Would you like cheese with your whine?

[CSF]

From the Chicago Sun-Times

 

Cubs vs. broadcasters? Say it ain't so, just focus on winning

 

September 3, 2004

 

BY CAROL SLEZAK STAFF REPORTER

 

How bad has the feud between the Cubs and their TV broadcast team become? So bad I'm half expecting the Cubs to blame Steve Stone and Chip Caray for Hurricane Frances. Why not? Everything else seems to be their fault.

 

I admit to finding this little feud amusing. For instance, I chuckled when I heard about Todd Walker saying how ''pro-team'' announcers do things such as give players nicknames, and then how Caray and Stone later came up with ''Louisiana Lumberjack'' when Walker -- a Louisiana native -- came to the plate.

 

The Cubs should be focused on one thing: winning games. Instead, led by Moises Alou, with the apparent consent of Dusty Baker, they continue to gripe about their broadcasters. They think Stone and Caray, particularly Stone, are too critical of the home team and sometimes too generous in their praise of the opponent (the latter bone of contention coming from Kent Mercker).

 

 

 

 

CALLING THE SHOTS

Here is a rundown of the feud between the Cubs and their television announcing team of Chip Caray and Steve Stone:

 

 

July 22: After a 13-2 win over Cincinnati, Moises Alou said Caray and Stone overemphasized the value of the team's pitchers at the expense of the hitters. ''Sometimes it gets kind of old,'' Alou said. ''This team is so much pitching-oriented that sometimes it [ticks] you off. What about the rest of the game? They don't give the offense any credit.'' Stone responded: ''I don't know how much TV Moises watches during the game. But if he is watching during games, I assume that's not a good thing. We talk about hitters and their statistics every time they come to bat. We do happen to have superlative pitching. I don't know if he's noticed that.''

 

July 23: Stone, who admitted he has been negative on occasion, elaborated: ''I have said some things that haven't gone well. On the other side of the coin, I have been exceptionally positive. I have had one player -- Joe Borowski -- come up to me and say, 'I really appreciate what you said in some very trying times.' I said, 'Well, thanks.' I have had just one -- knowing that I say about 90 to 95 percent really good things about players, manager and staff.'' Stone then said he hadn't talked to Alou about the matter. ''I don't think it's my place to do that. The team should be in pursuit of one goal. Anything that diverts from that is not in the best interests of the team, and it surprises me.'' Dusty Baker seemed to side with his players: ''Sometimes you can get annoyed by what the announcers say. You're not worried about it, but you're annoyed by it. We all think we're on the same side.''

 

Aug. 27: During a contentious game against the Astros, Kent Mercker (right) called the press box to complain that Stone had been too flattering about Houston pitcher Roy Oswalt. ''I said on the air that Oswalt had done a good job for eight innings in 85-degree heat, which he did,'' Stone said. "[Mercker] disagreed is all. It was just a difference of opinion. Everything is fine with us.''

 

Aug. 29: Baker weighed in indirectly with his perspective of the growing feud, allowing that there could be some merit to the players' complaints: ''I don't think I have a team that's going to complain unjustifiably. At times it appears it's more focused on what we haven't done than what we're doing.''

 

Aug. 30: When Mike Remlinger left the dugout to shout at Houston players after Derrek Lee was hit by a pitch, Stone pointed out that none of Remlinger's teammates rushed out to grab Remlinger. Baker took exception to the observation. ''Our guys ain't on their own, bro, so don't listen to TV. Just watch it.'' Some Cubs were unhappy that Mercker's call to the press box had been leaked to the media.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why are the Cubbies such big crybabies? People are starting to question their mental fortitude. Are they tough enough to win the wild card? When will they learn that Stone and Caray are not their enemies?

 

''You're taking about two veterans,'' White Sox broadcaster Ken Harrelson said. ''I love Moises Alou ... I thought it was out of character for him to do that. I think, in retrospect, when all this settles down, if he looks back on it, you'll find out that he might even apologize to these guys. But to sit there and hinge on what announcers are saying during a pennant chase. ... First of all, you ought to have your [rear end] on the bench rooting your teammates home, not sitting in a clubhouse somewhere watching on TV when they're out there busting their [rear ends] trying to win a game. That's bull[bleep]. If [Mercker] would have had his [rear end] in the right place, he'd have never heard [stone praising Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt's performance].''

 

We are not privy to Baker's private talks with his team. But publicly, he has taken his players' side in this battle. ''I don't think I have a team that's going to complain unjustifiably,'' Baker said Aug. 29. ''At times it appears [stone and Caray] are more focused on what we haven't done than what we're doing.''

 

The next day Baker suggested people turn the volume off on their TV. During a subsequent broadcast, Stone and Caray referred obliquely to Baker's comment.

 

''Steve and Chip were talking about turning the volume off, having some fun with it,'' said John McDonough, the Cubs' senior vice president for marketing and broadcasting, who doesn't seem overly concerned about the situation.

