Baseball Broadcasters

A British author named Aldous Huxley once wrote the following about consistency:  Consistency is contrary to nature, contrary to life.  The only completely consistent people are the dead.

Now, I will admit that I had never heard of Aldous Huxley before I read this quote recently, but it struck a chord with me, considering that it is one of the most difficult things for broadcasters to achieve.  None of us will ever be perfect, as much as we would like to produce an error-free broadcast every time out.

One of the things fellow broadcasters and I always seem to talk about is the elusive perfect broadcast.  Especially when you are putting together a demo.  Most of us realize there is probably no such animal,  but is sure is fun to try.  When announcers ask for advice and a critique of their work, consistency seems to be one word that always pops up.

I tell every announcer that I talk to that perfection should not be the goal.  Instead, consistency should.  While Mr. Huxley may feel that is only possible when we move on to the great microphone in the sky, I think it’s worth pursuing.

As announcers, we can’t be overly concerned with small mistakes that inevitably litter a typical broadcast.  Instead we should work to eliminate as many as we can.  How many times have you flubbed a live read or misidentified a player?  It happens to everyone, including the best in the business.  The key is to let it go and move on, so that the rest of the broadcast doesn’t suffer.

My first year in the big leagues, I remember calling a game-winning home run.  It was a solid, enthusiastic call.  I then noticed that the home crowd wasn’t cheering.  That’s because the ball was caught.  I was ruined for the next week.  It took a while to put that behind me.  As I have gotten older and somewhat wiser (though that is debatable) I have learned that perfection is not possible.  Consistency is.  That’s what I strive for every night.

Try to be as solid and consistent as possible.  Take pride in the things you do well on the air and strive to improve on any weaknesses.

In the meantime, try to prove Aldous Huxley wrong. I think you can be both alive and consistent.

Mario Impemba is the play-by-play voice of the Detroit Tigers on Fox Sports Detroit.

The offseason for baseball broadcasters always brings new hope for announcers hoping to make a move up the ladder.   This offseason provided several opportunities at both the major league and minor league levels.  Applying for openings can be both exciting and frustrating.    For some, this offseason has already been exciting, and for others, frustrating.    One of the most difficult questions to have answered for those who fall short is, “What separated me from the guy you hired?”

This year I’ve had the opportunity to talk to several announcers who applied for, but did not receive job offers for a few of the openings available this year.  Unfortunately, they also failed to receive an explanation as to why they were not selected.  That is where the frustration lies for many talented broadcasters.  We all know that many, if not most decisions are extremely subjective.   The right sound for the ear of the right decision maker often times makes a difference.   Most announcers who fall short just want to know why and how they can improve for the next opportunity.  Yet, the answer many get is, “We just decided to go in another direction.”

I remember several occasions early in my career when I finished out of the running for a few jobs.  Several times I was told I didn’t have enough experience, and other times I was told I just didn’t have the right sound.  Each time I was devastated, but at least I knew why I didn’t get the job.  For several announcers this year, all they had to hang their hats on was, “We’re going in a different direction.”

For those who may be in a position to make or break someone’s career please provided an honest critique of an applicant’s talents.  Something a little more than a general direction.

Mario Impemba is the play-by-play voice of the Detroit Tigers on Fox Sports Detroit

Plenty of great play by play announcers, most in fact, including Hall of Famers, achieved greatness without ever having darkened a newsroom.   So I want readers to understand my news-background approach serves me well, but by no means is it an “end all” solution.

You may have seen a little missive I did back in September on this site concerning Ernie Harwell’s time as a combat reporter for Stars and Stripes during World War II.  In it, I spoke in vague terms about the parallels between covering news and doing play by play.  And, I encouraged youngsters to get a news background before moving forward.  So, all that said, let’s back up a bit and begin the thought process of explaining why I feel news reporters and play by play broadcasters are twins.

Very simply put, the same talents it takes conducting a live report anywhere in the world on CNN, represent the same talents and abilities possessed by an excellent play by play broadcaster.  The best know how to prep and report using interesting presentation skills while connecting viewers/listeners.  It’s all topped off with liberal doses of passion, fire and desire for the work.  Simple.  Right?

First off, just as I did in my news reporting days, I approach each game in my PCL season, constantly looking for THE banner headline of the night.  The headline provides me a way to relay to listeners why tonight’s game matters.  And, it can be presented in any one of dozens of ways. Maybe last night’s game ended on a three run homer in the bottom of the ninth.  It it might have extended a winning streak, ended one…or it could have meant a new team took over the lead in the division.  The list is endless.

The news reporter in me sets the stage, relaying to fans the basics…team records…who is hot..who is not…matchups effecting the potential outcome..the weather and how it might effect what happens…any injuries that could have a bearing on the game.  What I am talking about here simply provides a rock solid connection among fans, players, the game and its potential result.

(Trust me, when I plan out my day as far as pregame preparation goes, it’s nowhere nearly this wordy or technical, but more a touchy-feely, instinctive approach, borne from years of reporting news. That instinct remains a constant, in the mind, editorial process of what to put in and leave out.  The play by play craft represents the best of an off the cuff, off the top of one’s head, adrenaline rush–just like news.)

Here’s another interesting parallel.

During my news reporting days, I wore out telephones, ran up huge long distance charges, drove bosses crazy with mobile phone and then cell phone charges, until they quite rightly realized, I was doing my story preparation. Very simply,  I was educating myself on the topic, be it politics, a police or business scandal, or any other story I might find myself pursuing.  Guess what?   To this day, I do the same thing preparing for a baseball game.

Why do I do that?

Well, I have nowhere near the talent-judging knowledge possessed by my great friends in the scouting industry.   So every single day, as I get ready for a game, if I do not know, let’s say a particular starting pitcher, I will be on the phone for as much as half an hour with a scout who has seen the pitcher before.  This scout will have assessed the pitcher’s strengths and weaknesses. He’ll not only know his physical skills, but his mental makeup as well.  And, same as I did in the news business, I take detailed notes.  Candidly, I might only use a line or two from my half hour discussion, but what I gleaned possesses tremendous value for fleshing out word pictures for the night’s game.

Another parallel involves constant dialogue with front office personnel, managers, coaches, trainers, players, and anyone tangentially involved with this great game.  Good reporters, like good play by play broadcasters realize change remains constant.  So, discussions and updates must remain constant.  In conclusion, neither profession does a very good job of hiding folks who don’t love talking about the craft, or love being around others actively involved.  But then, you knew that.

Capps has called Round Rock Express baseball for 10 seasons. He has worked on-air and behind-the-camera for WFAA-TV in Dallas/Fort Worth, for ABC News in St. Louis and KPRC-TV in Houston. While working for CNN, Capps covered the Gulf War as well as the Waco Siege, which garnered him an Emmy Nomination and a CableACE Award.