Hey TBS finally listened to me! I told them to pick up HR for the Playoffs last year but they were probably (and understanably) waiting out the whole lawsuit thing. Reynolds and current NESN analyst Dennis Eckersley will join Cal Ripken and Ernie Johnson this Sunday at 2pm for the unveiling of the All-Star teams....

“We are excited to add analysts to our studio show with the on-air credentials and on-field experience of the caliber of Harold and Dennis,” said Jeff Behnke, SVP and executive producer for Turner Sports. “We look forward to providing their insights and opinions as fans and players around the country learn who will be representing their teams in the 2008 MLB All-Star Game.”

During the telecast, TBS will exclusively reveal the All-Star Game starters elected by fan voting, as well as the player selections and manager picks to round out this year’s AL and NL squads. Throughout the hour-long telecast Reynolds, Eckersley and Ripken will provide in-depth review and analysis.

Random but certainly interesting. As far as "Selection Shows" go, the MLB All-Star Game doesn't really top the list, but with that many different personalities involved I might have to check it out. Hopefully this leads to HR getting a role in this year's playoffs because I'm not watching his random interviews on MLB.com.

Oh and TBS, no Tony Gwynn is a good move.

Evening everyone! Thermocaster here, ready for some hot live blogging action on Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.

First, a big thanks to AA for giving me the opportunity to chime in on the baseball playoffs. There's a lot on the line in tonight's game. Can the Rockies win 21 out of 22 and start the playoffs with 7 straight wins? Do the Diamondbacks have a chance in hell of coming back? Can Chip Caray butcher the game of baseball even more than he's already done? Will we really see Colorado succeed with a starting pitcher that only owns 3 career major league wins? Will Tony Gwynn's helium tank float away in the thin atmosphere? Questions, my friends. Lots of 'em.

Feel free to get things started with some comments. And be sure to check out Sarge's excellent ALCS Game 3 blog, happening right below this one. I'll be back when TBS ends its Family Guy hour.


Pregame

Game 3 of this series was played in a sort of quasi-frozen muck, which was enjoyable to watch in a sadistic way. No such luck for this game, however. Checking in with The Weather Channel's Stephanie Abrams, we find that the gametime temperature is a brisk 51 degrees, with practically no wind. Looks like it'll get down to about 39 tonight, with the winds picking up out of the SSE.


Alright, the broadcast just started. If they're trying to set a dramatic tone with this "movie trailer" intro, they failed miserably. All I could think of while watching it was that Geico commercial. "In a world where both our cars were under water..."

FRANK! LOOK AT THE CAMERA! LOOK AT EJ! LOOK AT SOMETHING EXCEPT THE DARN DESK!

Ron Darling with a nice story about Jeff Cirillo getting his first post-season start since his career started, which I believe was during the Carter administration.

Craig Sager interviews Tulowitzki in the pregame. Troy looks like he just ate some unflavored gelatin. Nothing important or notable occurred in that interview.

Tonight's starting pitchers --- Micah Owings (8-8, 4.30 ERA, 4 HRs?) versus prepubescent Franklin Morales (3-2, 3.43 ERA, collection of minor league groupies).

Some reader comments:

Greggm59: Chip Caray always sounds like he should be doing a Top 40 countdown someplace and it's amazing that for as long as he's been broadcasting baseball, he still seemingly knows nothing about it. Oh, and Brenly sucks, too.

Cory: Im putting the over - Under on in game ads for Frank TV at 5

Only 5, Cory? I'll take the over, and bet the house. We may have 5 before the first pitch.

Actually, the better question might be --- do we see more "This is ourrrr countryyyyy" ads, or Frank TV ads? So far the tally is 2-1 in favor of John Cougar...dammit.

Cory chimes back in: I meant to put 55 ...

That's using your head, sir. I'm with you there.

Cal Ripken waffles, then goes with the Rockies to sweep. Frank Thomas agrees. Ron Darling has the D'Backs. Looks like it's time to play ball!

Alright, I know everyone's annoyed with the Frank TV ads...and the Chevy ads...but is no one else seriously freaked out by these strange semi-animated Schwab commercials?


Top of the 1st

Alright, enough Bon Jovi. No mas. Please. Do not want.

We start off with the gratuitous shot of the broadcasters in the booth. Chip Caray looks ready to sell you a pre-owned Ford. Tony Gwynn looks cold. Bob Brenly still looks like the villain in Lethal Weapon 3.

Chip - "The Rockies want to sweep them tonight." Gee, ya think?

Brenly chimes in about Morales - "Clint Hurdle told us he occasionally gets fidgety on the mound." Fidgety? Like, he sways for no reason and picks his nose? I'm suddenly unsure about the Rockies' chances.

Chip Caray just used the word "crystalline" in a sports broadcast. I'm praying for a sweep right now.

Tony Gwynn has problems pronouncing hispanic last names.

Chris Young with the leadoff single to left off a breaking ball by Morales.

I have to say, I won't miss this 9 foot leadoff graphic one bit. Call me crazy, but I imagine most baseball fans are perfectly capable of figuring out how far off the bag the baserunner is.

I think Caray's big problem is that he gets too cutesy with his language. A normal human being would say "The Diamondbacks have hit into six double plays", not "Six double plays...the Diamondbacks have rapped into."

