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Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

d'Kong76 Apr 04 2016 03:39 PM

Wikithang wrote: Jessica Ofelia Mendoza (born November 11, 1980) is an American former softball player and broadcaster. At Stanford University, Mendoza was a four-time First Team All-American for the Stanford Cardinal from 1999–2002, and was a member of the United States women's national softball team from 2004–2010. She played professionally in National Pro Fastpitch. Mendoza owns numerous Cardinal records. She is currently a member of the broadcast team for ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. Respected network counterpart sings praises for Jessica Mendoza

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 04 2016 03:50 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

I think any ESPN talker would have done the same but her fucking Duda error talk was way beyond what was necessary to give watchers an idea of what really happened; and of course when he made a great throw right in front of her eyes -- the 3-6-1 DP -- she didn't remark on it even once. Not to mention how that DP -- and 2 others quietly witnessed -- undermined their narrative of how gosh-darn revolutionary the Royals "ball-in-play" strategy is.

Fman99 Apr 04 2016 03:52 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

d'Kong76 wrote: Wikithang wrote: Jessica Ofelia Mendoza (born November 11, 1980) is an American former softball player and broadcaster. At Stanford University, Mendoza was a four-time First Team All-American for the Stanford Cardinal from 1999–2002, and was a member of the United States women's national softball team from 2004–2010. She played professionally in National Pro Fastpitch. Mendoza owns numerous Cardinal records. She is currently a member of the broadcast team for ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. Respected network counterpart sings praises for Jessica Mendoza I sung her praises, too, only, some folks got all panty-snitted about it.

Edgy MD Apr 04 2016 03:57 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

“I think she is fantastic,” he said. “I don’t think anyone in our business outworks her. I just love that she brings a fresh, new look at our sport. [The Nationals’] Bryce Harper was talking about how tired the sport is. Well, it’s a fresh new look. There’s nothing tired about Jessica Mendoza’s analysis. It’s some of the best stuff I’ve seen, to tell you the truth. “There is nothing that separates her from me except a thousand years [in age]. I was raised with a dad who loved the game and taught it to me, and so was she . . . And she could hit [as a star softball player] and I couldn’t. “I think she brings a great, effervescent quality, a hard work ethic. Anyone would be proud that she’s where she’s at right now.” I'm a little nervous that folks will pile up to get behind her as a concept — as a woman and as a Latina (as a FRESH FACE!) — and deny her the dignity of judging her for her work (however we judge broadcasters, which is admittedly grossly inconsistent). Or the Limbaughs of the world will attack her as an affirmative action hire for the converse reason.

d'Kong76 Apr 04 2016 04:01 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

I thought she was fine, but I'm hardly an analyst of analysts. I just noticed the Ron thing and in light of everyone moaning and groaning about the ESPN booth I thought I'd mention it. It's not a thing to me one way or the other and I won't be piling on about it to make some sort of socio-politico statement one way or the other either.

Frayed Knot Apr 04 2016 04:14 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

I don't tend to get too crazy about announcers. There'll always be a handful on either end of the spectrum that I either particularly like or that drive me nuts, but most fall into that middle ground that are more or less white noise to me. I've heard Mendoza a number of times now and she's right in the fat part of the bell curve with most of the rest of them. Did the crew last night talk too much and beat points into the ground? Of course they did; it's network announcing, that's their move. You also have to remember that they're talking to a national audience who aren't Met and/or Royals nerds like the rest of us so they're operating under the assumption that they're speaking to a bunch of novices on topics that we're already sick of. The excess yakking is also a function of three in the booth, something I think is rarely a good idea absent some sort of time-honed chemistry (a la Keith & Ron) which naturally knows how to not step on each other, but we all know that no bad idea in sports broadcasting goes un-copied so three mouths for all BIG! games is here to stay - and BIG! to ESPN means their Sunday Night special which is the only thing about baseball they really care about these days.

