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After reading some of the comments here, it's perplexing to me how there are users on this site that somehow figured out how to turn on their computer, find this site and able to create a log in and password. If you don't like Len Kasper's voice or delivery as a broadcaster, that's one thing. Everyone has different tastes. But the lack of critical thinking skills shown by what I assume are fully-functioning adults is crazy. Why do you think there is so much outrage from Cubs fans? The guy was the voice of the team for 15 years and fans fell in love with his calls, his style, his "homerism" for the North Side. Guess what.........he'll now be doing that for the team you all love. Are you really that immature and naive to not be able to see that? When Eloy cranks out a bomb at Wrigley and you're driving in your car listening to Len go nuts, you're still going to find him insufferable? Again, the amount of petulance shown here because he called games for a franchise you hate is just laughable.

This is garbage

The fact that Passan is OK with this would seem to indicate that Kasper has a clean driving record.

If Bennetti goes I will be so happy. The sooner he's out of here the better. Re: Kasper, I like him, but he's more the national type than the typical Chicago-style homer. On the radio I think he might work very well. I like the guy who does the PBP for the Charlotte Knights games. He would be an excellent replacement for Bennetti. Also I liked the guy who did some of the Sox ST games last year. I bet there are lots of good PBP guys in MiLB that can focus on the game of baseball properly. Bennetti is such a dork. And all his big calls suck. I'm not going to rant about this but seriously, if he has any aspirations of increasing his national time, great, go do it, good riddance, GTFO of here already.

Yes, over 40 years Jason Benetti was the first professional PBP on television for a quarter century, and Kasper is the first on radio since Rooney left, though Farmer grew into his role and I have generally always liked the radio broadcasts. For Len's replacement, it's crystal clear the job is Kayleigh McEnany's for the taking, a perfect fit for the Marquee Network, Sinclair Broadcasting, the Ricketts Family and Cubs Baseball. She may be available next month. July 31, 2021 broadcast: "Kris Bryant is one of the all time great Cubs, an MVP, a World Series winner, a great man, husband, teammate and baseball player." "Kayleigh, this just in, Kris Bryant has been traded to the Washington Nationals. This is Kris' final game with the Chicago Cubs." "Kris Bryant was the most overrated player in Cubs history, a bad teammate, a wife beater, good riddance. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out."

I don't think Schumer is that hot, but to each their own

Yeah that's fine. I like smart, informed people representing and talking about my favorite team on multiple platforms.

Len Kasper is one of the best PBP guys in the business and people are complaining? The same people liked Farmio and Hawk at the end. Woof. This is tremendous news.

?

It’s a fantastic hire by both 1000 and the White Sox. He’s a great broadcaster and to your point, Farmer and DJ were just not an enjoyable listen. The Sox have put together a very, VERY strong broadcasting lineup.

Please stop. Grandal is a top 2 catcher in baseball period. Do some research. Look up some advanced stats. Stop it.

Are we sure this is official? I don't see A. J. Hinch's signature on the press release picture.

One reason Cubs fans are so upset is because he is going to the White Sox. They wouldn't be half as upset if he was going to the Padres.

But why aren't you crying?

That is 100% my take. He is a voice that can add positive content to White Sox coverage. That was what I was envious about him was that you got pertinent information while on a medium outside of the game call.

FUCK THE CUBS!!!

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahshahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

I would bet in a few years, Benetti moves up in the world and Kasper takes the TV gig. Meanwhile, it’s a nice problem to have for now.

If Harold responds putting Yadi on the sox I will kill him.

This thread should be called offseason tangents, as there’s very little in way of target discussion.

I spend a lot of time listening to White Sox related podcasts, sports radio etc. I think having Len Kasper as a member of the White Sox media team in general is awesome. I just like smart people covering my favorite team. That's all

There is no reason to trade for Snell if Kopech or Vaughn are involved. There are other opportunities to shore up the pitching without giving our top guys away and still having to pay big dollar.

If it were up to me, I would prefer to have Vaughn as the centerpiece of a deal than one of our top level pitchers. With as much offense as we have signed up for the long term, even if Vaughn does turn into Paul Konerko, it won't hurt nearly as much as if a Michael Kopech turns into Chris Sale.

Do the Sox get Tatis back then

I would prefer that we let Katz do the unlocking.

Not sure I’ve ever seen the Sox get better press than they have this morning

Over the years much has been made of how Harry Caray leaving us for the Cubs really helped the Cub brand. Maybe this is the start of a reversal of that trend.

Because players are always who we think they are at the age of 25 . My God I actually used to think you were smart about baseball but to pursue this line of BS you are beyond hope. Tons of guys turn into more than the sum of their stats after age 25. Of course more stay exactly the same and some get worse. How do I know that ? because teams , yes actual major league teams take chances on guys like that and successful teams too like the Dodgers, Oakland , Rays and many more. Or teams just keep them rather than discarding them. Anyone can say someone sucks and be right most of the time. Most of this board said it when the Sox SIGNED McCann and he was older and worse than Mazara. Hell you could have said Tim Anderson sucks after his 1st 3 years until he broke out at age 26.

Well Ed Farmer never fulfilled his dream of driving a Windy City Limousine, but I am glad that Len has fulfilled his childhood dream of calling games on the radio.

"In my weekly newsletter to Reinsdorf, I suggested I be the play-by-play. I have a lot of good ideas..."

First of all I hate him. Secondly, was he let go by the Cubs? I wouldn't think too many people would leave the TV booth to be a radio announcer.

Perhaps my initial reaction was a tad hyperbolic and meat headed, I can own that. I find Kasper insufferable and this announcement was a bit of a slap in the face by ESPN. To me he is bland monotony steeped in Cubs homerism, and that will now be calling Sox games. For those that think he is good, what makes him so good?

That’s a bad take. If your neighbor got looped and decided to go out in the back yard and just shoot his gun off, would you be OK with that as long as no one was hurt? A car is a weapon when you are drunk. He already was arrested for this offense previously and Mr. Sincere Legitimacy told us it would never happen again. And it did. And when it did, he thought his HOF ring was a get out of jail free card. He has shown his true colors.

Yeah, that is scary. I think I have listened to less than 2 games total on the radio the last 5 years. Only when I am driving some place and the game is on. So this doesn’t really do much for me.

We coulda had James McCann for 3 more years or so and Kole Calhoun out in RF for like $20 million less than Grandal.

There are no good soxtalk announcer takes.

It's so frustrating knowing that if everyone just wore a mask, the virus could be contained rather quickly. It won't go away, obviously, but the chances of people infecting others goes way down. We could wear masks until the vaccine is ready and available. Infection rates would drop off quickly if everyone started wearing masks today. It's a shame that wearing a mask has become a political issue. Where I work, it had to be stated in an email to everyone that regardless of the politicization of masks, everyone is required to wear them. We still have some non-conformers, but not many. And we haven't had any confirmed cases where someone got sick from someone else here.

He sounds like Kermit the Frog.

This is good. Too bad he isnt replacing Benetti on tv.

Not to mention Grandal is 1 1/2 years older, with age a significant factor for catchers versus other positions. My problems with the signing remain: The Sox had much more pressing needs than upgrading the catcher position, needs that remain (RF and SP). It was unlikely any out-performance by Grandal (assuming it occurs) over McCann was worth more than double the contract money the Sox are paying Grandal ($18.25M / year) over McCann's reported deal. McCann's work with the pitching staff was as, if not more valuable than any upgrade in pitch framing Grandal offered. McCann worked during the off-season to improve his pitch framing, and it paid off, one of the reasons his WAR was higher. Time will tell, but I don't think Grandal will age well or be able to catch 120 + games a year over the final few years (age 32-34 years) of his contract, and will suffer a drop-off in production due to age/attrition. He will need to play DH/1B more with each year, negating his offensive value from the catcher spot and taking playing time from the backlog the Sox already have at those two positions (Abreu, Vaughn, Jimenez and other prospects). Keuchel was the only signing I liked last off-season, because the contract was good and it fit a need. Money spent on Parrot and Grandal was better spent on more SP and a RF. The Sox were running on fumes and couldn't find a viable third playoff starter 60 games into the year.

Lol Len is not a national type. He belongs At a Single A affiliate in Mississippi. I always told cubs fans that the only people that like Lynn are diehard cubs fans and/or stat nerds. he doesnt fit the white Sox mold at all. I used to see him at a bagel shopping glencoe and just cringe. He’s a real weirdo that appears to get a job if he sucks up to the right people and doesn’t cost a lot. the-only good thing is that this sticks it to the majority of cub fans who would enjoy a toaster announcing their game as they defecate on themselves after eating six bigmacs and wash it down with a gallon of Ronnie woo woo saliva.

Except McCann has a higher WAR since beginning of 2019. Doesn't necessarily mean McCann is as good, but it raises the question. And the first part of his post is certainly true. McCann could have been had at probably 7-8 mil a year vs Grandal at 18.5. People say McCann would have been over exposed with more playing time, but he would have had to hit .140 with a .250 slugging in those extra at bats to equal Grandal. Granted, losing ten points on his obp is easier to imagine, but that's still speculative. In actual performance we know for sure, McCann outperformed him over the last 222 games.

How can anyone complain about Sox radio after what we had to listen to last decade?

At this point, the only explanation is that the 2016 Cubs are a monkey's paw.

I can't even take devious pleasure that this angers Cubs fans. Len Kasper is the worst. Fuck ESPN.

McCann is going to be a better overall player on a better overall contract than Grandal. Sox fucked up with this one. I wish the Sox had an owner like Cohen. Then he'd respond by signing Realmuto and Bauer and we'd be better off anyway.

Welp, I’m never listening to the Sox on the radio again. ???

His voice is so annoying, once Brenly left I put the games on mute.

Benetti and Len Kasper are two of the best play by play guys in sports. We're lucky as fans to have them both calling games for the Sox. Wow.

Personally, I live in NYC and a bunch of my friends are Mets fans, so at least I'll get to see James a few times in person a year. If it can't be the Sox, the Mets are fine by me.