Stephen Drew flies out to deep left, Young stays at first. One out. Hey, someone turn Tony Gwynn's microphone up, please.

Chris Young gets caught in perhaps the stupidest rundown situation you can get into. Two outs, and suddenly young Morales has Brenly's respect. You're not fidgety at all, young man!

Byrnes grounds out 1-3, and we head to the bottom of the 1st. I really enjoy it when the crowd gets excited at Coors...it effectively drowns out Caray. And I'm not the only one:

Cory: I Can not take This TBS broadcast team anymore - Im willing to take the 2 second delay on the espn radio broadcast too listen to some good commentators in Dan Shulman and Dave Campbell

AA: Their voices are soooo grating. I was obviously drunk when I did that first review.

To be fair, AA...I think you HAVE to be drunk to get through a full game with these guys.


Bottom of the 1st - Arizona 0, Colorado 0

Look out, folks! Chip, you're so helpful, warning the crowd THAT CAN'T HEAR YOU about the foul ball screaming towards them.

Tavares flies out to right to start things out for the Rockies. Matsui now to the plate.

Matsui flies out to center --- two gone. What was the deal with that bizarre sound right before the pitch? Were they shuffling bats in the broadcast booth?

Caray - "Where the Rockies have broken out the brooms...they're...trying...to...sweep away the Diamondbacks." I think Greggm59 nailed it --- the man thinks he's giving the Kasey Kasem countdown.

Matt Holliday safely to first with a single...one on, two out. Helton and his glorious Van Dyke to the plate.

Okay, forget turning up Gwynn's microphone. He's pulling a Dusty Baker in the booth tonight. None of his statements have a logical end point. Maybe a couple of Red Bulls would wake up the big fella.

Helton comes through with a rope to right field. Runners at first and second for the Rockies.

Fly out to center field, and we finish a scoreless 1st. Rockies leave two on, but Owings threw 24 pitches in that inning.

Cory's really unhappy with the Caray Three: Seriously they almost as annoying as Berman and Gwynn doing playoff games the last couple of years on ESPN

Rob reminds us that it could always be worse: As bad as the Carey/Gwynn/Brenly booth is, I'll still take that trio over any group that includes Tony Kornheiser.


Top of the 2nd - Arizona 0, Colorado 0

I understand that the landscaping inside Coors is pretty, but did Caray just call the rockpile "picturesque"?

Quick first out on an infield hit.

Craig Sager with another meaningless report. Seriously, is there a less talented sideline reporter on the planet? Dei Lynam? That's about all I can think of.

Why does Bob Melvin always look like he's ready to sell you some whole term life insurance?

Caray describes Reynolds' home run last night as "majestic". How exactly is a home run "majestic"? Is that better or worse than "picturesque" or "crystalline"? No matter --- Reynolds is sat down on strikes.

Snyder with a hot shot that barely stays fair down the left field line. He's on with a standup double, and the Diamondbacks keep themselves alive in the inning.

Brenly corrects himself after saying that the air is thin at "altitude...I mean, elevation." Huh?

Phil: Aren't altitude and elevation the same thing?

Uh oh, Chip is confused --- he wasn't sure if Upton got hit by the pitch or if it was wild. At first, I thought it hit him in the helmet, because there was an audible CRACK...but it didn't. Apparently that crack came from Upton's shoulder blade. Ouch. Anyway, runners on first and second, and Cirillo to the plate.

Matsui collects a slow roller off a broken bat, and the Rockies escape the inning without incident.


Bottom of the 2nd - Arizona 0, Colorado 0

Alright, I'm disappointed...I was hoping we'd get through a whole game without a Dane Cook ad.

Cory: Craig Sager the least talented sideline reporter PFFT, Ahmad Rashad
during the NBA on NBC Days was alot worse, Craig Sager > Micheal Jordan's little bitch

Yes, but is Ahmad still active? Is he jealous of Cuba Gooding, Jr. for those Fruit of the Loom ads?

Rockies quickly ground out. Everybody's all-american, Troy Tulowitzki, is now at the plate. He looks far more relaxed than he was during that awkward Craig Sager interview.

Tulowitzki goes down on strikes, and the Venezuelan Sensation, Yorvit Torrealba, steps into the box.

So according to Chip, the "one pitch" that Livan Hernandez didn't get was the difference between victory and defeat. Are we no longer counting the last 3 1/3 innings of games or something?

Torrealba flies out to right, and so far we've got a pitcher's duel...an adolescent pitcher's duel.

Top of the 3rd - Arizona 0, Colorado 0

Anoymous: Getting Chip, Brenly and Gwynn after the disasters that were the other 3 broadcast and production teams was like getting a can of Spam after three weeks without any food or water--you welcome its presence, but gloss over how badly it truly is.

Okay, quick...someone photoshop Chip Caray's face over this guy.

Owens starts off the top of the 3rd with a nice piece of hitting, nailing it in between third and short. Not even Tulowitzki can make that play! Runner on, nobody out.

Ay papi! Troy Tulowitzki can't be stopped with conventional weapons! Brilliant stab to rob the D'Backs of a base hit, and he nearly doubles off Owens at first to boot. Drew up to the plate next.

Drew flies out, and Byrnes back up, ready to do something. We think.

Morales gets fidgety again....and Bob Brenly reiterates that you can't put your fingers in your mouth on the dirt. Thanks, Bob. 3-0 count now to Byrnes.

