Should Ron Santo retire?

[garsky]

Ronny's my favorite Cub of all time, and it breaks my heart that he's not in the Hall, but I think it's time for him to step down from the booth. He's never been anywhere near as great an analyst as he was a ballplayer, but his performance of late has been awful. Stating the obvious, monosyllabic grunts instead of analysis, even being plain wrong in his statements.... If it weren't for the very underrated Pat Hughes and his joy in needling Ron, I'd give up listening to Cubs radio broadcasts entirely.

 

A hilarious example from yesterday's game:

 

Talking about the last time the Cubs had 4 rookies in the rotation, Pat notes it was 1966, when Ron was playing, and lists the pitchers.

 

Ron: Yeah.... Dowling I didn't know too well... He only lasted a half-season...

 

Pat (deadpan): Says here you roomed with him for two and a half years.

 

Ron (ignoring Pat): You... don't get to know a guy too well... when he's not on the team too long.

 

Pat: And he was godfather to your two kids...

 

I laughed out loud.

 

Still, as much as the non-baseball back-and-forth cracks me up, it might be time to bring in a new analyst.

[Banedon]

Ronny's my favorite Cub of all time, and it breaks my heart that he's not in the Hall, but I think it's time for him to step down from the booth. He's never been anywhere near as great an analyst as he was a ballplayer, but his performance of late has been awful. Stating the obvious, monosyllabic grunts instead of analysis, even being plain wrong in his statements.... If it weren't for the very underrated Pat Hughes and his joy in needling Ron, I'd give up listening to Cubs radio broadcasts entirely.

 

A hilarious example from yesterday's game:

 

Talking about the last time the Cubs had 4 rookies in the rotation, Pat notes it was 1966, when Ron was playing, and lists the pitchers.

 

Ron: Yeah.... Dowling I didn't know too well... He only lasted a half-season...

 

Pat (deadpan): Says here you roomed with him for two and a half years.

 

Ron (ignoring Pat): You... don't get to know a guy too well... when he's not on the team too long.

 

Pat: And he was godfather to your two kids...

 

I laughed out loud.

 

Still, as much as the non-baseball back-and-forth cracks me up, it might be time to bring in a new analyst.

 

I suspect that Pat was probably messing with Ron some...he definitely does that.

 

I'm one of the few that really like Ron on the radio. I know he's not terribly informative, but Pat really balances that out very well, and Ron is more a reflection of the typical fan than he is anything else. I love his emotion behind every game, and I love that he's still getting upset about the losses even at this point in the year.

 

Not to mention, I think Ron needs to be out doing something. I think for him personally, it probably really helps with the medical issues that he has, that he has something else to concentrate on other than those issues.

[UMFan83]

Ron will never retire because he is part of the Cubs marketing plan to make the Cubs this lovable fuzzy feeling team. Pat and Ron are pretty much a trademark like Wrigley Field, Cubbies, and Old Style. If you want real analysis (and a real team), follow someone else :(

[hitamprun]

I have great respect for what he accomplished in his career, and for what he has endured healthwise.

 

With that said, it can be very painful to listen to him in the booth. The Cubs would never send him on his way because they are scared to death of the PR downfall. He will be in the booth as long as he wants to be, or his health allows him.

[Backtobanks]

Ronny's my favorite Cub of all time, and it breaks my heart that he's not in the Hall, but I think it's time for him to step down from the booth. He's never been anywhere near as great an analyst as he was a ballplayer, but his performance of late has been awful. Stating the obvious, monosyllabic grunts instead of analysis, even being plain wrong in his statements.... If it weren't for the very underrated Pat Hughes and his joy in needling Ron, I'd give up listening to Cubs radio broadcasts entirely.

 

A hilarious example from yesterday's game:

 

Talking about the last time the Cubs had 4 rookies in the rotation, Pat notes it was 1966, when Ron was playing, and lists the pitchers.

 

Ron: Yeah.... Dowling I didn't know too well... He only lasted a half-season...

 

Pat (deadpan): Says here you roomed with him for two and a half years.

 

Ron (ignoring Pat): You... don't get to know a guy too well... when he's not on the team too long.

 

Pat: And he was godfather to your two kids...

 

I laughed out loud.

 

Still, as much as the non-baseball back-and-forth cracks me up, it might be time to bring in a new analyst.

 

I suspect that Pat was probably messing with Ron some...he definitely does that.

 

I'm one of the few that really like Ron on the radio. I know he's not terribly informative, but Pat really balances that out very well, and Ron is more a reflection of the typical fan than he is anything else. I love his emotion behind every game, and I love that he's still getting upset about the losses even at this point in the year.

 

Not to mention, I think Ron needs to be out doing something. I think for him personally, it probably really helps with the medical issues that he has, that he has something else to concentrate on other than those issues.

