Comments on: Negativity Will Get You Nowhere http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:14:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Nats http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-58 Nats Thu, 28 Jun 2007 03:33:00 +0000 http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-58 My favorite MASN moment of the season so far was April 4th, the first win of the season. Game tied in the 9th, Da Meat Hook at the plate with the bases loaded -- fly ball down the left field line, Marlins' Josh Wilingham lets it drop hoping it would drift foul...but it's fair! -- winning run scores! -- and <a HREF="http://www.nationalsenquirer.com/2007/04/three_cheers_fo.html" REL="nofollow">MASN declares</a>: "Grandslam!" Awesome.<br/><br/>But hey, we all make mistakes. For example, I just misspelled "Willingham"... My favorite MASN moment of the season so far was April 4th, the first win of the season. Game tied in the 9th, Da Meat Hook at the plate with the bases loaded — fly ball down the left field line, Marlins’ Josh Wilingham lets it drop hoping it would drift foul…but it’s fair! — winning run scores! — and MASN declares: “Grandslam!” Awesome.

But hey, we all make mistakes. For example, I just misspelled “Willingham”…

]]> By: Chris Needham http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-57 Chris Needham Thu, 28 Jun 2007 02:39:00 +0000 http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-57 Those are some good points, Joe.<br/><br/>Like I said, my initial dislike of Carpenter was based on style, and that's a matter of opinion. He's not a terrible announcer. I just don't think he's a very good one.<br/><br/>It's probably worth pointing out, too, that Carpenter was not a hire of the current regime. MASN gave him a two-year deal before the Lerners took over. Those are some good points, Joe.

Like I said, my initial dislike of Carpenter was based on style, and that’s a matter of opinion. He’s not a terrible announcer. I just don’t think he’s a very good one.

It’s probably worth pointing out, too, that Carpenter was not a hire of the current regime. MASN gave him a two-year deal before the Lerners took over.

]]> By: Crash http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-56 Crash Thu, 28 Jun 2007 01:32:00 +0000 http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-56 I think that it is important to remember something here with regards to the play-by-play announcing.<br/><br/>I believe that the Nationals wanted someone in the booth who wasn't going to talk "over" fans heads, someone who would announce as though the viewers weren't 100% baseball -educated, which is a safe bet for the D.C. market a couple of years ago.<br/><br/>Someone I know has written that they don't like the way Carpenter talks "down" to the viewers, feeling that such announcing is insulting to the savvy Nats fan.<br/><br/>Well, I'm grateful for the nightly education I get and have gotten over the past 2.5 years. If we had some intense announcer who spoke in pure baseball jargon all the time, I'd have felt marginalized. The club wants to be inclusive, Stan Kasten has said so himself. They know they have the hard-core baseball fans, but they want to be welcoming, not intimidating, to the casual fan, the less-educated viewers. They want "Mom" who has to sit and watch the game with "Dad" and the boys to feel welcome and included.<br/><br/>Bob Carpenter does this very well. He's not "intense", he's relaxed. He's folksy without being boring, he has a pleasant timbre to his voice and a nice cadence, he knows his history and respects the game so very much.<br/><br/>And as I said before, they have the unenviable task of trying to make an entertaining broadcast out of the performance of a losing team. It's GOT to be easier to do their job when the team is winning. I think that it is important to remember something here with regards to the play-by-play announcing.

I believe that the Nationals wanted someone in the booth who wasn’t going to talk “over” fans heads, someone who would announce as though the viewers weren’t 100% baseball -educated, which is a safe bet for the D.C. market a couple of years ago.

Someone I know has written that they don’t like the way Carpenter talks “down” to the viewers, feeling that such announcing is insulting to the savvy Nats fan.

Well, I’m grateful for the nightly education I get and have gotten over the past 2.5 years. If we had some intense announcer who spoke in pure baseball jargon all the time, I’d have felt marginalized. The club wants to be inclusive, Stan Kasten has said so himself. They know they have the hard-core baseball fans, but they want to be welcoming, not intimidating, to the casual fan, the less-educated viewers. They want “Mom” who has to sit and watch the game with “Dad” and the boys to feel welcome and included.

