Sunday, October 30, 2005

Hot-Damn!

So I guess what the Braves lose in experience and know-how, they gain in upside-down costumes?

Another sign that the lords of baseball are turning their own warriors against them, further punishing them for trashing a plane in 1986, the Braves have named former Met closer and full-time prankster Roger McDowell as their pitching coach, replacing Rockin' Leo Mazzone.

So who sets the first hotfoot of the 2006 season, Roger McDowell, or Ugueth Urbina?

***

Meanwhile, you won't hear the golden tones of Ted Robinson or Dave O'Brien anytime soon, unless you're a tennis fan or prefer watching your baseball on ESPN. Robinson and O'Brien have been let go as Mets announcers, as the team prefers announcers who are available for 100% of the team's games, rather than 95%.

O'Brien was offered the Mets full time gig, but turned it down in favor of ESPN, to work a more ecclectic selection of events, and stay at home more.

So that's two very good announcers leaving, while the spectre of Fran Healy looms larger and larger every minute. Now there's someone who's available for 100% of Met games. In any event, now that the Mets are exploring other options, it might be time for Met fans to explore some options of their own...

7 comments:

something said...

I've always liked Roger. He was my 'Mets Teammate' when I was part of the junior Mets fan club. I had an official card with him on it and everything. Looks like I'll have to burn those too.

metswalkoffs said...

The cycle continues...Roger McDowell in as Braves pitching coach...Mets walk-off childhood hero Neil Allen out as Yankees bullpen coach (prefacing his name with "Mets childhood hero" gets a lot of odd looks from colleagues)

Here's one for conspiracy theorists...Among McDowell's colleagues is the Braves hitting coach, who hit a rather significant home run against a certain Mets pitcher oh, about 18 years ago this past September...

Metstradamus, I shall blogpost on Mr. McDowell on Tuesday. I think I have a neat observation or two...

Metstradamus said...

Mark, Neil Allen was my first autograph...the guy who's pitching motion I mimicked when I was a young lad. So no odd looks from this direction my friend.

Might I prophecize a link to one Turk Wendell or Gregg Jefferies in your observation?

metswalkoffs said...

To borrow from the title of a book by late, not-so-great WFAN talk show host Pete Franklin...You Could Prophecize (Argue), but You'd Be Wrong...

If you shall keep us in suspense regarding your Metsography, I shall do likewise on the details of my post...

Metstradamus said...

Tuesday it shall be. We'll both find out together!

Anonymous said...

why not just put a life size fran doll in the broadcast booth with a talk ring in its back. It can say 15 phrases or so. Things like "...whale of a ballgame" and "watch Jose Reyes run...", or "back in Toledo..."; but, of course, these comments will be heard at the discretion of the broadcast partner, and not uttered indiscriminately ad nauseam by the actual Fran. Love to hear those flashbacks of his during a tense moment in the ball game, though. Pray the you are wrong, Metsra. Pray hard.

Metstradamus said...

jab, I hate to say it, but as long as Fran continues to give free plugs to the men that pay the bills (advertisers), he'll never be out of a job.

And when Doubleday was there, you never noticed any blatent policy to take the cheap route...probably because there was a checks and balances system between the two owners.