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For those breaks in the action, anecdotes are just the antidote

Sporting News, The, August 30, 2004 by Josh Lewin

"I have that one essential element. I'm talking about, of course ... ti-MING. TI- ti. TI-ming."

--Steve Martin

Martin was talking about his own comedic delivery, but the statement relates to broadcasters as well. For instance, we are told to never start a story with two outs--that's a commandment handed down from above (not that above ... just the fifth floor at the FOX Network Center). Also, know your starters. Nothing is better for letting fly with anecdotes than a Steve Trachsel-esque performance from a starting pitcher. Knowing that a guy will take 25 seconds between pitches allows you a full extra sentence with which to work.

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Hitters are tougher to gauge. The Rangers' Herbert Perry always takes a nice, long walk after the first pitch he sees, but once he has swung and fouled one off, he wants to get right back at it. Nomar Garciaparra is legendary for his maneuverings before he gets ready to hit, but he puts the first pitch in play so often there aren't many between-pitches situations. Bernie Williams has days where he steps out and fidgets like a 3-year-old in church, but then there are days that he's locked in and ready to go.

With apologies to Randall "Hackin' At the First Pitch" Simon, pitchers, more than anyone, dictate tempo in baseball. And for broadcasters, that's from whom we take our cues.

Bartolo Colon with a runner on base gives you carte blanche to tell stories--even ones by William Faulkner. Or Tolstoy. Texas' Joaquin Benoit has moments where he gets the sign, nods in agreement and still takes 3 or 4 seconds to come set at the chest. Teammate Ryan Drese, on the other hand, pitches as if he's late for an appointment. I tell fellow broadcasters they'll always make an early dinner reservation--or even a late round of golf--if they draw Drese.

Recently, our FOX Saturday crew had a matchup of Oakland's Tim Hudson and Minnesota's Johan Santana. The day before, we had meticulously prepared sound bites from players that we could roll during the broadcast. But because of each pitcher's hurry-up approach, we knew deep down we'd eventually use those DVDs to record Arrested Development and Entourage over the footage we never had a prayer of running.

For what it's worth, quick-work artists Hudson, Santana and Drese ranked 1-2-3 in ERA in the American League at the start of the week. That seems to be a message for those plodders who, at one time or another, have made broadcasters miss their scheduled late-afternoon flights. Tim, Johan and Ryan, we salute you. When you're on the mound, we talk less, inflict fewer lame stories on the public and get to the airport in plenty of time to have a smoothie.

Josh Lewin is the television voice of the Texas Rangers and a play-by-play announcer for FOX's Saturday Game of the Week.

For those breaks in the action, anecdotes are just the antidote

Sporting News, The, August 30, 2004 by Josh Lewin

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