The Buck/Berman/ESPN Lovefest During Adrian's Derby ABs

by AIChief on Jul 13, 2009 9:50 PM PDT Comment 27 comments

I'll preface this complaint by saying that I am aware that the Home Run Derby is an exhibition within an exhibition that masquerades as something meaningful.......so who really cares.

However:

ESPN's coverage of Adrian's Derby ABs was a complete joke. It was an uneventful performance that only lasted a shade under five minutes and you wouldn't have even known he was batting ifBerman hadn't stopped yapping his gums 35 seconds into Adrian's AB.

Intro lasted seven seconds followed by quick segue back to Joe Buck.
Joe Buck says how excited he is to see Adrian's performance in the Derby as well as in the ASG tomorrow because "Adrian Gonzalez is the best player you've never heard of.".......and as the last syllable rolled off of Buck's tongue, Berman jumped all over him with, "What was it like to be Jack Buck's son?".
The Buck/Berman/Morgan/Phillips love fest went on for the next four 1/2 minutes while Adrian Gonzalez innocently slapped line drives around Busch. Adrian made his tenth out , took a seat, and toweled off......and then 30 seconds after he had finished,Berman acknowledged that Adrian had actually completed his turn in the competition.

Now if Adrian had started hitting some bombs perhaps the whole Jack Buck Love Fest / "St. Louis Cardinal Nation" History Lesson would have been brought to an end but here's my issue:

Joe Buck told a national audience that Adrian Gonzalez IS the best player you've never heard of and how he couldn't wait to watch him.....and then spent the next 5 minutes looking at the ESPN Desk waxing poetic about the Cardinal's rich history in the Midwest. Anyone on ESPN will also tell you that Adrian IS the best player you've never heard of.......yet they never took the opportunity to talk about him in front of a captive audience.

I'm not really surprised but what a fu@*ing joke!

I'll work on obtaining some email addresses if anyone is inclined to fire off some complaints.

This FanPost was written by a member of the Gaslamp Ball community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Gaslamp Ball managers or SB Nation.

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Yeah it was lame

The only reason i tuned into that thing was to see Adrian hit. They robbed me of an opportunity to watch my favorite player (even if Adrian did do poorly).

What a letdown that whole thing was…

by soulSD on Jul 13, 2009 10:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm blown away

by the number of you that had the sound on last night. I haven’t watched ESPN baseball with sound since FJM still existed.

"When the going gets tough... TheGrandHatching pops in later." -- WG

by TheGrandHatching on Jul 14, 2009 7:36 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

In my defense

I was watching the netcast, and it was on another tab, and I’d click away during the extended commercial breaks where there was nothing happening. It was the only way to tell it was time to watch again.

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Jul 14, 2009 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Same here.

www.FriarsOnCardboard.blogspot.com
"jbox does not drink coffee, as it makes him clean house big time." ~Kev

by TheThirdGonzalez on Jul 14, 2009 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

In my defense

I’m clearly a moron/glutton for punishment.

http://avengingjackmurphy.blogspot.com/

I don't agree with a word you're saying but I'll defend to the death your right to say it" ~Patrick Henry

"Shut the fuck up Donnie, you're out of your element!" ~Walter Sobchak from The Big Lebowski

by AIChief on Jul 14, 2009 10:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

First off...I rec this 1000%

It was a complete joke. What happened had NOTHING to do with Aid’s performance. It’s TV and it’s scripted to the last second. They planned on doing that jerk-off segment and needed a spot to stick it. Let’s see…who’s the guy we couldn’t possibly care less about? From the team we couldn’t possibly care less about? With the smallest number of fans to piss off? BINGO!

Think they would have planned something like with Pujols hitting? Or Prince? Or Howard? Please.

by Drama on Jul 14, 2009 10:31 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I am Ron Mexico and I approve of this message.

"Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"

by Ron Mexico on Jul 14, 2009 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

They did do it during Prince's at bat

They had Pujols up there for an interview. Prince just got their attention a few times by hitting some bombs that turned heads. Still, they at least tried to tie the two together by asking Pujols about Prince’s approach. They probably had something planned as a distraction for everyone of the first round at bats, with the exception of Pujols. The Buck and Pujols interviews were the only ones that distracted Berman/Phillips/Morgan as the rest of the distractions usually involved Erin Andrews interviewing somebody. If I was running the show, I would have put Buck up there for Inge’s at bat. IMHO Inge was basically a space filler there and doesn’t really deserve national attention. He’s a fringe starter having a career year and defies the very definition of All Star. During Adrian’s at bat I would have sent Erin Andrews out to get some quotes from the Cartographer and obviously ask the softball question of “What can you tell us about one of the best player’s that no one has heard of?”

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 14, 2009 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with everything but Inge being a fringe starter, let alone an All-Star.

He has a new plate approach this year that has him hitting the ball where it’s pitched and it’s payed huge dividends so far (21 HRs, 58 RBIs). In addition, his defense at third has been outstanding, making him a complete player and well above average on both side of the ball, which is a great definition of an All-Star.

by 'Eaters on Jul 14, 2009 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just don't agree

That three months of above average hitting qualifies you as an All Star regardless of whether your approach is better. In my book, ARod is a better player and therefore an All Star (but of course he’s not on the roster). Same with his teammate Miguel Cabrera (who is also not on the roster). In all likelihood, Inge will regress back to his normal playing level over the course of the next few years and his numbers will not put him among the top 20 non-pitchers in the AL, which is what the All Star roster is supposed to be. He reminds me of Jose Hernandez. A good role player on a championship level team who had some good years, but would never be considered among the top 20 non-pitchers in his league, but does have an All Star appearance on his resume. Kevin Elster or Mike Pagliarulo would some other good comps, but they never made all star games. Brandon Inge is also 32 years old. I have a REAL hard time elevating any player to a higher level of competence who is over the age of 30 because baseball history has shown me that above average performances by players that old are flukes that disappear quickly.

So, he’s a 32-year-old with over 4000 PAs with a career line of .239/.309/.402 who plays above average defense. Sounds pretty fringy to me. Certainly doesn’t sound like one of the top 20 non-pitchers in the AL.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 14, 2009 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is not the HoF, it's the 2009 All-Star game

Meaning, throw out his career line. I don’t care about that. We’re not evaluating trade value down the line, we’re examining whether he was one of the 20 best non-pitchers in the AL from April to July. That’s the criteria. Period.

It doesn’t matter what ARod’s career numbers are, and the fact that he’s obviously a better talent than Inge. The fact (and ideally, though not realistically) is that the All-Star game rewards the player performing better that year. I’m so tired of players being voted into the All-Star game on recognition or market size. Prime example this year: Alfonso Soriano, who was a smidgen away from being voted in by the fans. Was he ultimately picked by Jerry Manuel? No, because though talented, other players have performed better this year.

Furthermore, ARod, who has struggled this year due to time missed and an injury, will probably be the first to admit Inge should be there ahead of him this year. ARod has been before, and he’ll go again. He’s a microcosm of perennial All-Stars: we see them all the time, therefore, when deserving and applicable let’s honor a player having a better year. I defy you to re-watch footage of Inge during the HR derby. He just went an embarrassing 0-fer but has a huge smile on his face because he is on the All-Star infield, with his kids crawling all over him. And this isn’t shear sentimentality, his number this year prove that he earned his way there.

by 'Eaters on Jul 14, 2009 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's BS

Of course his career line matters. How can you be an All Star without a career line to back it up? It’s not the “Best 3 Months” Stars it’s the ALL Stars. The game is at it’s best when it has the best players. If you don’t consider a player’s career line, then you won’t get the best players. See: ARod, M. Cabrera, Brian Roberts etc. The game is hurt by these guys not being there and mediocre players like Brandon Inge and Ben Zobrist being there. Obviously, to give it a 2009 flavor you can use 2009 (as well as the age of a player) as a deciding factor and that can help eliminate the Soriano’s and Rollins’ from the game while choosing other players of their ilk who are having a better couple of months.

