Cal Ripken’s debut as a studio analyst for the TBS coverage of the Major League Baseball Playoffs got off to a slow start — but as he gets more work, he seems to be getting better.
Hey, I mean after all, it has been over six years since baseball’s Iron Man has taken a pitch.
TBS MLB on Deck with Ripken, Frank Thomas and host Ernie Johnson is fast-paced and very well done. They have welcomed in current players like Detroit Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson and Atlanta Braves pitcher and future Hall of Famer John Smoltz to serve as guest analysts and it has been entertaining and insightful.
The studio team also did between game analysis and that has also been solid with both Ripken and Thomas having something interesting to say about the just completed game.
Thus far the studio trio have logged over 30-plus hours of air time with more than a week to go. It is almost like doing March Madness but everyday for a month.
As for TBS’s game coverage, it has been great — love the graphics, they are clean and very easy to read. Their on-air crew of Chip Caray, Tony Gwynn, Bob Brenly and Craig Sager (reporter) has been very good considering they have only been together a week.
So far the TBS has earned a solid B.
Up next
For the upcoming National League Championship Series broadcasts, Ron Darling will be joining the TBS studio crew with Ripken, Thomas and Johnson.
FOX will join the playoff broadcasting regime, taking on the duties of the American League Championship Series. Joe Buck, Tim McCarver with Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers reporting from the sidelines. The pregame show will be handled by Jeanne Zelasko and Kevin Kennedy.
Over on the radio waves, Jon Miller and Joe Morgan will be heard on ESPN radio while the local home-team crews are available on the XM game broadcasts.
Ripken on Yankees owner George Steinbrenner’s comments that put manager Joe Torre’s job on the line
“The first thing I thought was if (the Yankees) don’t win this series then (Joe Torre) is fired. I thought that’s got to be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. The Yankees have had success and the only thing I can think about is that this is George (Steinbrenner’s) way of lighting the fire to motivate them and get the players a little scared. Sometimes players play better scared, but usually they don’t.”
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on www.examiner.com.
