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Good day for YES

Peter Abraham
February
12

Get 10 fans together and you’ll get 10 different opinions about who the best baseball announcer is. But if you watch Yankees games on YES, there’s little question that you’re getting a first-class production.

YES was nominated for 31 New York Emmy Awards earlier today. You can find the complete list here.

What is worthy of mention here is that Bill Boland, Michael Cooney, Glenn Giangrande, Bob Lorenz, and Michael Kay are up for a writing award for the special show YES did, Celebrating the Life of Bobby Murcer.

Those guys, as you probably know, were all close friends of Bobby and hopefully they take home that award.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 10:09 pm by Peter Abraham.
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86 Responses to “Good day for YES”

  1. Rebecca-Optimist Prime...Staying to Write the Story

    Wish them the best of luck.

  2. Patrick

    Good stuff, I hope they win.

    YES really does a great job in my opinion. Even though I’m not a big fan of Michael Kay, the group of announcers they have are better than anybody that FOX or ESPN has.

  3. Ed - spring training can't start soon enough

    the Yanks owns a network, yet they are still airing 10 spring training games? why not just all? I thought that was the purpose of having a network named after a team?

  4. jennifer

    Best of luck to all the Yes nominees. I especially hope they win for the Bobby Murcer special. I was up in Toronto when I heard. :cry:

    ed- Yeah I don’t get that. I have sirus radio, but I am canceling my subscription, well actually not renewing it. I am afraid they will go under and they’ll have all my money.

  5. GreenBeret7

    Ed – spring training can’t start soon enough
    February 12th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
    the Yanks owns a network, yet they are still airing 10 spring training games? why not just all? I thought that was the purpose of having a network named after a team?

    ————————————————————

    They don’t want you to get hurt during spring training. They know that you’re not in game shape, yet.

  6. Chien-Ming Vase

    i loved paul o’niell as as player but when he and kaye announce a game together, i have to turn off the sound its so bad.

  7. pat

    It’s been a tough few days in Yankeeland and this gave me a chuckle so I thought I’d share.

    Jeter tries to help Guillermo beat El Tigre

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ontrx8LkZ78

  8. Tom

    Maybe the cost has something to do with it, Ed?

  9. Rudy

    I wish Michael Kay would announce in a similar way that he speaks on ESPN 1050. Of course he can’t do such a thing because he would come off as too opinionated.

  10. Adam DeSanctis

    I actually am a big fan of Michael Kay. He provides good play-by-play and I love the “Seeeeee yaaaa.”

  11. TheChuckKnoblog

    I love YES Network and I wish them the best!

  12. Phil

    The problem with YES is the MLB blacks out to much of their stuff outside of the footprint. It’s fricking stupid considering every other team benefits from the Yankee brand. Just cause they won’t let me watch Yankeeography doesn’t mean I’m gonna watch the Dodger or the fricking Angels. It’s a ridiculously self limiting policy from MLB.

  13. Cabrera

    I assume you mean 10 different opinions about who the second-best announcer is. It’s been scientifically determined that the best is Vin Scully.

  14. tb646

    pat, thanks for the video, that was pretty funny

  15. Christina

    Al Leiter of course! :)

  16. Chien-Ming Vase

    id have to say i think scully’s the best, bob euker is right behind though. harwell was better but he’s retired.

    i spent 7 years in missouri listening to jack buck, he was the best.

  17. trisha - Want the truth? Read Canseco's book.

    The YES network is part of the air that I breathe. I am so happy that they’ve been nominated.

    By the way, I went through all of the nominations and saw a few having to do with the Alex Rodriguez Yankeeography. I am so thinking that perhaps not. That would be very weird at this point. Too bad because it was well done, in terms of what it was…

  18. GrouchoNYY

    It’s actually 12 games on YES for Spring Training. In addition, I expect a few others on ESPN and the new MLB Network. If past practice continues, spring training games are not blacked out.

  19. jennifer

    ^^ except on espn and mlb we’ll have to hear that talk again! :(

  20. Ed - spring training can't start soon enough

    GB7,

    lol..good point.

  21. gmen21

    i like sny’s annoucers

  22. Chien-Ming Vase

    plus the wbc. i heard melky is playing and jeter, anybody else?

  23. Giuseppe Franco

    My big issue with YES is blackouts as Phil mentioned above.

    I live in the Chicagoland area and I cannot watch Yankeeography, Yankees Magazine, or The Joe Girardi Show unless the network decides to replay them during a rain delay.

    No biggie on Yankees Magazine but I really miss Yankeeography. I’ve never seen Girardi’s show so I can’t miss something I’ve never seen.

