But if he was, the New York Times sports media writer might become a rich man covering TBS’s Chip Caray (above).
[Caray] stated that Derek Jeter was playing in his 49th postseason game ” œNo. 1 of all time. Truth: it was his 49th division series game, out of 122 postseason games.
He likened the œdynamic duo of Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera to the Rivera-John Wetteland bullpen pairing in œthose great early years of Joe Torre, when they were dominating the World Series. Truth: Rivera and Wetteland were Yankee teammates for two seasons, and Torre managed them only in 1996.
He said the œYankees led the world in home runs this season with 201. He liked saying it so much he said it again. Truth: The Brewers led the majors with 231, followed by the Phillies with 213 and the Reds at 204. The Yankees and Marlins were tied at 201.
He extolled Alex Rodriguez™s œoffensive heroics in the first two months of the season for keeping the Yankees in the race. Truth: A-Rod had a sensational April, but he slumped in May to a .235 batting average with 5 home runs and 11 runs batted in.
He introduced Indians reliever Joe Borowski in Game 3 as having played for the Brewers and the Reds. Truth: He never played for Milwaukee, and while he once signed with the Reds, he never made it out of spring training. Caray also noted his hometown, Bayonne, N.J., but pronounced it as if it were part of the Louisiana bayou.
He also has an annoying air of certitude. With the bases loaded Sunday, and the Yankees leading, 5-3, thanks to Johnny Damon™s three-run homer, Caray said, œThis is a spot where they have to score another run to win the game. Does he also read palms?
That attitude led him on Sunday, after Rodriguez™s first hit of the series, to say, œAnd here come the Yankees! A-Rod went back to the bench on Jorge Posada™s double play.
After Damon™s run-scoring single in the third, he said, œAnd here they come!
No, they didn™t: Jeter promptly grounded into a double play.
While those last few points are more about announcing style than ability, I’ve been annoyed by the same thing. Tonight I mostly half-listened to the game while working in a different room from the TV. On two separate occasions Caray’s tone and volume had me rushing in to see what sort of Yankees action had transpired. Once it was a lead-off single (here come the Yankees!); the other time, Cano’s home run that made it 6-2.
Sandomir’s conclusion:
Here are some questions to ponder through the rest of Caray™s work this postseason. Why isn™t he better prepared? If his producer, Jeff Gowen, is listening to what he is saying, why isn™t Caray improving? And why should I have to keep rushing to MLB.com to fact-check his facts?
while realizing tonight’s game was played in NY and had the whole backdrop of Steinbrenner’s threat, the end of Mo’, Posada and Torre in the Bronx, etc. was anyone else bothered by the sheer Yankee-centricity of TBS’ coverage? It’s been nearly 60 years inbetween whirled championships for the Tribe –that’s not a bad storyline, presuming you weren’t blown away by the late Chris Benoit starting Game 4 for Cleveland.
Indeed, I think that’s the larger point the New York based writer for the New York newspaper missed, it wasn’t just a Caray thing but a suck-up-to-the-Yankees thing in general.
Benoit crossed with Kelsey Grammer.
I’m not sure if Chip’s calls were biased. He’s always had an inflection problem; bloopers were “ROCKETS” when the Chipster was making Steve Stone look bad during Cubbie games. And Caray couldn’t get enough of Eric Wedge’s sac bunts… Maybe he was openly rooting for the Yankees.
The pro-Yankee bias (especially that “here come the Yankees!” call after A-Rod’s first hit) was really astonishing. I had to turn on the radio broadcast for some actual perspective.
the only thing i was bothered by is the lack of talk of derek “gidp” jeter during this postseason. total bummer.
The late Chris Benoit?
Chris Benoit crossed with Kelsey Grammer?
You’re both nuts. The Yankees were kept off balance by Garrison Keiler of Prairie Home Companion fame.
Caray is absolutely brutal. Byrd was “scintillating” while allowing 8 hits and 2 walks in 5+? He may even out-smug Joe Buck. If I weren’t so lazy, I’d have pulled the radio in from the other room and listened to Sterling and Waldman wallow in despair–as it was, I just hit mute.
I think the Indians’ game four starter was more John C. Reilly crossed with the Leprechaun.
Caray also called Kei Igawa a product of the Yankee farm system.
you guys…byrd looks like a full grown midget.
think about it
Did anyone else catch the fact that Paul Byrd had time to go shower AND shave while his team was in the process of holding on for a clinching victory? When he was interviewed on the field right after the game was complete, his “beard” was gone.
It’s one thing to go get iced down, but is watching the final 3 or 4 innings of a clinching game really that boring for Paul Byrd? I know he’s a regular Derek Jeter and going to the postseason is old hat for Byrd, but come on.