HahnSolo Apr 04 2016 04:22 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

She's OK, and I think she can be good. But I think ESPN did her a disservice by pushing her into their number 1 team so quickly. She is still working the kinks out, and that would have been better not under the spotlight of Sunday Night baseball. A year or two working in one of the other booths (hello, Boog Schiambi) would have done wonders for her. Also, I think she defers way too much to others in the booth with her. I mean if the standards are, "she's no worse than Kruk or Schilling," you got me there. But just judging her as a broadcaster (not a concept, as Edgy said), she's not mid-70s Tony Kubek, or mid-80s Tim McCarver. She's OK.

Ceetar Apr 04 2016 04:24 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

Frayed Knot wrote: Did the crew last night talk too much and beat points into the ground? Of course they did; it's network announcing, that's their move. You also have to remember that they're talking to a national audience who aren't Met and/or Royals nerds like the rest of us so they're operating under the assumption that they're speaking to a bunch of novices on topics that we're already sick of.. well..maybe that's normally the case, but in this particular case it's hard to believe there are a ton of fans watching this national broadcast that weren't also watching the World Series. Yes, there are probably some that tuned out, say Cubs fans that were just done and now are ready to start the season and such, but even they probably don't need the constant rehashing. It's like they picked up the same crib sheet they had from last season and just were talking about the bullet points. I wasn't listening that closely (had Howie and Josh on my phone) but I don't even think they talked much about the offseason moves or anything. Mendoza was fine. I think she's probably the best, non-Bobby Valentine edition, that's been in that booth over the last decade or so, but I'm not sure I'd say she was 'good'. Though it's hard to tell through all the corporate and league-forced talking points too.

d'Kong76 Apr 04 2016 04:28 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

One thing I think we can all agree on is she's no Cal Ripken.

Zvon Apr 04 2016 07:31 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

I think Mendoza was good but I have to admit that hearing a woman during play by play will take some getting used to. Not saying it's bad by any means, but it's new and strange She had huge tracks of land, which Fman touched on in his schtick, which is just that, a schtick. How anyone could get offended from Fman's schtick, which he has been doing for more years that I can remember, is beyond me. I didn't say this during the IGT because I don't wanna clog it (the game drama is enough 4 me, thankyouverymuch), but loosen up folks. Baseballs back! My brother had a problem with Mendoza talking from the perspective of an ex-player. He's like : "She can't say that, she never played baseball. She played softball". I played both OF and inf in softball for many, many years. Now playing the infield is different for a slew of reasons but playing the outfield is pretty much the same, so I defended her. I had no problem with her using it as a source of experience. But my bro said " NO! Playing the outfield in baseball & softball is like night and day. She can't be talking like she's played the game." I think that was something she wanted to drive home to us, that she does know the game from playing it, and I can accept the softball analogy. Apparently some won't.

TransMonk Apr 04 2016 07:58 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

Mendoza's fine, but she's not adding anything to the game for me. To be fair, ESPN analysts rarely do. I tend to think ESPN may be using her as a gimmick more than anything else. In a perfect world, I'd prefer MLB analysts to be former MLB players (it's not like there is a shortage of them). In term of non-players, I prefer her to guys like Verducci. I would be 10,000 times more excited about a female MLB player than analyst.

Frayed Knot Apr 04 2016 08:21 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

Zvon wrote: She had huge tracks of land ... So did Kruk.

Edgy MD Apr 04 2016 08:30 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

TransMonk wrote: In a perfect world, I'd prefer MLB analysts to be former MLB players (it's not like there is a shortage of them). In term of non-players, I prefer her to guys like Verducci. So, Keith Hernandez and Tom Verducci are above and below the Mendoza Line, respectively.

TransMonk Apr 04 2016 08:42 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

Edgy MD wrote: TransMonk wrote: In a perfect world, I'd prefer MLB analysts to be former MLB players (it's not like there is a shortage of them). In term of non-players, I prefer her to guys like Verducci. So, Keith Hernandez and Tom Verducci are above and below the Mendoza Line, respectively. BOC!

