Did Fox's telecast with Buck/McCarver ruin your enjoyment of the postseason?

Question

To me, both broadcasters are so sanctimonious, I just can't take it. Throw in the whole Taco Bell thing, I stopped watching somewhere during G3 of the Series.

Buck actually bothers me far more than McCarver now. He's moving into Chip Caray territory.

Answer 1

They really do suck.

But that fits in with Fox's broadcast philosophy. Watching the postseason this year, with Fox's usual array of extreme closeups, random crowd shots, and sleep-inducing dugout coverage, I finally put my finger on why I loathe Fox's production style.

Baseball is very much a thinking game -- on the surface it's pretty simple, hit, run, throw -- but there's a lot going on. Even simple things like watching the pitcher fidget on the mound, checking the runners, or the batter futzing into his position, there really is a lot to observe, even if the observer doesn't readily understand why some things are happening. It boils down to a lot of repetitive stuff, but it really is interesting nonetheless, because there are purposes to everything happening.

And Fox gives viewers essentially none of that. Fox doesn't want thinking viewers, and even a cursory review of other network departments proves this out. Fox by now doesn't know HOW to produce television for critical thinkers, and so doesn't even try. It's all about the emotions, which is why we get those stupid nose-hair-countable zoom shots of the pitcher (except for Astacio in 2005, as his face is just too harsh to look at that closely), or shots of the batter where we can count the crumbs among his gritted teeth.

Fox doesn't produce baseball well because Fox has no respect or concern for the interested viewers. Fox hates thinking viewers, and often works to destroy any satisfaction they might get from the network.

Fox doesn't understand baseball the game worth a damn, nor does it want to, and it shows in every, EVERY, aspect of its baseball production. Doofi Buck (The Much Lesser) and McCarver are just part of the entire plan. Why hire intelligent commentators when insipid morons will serve the corporate agenda just fine?

Answer 2

I didn't pay that much attention to the playofffs on FOX, or even TBS, and t seems to me that Joe Buck and Tim McCarver gets the games on FOX in the playoffs, includng the World Series, but if you really hate these 2 broadcasters, and I bet they will, in less soemthing happens in the next 11 months that we don't know about right now, but I bet they will be on the call for playoffs 2008 for FOX, so just listen to the games on ESPN Radio, if you have to know what happens.

Answer 3

Great question because the answer is a definite yes. I used to actually like McCarver but I have grown tired of him. I guess I am spoiled from listening to Steve Stone and Bob Brenly.

Joe Buck is no prize either.

Answer 4

Are you kidding? THEY are the reason WS ratings are down year after year. Especially McCarver. He assumes the viewers are all casual baseball fans and feels the need to explain the rules over and over again. Hey Timmy! It's my job to explain the rules to my kids while we watch the game. My dad explained them to me when I was growing up. It's tradition. Buck is OK but he obviously hates the Yankees. So I could do without him. Whenever they cover the Yankees I lower the TV volume and flip on the radio.

Answer 5

I agree Buck and McDimwit were awful. I really hate hearing stupid crap like..."When a hitter swings at a bad pitch it's usually because he's looking for something else!" God! McCarver is the Madden of MLB...and what was with Buck and his final out call?

Answer 6

It certainly didn't make it better. They are bad, bad, bad! They are ill informed and at times seem disinterested in the game they're narrating. A good first step to raising the rating of the world series would be getting an announce team Worthy of such an assignment. The question is; why should I care about the world series when the guys announcing it don't care enough to get it their information right.

Answer 7

Almost...I was expecting it though. Those guys have been always been terrible. If I wasn't a Red Sox fan I don't think I could've taken it. Tim McCarver must be clinically retarded. During one game he was trying to say "quieted" but ended up saying "quitened" or something like that...Next year I might try using the SAP or mute or something...idk

Answer 8

I never really had anything against Buck until the Randy Moss "mooning" incident. That was harmless and funny, and Buck reacted as though he had clubbed a baby seal. I now find his act borish.

I actually like McCarver, though I can understand why people dislike him. He is extremely intelligent and often sounds like a know it all, though I don't believe that to be his intentions.

Answer 9

They sure did!!! Does Tim McCarver think were stupid?
Plus I can't make much sense of Joe "The Midnight Cowboy"
Buck!!!!!!

Answer 10

I was fortunate. I watched most of the games at the bar I work so I didn't have to listen to them. When I was at home I muted the TV so I could enjoy the games for what they were, instead of listening to Dumbest and Dumbest call them. I know the rules of baseball well enough without listening to those idiots telling me what an infield fly rule was.