Jason Benetti = Mario Impemba

[Edman85]

32 minutes ago, holygoat said:

It's wild. I feel like people think I'm saying Shep is better than Benetti, when it's clearly the opposite of that.

I wasn't really saying that. I was just pointing out he's really good at basketball. He often gets paired with Bill Raftery or Robbie Hummel, so he gets somebody good and entertaining to do games with.

[oblong]

13 minutes ago, Edman85 said:

I wasn't really saying that. I was just pointing out he's really good at basketball. He often gets paired with Bill Raftery or Robbie Hummel, so he gets somebody good and entertaining to do games with.

and isn't that the source of his history with Bill Walton?

 

[CMRivdogs]

15 minutes ago, Edman85 said:

I wasn't really saying that. I was just pointing out he's really good at basketball. He often gets paired with Bill Raftery or Robbie Hummel, so he gets somebody good and entertaining to do games with.

That may be the bottom line. Pairings matter, the PBP guy may be adequate but a poor "color commentator" could actually bring down a broadcast. Monroe was bad both on TV and the few radio broadcasts I listened to. Unfortunately Gibson's health contributed to his ability to perform up to even his own standards (I listened to the old Locker Room on WXYT with Gibson, Gary Danielson and Eli Zaret) plus his early TV Tigers stuff.

Shep isn't strong enough to enhance a sidekick

Edited August 22 by CMRivdogs

[Edman85]

35 minutes ago, oblong said:

and isn't that the source of his history with Bill Walton?

 

I think so? Not the last few years since Benetti moved to Fox (and Walton passed away last year). Walton's primary partner at ESPN was Dave Pasch. I can go into the archives to see how often they worked together... I do know Walton guested for a couple games with the White Sox when Steve Stone was out.

Edit: I found about 10 games in The506 Archives where they worked together from the 2018 Maui Invitational to when Benetti moved to Fox in 2022.

Edited August 22 by Edman85

[oblong]

When he was at ESPN they did Pac 12 games together.  At the 2:50 mark they bring up Torkelson. 

 

[Edman85]

5 minutes ago, oblong said:

When he was at ESPN they did Pac 12 games together.  At the 2:50 mark they bring up Torkelson. 

 

They did a couple Pac 12 games. Most of their work was early session Maui Invitational work (including the years the Maui invitation wasn't in Maui)

[gehringer_2]

4 hours ago, Edman85 said:

I wasn't really saying that. I was just pointing out he's really good at basketball. He often gets paired with Bill Raftery or Robbie Hummel, so he gets somebody good and entertaining to do games with.

Note those are not ex-players. To me that was Shep's hang-up/downfall. There were a few times when Shep worked a Tiger game with another media person and he was way better - acted like a real person with a real brain. But put him with an ex-player and he always went all lap-dog. It's just not a good broadcast to listen to someone doing that. 

[papalawrence]

12 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

Note those are not ex-players. To me that was Shep's hang-up/downfall. There were a few times when Shep worked a Tiger game with another media person and he was way better - acted like a real person with a real brain. But put him with an ex-player and he always went all lap-dog. It's just not a good broadcast to listen to someone doing that. 

I found Petry was a bit like that with Benetti at first. Just piggy-backed and went along. This year he seems to be interjecting more of his own thoughts and ideas. 

[Edman85]

15 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

Note those are not ex-players. To me that was Shep's hang-up/downfall. There were a few times when Shep worked a Tiger game with another media person and he was way better - acted like a real person with a real brain. But put him with an ex-player and he always went all lap-dog. It's just not a good broadcast to listen to someone doing that. 

How dare you besmirch one of my favorite Boilermakers?

[guy incognito]

On 8/22/2025 at 5:29 AM, RandyMarsh said:

to me when it comes to baseball on TV I really don't pay that close attention to the lead announcer. I notice the color/analyst way more cause they are the ones that are trying to provide the inside information. 

One of my theories is that TV really doesn’t even need play-by-plays, especially nowadays with graphics giving you so much information. It’s a medium for analysis.

Conversely, I believe analysts are superfluous and possibly even detrimental on radio, which is much more of a medium for play-by-play description. I love listening to old Ernie/Paul broadcasts, where for the most part it’s just one guy talking during his innings. That way they could concentrate on keeping the listener apprised of what was happening instead of trying to maintain a conversation. It also allowed the broadcasts to breathe much more; during lulls in the action they’d lay back and just let you enjoy the sounds of the ballpark.

[gehringer_2]

5 hours ago, guy incognito said:

One of my theories is that TV really doesn’t even need play-by-plays, especially nowadays with graphics giving you so much information. It’s a medium for analysis.

Conversely, I believe analysts are superfluous and possibly even detrimental on radio, which is much more of a medium for play-by-play description. I love listening to old Ernie/Paul broadcasts, where for the most part it’s just one guy talking during his innings. That way they could concentrate on keeping the listener apprised of what was happening instead of trying to maintain a conversation. It also allowed the broadcasts to breathe much more; during lulls in the action they’d lay back and just let you enjoy the sounds of the ballpark.

both very true. I actually don't like radio PBPs who betray emotional involvement in the game. That's one of the things that Harwell (and Carey as well) had such a genius for. You could never guess the score of a Tiger game listening to Ernie's tone or delivery - (though he made sure to tell you regularly - I think he once said that early in his career he keep an egg timer in the booth to remind him how often to give the score). The value in that is that it's a lot easier to listen to the losses!

