Sounding more and more like my dad after he's into his second bottle of wine.

/White Sox fan

there are only two reasons i ever find myself watching a white sox game:
1) they are playing the tigers
2) to listen to hawk bs about baseball for a while; one of my favorite broadcasters in the league

He's right though.

Hawk is awesome. MLB is a farking joke in large part because of its horrible standard of umpiring.

Hawk is awful. And you can put that on the board.

That was fast.

Let me tell you bout Yaz.

He gone.

/Hawk sucks

machoprogrammer: Hawk is awful. And you can put that on the board.

^^^^^

I don't hate Hawk because he's biased. I hate him because he's a human soundboard. He could take a vacation and you'd never know - just have someone play a clip of one of his phrases every time anything happens, regardless of the correct call. It's not as if he's not doing it already anyways.

I enjoy watching games that Hawk calls. I don't want some stuffy robot calling the game. He makes the game more enjoyable, he's a true fan of the sport (not just the Sox, he often applauds the other team).

Having said that, I can understand why people don't like him, especially if you're cheering for the other team, and Hawk is hamming it up as Paulie puts another crooked number on the board.

thomps: there are only two reasons i ever find myself watching a white sox game:
1) they are playing the tigers
2) to listen to hawk bs about baseball for a while; one of my favorite broadcasters in the league

Lost in all the handwringing about his catch phrases and homerism and biatching about the umps (which he has actually gotten better about these past couple of years) is the fact that he can flat out talk baseball with the best of them. He tells stories about old-timey baseball players doing old-timey baseball things. And while I normally wouldn't care about that stuff, he does it in a way that leaves me entertained. A great personality to go with the slow, relaxing, boring-at-times-but-still-not-without- its-charms game of baseball.

As someone whew grew up listening to Bob Ufer I have no problem with homerism. A passionate fan deserves a passionate announcer. If you don't agree I won't begrudge you hunting down McCarver games, it is America after all.

The Great EZE: thomps: there are only two reasons i ever find myself watching a white sox game:
1) they are playing the tigers
2) to listen to hawk bs about baseball for a while; one of my favorite broadcasters in the league

Lost in all the handwringing about his catch phrases and homerism and biatching about the umps (which he has actually gotten better about these past couple of years) is the fact that he can flat out talk baseball with the best of them. He tells stories about old-timey baseball players doing old-timey baseball things. And while I normally wouldn't care about that stuff, he does it in a way that leaves me entertained. A great personality to go with the slow, relaxing, boring-at-times-but-still-not-without- its-charms game of baseball.

"Harrelson served as a Chicago White Sox announcer from 1982 to 1985 and briefly left broadcasting during the 1986 season to become the White Sox's General Manager. During his one season as GM, Harrelson fired field manager Tony LaRussa (who was soon hired by the Oakland Athletics) and assistant general manager Dave Dombrowski (who became baseball's youngest general manager with the Montreal Expos just two years later). Harrelson also traded rookie Bobby Bonilla, later a six-time All-Star, to the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher Jose DeLeon."

Plus he made LaRussa put one of the greatest catchers of all time in the farking outfield. The guy does not know baseball at all.


Can't wait til the dumbass drops dead. It'll be the only time I'll enjoy hearing the phrase "he gone!"

violentsalvation: He's right though.

No, anyone who throws behind a batter gets tossed, period. If you aren't good enough to hit the batter on the first try, you don't deserve to keep playing. Hell, they should send you back to AAA.

scandalrag: violentsalvation: He's right though.

No, anyone who throws behind a batter gets tossed, period. If you aren't good enough to hit the batter on the first try, you don't deserve to keep playing. Hell, they should send you back to AAA.

I don't think he was trying to hit him.

hbk72777: "Harrelson served as a Chicago White Sox announcer from 1982 to 1985 and briefly left broadcasting during the 1986 season to become the White Sox's General Manager. During his one season as GM, Harrelson fired field manager Tony LaRussa (who was soon hired by the Oakland Athletics) and assistant general manager Dave Dombrowski (who became baseball's youngest general manager with the Montreal Expos just two years later). Harrelson also traded rookie Bobby Bonilla, later a six-time All-Star, to the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher Jose DeLeon."

Plus he made LaRussa put one of the greatest catchers of all time in the farking outfield. The guy does not know baseball at all.

Well nobody's perfect.

I just said he could talk. I'll leave the managing discussion to those who remember his tenure.

The Rays should be glad it wasnt Eric Gregg behind home plate, he would have called it a strike.

hbk72777: "Harrelson served as a Chicago White Sox announcer from 1982 to 1985 and briefly left broadcasting during the 1986 season to become the White Sox's General Manager. During his one season as GM, Harrelson fired field manager Tony LaRussa (who was soon hired by the Oakland Athletics) and assistant general manager Dave Dombrowski (who became baseball's youngest general manager with the Montreal Expos just two years later). Harrelson also traded rookie Bobby Bonilla, later a six-time All-Star, to the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher Jose DeLeon."

