Give him credit -- at least he's honest about it.

I only hope that, through the wherewithal of NBC Universal Comcast, Bob Costas calls the 2014 World Series.

I only hope that, through the wherewithal of NBC Universal Comcast, Bob Costas calls the 2014 World Series.

I could live without that too, although it'd obviously be better than what we've got now.

“It means that FOX has a lot of money,”

Oh, speaking of which, who's psyched about the Myspace revamp???

“It means that FOX has a lot of money,”

Just another reason to hate Rupert Murdoch.

Bob Costas calls the 2014 World Series.

Maybe he can again pimp Punky Brewster in the middle of a plate appearance in the ninth inning of Game Seven like in 1997. Once upon a time, NBC had great WS broadcasts, but they were absolute #### the last go around. Fox is awful, but be careful what you wish for.

The one thing you'll notice, because it's the biggest visual difference, is in San Francisco, where we're installing a football-style cable cam that can fly out over the field. You'll see that angle, kind of a video game view of the field during certain points.

I understand they're also inserting a special chip in Bengie Molina that will enable them to surround him with a glowing aura on your TV screen. This will help new baseball viewers keep track of him as he moves around on the field.

Give him credit -- at least he's honest about it.

True dat. That was a remarkably candid and BS-less reply.

I only hope that, through the wherewithal of NBC Universal Comcast, Bob Costas calls the 2014 World Series.

I think you mean Sheinhardt Universal Kabletown... with a K.

I understand they're also inserting a special chip in Bengie Molina that will enable them to surround him with a glowing aura on your TV screen. This will help new baseball viewers keep track of him as he moves around on the field.

It will also remind regular Baseball fans that Bengie Molina actually does move.

It will also remind regular Baseball fans that Bengie Molina actually does move.

only if you use time-lapse photography

Maybe he can again pimp Punky Brewster in the middle of a plate appearance in the ninth inning of Game Seven like in 1997.

What can I get for $50?

Just kidding, FBI! Sheesh

Joe seemed almost uncomfortable discussing it.

So the achievement is a lot like baseball itself.

The entire section of Buck comments is golden.

"I'm flattered that that's even brought up," Buck said. "But [Gowdy and Scully] are the titans of the industry. When I think of baseball broadcasters, I think of those voices, and I certainly don't put myself in that category.

It's nice to find something every American can agree on during Election season.

I've done it the best I can.

Joe, this is no time for excuses.

we have so much fun covering the sport.

Did anyone else's BS detector just explode?

It's hard to believe I was 27 when it started,

Yes, it is. Now, how did that happen again?

I can't tell you how thrilled I am that all this time, Tim has been my partner at it. We've never had any cross words. We're not sick of each other, so that's a good thing."

And that makes...well, just the two of you.

I only hope that, through the wherewithal of NBC Universal Comcast, Vin Scully or at least his re-animated corpse calls the 2014 World Series.

Fixed.

Maybe he can again pimp Punky Brewster in the middle of a plate appearance in the ninth inning of Game Seven like in 1997.

Wasn't that an '80s show? Why would he have been talking about it in '97?

he deadpanned.

Is there anything he's said that he *hasn't* deadpanned?

Maybe he can again pimp Punky Brewster in the middle of a plate appearance in the ninth inning of Game Seven like in 1997.

Wasn't that an '80s show? Why would he have been talking about it in '97?

Soleil Moon Frye would have been 21 in 1997.

Buck (as a few others) has done World Series and Super Bowl. Who is the only man to have broadcast a World Series, Super Bowl and Final Four?

FOX brings new innovations to World Series

Isn't every "innovation" new, by definition?

I'm not going to click through to find out the "innovations" but if I can watch the games without getting nauseous I'm going to call that success.

The cable cam is only available for dead-ball situations. So we're supposed to get worked up about new and innovative ways of showing guys standing around talking to each other?

You thought those were close-ups they were doing before - now just you wait and see!

Buck (as a few others) has done World Series and Super Bowl. Who is the only man to have broadcast a World Series, Super Bowl and Final Four?

Ha! A trick question, because I can actually think of two such men: Curt Gowdy and Dick Enberg.

Buck (as a few others) has done World Series and Super Bowl. Who is the only man to have broadcast a World Series, Super Bowl and Final Four?

I know Curt Gowdy did it. Seemed like he did EVERYTHING in the late 60s/early 70s. World Series, Super Bowl, Final Four, Rose Bowl, Gowdy was the man. Seemed like a terrifically likable guy, but I never thought he was all that great as an announcer. Baseball was probably what he did best of the major sports; I thought he was mediocre at football and bad at basketball, and he went sharply downhill at a relatively young age.

This kind of headline is very suitable for the Hallowe'en season.

Personally, I'd like to hear more about their latest advances in nostril-cam technology.

Buck (as a few others) has done World Series and Super Bowl. Who is the only man to have broadcast a World Series, Super Bowl and Final Four?

I know Curt Gowdy did it.

Gowdy may have also been one of a tiny handful of people to do play-by-play for both the Yankees and the Red Sox. Not too much chance of that happening nowadays, I guess, though I wonder if Sterling could call 100 pop flies to the shortstop a season over the Green Monster if he were given the opportunity.

---"IT IS HIGH!!! IT IS FAR!!!! IT IS.......CAUGHT by Jeter, I mean Scutaro, on the edge of the outfield grass"

Joe Buck will pass Curt Gowdy and Vin Scully for consecutive World Series play-by-play TV broadcasts with 13.

Nobody else noticed that this isn't true? And how obviously untrue it is?

The 1997 and 1999 World Series were broadcast by NBC.

Vin Scully broadcast the 1955, 1956, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1974, 1984, 1986 and 1988 World Series on television. He did not broadcast every game of the pre-1984 World Series, per NBC's pre-1975 policy. I don't know if Scully did the 1953 World Series on television or not. I do know that he didn't do the 1952 World Series, since I've got copies of games 6 and 7.

Curt Gowdy started doing baseball for NBC in 1966 (right? fact checkers? Andy?) and did every World Series up through 1975. He didn't do every game in 1975, as NBC alternated him and Garagiola (the person not doing TV did the radio).

Buck has broadcast the 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and now 2010 World Series. That makes 13 total, not 13 consecutive. I count 9 total for Scully and 10 for Gowdy -- assuming broadcasting at least one game of the Series counts.

If you count the postseason, it's another story, but still inaccurate. If you count radio broadcasts, it's another story, but, again, inaccurate.

Sorry to rant about this, but this is absolutely ####### stupid. I can't believe nobody bothered to search on Wikipedia to fact check. I can't believe nobody at MLB has, say, the 1985 World Series A&E boxset -- couldn't somebody say, "Wait, I think Al Michaels did a few Series back in the 1980s"?

Truth be told, Buck will set the record for most consecutive TV PBP broadcasts with 11, breaking Gowdy's mark of 10 (assuming you count his half-worked 1975 as a full Series).

Seemed like a terrifically likable guy, but I never thought he was all that great as an announcer. Baseball was probably what he did best of the major sports; I thought he was mediocre at football and bad at basketball, and he went sharply downhill at a relatively young age.

I don't care much for Curt Gowdy as a television announcer. I've always felt he was better as a radio play by play guy. Then again, I do like Garagiola, and I know most here don't. It's probably just a matter of taste.

That an untalented hack like Buck could survive on FOX for this long is simply incredible. I just hope and pray that another network will finally win the TV contract in the future. When is FOX's contract up? 2015?

"It's belted! By Beltre!
"More Ortiz cheese, please!"
"Little Pedroia, big destroia!"
"I love my wife, but oh Youkilis!"

"It's belted! By Beltre!
"More Ortiz cheese, please!"
"Little Pedroia, big destroia!"
"I love my wife, but oh Youkilis!"

Stop it, Gonfalon, you're going to give every Red Sox fan here about six months worth of nightmares.

And in the extremely improbable category...

"Kevin Cash makes a deposit!"

That's great stuff, Dan. I'm glad someone is paying attention to that kind of thing.

I went to wiki to try to determine how/why Scully's streak ended (wistfully thinking of the possibility that we could have him all these Buck-tainted years) and I noticed that he didn't seem to have the streak at all, but I wasn't sure Wikipedia had it right.

Maybe he can again pimp Punky Brewster

You could do a whole lot worse.

That's great stuff, Dan. I'm glad someone is paying attention to that kind of thing.

I really hope somebody got fired for that blunder.

I was watching flyball finals online, and the broadcast reminded me of the worse broadcasting and I immediately blamed fox(they didn't broadcast the show, but they really ramped up the concept of close-ups)

the sooner Fox is off the broadcast the happier every fan will be. Or at least someone should post rules for all broadcasts to follow.

first would be No closeups during live action.

Give him credit -- at least he's honest about it.

Buck actually strikes me as being a pretty smart guy. I just don't like him as an announcer.

I only hope that, through the wherewithal of NBC Universal Comcast, Bob Costas calls the 2014 World Series.

Costas is, or was, pretty good as a baseball announcer. And unlike Buck, Costas actually LIKES baseball.

Although he was no Al Michaels, Bob Costas was an EXCEPTIONAL BASEketball announcer.

Then again, I do like Garagiola, and I know most here don't.

Someone bought me the 1975 World Series DVD--all seven games, complete broadcasts--as a gift. Having watched 6 of the 7, I mostly agree with you. Gowdy was not so good; he seemed a little detached and uninformed. Garagiola was pretty good--kind of goofy, but into the game and likable enough. Tony Kubek was very good.

They also used Marty Brennaman for the games in Cincinnati and Ned Martin for the games in Boston, a practice that I think should be brought back. It was Brennaman's first year, and he was OK. Martin was OK, too, and I thought it was cool to let the local announcers share in the spotlight.

I only hope that, through the wherewithal of NBC Universal Comcast, Bob Costas calls the 2014 World Series.

I imagine the next home of the World Series won't be a broadcast network. Considering TBS already has a baseball foothold and just landed the NCAA tournament, that's where I'd be putting my money. If Costas is calling games, it's probably because Comcast has decided to make Versus a legitimate competitor to ESPN.

Gowdy was not so good; he seemed a little detached and uninformed. Garagiola was pretty good--kind of goofy, but into the game and likable enough. Tony Kubek was very good.

That's precisely how I perceived them at the time, not only on WS and ASG broadcasts, but also on Games of the Week.

I used to do local radio play by play for when the High School team made it to the playoffs after I retired from umpiring.

I was 'retired' from this role after I made reference to a equine feces call made by an ump who proceeded to toss the manager in a HIGH SCHOOL REGIONAL PLAYOFF GAME.

As the radio station general manager told me afterward it might have been ok if I just invoked the word once. But apparently there was a bit of tirade. Not the image he wanted for the station.

I like to think I went out in a blaze of glory.

I was going to make a snarky joke about the manager being a young Connie Mack, but I'm actually upset that your tirade can't be on youtube.

That settles it... Harveys Wallbangers should take over for Joe Buck as the World Series play by play man.

Someone bought me the 1975 World Series DVD--all seven games, complete broadcasts--as a gift. Having watched 6 of the 7, I mostly agree with you. Gowdy was not so good; he seemed a little detached and uninformed. Garagiola was pretty good--kind of goofy, but into the game and likable enough. Tony Kubek was very good.

Agreed, especially about Kubek, who, in my opinion, should have been partnered with Vin Scully once he came along in 1983. In my opinion, Garagiola's best World Series was 1980 (of the Series he worked, I've got 1975, two games from 1976, 1980, 1982, 1984 and 1986 on DVD, as well as a couple games from 1978 as MP4, though I haven't watched those yet), though he was also pretty good in 1975. Admittedly, I may form a different opinion on Curt Gowdy if I can see more of his work from the 1960s (though I have seen the whole 1968 and 1969 Series).

Of course, it's all subjective anyway. You can't quantify what makes one broadcaster better than another.

By the way, that A&E 1975 World Series boxset is absolutely amazing. I don't own it yet, though I'm planning on purchasing it. My copies are bootlegs obtained before the official set was available. It's nice to have the original commercials and bits and pieces of pregame shows, but the official boxset is just unbelievably clear and well produced. My feeling is that the picture quality is better than you could have seen watching over the air in 1975 (though I admit I wasn't alive at the time).

Buck actually strikes me as being a pretty smart guy. I just don't like him as an announcer.

Agreed. Buck is smart but indifferent. I guess McCarver isn't really all that dumb, either -- he just seems like it sometimes.

Considering TBS already has a baseball foothold and just landed the NCAA tournament, that's where I'd be putting my money.

I'm no expert on the subject, but I agree. Part of me wants to see the postseason just go to cable permanently -- partially because I hate FOX's production.

An off-topic grammar question: should it be FOX' or FOX's? I think the second is correct, but something in me wants to keep the "s" off (i.e. James').

Phrases that I would be forced to somehow do without:

Not worth a tinker's d*mn

Queerer than a three dollar bill

Like a monkey f*cking a football

F*cked with an elephant d*ck

Horsesh*t

[44] An off-topic grammar question: should it be FOX' or FOX's? I think the second is correct, but something in me wants to keep the "s" off (i.e. James').

The maker of "U-bet" syrup--official syrup for use in an egg cream--uses "Fox's."

http://www.foxs-syrups.com/

I guess McCarver isn't really all that dumb, either -- he just seems like it sometimes.

I always thought part of the problem with McCarver was that he tries hard to seem witty and profound, and it fails miserably.

"It's belted! By Beltre!
"More Ortiz cheese, please!"
"Little Pedroia, big destroia!"
"I love my wife, but oh Youkilis!"

I want to believe so badly that he would have never lasted if he had been in Boston. That his poor announcing skills, lack of baseball knowledge and complete inability to pay attention to the game would put him at odds with the Red Sox. That the Red Sox fans would are too bright to be impressed with his stupid homerun calls and his annoying schtick would result in fullscale boycotts and sit ins until Sterling is disgracefully discharged as "the voice of the Red Sox". He would be devastated by this turn of events, and spend his golden years drinking to excess, turning up at various karaoke nights. However, he's always too drunk to read the teleprompter (and control his bladder). Paparazzi follow him around, tabloids print stories of his drunken escapades with photos of him after he's pissed himself. He finally retires somewhere far away, and never bothers anyone ever again.

Unfortunately, I know there are just as many stupid Red Sox fans as there are Yankees fans, and Sterling would probably enjoy at least lukewarm support from the fans.

I want to believe so badly that he would have never lasted if he had been in Boston. That his poor announcing skills, lack of baseball knowledge and complete inability to pay attention to the game would put him at odds with the Red Sox. That the Red Sox fans would are too bright to be impressed with his stupid homerun calls and his annoying schtick would result in fullscale boycotts and sit ins until Sterling is disgracefully discharged as "the voice of the Red Sox". He would be devastated by this turn of events, and spend his golden years drinking to excess, turning up at various karaoke nights. However, he's always too drunk to read the teleprompter (and control his bladder). Paparazzi follow him around, tabloids print stories of his drunken escapades with photos of him after he's pissed himself. He finally retires somewhere far away, and never bothers anyone ever again.

Many Yankees fans I know despise Sterling, but unfortunately the Steinbrenners adore(d) him (well, perhaps now that George is gone one of the sons might feel embarrassed enough by his inanities to dismiss him). I don't think Red Sox fans are inherently any brighter than Yankees fans (or those of any other team), unless you buy into this Ken Burns PBS literary-type shtick.

They also used Marty Brennaman for the games in Cincinnati and Ned Martin for the games in Boston, a practice that I think should be brought back. It was Brennaman's first year, and he was OK. Martin was OK, too, and I thought it was cool to let the local announcers share in the spotlight.

You mean Dick Stockton, not Ned Martin. Right?

An off-topic grammar question: should it be FOX' or FOX's? I think the second is correct, but something in me wants to keep the "s" off (i.e. James').

Technically, wouldn't even James's be correct? My understanding is you only end a word with an apostrpohe if it is referencing a plural noun (E.g. The dogs' house) not any word that ends in an 's'...

I was 'retired' from this role after I made reference to a equine feces call made by an ump who proceeded to toss the manager in a HIGH SCHOOL REGIONAL PLAYOFF GAME.

That manager...was Connie Mack.

(I tease..)

Like a monkey f*cking a football

I can't say I'm aware of anything in this world that is quite like a monkey f*cking a football.

I don't mind Buck. I don't love him, but, he seems like he's in the upper half of announcers, maybe better.

The disgust for Buck/McCarver here seems like a tired ritual.

The disgust for Buck/McCarver here seems like a tired ritual.

I've never heard Buck with a different guy, but I could imagine him being listen-to-able with a non-McCarver. It's really McCarver who is execrable.

He was listenable on the radio with Mike Shannon, but nothing to write home about.

