With the All-Star break winding down and the second half of the baseball season ready to start up, I thought it would be a good time to roll out some midseason reviews of the media who cover our Kansas City Royals. This will be a two-part series. Part 1 looks at the voices and talent in the Royals Radio and TV booths. Leave your thoughts in the Comments section below.
Royals Radio
Denny Matthews
Matthews has been calling Royals
Cliffy
I agree on Denny. Snooze City.
I disagree on Bob Davis. Does the guy have an I’m-in-the-same-room-with-you voice? I get tired of him yelling at me all the time. Listening to him is like getting stuck talking with Uncle Billy for an hour at Thanksgiving dinner.
Lefebvre … young version of Denny.
Stewart … very forgettable.
White … yes.
Goldberg … yes.
Uncle Dick
Agree with you on Frank, who, by the way, should be in the Hall of Fame. If he had played for the Yankees, he’d be in. Nice man, too. Never too busy or important not to sign autographs for the kids.
greg
Uncle D,
Frank White was an absolute clinic on a daily basis at second base. Why the HOF disregards defensive genius is a mystery and a mistake.
Uncle Dick
Like Earl said, give me defense, solid pitching, and a 3 run homer.
Kyle Rohde
Greg – you didn’t grade them, you just posted comments on how they did their jobs.
jojo
greg…what gives you the ability to
say how good a broadcaster is. Did you ever do
radio or tv. Did you ever work behind a mic doing
play by play. For what team. And
what credentials do you have to critique
someone who’s worked their way up the ladder
when you are still stuck putting blurbs on
a lonely website? It’s like a drive up window
hostess at mcdonalds critiquing the nightly
newscasts.
Everyone’s a critic. The guys on the broadcasts
do a great job. They are entertaining. And again
if you don’t like them…switch channels or
stations.
You’ve put yourself out as an expert when I
have to wonder what makes you qualified to
say what’s good or bad. I’m just a fan…i
may voice an opinion…but its as a fan and I
don’t pretend to put myself out as an expert when I am only expressing my opinion as a fan.
greg
Kyle,
Here are my letter grades:
Matthews: D
Davis: B
Stewart: B
Free: A
Lefebvre: C
Splitt: Incomplete
White: B+
Goldberg: B
jojo: Perfect Attendance
greg
jojo,
To answer your question, I don’t think of myself as an expert with special abilities to critique. I am simply a guy with an opinion about sports, athletes and the media who covers these people and events. The only opinion of the media
BroadcastKC
Greg-
Justin Unell of KSHB posted an interview with Splitt online a couple days ago… He hopes to return this year.
http://www.nbcactionnews.com/sports/story/Splittorff-Hopes-to-Return-to-Booth-Soon/PMCLsZYywUWQSXgblglC6w.cspx
Love your columns; keep up the great work.
Uncle Dick
I’ve worked with assholes, interviewed assholes, seen assholes,talked to assholes,paid for assholes, and am currently a major league asshole, so I am qualified to say, jojo, you’re an asshole.
greg
BKC,
Thanks for the update on Splitt and the link to Unell’s interview with the lanky lefthander. I can’t think of anyone who isn’t rooting for Splitt to get back in the booth asap.
CM
Boy, I don’t know what’s going on, but Splittorff looks really thin and frail.
I was at the Royals’ game last month when the Royals did their “Sky Show” and they made a big production about how Splitt had thrown the first pitch at Kauffman, and that night they had him throw “one more pitch” from the mound. I have to say I was very worried that Splittorff was seriously ill and they were trying to honor him one last time… but I guess this virus isn’t that serious? Anyway, I hope he gets better. I enjoy listening to him, and he’s one of the best – a Royal Legend.
With that said, I think Ryan and Frank work well together, and I just love hearing Frank’s chuckle during the games. It kind of reminds me of Dr. Hibbard on “The Simpsons”! 🙂
tibor
Bob Davis has been broadcasting that way for 25 years! “THEY say he stepped out of bounds” or ” They are gonna say it was a strike” etc. He’s the worst!
JAM
The Royals would be crazy to replace Frank White with Splittorff. Frank IS THE BEST THING the Royals have this year. He’s made watching the Royals enjoyable again.
Non-stop talking does not make a good sports broadcaster. Frank we love you!! Keep laughing.
smartman
Greg: Just got done reading 1 and 2. GREAT PIECES!
Is jojo short for jagoff in johnson county? You got the crap beat out of you in grade school didn’t you? I got friend who’s a high dollar shrink in Chicago who reads OTC faithfully. He thinks you’ve got some issues jojo. Get some help.
Muley
I still love listening to Denny Matthews. I don’t need my broadcasters to do any more than tell me what is going on with the game. I love his dry humor, and the way he spells out the name of a player or two every game.
I can’t stand Bob Davis. He is overly enthusiastic and a total whiner. I get really tired of him saying that balls are crushed only to have the SS catch the pop up. He’s brutal.
Lefebvre is good. He whines about umpires too much, but I also enjoy his humor and they way he calls games.
Frank White’s insight has been good, but I don’t like how he giggles all the time. It’s like a 12 year old girl is announcing the games. If he would knock off the incessant giggling, he would be much better.