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Message
Hawthorne should not be the LSU baseball announcer
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:03 am
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:03 am
First, let me say that I have probably listened to Hawthorne (and John Ferguson) as much or more than most LSU fans. I listened to John Ferguson in the 1960’s, 1970’s and early 1980’s. I've lived in Texas since 1985; I rarely miss any LSU football, basketball or baseball radio broadcast. Before Internet broadcasts, Hawthorne's voice on the radio was my eyes and ears for LSU sports. I am and have always been a Hawthorne fan; however, last night, while driving home from Houston, I listened to the LSU baseball broadcast with Hawthorne and Hanagriff and I could not have been more embarrassed. On three separate plays, Hawthorne sounded like a baseball idiot.
The first was on the ground ball to Blake Dean that was called foul. Hawthorne kept saying that "it was fair because Blake Dean was standing in fair territory when he caught the ball." Everyone with any baseball knowledge of the rules knows that it is the location of the ball (not the fielder) at the time the ball is touched that determines whether the ball is foul or fair. Hawthorne kept arguing with Hanagriff and sounded like a Little League Dad with absolutely no knowledge of the rules of baseball. If Hawthorne’s statement was correct, then a fielder could jump into fair territory to field a bunt that was rolling in foul territory to make the ball fair.
The second occurred when Hawthorne was critical of the Georgia pitcher when he was not pitching from the stretch with the bases loaded. Hawthorne said that most pitchers pitch from the stretch. Really? A majority of college and pro pitchers pitch from the windup with the bases loaded since runners don't need to be held on base. This was a moronic statement by Hawthorne.
The last one involved whether a right handed batter would prefer to face a right-handed or left-handed pitcher. Hawthorne inserted that "when I played baseball as a right handed batter, I always wanted to face a right handed pitcher because we rarely saw left handed pitching." Really? Hawthorne even said that it makes sense in the pro's to alternate pitchers because they see more left handed pitchers. Every college coach and player knows that right-handed batters want to face left-handed pitchers and vice versa and coaches know that statistics favor a right-on-right match-up or left-on-left match-up. To argue with Hanagriff on such a simple, well accepted coaching principle shows his ignorance about baseball and the strategies associated therewith.
I truly feel sorry for Hanagriff because you can tell he knows that Hawthorne is making stupid, idiotic statements, but Charlie can't embarrass or call Jim out on the radio for these stupid statements. Someone needs to grade the broadcasts and send them to Hawthorne to point out his simple mistakes about the rules or strategy. I can accept mispronouncing names and getting the action wrong during the heat of the moment, but to argue about things that are just clearly wrong is embarrassing. We have a world-class college baseball program and we need a world-class college baseball radio broadcast team.
As a baseball purist, Hawthorne’s broadcasting is unacceptable. I'm sorry, but Hawthorne is getting old, is negative in all sports, including football, basketball and baseball broadcasts and he needs to go. It obvious in football when he always says an opposing teams’ receiver is “wide-open” every time the receiver catches the ball, even though the LSU defender is a step behind.
I remember listening to John Ferguson when he was getting old and, as much as I hated to admit it back then, I knew when it was time for him to move on. Jim, it is time for you to move on. You’ve had a good run and I appreciate everything that you have done for LSU. You have been a great ambassador for LSU and I appreciate it.
The first was on the ground ball to Blake Dean that was called foul. Hawthorne kept saying that "it was fair because Blake Dean was standing in fair territory when he caught the ball." Everyone with any baseball knowledge of the rules knows that it is the location of the ball (not the fielder) at the time the ball is touched that determines whether the ball is foul or fair. Hawthorne kept arguing with Hanagriff and sounded like a Little League Dad with absolutely no knowledge of the rules of baseball. If Hawthorne’s statement was correct, then a fielder could jump into fair territory to field a bunt that was rolling in foul territory to make the ball fair.
The second occurred when Hawthorne was critical of the Georgia pitcher when he was not pitching from the stretch with the bases loaded. Hawthorne said that most pitchers pitch from the stretch. Really? A majority of college and pro pitchers pitch from the windup with the bases loaded since runners don't need to be held on base. This was a moronic statement by Hawthorne.
The last one involved whether a right handed batter would prefer to face a right-handed or left-handed pitcher. Hawthorne inserted that "when I played baseball as a right handed batter, I always wanted to face a right handed pitcher because we rarely saw left handed pitching." Really? Hawthorne even said that it makes sense in the pro's to alternate pitchers because they see more left handed pitchers. Every college coach and player knows that right-handed batters want to face left-handed pitchers and vice versa and coaches know that statistics favor a right-on-right match-up or left-on-left match-up. To argue with Hanagriff on such a simple, well accepted coaching principle shows his ignorance about baseball and the strategies associated therewith.
I truly feel sorry for Hanagriff because you can tell he knows that Hawthorne is making stupid, idiotic statements, but Charlie can't embarrass or call Jim out on the radio for these stupid statements. Someone needs to grade the broadcasts and send them to Hawthorne to point out his simple mistakes about the rules or strategy. I can accept mispronouncing names and getting the action wrong during the heat of the moment, but to argue about things that are just clearly wrong is embarrassing. We have a world-class college baseball program and we need a world-class college baseball radio broadcast team.
As a baseball purist, Hawthorne’s broadcasting is unacceptable. I'm sorry, but Hawthorne is getting old, is negative in all sports, including football, basketball and baseball broadcasts and he needs to go. It obvious in football when he always says an opposing teams’ receiver is “wide-open” every time the receiver catches the ball, even though the LSU defender is a step behind.
