As much as I've maligned NBC for their Olympic coverage, I think we may have a new low-point for national sports coverage with TBS and their baseball playoff broadcasts.
My reasoning for this is threefold:
1. Announcers who make shit up. I'm looking mostly at Chip Caray here, as he's tried to foist upon the public the idea that the Red Sox's Dustin Pedroia is nicknamed the Little Pony and that Tampa Bay pitcher James Shields is known as Big Game James. I've not heard talk of the Little Pony at all, and it seems like Shields' nickname isn't familiar to Rays fans, either (based on comments over at Joe Posnanski's blog at least).
(BTW, you should read Posnanski's blog.)
Both nicknames could be clubhouse deals, or players having a bit of fun with the media, but I tend to think it's related to TBS not knowing much about baseball, outside of the Braves.
2. Announcers who don't know much about baseball. Back to Caray, who apparently thought that intentionally walking Jason Bay in last night's game was unconventional. The walk loaded the bases, creating a force out at any base, and gave the Rays a lefty batter to face a left pitcher. That's pretty much what you're supposed to do.
I'm assuming Caray's view came from Drew's stats against the pitcher, but even so you'd still walk Bay in this situation. Unless Drew was 97 for 100 with 89 HRs against the guy.
Seeing how this shaping up, maybe TBS just needs to get rid of Caray?
3. Frank TV. Enough has been said about the relentless promotion of this festering pile of television, but it's enough on its own to pray for the league to reconsider its contract. There has to be some sort of clause that lets MLB void the contract for crimes against humanity.
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