I'm going to preface this by saying nothing more than that the Fox baseball announcers frustrate me A LOT.

http://www.kewego.com/video/iLyROoafJzDK.html


All my life, that's been called a knucklecurve. Why the sudden change?

You said it; the fOX coverage is horrible.

I was kinda wondering that myself but didn't the Phillies PC say something like, "a lot of guys in the majors throw the spiked curveball nowadays." I've never heard it called that before. I wonder if it's any different than what Mussina threw?

While I don't like the game announcers either, "spiked curve ball" is a common term.

My son (in the minor leagues) throws it...began throwing it midway through college...and got a fair amount of praise from his organization this year about the improvement in his breaking pitch.

I don't know how Mussina gripped it, but since I know his college pitching coach well I will ask him.

I watch the games with the sound down; I thought the coverage was excellent.
I thought it was 'spike' not 'spiked' when i heard the term about 3 years ago. Not sure what pitching coach or pitcher came up with the term but I don't think it's Fox fault for calling it what that particular pitcher calls it.

I wasn't really listening to the game and heard spiked curve ball and I had no idea what they were talking about. Then they showed a slow down shot of his hand and I was like "that's a knuckle curve".

Not a big deal since it's the same pitch - just people have different names for it. Sort of like some people call tandem relay a double cut or other things.

My wife got the same puzzled comments from me last night. "That's a knuckle curve; why are they calling it something else?"

Maybe it's one of those things that depends on what part of the country you're from?

Spiked curve ball, knuckle curve... No way that was definetly a "Snitzel Thumper"

Regardless of what they call it, I got headaches from the Fox announcers. Joe Buck's quips are unnecessary and Tim McCarver should speak about 10x less than he does.

Which brings me to another question, one completely separate from the original thread. What set of announcers, in your opinion, is the best? I haven't heard a lot of the MLB announcers throughout the country but I can tell you that I have an immense dislike for both Fox and ESPN announcers. TBS isn't great either, but much better than Fox and ESPN in my opinion. I'm from the New York area and despite being a Yankee fan, I think the Mets announcers are much better than those on the YES Network. Any other opinions on which set of announcers are the best?

If only Harold Reynolds would come back...

There is only one best and that is Vin Scully....

The sport will only have him for next year so those who have the pleasure to hear him enjoy.

I have to agree that Vin Scully is outstanding, and I'm a Giants fan.

I never cared for Scully (lived in SoCal until '93). He talks to much. He states too many obscure stats. The best colorman I ever heard was Joe Torre when he did Angel games.

There was no better sound in the spring than "It's time for This Week In Baseball" said my Mel Allen. It was like seeing the first robin.

I thought it was the knuckle curve also, spiked curve sounds like a drink.

John Miller is a very good announcer, but I don't like Joe Morgan. As a Giants fan, enjoy Krukow and Kiper they make the game fun to listen to although most people other than Giants fan don't like them and call them homers.

quote:

although most people other than Giants fan don't like them and call them homers.

That's is too funny...I was watching a game on TV once time involving my wife's favorite team but with the opposing team's announcers. After a couple of innings she was throwing a fit that 'those guys' were total jerks....

How can the former legend Skip Carey (RIP) be forgetten?

Joe Morgan is my least favorite, by a mile. My favorites are Denny Mathews and Fred White of the Royals.

I like Vin Scully, one reason he talks so much?... he does colr and play by play; he is so good he does the games alone.

I like Jon Miller as a Play by Play guy and actually like Jeff Brantley.

But on a August night in Fenway with a 8-1 lead in an out fo control game... no one os better than Remdawg for this Red Sox fan!

quote:

Originally posted by justbaseball:
While I don't like the game announcers either, "spiked curve ball" is a common term.

My son (in the minor leagues) throws it...began throwing it midway through college...and got a fair amount of praise from his organization this year about the improvement in his breaking pitch.

I don't know how Mussina gripped it, but since I know his college pitching coach well I will ask him.

I always heard Mussina threw the "spiked" CB. I guess it is "spiked" in some parts and "knuckled" in others. In some parts they eat "subs", "grinders" or "hoagies", also, maybe.

I sort of took notice when my son told me in HS he was throwing a "spike".

When Sweet Lou "retires", again,
he will be back on the air.

McCarver is close, ~20% of the time.

Bob Carpenter's play by play is likeable.

quote:

Originally posted by trojan-skipper:
Joe Morgan is my least favorite, by a mile. My favorites are Denny Mathews and Fred White of the Royals.

What about Joe's "slide-piece", though?