  24. Chien-Ming Vase

    yes is much more polished than sny but you’re right, sny’s annoucers are alot better than the yankees.

  25. bru

    the reporters sucked the life out of girardi.

    i understand girardi wanting to come off nicer to the media but enough is enough.

    one question was,do you think the extra time you have to give to arod will take your focus or attention away from other areas.
    another one was,what happens if arod comes to you in the middle of the season & says i just can’t take it anymore,how thick do you think arod’s skin is.

    girardi is trying too hard to be nice to a fault.
    he should of said we will deal with whatever when & if the time comes or arod has no choice but too get through it.

    imo arod should of never signed with the yankees,ny is going to ruin him.

  26. Chien-Ming Vase

    arod is ruining arod and obviously that started before he got to ny

  27. Nick in SF

    PAT M, if you’re out there, I’m sorry things just worked out the way they did. Sorry in more ways than one. :(

  28. GreenBeret7

    And, this should answer the questions for the “Sign Ben Sheets” whiners.

    Sheets Undergoes Successful Surgery
    By Drew Silva [February 12 at 9:35pm CST]
    According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, Ben Sheets underwent successful elbow surgery Tuesday. A source claims that “a return in the second half is realistic barring setbacks.”

    Clubs already are inquiring about signing Sheets for the second half. If healthy, he will be extremely attractive to contenders, who at that point could sign the former Brewers’ ace without forfeiting a top draft pick, writes Rosenthal.

    It doesn’t sound like a team is going to take a chance on him before the season starts.

  29. Chien-Ming Vase

    i think sheets got screwed royally by the brewers. thier dr’s told him he didnt need surgery last year and even after he shut it down in september they told him he just needed rest.

    if he had this surgery in early october he would probably have a nice incentive laden contract and he’d be back by the asb.

  30. Betsy

    http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/.....es-issues/

    http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/.....-in-tampa/

    Good takes by Kepner………..

  31. Betsy

    My comment is awaiting moderation? Did anyone else get this message?

  32. GreenBeret7

    Makes you wonder how GMs will react to him by trying to get a contract, knowing he needed surgery. Somebody will sign him by the end of the draft, but, not a multi-year guaranteed one.

  33. GreenBeret7

    Betsy
    February 12th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
    My comment is awaiting moderation? Did anyone else get this message?

    ————————————————————

    The message that I usually get is “You jerk—…you can’t say that on here.”

  34. Chien-Ming Vase

    from what i heard from one of the brewer’s announcers, he was under the impression that he would be fine without surgery.

    it is possible that as teams started turning him down, he went to another doctor and found he did need the surgery the brewers told him he didnt need.

  35. gdamac

    Yeah, I can’t stand Michael Kay, he gets more excited when the other team scores than the Yankees, but that was a great special, and YES is a first class channel.

  36. gdamac

    Ed – spring training can’t start soon enough
    February 12th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
    the Yanks owns a network, yet they are still airing 10 spring training games? why not just all? I thought that was the purpose of having a network named after a team?
    ——————————————————————————————
    Cost of production, not enough people watch to justify the cost of production.

  37. Tarheelyank

    GB
    Did you see the post from Bob Shantz a day or two ago? Do you think he’s the ball player from the 50’s?

  38. Chien-Ming Vase

    bear in mind, the brewers wanted him to be able to pitch again if they made it through the divisional playoffs.

    add in the way they used cc at the end of the year and some would see a bit of recklessness to win with 2 pitchers who were just about to leave the team.

    the brewer’s announcer (i didnt catch his name) said the team was expecting him to be able to pitch again if they made it to the LCS

  39. AG

    “he gets more excited when the other team scores than the Yankees”

    I think he’s just trying to overcompensate for his Yankee fandom.

    David Cone is miles better than anyone else on there since Kaat left.

  40. eric in queens

    Michael Kay is dreadful. He constantly asks questions during the broadcast.
    “Paul, is it really that hard to hit?”
    “Yeah, Michael it is.”

    “Hey David, why doesn’t Wang just throw some other pitches?”
    “You see, Michael, the sinker is his best pitch.”

    It’s nauseating. Centerstage is the venue for little league level baseball questions, not the broadcast booth. I hope Francesa continues to crush him (not literally).

  41. Betsy

    LOL GB……….

  42. GreenBeret7

    Tarheelyank
    February 12th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
    GB
    Did you see the post from Bob Shantz a day or two ago? Do you think he’s the ball player from the 50’s?

    ————————————————————

    I saw that. Nah. Shantz is almost 86 years old.

  43. DT

    “My comment is awaiting moderation?”

    Always comment in moderation, especially at blog office parties.