I can follow your logic if you want to make a case for a guy who has been above average for a long time and is having a great first half, like Raul Ibanez . Or, if you want to argue that a young player is now entering their prime and putting themselves in All Star territory, like a Chad Billingsley or possibly an Aaron Hill. But, Inge is not that. He’s an older player who has had a few extra balls clear the fence this year and probably isn’t even playing up to his established level of excellence on defense. He’s one of the worst kinds of all stars, right up there with mediocre pitchers who have high win totals being taken over top pitchers with lower ones.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 14, 2009 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I also want to clarify

That I don’t mean to solely consider players good selections based on their career lines. Obviously, guys who are at the end of their careers who sport good career numbers (Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, maybe even David Ortiz), but have obviously been surpassed by other players shouldn’t be included. But, I just don’t see why guys like Inge are more deserving than better players like Miguel Cabrera. Or why Zobrist should go instead of Brian Roberts. Or Jason Marquis instead of Javier Vazquez. And is there really not enough room for CC Sabathia who has proven he is one of the top 5 pitchers in all of baseball? And don’t me started on rewarding a cheater like Ryan Franklin over a dozen worth starters and middle relievers.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 14, 2009 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I respectfully disagree.

A man busts his ass to be above and beyond his peers THAT YEAR and he should be an All-Star THAT YEAR.

www.FriarsOnCardboard.blogspot.com
"jbox does not drink coffee, as it makes him clean house big time." ~Kev

by TheThirdGonzalez on Jul 14, 2009 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If that were true

I’d be with you. But for the most part, players are rewarded for a couple extra singles falling in or a couple extra balls catching the wind and making it over the fences instead of getting caught.

Guys like Brandon Inge aren’t busting their asses any more than they were in previous years. They are rewarded with millions of dollars for doing that. The All Star game is for the best players, not the ones currently getting lucky.

Also, what if you bust your ass from late June through September, while some lazy All Star only did it from April through mid June (or really late May since the voting by fans and players is done by then)? What’s your reward?

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 14, 2009 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A playoff push? I dunno.

Life’s not fair.

www.FriarsOnCardboard.blogspot.com
"jbox does not drink coffee, as it makes him clean house big time." ~Kev

by TheThirdGonzalez on Jul 15, 2009 12:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

100% Ironic

"Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"

by Ron Mexico on Jul 14, 2009 10:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

For those that watched the Futures Game

They basically did the same thing when Mat Latos was pitching. In their defense, Latos polished off the 3 batters he faced in like -6 seconds.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 14, 2009 11:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

My favorite part

was when Nelson Cruz passed Howard’s total, and nobody knew whether or not Cruz had to keep hitting, and then they just fumbled around on air asking each other what was going on.

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Jul 14, 2009 12:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Well

He got more money for the Boys and Girls club by doing so.

Unlike Fielder who skimped them by stopping once he’d won.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 14, 2009 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I get that part

but if you’re on the telecast for an event, shouldn’t you, umm… know the rules of the event?

And isn’t that sort of backwards? The TV analysts only know the gimmick rules about the charity money (because a sponsor is paying for it) rather than the real rules of what makes a Home Run Derby, that event that people actually came to see/are tuning in to watch.

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Jul 14, 2009 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If ESPN wanted professionalism

They wouldn’t have Chris Berman do it. He’s at the stage in his career where I don’t think he cares what happens. He’s there to bring his schtick,his name, get paid a ton and what you get with that is a lack of any effort. I get the feeling Joe Morgan doesn’t give a hoot about his integrity either. But, it does seem like Phillips is the guy that should be the point man on anything event related. He’s not especially famous (like Morgan), he doesn’t have gimmicks (like Berman) and he’s not a hot blonde (like Erin Andrews). He’s got to be there for something, right? Seems like if I’m him, I make that part of my niche if I want to get asked to cover the event again.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 14, 2009 5:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Erin Andrews

said “basically” over 9000 times during a player interview. She’s awful, too.

They can change their name to the worldwide leader in being oblivious to sports. I know, I’m clever.

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Jul 14, 2009 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Her looks

Get her an awesome rapport with the college players, they all want to talk to her and she probably gets better quotes than some schmucky male reporter gets. But, in the pros, hot chicks are old hat and she can’t just bat her eyes and expect good quotes. I’m sure she knows her sports and she works hard, but she’s not a hard-hitting interviewer or a good in-game analyst. The Home Run Derby game probably isn’t the best use of her talents, but she’s not a bad distraction in between swings, her questions however make you pray that the next ball gets hit 500 ft so you don’t have to hear the answer or the follow-up.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 14, 2009 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs