Fox is on to Something with Francona
By Editorial Staff
With Fox’s Tim McCarver sidelined with a heart ailment for games one and two of the ALCS, the network higher-ups took a chance with the recently ex-Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona. Francona told the Boston Globe prior to the game, that he had only one game under his belt as far as broadcasting experience.
“…that was in the Arizona Fall League about 13 years ago and it was on the radio and there were probably 12 people (listening) and I sucked.”
Well Terry, perhaps the 13-year lay-off did you some good, cause I thought you were awesome last night.
I wish Tim McCarver nothing but a smooth and speedy recovery, but wow I wish Francona could keep this gig for the remainder of the postseason. The dynamitc duo of Joe Buck and McCarver needed a tinkering. We’ve heard the same voices for quite a string of years, and even though these two are professionals to the highest degree, the act is tired and dry.
Terry Francona brought in unbelievable wealth of knowledge to the table last night and it was such a treat to listen to. He explained little intricacies in the game, and made everything make sense. He knew the Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers inside-out, and he knew the mental processes of Jim Leyland and Ron Washington inside-out.
He was able to make comments on all-world players such as Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera that nobody has said before. He shed new light on everybody that stepped on the field Saturday, and quite frankly I was blown away.
The guy has a killer personality as well. There was a moment where Fox had the camera on in the booth pointed at Francona and Buck, and Francona says something along the lines of…
“Well I’m not allowed to chew and I’m not supposed to swear, but I should be all right.”
Awesome. How in the world does Tim McCarver compete with that? If you think McCarver or Buck has a personality that can compete with that, well then you’re probably over the age of 60.
MLB and Fox stumbled on to something with Terry Francona. At a time when the NBA is a mess and could miss time and cancel games, and at a time when college football is in this ridiculous transition, shifting teams across the country in an effort to milk every last dime, baseball as a sport should be in attack mode. A broadcaster with a little bit off balls could go a long way.
Certainly a regular season affair between, I don’t know, the Astros and the Phillies isn’t going to flood the ratings. But MLB should maximize their ability to get people watching the postseason, and this could translate into getting some viewers into watching the less entertaining regular season product. When an 18-year-old kid hears Joe Buck and his lifeless voice, he’s probably going to turn off the game and fire up his facebook. But if you get somebody like Francona to back him up, who knows, maybe we got ourselves a new baseball fan.
Look. Obviously Terry Francona has got some years left in the dugout hollering at his players and umpires. But if he makes a move to the Cubs, there’s a pretty good shot he won’t be in the postseason again next year. Somebody find a way to get this guy back in the booth – it’s not like the TBS crews were getting rave reviews.
Now I’m willing to bet the citizens of New York could take offense to my opinion. I apologize for the inconvenience. That being said, he ain’t the skip of the Red Sox anymore so get over it.
My Tigers lost 3-2 last night. They were obviously a little quiet at the plate, but they still played well. That being said, without question, the guy who stole the show last night didn’t play for the Tigers or the Rangers. He was the former manager of the Boston Red Sox.