Jason >>>>>>>>>>> Hawk

[Kyyle23]

Again, Jason is about 35-40 games into his career with Steve, and actually its only around 20-25 because he isnt broadcasting on the road. These guys are learning how to play off each other, it isnt going to be perfectly in sync right from the jump.

[Green Line]

As bad as some of his jokes are, I would still take it any time over the dead air and awkward silences that Hawk provides whenever anything bad happens.

[chitownsportsfan]

As bad as some of his jokes are, I would still take it any time over the dead air and awkward silences that Hawk provides whenever anything bad happens.

 

No doubt.

[Leonard Zelig]

As bad as some of his jokes are, I would still take it any time over the dead air and awkward silences that Hawk provides whenever anything bad happens.

When that happens, I imagine Hawk hits the mute button on his mic and goes into a profanity filled tirade.

[caulfield12]

And it's not like their jokes and stories are 100% as ridiculous and off-top as Farmer and DJ...granted, radio's a different medium and there's even more of tendency there to fill time when a game is out of hand.

[greg775]

You guys act like he's basically performing standup during the call. How many jokes does Jason crack during a full game?? Is he like Jay Leno??

A little levity is OK IMO. I mean is it Henny Youngman revisited? Is he doing this: "Hey Steve, a guy was walking on Lake Shore Drive when a guy approached him and said ..."hey guy can u spare a dollar?"

Edited May 9, 2016 by greg775

[Heads22]

About all that I think he can improve on is showing a bit more about what he knows about baseball. He's very deferential towards Stone, and I understand why, but I think most of us are simply curious to know what Jason knows about baseball himself.

[harkness99]

You guys act like he's basically performing standup during the call. How many jokes does Jason crack during a full game?? Is he like Jay Leno??

A little levity is OK IMO. I mean is it Henny Youngman revisited? Is he doing this: "Hey Steve, a guy was walking on Lake Shore Drive when a guy approached him and said ..."hey guy can u spare a dollar?"

 

Levity is fine. His voice is okay also. He says some things that are funny. But he also says some things that are Mad corny.

[SI1020]

Heh, no quicker way to show your ass than using the word nerd as a pejorative term these days. So glad we've moved beyond that machismo bulls***.

There's way too much PC in life today. You can't say this and you can't say that. Despite my advancing age I have my thick glasses, round baby face which even today make me look like ... a nerd. Years ago a good friend's wife when asked to describe me said "Woody Allen with muscles." Of course I like my own nerdy schtick better than Jason Benetti's. I will grant you his intellect and dry wit but man he overdoes it at times. He's going to be around a long time so I'm sure his approach will change a bit here and there. However, the voice and the personality are pretty much etched in stone.

[Y2Jimmy0]

About all that I think he can improve on is showing a bit more about what he knows about baseball. He's very deferential towards Stone, and I understand why, but I think most of us are simply curious to know what Jason knows about baseball himself.

 

 

He's the play by play guy though....

[Bananarchy]

He's the play by play guy though....

Agreed. Steve Stone calls pitches before they happen and provides real analysis of the game. Jason does a great job of filling the gaps with PBP and injections of real, meaningful statistics. Occasionally he'll make a Wilson Alvarez type reference from his childhood, but he does a really good job of letting the color analyst do his job. It's a masterpiece compared to the norm.

Edited May 10, 2016 by AustinIllini

[Harry Chappas]

Hawk talked about positioning and how it made the Bronx Bombers that much better.

 

Positioning is another word for shifts and while that is all the rave in baseball, Hawk finally realized it and decided after all of these years that the 60's Yankees were the best he has ever seen at it.

 

I was waiting to how great Walt Dropo was at executing a safety squeeze last night.

 

 

[Heads22]

He's the play by play guy though....

 

I know, but one of the couple things that bothers people is how much he ask questions. Obviously he doesn't have playing experience, but I wouldn't mind seeing what he does know sometimes.

[flavum]

Hawk will be in-studio on MLB Central on Friday morning. You've heard the same interview 40-50 times, but he'll be there for you.

Edited May 11, 2016 by flavum

[Bananarchy]

Hawk will be in-studio on MLB Central on Friday morning. You've heard the same interview 40-50 times, but he'll be there for you.

I actually like his interviews. He's an interesting guy in that situation where someone else is driving the talking points.