Plus he made LaRussa put one of the greatest catchers of all time in the farking outfield. The guy does not know baseball at all.


Can't wait til the dumbass drops dead. It'll be the only time I'll enjoy hearing the phrase "he gone!"

That Michael Jordan was one hell of a basketball GM and owner - I bet he doesn't know anything about basketball.

You are just a can of corn

Even though it sounds like a lot of people hate him in this thread, he is right, the umps need to be held more accountable.

If they miss an obvious play and refuse to reverse it then they should be fined or just put in instant replay with a 30-45 sec rule.

Harrelson is one of the worst out there. There is a difference between being passionate about your team and being blinded by that passion. Every time I have listened to him, the White Sox could do no wrong. The umpires, the other team, the sun, fans, anything else is to blame. Also, he doesn't call the entire game, just what the White Sox are doing. If the other team hits a HR, Harrelson says nothing. Silence. You have no idea anything happened. It is possible to call the HR as an exciting yet disappointing moment.

Steve Stone is still one of the best and he is being dragged down by Harrelson.

/Cubs fan that cares about the White Sox as much as I care about the Nationals. 6 games a year.
//My hate is reserved for the Cardinals.

violentsalvation: He's right though.


No, he's not.

Hawk > every other broadcaster

machoprogrammer: Hawk is awful. And you can put that on the boooooooooooard, yes!!

ftfy

4NSpy: I enjoy watching games that Hawk calls. I don't want some stuffy robot calling the game. He makes the game more enjoyable, he's a true fan of the sport (not just the Sox, he often applauds the other team).

Having said that, I can understand why people don't like him, especially if you're cheering for the other team, and Hawk is hamming it up as Paulie puts another crooked number on the board.

I have never heard Hawk praise another team, but I have been mooting him for the past 4 years when the Sox are WGN and I want baseball on.

I don't mind homers; but Hawk is annoying with it. Acknowledge when your team screws up or the other team does well.

/yes - I loved Santo in the booth.

Hawk is a windbag and a farking joke. How anyone tolerates him is beyond me.

That said, he's right in this case. That's nowhere near deserving of an ejection. Warning? Yes. Ejection? No way in hell.

DaJesus: Also, he doesn't call the entire game, just what the White Sox are doing. If the other team hits a HR, Harrelson says nothing. Silence. You have no idea anything happened. It is possible to call the HR as an exciting yet disappointing moment.

I almost posted this earlier but it was getting a little too CSB for my tastes.

A year or two back, I put a White Sox game on WGN on the TV while I did some work around the house. I wasn't able to see the game, but I was doing a pretty good job of listening. I definitely thought the Sox were winning 5-1 or so.

Come back in towards the end and it was a blowout the other way. Think the White Sox were losing like 9-3. It was unbelievable.

Hawk was alright in the 90's. Since then he's become an obnoxious, whining, senile old homer with nothing to contribute to the game except for old stories he's already told a million times before. I do have to agree with him on this call being completely retarded though.

Mainly I'm just glad the Sox notched down the win for their 8th straight.

Mind of the North Star: Hawk > every other broadcaster

Every other broadcaster > Chris Berman > Idiots who call in to sports radio > Air Supply > Hawk

Things people would voluntarily listen to, in order.

scandalrag: Mind of the North Star: Hawk > every other broadcaster

Every other broadcaster > Chris Berman > Idiots who call in to sports radio > Air Supply > Hawk

Things people would voluntarily listen to, in order.

You have Berman way to high. I would listen to Air Supply before Berman.

Suzyn Waldmann > Hawk

DaJesus: Also, he doesn't call the entire game, just what the White Sox are doing. If the other team hits a HR, Harrelson says nothing. Silence. You have no idea anything happened.

I never understood that complaint about TV sports announcers. Unless you're blind (which you may be, in which case I apologize in advance), why do you need the announcer to tell you everything that's happening as it plays out on the screen? Stacey King is getting that complaint a lot now too: "Stop saying catch phrases; tell me what's going on." If you need to know everything that's going on I suggest listening to the radio call where they have to paint a picture for you.

