If you’re a Uni Watch reader you know that General Lukas* is taking his yearly sabbatical. Had I not just made Media Goon handle two of the last three weeks over here I’d be looking for a sabbatical, but I digress.
Wherever Paul is he must be listening to WFAN because he has fired up Fire Wayne Hagin again.
It doesn’t matter if Rolen is playing in the game that Wayne’s announcing, or even if he’s in the same time zone. Some random player hits a home run and Wayne will say, “You know who really knows how to do a home run trot the right way? Scott Rolen
Mets Police is never about getting someone fired. However, I am an announcing snob. I find Wayne to be generic. When Howie is off and Eddie sits in I find that I notice Wayne’s calls to be non-descriptive. Howie has a way of guiding you with his intonations. You know if a ball is in the gap before he tells you. With Wayne, it’s more a jumble of excitement during the play and then he tells you what went down afterward.
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In case you are wondering about “General Lukas” – Paul is the leader of the combined movement to Ditch the Black. When the Treaty of Flushing (google it) happens (perhaps this offseason?) Paul will have the honor of signing.
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In other news – the NFL is “back.” Whatever. I’m into this .500y Mets team, last night’s game being a prime example.
Also some interesting traction on the Banner Day front. Stay tuned.
football doesn’t matter until 10/2. first sunday after the season ends.
I wonder if ‘howie guides you with his intonation’ is a learned behavior. He’s been here long enough that you know when he’s going to get excited, when a ball has a chance to drop, etc.
But I’ll agree that Wayne’s bigger problem is that he’s rather neutral, which isn’t bad since we’ve got Howie there anyway, but when he’s calling a play he should stick to one side of the play. He’ll describe a hard hit ball, and then switch to talking about the infielder moving, and when he gets excited you can’t tell if it’s because the infielder made a great play or the ball got by him for a single.
I’m not a big fan of Hagin. I grew up with a legend and find Wayne bland and forgettable. That said, Lukas’ campaign to get a working man fired is beneath him. He works for ESPN and would be better served leaving webpages titled “Fire (insert guys name)”, to the message board hacks in their Mom’s basement.
P.S. I am aware of the irony in posting this message in the comments section of a blog, so don’t bother pointing that out.