FOX brings new innovations to World Series

There are old innovations? Does that mean Fox isn't preserving the broadcast as a kinescope? Maybe they can scrounge up some equipment from the place where Philo T. Farnsworth worked on his version of television.

I always thought part of the problem with McCarver was that he tries hard to seem witty and profound, and it fails miserably.

Yes, although I'm not even sure if he goes for profound. It's his attempts at cute phrases and his tendency to tie in totally unrelated facts that fail miserably. Like last night, when McCarver pointed out for no reason at all that some player had the same uniform number as Roberto Clemente, then said that the player's number had been retired by his high school, then said that a couple of quasi-famous (non baseball) people went to that high school. Huh? Even though a baseball game on network TV takes forever these days, there's still only a limited amount of time for actual game analysis and McCarver often provides none.

McCarver became popular with the New York crowd through his work with the Mets (Mike Lupica went overboard praising him in the '80s), and those people -- the wealthy types who summer in the Hamptons -- have a weighty influence on sports TV, and those with NY/Boston ties thus have an inherent advantage. It's why Ron Darling will probably wind up as the "new" McCarver over the next decade; he has a conduit to national attention through his work on SNY (and he went to Yale to boot, making him even more alluring to these people).

Phrases that I would be forced to somehow do without:

Not worth a tinker's d*mn

You're actually okay with this one: it's really "not worth a tinker's dam", where the "dam" is the little ridge of clay that tinkers used to use to keep the solder, or whatever it was, from getting away as they were repairing pots and pans. As a little ridge of clay, it's obviously not worth very much.

Anyway, that's what I read somewhere once.

I can't say I'm aware of anything in this world that is quite like a monkey f*cking a football.

George W. Bush vainly attempting to achieve coherence in an interview or press conference or just off the cuff was, I always said, sickly fascinating, the verbal equivalent of a drunk chimp in cowboy suit trying to screw a bouncing football.

You're actually okay with this one: it's really "not worth a tinker's dam", where the "dam" is the little ridge of clay that tinkers used to use to keep the solder, or whatever it was, from getting away as they were repairing pots and pans. As a little ridge of clay, it's obviously not worth very much.

A good and worthy point, MatthewE. In the future, please don't be so niggardly with your etymological insights.

You mean Dick Stockton, not Ned Martin. Right?

Stockton did Game 6, so that is, obviously, what folks remember. But Martin did Games 1 and 7. Stockton also did G2 IIRC. I mentioned Martin because I figured most guys around here already knew about Stockton.

Technically, wouldn't even James's be correct? My understanding is you only end a word with an apostrpohe if it is referencing a plural noun (E.g. The dogs' house) not any word that ends in an 's'...

This is correct. Any singular noun gets an apostrophe s at the end. Even when ending with an "s" or an "s" sound. So:

Fox - Fox's
James - James's
Mr. Smithers - Mr. Smithers's

Some people refer to a "Jesus rule" where Jesus gets "Jesus'". But I've seen no authority that claims that.

You're actually okay with this one: it's really "not worth a tinker's dam", where the "dam" is the little ridge of clay that tinkers used to use to keep the solder, or whatever it was, from getting away as they were repairing pots and pans. As a little ridge of clay, it's obviously not worth very much.

Not really. It's a common story, and can't technically be proven, but the academics discount it. The article's at the bottom of that link.

This is correct. Any singular noun gets an apostrophe s at the end. Even when ending with an "s" or an "s" sound.

This adds to my confusion, as I was taught to drop the "s" after the apostrophe for nouns ending with an "s" sound. I'm certain that I've seen it both ways in various texts.

An internet search can not be conclusive, but this was helpful:

Some writers will say that the -s after Charles' is not necessary and that adding only the apostrophe (Charles' car) will suffice to show possession. Consistency is the key here: if you choose not to add the -s after a noun that already ends in s, do so consistently throughout your text.

...

According to the New York Public Library's Guide to Style and Usage, there are "certain expressions that end in s or the s sound that traditionally require an apostrophe only: for appearance' sake, for conscience' sake, for goodness' sake" (268).

Here's another view (again, it contradicts what I was taught, but at least it makes sense):

Rule: To show singular possession for a word ending in an s or s sound, use the apostrophe and another s.
...
Rule: To show plural possession of a word ending in an s or s sound, form the plural first; then immediately use the apostrophe.