    You’ll end up blogging with a lampshade on your head in front of your boss. Plus blog hangovers are no fun.

  44. GreenBeret7

    Betsy, were you trying to put two links on the board…or one that isn’t allowed?

  45. GreenBeret7

    Keep in mind, the filters will not allow PA’s full last name, even if you’re talking about Abe Lincoln.

  46. Tarheelyank

    Yeah I saw the age too. just wanted your take. thanks

  47. GreenBeret7

    Not a problem. Also, if you see GreenBeret7, it’s not really me.

  48. yankeefan91 Arod fan (sign manny now)

    Chien-Ming Vase

    melky decided to skip the wbc

  49. DT

    GreenBeret7
    February 12th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
    Keep in mind, the filters will not allow PA’s full last name, even if you’re talking about Abe Lincoln.

    and all day long I’ve been trying to wish Lincoln a happy birthday.

  50. Jason from The Heartland

    As an out-of-market viewer and listener of Yankees games, I can safely say that the YES broadcasts are far and away better than most others out there; no question about it. There is much less open cheering for the Yanks than broadcasters for others do–little at all from YES announcers, in fact. They’re profesional. People such as Cone, Singleton, Leiter, and Flaherty also do a terrific job of breaking down situations and what players’ intentions likely are at crucial points in games. Cone and Leiter conduct pitching tutorials during games. I know fans have their preferences, but anyone who thinks YES isn’t one of the very best networks for baseball should take in Rays, Tigers, or White Sox TV broadcasts–horrible.

  51. GreenBeret7

    DT
    February 12th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
    GreenBeret7
    February 12th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
    Keep in mind, the filters will not allow PA’s full last name, even if you’re talking about Abe Lincoln.

    and all day long I’ve been trying to wish Lincoln a happy birthday.

    ————————————————————

    Well, you probably wouldn’t have gotten a response back from A. Lincoln. He’s a heavy sleeper.

  52. GreenBeret7

    Besides those, the Seattle, Angels, Braves and Boston are equally intolerable.

  53. Betsy

    Yep, GB, I did post two links in one thread – I guess that’s a no-no? LOL I don’t believe any of the links (to Kepner’s blog posts) mentioned Pete …….

    DT, lol …..

  54. Ed - spring training can't start soon enough

    GB, is that a lie? or I’m seeing doubles? lol

  55. Chien-Ming Vase

    it just turned the day after lincoln’s b day here, but he’s in illinois, so you still got an hour.

  56. Chien-Ming Vase

    i was looking for a stovepipe hat to wear today but nobody had one.

  57. Phil

    It’s a shame that Roy White is still sort of estranged from the team and not down at ST.

  58. RyanM

    How does Doc Emrick not get a nomination? Yet his partner Chico, who is 10x worse than Emrick does? I mean, I hate the Devils, but at least I can recognize talent.

  59. gdamac

    AG – Me thinks the commentator compensates too much.

  60. GreenBeret7

    Ed – spring training can’t start soon enough
    February 12th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
    GB, is that a lie? or I’m seeing doubles? lol

    ————————————————————

    I guess I could say that sometimes I let my identical twin brother post as me, just to give PA ulcers having to think that there’s two of me. Would that be cruel?

  61. Sully

    Roy White is estranged from the team?

    Why?

  62. Sully

    I wanted to contribute today, but this was the kind of day that you read the comments, and when you grab your drink and refresh the screen, 25 more comments were written

    Kind of like Pamplona

  63. pat

    Hearing Chris Russo on Letterman makes me realize how little I miss him.

  64. dave

    “melky decided to skip the wbc”

    Yea because he realized he is actually competing for a job this season during the spring and would be an idiot to go try to hit against the best pitchers in baseball while gardner has even more motivation back in tampa to replace him. Melky cant just stroll through the spring anymore and expect centerfield waiting for him in the bronx. He needs to actually play well and earn it this time around and I dont just mean during the spring – I mean the entire season. He is also running out of options so he may be outright released this season. It is certainly a possibility. Melky is running out of chances to prove himself on this club and spring training this summer is an excellent opportunity for him to show the yankees he has gotten better. If he went off to play or sit on the bench at the wbc, I seriously doubt he will do well against that kind of pitching and the yanks would not have much to go on outside of that. Its a smart move not to go and stay in tampa to compete.

  65. dave

    I have no idea why I wrote Spring training this SUMMER is an excellent opportunity. I am an idiot. I am not even thinking straight right now and have a final in 8 hours – bye guys.

  66. Clare

    David Cone is my new favorite announcer. He’s a trip.