 

Having never witnessed a sideshow quite like this one, I asked McDonough on Thursday if he has. He recalled that Harry Caray had a few celebrated feuds with players in his pre-Cubs days. But with the Cubs, Harry was too popular and too identified with the Cubs brand for players to complain about him, no matter what he said. Apparently Stone and Chip Caray haven't reached Harry Caray status in players' eyes. Or perhaps this particular Cubs team is simply overly sensitive.

 

''I think it's strictly interpretation by the players,'' McDonough said. ''It's not my place to say the players are being hypersensitive. I'm not in their shoes. I would never criticize the players. But I can tell you our fan base has great admiration for Steve. He's a brilliant analyst. He's insightful, he's articulate, and at times he seems clairvoyant. He's extremely highly regarded by our fans.''

 

Reached Thursday in Chicago, Stone preferred not to discuss the subject.

 

''Truly, Chip and I are just two lovable fuzzballs,'' he said, adding, ''When you go through hard times, it's most important to have the backing of top management. I know Chip and I have the backing.''

 

Only two players, Thurman Munson and Kent Hrbek, ever have complained to Harrelson about something he said during his broadcast career, which began in 1975.

 

''First of all, as an announcer, we have a job to do,'' Harrelson said. ''And to tell you the truth, I really don't care what the players think. I would hope that they have enough respect for me to know I have enough respect for the game that they're playing. And I understand how hard the game is because I played it. But I can't worry about what they say. ... All Sox fans know that D.J. [Darrin Jackson] and I, we don't gild a lily, but again we don't harp on something. We give the fans credit for knowing what the hell is going on because they're watching the same thing we are.''

 

Alou's base-running mistakes. Oswalt pitching credibly on a hot, humid day. Slumping bats. Pitchers losing control. Cubs fans have seen it all. They know what the heck is going on. What do the players expect Stone and Caray to do, lie?

 

''If [stone and Caray] had been saying exactly the same thing and the Cubs were in first place, nothing would have been said,'' Harrelson said.

 

Former Sox star Bill Melton understands why players might take umbrage at a broadcaster's comments. He played for the Sox during Harry Caray's days on the South Side and believes Caray treated him very unfairly. Theirs was a celebrated feud. For Melton, the last straw came when his young kids were booed at Comiskey Park during a father-son game after Caray had been ripping him on the air for months. Afterward, Melton asked the Sox to trade him.

 

''I don't think that's what is happening with [the Cubs],'' said Melton, a pregame and postgame analyst for the Sox. ''But I can see why players might lash out, I really can. Whether it's the pressure or what, I'm not surprised by it.''

 

The Cubs know pressure. They've felt it all season; that much is certain. But have they learned to deal with it? That's still uncertain.

 

''Expectations were ratcheted so high,'' McDonough said. ''This is the first time in recent history that the Cubs were picked to win the World Series. Along the way, things have a tendency to get blown out of proportion. But hopefully, all these things are behind us and everyone is occupied with what's happening on the field. We would love to see a wonderful synchronicity with everybody.''

 

 

Letters to our sports columnists appear Sunday. Send e-mail to [email protected]. Include your full name, hometown and a daytime phone number.

[SoxAce]

That team is so pathetic it's unbearable.. :headshake

[WhiteSoxFan1]

Yea I heard about this earlier this morning on sportscenter. Just Pathetic! Why are they even listening to the broadcast in the middle of a game in the first place? I dont like Stone or Carey at all, but afterall they are doing there job. They call what they see on the field. This isnt little league where you can't do anything wrong, this is the big leagues, if you make a mistake or arnt playing at the top notch that your supose to be, then expect to get critized. Take is and move on, if you dont want critizism(sp?)then do give them reason to give it to you. Just go out and play and stop the b****ing.

[soxman352000]

At least when the sox lose they con't blame it onn stupid s*** like this

[southsider2k5]

It was funny to listen to Rooney and Farmer talking about it...

[ChiSox_Sonix]

They never cease to amaze, how pathetic

 

:headshake

[HighHeat45]

''You're taking about two veterans,'' White Sox broadcaster Ken Harrelson said. ''I love Moises Alou ... I thought it was out of character for him to do that. I think, in retrospect, when all this settles down, if he looks back on it, you'll find out that he might even apologize to these guys. But to sit there and hinge on what announcers are saying during a pennant chase. ... First of all, you ought to have your [rear end] on the bench rooting your teammates home, not sitting in a clubhouse somewhere watching on TV when they're out there busting their [rear end] trying to win a game. That's bull[bleep]. If [Mercker] would have had his [rear end] in the right place, he'd have never heard [stone praising Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt's performance].''

 

Good ol' Hawk

[redandwhite]

Hawk's so right..

[Chisoxfn]

OMFG, this is the funniest thing i've ever seen. I never have hated the Cubs in my life, but the more I see about this time, the more I just think their are whining babies.

[soxman352000]

Cubs=Two year old having a temper tantrum