Uecker's performance so far

[sheethead]

I agree with the Ignitor. Fans on this board seem to be experts in umpires and play-by-play announcers. What Bob does is what he has always done and it is what makes him great. I have never listened to a game and not known who was on base, what the count was and what the score was when he was calling it.

I LOVE Uecker, but yesterday he had me convinced for a second that I didn't know how many outs there were. Unfortunately I did know, and that run did not score. Also, he almost had me convinced the Brewers did not score that 4th run for a bit.

[Dragonbait]

Well... as far as slipping, I still dont want anyone else...

 

He's 1000000000000000000000000000000000005.3x better than Ron Santo... More entertaining than Vin Scully

 

That being said.. I think he needs to take a little step back... I find the game MORE entertaining when its both him and Corey on at the same time.

[RobDeer 45]

Sheethead and Hammer I did hear that and I do listen to all the games on the radio because I'm out of market. I'll take the good with the bad every day.

[JohnBriggs12]

Milo Hamilton and Vin Scully are both 82 years old if you believe their bios. Personally I think both may have shaved a couple years along the road. Ueck is 75. Santo is 70.

 

While it's nice that guys with so much history can stay around the game so long, expecting them to be what they were 30 years ago is too much. Scully's worked a reduced schedule for years. I'm not sure about Hamilton. Santo doesn't make the long road trips.

 

I think we're at the time where Ueck needs to cut back either on his innings, or skip a road trip here and there, so he can stay fresh. Travel is the toughest part of that job. They also need to start thinking about grooming a replacement. He won't go on forever.

[kestrel79]

They had the perfect replacement, Jim Powell. When uke finally hangs it up, I say give Jim however much money it takes to bring him back. Him and Bob were great to listen to!

[sheethead]

Sheethead and Hammer I did hear that and I do listen to all the games on the radio because I'm out of market. I'll take the good with the bad every day.

As will I, but I don't pretend the slips don't happen. I don't think its out of bounds to discuss this. As for Santo, he doesn't do the play-by-play, they pay him for his sound bytes.

 

Brewcrew, I think Powell has found his permanent home.

[Nottso]

Next time we play the Cubs, I'd like to trade Provus for Santo for a couple of innnings. I'd love to hear Ueck and Santo together, each pulling for his own team. And there should definitely be a camera in the booth.

[RobDeer 45]

Sheethead, I agree, I don't think it's out of bounds to talk about it but let's have fun with it. I don't like hearing people say he should hang it up. It just won't be the same with out him up there. Maybe as he get's older he could do less time or do some color work.

[jhart05]

I like Uke. Hope he stays for another 20 years.

[Diskono]

Next time we play the Cubs, I'd like to trade Provus for Santo for a couple of innnings. I'd love to hear Ueck and Santo together, each pulling for his own team. And there should definitely be a camera in the booth.

Oh yes. It would almost be like listening to wrestling announcers.

 

"Now Ken Macha is walking out to the mound to talk with Suppan, and...OH MY GOD! THAT'S TODD COFFEY'S MUSIC!"

[sheethead]

I don't like hearing people say he should hang it up.

 

I agree, that's a bit premature.

[joepepsi]

I moved to Wisconsin in1990. I wouldn't be a Brewer fan if it wasn't for Uecker. Before I listened to him I couldn't stand to listen to an entire game on the radio. I have not listened to a game on the radio this year, but I have always liked his play by play. He makes the game interesting.

 

Listening to Uecker feels like I'm at a game with a friend. You pay attention to the balls and strikes but the conversation shifts back and forth from the ballpark.

[craigharmann]

I haven't heard Uke for the past 2 years, but I will say this. His voice was the voice of my childhood baseball memories. Easter Sunday, 1987 is a day seared into my mind. The call of Deer's homer and then Sveum's homer......magnificent! Everyone is going to decline sooner or later. I hope that he doesn't completely lose it before he realizes it's time.

[snyttri]

It will be very difficult to replace Fielder but it may be impossible to replace Uecker. The sports and broadcasting businesses may have too much money in them now to allow the rambling that developed big personalities like Uecker's and Harry Caray's. Uecker is one of the best things the Brewers have going for them and I hope he gets as much air time as possible.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Good lord. A few folks say he's slipping a bit and this place goes into an uproar.

 

I love his stories. I would not want anyone besides Ueck in our booth. I'll rue the day he finally turns off the microphone for the last time.

 

That all doesn't mean that once in a while it's frustrating listening to a game and you don't know what's going on, and *in my opinion* this happens more frequently than it did in the past.

 

I know the guy's a legend, and deservedly so. Again, I absolutely loathe thinking about the day the guy hangs it up, but that doesn't mean he's above reproach on a message board.

[logan82]

The Brewers games are on the radio?

[CheezWizHed]

You also get Uecker on the MLB audio feed.... http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[MaxJ72]

Uecker's Play by Play has never been the best. He has slipped. Sometimes you don't know what is going on while he is telling his stories. At the same time I really enjoy listening to him. As someone said earlier, he is a connection to my youth. I have listened to him since I was 9 years old. As long as he can tell me the score, I am satisfied.

[apirk]

Living out of Market XM is the only way I get to hear Brewers and I'll still take Uecker over 85% of the guys out there

[3Putt]

I love Uecker so I'm willing to forgive him occasionally forgetting that the game is on radio not TV. Does he have a microphone in his ear so his crew can help him correct or add info when he misses it? If he doesn't it seems like he should. For those of you that listened to Harry Caray his last few years Bob Uecker seems like Bob Costas.

[Roderick]

When at work I listen to the game. Luckily I also have the mlb gameday (or whatever it is called) page - so I actually know how many runs were scored etc. I love Uke and don't want to see him go, but would like it better if he is with a 2nd person more often - so that person can do the quick corrections. WTMJ pay Provus for more innings.

[Baldkin]

Does he have a microphone in his ear so his crew can help him correct or add info when he misses it?

Yeah, Kent Summerfeld is in his ear most of the time, I believe.

[joepepsi]

I listened to both games on the weekend on the radio. Uecker did a wonderful job. You guys are a tough crowd.

[RockCoCougars]

I listened to both games on the weekend on the radio. Uecker did a wonderful job. You guys are a tough crowd.

Exactly. I think it's a generation gap type thing. Not too long ago, you had to listen to the game to follow the team. There was no web, and only about 40 games a year were televised, if you were lucky. I think that many of us older folks view baseball on the radio as hearing a familiar voice- an old friend so to speak. The story telling that Ueck does is a big part of that. For me at least, that makes the broadcast- as long as I have some idea of what's going on in the game, I'm fine with that. If I could figure out a way around the DirecTV delay, I'd still turn the sound down on the TV guys to listen to Ueck, as I did for several years. It seems the younger crowd prefer a Jim Powell type- someone who will break down the game and stats, talk about the minors, etc. That's fine, but to me, that's what the Internet is for.

 

It will be a sad day for me when Bob is no longer doing the games. I just hope that he isn't pushed out due to sentiment like this like Ernie Harwell was in Detroit.

[Flood Pants]

I love Uecker, but Jim Powell's absence is really missed. He was the perfect "straight guy." I think what we're observing is not a decline in Bob's skills, but the absence of a partner who can "reign him in" like Jim could.

 

Provus may develop that sort of rapport with him, but the team just isn't there yet.