Steve Stone

[Bruno7481]

Just got done listening to the interview he did with Will Carrol at Baseball Prospectus. I reccomend downloading the interview and listening to it if you get the chance.

 

Surprised to hear that he does not have an announcing job this season after two years with ESPN. ESPN lost their Wednesday afternoon and Thursday night games, so they had to cut back on their broadcasts.

 

Talked a lot about the Cubs too. Pulling for Kerry, just wishes that he would have recognized that a power pitcher cannot succed with the kind of mechanics, throwing across his body, and would have made some changes earlier in his career.

[imb]

Who is doing wednesday and thursday night baseball now?

[Electron Blue]

Who is doing wednesday and thursday night baseball now?

 

good question - I sure hope someone is. There is much to complain about in the ESPN does baseball, but as a general rule, the more games on TV, the better. That's the first I heard they were cutting back; sad . . .

[Andy]

Isn't TBS doing some national games this year?

[JC]

Does anyone remember how long Brenly's contract runs? With his reportedly tight relationship with McDonough, he may spend the year biding his time if Brenly only signed a one year deal, somewhat remeniscent of his waiting out the Joe Carter/Dave Otto debacle.

 

Ah yes, the good ol' days of the Joe Carterism threads.

[Electron Blue]

Does anyone remember how long Brenly's contract runs? With his reportedly tight relationship with McDonough, he may spend the year biding his time if Brenly only signed a one year deal, somewhat remeniscent of his waiting out the Joe Carter/Dave Otto debacle.

 

Ah yes, the good ol' days of the Joe Carterism threads.

 

by "his" do you mean Steve Stone? If I'm reading you right, it sounds like you're suggesting Stone may eventually join Kasper in the booth? I like BB, but that would be interesting, though many on here would be disappointed.

[moorecg]

Does anyone remember how long Brenly's contract runs? With his reportedly tight relationship with McDonough, he may spend the year biding his time if Brenly only signed a one year deal, somewhat remeniscent of his waiting out the Joe Carter/Dave Otto debacle.

 

Ah yes, the good ol' days of the Joe Carterism threads.

 

by "his" do you mean Steve Stone? If I'm reading you right, it sounds like you're suggesting Stone may eventually join Kasper in the booth? I like BB, but that would be interesting, though many on here would be disappointed.

 

I like Len and Bob a lot, but Stoney will always have a place in my heart...I grew up with him and Harry, I hate that he's not there anymore, and I really hate how he left.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I liked Stone in the days when he was paired with Harry. But over time, his act grew trite and he seemed to become very full of himself.

 

I think Len and Bob make a great pairing. I'm not eager to look to the past and bring back Stone. That ship sailed and it's best not to bring it back to port.

[JC]

Does anyone remember how long Brenly's contract runs? With his reportedly tight relationship with McDonough, he may spend the year biding his time if Brenly only signed a one year deal, somewhat remeniscent of his waiting out the Joe Carter/Dave Otto debacle.

 

Ah yes, the good ol' days of the Joe Carterism threads.

 

by "his" do you mean Steve Stone? If I'm reading you right, it sounds like you're suggesting Stone may eventually join Kasper in the booth? I like BB, but that would be interesting, though many on here would be disappointed.

 

Yes, I was referring to Stone.

 

I know there is a significant contingent that dislikes Stone on the board. I'll just say that I'm not one of them and hope this thread doesn't spiral into another lengthy Stone debate.

 

I'd very much like to see a Kasper/Stone booth. But, that is probably less realistic the longer Brenly remains under contract. I think the Giants' managerial opening last year was the only team Brenly might possibly land with as a manager.

[mg420]

he might be arrogant in person and sometimes comes off as a know it all but i would love to see him back in the tv booth for the cubs.

[Magnetic Curses]

i grew up listening to steve stone and think he's a very good analyst in many respects, but overrated in others.

 

he wowed people by predicting pitches and being right 25%-33% of the time, which is around what my accuracy is.

 

he knows a lot about the game but is a strictly old school, blood-and-guts baseball expert. i value his opinion on pitching, but as a guy who played for earl weaver, he should have at least had some of earl's common sense rub off on him.

 

he maligns billy beane, perhaps because he wanted beane's job at one point, and insists upon reiterating that the cubs "lack fundamentals". when a team is performing poorly, it's the most casual of fans who blame a "lack of fundamentals", as every team goofs up at one point or another. but when a team is doing bad, those "poor fundamentals" become focal points, metaphors for failure, scapegoats. stone is as guilty of this as anyone, and it's cheap, prejudicial analysis.

[CubinNY]

he might be arrogant in person and sometimes comes off as a know it all but i would love to see him back in the tv booth for the cubs.

He sure as hell would beat Mark Grace in the booth.

[mg420]

he might be arrogant in person and sometimes comes off as a know it all but i would love to see him back in the tv booth for the cubs.

He sure as hell would beat Mark Grace in the booth.

 

big time. that goes for brenly too.

[Bruno7481]

he wowed people by predicting pitches and being right 25%-33% of the time, which is around what my accuracy is.

.

 

Carrol asked him about this. Stone responded that he enjoys thinking along with the pitcher and manager. He says he will never second-guess a manager, he first-guesses. That is the only fair way to do it in his opinion. If he guesses correctly, so be it. If not, then he is wrong.

[Magnetic Curses]

he wowed people by predicting pitches and being right 25%-33% of the time, which is around what my accuracy is.

.

 

Carrol asked him about this. Stone responded that he enjoys thinking along with the pitcher and manager. He says he will never second-guess a manager, he first-guesses. That is the only fair way to do it in his opinion. If he guesses correctly, so be it. If not, then he is wrong.

