The Houston Astros may be the worst team in MLB, but one
thing the team does have is an outstanding team of television announcers. Bill
Brown (Brownie) on play-by-play, and former pitcher Jim Deshaies (JD) handle
the TV booth and they make games much more interesting to watch.
These guys are the best in the business. Between them they
have the perfect mix of knowledge, humor, and the rare ability to know when to not talk. They are clearly fans of the
team for which they announce games, but they are diplomatic and fair in their
comments. I for one would rather watch the worst team in baseball with the best
announcers, than the best team with the worst announcers.
Brown has been with the Astros since 1987, after stints
broadcasting for the former World Hockey Association Cincinnati Stingers,
Xavier University and University of Cincinnati basketball, and the Cincinnati
Reds. He is a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and Houston’s Minute
Maid Park Media Wall of Honor.
Deshaies is a former MLB pitcher, playing for seven teams
including the New York Yankees, and the Houston Astros. His career record was
84-95, with a 4.14 ERA. His best seasons were with the Astros, going 12-5 with
a 3.25 ERA in 1986, and 15-10 with a 2.91 ERA in 1989. His lone major league
record is not for pitching, but batting: he stands alone at the top of the list
for the most at bats without an extra base hit (373).
JD’s first minor league stop was the 1982 Oneonta Yankees.
One of his teammates was a young Stanford University student who was better
known at the time as the quarterback of the Stanford Cardinals – future NFL
Hall of Famer John Elway. I lived in nearby Delhi, New York in the early
1980’s, and I saw many minor league games at Oneonta’s Damaschke Field.
Although I had no idea who he was at the time, my brother David and I must have
seen JD pitch several times that year, as we attended most of the team’s home
games. Now I have the pleasure of JD’s talent again – this time as an
announcer.
Brown and Deshaies are professional in every way, but what
really sets these guys apart is the sense of humor always in evidence - especially
the wit of Jim Deshaies. Brown is funny in his own right, but his ability to let
his broadcast partner run with it helps to make these guys so good. That is not
to say that they concentrate on humor though.
“We’re not one-dimensional,” said JD during one recent
broadcast. “We don’t just talk about golf.”
Brown and Deshaies both possess considerable baseball
knowledge – their analysis is always on target. Between them they miss nothing,
adding to the enjoyment of television viewers. But when the opportunity for
humor arises – JD is always ready. In my opinion, JD’s sense of humor is unmatched
– this is one funny guy.
The following are just a few examples of his on-air work:
Discussing outfielder Yonder Alonso:
“If they’re doing a
scouting report on Alonso, are they ‘going over Yonder’?
On Red’s pitcher Sam LeCure who is married to former
University of Texas and Rockford Thunder softball catcher Megan Willis-LeCure:
“If she’s making
dinner and he doesn’t like it, does he shake her off?”
Astros 2nd baseman Jose Altuve suddenly slipped
and fell as he was trying to round 1st base:
“Sniper got him.”
Addressing the strange fact that the Astros had three
pitchers all with the last name Rodriguez pitch in the same game (Wandy,
Fernando, and Aneury):
“It’s a 3-Rod Night.”
After announcing that the next day’s game would not be
televised.
“Brownie and I made an
executive decision; we’re just not showing up.”
On defensive indifference, after Carlos Lee took 2nd
base without a play, and former Milwaukee 1st baseman Prince Fielder
was seen shrugging:
“Carlos asked him ‘can
I go?’”
“’I don’t care; go
ahead. I’m indifferent.’”
Discussing Arizona Diamondback’s Luis Gonzalez’ 2001 World
Series winning hit that beat the New York Yankees – a much hated team in New
England:
“Gonzo will never have
to buy another drink or meal in New England.”
Discussing the possibilities of the 2012 New York Mets:
Bill Brown: “They
don’t have much depth.”
J.D.: “They don’t have
much width, either. They need to work on their width.”
After Greg Lucas commented that former Marlin’s pitcher
Anibal Sanchez had surpassed JD in the number of triples hit in his career
(Sanchez -1, JD – 0):
“You better not fall
asleep on the flight to D.C. this afternoon.”
After the Astros hit three triples in one inning against
Washington:
“At some point, you’d
think these National’s outfielders would consider backing up. Or just sitting down.”
Discussing former Cubs hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo working
with JD and other pitchers on hitting.
Bill Brown: “Is he the
guy that taught you to pull the ball?”
J.D.: “He’s the guy
that taught me to stop wasting my time - stop trying.”
Brown and Deshaies are entertaining whether the Astros are
winning or losing. They are both knowledgeable about the game of baseball, but
they don’t display it in an annoying manner, as do some announcers. I can’t
recall how many times I have listened to annoying sports announcers who ramble
on and on, trying to prove to viewers just how smart they are.
These men show their knowledge in an unassuming way – a way
that makes them entertaining and professional. They are not afraid to discuss
highly technical aspects of the game, but it’s not done to the extreme that
some announcers take it. Even the most knowledgeable fan doesn’t want to sit
through a lengthy discussion of how the arm angle of a pitcher affects
placement of his pitches. Brown and Deshaies know instinctively how long to
carry on such a discussion before viewers begin to tune out. When they are
funny, it isn’t forced or over done. That is the beauty of the way these guys
operate. They both understand how to let the action tell the story; they don’t
dominate the viewer’s attention with meaningless dialogue – unlike some other
announcers.
If you love baseball, you will watch games on television regardless
of who calls the action. Fortunately for fans of the Houston Astros, we get to
listen to the best – Bill Brown and Jim Deshaies.
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