Mark Grace Takes Leave From Booth

[Gee!]

Just got a text saying he will take indefinite leave..

 

[Gee!]

For personal assistance is what is being given as reason.. Gonzo steps in his place..

 

[Gaddabout]

No word of any kind, but lots of rumors he got a DUI. I think that's speculative based on previous issues.

 

[overseascardfan]

No word of any kind, but lots of rumors he got a DUI. I think that's speculative based on previous issues.

Did he get another one? Is that the rumor?

 

[Gaddabout]

Confirmed. Arrested last night with expired registration, driving on suspended license, driving without interlock device (from his previous DUI). Blood drawn and Aggravated DUI charges pending results.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Confirmed. Arrested last night with expired registration, driving on suspended license, driving without interlock device (from his previous DUI). Blood drawn and Aggravated DUI charges pending results.

Gonna need a lot of personal assistance, it appears.

 

[O]

Confirmed. Arrested last night with expired registration, driving on suspended license, driving without interlock device (from his previous DUI). Blood drawn and Aggravated DUI charges pending results.

Wow, what an idiot!

 

[Lefty]

Bye bye Grace. He actually could actually get sentenced. Bring back Daron Sutton.

 

[HooverDam]

Bring back Daron Sutton.

A UofA & Daron Sutton fan? You sir are my mortal enemy.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Confirmed. Arrested last night with expired registration, driving on suspended license, driving without interlock device (from his previous DUI). Blood drawn and Aggravated DUI charges pending results.

Guy needs serious help before he kills someone. Sad.

 

[Black Jesus]

He often looks like he is hungover and struggling in the booth, if not actually drunk.

I always liked Grace, but he has been getting weaker and weaker with his commentary, after each pitch I could almost guess what he was going to say. He almost put it on autopilot while up in the booth.

"He took one riiiiggghhhtt down the middle."
"That one was RIGHT down broadway"
"He got a pitch to hit there and missed it."
"Blank will tell you he'd like to get that one back."
"GAS"
"Did pretty well reading the promo."

 

[DiamondBacks5117]

2 bad i think Grace makes the games more interesting.

 

[Lefty]

A UofA & Daron Sutton fan? You sir are my mortal enemy.

National Champs Baby!

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Just can him already.

 

[BC867]

Now BOTH of the reasons for me listening to the radio feed while muting the sound on TV -- Sutton AND Grace with their "adult beverage" (wink wink) references and adolescent behavior -- have been purged. Who woulda thunk it?

It is indeed time for the D'backs to move on! Put them both in the Wally Backman -- we made a mistake and have corrected it -- archives.

Gonzo doing color commentary and anyone doing play-by-play are infinitely better than the Sutton & Grace travesty. I respect and appreciate the D'backs brass for facing and resolving the issues.

And I thought I'd have to hope for Bob Brenly to get a managerial job so Grace could go back to the Cubs.

Even after he gets the help he needs, as an announcer, good riddance Mark Grace. And hopefully the Legends race at each home game, as well.

 

[JS22]

Now BOTH of the reasons for me listening to the radio feed while muting the sound on TV -- Sutton AND Grace with their "adult beverage" (wink wink) references and adolescent behavior -- have been purged. Who woulda thunk it?

It is indeed time for the D'backs to move on! Put them both in the Wally Backman -- we made a mistake and have corrected it -- archives.

Gonzo doing color commentary and anyone doing play-by-play are infinitely better than the Sutton & Grace travesty. I respect and appreciate the D'backs brass for facing and resolving the issues.

And I thought I'd have to hope for Bob Brenly to get a managerial job so Grace could go back to the Cubs.

Even after he gets the help he needs, as an announcer, good riddance Mark Grace. And hopefully the Legends race at each home game, as well.

Schulte and Gonzo is one of the most mind-numbingly boring combinations ever. Sure, Sutton and Grace were a little annoying at times. But they were also at least somewhat entertaining.

Schulte has a voice for radio and Gonzo puts me to sleep. Such a dull combination.

 

[Phrazbit]

Gonzo is awful in the booth.

 

[Lefty]

I can't even listen to a Diamondback game right now, Gonzo and Schulte are terrible. Rumor has Brenly interested in coming back to the Diamondbacks booth.

 

[BC867]

I can't even listen to a Diamondback game right now, Gonzo and Schulte are terrible.

We all have our opinions. Mine is that they announce the game and provide analysis. Sutton and Grace were more like a couple of morning FM disc jockeys, trying to see how outrageous they could be.

Rumor has Brenly interested in coming back to the Diamondbacks booth.

I'm for that. Contrast Brenly to Grace. It is like comparing an adult to a stoned teenager from a Jack In The Box commercial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5rlbOqQq7w&feature=related

 

[JS22]

I can't even listen to a Diamondback game right now, Gonzo and Schulte are terrible. Rumor has Brenly interested in coming back to the Diamondbacks booth.

Good.

I loved Brenly as an announcer.

 

[BC867]

For the second night in a row, Tom Candiotti and Luis Gonzalez have switched places doing color commentary.

Gonzo moved over to radio, working alongside Jeff Munn. I really don't expect Gonzo to leave his Front Office position to do permanent announcing next season.

That opens the door to Candy becoming the permanent TV color analyst next season. I wouldn't be surprised if it happens.

Which means that Mike Fetters might be promoted to radio color. "Funny that a guy who looked so menacing on the mound has such a high squeaky voice. I'd rather hear someone else if Candy moves to TV.

 

[JS22]

Not a huge fan of Fetters. He just kinda stumbles along. I like Candiotti though.

Shulte was a LOT more tolerable on the radio. For whatever reason he puts me to sleep if I'm actually watching the game.

 

[BC867]

Shulte was a LOT more tolerable on the radio. For whatever reason he puts me to sleep if I'm actually watching the game.

Greg Schulte is a good guy who has been part of Valley broadcasting for a long time. And he has beaten cancer. But I would expect that the D'backs realize that The Guv'nor is not suited for TV on a permanent basis.

I've stated my wish. That Jeff Munn, and his Vin Scully golden tones, would be promoted to full-time play-by-play announcer.

But despite being named the Arizona Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in January 2011, I am afraid that when Schulte returns to radio play-by-play next year, Munney will be relegated back to pre- and post-game radio host and backup announcer.

 

[UncleChris]

I have had the pleasure of meeting and spending a little time in the booth with Mark Grace (and Thom Brenneman) a few years back. He was a very nice, genuine fellow who made me feel completely at ease (I have a great photo of us). I hope he gets help and finds a lot of AA meetings. He's a good color guy... very knowledgeable and mildly funny, and I wish him the very best... including coming back to the booth.

 

[BC867]

I have had the pleasure of meeting and spending a little time in the booth with Mark Grace (and Thom Brenneman) a few years back. He was a very nice, genuine fellow who made me feel completely at ease (I have a great photo of us). I hope he gets help and finds a lot of AA meetings. He's a good color guy... very knowledgeable and mildly funny, and I wish him the very best... including coming back to the booth.

From what I have heard, AA is an ongoing commitment -- a support group that must be attended on a regular basis to be effective. If Grace continues to spend half of each baseball season living out of hotels, not only would temptations for "adult beverages" be overwhelming, but continuity would be difficult.

I, too, wish him the best . . . doing color commentary for Chicago Cub home games.

Mark Grace has shown the mentality of an adolescent. He needs to change his routine to assure that he is not going to kill someone with his drunken driving.

Especially after his second offense, in which he removed the tracking device he was supposed to wear. That was premeditated behavior and should not be taken lightly.