Ball four to Byrnes, and Morales looks a bit flustered. Runners on first and second now for the D'Backs. Bob Melvin looks completely uninterested in everything right now...oh, wait! He smiled! Come on, that's worth a Craig Sager report, isn't it?

Conor Jackson singles to center, and Owens scores. 1-0 Arizona. I expected Chip Caray to immediately chime in with "We've got ourselves a series!", but sadly, he didn't.

Tavarez drifts under a lazy fly ball to center, and the Rockies get out of the inning.


Bottom of the 3rd - Arizona 1, Colorado 0

Is Viagara going after a different target audience all of the sudden? I can't say that an ad featuring a bunch of guys playing guitars really gets me in the mood.

The Rockies appear to be in love with the first-pitch swing. Morales grounds out to short, and there's one away.

I'll give Chip credit for one thing --- he actually said "out with a quadriceps injury", as opposed to the Al Michaels special --- "out with a quad".

Pretty hit by Tavarez right down the first base line, and he's on first with one out.

I think the Caray Three are bored --- Chip's asking about "average leads" in base stealing, yet he has two slow SOB's in the booth with him. Matsui strikes out, and there are two away.

Seriously, how hard is it to reconcile the Tony Gwynn that stole 56 bases in 1987 with the mass of humanity sitting in the booth right now?

Holliday gets plunked, putting runners at first and second once again. Apparently it's Left Shoulder Blade night at Coors Field.

Todd Helton's beard has experienced more than a lesser man's entire body. Unfortunately, his beard couldn't keep him from popping up to third, and the Diamondbacks enter the fourth with a small lead.


Top of the 4th - Arizona 1, Colorado 0

Zac: I know it's not a TBS exclusive, but is it just me, or is the 9 foot first base lead graphic complete shiat?

Anonymous: What's this Frank TV that I keep hearing about?

It's going to change late night TV forever, that's what! I keep waiting for Caliendo to bust out a special Joe Buck impersonation before this series ends.

Anonymous: That "Get R Done" sign behind the plate needs to be burned.

I hear ya, man...so far the Rockies fans haven't come strong with the signs. That "Ability and Magic" sign coming out of the inning break may have been the lamest thing I've seen yet.

Tony Gwynn: "Owings is writing...uh...some notes, maybe about how he's handled this Rockies lineup." This is the brilliant, cutting analysis that we desperately need.

What's the point of these in-game manager interviews, exactly? They rarely get them on in time to matter, and it's always weird to see Clint Hurdle chatting away and smiling happily while his pitcher is giving up a stand-up double. Which just happened.

Upton at second, one out, and Cirillo to the plate. He pops up to shallow center...easy out, and two away. Did Chip really just say "Can anybody catch up to that?". Seriously, Chip?

Mike: come on guys it could be pam ward and ray bentley

Well, it could be Pam Ward and Dusty Baker, too, with Bill Curry as a sideline reporter. Top that!

After all that slobbering over Owings' hitting ability, I was expecting a bases-empty grand slam. Instead, Morales fans him, stranding Upton, and it's still 1-0.


Bottom of the 4th - Arizona 1, Colorado 0

Back to live action....Garrett Atkins faces off against Owings to start the inning, and lines out to second. At least he waited for the second pitch this time.

Caray - "Thank you Bob, enjoy the lead tonight!" If I was Bob Melvin (or at least, Bob Melvin with emotion), I'd have kindly told Caray to go screw himself as the interview ended.

Okay, Craig Sager needs to be stopped. He takes a mildly interesting anecdote about the '77 Royals and somehow stretches it a full minute --- plus he manages a creepy eye-shift right before the camera goes off him. Owings walks the next batter, and Tulowitzki is back up to the plate.

Owings can't handle Tulowitzki at the plate - he walks him, and now Torrealba comes up with two speedsters on base and one out. TBS gives us a graphic of Torrealba's outfield hitting tendencies, and steals the sound effect from "Missile Command" in the process.

Wow...nice stab at the ball by Owings, as he throws out Torrealba at first. Runners advance...2nd and 3rd with two outs. And Owings can't breathe!

Morales is done for the night, as Seth Smith comes on to pinch hit with two runners in scoring position. Only four innings out of Morales for Colorado. Brenly makes a decent point that the nature of postseason play is making Hurdle decide to go for glory here.

Rut-roh! Seth Smith fists a double to left field, and two runs come in to score. Rockies lead 2-1! Hurdle's move looking pretty darn brilliant right now.

Bob Brenly ruins a great moment for all Rockies fans by congratulating his son on being born.

Chip, talking about Matt Herges being the pitcher in the next inning --- "He was the man loosening." Loosening what, exactly?

Tavarez with a routine grounder to first, and...doh!!!!!! Booted by Jackson. Call it E3, and Smith advances to third. Runners at the corners with two outs, and Matsui coming up.

Anonymous: Can we get stefanie abrams a sideline reporting job? Those breasts are going to waste on the weather channel with the science geeks.

I concur. I'll take her over Holly Rowe any day of the week.

Matsui fires one right up the middle of the diamond, driving home another run! 3-1 Rockies, and the Colorado faithful are starting to feel it. Matt Holliday is due up next, with two guys on and two outs.