 

fair enough, but i don't like how he gets deified because he sometimes is able to predict pitches.

[JC]

 

he wowed people by predicting pitches and being right 25%-33% of the time, which is around what my accuracy is.

 

You have got to be kidding me. And Stone is the arrogant one?

 

Stone didn't just predict pitches anyway. He would warn about pitches. Stone would advise, "He's probably looking for a fastball outer half here. If Trout misses with his pitch, it may be a long day." Next thing you know, Bob Dernier is looking up over the ivy.

 

Stone is simply the best color man in baseball. He did a fantastic job with the Cubs, and that carried over to his ESPN work.

[JC]

fair enough, but i don't like how he gets deified because he sometimes is able to predict pitches.

 

Because its more than just "predicting" pitches. Stone gives you his analysis of why you pitch a guy a certain way in a certain situation. He doesn't just say, "This is likely a fastball, Chip." Instead, his commentary is often far more informative and includes not only what he thinks the guy might throw, but what he would throw in that situation.

 

But, it isn't just pitching. Stone, either through hard work or simple experience through time, provided valuable insight with respect to most every aspect of the game.

 

Unlike you, I enjoy his personality. I think he is quick witted and smart, which aides in the calling of a game. Combine that with his analysis, and that is why I'd take him over Brenly seven days a week, and twice on Sundays.

[moorecg]

I just liked the "tips for the youngsters out there" :D

[CubinNY]

 

he wowed people by predicting pitches and being right 25%-33% of the time, which is around what my accuracy is.

 

You have got to be kidding me. And Stone is the arrogant one?

 

Stone didn't just predict pitches anyway. He would warn about pitches. Stone would advise, "He's probably looking for a fastball outer half here. If Trout misses with his pitch, it may be a long day." Next thing you know, Bob Dernier is looking up over the ivy.

 

Stone is simply the best color man in baseball. He did a fantastic job with the Cubs, and that carried over to his ESPN work.

 

I agree with JC. Stone may have showed a thin skin with the Merker dibacle, but rightly so in my opinion.

 

Nice to see you around JC. Snow day?

[JC]

 

Nice to see you around JC. Snow day?

 

Pink-eyed kid. (Conjunctivitis, not albino). Daycare kicked him out.

[Knightlife_in_Lubbock]

 

Nice to see you around JC. Snow day?

 

Pink-eyed kid. (Conjunctivitis, not albino). Daycare kicked him out.

 

More like black eye. He was staring down the opposing teacher. :lol:

[TruffleShuffle]

Stone is simply the best color man in baseball. He did a fantastic job with the Cubs, and that carried over to his ESPN work.

 

I agree. I'd never heard him do a Cub game (not from Chicago area) and before I knew who he was, I was really impressed with the depth of analysis that he provided. I actually learned from him, whereas most commentators try to "dumb down" their material too much, so that all they're spouting is trite crap that 90% of baseball fans already know. He struck me as very thorough in his knowledge of the teams he was discussing.

 

When they came back from a commercial break and he was identified as Steve Stone, I was amazed that the Cubs fired him. He's the best that I've seen in the color role.

[CubColtPacer]

Stone is simply the best color man in baseball. He did a fantastic job with the Cubs, and that carried over to his ESPN work.

 

I agree. I'd never heard him do a Cub game (not from Chicago area) and before I knew who he was, I was really impressed with the depth of analysis that he provided. I actually learned from him, whereas most commentators try to "dumb down" their material too much, so that all they're spouting is trite crap that 90% of baseball fans already know. He struck me as very thorough in his knowledge of the teams he was discussing.

 

When they came back from a commercial break and he was identified as Steve Stone, I was amazed that the Cubs fired him. He's the best that I've seen in the color role.

 

Wait a minute-what year was this? You weren't watching Cubs games in 04?

[TruffleShuffle]

Stone is simply the best color man in baseball. He did a fantastic job with the Cubs, and that carried over to his ESPN work.

 

I agree. I'd never heard him do a Cub game (not from Chicago area) and before I knew who he was, I was really impressed with the depth of analysis that he provided. I actually learned from him, whereas most commentators try to "dumb down" their material too much, so that all they're spouting is trite crap that 90% of baseball fans already know. He struck me as very thorough in his knowledge of the teams he was discussing.

 

When they came back from a commercial break and he was identified as Steve Stone, I was amazed that the Cubs fired him. He's the best that I've seen in the color role.

 

Wait a minute-what year was this? You weren't watching Cubs games in 04?

 

I have no idea what year it was. I didn't watch Cubs games in '04 because I don't live in or near Chicago and don't have WGN. I did watch nationally televised games that year, I'm sure.

[CubColtPacer]

Stone is simply the best color man in baseball. He did a fantastic job with the Cubs, and that carried over to his ESPN work.

 

I agree. I'd never heard him do a Cub game (not from Chicago area) and before I knew who he was, I was really impressed with the depth of analysis that he provided. I actually learned from him, whereas most commentators try to "dumb down" their material too much, so that all they're spouting is trite crap that 90% of baseball fans already know. He struck me as very thorough in his knowledge of the teams he was discussing.

 

When they came back from a commercial break and he was identified as Steve Stone, I was amazed that the Cubs fired him. He's the best that I've seen in the color role.

 

Wait a minute-what year was this? You weren't watching Cubs games in 04?

 

I have no idea what year it was. I didn't watch Cubs games in '04 because I don't live in or near Chicago and don't have WGN. I did watch nationally televised games that year, I'm sure.

 

OK-just surprised that you became a Cubs fan without even the WGN games to watch.