Darryl Hamilton in the radio booth

[gregmag]

Tuned in my first Brewer radio game in a while, didn't know who I was hearing, liked him a lot. Smart guy, seems to have a good sense for what to talk about. Glad to have him back.

[gregmag]

Who, on the other hand, is the stiff I heard tonight, solo play-by-play guy, sounds like maybe an older white dude? Actually what he sounds is nearly catatonic. I don't think I've ever heard an announcer call plays on quaaludes before, but I really hope for his sake that's what was happening here.

[HiAndTight]

I really liked Hamilton. His voice sounds smooth on the radio and he gives great insights into the thinking of a baseball player. There were two instances that really stood out. He said there was no way the pitcher would throw Lucroy a fastball with two outs and a runner on 2nd. He said Lucroy should realize this and sit off-speed. The next pitch Lucroy hit the slider for an RBI single. Two nights later Uggla was pitch hitting and got to a full count. Hamilton said everyone in the place knew he was sitting dead red so the Brewer pitcher should throw anything off-speed. Uggla was able to get a hit from the fastball that came later.

 

 

I don't recall any particular instances like you have here, but just in general he really does a good job of articulating his baseball knowledge.

 

And he might have started out a little rough, but I think he's been pretty good. And he's kinda funny.

[H4P]

I've been reading the love fest and have been trying to get on board but I find the tandem awful. I listen to a lot of games on the radio because I work evenings. Hamilton was interesting at first but he's starting to be a broken record with his insight. Same stories night after night (and he's not on often). I just find Block to be insufferably boring. I can't stand this duo. I might tape them and play it back when I can't sleep.

[patrickgpe]

I like him, very impressed by him. Hopefully he has a future as a full time member of the broadcasting team. Much better than Block without the experience of calling games that Joe has.

[pretendastronaut]

Last night was the most I've heard Hamilton call. He has a good voice on the radio in general, and it sounds like Block is more engaged in the booth. It would actually be interesting to hear Uecker and Hamilton do a game together.

[Schlitz001]

I've listened to the last three games on the radio and I'm sort of mixed on Hamilton. He's sort of like a "Rock" for the radio booth only less gushy about Wisconsin and the Brewers and slightly more analytical. He's an older school baseball guy, which is I think brings good and bad.

 

I like when he talks straight from his baseball experience and when he brings out the stories from his past. I like that he can talk OG Brewers baseball. I like that he brings the hitters/fielders mindset when he analyzes any particular play. I like that he has on occasion forced Joe to have an actual personality instead of just being a monotone play-by-play guy.

 

What I didn't like is that he seems very fresh in the booth. I don't know what his radio experience is previously, but he comes off as not being entirely comfortable with radio. He's stumbled over some reads, blocked the occasional play-by-play call, and given off a "what does this button do" vibe. The other thing I don't like about Darryl is that he can be a little too old school, specifically about certain stats. I really wish I could remember specific examples, but there were a few times I looked at my radio and thought "did he just say that"?

 

I love Rock, so there is definitely hope for me warming up to Darryl. The biggest take-away I got from the last 3 games I listened to was that I just NEED to have Uecker. I was listening to Joe Block do a live read for some product, and I sat there and considered how great Uecker's live reads are. Uecker shills a lot of products over the radio for WTMJ, and I've never once doubted the greatness of those products.

[TheCrew07]

I like Hamilton and I think Block is better when he actually has someone to work with doing the game. I've caught 4 games now Hamilton in the booth and he hasn't turned me off.

[Pugger]

Now that I'm back in GB I can hear the radio broadcasts and I was wondering who that was at first on the broadcasts. I take it Uecker only does home games now? How old is Uecker and how much longer will he call games?

[BuckyBrewer61]

That being said, Joe Block bores me.

 

I suggest you have a listen to Block and Hamilton together in the booth, as I previously had exactly the same opinion of Block. I still don't think he's really special or anything, but I find him 100x more enjoyable with Hamilton to banter with. He has more personality, less dry, funnier, just feels much more comfortable than when he has to run a solo show. I hope the day that Ueck is no longer on the call is a long ways away, but for the first time since Block took over I feel we perhaps have a worthy heir (or two) apparent.

[Invader3K]

I take it Uecker only does home games now? How old is Uecker and how much longer will he call games?

 

Uecker is 80 and has basically said he has no plans to retire in the near future.

[hawing]

Ueck is doing some road games, just not all. I believe he's in the booth for this upcoming Mets series.

[hawing]

Uecker shills a lot of products over the radio for WTMJ, and I've never once doubted the greatness of those products.

If I didn't really like my current signature, I'd switch it to this.

[brewchicken]

A bit off topic, but did anybody else here the half inning with Seth Meyers on Friday night? It seemed like they could have handled it a bit better and I also wonder if Meyers was hoping to meet Ueck. It really didn't seem like he was pimping anything and I don't think his show needs a half inning on the Crew Network.

 

But I do agree with some that Block sounds much more relaxed and more "animated" with DH.