So long, farewell, auf wiedersen adieu! Matt Holliday cranks one out of the park, into the "picturesque" landscaping on a "crystalline" night. That was Manny distance right there. It's 6-1 Rockies, and it's an early shower for Owings. Incredible. Pitching change!

Wait, I was looking at something else and I may have misheard...did Chip Caray finish off his retrospective of Tom Seaver by saying "and now he owns a vineyard"?

zac: it took Bentley 3 2/3 innings to wish his son happy birthday, and when he did, he called him "kid". early father of the year contender?

Juan Cruz on the mound, and the D'Backs have to get out of this inning immediately.

mike: "He hit that where BAMBI lives."
--brenly

Haha...that's pretty funny, actually. I was scared at first...thought Brenly said "He hit that where GUMBY lives."

Brenly again: "He really let some shaft out."

Cruz walks a man, and now Atkins, who started the inning with a lineout, is up to the plate.

Apparently the only person who can stop the Rockies offense is Garrett Atkins, who strikes out to end a 6-run inning for Colorado.


Top of the 5th - Colorado 6, Arizona 1

Alright Chip, enough with the idiotic lead-ins. "They are ROCKING in Denver!"

Matt Herges on the mound. Hmm...5-1, 2.96 ERA. Yep, Chip, this is the vulnerable part of the bullpen. Yep...0.78 ERA for the bullpen, only 13 hits. V-U-L-N-E-R-A-B-L-E.

Chris Young swings through a high fastball, and there's one away.

bruce: The best thing if Colorado holds on and wins tonight? NO MORE Chip Caray. Go Rockies!

Alright, worst-case scenario time: If you were told that the next series would either feature Chip Caray or a bunch of Frank Caliendo commercials, which would you choose?

Herges induces a line-out to right, and Byrnes is back to the plate with nobody on and two out.

Matt Herges, Mr. Vulnerability himself, gets Byrnes to strike out swinging. 1-2-3 inning, and the Rockies lead big.


Bottom of the 5th - Colorado 6, Arizona 1

Brad Hawpe leads things off here. The air is out of the building a bit, it seems. Between the six run 4th and the 1-2-3 top of the 5th, the game sort of climaxed early.

Hawpe is retired, and now Tulowitzki faces off against Cruz. Fly-out to Upton, and there are two away.

Torrealba strikes out, and that's the 5th inning. Not much going on in that frame --- the announcers spent the whole time musing about what the Rockies are going to do with all their downtime.


Top of the 6th - Colorado 6, Arizona 1

Hallmark of a sub-par announcing team - when the energy leaves the building, it leaves the broadcast booth. Come on guys, pick it up a bit.

Herges retires the first batter --- that's six in a row, and now Reynolds is up at the plate.

Nice play by Tulowitzki to throw out Reynolds at first...two away, no outs.

Snyder flies out to left, and Herges puts down two innings' worth of Diamondbacks. Arizona looks dead right now.


Bottom of the 6th - Colorado 6, Arizona 1

Kyle: Tardy to the party, but I just gotta say how much are you hating Kaz Matsui if you're a Mets fan? Trade him for not much because he, well, sucks, then watch him destroy in the NLCS. Reminds me of Augie Ojeda beating up on the Cubs in the DS -- that one still stings.

Herges' night is done, and Baker comes in to pitch. As vulnerable as Herges was, I'm shocked --- SHOCKED --- that the Rockies made it out of the middle innings unscathed.

Baker strikes out. Cruz looks solid after a shaky start. One away, nobody on, Taveras up to the plate. Incidentally, the announcing crew has thrown Conor Jackson under the bus and run over him about 24 times in the last two innings.

I can't find the link right now, but there was a blog post by someone, talking about how Game 1 of the NLCS was the lowest-rated ever. My question is --- if we have a Rockies-Indians World Series, could it somehow get the lowest ratings in World Series history?

Tavares strikes out. Matsui up to the plate with two outs.

Bruce: If I had to choose between Chip Caray and 14,000 Frank TV ads, I'd choose to be in a coma.

Signal to Noise: Kyle - I'm this close to not saying Matsui's name any longer because of his tenure in New York. If he wins the World Series with the Rockies, he will become my very own [NAME REDACTED]. Then again, the Mets expected the fucking world of him coming over from Japan, so some of those unrealistic expectations are on us.

Well, for once, he looks human - Matsui strikes out, and we head to the 7th.


Top of the 7th - Colorado 6, Arizona 1

Remember folks...in Denver, it's not "Actober", it's...

Dane Cook just said "A Diamondback can strike at any time." Stop it. Now. Does Dane Cook even know what a Diamondback is? And what the hell is "Desert baseball"?

LaTroy Hawkins in the house! Upton faces off against him here in the top of the 7th, and promptly gets tagged out running to first.

Hawkins mis-plays a ball in front of the plate, and they'll rule it an error on the pitcher. Young to the plate with a man on and two outs.

Young can't do anything with it, and we head to the bottom of the 7th. The Diamondbacks have less of a pulse than their manager's face right now.


Bottom of the 7th - Colorado 6, Arizona 1

Chip - "Beware, those American League teams...a purple rain may be in the offing."
Brenly - "And we're not talking about Prince."

Brandon Lyon on the mound, as Matt Holliday steps up to the plate. Not sure what Holliday was thinking there - he swung at an eye-level fastball and whiffed. One away.

