To tell you the truth, I wouldn't care if the home announcer didn't live and die with each game. If he's bringing me the game professionally with interesting content, I don't care if his blood isn't boiling when things go wrong. Chance are, when they're calling 150 games a year, they're going to lean toward the team paying the salary. It's when they go over the line, and think they're part of the team on the field that I have a problem with.

 

To give you an example of somebody that straddled the line, but didn't cross it...John Rooney. He was never a "Sox fan", but he did a great job for the Sox and most people really liked how he called the game.

I disagree. Learning about the history of the game is fun. I enjoy when people are fans of the game and enjoy the good things and get mad about bad things. That's the fun of sports. It's not life and death it's meant to be enjoyed. This isn't a broadcast about the serial killers and the deficit, it's sports.

I agree with everyone who likes & defends Hawk and vehemently disagree with anyone who thinks Hawk is anything less than the best man for the job.

This is neither here nor there but I was watching the Indians game today and MAAAAN was there some extended silence. One batter got to a 2-2 count before the announcers had said a word. It was weird and awkward. It wasn't petulant silence like Hawk, though. Not sure if that makes it better or worse.

Edited April 9, 201312 yr by ScottyDo

I remember when I first realized Hawk didn't know how to properly evaluate White Sox players: He was GUSHING over Jeff Liefer saying he would be a great hitter given 500 AB's. Might have even said he could hit 30 HR's.

 

Hawk was gospel to me at that point (I wanna say this was sometime in 2002.. maybe) it's been a slow decline since then. With not only player evaluation but calling a baseball game too.

 

Counterpoint: I also remember very vividly back in 2000 when Mark Buehrle was trying to gain a roster spot in spring training. Most were praising the promise of guys like Jon Garland, Jim Parque and Mike Sirotka. Hawk went out of his way "GUSHING" over Buehrle, saying among other things that he thought that Mark knew how to pitch, would be the best of the bunch, etc. How'd that turn out?

 

All baseball guys, pro scouts included, hit and miss on prospects. They are prospects for a reason.

Counterpoint: I also remember very vividly back in 2000 when Mark Buehrle was trying to gain a roster spot in spring training. Most were praising the promise of guys like Jon Garland, Jim Parque and Mike Sirotka. Hawk went out of his way "GUSHING" over Buehrle, saying among other things that he thought that Mark knew how to pitch, would be the best of the bunch, etc. How'd that turn out?

 

All baseball guys, pro scouts included, hit and miss on prospects. They are prospects for a reason.

 

Plus anyone who knows their White Sox history, knows how good of a GM Hawk actually was.

One other thing, too: as much as I love Hawk I can't go 9 innings without rolling my eyes or saying "Shut up Hawk!" or something like that. But I also can't go 9 innings listening to anyone else talk about baseball without doing the same thing, nor can I scroll through 1 page of any thread here without thinking the same thing, etc. There's no one out there that won't annoy us individually as fans at one time or another, but when it comes to passion for the team, knowledge of the game, translated excitement and the "big game feel" he helps provide during a key series, there's no one out there better.

^I'll add to the above post, Phil Humber threw a perfect game for us on FOX with less excitement than your average September loss to the Twins.

^I'll add to the above post, Phil Humber threw a perfect game for us on FOX with less excitement than your average September loss to the Twins.

This is a good point. Every time I hear Joe Buck's world series call replayed on the Score it makes me throw up in my mouth. He is so disinterested. I'd much rather have annoying Hawk homerism, catch phrases and fly ball ineptitude than the bland, sleepy tones of a Joe Buck or whoever does Brewers games these days.

Edited April 9, 201312 yr by ScottyDo

I agree with everyone who likes & defends Hawk and vehemently disagree with anyone who thinks Hawk is anything less than the best man for the job.

 

The cubs have fans who thought Santo was the best man for the job as well.

 

 

I don't understand why people are so sensitive about the fact that there's people who don't like Hawk as much as they do (or not at all). Then will say "I don't know why people don't love Hawk" after reading several people in a row give a list of specific reasons. What is that about? Also, how are you going to argue someone's opinion?

This is neither here nor there but I was watching the Indians game today and MAAAAN was there some extended silence. One batter got to a 2-2 count before the announcers had said a word. It was weird and awkward. It wasn't petulant silence like Hawk, though. Not sure if that makes it better or worse.

 

Great post.

 

Hawk and Stoney's conversational style make(s) each and every game a pleasure for me to watch.

I don't understand why people are so sensitive about the fact that there's people who don't like Hawk as much as they do (or not at all). Then will say "I don't know why people don't love Hawk" after reading several people in a row give a list of specific reasons. What is that about? Also, how are you going to argue someone's opinion?

 

Its no different than the people who look down on people who like Hawk.

Great post.

 

Hawk and Stoney's conversational style make(s) each and every game a pleasure for me to watch.

Sure wasn't any conversation last year.

Great post.

 

Hawk and Stoney's conversational style make(s) each and every game a pleasure for me to watch.

Yeah. I love when Stone will pose a question to Hawk and then there's dead air before going back to PBP.

Its no different than the people who look down on people who like Hawk.

It's someone's own personal opinion, it's already boiled down to the lowest common denominator. It's not like arguing over stats or something. I like green and some other dude likes blue. "I don't understand, why do you like green? Green sucks."

Anyone notice how much Hawk has eased up on the umpiring this season?

Anyone notice how much Hawk has eased up on the umpiring this season?

I love that they use pitch trax so Hawk doesn't have to go "where was that pitch" 25 times per game, and be wrong on 24 of them.

Sure wasn't any conversation last year.

 

Yeah, why are they being so nice to each other this year? Is it because it's so early in the season and the grind hasn't set in yet? Or did they hash things out?

Anyone notice how much Hawk has eased up on the umpiring this season?

and he's actually (reluctantly) asking his cy young winning color man questions about pitching

Yeah, why are they being so nice to each other this year? Is it because it's so early in the season and the grind hasn't set in yet? Or did they hash things out?

http://www.southsidesox.com/2013/2/3/39468...etter-broadcast

 

Just saying that your post wasn't exactly valid going by last year's broadcasts, those were a brutal listen.

Yeah, why are they being so nice to each other this year? Is it because it's so early in the season and the grind hasn't set in yet? Or did they hash things out?

 

Because they got the message about how the broadcasts sounded last year.

More fuel for the fire regarding Hawks recent stance on sabremetrics. http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/blog_art...arls-of-wisdom/

Great post.

 

Hawk and Stoney's conversational style make(s) each and every game a pleasure for me to watch.

Are you on drugs?

More fuel for the fire regarding Hawks recent stance on sabremetrics. http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/blog_art...arls-of-wisdom/

Ignorant.

 

Hawk speaks to the casual fan, always has and always will. He's one of the old scouts in the movie Moneyball.

Edited April 11, 201312 yr by IlliniKrush

It's been the same Hawk as always so far to me. Typical sound board.

 

Still talks over Stone and than tries correcting him after he makes a point. I don't know how Steve puts up with it sometimes.