Splitsville For Jon Miller And Joe Morgan?
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Dirty Announcing Rumor Mill: Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News is reporting that his sources are saying that ESPN could move Joe Morgan to the Wednesday night telecast, and team Jon Miller with Rick Sutcliffe. (Hat tip to Can't Stop the Bleeding.)
I'd be fine with Morgan getting a heave-ho, he analyzes by the seat of his pants more rather than any sort of actual study and I'm sure there are plenty of you out there who aren't enamored of his "old-school is best" mentality. But I wouldn't believe it unless it actually happens first."We expect both Jon and Joe to be back in the Sunday night booth next season," an ESPN spokesman said.
Of course there is a big difference between "expect" to be back and definitely returning. So there is something up here. Miller and Morgan have spent nearly two decades together. During that time their relationship has had its rocky moments. That's no secret.
What's coming to light is how unpopular Morgan has become with many of his ESPN colleagues, who are less than thrilled with the way he prepares for a telecast. Some of them also don't respond well to what they call Morgan's haughty attitude, which he has displayed during some of his more outspoken performances in internal ESPN meetings.
Also, let's not think that Sutcliffe would be a major improvement. He would make our baseball watching lives more interesting with his tendency towards more embarrassing gaffes on Sundays instead of buried during weeknight games.
16 Comments:
wow sutcliffe might end up worse than joe morgan
Morgan is still better than Sutcliffe. I would settle for Orel Hershiser.
Once upon a time, ESPN had plenty of analysts who could work well with Jon Miller (and occasionally did, if Joe was at Cooperstown or otherwise unable to do a Sunday Night game.) In the early years of Sunday Night Baseball, Dave Campbell was the go-to sub for Morgan every year on HOF weekend Now, it's pretty much down to Sutcliffe, Hershiser, or White Hair Boy (Steve Philips).
Of those three, Hershiser would probably be the least crappy alternative. While I'm not ripping Sutcliffe pesonally, with all he's had to deal with, the fact is that he has never amounted to much as a broadcaster, and just has an annoying 'spaced out, laid back West Coast' voice that sounds like he should be talking about surfing or volleyball, maaaaaaaannnn...
Meanwhile, Philips' limitations, to rip off a classic quote, are limitless. All those other Baseball Tonight guys are mere talking heads.
Frankly, I wish ESPN could just convince Mike Krukow, Miller's partner on S.F. Giants local OTA telecasts, to give up that gig and move into the Sunday Night booth. The two of them make a good team, and the 'give and take' is a lot more natural than some of the tooth-pulling that goes on every time Joe screws up and Jon calls him on it.('No, THAT'S not what I meant, what I MEANT was...')
Unfortunately, the only real difference will probably be that Miller will just get stuck with a hack not named 'Hall of Famer Joe Morgan'.
Come on ESPN, the blog isn't called "Reassign Joe Morgan." Get rid of him!
Joe lives in an entirely different dimension than the rest of us humanoids. To say he's always unprepared is an understatement, and why Miller hasn't said anything to the mucky-mucks at ESPN is a curiosity. Or maybe he has, and it's fallen on deaf ears.
Wednesday night? Joe doesn't watch any baseball games other than Sunday night. This will never work.
Anon 3:12 - Joe never goes to Cooperstown; he visits a place he likes to call Coopertown.
Please get rid of him - Joe is consistently the worst.
so instead of canning him they're gonna punish Obie?
Joe is a bad analyst. But he is consistent about it.
This is a demotion for Sut, who won't have the opportunity to drool over Erin Andrews anymore.
He can watch Peter Gammons drool, instead :-D
I saw somewhere that if Bob Brenly gets the managing job in Milwaukee, the Cubs might consider Sutcliffe to replace him for their broadcasts.
I'd be very happy if Joe Morgan just went away. I cannot watch Sunday baseball anymore knowing he's on.
of course get rid of the black guy. fuck espn.
as soon as I hear that guy I turn the station. annoying, boring and way to high on himself.
I like Joe Morgan and I am very surprised that everyone on here hates his commentary. I think he provides good insight during games because he knows a lot about baseball compared to other announcers. ie. Joe Buck.
I grew up watching these guys, please dont split up. Definitely a classic duo.
Since I was heading home from a visit to the parents' house (birthday dontcha know) I heard this wonderful exchange b/w Miller and Morgan in reference to the question "Who was the best player [Morgan] ever played with?"
Morgan responded with: "Schmidt may have had the most ability out of anyone I ever played with"
Top of the next inning:
Morgan: "I just want to talk about what I said about him [Schmidt] last inning. I didn't say he was the best player I played with, I just said he may have most ability. I don't want my all that mail or to offend any of my Reds teammates."
Miller: "So who was the best then?"
Morgan: "I didn't say best, I said had the most talent."
Perfectly Joe, asked who was the best, he gives who may have had the most ability.
Fire him please.