[tray]

Hawk is a national treasure - one of the greatest baseball announcers of all time.

 

The way Hawk immediately left the booth to check on Frazier after he injured himself yesterday to make sure he was alright and give fans a quick report showed us a lot about this man. Most 75 year old men would not have done that or could not have done that.

 

I find that criticism of this man to be pathetic. But I consider the source - normally Cub fans who detest Hawk while they deify Harry Caray, a sloppy announcer and a drunken fool.

[Bananarchy]

Hawk is a national treasure - one of the greatest baseball announcers of all time.

 

The way Hawk immediately left the booth to check on Frazier after he injured himself yesterday to make sure he was alright and give fans a quick report showed us a lot about this man. Most 75 year old men would not have done that or could not have done that.

 

I find that criticism of this man to be pathetic. But I consider the source - normally Cub fans who detest Hawk while they deify Harry Caray, a sloppy announcer and a drunken fool.

But he doesn't really have to do that. I mean yeah, it spares us a silly story that doesn't have anything to do with Frazier, but Hawk's job isn't to go interfere with what is happening in the clubhouse.

 

Most of the criticism on this thread is justified (and coming from White Sox fans, btw). A number of us feel like Hawks was a special announcer and he's a great personality, but he's just past his prime and the whole act is pretty worn out.

[shakes]

But he doesn't really have to do that. I mean yeah, it spares us a silly story that doesn't have anything to do with Frazier, but Hawk's job isn't to go interfere with what is happening in the clubhouse.

 

Most of the criticism on this thread is justified (and coming from White Sox fans, btw). A number of us feel like Hawks was a special announcer and he's a great personality, but he's just past his prime and the whole act is pretty worn out.

 

I'm completely on board with this camp. I thought what he did yesterday just proves how big of a sideshow he has become.

 

His act grew tiresome almost a decade ago and to me has been intolerable for the past 5 years. I'm so happy Jason is on board and am happy to at least listen to the volume during home games.

[fathom]

I have no problem with him going down to the booth, as CSN didn't have someone like Dan Hayes roaming around the dugout on the road.

[caulfield12]

Pretty sure that's his way of also pointing out the ridiculousness of a 75 year old man in declining health being forced to report on the Frazier situation (wouldn't happen in Cubsland!) With all the money involved in professional baseball and broadcasting, they really can't afford one? I can understand the cutting back of beat reporters (especially on the road) because print media is dying out slowly but surely, but not having a CSN sideline reporter available during games is BS.

 

If you look at the Red Sox, they have a "team" of reporters and their typical "sports babe/host." We don't need a three ring circus, but CSN should at least pretend like the White Sox matter as much as the Cubs, even if they don't (to the station).

[Big Hurtin]

Pretty sure that's his way of also pointing out the ridiculousness of a 75 year old man in declining health being forced to report on the Frazier situation (wouldn't happen in Cubsland!) With all the money involved in professional baseball and broadcasting, they really can't afford one? I can understand the cutting back of beat reporters (especially on the road) because print media is dying out slowly but surely, but not having a CSN sideline reporter available during games is BS.

 

If you look at the Red Sox, they have a "team" of reporters and their typical "sports babe/host." We don't need a three ring circus, but CSN should at least pretend like the White Sox matter as much as the Cubs, even if they don't (to the station).

I miss Jen Lada.

[tray]

I don't get most of the criticism of Hawk and I find most of it to be uncalled for or just plain pathetic.

By the way, I have to discount any criticism that Hawk is a "homer" because so much of that comes from cubfans.

 

Perhaps those who are old enough to remember Harry at Comiskey never tired of hearing "Holy Cow" for a decade followed by another ten years of it at Wrigley. Now Harry Caray's memory, the horn rimmed glasses, his restaurants and his 7th inning stretch call (which he did for 10 years at Comiskey) are part of cub tradition and remembered fondly by older Sox fans..

 

I wonder which announcer Hawk's critics believe has been as good or better than Hawk" Maybe Vin Scully, Harry Kalas, or one of the other all time greats? Baseball is a game of tradition so trashing someone who is a big part of White Sox tradition is something that I find to be curious.

 

Anyone who does not understand that Hawk went down to see Frazier because Hawk was personally concerned (as opposed to going down there because no beat reporter was there) is missing the point. Hawk loves the team that he has been loyal to for decades and loves the players. He was one himself and knows what it is like to be injured on the field and what a serious injury to a key player could mean to this team.