Anonymous: Fox will need to put Stephanie Abrams on their broadcasts, naked, to get anybody to watch a Cleveland/Colorado World Series.

I would favor that. I was all set to upload another picture of Steph, but Blogger is being a problem child right now. Bear with me.

John Elway is in the building. It's sad that when I see Elway these days, all I can think of is the Colorado Crush.

Colorado goes down in order in the bottom of the 7th, and the Rockies are 6 outs away from the World Series.

I don't get this Volkswagen/Wilco commercial at all.


Top of the 8th - Colorado 6, Arizona 1

Alright, I promised you another Stephanie Abrams pic...


Drew starts things off with Arizona's first hit since the 4th inning. Fuentes is on the mound for the Rockies, facing Byrnes with nobody out and one on.

Byrnes pops up harmlessly to Tulo, and there's one away.

kevin beane: Oh, I thought they WERE talking about Prince. Thanks Bob.

Bob, you could make some serious coin by putting on 50 pounds, getting a dimple put in your chin, and attending car dealership openings and autograph appearances that Bill Cowher committed to, but can't make.

That's a great idea, actually. He could attend the autograph appearances with fake Ben Roethlisberger.

Another base hit, this time by broadcast crew whipping boy Conor Jackson, and suddenly the D'Backs have runners at the corners with one out.

Fuentes must've just gotten off the phone with Eric Gagne before he came into the game.

Reynolds is late getting around on a high fastball, and now there are two away. Chris Snyder, 0-for-7 lifetime against Fuentes, steps into the box.

So much for lifetime stats! Chris Snyder jacks a 3-run home run down the left field line, and suddenly it's 6-4 Rockies. Chip Caray immediately goes into damage control mode...gimme a break, Chip. You guys had this series sitting in the cooler. All that was missing were the early pictures of a plastic-coated locker room.

Snyder really got lucky with that ball...fair by inches.

Wake up America! Justin Upton bangs a triple off the left center field wall...tying run at the plate for the Rockies. Fuentes is toast.

Bob Melvin pinch hits Tony Clark. Corpas on the mound for the Rockies. Man on third, two outs.

kevin beane: "And when the ball disappears...it's gone." Chip Caray. Now that was not a very crystalline observation. Feast or famine with this guy.

Anonymous: I love it where she holds the mics in both of those pics....Well this game just got alot more interesting!

Corpas retires Clark, and the rally dies. Three more outs for the Rockies...can they add some insurance runs? Matt Holliday, where are you?


Bottom of the 8th - Colorado 6, Arizona 4

Alright, brass tacks time for both teams. Brandon Lyon has to put the Rockies down quickly to keep the momentum. Hawpe helps out by weakly grounding out to the pitcher...one away.

Ojeda enters the game on defense, and Cubs fans everywhere cringe.

Tulo at the plate. Lyon uncorked a couple of wicked breaking balls in that sequence, and he sits down everybody's all-american on strikes.

Torrealba weakly lifts one to right field, and that does it for the 8th. 9-1-2 up for Arizona, as we head to the top of the 9th.


Top of the 9th - Colorado 6, Arizona 4

Good lord, TBS...we finally get some excitement back into the game, and you have to kill it with that Bon Jovi crap again.

Alright...Jeff Salazar pinch hits as we start the 9th...and grounds out to first. One away, and the crowd's officially back into it.

Wow...a full 10 seconds with no Chip Caray speaking over the play! That was awesome.

Chris Young steps in. Fastball right down the middle on the first pitch.

Zoinks! Chris Young rifles a shot down the left field line, and the tying run is once again at home plate for Arizona.

Brenly: "That bat went down a hero."

For some unknown reason, Melvin gives the green light to Drew to swing away on a 3-0 pitch. Matsui grabs it in shallow center, and the Rockies are one out away with Eric Byrnes at the plate.

WOW...Byrnes rolls one past the third baseman, but Tulowitzki collects, fires across the diamond, and the Rockies are goin' insane! NLCS champs...unfrickinbelievable.

Hahaha....Willy Tavares pulls Todd Helton right the hell out of Craig Sager's trademark uncomfortable interview.

I kinda miss Mr. Mota doing the post-game interviews, just for their trainwreck potential.

TBS pulls a Madden and gives the player of the game award to the entire Rockies team...for once, I'd have to agree.

So the Rockies continue to do the unthinkable, sweeping both NL postseason series and getting to the World Series. Now they get to wait about a week while this Boston-Cleveland slugfest plays itself out.

That'll wrap it up from here. Thanks to everyone who stayed up for the duration, and especially those who posted comments. Thanks again to AA for letting me lounge around on the blog couch for a few hours. Enjoyed being here, folks...If you get a chance, swing by The Meaningful Collateral and say hi to us over there.

Rockies win, Chip Caray goes home, Stephanie Abrams becomes tonight's muse, and Frank TV fades into a bad collective nightmare. Rocktober, baby!

I guess it was my knee-jerk reaction to anything "Not FOX", but I got hammered for my support of TBS' #1 Team last week, and after the last two games...I believe deservedly so. There are so many complaints about Chip Caray in my inbox that I can't even keep up and respond to all of them. Just know that I'm almost there with you. Almost.

For some reason I think there's something there, and I think I've figured out one of the problems. They are all National League guys. Bear with me here....