 

First, it would be the biggest pr blunder ever for the Cubs to "fire" Santo. Ron is the heart and soul of the Cubs' history. Secondly, I think his radio job has probably kept him alive to this point. Being removed from the radio gig would probably lead to many more medical problems starting with the depression of not being with the team he loves.

[biittner77]

As bad as Santo ever is, he's still no worse than Harry Caray. I think Santo would be better on TV as I think he forgets that people listening on the radio can't see what's happening on the field.

[Dirt Dog Sparly]

I really love Santo on the radio. Yes there are more "polished" teams out there but they are doing thier job. Santo is doing something he loves and it shows. I wouldnt want a "detached professional" view of the game. I want Ron to be Ron and be as up or down as I am about the Cubs.

 

This is no knock on Len and Bob, but they cant speak truth in the TV booth. Listen to Ron when he is being serious about various short coming of the Cubs players on the field. He has savaged Baker from time to time in a nice way, and coming from a guy who should already be in the HOF, the players and Baker cant complain about him. He has been there and done it. It kicks the prop of you have never played at this level so you dont know right out from under them.

 

Get rid of Ronnie? Heck no!!!! Fire Baker and turn Ronnie lose in the dugout for the rest of the season. As soon as Santo starts telling Jones to hit the cut off man or sit on the bench you will see a team that starts to get its act together on the field IMO.

[CubinNY]

I love Ron Santo on the radio. It's like sitting next to your uncle who's a huge Cub fan.

 

To me he and Pat make the games much more entertaining to listen to.

 

I am probably in the minority, but I don't care.

[neely crenshaw]

leave him there...if you are looking for all your baseball info from a game broadcast you need to get in 21st century.

ron is especially great whne the cubs blow...gives you something to laugh about when there isn't much to lasugh about.

i love the fact that he gets really pissed when the cubs suck or someone plays terrible...he is about the only one in the cubs organization that does.

[FergieJ31]

I love Ron Santo on the radio. It's like sitting next to your uncle who's a huge Cub fan.

 

To me he and Pat make the games much more entertaining to listen to.

 

I am probably in the minority, but I don't care.

 

I agree.

 

People used to say Harry should retire in his last few years on the air. Logic and possibly even good taste were on their side of the argument then too, but it doesn't make it the right thing to do.

 

I don't care if Ron grunts and wails and tends to speak in incomplete sentences. He's the perfect foil for Pat, and it's hard to imagine Pat working with anyone else. They both seem to have an awful lot of fun in the booth even in this dismal season.

[Twiggy]

Ron is a great guy! I was able to talk to him a little bit this weekend in Denver and had him sign a photo for me. Great guy and hope he stays in the booth for a long time

[Roast]

Yah, ron is a homer.

 

But, uhm, he is the COMMENTATOR on the CUBS RADIO NETWORK. He's not a play by play guy and he's not on an impartial network. I love listening to him, i just havent done it all season because, to be honest, I cant stand hearing him get so pissed over this worthless team.

[neely crenshaw]

and if you looking for groundbreaking analysis from the home teams commentators, you are loking up the wrong tree.

they are homers, they are pr guys and the are very vanilla.

at least ron gets pissed when we stink.

harry caray is in the hall of fame and there were times with him that you would have no idea a game was actually being played....

[sethuel1]

I agree. Listening to Ron screw up is much, much more enjoyable than listening to actual coverage of this baseball team.

[danonwaveland]

I love Ronnie, too, and enjoy the interaction with Pat -- keeps the mind off the misery that is happening on the field.

 

Having said that, maybe the Cubs could restrict Ronnie to regular season home games and spring training games, persuading him that this is best for his health. He should also be a semi-regular 7th inning stretch singer/leader. That solves two problems at one time, reducing the long line of incompetent and irrelevant "personalities" who have no affiliation with Cubs baseball. Then, find a better communicator to work with Pat on road games. In any case, Pat and Ron are far superior to the radio folks who work the south side games.

[Sammy Sofa]

If they fire him or convince him to retire, I think it'll kill him.

 

If he keeps the job with as bad as the Cubs are now and probably will be for the next few years, I think it'll kill him.

 

If the Cubs somehow pull off the miracle of miracles and get to the playoffs in that same time, I think he's still doomed since either the excitement of winning or the despair of losing will kill him.

 

Poor Santo.

[Mark Priors Calves]

If it means more Dave Otto, then I vote no.

[USSoccer]

I hope he retires, or they put a 3rd man in the booth to do actual color commentary. I can't take listening to him and Hughes on their own. I get no enjoyment out of getting terrible analysis, incoherent ramblings, pointless stories and screaming and muttering.

 

I have nothing but respect for him as a person, a player and an advocate for JDRF, but he's not very good at his job. I expect the color guy in a major market to bring more to the table than raw passion. It's very difficult to enjoy listening to a game on the radio with him now, even compared to 3 or 4 years ago.