Chicago Tribune | Verdi: At least Chicago’s baseball broadcasters are having a good year

As anticipation of playoff baseball in Chicago fades, particularly on the North Side, we feel compelled to be pre-emptive about what barnyard noises soon might be heard from the two local squadrons.

That is, fiery and indignant sniping at team broadcasters, a familiar diversionary tactic around here. When the going gets tough, players usually prefer to insult writers, an avenue that is still available.

Just recently, Carlos Zambrano cursed reporters at Wrigley Field, as if to interrupt Milton Bradley’s regularly scheduled programming. Presumably Zambrano still was angry at a columnist who called the Cubs’ so-called ace “lazy,” shortly after he described himself thusly.

Zambrano suggested, when she made her next appearance, he quite possibly would remove his shirt to display the heavenly body that forever breaks down and his massive guns, the right one being the $91 million limb that has amassed seven victories since April. Presumably, Zambrano intends to undress in a way we know him best, from the stretch position. But, inasmuch as the incredible shrinking print media is employing fewer snoops, play-by-play announcers and analysts constitute more convenient targets. They’re there daily, they ride charter planes and they, too, have opinions about what they’ve seen all summer.