Let’s Ditch the “National” Announcers

Through most of the year, I have not been able to watch the Tigers when they play the “nationally televised games” (read FOX and ESPN) for a variety of reasons.  So, while I have had sprinklings of exposure to the national voices of baseball, I have spent the majority of my time watching/listening to Rod & Mario when the Tigers are at home and opponent’s announcers when the Tigers away from Comerica Park.

It has made me realize that the vast majority of these guys are good.  In fact, they are better than the voices that FOX and ESPN subject us to during the national games.  This has become painfully obvious to me while watching the current playoff series between the Yankees and Tigers.  The announcing team that TBS has burdened America with during this series has made me think that we need a change.

Why not have the announcers of the home team in each playoff game do the announcing?  I cannot speak for them, but I think they would consider it an honor.  They worked hard all your long and deserve the opportunity to continue working as long as their team does.  Can you imagine hearing Mario and Rod and the emotion they would have as each inning passed?  Or listening to the home team’s announcers as their team let a lead slip away?

The TBS team has had a bit of a Yankee bias (which I understand).  My problem with them has been their lack of knowledge regarding pretty much anything about either team.  This is to be expected – they are contractors, brought in to talk about a team for a week and then move on.  Why not have a group of people who KNOW at least one of the teams really well.  I would not mind the pro-home bias because it is to be expected.

I think that baseball fans would appreciate the excitement and knowledge that the home announcers could convey. When Tigers fans go back to the 2006 walk-off that Magglio what call do you think they prefer – the Dan Dickerson radio call or the Thom Brennaman TV version?  If you listen to the commercials on TBS and MLB Network for the postseason, you will hear the radio calls of some of the plays and they always have more emotion/excitement compared to the national contractor.

Of course, there are exceptions to this – and the number exception to this rule would be if the White Sox ever made the postseason.  Under no circumstances should America EVER be subjected to the White Sox home broadcast team in a playoff atmosphere.  If MLB wanted the worse ratings imaginable, THAT would be the perfect formula…

I know the chances of this occurring are slim to none, but it still something fun to think about.  So, Mario or Rod, if you happen to read MotorCityBengals, I would be happy to hear your opinion on this matter.  If any team (minus the White Sox) makes the postseason, I think we should be able to enjoy their broadcasters as we continue to watch that team play deep into October.