Bob Carpenter does this very well. He’s not “intense”, he’s relaxed. He’s folksy without being boring, he has a pleasant timbre to his voice and a nice cadence, he knows his history and respects the game so very much.

And as I said before, they have the unenviable task of trying to make an entertaining broadcast out of the performance of a losing team. It’s GOT to be easier to do their job when the team is winning.

]]> By: Chris Needham http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-55 Chris Needham Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:56:00 +0000 http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-55 Jason,<br/><br/>With all due respect... that's a lame excuse. Of COURSE it's a hard job. Of COURSE I can't do it.<br/><br/>I can't play shortstop on a major league level, but I can tell you that Felipe Lopez is pretty poor defensively.<br/><br/>I don't have the qualifications to be President, but I can tell you my opinion on him or any other, despite never holding an elected office!<br/><br/>You don't have to BE something to have an opinion on it. And if you can support the opinion with examples and comparisons, as most people here have, then it's valid.<br/><br/>You might not AGREE with it, but you can't dismiss it if it's supported. Jason,

With all due respect… that’s a lame excuse. Of COURSE it’s a hard job. Of COURSE I can’t do it.

I can’t play shortstop on a major league level, but I can tell you that Felipe Lopez is pretty poor defensively.

I don’t have the qualifications to be President, but I can tell you my opinion on him or any other, despite never holding an elected office!

You don’t have to BE something to have an opinion on it. And if you can support the opinion with examples and comparisons, as most people here have, then it’s valid.

You might not AGREE with it, but you can’t dismiss it if it’s supported.

]]> By: Wm. "Basil" http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-54 Wm. "Basil" Wed, 27 Jun 2007 23:04:00 +0000 http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-54 <b>Finally, I wonder if they would ever have the stones (read balls) to go out and announce a game... It's not easy</b><br/><br/>Having known a big league play-by-play man all my life, I know more than most. That said, Carpenter's work with the Nats is unimpressive -- which is an unpleasant surprise to me, because I liked his ESPN work. Finally, I wonder if they would ever have the stones (read balls) to go out and announce a game… It’s not easy

Having known a big league play-by-play man all my life, I know more than most. That said, Carpenter’s work with the Nats is unimpressive — which is an unpleasant surprise to me, because I liked his ESPN work.

]]> By: Jason http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-53 Jason Wed, 27 Jun 2007 21:45:00 +0000 http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-53 I always find it funny when people critize announcers. My first thought is I wonder if these people ever played a sport. My second thought is, presuming they did, how much of the game do they truly know. Finally, I wonder if they would ever have the stones (read balls) to go out and announce a game... It's not easy, just ask popular ESPN columnist Bill Simmons who did three WCC (Pepperdine and Gonzaga's conference) games and said he was scared sh*tless and was surprised at how hard it was... and that was freaking WCC basketball games. <br/><br/>So lay-off the play-by-play guys... As for Peter Angelos, he is what he is, and you are never going to change him. And lets not act like MASN is Cablevision and providing Balitmore with a $200 million payroll.. <br/><br/>I am right there with you StephH...<br/><br/>Jason I always find it funny when people critize announcers. My first thought is I wonder if these people ever played a sport. My second thought is, presuming they did, how much of the game do they truly know. Finally, I wonder if they would ever have the stones (read balls) to go out and announce a game… It’s not easy, just ask popular ESPN columnist Bill Simmons who did three WCC (Pepperdine and Gonzaga’s conference) games and said he was scared sh*tless and was surprised at how hard it was… and that was freaking WCC basketball games.

So lay-off the play-by-play guys… As for Peter Angelos, he is what he is, and you are never going to change him. And lets not act like MASN is Cablevision and providing Balitmore with a $200 million payroll..

I am right there with you StephH…

Jason

]]> By: Doug http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-52 Doug Wed, 27 Jun 2007 20:05:00 +0000 http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-52 Great post and great discussion about MASN! I don't live in DC right now and it is awful having to go up to a bar that has DirectTV just to see the game, so everybody should be glad that the games are on local TV (most of the time :)) in the first place regardless of the content.<br/><br/>As for what I have seen of MASN, it seems pretty decent and it is still in its infancy so let's let it progress and continue to evolve into a quality product. Great post and great discussion about MASN! I don’t live in DC right now and it is awful having to go up to a bar that has DirectTV just to see the game, so everybody should be glad that the games are on local TV (most of the time :)) in the first place regardless of the content.

As for what I have seen of MASN, it seems pretty decent and it is still in its infancy so let’s let it progress and continue to evolve into a quality product.

]]> By: kristen23 http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-51 kristen23 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 20:04:00 +0000 http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-51 This is a great discussion. Sure MASN's not perfect, but I can't imagine living in NC and missing out on games all together. <br/><br/>Games on MASN are way better than no games at all; I think we all realize that.<br/><br/>I too happen to agree with you Steph - I enjoy Bob, Don, Ray and Johnny a great deal. I have learned so much, especially from Don, this season.<br/><br/>I totally feel the frustrations you've all mentioned, but I like the spirit of this discussion. <br/><br/>We all want what is best for Nats fans and because of last summer, I think we all know how frustrated they must be down in NC. This is a great discussion. Sure MASN’s not perfect, but I can’t imagine living in NC and missing out on games all together.

Games on MASN are way better than no games at all; I think we all realize that.

I too happen to agree with you Steph - I enjoy Bob, Don, Ray and Johnny a great deal. I have learned so much, especially from Don, this season.

I totally feel the frustrations you’ve all mentioned, but I like the spirit of this discussion.

We all want what is best for Nats fans and because of last summer, I think we all know how frustrated they must be down in NC.

]]> By: Mike http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-50 Mike Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:57:00 +0000 http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-50 As has been said already, I think MASN is growing. Sutton is a huge step up from Wimpy last season and Darling the season before. I wonder if Carpenter will be here next season with his contract being up. Does anyone think there is a chance the Nats will pursue Sutton's son eventually?<br/><br/>I like and am thankful for MASN even if it does help Angelos out. I think the criticism is good to an extent though as it pushes them to keep improving the product. As has been said already, I think MASN is growing. Sutton is a huge step up from Wimpy last season and Darling the season before. I wonder if Carpenter will be here next season with his contract being up. Does anyone think there is a chance the Nats will pursue Sutton’s son eventually?

I like and am thankful for MASN even if it does help Angelos out. I think the criticism is good to an extent though as it pushes them to keep improving the product.

]]> By: Wm. "Basil" http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-49 Wm. "Basil" Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:56:00 +0000 http://wevegotheart.com/2007/06/27/negativity-will-get-you-nowhere/#comment-49 I don't see it as a matter of negativity. It's just an opinion.<br/><br/>I just find MASN's work generally amateurish. Maybe it'll get better; I hope so. I'm certainly happy to have the coverage in my area, but that gratitude shouldn't really affect whether I find the product impressive or not.<br/><br/>I find Sutton great and Carpenter . . . significantly less than great. Holliday's a pro, of course, and is becoming more baseball savvy by the week. Ray Knight is Ray Knight. He's no better and no worse than when he debuted on Baseball Tonight in 1990.<br/><br/>The production values are abysmal, the cross-promotion between the Nats and O's content is ham-fisted, and . . . yes, the smack-talk commercials are worth their weight in mockery and so much more.<br/><br/>Just callin' it like I see it. I don’t see it as a matter of negativity. It’s just an opinion.

I just find MASN’s work generally amateurish. Maybe it’ll get better; I hope so. I’m certainly happy to have the coverage in my area, but that gratitude shouldn’t really affect whether I find the product impressive or not.

I find Sutton great and Carpenter … significantly less than great. Holliday’s a pro, of course, and is becoming more baseball savvy by the week. Ray Knight is Ray Knight. He’s no better and no worse than when he debuted on Baseball Tonight in 1990.

The production values are abysmal, the cross-promotion between the Nats and O’s content is ham-fisted, and … yes, the smack-talk commercials are worth their weight in mockery and so much more.

Just callin’ it like I see it.

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