Edited August 28 by gehringer_2

[chasfh]

22 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

both very true. I actually don't like radio PBPs who betray emotional involvement in the game. That's one of the things that Harwell (and Carey as well) had such a genius for. You could never guess the score of a Tiger game listening to Ernie's tone or delivery - (though he made sure to tell you regularly - I think he once said that early in his career he keep an egg timer in the booth to remind him how often to give the score). The value in that is that it's a lot easier to listen to the losses!

Most broadcasters, and also beat writers, took their jobs as journalists far more seriously 40 or more years ago. They have evolved to become part of the team these days, because access is far more precious now than it used to be.

We are lucky in that Dan Dickerson is kind of a throwback to the time when broadcasters weren’t total company men. You can hear it in the live reads and drop ins he is obligated to do: he rushes through them to get them out of the way as quickly as possible, unlike Pat Hughes of the Cubs, who practically makes babies with ad copy.

[urdaddy]

On 6/13/2025 at 10:18 AM, chasfh said:

For whatever one might think Benetti's shortcomings are, you can't argue with this.

 

[HeyAbbott]

On 8/20/2025 at 11:09 PM, Tiger337 said:

I never understood the fascination with player walk-up music.  It just plays for a few seconds. Why should I care?

I know that makes me worse than a boomer.  

The purpose of walk up music is to fill silence that gen Z folks  can't tolerate

My conjecture has always been that today's experience at the ballgame is designed to keep rock concert goers from walking out after the second pitch . 

[oblong]

Walk up music has been going on before most members of Gen Z were born.

 

[HeyAbbott]

On 8/22/2025 at 5:19 AM, Edman85 said:

Guess what. Benetti is great at basketball too.

While not a fan of Benetti's work with the Tigers, I think his college football and basketball work comes across as excellent. I think his national baseball work is of high quality.

Edited October 17 by HeyAbbott

[Tenacious D]

On 10/17/2025 at 6:33 PM, HeyAbbott said:

While not a fan of Benetti's work with the Tigers, I think his college football and basketball work comes across as excellent. I think his national baseball work is of high quality.

Blame Tigers Twitter for his goofy local announcing.  They worship at the altar of Benneti and he rewards them with the tomfoolery and hijinks.

[chasfh]

9 hours ago, Tenacious D said:

Blame Tigers Twitter for his goofy local announcing.  They worship at the altar of Benneti and he rewards them with the tomfoolery and hijinks.

I'm guessing there's a generational thing at play here.

[oblong]

There could be. My son likes him because he’s heard him on college football, not because of his anecdotes. It’s a familiarity thing I suspect. His Dennis Millerisms are are not the draw since a lot of them to over the 24 year olds head. 
I remember a few years ago hearing Costas on an MLB network playoff game.  Just have been one of those one game wild card games.  I think he was with Jim Kaat. It was like a retro 1990s throwback game.  He made an Albert Belle reference.  He talked about about how the game is “more international” now. It made me wonder if he has had watched a game in 20 years and assumed his audience hadn’t either 

[HeyAbbott]

10 hours ago, Tenacious D said:

Blame Tigers Twitter for his goofy local announcing.  They worship at the altar of Benneti and he rewards them with the tomfoolery and hijinks.

Well.  I am a TOF (i.e., Tired Old Fart), and I know no marketer gives a **** what I think.

 

 

[lordstanley]

I remember when Ernie was fired in 1991 and my grandfather, who was 77 at the time, said he understood the decision. He figured management’s view was that a legend like Ernie wouldn’t necessarily have the same nostalgic appeal to teens and that replacing him and Carey with Rizzs and Rathbun was aimed at a modern audience. Rizzs and Rathbun were both in their late 30s at the time. By the way, as some probably know, Rizzs is still active as the Mariners’ radio play by play man. 

Edited October 20 by lordstanley

[Edman85]

44 minutes ago, lordstanley said:

I remember when Ernie was fired in 1991 and my grandfather, who was 77 at the time, said he understood the decision. He figured management’s view was that a legend like Ernie wouldn’t necessarily have the same nostalgic appeal to teens and that replacing him and Carey with Rizzs and Rathbun was aimed at a modern audience. Rizzs and Rathbun were both in their late 30s at the time. By the way, as some probably know, Rizzs is still active as the Mariners’ radio play by play man. 

I was 6 when he was fired, and 17 when he retired and named my dog Ernie when I was 30. No surprise that Monaghan whiffed.

[Tenacious D]

For what it’s worth, the Tigers and MLB should try and hire personalities that have younger appeal.  The sport risks becoming irrelevant and old dudes like us will tune in regardless.  

[CMRivdogs]

Both Rizzs and Rathbun were in a no win situation in Detroit. Following a legend who got tossed the way Ernie did at the time.

They both ended up on their feet in a more amicable situation. Rizz, back to Seattle. Bob ended up in Atlanta (much closer to home and both he and his wife's family)

Rathbun has had a good career doing college football and basketball. As well as being the Hawks lead announcer for several years. He also did Braves play by play for a while.

In many ways, especially for sports media, Detroit fans have a bit of "small town" views when it comes to announcers. It's the "you're not from around here so your not one of us" attitude 

[guy incognito]

3 hours ago, CMRivdogs said:

In many ways, especially for sports media, Detroit fans have a bit of "small town" views when it comes to announcers. It's the "you're not from around here so your not one of us" attitude 

While true, I’m pretty sure this fairly describes every local media market.
 

Of course, Harwell was an outsider when he first came here. I’ve often wondered how long it took for Tiger fans to warm to him.