 

I think Hawk is doing the right thing by cutting down on games until another full-time announcer is decided upon. My own opinion is that the new play-by-play person should not be Jason Benetti. Benetti has been just awful and I am being generous because he is a nice young man. I am going to start putting on the radio so I do not have to listen to his trite nonsense, his sophomoric questions and his lame attempt at being the straight man comic in his back and forth with Stone.

 

When Hawk indicates he wants to retire, I hope the Sox start to audition guest announcers to take over play by play full time after Hawk retires. Although Dan Plesac may not be a candidate, it will be very interesting to hear Plesac and Harrelson in the booth at Yankee stadium this weekend.

Edited May 13, 2016 by miracleon35th

[Bananarchy]

I don't get most of the criticism of Hawk and I find most of it to be uncalled for or just plain pathetic.

By the way, I have to discount any criticism that Hawk is a "homer" because so much of that comes from cubfans.

 

Did you read the thread pointing out all the critical people assuming they're Cubs fans?

 

Perhaps those who are old enough to remember Harry at Comiskey never tired of hearing "Holy Cow" for a decade followed by another ten years of it at Wrigley. Now Harry Caray's memory, the horn rimmed glasses, his restaurants and his 7th inning stretch call (which he did for 10 years at Comiskey) are part of cub tradition and remembered fondly by older Sox fans..

 

Harry was a legend, but he's been gone and he was with the Cubs longer. Seriously, Harry has nothing to do with Hawk, though.

 

I wonder which announcer Hawk's critics believe has been as good or better than Hawk" Maybe Vin Scully, Harry Kalas, or one of the other all time greats? Baseball is a game of tradition so trashing someone who is a big part of White Sox tradition is something that I find to be curious.

 

Because he's Hawk we can't criticize him? Please. He's bad. He's been bad. The home broadcasts are leaps and bounds ahead of the road offering at this point

 

Anyone who does not understand that Hawk went down to see Frazier because Hawk was personally concerned (as opposed to going down there because no beat reporter was there) is missing the point. Hawk loves the team that he has been loyal to for decades and loves the players. He was one himself and knows what it is like to be injured on the field and what a serious injury to a key player could mean to this team.

 

So when Avi went down with his shoulder, why didn't Hawk run down to the clubhouse? He has watched a ton of injuries, why the heck is Frazier special?

 

I think Hawk is doing the right thing by cutting down on games until another full-time announcer is decided upon. My own opinion is that the new play-by-play person should not be Jason Benetti. Benetti has been just awful and I am being generous because he is a nice young man. I am going to start putting on the radio so I do not have to listen to his trite nonsense, his sophomoric questions and his lame attempt at being the straight man comic in his back and forth with Stone.

 

Thank goodness you're not in charge, because Benetti has been widely praised for his ability to call baseball play-by-play.

 

When Hawk indicates he wants to retire, I hope the Sox start to audition guest announcers to take over play by play full time after Hawk retires. Although Dan Plesac may not be a candidate, it will be very interesting to hear Plesac and Harrelson in the booth at Yankee stadium this weekend.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure Benetti has been hired as a full time replacement down the road. I sure hope so. He's a great match for this organization and a local kid who genuinely pulled for the team he announces.

 

This is just too much. See my comments in bold.

Edited May 13, 2016 by Deadpool

[caulfield12]

Hawk has his favorites, for sure.

 

I doubt he would have done that for a Gordon Beckham hitting .182 and the team 10 games under .500, but everyone has a right to get caught up in the excitement at least a little bit. It's a season and a needed fresh breeze compared to the past three seasons, and Frazier's been a huge part of changing that clubhouse environment and team "grittiness/grinderishness."

 

 

[Kalapse]

Hawk has his favorites, for sure.

 

I doubt he would have done that for a Gordon Beckham hitting .182 and the team 10 games under .500, but everyone has a right to get caught up in the excitement at least a little bit. It's a season and a needed fresh breeze compared to the past three seasons, and Frazier's been a huge part of changing that clubhouse environment and team "grittiness/grinderishness."

Heh, of all the s*** players you could have named you chose the one guy Hawk would have left the booth to check on. Gotta make sure that seat didn't impact his strong arm.