games of the Red Sox are horrible with him. It may be the fact that the TV crew here is so good to listen too. He just seems like a stiff.

    May 31st, 2008

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