Is there such a difference in the two leagues that it would make it hard for them to study up on all of the teams and their nuances in time for the Series? You would think not, but I'm sure it's possible. Their coverage seems to lack any emphasis on, well....anything American League. They don't understand the League or even know the players. Now that's not a necessity for a good broadcast but it does help a bit.

The gnats on Saturday were crazy, but they seemed to not care how it was affecting the game. Could they have stopped a game because of bugs? Who knows...but I'm sure if you were like me you asked that question. There have been a ton of pitching/position changes that have gone unquestioned or even noticed. And somewhere during this series Chip Caray stopped rooting for the Indians and turned to praising the Yankees' every move.

Tony Gwynn seemed so likable at first that I didn't even notice the fact that he questions nothing. Nothing at all. Is this a prerequisite for all baseball players who go into media (Frank Thomas, Tim McCarver)? As Tiki has shown us....that's certainly not the case for Football. Brenly is the only one that brings up anything substantial at all.

All in all, the past two games have shown that I was waaaaay off-base by praising them after the first game like I did. I told you I would do so if that was the case so here's my apology....I'm sorry I did that.....I did a bad thing.

There's one more thing though.....I'm not burying them entirely. I think they'll be much more comfortable covering the National League when this Series ends. With all three understanding the different play and knowing most of the players. Too bad no one will be watching them then.

Can Chip, Tony, And Bob Make TBS' Playoff Run Succesful All By Themselves? (Awful Announcing)

P.S.- Ron Darling is moving into the studio for the rest of the playoffs, which I'm looking forward too. Can we please just send Frank Thomas back to Canada though?

The best thing that could have happened to TBS was the Mets missing the Playoffs. Why? Because they got Ron Darling (who is pretty good), which in turn moved Brenly to the A-Team, and ultimately created the best broadcast trio I've seen in quite some time.

I know it was only one game but Caray, Gwynn, and Brenly were just the opposite of yesterday's mediocrity. Tony Gwynn had the energy and amazing analysis of hitters. Brenly played the straight role and handled the defense and coaching decisions. And Caray was great on the play by play and somehow kept me interest in what turned out to be a blowout as the Indians destroyed the Yanks after the fifth inning. Add Craig Sager in the centerfield stands talking to the Indians' drum guy and I'm set. That's a broadcast team right there. They are what Monday Night Football isn't.

I only have one compliant for TBS today though. If a runner on first has less than 5 stolen bases on the season you don't really need the little virtual ruler to pop up.......we know he's not going. Other than that the A-Team for TBS earned an A for their first game. If this team keeps it up through the NLCS then everyone will probably forget the Stocktons, Motas, and Simpsons of the first round and enjoy the playoffs.

Well until FOX ultimately ruins the World Series.

The Reviews Are In, TBS' Coverage Very Underwhelming (Awful Announcing)

I don't know how many games TBS is covering for the Playoffs, but they seem to be hiring a ton of people for their coverage this October. They already had Cal Ripken (pregame) and Tony Gwynn, Chip Caray, and Joe Simpson (not Jessica's father) on the roster, and now they've rounded out their expansion draft with five more broadcasters.

Don Orsillo (told you about this last week)
Steve Stone
Bob Brenly
Ted Robinson

....and last but not least......

Dick Stockton!

The only pairing that TBS has released is Tony Gwynn and Chip Caray, but I'm telling TBS right now.....make it Stockton and Orsillo, Simpson and Stone, and Robinson and Brenley. I completely botched those pairings......Stockton and Orsillo are PbPers so that wouldn't even work. Since we believe in 2nd chances here at AA let's try that again.....

Caray/Gwynn, Orsillo/Stone, Stockton/Brenly (great team), Robinson/Simpson

P.S.- Skip Caray was more than likely going to be involved with the TBS Playoffs as well, but he was in the hospital for a few weeks with congestive heart failure. He is just now getting back in the Braves booth, and AA wishes all the best to him and his family and hopes for a speedy recovery.

TBS Take A Step In The Right Direction (Awful Announcing)

Two great players enter the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY today. Tony Gwynn, who seemed to always put the ball in play when he was up to bat, and Cal Ripken, who was always there, every day, period.

After the jump, we'll read the reaction to this auspicious event through the words of newspaper columnists from San Diego, Baltimore, and Cooperstown itself.

In addition, we'll fit in some coverage of the other big event today: Arena Bowl, baby!!!!

The Cooperstown Crier gives us the welcome news that local residents aren't jaded by living in the shadow of the sport's ultimate destination. Some Cooperstown residents are going gaga because their favorite players are going in the Hall today. This, from Gwynn superfan Frank Vito:

This weekend, Vito hopes to get a chance to talk with Gwynn when he serves as a driver for the Hall of Fame. "I'm hoping maybe I get to pick him up at the airport in Albany, and have a chance to talk to him the whole way back," Vito said. "That would really be a dream come true."

And the HOF librarian is a former Baltimore resident:

"It kind of comes under the responsibilities of the job, which is kind of neat," Gates said. "I had fun speaking with Ripken about the longest game when he was with Rochester." Baseball's famous "Longest Game" between the Rochester Red Wings and the Pawtucket Red Sox lasted a record 33 innings and took more than eight hours to complete. The game began on April 18, 1981, and the teams played until after 4 a.m. before the game was suspended and resumed on June 23 with Pawtucket winning, 3-2.

