Ted Green: a problem with Vin Scully's pitch calling

OK, so this blog impudently questioning a Dodgers' demigod, the very face of the franchise, does require a mea culpa stretching from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.

Here it is in capital letters: MY BAD. I am already truly sorry, and I've barely started writing. Humbly, I beg the fans' forgiveness just two paragraphs in.

I know — he is a Southern California cultural icon, I am a local TV sports producer. He is a legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster, best there ever was and ever will be. I won a few local Emmys, a few more Edward R. Murrows and once wrote for The Times. He is Vin Scully, I am Ted Whoever.

Still, if no one else has the courage or gall or chutzpah to say it, I will: There is one aspect of Vinny's nonpareil and still richly, famously textured broadcasts that is now officially driving me to distraction. It's so painful to listen to, because he IS Vin Scully, it actually hurts my ears.

It's his pitch calling. Or I should say, his continued, nightly misidentification of the types of pitches thrown.

Because he's 81 — and bless his Irish heart, who has perfect eyesight at that age? — Vinny is having a heckuva time correctly ID'ing the pitches.

Probably at least a third of the time, the fastball he calls is actually a slider, the curve is a fastball and the ch-aa-n-ge he calls so langorously isn't a change at all — it's something entirely different.

It's already happened four times as I'm watching right now, and they're only in the third inning in San Francisco.

Again, he's Vin Scully. There's no one like him. I admire his professionalism and remain awed by his prodigious talent. After 60 summers, he's earned the right to call the pitches anything he wants. He can call a curveball Ziggy Stardust if he thinks that's what it is, and, trust me, the director wouldn't dare say boo and correct him in his ear.

Indeed, the great Scully can stay in the booth 60 more seasons, and how lucky we will be if he does. And who am I, who is ANYONE, to dare criticize or even critique this true genius, the Beethoven of baseball broadcasting?

I know, I get it, you're absolutely right, how could I?

Yet whether it's sacrilege to bring it up or not, this next fact is as inalienable as Vin's credentials themselves: A fastball is a fastball, and it's not something else. A pitch traveling over 90 mph can never be a curve unless it's thrown by Roger Clemens on HGH overdose. Even then, it's no curve; it's still a fastball.

Now, Vin has been identifying pitches for the Dodgers since 1949; calling the pitches as he sees them is an inherent element of his on-air style. And there's no easy solution, no quick fix, where the eyesight of an octogenarian is concerned, one having to watch the game from high above the field, hundreds of feet from home plate. This is especially true when the octogenarian in question is still as preturnaturally gifted as Vin Scully is. Still amazing at everything EXCEPT pitch calling.

But if you know anything about baseball, if you've been around the game and watched it with at least a working knowledge and trained eye, angry as you may be reading this, mad as you are that I wrote it, you also know I'm right.

And a soulless infidel at the same time.

— Ted Green

Photo: Vin Scully prepares to throw out the first pitch during the Dodgers' home opener on April 13. Credit: Kirby Lee / US Presswire

Ted Green formerly covered sports for the L.A. Times. He is currently senior sports producer for KTLA Prime News.

Comments

[VinScullyBook]

Listening to Vin miss a pitch or two is a small price to pay when enjoying the color and storytelling he brings to the game. I hope Vin call Dodger games for many years.

This new book is filled with great stories about Vin told by Hall-of-Famers, former Dodgers, friends and and fans: "I Saw It On the Radio"

http://www.vinscullybook.com/

[Blue Lifer]

What are you hoping to achieve by showing your "chutzpah" to the rest of us? You point out the obvious yet offer no solution to the problem. What is the point then? Making the rest of us aware? Perhaps we are aware. Perhaps we also know that we are lucky to have Vin Scully call games for however many years he is willing and/or able. Mr. Scully has misidentified pitches for years now. You coming out and shining a spotlight on that is not bravery or gall, it's poor form. I'm fairly certain you cannot get into heaven by doing that. I just don't see the "courage" in your blog post.

[Sam]

Are you anglingfor his job. The one thing that's been constant about Dodger baseball is Vinny, and you're nick picking. If you listen over the radio, as many of us do, it doesn't matter. If you catch the games over the tube, so what, he calls the majority of them correct, and it keeps Charles off the air. War Vinny and bring back Ross.

[Javy]

Vin Scully is infallible. You are a mere mortal.

[Tyler]

Vin misses several things during a broadcast. He usually gets a bunch of names wrong too. So what? Have you ever tried sitting through a Padres broadcast? Time the dead air and lame jokes and I bet the number is higher than Vinny's flubs. Part of the reason he's so awesome is that he rarely goes back to correct himself, he just gets it right the next time around. I can't think of one fan who would care about technical accuracy of pitch calling. If you're relying on Vin for this than you need to watch enough baseball to figure it out on you're own.

[Don Preston]

Yes he miscalls pitches. Just like Chick Hearn used to call Shaq, Kareem. It's the voice we love, not reallly what he's saying.

[Jess]

Ahhh, critics. Miserable, unhappy, pathetic.

They say if an atomic bomb drops only roaches and critics will survive.

[Joe G.]

Dear Mr. Green,

You've just committed the cardinal sin of journalism. You posted an article in which you are absolutely correct . . . about something that matters to no one.

You know what matters? A couple of weeks ago on Jackie Robinson Day all MLB broadcasters were telling Jackie Robinson anecdotes. Our Vinnie was the only one telling them from personal experience. I'll take that over accurate pitch calling any day.

[MotelGeorge]

I agree with Don, Vinny gets a little mixed up once in awhile but who cares.
Its a privilege to listen to this master of stories and announcing. He is a national treasure and cannot be replaced. I don't listen to the new Laker announcers, it is impossible to replace Chickie.

Enjoy every second Vince Scully is around for as long as he lasts. With the economy and our lifestyle crashing everyday, it is reassuring to hear his voice.

[dud dew]

He's been calling an "alternative universe" game for years, and because so many fans in Socal are worshippers in need of plaster saints, he gets away with it. Like Harry Caray and a dozen or more others, he shoulda had the grace to retire before he began embarrassing himself, and been subject to the same standards of precision as every young announcer. As we learned in kindergarten, let someone else have a chance.
One of the reasons I liked Harry Kalas so much was that he let the players and game be the focus, not some over-bloated rep as a non-stop, mildly interesting, non-stop radio raconteur.
And ditch the difficult to spell and pronounce "chutzpah" - a word that comes from a minority of a very small minority, and is simply PC at its worst. The one-syllable "gall" or "nerve" do very well, thanks.

[Oscar]

For many years when the Dodgers couldn't buy a win, I would watch the games just to hear Vin spin his stories and connect the baseball of today with the heroes and heroics long past.

Your complaint about misidentified pitches changes none of this. I watch the games and can identify the pitches for myself -- that is a meager skill. Now, with the Dodgers winning again, I still enjoy a telecast exponentially more when that warm voice calls the pitches and spins those tales.

[Mike Baird]

Vin Scully is my book is the best bar none ,do you think you could do a better job
well; get with it

[Lloyd Flodin]

We all know nobody is right all the time--I have seen the book about Vin and would recommend it to every one--It is a tribute to the greatest announcer of all time--Lloyd Anaheim

[VA Blueblood]

Yes, he misses pitch calls, he calls guys the wrong name sometimes, he mispronounces the right name often, and occasionally he even gets the score wrong. But have you ever listened to broadcasts from other cities? Some are passable, but most are awful, inarticulate homers who do little but issue catchphrase after catchphrase in between overly optimistic assertions (or just outright cheering) for their own team. I forgive Vinny his flaws because the rest is just so darn good, even at age 81.

I also have no problem with Ted Whoever pointing this out. This is a blog, after all. Standards and intent are irrelevant, no?

[Danny King]

A slightly less accurate pitch call in return for a progressively richer description of the game and the guys who play it--I'll take that trade. He's the best...

[Jerry-NJ]

running out of column ideas, are we? at least you got a lot of comments...

[Michael Green]

Yes, Vin makes more mistakes than he used to. So do most of us. But I should note something. Vin has said when the pitch is being thrown, he doesn't look at is monitor, which gives a more level view than he has three tiers up, because he isn't going to trust the director and the cameraman to be any more perfect than he is.

So, we'll tolerate the occasional mistake to hear--still--the greatest baseball broadcaster ever.

[Greg]

Again, a print scribe who thinks he is better than the rest of the world. What we have come to expect from the LA Times and Throwaway. I listen to other announcers on my XM radio and the season ticket TV package on cable. Vin at 95% of his best is much, much, much better than most of the announcers working baseball today. Besides, being on TV most of the time, he doesn't need to do the "nuts and bolts" that we can see for ourselves.

By the way, he makes less " E (announcer)" than the two Dodger radio guys who are much younger. And Vin has better eyesight than the NY transplant foisted upon Dodger fans forced to listen on the radio.

[Dodger Dude]

If you can identify the pitches for yourself, why do you need Vin to identify them for you? Vin is just helping out those who don't know any better, and won't even know the difference. Who cares? The ball flies, the ball moves, it comes at a certain speed, the whole thing about there being distinct types of pitches is a vast over simplification anyway. Get a life.

[Jock Coostow]

Ted,

You're right on the mark, but alas, no one cares. Vin can do no wrong in the majority of Dodger fans eyes...

[Mwell]

Watch the San Diego Padres Announcers. I had to last night because I now live in San Diego... You will never complain again about Vinny.

[RH]

Hey Dud... The only person embarrassing himself, is you.

[Eddie]

Someone should konk you over the head with one of those Emmy's.

[The Truth]

I concur......Ted go suck your thumb in a corner somewhere. Nobody cares Vinny makes a few mistakes, not even you. You are all about ratings.......I do not read the LA Times because of their drivel like this.

[Deefrost]

Whats a few missed pitches have to do with the love and passion Vin Scully brings to the game of Baseball?

We all agree from time to time the game is slow, however we as Dodger and Baseball fans alike have been truly blessed to have experienced and enjoyed Vinny's pitch by pitch commentary, and honestly it shouldn't matter how accurate he is or anyone for that matter. Baseball is a game that bonds father and son, family and friends, and the guy with Vinny's voice on the radio next to you at Dodger stadium.

Ultimately there is only one man that can make you feel like a kid again and put you right in Aisle 56 Row A seat 1 time and time again.

Shame on you ted....