The Paula Abdul thing is an MLB thing, right? The phillies probably didn't have a lot of say in the matter. It was cringe inducing for sure and detracted from the overall telecast today, but IMO Bucky is right, it doesn't help your point.

Bill McNeal wrote:The Paula Abdul thing is an MLB thing, right? The phillies probably didn't have a lot of say in the matter. It was cringe inducing for sure and detracted from the overall telecast today, but IMO Bucky is right, it doesn't help your point.

Then I want to explain to Rob Brooks that I think that stuff should be stopped. I really didn't mind seeing Joe Torre in the booth. I saw him, I had a feeling I knew what he was talking about, and I kept listening to Scott and LA. I see Paula Abdul is trying to help people, and that's fine. I think what Torre is doing is also fantastic, but he has something to do with the game of baseball. I really would like to make a comment about the entire broadcast, not just Tom, Wheels, and Sarge.

to be honest with you, meeting them in person won't do you any good. you are one person, in a sea of a million people who watch the games on tv. the only way anything will change is if a mass of people revolt/protest. it doesn't matter if you email them, call them, or fly a plane over their office with a banner message. you are one person.

and even then, take it from us old folk: choose your battles. Like Bill Mac says, Paula Abdul (and Joe Torre) were appearances mandated by Major League Baseball. Pick one or two things you think are at fault- don't try to boil the ocean. It really hurts your credibility. I mean really hurts.

Bill McNeal wrote:The Paula Abdul thing is an MLB thing, right? The phillies probably didn't have a lot of say in the matter. It was cringe inducing for sure and detracted from the overall telecast today, but IMO Bucky is right, it doesn't help your point.

not sure what she did today , but she was at the Marlins game last night in Miami

Well, I appreciate everyone's advice on how to handle this. And again, for those who don't know, I'm battling neurological problems involving a medication for my stomach, so I am not fully "there" and I may never be ever again. I will continue to listen to your guys' thoughts, because at the end of the day, you're the best Internet family ever, pals

I would try to focus on the aspect that should matter most to them: entertainment. McCarthy and Wheels are not entertaining. If I'm watching a game, and the Phillies are losing, I will turn it off because they are beyond unbearable. If I'm listening to the radio, I always keep the game on.

Also, i'd think the decision to get rid of TMac would go higher up than Rob Brooks. Reading the article from when he was hired, it was Dave Montgomery who went after TMac apparently. So you should email him too and everyone else above Rob Brooks.

When you guys all decide who to write to, I'll send a couple emails. I'd love to get back to a respectable baseball broadcast instead of this "bring your goofy uncle to the game" shit-show.

That's an MLB mandated thing. It's a long season. You're going to have guests in the booth and do interviews with people. Interviewing Paula Abdul is pretty much the one millionth thing on the list to complain about.

You can't complain about wanting a more baseball oriented broadcast and then complain about Wheels, imo. Nobody loves the Phillies more than Wheels. I'm good with Wheels at this point. He stopped the whole lecturing thing, and he likes the Phillies. TMac is a nice guy. I don't like complaining about good people with families and kids to lose their job. He just likes the Mets and isn't suited to be a local guy for nine innings. They're doing a disservice to him by having him do play by play for nine innings.

i don't hate wheels either.

tmac is so insufferable though

A lot of people hate Wheels for what he did to Harry. But all we have to go off is Randy Miller anecdotes. If you want to go off of them, fine. I believe most of it, maybe not all of it. I wasn't there. Wheels is fine in my book.

CFP wrote:A lot of people hate Wheels for what he did to Harry. But all we have to go off is Randy Miller anecdotes. If you want to go off of them, fine. I believe most of it, maybe not all of it. I wasn't there. Wheels is fine in my book.

I'd take 5 McCarthys in the booth if it meant the end of Wheeler with the Phillies (and I detest McCarty's broadcast). Wheeler is insufferable and makes me nauseous. It's like nails on a chalk board listening to him.

McCarthy isn't going to be extended at this point right? Wouldn't they have done it already? One of the few bright spots of this season is knowing this is the final year of his contract. I can not imagine another term of him and Wheeler. That would kill me. Maybe people wanted to run Harry out of town when he got here but did they still want to 5 years after he got here? I know Wheeler has a job for life but I'm hoping he just retires or something.

If they don't extend McCarthy would they move Franzke to TV? I image they wouldn't bring Anderson with him.

Btw, I was watching the Harry special on comcast the other night and for some reason I didn't realize that it was McCarver who was the color guy with him during the final innings of game five of the 1980 LCS (thought it was Musser for some reason). IMO McCarver and Harry actually had a bit of chemistry although I think Tim talked too much even back then. Weird to hear McCarver pulling for the Phillies so much too, considering where he is now.

McCarver's laughing fit after the 1980 NLCS clincher was bizarre. Made me appreciate Wheels' silent buffoonery after the WFC clincher that much more.

As much as I would like Franzke on TV, he and LA on radio is a really good fit. Anyone good they can poach?

Warszawa wrote:McCarthy isn't going to be extended at this point right? Wouldn't they have done it already? One of the few bright spots of this season is knowing this is the final year of his contract. I can not imagine another term of him and Wheeler. That would kill me. Maybe people wanted to run Harry out of town when he got here but did they still want to 5 years after he got here? I know Wheeler has a job for life but I'm hoping he just retires or something.

If they don't extend McCarthy would they move Franzke to TV? I image they wouldn't bring Anderson with him.

Btw, I was watching the Harry special on comcast the other night and for some reason I didn't realize that it was McCarver who was the color guy with him during the final innings of game five of the 1980 LCS (thought it was Musser for some reason). IMO McCarver and Harry actually had a bit of chemistry although I think Tim talked too much even back then. Weird to hear McCarver pulling for the Phillies so much too, considering where he is now.

I think the Phillies must be well aware of hateful comments towards McCarthy's broadcasting by this point. All the stories say that Franzke and LA don't want to do TV because they can do whatever the fuck they want on radio. We'll see if that's true.

If I'm a betting man, I say they get rid of McCarthy. Where do they go from there? Who knows. I could see a return to Wheels as PBP, Sarge 1-9, then Murphy in the middle three innings if they think he can do that.

stevemc wrote:

CFP wrote:A lot of people hate Wheels for what he did to Harry. But all we have to go off is Randy Miller anecdotes. If you want to go off of them, fine. I believe most of it, maybe not all of it. I wasn't there. Wheels is fine in my book.

I'd take 5 McCarthys in the booth if it meant the end of Wheeler with the Phillies (and I detest McCarty's broadcast). Wheeler is insufferable and makes me nauseous. It's like nails on a chalk board listening to him.

I haven't minded Wheeler in recent years, but this recent stretch has really reminded me how annoying he is when the team is losing. He gets all high and mighty and it's like "dude you were their travel coordinator you don't know what the f you're talking about."

CFP wrote:I could see a return to Wheels as PBP, Sarge 1-9, then Murphy in the middle three innings if they think he can do that.

That would be really mickey mouse

I wouldn't read anything into the fact they haven't extended him yet. It's possible they have an agreement but are waiting to announce it (maybe hoping the team is in contention at the time). Or many times TV guys re-up in the off-season. It's not like there will be a bidding war for him.

Grotewold wrote:

CFP wrote:I could see a return to Wheels as PBP, Sarge 1-9, then Murphy in the middle three innings if they think he can do that.

That would be really mickey mouse

is this guy available? does he have puppy bowl obligations? I remember that either Wheeler or Harry didn't like him.

what about Todd Kalas?

Btw, I didn't know Kane Kalas did this for a living Is this a joke?