I prefer TV, but I do love listening to baseball games while driving, mowing the lawn, etc. Here in Cincinnati we have the legendary Marty Brennaman, who is retiring at the end of the year after calling Reds games for 46 seasons. We’re also blessed with a guy named Dan Hoard that calls Bengals football and Cincinnati Bearcats football and basketball. He’s not a big name, but I hope he is someday because he is very good.
I often prefer the radio broadcasts to the jabber on TV, especially when one of the networks carries the broadcast and those idiots on Fox or ESPN are bubbling on about god-knows-what player or other team or their own war stories while ignoring what’s going on. I even keep an old Apple powerbook because it can run the program “Bat Crack”, which allows you to sync the radio audio to the usually much delayed TV broadcast. The author developed it during the Giants better years (sigh) to watch the playoffs with the commentary of our local broadcasters.
I also bring a portable radio to the games to listen to the commentary.
For my Phillies, Larry Anderson makes the radio broadcast worth listening to. He’s a bit insane. Their primary radio guy, Scott Franzke, is excellent. Overall I’d much rather be at the game. Ironically, I’ll be at the ballpark tonight but the Phils are on the road. It’s the Carson Wentz charity softball game so I’ll get to see primarily Eagles players on the baseball field.
I watched a game on ESPN a couple of nights ago- they barely talked about the game in progress. I prefer the local radio guys. They explain more and they actually have personalities. Just wish I could sync up the TV and the radio as the are often 5 to 10 seconds apart.
@dhelmick56 Check out the program “Bat Crack” and see if it runs on your computer. It was designed especially for that problem and delays the audio input of your computer by up to two minutes. The name refers to the easiest way to sync up the sound to the picture by the crack of the bat on the ball.
If that doesn’t work, many audio editing programs and app allow you to add delay, just takes more futzing.
I typically prefer radio to TV, but in person is the “best way to take in a game”. My “fine, if I’m driving” vote, while technically accurate, didn’t really accurately capture my feelings.
I’m stuck in the middle, I like the immediate availability of info visuals from TV. However, there is a certain imaginative enjoyment of listening to a great radio team break down a baseball game.
@Targaryen Those moments when you’re listening on the radio and they’re vividly describing a particular call or play and it drives you a little crazy you’re not watching it on tv…
I don’t follow baseball anymore. When I was younger I played baseball and softball and I was good. Dad used to take us to Shea stadium and Fenway when we were kids. For me tho, hearing a game on the radio is very nostalgic. Always makes me remember sitting out back with dad or my grandfather while grilling and listening to a game.
I grew up going to Dodgers games and bringing a radio to listen to Vin Scully, just like everyone else in the cheap seats would. You barely had to bring your own because so many folks were tuned into him, his voice was just the ambient noise in the bleachers. Needless to say, I have no more interest in listening to the radio since Vin retired
We have a local guy named Jack Michaels who does a whale of a job on the radio for our local Northern League team, the F-M Redhawks. I know they may not want to hear it, but I’d rather listen to him than go to a game live. When I do go to a home game, I normally have him on headphones while watching the game. Check him out on The Fan Radio
Listen for his home run call…“Track It Down Marge!!”
PS: Jack is the current ND Sportscaster of the Year. Not sure why he’s not been called to broadcast the MN Twins, because IMO he’s much better.
For me, baseball is the only popular sport I can easily visualize while listening on the radio because the playing area is not bilinear.
/image baseball field diagram
I like to play, but watching/listening to it is awful.
Baseball on the radio? Wouldn’t it just roll off?
@awk touche’
Depends HEAVILY on the announcers.
IMO, Pat Hughes for the Cubs is the absolute best there is in the game.
@haydesigner Marty Brennaman and Bob Uecker would like a word…
@cpierce @haydesigner as would Skip, Pete and Don…
Baseball on the radio is like a status update conference call; multitasking is required to stay awake.
We watch the Cards on mute with the radio on KMOX. Mike Shannon is as funny as Harry Carey to listen to calling a game. Jack Buck, RIP.
