If I'm Melanie Newman

[LA2]

On 6/5/2023 at 2:31 PM, glenn__davis said:

So basically, there's really nothing an announcer could do to be "not fine" to you?  

I just want to know what's happening in the game, in a way that makes sense when I can't watch.

And isn't interfered with or sometimes even contradicted by the announcer. My brain gets tired having to fight through, slip under, comprehend, or repress what Newman says during crucial moments of a game. Her style of expressing excitement--basically elongating the vowels of a player's name during a second or two that shd be devoted to who's chasing the ball, who's been waved home, where the ball's been thrown back in, etc.--kills my enthusiasm. Sad to say, I'd even take Bordick & Hunter over Newman & whomever.

"Lester heading to center!" on his single.

Long ululation of "Josh Lesterrrrrrr!" while the Giants flub the throw back in from the outfield allowing Mountcastle--unnamed as were the other two runners even long after the play*--to head home. And THEN she says one or two sentences later that the Giants had cut off the throw--but it wasn't a cut-off, but simply a dropped throw by the relay man Wisely (2nd baseman), and so much had happened in between anyway.

I follow on Gameday, I watch the highlights. I have enough cognitive dissonance during the day without MASN PBP making a mess of one of the few go-to pleasures left in my life.

*Newman is a URO specialist (Unidentified Running Oriole). It simply happens because she prioritizes ululation of the batter's name over reporting of an unfolding play. And no, just turning off the sound doesn't solve the problem: the cameras can't be looking and telecasting everywhere at the same time. The videographers, switching board operator, and viewers at home can't know where the ball, fielders, and runners are all at the same time--thus the need for narration from someone perched at a more encompassing vantage point, which the announcers usually have.

Edited June 6, 2023 by LA2

[Tony-OH]

33 minutes ago, LA2 said:

*Newman is a URO specialist (Unidentified Running Oriole). It simply happens because she prioritizes ululation of the batter's name over reporting of an unfolding play. And no, just turning off the sound doesn't solve the problem: the cameras can't be looking and broadcasting everywhere at the same time. One can't know where the ball, fielders, and runners are all at the same time--thus the need for narration from someone who has a more encompassing view, which the announcers usually do.

I think this is a great point. Sure, can you just watch the play on the screen, sure, but I want more information from the play that I can't see or pick up from the camera view. 

The PBP was so bad in SF that I literally thought the announcers were still announcing from Camden Yards off the TV broadcast like during COVID.

[TommyPickles]

[SteveA]

3 hours ago, Moose Milligan said:

They didn't play together for very long, which is a shame.

And they were hardly EVER together in the same outfield at one time.  Like maybe 2 or 3 games total.  Phil Bradley was a regular on those teams.

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

1 hour ago, Tony-OH said:

I think this is a great point. Sure, can you just watch the play on the screen, sure, but I want more information from the play that I can't see or pick up from the camera view. 

The PBP was so bad in SF that I literally thought the announcers were still announcing from Camden Yards off the TV broadcast like during COVID.

Maybe the Orioles announcers have poor depth perception.

 

[Tony-OH]

1 minute ago, OsFanSinceThe80s said:

Maybe the Orioles announcers have poor depth perception.

 

They just need to learn to follow the outfielders vs the ball flight. 

[Fiver6565]

4 hours ago, Tony-OH said:

I think this is a great point. Sure, can you just watch the play on the screen, sure, but I want more information from the play that I can't see or pick up from the camera view. 

The PBP was so bad in SF that I literally thought the announcers were still announcing from Camden Yards off the TV broadcast like during COVID.

I saw you say that in the game thread and it had me wondering if MASN had literally faked the backdrop at the opening the game, because your explanation really made sense with how bad it was.  But no, it was just that bad.

On a positive note, I thought Brett Hollander handled himself pretty well in the last two games of the series.  I think he also does well on the radio, though I don't listen that way very often.

[The People Conducto]

Melanie seems to be a good human being, but is not a solid announcer yet. I am not sure if I ever see it happening, especially when it comes to dead air. 

Some of these things would be done professionally, if she put in the work. She's already in, so I am not sure how focused she is on improving. 

If she took the time to study Jon Miller, Chuck Thompson, and the other greats, she would bring a new energy to the game.