Jim Kaat's last game

by John Amato on Sep 15, 2006 3:55 PM EDT in New York Yankees News

He is such a class act and great announcer. He will be missed. I always love when he brings the four decades of baseball history that he has stored away in his brain to the game when he's on the air. Link

JIM Kaat's 23-year broadcasting career ends tonight with Red Sox-Yanks on Ch. 9. With his departure, New York loses much more than a calm, clear and wise voice.

We lose a noise and nonsense filter, a fellow who never tried to dazzle us, talk down to us, or leave his exclamatory stamp on any moment, let alone a telecast. Kaat was more than an analyst, he was a conversationalist. He was the fellow who took us to games and talked baseball. He was the uncle you preferred to sit next to at Thanksgiving dinner.

We can only imagine who will replace him, but maybe we can get on the ball and help YES out.

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I hope Lieter continues

And takes on a bigger role in the booth, I like his refreshing honesty and lack of hype. He's also really got good insights and is constantly keeping his observations to players and events on the field. His comments are concise and useful and he doesn't need to expound on them a lot.

I like Kitty, but I'm really tired of breed of broadcaster that feels the need to tell a lot of extended side anecdotes. Kitty has fallen into that. It takes away from the game you are watching, particularly as the anecdotes are repeated a lot. I'd rather hear longer gaps of silence.

That said I would suck in the booth because I constantly run my mouth about everything for too long and repeat myself.

by Greenfuzz on Sep 15, 2006 4:22 PM EDT reply actions

ya must have pulled ya hair out..

..when McCarver and Kiner were on ch 9!

by Al Rodgers on Sep 16, 2006 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I was a little young

to be making those judgements at the time, but I didn't watch a lot of Mets games. McCarver still annoys the hell out of me because he never alters or modulates the tone of his voice. I think he's more impartial than some of the announcers, considering the YES guys are slight homers and the ESPN guys are Boston guys.

Today's day game annoyed the hell out of me, too much crap going on in the booth. The guy who was paired with McCarver, whose name escapes me had the most annoying voice ever with even what I would consider somewhat of a speech impediment.

by Greenfuzz on Sep 17, 2006 2:54 AM EDT up reply actions

the guy who was paired with McCarver

was Josh Lewin, who also happens to be the play-by-play announcer for all the Texas Ranger games (except when Fox calls on Saturdays). i can remember when he first came on board with the Rangers, i also was a bit put off by him -- maybe it was his voice, i'm not sure. but he quickly grew on me -- a virtual walking encyclopedia of baseball stats and lore (and it goes way, way beyond just being a google whiz with the notebook!), and he's also very knowledgeable about the game as well. on the Ranger games he's a bit of a homer -- heck, that's almost a requirement of the job -- but in my book, he's one of the best play-by-play guys i've ever heard.

"90% of the game is half mental." - Yogi

by lee on Sep 17, 2006 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

timing?

anyone ever hear any reasons given as to why he chose to retire two weeks before the season ended? sure seems kinda odd, and the fact that none of the news reports even brings up the question is just as odd.

"90% of the game is half mental." - Yogi

by lee on Sep 15, 2006 5:43 PM EDT reply actions

He probably only had so many games

in his contract so it probably ended today...

by John Amato on Sep 15, 2006 5:49 PM EDT reply actions

that would be weird

i guess that would explain it though -- so he had a 146 game contract? so how does the rainout effect that? is he going to do the first game of the double-header, and then retire?

"90% of the game is half mental." - Yogi

by lee on Sep 15, 2006 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions

He was ready to retire

last year. YES offered him something like an 80 game contract, with most of those games being home games. He's played out this year, but he's ready to move on. Fifty years in baseball. I can't even imagine.

Have faith in the Yankees my son. Think of the great DiMaggio.

by jscape2000 on Sep 15, 2006 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions