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Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Cubs’ Len Kasper signs five-year extension

Meanwhile…I’m stuck here with Michael the K cross-promoting his next CenterStage show with Swollen Goblet Drum (THE Halim El-Dabh tribute band).

Broadcaster Len Kasper has signed a five-year extension to remain as the Cubs’ TV play-by-play man through 2016.

The 40-year-old Kasper was in the final year of his current deal, but there was little doubt he’d be staying around for a long time.

Kasper, now in his seventh season with the Cubs, has been a huge hit in Chicago since arriving and teaming with color man Bob Brenly in 2005.

The two have found a terrific rhythm and have the ability to tell the truth about their club even when times are bad, and without beating the Cubs senseless.

Repoz Posted: June 22, 2011 at 07:23 PM | 20 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: announcers, business, cubs, media, sabermetrics, television

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1. Home Run Teal & Black Black Black Gone! Posted: June 22, 2011 at 08:24 PM (#3859773)

I did like Len Kasper quite a bit. He sowed his oats with the Marlins.

Or sailed his boats.

Or sawed his goats.

One of those.

2. Weeks T. Olive Posted: June 22, 2011 at 08:56 PM (#3859812)

This is great. I love Len. Bob, too - hopefully they're together as a team for a long time.

3. Gern Blanston Posted: June 22, 2011 at 09:31 PM (#3859856)

Cool. Len does good work.

4. Dan The Mediocre Posted: June 22, 2011 at 09:38 PM (#3859862)

I like Len much better than I did Chip Carey. I still like pre-bitterness Steve Stone over Brenly, but Brenly is doing a fine job.

All in all a good team.

5. salvomania Posted: June 22, 2011 at 09:54 PM (#3859876)

Chip Caray was unlistenable.

The worst legacy broadcaster, beating out Thom Brennaman and Joe Buck.

I liked Skip's laid-back style---very different from both his old man and his kid.

6. SteveM. Posted: June 22, 2011 at 10:37 PM (#3859912)

Damn good news in a bleak season.

7. LionoftheSenate (feels sorry for the Pirates) Posted: June 22, 2011 at 10:38 PM (#3859913)

I did like Len Kasper quite a bit. He sowed his oats with the Marlins.

I believe he went to Marquette. I know he started with the Brewers.

8. LionoftheSenate (feels sorry for the Pirates) Posted: June 22, 2011 at 10:40 PM (#3859915)

The Cubs do have much better than average broadcasters, at least they have that.

9. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: June 22, 2011 at 10:48 PM (#3859920)

Wait, Kasper is 40? I guess that makes sense given his resume, but I swear I read something a few years ago that had him listed as being in his late 20's. I dig Len, but I'd been operating under the impression that Len had accomplished so damn much for someone so young.

Anyway, this is good stuff. Len strikes the balance between impartial PBP guy and homer.

10. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: June 22, 2011 at 11:00 PM (#3859934)

When you get old "a few years" is ten years or so.

11. Tom Nawrocki Posted: June 22, 2011 at 11:09 PM (#3859943)

Kasper was the lead broadcaster for one of baseball's flagship franchises - maybe the one with the most-watched telecasts in the game - at the age of 33. That's accomplishing a lot for someone so young.

12. Gern Blanston Posted: June 22, 2011 at 11:44 PM (#3859969)

The worst broadcast team the Cubs had was Joe Carter + whichever PBP guy they had that year (either Chip or Josh Lewin--Chip sucks too, but Lewin was an unlistenable weenie. Seemed to me Stone would subtlely mock him on a daily basis...maybe I imagined it). Carter may be the single worst announcer I've ever heard.

13. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: June 23, 2011 at 12:50 AM (#3860017)

Dick Stockton says "hello."

14. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: June 23, 2011 at 01:15 AM (#3860034)

Soriano stole a base tonight.

15. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: June 23, 2011 at 03:19 AM (#3860158)

And then Quade made a decision that should be punishable encasement in carbonite.

16. Brian C Posted: June 23, 2011 at 05:15 AM (#3860200)

Lewin was never a TV guy with the Cubs, was he? And he wasn't that bad when he was doing Rangers games.

Carter, though ... geez.

17. Meatwad denied pope, reveals he faked it at mass Posted: June 23, 2011 at 06:36 AM (#3860213)

Why go easy on him?

18. North Side Chicago Expatriate Giants Fan Posted: June 23, 2011 at 04:01 PM (#3860399)

A Cubs fan buddy of mine really doesn't like Len. After Chip Caray et al, I couldn't believe this. As a Giants fan, I'm pretty spoiled with great broadcasters, but I really like Len. I asked my buddy why he doesn't like Len. He answered "the voice. His voice just doesn't have the weight for a baseball broadcast."

To each his own, I guess.

19. just plain joe Posted: June 23, 2011 at 04:13 PM (#3860420)

He answered "the voice. His voice just doesn't have the weight for a baseball broadcast."

He should be forced to listen to Thom Brennaman's voice for a couple of weeks and and he would change his mind.

20. North Side Chicago Expatriate Giants Fan Posted: June 23, 2011 at 05:05 PM (#3860466)

He should be forced to listen to Thom Brennaman's voice for a couple of weeks and and he would change his mind.

I am pretty sure that I brought up both Chip Caray and Brennaman in that conversation.

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Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Cubs’ Len Kasper signs five-year extension

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