Ripken was 2-13 in the game, and, of course, played in all 33 innings.

Said Gates: "It's kind of fitting that the Iron man played in the longest game in baseball history."

Our very own weekend editor One More Dying Quail once worked at the HOF, so I'll bet he enjoys this weekend on a personal level as well.

Let's check the reaction in the San Diego Union-Tribune. Gwynn played 20 ultra-productive seasons as a Padre. He now coaches the San Diego State baseball team, and his son now plays for the Brewers. He still can't believe this is happening to him:

“We were talking at breakfast this morning,” Gwynn said. “Here's Jim Palmer, Tom Seaver, Carlton Fisk. For me, still, it's like 'Wow. Look at these guys here.' . . .

“We're in awe. We're still in awe. The fact that you're going to be inducted doesn't change that all that much.”

From the Baltimore Sun, Maryland's native son and most famous Oriole also goes into the hall today. Cal Ripken, The Iron Man, says he's awed by his induction, but it's still second on his list of career moments.

Ripken said the Hall induction falls behind the Orioles' 1983 championship in his list of career highlights. He spent his career putting the team first and said he has enjoyed stepping back and appreciating what he achieved.

"It endorses who you are as a player and what your contributions were," he said of entering the Hall. "And it doesn't take into consideration the team. Being elected to the Hall of Fame is about your career pretty much and your impact on the game."

It may rain in upstate NY today, pushing the ceremony back until Monday, but that won't dampen these guys' spirits any.

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And in even bigger news, today is Arena Bowl number something-or-other, and the San Jose Sabercats take on the Columbus Destroyers. For some people, this is life or death sports action. Here's a great primer on the sport from the Columbus Dispatch:

The team now has its own fight song, though.

Destroyers Battle Cry, written by Christian rappers Domonice Thompson and Clay Armstrong, made its debut this week.

The Columbus artists, who perform onstage as CeriOus, said they wrote the song about all of life's battles.

"It also translates into football," Thompson said.

And the San Jose Mercury News is watching for signs of a letdown in a team that unexpectedly lost in the American Conference championship game last year. They think this year's version has a not-so-secret weapon:

The Destroyers have gotten superb play from quarterback Matt Nagy, who is no stranger to the playoffs. Two years ago, he was the losing quarterback when Colorado beat Georgia in the ArenaBowl.

In a league in which defensive stops can be more unusual than a cool summer day in New Orleans, Nagy will probably have to play extremely well to keep pace today. SaberCats quarterback Mark Grieb has thrown 15 touchdowns and just one interception through two playoff games.

And if the MSM coverage of the event doesn't float your boat, I highly recommend that you check out It's Still Football. They've been blogging the Arena League all season long in hilarious fashion, and somehow wrangled press credentials for the big enchilada. They're taking reader suggestions for features and interviews, so hop over there and check them out.

Enjoy what's left of your weekend!

--Extra P.

Don't know if you got a chance to see the All-Star Selection Show on TBS over the weekend, but if you didn't.....you didn't miss anything. The program, which was Ripken and Gwynn's debut for the station, was lackluster and was absent of any energy whatsoever.

Both stated that Bonds should be in the ASG, but neither gave any other opinions that were noteworthy. God bless Ernie Johnson for trying, but this might be like pulling teeth by the time we get to the MLB Playoffs.

"Yes, there's a shadow that's hanging over top of him. The commissioner and Hank Aaron are torn whether they should celebrate the breaking of the all-time home run record," Ripken said Tuesday. "But when I think of Barry, I think of him as an All-Star player."

___________________________

In related ASG news.....Another great idea from ESPN has Kenny Mayne in a Kayak for the Homerun Derby. He'll be using some sort of underwater camera used in the America's Cup races. There's no over/under set yet for the number of times he uses the phrase, "Your puny ballparks are too small to contain my gargantuan blasts!"

I am going to tell you up front that I will probably forget somebody important here, but it's Father's day, and I'm supposed to be relaxing here.

Today, I'm going to take a quick look at three young players who are trying to fill big shoes by playing the game their fathers dominated. After the jump it's Prince Fielder, Tony Gwynn, Jr. and Tony Pena, Jr.

No pressure, kid. It's just your old man, after all.

We'll start off with Prince Fielder, who is doing an admirable job of filling his dad's shoes and emulating his waistband. Courtesy of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:

Prince Fielder leads the National League in home runs thus far in 2007. His father, Cecil Fielder, led the American League in home runs twice in his career - 1990 and 1991.

If Prince Fielder ends up leading the league this season, it will mark just the fifth time in baseball history in which a father and son led a league in the same category, although it would be just the fourth father-son combination.

It should be noted that home runs is not the only thing Cecil Fielder led the league in during his career. Prince Fielder also could join the list by leading the league in slugging percentage, total bases, RBI or strikeouts.

The other father-son leaders:

Innings pitched: Jim Bagby (1920) and Jim Bagby Jr. (1943)

Games played: Gus Bell (1955) and Buddy Bell (1979)

Runs scored: Bobby Bonds (1969 and 1973) and Barry Bonds (1992)

Total bases: Bobby Bonds (1973) and Barry Bonds (1993)

So Cecil's kid is taking care of business. But what of the other Hall of Famer offspring who calls Milwaukee home? Tony Gwynn, Jr. is stuck in a crowded situation:

Tony Gwynn Jr., with a single in five at-bats at the top of the order against the Marlins, also deserves a chance. In fact, he deserves a chance to play more often, which goes to the root of the Brewers' ongoing logjam in the outfield.

Since they've already committed to Ryan Braun at third base, it probably wouldn't hurt them to commit to some form of a Hart-Gwynn-Bill Hall combination as the foundation of their outfield. The entire lineup could grow up together, with the only real concern being some kind of revival from St. Louis in the National League Central. No one else, including those battlin' Chicago Cubs, seems particularly interested in catching the Brewers at the moment.

Sadly, it looks like as long as things are working the way they are, TGJr. won't get many at-bats.

For some reason, the Kansas City Star has nothing about Tony Pena, Jr. and his famous father. Perhaps it's sour grapes over the whole Tony Pena, Sr. stint as manager in KC, in which he gave them their best season in recent memory before getting himself entangled in some extramarital difficulties that helped run him out of town.

MLB.com is not really worried about that, though. They put together a nice puff piece about Tony, Sr. and his bond with his two baseball-playing sons, Tony, Jr. (Royals starting SS) and Francisco (Mets farm-system catcher):

"They grew up in the clubhouse, they grew up around players and they grew up around big-league fields," Pena Sr. said. "I think because they saw it so much, it became part of their lives, and they said they can do it because it's the only thing they knew."

Pena Jr. received advice not only from his dad, but from some of the greatest shortstops the game has ever seen. There was acrobatic Ozzie Smith in St. Louis and the graceful Omar Vizquel with the Indians: Pena Jr. watched Vizquel every day, fielding grounders, throwing to first and turning the double play.

"I wanted to do that," Pena Jr. said.

And he has.

Finally, since I was at the KC Star site and all, I have to share Joe Posnanski's soft-focus father's day piece.

Dad’s memory for names is not quite so sharp. I would estimate that about 60 percent of the time Dad has addressed me in my life he has called me, “David,” which would be my brother’s name. The other 40 percent of the time, he has gone with such creative choices as “Tony” (my other brother) and “Hey, uh, you.” He has also had those occasional moments when he just looked at me with that frozen look that “Jeopardy” contestants have when they buzz in but don’t quite remember the answer.

Dad gets around this with his granddaughters by calling them both “Sunshine.”

So when I asked him to name his favorite player — so I could write about Dads and baseball for Father’s Day — he said, “Oh you know, what’s-his name? That guy I liked a lot. The good one. Oh, you know.”

Man, that is exactly what my son is going to say about me. Of course, I love players like Jim Eisenreich and Andres Gallaraga, so if I tell him the exact name, it still won't mean anything to him.

Might as well just say "You know, that one plucky guy who overcame a horrible disease".

Happy Fathers day to all of the sons and dads out there.

--Extra P.

TBS gets the National League Championship Series starting this year, and they've done one of the smartest things I've seen from a broadcast stand point in a long time. I completely forgot that they signed a 7 Year Deal to broadcast the ALCS and NLCS (they alternate years with FOX). Well what have they done you ask?

They've just gone out and signed two soon-to-be Hall of Famers (which I alluded to before.). TBS will then magically place them in the booth right before they get enshrined.....

Ripken has signed a multiyear deal and will serve as the cable network's top studio analyst alongside host Ernie Johnson for coverage of the 2007 Division Series games and National League Championship Series. Ripken will also be in the studio next season as part of the still-to-be-named Atlanta-based show that will precede the TBS Game of the Week. The cable network will carry 26 regular-season Sunday afternoon games beginning in 2008.

Gwynn will partner with play-by-play announcer Chip Caray on TBS' No. 1 broadcast team. He and Caray will call this year's Division Series and NLCS. Both Gwynn and Ripken are expected to make their TBS debut July 1 for coverage of the MLB All-Star Selection Show.

Talk about a hell of a move. Two things here....one, I'm pretty sure I and every red-blooded American has a man-crush on Cal Ripken, so A+ with that choice. Two, Tony Gwynn was a pretty damn good analyst and commentator for ESPN.

In my eyes ESPN really screwed this one up. Gwynn was above average in the booth, but he was great as a guest on Baseball Tonight. Seriously, has Dusty Baker ever said anything intelligent or insightful on the show? Worst. Hire. Ever. You've also got worthless stooges in John Kruk, Orestes Destrade, and Fernando Vina. To tell you the truth I only stop the remote when I see Buster Olney or Peter Gammons talking. They're about the only ones on that Network that ever have anything interesting to say.

Great job (and PR move) by TBS, but here's one more tip. Hire Harold Reynolds. It's obvious that he's been screwed by ESPN. People will love the move, and you'd have the perfect booth. A good PbPer in Caray.....An offensive/hitting analyst in Gwynn....and a defensive analyst in Reynolds. You add Cal Ripken to the pregame with the best host in the business in Ernie Johnson, and that's a winner.

Trust me....you would by far and away destroy any other broadcast in baseball (especially FOX), and most likely every sport. (Probably a tie with EJ, Kenny, and Barkley before an Albert/Kerr game)

Am I wrong? Let me know.

TBS Lands Ripken and Gwynn (SI.com)

(Special thanks to Ben for the link)