Gonzo Has A Problem With D’backs Broadcasters

[NickelBack]

Now this sounds familiar: a player upset with the team broadcasters.

Arizona left fielder Luis Gonzalez apparently has a problem with Diamondbacks play-by-play man Thom Brennaman and color analyst Matt Williams.

Gonzalez, who played for the Cubs in the mid-1990s, didn’t like what he heard when he took in the final few innings of a broadcast after getting ejected in a game against Washington.

“I’m not going to mention names,” Gonzalez told the Arizona Republic. “I’m just saying, listening (to the broadcast) it just gets frustrating because I’m a player and I know what guys go through every day down there, and we all go through struggles throughout the season.

“What bothers me is that sometimes the people that are quick to criticize, when that player is going good they’re the first ones to say, ‘Oh man, you’re the greatest player.’ They’re the first ones to pat you on the back and say, ‘Hey, buddy, good job.’ ”

Gonzalez later had a private meeting with Brennaman, whom he obviously expects to favor the home team.

“When you work for a company, you’re a company man,” Gonzalez said. “I play for the Diamondbacks. I’m not going to go out there and talk bad about the Diamondbacks. They’re my employers. I think that’s just what frustrates us sometimes.”

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/sportsstory.asp?id=48480

 

[Diamondback Jay]

“When you work for a company, you’re a company man,” Gonzalez said. “I play for the Diamondbacks. I’m not going to go out there and talk bad about the Diamondbacks. They’re my employers. I think that’s just what frustrates us sometimes.”

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/sportsstory.asp?id=48480

I completely understand where Gonzo is coming from here, but on the flipside, you've got to understand Bren's side.

As a broadcaster in training myself, you have that certain line that you can cross and another that you can't. On the National level, it's considerably different, but on the local level obviously, you're going to favor the team that writes your checks when your doing the market broadcast.

With that said however, what seperates the good from the great is those who can be enough of a supporter to call it right but at the same time can look at the game objectively, from a middle man's standpoint.

Trust me, living in PA and having Lanny Fratare, Bob Walk and John Wehner as the broadcasters, you can only get so tired of listening to the "WE, US, THE TEAM CAN DO NO WRONG" broadcasts. The three, although each solid in the booth, come across as sounding like huge homers. That gets old.. quick. Brenneman has been to the big level though. He's gonna call it as he sees it.. So in this, I side with Thom.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Stop bitching. They're announcers, not charter members of the Luis Gonzalez fan club.

 

[NickelBack]

Luis was one of the nominess on Mike and Mike's Just Shut-up Award this week.

 

[Phill11]

Stop bitching. They're announcers, not charter members of the Luis Gonzalez fan club.