Ripken on the World Series and Nats' manager search
By: Jim Williams
Examiner Sports Columnist
10/23/09 12:19 AM EDT
Cal Ripken has become one of the best studio analysts in sports -- and part of what might be the best baseball studio show in TV history. The TBS "On Deck" show has done for baseball what the TNT studio show has done for the NBA. It is honest, it shies away from no topic, and, most all, it is very entertaining.
Ripken is joined on the program by host Ernie Johnson and fellow analysts Dennis Eckersley and David Wells.
Wednesday night, prior to the Phillies clinching another National League pennant, we talked about a variety of baseball subjects.
JW » Tell me about your broadcast partners on TBS "On Deck."
Ripken » "It all starts with E.J. He is the reason I am doing the show. He really keeps things moving and allows the rest of us to talk. Eckersley continues to impress me with his knowledge of pitching and his ability to get right to the key points during a game. Wells and I played together and I love that he simply says what he thinks and more often than not his observations are right on target. As for me, I have developed a real comfort level that I hope has given me an ability to be a better analyst."
JW » What about the World Series?
Ripken » "The Yankees are looking like it is only a matter of time before they take out the Angles. To me New York has been able to force the Angels to go deep into counts, then get the pitch they want, leading to a home run or a key hit. At the same time the Angels can get runners on base but have lacked the key hit. Being down to this Yankees team is, to me, much too hard to overcome. Impossible? No not impossible. Unlikely? Yes, I would say it sure looks like a I-95 series between the Phillies and the Yankees to me."
JW » What do you think of Don Mattingly as a manager for the Nationals?
Ripken » "He would be a great choice for Washington. I have known him for years and we talked about baseball strategy as players. He has a wonderful knowledge of the game [and] he relates well to players. [He's] a great teacher and I think would make an outstanding manager. Let's also not forget that he has been sitting in the dugout for years with Joe Torre, so that certainly has not hurt his baseball education."
Ripken, an avid basketball fan, who has his own court at home, told me he wishes coach Flip Saunders and Wizards well and that he hopes to get to Chinatown and see a few games this season.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on washingtonexaminer.com.
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