FIVE FOR FRIDAY

/ totallytigersblog

by Holly Horning

Chris Ilitch, Ryan Gustafson and the new Front Office gave us an early Christmas present last week.  They hired Jason Benetti to do the tv broadcast.

No more muting of fans’ tvs.

However, in order to get the maximum value out of Benetti’s talent, the Tigers – and Bally – need to take further steps.  This needs to be a completely different kind of broadcast.  It’s not enough to simply insert a new play-by-play man.  Everything else needs to complement and flow around him.

If you’re buying a top-of-the-line car, you’re not going to put cheap tires on it.

With that said, what 5 things (it’s Friday afterall) would I insist on either eliminating or adding to the tv broadcast?

I will admit that I have closer to 50 – not 5 – items on my wish list.  Selecting the top 5 was very hard to do but here goes…….

1. Match Benetti with similar personable talents.  They need to be quick, affable and able to keep up the banter.  You can’t mix him with the pensive and quiet types.  Or someone with a monotone voice.  The transitions between the 2 would be awkward. 

Nor can you put a really high energy talkative personality with him.  It would be exhausting for fans – and create an unwelcome attempt at overshadowing.

2. Stop interviewing random people sitting in the stands because they are presidents of a fan club or have been going to Tiger games since the beginning of time.  And save the somewhat relevant interviews for when the Tigers aren’t batting.  But above all else, keep the cameras trained on the game, not on the guest.

3. Get rid of the gimmicks like “pick the stick.”  Instead, have each of the broadcasters offer their most important takeaway from each game that will help fans understand and appreciate the game more.

4. Stop with the non-baseball discussions that include vacation stories involving former teammates and a complete dissertation about cumulus clouds.  And while you’re at it, stop rehashing ad nauseam the great moments of the 1984 team.  If I have to hear one more time about Kirk Gibson’s dramatic home run….  Please, focus on the future!

5. Offer substance, not silliness.  Instead of playing games like “rock, paper, scissors”, take the time to connect with fans about the significance of a player’s performance or the manager’s strategy.  It’s also a great time to educate fans about today’s game and the most important stats being used now.  Educating them is the best way to keep them as fans.

And if I had to add just one more to my list, it would be for the Tigers to invest in a brand new set of top of the line chairs.

Just in case.

If you could add just 1 more to the list, what would it be?

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20 thoughts on “FIVE FOR FRIDAY”

  1. If they must interview a debuters parents or the ilk, always have a split screen with the game the prominent one. I’m afraid Holly’s wants, which would be the ultimate for this fan, are a real pipedream for a company who sees their demise on a timeline. Also if you watch other Bally casts like Bally North you’ll hear the same music, see the same graphics and alot of the same shtick; something they won’t pay to change unless Illich and Guftafson play hardball.

    Liked by 4 people

  2. Please, no one with any front office connection past or present. Get someone who complements Jason Benetti and can offer independent and honest opinions about in game situations. We now have a thoroughly professional PBP guy, we need a professional in the booth with him.

    Liked by 7 people

    • The same was true for our own Ernie Harwell. For some reason, some of todays modern PBP talent feel that they have to fill every second with their constant blather. It’s very annoying.

      Liked by 4 people

    • Amen to that McWatt! If they could only understand the phrase “Silence is Golden”, that would go a long way with this fan. I would love to stop muting my TV and just be able to watch the game without all the noise and distractions.

      Liked by 2 people

  5. Well one of our wishes is going to come true. Bally’s parent is liquidating their company at the end of the 2024 MLB season per their plan filed in court.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I would hope Jason has had an opportunity to view a few past games and would have input as to what will be done. I can’t believe he would put up with the schmuck that’s present now. By the way Holly, all the reasons you listed is why so many of us muted.

    Liked by 5 people

  7. #6 – Now that the Tigers have top talent in the TV booth, bring Bally back to my satellite TV company. I’d like to see firsthand what is going on in the Lower Peninsula.

    Liked by 4 people

  8. I totally agree, back to basics in terms of play by play and analysis. Don’t fill the air with non stop noise, a little pause is good , as in the pause that refreshes. A bit of flair every now and then is good but only every now and then.

    Liked by 4 people

  9. An additional item to add – stop the ingame promotions of gambling. Aside from gambling having a high addiction potential, it is hypocritical for baseball to enforce very severe sanctions against players involved in the very same activity baseball is promoting and profiting from.

    Liked by 11 people

    • Agree 100% Brooks but the MLB and Fan Duel are snuggly under the covers together. And I don’t see anything or anyone capable of splitting them up. It sheds an ironic light on Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson btw.

      Liked by 3 people

  10. Sure hope that Illitch, Gustafson and Harris have the opportunity to read today’s Totally Tigers blog because Holly’s top 5 items are the main reason I cringed whenever I watched broadcasts. Muting the games happened on a regular basis because of the incessive “high energy” banter. Focusing on the game at hand w/out any gimmicks should be the priority #1.

    Liked by 5 people

    • I think Chris already has and that’s why Shep is on the sidewalk and the Chicago Wunderkind is in the booth. I’m sure Jason saw Bally’s handwriting on the wall and that’s why he’s a Tiger employee. And the dollars and length given by CI is substantial and shows a commitment.

      Liked by 3 people

  11. I had believed that it wouldn’t matter enough to the Harris regime to get involved in the TV broadcast. But having the best TV announcers possible helps sell the team back to a fan base that had peeled off from years of losing and organizational neglect. It’s an important part of the process of restoring the Tigers to a preeminent position.

    Liked by 5 people

  14. Yes I completely agree! I find the gambling promotions as part of the game distracting, unpleasant, and hypocritical. I am in the minority who gets a chuckle out of pick the stick. But I think any discussion of it should be during pre- and post-game only.

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