MASN and 105.7FM

by elktonfan on May 2, 2007 7:03 PM EDT

We are a month in to this season, and we have two new media outlets doing the games for us.
My critiques as of today:

MASN - Gary Thorne, bloody sock comments aside, has been a decent change from Jim Hunter. He is enthusiastic without being a total homer, and calls games like a true professional.
Jim Palmer has been his usual obnoxious self, and gets on my nerves it seems like every time I watch the games.
Buck is solid, and I only wish he would just supplant Palmer and do the home games too.
The TV coverage has been ok technically, but the GIANT graphic for the score, count, etc is way too big. I do wish they would spring for HD cameras and dolby sound, but such O's suckage is just as easliy watched in analog as HD.

FHS -105.7FM -
The pregame coverage is nothing like it used to be on WBAL...the manager's show is gone replaced by the pregame media gaggle with Sam..and it sucks.
Tom Davis has been useless going back to his HTS days. Just a waste of air other humans could be breathing. A straight homer.
Dave Johnson is as bad at coverage as he was pitching, which ain't saying much.
Joe Angel is funny, informative, and a true O's fan. He doesn't tow the company line, and he may eventually find himself like Jon Miller and run out of town.
Fred Manfra is a bombastic butthead, slow to the call, boring, and very unprofessional.

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Thorne Rules!

I haven't caught much yet this year with hockey play-offs on, but Thorne is a huge upgrade to the broadcast team. The radio coverage sucks though. I had to attend a wedding up on Long Island and on the way up I lost the O's broadcast around the Maryland/Delaware line. I ended up having to listen to the Red Sox/Yankee game since no AM stations were carrying the O's game and I have Sirius instead of XM.

I've got nothing against the bunt ... in its place. But most of the time, that place is at the bottom of a long forgotten closet. - Earl Weaver

by O face on May 2, 2007 9:03 PM EDT reply actions

Thorne is great.

Good, upbeat personality, dry humor. Works well with Palmer because he's able to interact with him without completely kissing his ass.

He also has a good broadcasting voice. I don't know who the guy is, but the Phillies have a new color guy who I call "Mushmouth". It doesn't matter what he's saying, he's just unpleasant to listen to. Thorne's the opposite.

oriolesupdate.blogspot.com

by BrianS on May 2, 2007 9:26 PM EDT reply actions

Thorne is fantastic

Anyone who watched him on ESPN for years knew he'd be a great addition. I like how he not only doesn't kiss Palmer's ass, he'll actually just straight up mess with Jim.

I hate Palmer, but truthfully, there are times when I really enjoy being annoyed by him. Buck is good when he fills in on the road.

YAY AMBER

Catcher Paul Bako - for unclear reasons - seems to be a frequent target.

by Scott Christ on May 3, 2007 4:38 AM EDT reply actions

CAREFUL

What you say about Tom Davis. He may eat you.

President and Member of the Alan Wiggins Fan Club

by BENNYBIRDMAN on May 3, 2007 7:53 AM EDT reply actions

Joe Angel

I like him a lot. Too bad he doesn't do entire games.

by pipkin on May 3, 2007 8:41 AM EDT reply actions

I like Joe and Fred

I know a lot of people don't like Fred Manfra, and I agree he's not the best, but I think he and Joe have a good rapport. I didn't really enjoy him on TV last year, though, and I'm glad that experiment is over.

I go back and forth on Jim Palmer. I think he's a pompous ass, obviously, but when he gets to talking about the old days I always find him entertaining. But I'm so over Stump Jim Palmer. He and Thorne are good together. Buck is all right too, though sometimes it sounds like he's got a mouth full of marbles.

by Stacey on May 3, 2007 9:03 AM EDT reply actions

Thorne

Just thought of this and while it is probably of no interest to anyone but me I'll pass it along. Thorne was the guy that (take you pick) exposed/ratted out/broke the news that Larry Cochell, then University of Oklahoma baseball coach, dropped the N word about one of his players when talking in private with Thorne. Cochell was subsequently relieved of his duties as head coach and while he has apologized profusely has never denied saying what he did. I don't agree with what Cochell said but after the Varitek/sock thing it got me to thinking about Thorne. This isn't really a guy you want to be talking to in confidence because he apparently can't keep his mouth shut.

"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." Mike Royko.

by BPinOK on May 3, 2007 10:58 AM EDT reply actions

re:

Actually, I think this is something to consider about Thorne, too, but I don't think it's so much that he can't keep his mouth shut.

Thorne gets applauded for saying what a lot of people feel, like baseball teams shouldn't ask for the public's money to build new stadiums when they have plenty of money of their own and those tax dollars could go to education or whatever.

And while I like Thorne a lot for the fact that he'll take things to task on a broadcast, the behavior -- and its frequency -- gives the idea that Thorne is maybe a smidge grumpy and sees himself as some sort of righteous arm of justice.

Catcher Paul Bako - for unclear reasons - seems to be a frequent target.

by Scott Christ on May 4, 2007 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions