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Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 2:58 pm
by cprice12
Jay Randolph
Does anyone else think he is God awful?
The guy is boring...he gets stuff wrong all of the time...he can't read a play and can't tell where the ball is going or how far...he tries to say one thing, but says another. Ugh. He's painful to listen to.
He's the baseball version of Bernie Federko.
And they have Mike Shannon on for a couple innings each game (which is great)...but that just makes it that much more obvious how bad Randolph is.

I don't know why someone thought it would be a good idea to put both Randolph and Rick Horton in the booth for the games on KSDK. Both are horrible...but at least Rick Horton sounds like he knows what he is talking about and sounds comfortable. Randolph says things, and I'm like...WTF?!?!

The "Fox Box" at the top of the screen
I'm fortunate enough to have HD...and this may seem picky, but...it bugs the crap out of me that the score they keep at the top of the screen, has extra graphics and stuff that take up unnecessary space. I'm watching the game in HD and I want to see the field, the grass, the crowd...you know, the game itself with the great picture, not some graphical representation of a metal support beam that is supposed to give the impression it is holding up the scoreboard that goes all the way across the top of the screen. VS does this too for their hockey broadcasts. They have extra stuff to the left and right and above the score at the top of the screen. It's not necessary.
WHY DO THIS? QUIT COVERING UP THE HD PICTURE!!!
Who thinks this is a good idea? Show the score, number of outs, the inning and who's on base. Don't put extra crap up there, especially when it has nothing to do with the stats and info for the game. They are essentially turning my 42" plasma into a 38" plasma.
They could take a lesson from HDNET's broadcast of NHL games. They have a small box for the score at the top left of the screen...and that's it.

Bah. I just felt like ranting today. :lol:

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:17 pm
by OS
Jay Randolph absolutely blows. First of all, there is a (franking) tilde above the 'N' in Piniero for a reason. But the main reason he sucks is because until he gets through the opposing team's lineup one time he feels compelled to tell us every single player's life story. I don't give a shit if a player batted .356 playing for Whogivesashit High School.

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:25 pm
by marco
I used to date this chic who went to Unremarkable Academy... just sayin'.

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:03 am
by choppa4
I totally agree on Randolph. Personally I think they missed a big chance to clean house and have Bob Carpenter and Horton do all the games, FSNMW and on NBC. Three out of the four broadcasters they have completely suck. And interviews with people in the stands are awfull and need to go away.

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:09 am
by Mellanby_equals_grit
I watched 'em for first time on 5 yesterday and was definitely thinking "wow, this guy is awful.. Is he someones uncle or something?"

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:44 pm
by cprice12
Mellanby_equals_grit wrote:I watched 'em for first time on 5 yesterday and was definitely thinking "wow, this guy is awful.. Is he someones uncle or something?"
Jay Randolph has been around for a long time.
I think he used to do Cardinal games once in a while 25 years ago or something...and he did a lot of golf broadcasts.
His son had/has a golf show on the radio.

I've never liked the guy.

And like OS said...he has a stat sheet in front of him with tidbits of info about each player...and he feels compelled to read everything to us that is on the sheet. It's quite annoying.

Jay Randolph: "Matt Cain on the mound....today....and he enjoys cooking and adventure novels."

It was funny when Shannon was in the booth with Randolph, and the camera was on them. Randolph was introducing the next batter for SF and he mispronounced the name and then hesitated, uttered a couple "Umm"'s...and looked down at his paperwork...then Shannon saved him and started talking.
:lol:

What's sad, is that Randolph had this gig last year...and they thought he did a good enough job to bring him back this year. :roll:

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:53 am
by tsblue
Randolph is annoying, but no more so than St. Shannon, who I think is horrific. I don't get the glorification of this guy.

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:24 pm
by dmiles2186
tsblue wrote:Randolph is annoying, but no more so than St. Shannon, who I think is horrific. I don't get the glorification of this guy.
I love Mike Shannon. The guy makes me laugh, whether it is intentional or not. He's a baseball guy who has been around the sport all of his life and while he's on the air, it's nothing but enthusiasm for the Cardinals. He was a player, but now he's one of us...a fan. He's got a lifetime of experience and though he may not be the best announcer in the biz, he makes no bones about it. He's just a regular joe who was lucky enough to play baseball and is lucky enough to still be around the game announcing it.

God, I sound as bad as Brett Favre worshipers...haha.

Oh well, at least we still don't have Wayne Hagan. That guy was awful.

"You...can...KISS...IT...GOODBYE!"

Blech.

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:04 pm
by cprice12
tsblue wrote:Randolph is annoying, but no more so than St. Shannon, who I think is horrific. I don't get the glorification of this guy.
Gotta disagree big time there.
Shannon is awesome...and it's obvious how much better Shannon is than Randolph when they are on the air together for an inning or so on Ch. 5.
Shannon is a future hall of fame broadcaster. Randolph sounds like he should be doing high school games on some small town radio station.

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:08 am
by OS
I'm with tsblue on this one. Shannon is loved because of his history with the organization. If he were hired today and we had never heard him before we'd think he was the worst in all of baseball.

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:43 am
by Guppy
I could only listen to a bit of it the other day. I would have rather listened to Danny and Hungo. I can't stand Danny and Hungo either.

Maybe it is just me, but we (St Louis) seems to have some awful guys in the booth for all sports. It is generally the color guys who I can't stand the most. Federko and Hungo are the two that I don't like the most.