    Michael Kay generally annoyed me, until he did that one inning during the ESPN broadcast of the last game at Yankee Stadium. He was sooooo much better than whoever it was for ESPN (Morgan and Miller?). So, even though he repeats the same stories over and over (I hope Leiter punches him next time he brings up the Kazmir/music thing), he’s really not that bad, especially considering what else is out there.

  67. Clare

    I’m also really sad I had to move back out of the YES territory. You can get the games on MLB extra innings, but nothing else.

  68. Christina

    Another plane crash.. this is terrible..

  69. Carl

    CC Sabathia is now in Tampa
    https://twitter.com/CC_Sabathia

  70. NYYanksFan

    http://www.star-telegram.com/2.....99826.html

  71. Clare

    My favorite line so far on ARod and steroids:

    “The marginal effect of steroids on someone as talented as A-Rod doesn’t amount to much. It’s like giving Shakespeare better ink.”

    http://www.mouthpiecesports.co.....-baseball/

  72. KO

    Flaherty is hands down the worst announcer on YES… O’Neill and Cone are the best

  73. KO

    And lol, that Shakespeare line is pretty good. I like it.

  74. SteveB

    Looking at all the nominees on that list reminds me of when I was a kids’ in-house soccer coach. Everyone gets a trophy.

  75. Espresso

    The announcers here in the Seattle area are not so hot, but I find them interesting. For one, they switch one out in the middle of the game and the radio guy comes in. The catch is he knows a lot about the Yankees that the others don’t. When ever he mentions another club for an example its the Yankees. It seems to me that he is just another displaced fan.

  76. Clare

    KO,
    I agree with you on Cone and Flaherty, but not Paulie. He mumbles a lot, and makes some of his best points as if he’s talking to himself.

  77. Drive 4-5

    I’d like to see Kim Jones get an New York Emmy for her postgame interviews. I’m sure Joe Torre would agree.

  78. MaineYankee

    Cone and Leiter are good at explaining the mechanics of the game. Also I like how Leiter won’t back down from Kay when they disagree.

  79. Planet please ?

    the YES network is awful. The announcers sound more like Yankee Haters than Yankee fans…When I watch the games, i always do it with THEIR volume down and ANYTHING ( including silence ) i hear besides their voices is better than listening to them.

  80. Tarheelyank

    What do the Astros, Indians, Nationals, Orioles, and Reds have in common?

    They all picked somebody other then Derek Jeter in the 1992 draft. With Jeter set to play against the Yankees (wow) for the WBC,I can’t help but think how lucky we Yankee fans are.

  81. bodhisattva

    Kay is awful. He does not know the meaning of silence. The game demands pauses at dramatic points, so it can tell the story. Kay smothers every moment with incessant chatter. He has such a radio sports show mentality that he can’t turn down.

    Cone is good, but ponderous. Leiter is more succinct. O’Neill runs on but he is so much better than when he first arrived. He was stilted and boring. Now he’s free to be his flaky self and that is fine.

    Nothing will ever compare with the yin and yang of White and Rizzuto.

  82. Neil

    Boston is as tolerant and cosmopolitan as Billings, Montana is. As naive and delusional as it gets.

  83. Kevin

    I can’t believe they were nominated (aside from the Murcer stuff). The broadcasts are all horrendous, no matter who is doing the game. Especially Michael Kay who conducts the broadcasts like a talk show. Makes me sick that the Yankees, such a world class organization, have such putrid commentators. On the flip side, the Knicks, a joke of a franchise right now, have the best announcers in the game.

  84. Jack Knight

    DEEP TO RIGHT! GOING BACK! AT THE TRACK!

    …ok 10 feet in the front of the track…

    …ok maybe it was just a foul ball over home plate.

  85. Sean Serritella

    I hope Bobby gets the award.

  86. Wellshot

    Michael Kay is the reason that, whenever possible, I watch the non-YES feed on Extra Innings. How he got–let alone keeps–the job over Singleton (or even Sterling) is beyond me. He’s the worst. He even knows he’s the worst.

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About the authors
Chad JenningsChad Jennings joined the The Journal News in October 2009, having spent the better part of seven years covering baseball in Scranton, PA. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and an award-winning beat reporter and features writer. E-mail me at cjennings@lohud.com
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Sam BordenSam Borden is an award-winning journalist who joined The Journal News and LoHud.com in January 2008. He covered the Yankees for the New York Daily News from 2004-06, and has also worked as a columnist for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. E-mail me at sborden@lohud.com
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Sam BordenJosh Thomson has done some of everything since joining The Journal News in March 2003. He began working for the Gannett weeklies during the winter of 2002 as a freelance writer. He joined the daily staff soon after and has since covered various high school and pro sports. E-mail me at jthomson@lohud.com
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