I remember listening to John Ferguson when he was getting old and, as much as I hated to admit it back then, I knew when it was time for him to move on. Jim, it is time for you to move on. You’ve had a good run and I appreciate everything that you have done for LSU. You have been a great ambassador for LSU and I appreciate it.
This post was edited on 4/3/10 at 10:05 am
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:08 am to WacoTiger
Jim Hawthorne and Broadcaster should never be used in the same sentence, however, Jim Hawthorne and Clueless go well together.
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:10 am to WacoTiger
My Oh My!
You are 100% spot on correct!
You are 100% spot on correct!
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:13 am to WacoTiger
I've heard he hates doing baseball, sounds like your experience confirms this.
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:15 am to 81Tiger
I love Hawthorne despite his faults.
His main fault:
he is one of those guys that has to be right 100% of the time and will never, ever, in a thousand years, admit that he's wrong. He will walk across a mile of broken glass and hot coals barefooted just to argue his point into the ground as being the "right" one.
That being said, I'm willing to accept that because I like him as an announcer.
We all have our faults.
His main fault:
he is one of those guys that has to be right 100% of the time and will never, ever, in a thousand years, admit that he's wrong. He will walk across a mile of broken glass and hot coals barefooted just to argue his point into the ground as being the "right" one.
That being said, I'm willing to accept that because I like him as an announcer.
We all have our faults.
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:16 am to WacoTiger
I was as big a defender of Jim as there was when this whole "He needs to go" movement got started. But the more I listen to him, the more he aggravates me. The thing that aggravates me the most is him constantly talking over and interrupting whoever is broadcasting with him. It's kinda like the old alpha male dog trying to assert his dominance. It's embarrassing and pathetic. While the "Jack Hunt" mention in the blue grass miracle bugs me, whatever, people make mistakes. But every time I listen to that replay the part that gets me is continuing to talk over the other guy as if there's nobody else in the booth with him.
I agree, hawthorne is getting towards the end of his rope. I've enjoyed most everything he's done. But it's time to move on.
I agree, hawthorne is getting towards the end of his rope. I've enjoyed most everything he's done. But it's time to move on.
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:20 am to Skooter
Listening to Hawthorne do baseball play by play is like listening to nails going across a chalkboard. How do you not know about a third out being recorded before the UGA run scoring.....and then arguing with Hanagriff about it when you have no idea??
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:23 am to WacoTiger
Sad but true.... I am in complete agreement with you
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:23 am to BulkLogan1
That ones hit hard!! its hit deep!! its caught by the shortstop just beyond 2nd base.
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:28 am to BulkLogan1
so who would replace him
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:30 am to WacoTiger
Actually on the ground ball hit to Dean it is the position of the ball as it crosses the plane of the first base bag, not the position of the ball when fielded. If the ball had crossed the bag fair but was foul when fielded it would have been a fair ball. It is the position of the ball when fielded provided it has not hit the ground first.
This post was edited on 4/3/10 at 10:32 am
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:31 am to catholictigerfan
He's terrible at basketball play by play.
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:31 am to bjsaint
I like Chuck Hanagriff on baseball. Just my opinion.
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:32 am to BulkLogan1
I think that radio guy Condon would do a great job. He seems to know his shite.
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:37 am to BulkLogan1
Hawthorne needs to go
how many calls of great lsu plays has he screwed up in just the last 8 years?
The bluegrass miracle? Yeesh.
It's embarrassing to know he represents LSU.
how many calls of great lsu plays has he screwed up in just the last 8 years?
The bluegrass miracle? Yeesh.
It's embarrassing to know he represents LSU.
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:38 am to WacoTiger
quote:
The first was on the ground ball to Blake Dean that was called foul. Hawthorne kept saying that "it was fair because Blake Dean was standing in fair territory when he caught the ball." Everyone with any baseball knowledge of the rules knows that it is the location of the ball (not the fielder) at the time the ball is touched that determines whether the ball is foul or fair.
Didn't hear the call, I was at the game. I sit on the first base line and the ball, not just Dean, was in play. In fact, it was a good 2 or 3 feet inside the line. You're correct, however, that if he was basing his comments solely on where Dean was standing,he was wrong.
quote:
Hawthorne kept arguing with Hanagriff
Many rantards think that Charlie is boring (I'm not one of them). There's no denying that he is extremely knowledgable.
quote:
The second occurred when Hawthorne was critical of the Georgia pitcher when he was not pitching from the stretch with the bases loaded.
quote:
The last one involved whether a right handed batter would prefer to face a right-handed or left-handed pitcher.
Didn't hear it but, if so, that is pretty sad.
Hawthorne is certainly prone to making retarded statements at times. Unfortunately, in baseball, the pace of the game allows for much more time for him to make such statements.
What would you think about splitting up the broadcasts and not necessarily having a designated "Voice of the Tigers"? My vote for that would be:
Current Football Crew (we have to put Jim somewhere!)
Basketball - Ford / Hultberg
Baseball - Lyn Rollins / Ben McDonald / Ronnie Rantz
I like Charlie on any of these as well, but he needs to have a good color guy working with him.
Posted on 4/3/10 at 10:42 am to bjsaint
BJSaint, you are correct in your statement about the position of the ball as it crosses the 1st base bag. That is what I meant to say, but clearly it is not the position of the fielder. Thanks for the clarification.
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