Average age of Hawk, Stone, Farmio, DJ and Bill Melton (CSN shows) is nearly 66

 

Hard to see how this is a winning strategy to cultivate younger fans.

 

Why include Melton on that list, but not Chuck Garfein or Chris Rongey?

Can we at least agree Hawk and Melton are terrible at their jobs, and Farmer is an arrogant asshole?

 

I like Garfien. DJ is fine on the postgames with Rongey---he actually speaks the truth.

 

Rongey? It's a tough job that he makes worse by being who he is. Probably a good time for some turnover.

Edited October 1, 201510 yr by flavum

Can we at least agree Hawk and Melton are terrible at their jobs, and Farmer is an arrogant asshole?

I think Hawk is pretty good. Melton screws up a lot but is pretty entertaining, and if you ever met Ed Farmer, you would think he is one of the nicest people around.

Can we at least agree Hawk and Melton are terrible at their jobs, and Farmer is an arrogant asshole?

 

I like Garfien. DJ is fine on the postgames with Rongey---he actually speaks the truth.

 

Rongey? It's a tough job that he makes worse by being who he is. Probably a good time for some turnover.

Do you really think a Rongey replacement would be able to go rogue and make you happy by agreeing with every boneheaded caller?

Edited October 1, 201510 yr by Dick Allen

I think Hawk is pretty good. Melton screws up a lot but is pretty entertaining, and if you ever met Ed Farmer, you would think he is one of the nicest people around.

 

I'll take your word for it on Farmer. I just don't like the guy on the air. Same stuff whenever I turn them on--golf, St. Rita, Notre Dame, tough guy act, Southern California, not giving the score, flubbing opponent's names on purpose...not a fan of the guy.

I'll take your word for it on Farmer. I just don't like the guy on the air. Same stuff whenever I turn them on--golf, St. Rita, Notre Dame, tough guy act, Southern California, not giving the score, flubbing opponent's names on purpose...not a fan of the guy.

He really is a nice person. What is funny about Rongey is he has maybe the worst broadcast job available. He took over for Dave Wills who used to post on WSI, so the WSI guys like Lip think he is the greatest thing ever. But when Wills did the show it was the same thing. I don't know how many times I heard him call a caller a drill rod. The next guy will be the same thing.

Do you really think a Rongey replacement would be able to go rogue and make you happy by agreeing with every boneheaded caller?

 

I don't listen to Rongey that much anymore. My opinion is that the pool of good callers has eroded over the losing seasons, and he's only left with the meatballs.

 

He's been doing it 10 years. It probably wouldn't hurt to get a new voice, but the Sox/WLS are going to do whatever.

Edited October 1, 201510 yr by flavum

Rongey.....I don't even know where to get started with that guy. Why does he have to argue with everyone? Just say, "hey Bob, appreciate your thoughts. Thanks for the call." Click.

Rongey.....I don't even know where to get started with that guy. Why does he have to argue with everyone? Just say, "hey Bob, appreciate your thoughts. Thanks for the call." Click.

 

That is the schtick for the entire Score line up. Find someone stupid, show them up, rinse, repeat.

I don't listen to Rongey that much anymore. My opinion is that the pool of good callers has eroded over the losing seasons, and he's only left with the meatballs.

 

He's been doing it 10 years. It probably wouldn't hurt to get a new voice, but the Sox/WLS are going to do whatever.

All sports radio has to be 95% meatball callers. When the Sox were winning the calls weren't as adversarial.

That is the schtick for the entire Score line up. Find someone stupid, show them up, rinse, repeat.

That is usually the next blinking line. Why would anyone who really knew what they are talking about call Boers and Bernstein? You know you will not be able to get your point out before they cut you off.

All sports radio has to be 95% meatball callers. When the Sox were winning the calls weren't as adversarial.

 

I'll buy that. Honestly, you probably have to be a certain type of person to call into a radio station to begin with.

DJ does an excellent job breaking down at bats when an important one is up.

 

I have no doubt that if DJ were broadcasting for another team people would be praising him as an announcer.

Still havent seen any confirmation that Hawk, Stone, or Robin will be back next year though....

DJ does an excellent job breaking down at bats when an important one is up.

 

I have no doubt that if DJ were broadcasting for another team people would be praising him as an announcer.

 

I think what gets people is that the guy has an odd and dry sense of humor. Farmer had the same problem of getting his jokes when they started together.

Hawk is the only one that should have a guaranteed spot next year.

 

He is a legend.

Hawk is the only one that should have a guaranteed spot next year.

 

He is a legend.

 

He's the one that should not have a guaranteed spot next year.

He is a legend.

 

A legend alright. but not in a good way.

https://twitter.com/stevestone/status/649643109484097536

 

Is there something you'd like to tell us, Steve?

https://twitter.com/stevestone/status/649643109484097536

 

Is there something you'd like to tell us, Steve?

Hm...

That is usually the next blinking line. Why would anyone who really knew what they are talking about call Boers and Bernstein? You know you will not be able to get your point out before they cut you off.

 

I quit listening to WSCR about two months ago and haven't missed it one bit!

 

Average age of Hawk, Stone, Farmio, DJ and Bill Melton (CSN shows) is nearly 66

 

Hard to see how this is a winning strategy to cultivate younger fans.

Hawk has to be one of the best guys to do that.

Farmer is just the absolute worst

Agree.

I like DJ though.

Now get a new TV crew.

There are enough fans who think time has passed most of those guys by and refuse to listen / watch. That is part of the overall product produced by this organization. It all factors in. No it doesn't impact what happens on the field...it does impact what happens off it and that is part of the issues which the franchise refuses to improve.

 

And again JR has the final call on broadcasters. There were folks in the organization pushing for Dave Willis at one time, they could never get JR to say yes so Dave went off to Tampa where he is very happy.

 

Again JR values loyalty over a good product. The fact is Hawk is 73 years old and has lost his edge (as I broadcaster I know what this is...), Stone can't work with him, Farmer is a great color analyst but is brutal as a play by play guy and DJ is the nicest person on Earth. He's just not very good in the booth.

 

These guys are the fans immediate connection to the franchise, having poor broadcasters hurts the overall marketability of things and God knows this franchise needs all the help they can get.

 

Yet nothing changes. Save for bad baseball.

 

Mark

 

You hit the nail on the head for me regarding Farmer. I used to love listening to Sox games and getting things done, especially on weekends. Now I can not stand more than a few minutes of Farmer before I have to turn it off. He has had the wrong job in that booth now for 10 years since Rooney left. And while Wills may have been quick to call people drill rods, there was an absence of arrogance in his manner. I can not say the same for Rongey.

Wills had a way of seeming more like one of the fans (exasperated, for example) than just an arrogant/stubborn corporate lackey who you just knew with 98% predictability how combative he would be based upon the results of the game.

 

In some ways, I think he's kind of given into the negativity a bit more this season, but, to use a Gregism, he never came across as the kind of guy you would enjoy a round or two of Miller Lites with...he never was able to find that middle ground where he was both standing with/sympathizing with the fans AND organization at the same time.

Edited October 1, 201510 yr by caulfield12