/And he doesn't say nothing on a home run unless it's a walkoff
//He just dourly sighs "...and it's a [new score] ballgame." Just like arena PA announcers who deadpan the announcement of a visiting player's accomplishment.

blogs have a lot more credibility these days. someone should start one called awful-umpiring or something like that and keep track of bad calls.

they could even have power rankings and give out awards for most improved ump, or best umpired game, or most consistent strike zone. they could also do game match-ups tracking an ump's history with certain players/coaches etc. get some former umps to do break-downs of high profile plays, get some former or current players to write columns. i would read that.

it's always seemed crazy to me that the sport with the most advanced statistical analysis tolerates so much subjectivity in the enforcement of the rules.

december: blogs have a lot more credibility these days. someone should start one called awful-umpiring or something like that and keep track of bad calls.

they could even have power rankings and give out awards for most improved ump, or best umpired game, or most consistent strike zone. they could also do game match-ups tracking an ump's history with certain players/coaches etc. get some former umps to do break-downs of high profile plays, get some former or current players to write columns. i would read that.

it's always seemed crazy to me that the sport with the most advanced statistical analysis tolerates so much subjectivity in the enforcement of the rules.

Well, there's this

The Great EZE: I never understood that complaint about TV sports announcers. Unless you're blind (which you may be, in which case I apologize in advance), why do you need the announcer to tell you everything that's happening as it plays out on the screen?

meet

DeWayne Mann: A year or two back, I put a White Sox game on WGN on the TV while I did some work around the house. I wasn't able to see the game, but I was doing a pretty good job of listening. I definitely thought the Sox were winning 5-1 or so.

Come back in towards the end and it was a blowout the other way. Think the White Sox were losing like 9-3. It was unbelievable.

Each team plays 162 games a year. Most people don't sit down and stare at the TV for all 3 hours of the game. This is especially true during day games. I like to have baseball on in the background while doing things around the house as well and I prefer having it on TV so when something big like a HR happens I can stop and watch it. When Harrelson sits quietly and acts like a HR is just a foul ball, you tend to miss those moments. I am not asking that he describe every little detail. I just want that when something exciting happens in the game, regardless of the team, he properly relays that to the audience.

That was really entertaining!

bubbaprog: december: blogs have a lot more credibility these days. someone should start one called awful-umpiring or something like that and keep track of bad calls.

they could even have power rankings and give out awards for most improved ump, or best umpired game, or most consistent strike zone. they could also do game match-ups tracking an ump's history with certain players/coaches etc. get some former umps to do break-downs of high profile plays, get some former or current players to write columns. i would read that.

it's always seemed crazy to me that the sport with the most advanced statistical analysis tolerates so much subjectivity in the enforcement of the rules.

Well, there's this

cool link bro. i'd like to see more like this.

"That is so bad, that is absolutely brutal. That is unbelievable. I'll tell you what, they have got to start making guys be accountable. That is totally absurd."

Funny - I say the same thing about Hawk's broadcasting abilities.

theFword: Suzyn Waldmann > Hawk

truth.. and that's saying A LOT

Tommy Heinsen? HA! You should have heard Johnny Most in his prime. Now that guy could freak out and with a voice created by chain smoking all his life, it was ear splitting.

theFword: Suzyn Waldmann > Hawk

No farking way, I would listen to Tim Mccarver talk before waldmann, that biatch barely knows shes calling a sport let alone anything about the game.

steamingpile: No farking way, I would listen to Tim Mccarver talk before waldmann, that biatch barely knows shes calling a sport let alone anything about the game.

She's actually -very- knowledgeable, and likely very capable of calling a game on her own. The problem is that she has a horrible voice, is forced to second-banana Sterling and has a tendency to non-sequitur into things no one cares about.

Worse announcer is and always will be dwayne stats from tampa, rather watch the cubs lose another 100 years then listen to him broadcast.

Mind of the North Star: Hawk > every other broadcaster

Dumbest thing I ever read on the internets^

At least he's a better broadcaster than he was a GM.

It was an obvious attempt to hit a batter, tossing him was the right call.

I can not stand watching White Sox games because of him. I don't mind a little bit of a homer in the booth, but he takes it wayyyyyy too far. When I'm watching a game, I want broadcasters that sound professional. Hawk sounds like a fan, not an announcer. He renders White Sox games nearly unwatchable for me.

The umpire was within his discretion to eject the pitcher.

Rule 8.02
The pitcher shall not --
(d) Intentionally Pitch at the Batter.
If, in the umpire's judgment, such a violation occurs, the umpire may elect either to:
1. Expel the pitcher, or the manager and the pitcher, from the game, or
2. may warn the pitcher and the manager of both teams that another such pitch will result in the immediate expulsion of that pitcher (or a replacement) and the manager.
If, in the umpire's judgment, circumstances warrant, both teams may be officially "warned" prior to the game or at any time during the game.

Note: (parts a - c left out as not relevant)

I'd have tossed him in an instant too. The guy threw so far inside it went behind the batter. The White Sox need to hire an announcer who knows something about the game of baseball.


/Umpire. Calling a game tonight.
//Consider yourself ejected.