I have noticed that Kevin Eschenfelder has been taking over PBP duties during the 5th inning of late. Has anybody heard any rumblings as to why? Couldn't find any info/idle speculation on the web. The current duo of JD and Bill Brown is a main reason I've been tuning in of late...they're often able to make some nearly unbearable games slightly more tolerable. I am hoping the switch to the Comcast network is not going to bring about a change in the broadcast lineup.
Not sure I'm really answering your question/concern(ha, sorry), but here's this: [rquoter]Bill Brown, the longtime Astros television announcer who is wrapping up his 26th season with the ballclub, celebrated his 65th birthday Thursday and said he wants to take a few weeks after the season to contemplate his options for 2013. This is the last season for Astros games on Fox Sports Houston as the Astros and Rockets move to Comcast SportsNet Houston, which launches Oct. 1. Comcast officials – and team officials, for that matter — have had limited conversation or contact, if that, with the current Astros TV crew of Brown, Jim Deshaies, Greg Lucas, Bart Enis and Patti Smith as the season has progressed toward its end, and Brown said he is at least contemplating the possibility that his role may change next season. “I need some time to think after the season,” he said. “It’s hard to say right now. People are telling me ‘you would not be happy’ (without calling games), and I get that. I think there’s a lot of truth to that. “I’m just going to be really open to whatever happens. It’s difficult to know what plans are. Until somebody expresses interest, there’s nothing I can do. I need about a month to think, and I think that by that time, things will crystallize a little bit. I’ll be fine with whatever happens.”[/rquoter]
Kevin Eschenfelder signs off at Fox Sports Houston. CSN Houston announces [some] hires. More hires: And one more:
Hate to hear this: Zachary Levine is leaving the Chron; says he's going closer to home but unsure of his next stop. Current Utah Jazz beat writer Brian Smith will be taking over.
That's what I thought about Gene Elston around 25 years ago except that it was on radio instead of tv.
Not pleased with the decision to get rid of Dolan and Raymond....I think that sucks, actually. I found them to be very entertaining, regardless of how bad the team was.
Count me among those who thought the dismissal of Dolan was warranted. It was a clear dropoff from Ashby to him, and I felt it was a financial decision by Drayton at the time and I still do. I never liked baseball as much having to listen to him call games; he was like a Mormon or something, always safe and talking as though he had a perpetual cold. Every "n" or "m" sound came out as a "b". As in, "Ricky Bolasco". I hated his broadcasts. The other guy was a bit better, but I don't care, I lump them together.
I didn't care for them either. I'd prefer a former player doing the commentary. I preferred Ashby though it seemed his know it all act rubbed people the wrong way. I'd love to see Dierk get in there somewhere.
I wish that the Astros would never have let Ashby go, but I have to say that I have actually always liked Dolan and Raymond. Looking back now, I think that has less to do with actually liking them as announcers and more with the fact that what they bring to the table is so different from what Milo brings to the table. These guys just called the action, told you what the score was incessantly and for me, that's good enough most of the time.
Why would the Astros even consider anyone but Brown and JD? I'm assuming they'll be back. Or at this point you might as well change the name too.....
Ensberg, through Twitter, seems to be making it very clear that he's interested in any job the Astros pass his way. I hated his 18 different batting stances in the same at-bat...but that's a really smart guy. I'd be curious to know how he'd do as a color commentator.