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 4:01 pm
by tsblue
Hrabosky is unlistenable for me. I can deal with Bernie...but Hrabosky has no insight and his cliche ridden commentary is almost as bad as Shannon's. On the Shannon point...he is like Harry Caray...he was around so long he magically became great. Go back and listen to Harry and he was a complete dolt and drunk most of the time. I suspect Mike Shannon is a decent guy, but he adds nothing to the game except for trite stories and silly anecdotes.

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:11 am
by STL JA
At least Bernie is a likable guy outside of the booth. That's really his only saving grace.

Hungo is nothing than a pompous prick and a miserable broadcaster.

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:39 pm
by cprice12
OS wrote:I'm with tsblue on this one. Shannon is loved because of his history with the organization. If he were hired today and we had never heard him before we'd think he was the worst in all of baseball.
Not me.
I really enjoy listening to Shannon. And when he is in the same booth as Randolph, the contrast between good and suck is massive IMO.

Granted, I don't think he is as good as he was 5 years ago, as he has gotten a little older and seems to be on the decline a bit, but I enjoy his insight, his stories and how it truly sounds like he enjoys his time in the booth.

Are there better play by play guys? Sure...but not a lot.

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:59 pm
by tsblue
cprice12 wrote:
OS wrote:I'm with tsblue on this one. Shannon is loved because of his history with the organization. If he were hired today and we had never heard him before we'd think he was the worst in all of baseball.
Not me.
I really enjoy listening to Shannon. And when he is in the same booth as Randolph, the contrast between good and suck is massive IMO.

Granted, I don't think he is as good as he was 5 years ago, as he has gotten a little older and seems to be on the decline a bit, but I enjoy his insight, his stories and how it truly sounds like he enjoys his time in the booth.

Are there better play by play guys? Sure...but not a lot.
Shannon is not in the class with good play by play guys, IMHOP. He knows the game, but is an amateur broadcaster.

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:49 pm
by dmiles2186
tsblue wrote:
cprice12 wrote:
OS wrote:I'm with tsblue on this one. Shannon is loved because of his history with the organization. If he were hired today and we had never heard him before we'd think he was the worst in all of baseball.
Not me.
I really enjoy listening to Shannon. And when he is in the same booth as Randolph, the contrast between good and suck is massive IMO.

Granted, I don't think he is as good as he was 5 years ago, as he has gotten a little older and seems to be on the decline a bit, but I enjoy his insight, his stories and how it truly sounds like he enjoys his time in the booth.

Are there better play by play guys? Sure...but not a lot.
Shannon is not in the class with good play by play guys, IMHOP. He knows the game, but is an amateur broadcaster.
Thing is, no one says he is in the class with the good ones. But I think that's what makes him so appealing to us, as fans. He loves baseball...he's not looking for the perfect call like Joe Buck or guys who seem too rehearsed. His calls are sheer enthusiasm and joy for not just baseball, but the St. Louis Cardinals.

He tells it honest, he speaks from the heart. Anymore, you get guys who are too business-like in the way they call games. Not Shannon. That's why I love to listen to him. He comes off as a guy that I could just kick back in my backyard on a summer night, drink a beer, and talk baseball. There aren't many guys like that left in baseball.

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:48 pm
by stinkdified
dmiles2186 wrote:Thing is, no one says he is in the class with the good ones. But I think that's what makes him so appealing to us, as fans. He loves baseball...he's not looking for the perfect call like Joe Buck or guys who seem too rehearsed. His calls are sheer enthusiasm and joy for not just baseball, but the St. Louis Cardinals.

He tells it honest, he speaks from the heart. Anymore, you get guys who are too business-like in the way they call games. Not Shannon. That's why I love to listen to him. He comes off as a guy that I could just kick back in my backyard on a summer night, drink a beer, and talk baseball. There aren't many guys like that left in baseball.
couldn't have said it any better myself...

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:33 pm
by cprice12
stinkdified wrote:
dmiles2186 wrote:Thing is, no one says he is in the class with the good ones. But I think that's what makes him so appealing to us, as fans. He loves baseball...he's not looking for the perfect call like Joe Buck or guys who seem too rehearsed. His calls are sheer enthusiasm and joy for not just baseball, but the St. Louis Cardinals.

He tells it honest, he speaks from the heart. Anymore, you get guys who are too business-like in the way they call games. Not Shannon. That's why I love to listen to him. He comes off as a guy that I could just kick back in my backyard on a summer night, drink a beer, and talk baseball. There aren't many guys like that left in baseball.
couldn't have said it any better myself...
Ditto. Well said.

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 1:19 pm
by barnburner
Randolph was awful when he was here before. Nobody could put you to sleep faster than he could. Most boring announcer - ever.

Hrabosky is almost as bad as Bernie - not quite - but close.

Shannon is - a treasure. Not only does he know the game better than just about anybody on the planet - the immense love he has for the game, and the absolute joy he finds in it - just radiates thru the microphone.
If I could pick a way to spend my last day on earth (other than being with my family of course) - it would be to spend that time listening to Bobby Plager, and Mike Shannon telling their stories. It doesn't get any better than that.

Re: Complaints about Channel 5's Cardinal broadcasts

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 6:12 am
by tsblue
barnburner wrote:Randolph was awful when he was here before. Nobody could put you to sleep faster than he could. Most boring announcer - ever.

Hrabosky is almost as bad as Bernie - not quite - but close.

Shannon is - a treasure. Not only does he know the game better than just about anybody on the planet - the immense love he has for the game, and the absolute joy he finds in it - just radiates thru the microphone.
If I could pick a way to spend my last day on earth (other than being with my family of course) - it would be to spend that time listening to Bobby Plager, and Mike Shannon telling their stories. It doesn't get any better than that.



I would go a day early rather than endure listening to BS from those two guys.