Monday, January 7, 2008

ANGELS ANNOUNCERS' ASSIGNMENTS SUBJECT TO SPIN CYCLE?

Back in November when the LA Angels announced their 2008 broadcasters, it was widely reported that Steve Physioc and Rex Hudler would split the season between TV and radio, calling around 75 games on KSPN and the rest on FSN West or KCOP.

Angels radio broadcaster Rory Markas, who has called games with Terry Smith since 2002, would now pair with Mark Gubicza 75 times on TV. Smith's role in the booth when Physioc and Hudler are on the radio wasn't defined. Jose Mota, whose 50 TV games in 2007 weren't embraced by the fans or the critics, would be given pre and post game TV work in addition to his play-by-play duties on the team's Spanish radio network.

However, if and when the game by game assignments for TV and radio are finally released, the 2008 schedule may not resemble what people thought it would be like back in November 2007.

Physioc and Hudler, who were cut from 150 TV games down to 100 last year, may only work 50 games on FSN West and KCOP, while calling upwards of 100 games on KSPN radio.

Meanwhile Rory Markas would go from 3 TV games in '07 to 100 in '08. Gubicza's profile would also rise considerably with 50 additional telecasts.

And Terry Smith?

He still seems to be the odd man out in this merry-go-round. If he isn't just relegated to pre and post game shows when Phys and Hud are on the radio, he'll be in the uncomfortable position of trying to be something more than an afterthought in his own booth.

These moves kind of make you wonder what the Angels long term plans are, don't they?

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

How about getting rid of Phys and Hud altogether?

Anonymous said...

This is a big step in the right direction. The complete right direction is to remove Huddler from TV entirely. His enthusiam has become totally boring and annoying. I was watching TV with the radio on last year.

Anonymous said...

Physioc and Hudler are the show... Mark Gubicza reminds me of Rick Monday, they talk in circles and never end up saying much that is coherent.

The best setup is how Last year began. Otherwise they need to go get new talent.

Anonymous said...

As far as I'm concerned we need to go back to Physioc and Hudler. The current announcing is boring at best. Physioc and Hudler at least made it always sound interesting.

Anonymous said...

Phys and Hud were SO much better....why mess with a good thing!? I don't feel like I am watching Angel's baseball with Gubie and Markus....yuk...

Paxtang O'Hoolix said...

I don't know why Phys and Rex are getting ragged for their announcing. I like listening to those two a hell of a lot more than the other jobbers they have in the booth now.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE to hear Steve Physioc and Rex Hudler. They are the ANGELS announcers as far as I am concerned. I don’t like to watch any game when they are not announcing, as I tend to fall asleep!! I hope Steve and Rex can do more games.

Anonymous said...

My husband and I watch every game, if we're not in attendance and I can't stand listening to Gubie and Rory. If they have anything to say at all, it's boring and sometimes even incorrect! At least Rex and Steve are funny and tell us some interesting stuff. They also always have something to say, Gubie and Rory have a lot of silence. Plus it's funny when Rex says something stupid and Steve just has to laugh at him! I hope Steve and Rex get to do a lot more games, if not this season, then in the next!

Anonymous said...

I am afraid to let my kids watch and listen to Hud. He is the king of fragmented and disjointed thoughts. I respect his career and would love for him to teach my sons to play ball, not to master the English language.

Anonymous said...

Steve Physioc is the worst announcer in sports and Hudler is just plain annoying. Anyone is better than those two.

Anonymous said...

Hudler's such a homer.... Physioc and Hudler are terrible on radio... Bring back Rory and terry full time on radio!!