I prefer TV, but I do love listening to baseball games while driving, mowing the lawn, etc. Here in Cincinnati we have the legendary Marty Brennaman, who is retiring at the end of the year after calling Reds games for 46 seasons. We’re also blessed with a guy named Dan Hoard that calls Bengals football and Cincinnati Bearcats football and basketball. He’s not a big name, but I hope he is someday because he is very good.
I often prefer the radio broadcasts to the jabber on TV, especially when one of the networks carries the broadcast and those idiots on Fox or ESPN are bubbling on about god-knows-what player or other team or their own war stories while ignoring what’s going on. I even keep an old Apple powerbook because it can run the program “Bat Crack”, which allows you to sync the radio audio to the usually much delayed TV broadcast. The author developed it during the Giants better years (sigh) to watch the playoffs with the commentary of our local broadcasters.
I also bring a portable radio to the games to listen to the commentary.
For my Phillies, Larry Anderson makes the radio broadcast worth listening to. He’s a bit insane. Their primary radio guy, Scott Franzke, is excellent. Overall I’d much rather be at the game. Ironically, I’ll be at the ballpark tonight but the Phils are on the road. It’s the Carson Wentz charity softball game so I’ll get to see primarily Eagles players on the baseball field.
I watched a game on ESPN a couple of nights ago- they barely talked about the game in progress. I prefer the local radio guys. They explain more and they actually have personalities. Just wish I could sync up the TV and the radio as the are often 5 to 10 seconds apart.
@dhelmick56 Check out the program “Bat Crack” and see if it runs on your computer. It was designed especially for that problem and delays the audio input of your computer by up to two minutes. The name refers to the easiest way to sync up the sound to the picture by the crack of the bat on the ball.
If that doesn’t work, many audio editing programs and app allow you to add delay, just takes more futzing.
I just watch the highlights of games after they are over until September when games start to matter. I also wish the season was only 100 games long.
I typically prefer radio to TV, but in person is the “best way to take in a game”. My “fine, if I’m driving” vote, while technically accurate, didn’t really accurately capture my feelings.
I’m stuck in the middle, I like the immediate availability of info visuals from TV. However, there is a certain imaginative enjoyment of listening to a great radio team break down a baseball game.
@Targaryen Those moments when you’re listening on the radio and they’re vividly describing a particular call or play and it drives you a little crazy you’re not watching it on tv…
I don’t follow baseball anymore. When I was younger I played baseball and softball and I was good. Dad used to take us to Shea stadium and Fenway when we were kids. For me tho, hearing a game on the radio is very nostalgic. Always makes me remember sitting out back with dad or my grandfather while grilling and listening to a game.
I grew up going to Dodgers games and bringing a radio to listen to Vin Scully, just like everyone else in the cheap seats would. You barely had to bring your own because so many folks were tuned into him, his voice was just the ambient noise in the bleachers. Needless to say, I have no more interest in listening to the radio since Vin retired
We have a local guy named Jack Michaels who does a whale of a job on the radio for our local Northern League team, the F-M Redhawks. I know they may not want to hear it, but I’d rather listen to him than go to a game live. When I do go to a home game, I normally have him on headphones while watching the game. Check him out on The Fan Radio
Listen for his home run call…“Track It Down Marge!!”
PS: Jack is the current ND Sportscaster of the Year. Not sure why he’s not been called to broadcast the MN Twins, because IMO he’s much better.
For me, baseball is the only popular sport I can easily visualize while listening on the radio because the playing area is not bilinear.
/image baseball field diagram
Its almost summer. Where are all THE RAZORS?!?!?!
yawn
Nah. Sometimes you just need to see what’s happening.
I prefer music on the radio, but I guess baseball is better than hernia mesh implants.
@aetris Personal experience? Might need some of those soon.
@thebigtverberg - My sympathies! Get a rolling cart, slip-on shoes, and practice getting in and out of bed without bending at the waist.