Frayed Knot Apr 04 2016 08:49 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

... and speaking of ESPN, count me as one in the 'Pro' column (or at least not 'Anti') their use of the strike box -- mainly because the particular graphic being used is a whole lot less visually intrusive than the version used by some networks/stations. Do the talking heads run the risk of becoming a slave to it? Sure, but I kind of like that it's there.

Ashie62 Apr 04 2016 11:57 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

Edgy MD wrote: TransMonk wrote: In a perfect world, I'd prefer MLB analysts to be former MLB players (it's not like there is a shortage of them). In term of non-players, I prefer her to guys like Verducci. So, Keith Hernandez and Tom Verducci are above and below the Mendoza Line, respectively. One day we may see a booth of Gary David and Ron.

metirish Apr 05 2016 01:44 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

I found her extremely annoying , there wasn't a moments silence she didn't want to fill.

Lefty Specialist Apr 05 2016 02:05 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

I found her less annoying than anyone else on ESPN, but that's a pretty low bar to clear.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 05 2016 02:13 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

Speaking of announcers did anyone hear Keith on with Mike Zaun yesterday? I love the guy as a knowledgeable and offbeat gametime color sideman but in the context of simply spouting opinion on baseball, particularly with an oaf like Francessa as host, he's embarrassing. The two of them teed off on those slide-rule, glasses-wearing, mom's-basement geeks with the temerity to suggest there's room in baseball to interpret lineup configurations. Only they didn't see it that charitably. Regarding the other thing I'm hardly beyond juvenile laughs but at the same time we should be sensitive of the message that can send about the attitudes here.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 05 2016 04:52 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

Ceetar wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Did the crew last night talk too much and beat points into the ground? Of course they did; it's network announcing, that's their move. You also have to remember that they're talking to a national audience who aren't Met and/or Royals nerds like the rest of us so they're operating under the assumption that they're speaking to a bunch of novices on topics that we're already sick of.. well..maybe that's normally the case, but in this particular case it's hard to believe there are a ton of fans watching this national broadcast that weren't also watching the World Series. Yes, there are probably some that tuned out, say Cubs fans that were just done and now are ready to start the season and such, but even they probably don't need the constant rehashing. They are always always ALWAYS pitching network broadcasts this way-- at non-knowledgeable fans (regardless of the matchup/whether it's a WS rehash, the fact that it's a new season makes the inclination worse, not better). ESPN is the worst at it... save for Fox, and, y'know, pretty much all of the others. "Good for a network analyst" is about where I stand. Whether due to production imperatives or corporate order or deeper, more lived-in knowledge of the principals, the network folks are NEVER going to be as good as the locals at this sort of thing.

dinosaur jesus Apr 05 2016 05:46 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

She seemed fine, and good for her for landing this job. I'll reserve judgment, though, until I hear her actually call a game, instead of going on and on about whatever the storyline is supposed to be. Do even Royals fans want to hear half an hour of blather about what a special kind of dickhead Eric Hosmer is?

Ceetar Apr 05 2016 06:15 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

dinosaur jesus wrote: She seemed fine, and good for her for landing this job. I'll reserve judgment, though, until I hear her actually call a game, instead of going on and on about whatever the storyline is supposed to be. Do even Royals fans want to hear half an hour of blather about what a special kind of dickhead Eric Hosmer is? Maybe. I know they were probably riveted by the long in-booth camera bit adhering to MLBs hashtag of the day.

Frayed Knot Apr 05 2016 06:45 PM Re: Baseball Broadcast(ers)(ing) 2016

... I'll reserve judgment, though, until I hear her actually call a game, instead of going on and on about whatever the storyline is supposed to be. Ain't gonna happen. Every ESPN Sunday Night game is going to be about their designated story du jour. Just look at their BB2N show leading up to the SN game. That used to be ESPN's best hour of baseball for the week because they had all the just-completed afternoon series-ending games to review before taking a few minutes to set-up their upcoming game. But by the end of last year that show had completely flipped to where it was about 80% set-up/promo and goofy set pieces with the hi-light/review portion relegated to an afterthought and maybe half the games ignored completely. As I've said before: Everything that's on ESPN is about what else is on ESPN.