T-Met

Good Guy Tom McCarthy Joins Billy Wagner at Shea

IF THE METS WANT to gamble more than $40 million of their hard-earned revenue on Billy Wagner's lasting enough seasons to justify that kind of scratch, that's their business. Far more vexing on a personal level is New York's theft of Tom McCarthy from the Phillies' radio booth. T-Mac goes from being the lowest man on the WPHT totem pole to the No. 2 guy at the mighty WFAN/660-AM. It's a clear promotion for a great radio voice, a hell of a baseball mind, and a jovial, winning personality.

Full disclosure: I know Tom personally, and count him as a friend. As such, I'm thrilled for him -- this is a wonderful opportunity. As a Phillies fan, though, I'm disappointed. We're left with the incomparable Harry Kalas and a roster of broadcasting minor leaguers: Larry Andersen, who's pretty good when he's engaged but wanders on the air too often; Scott Graham, a nice voice but a tad overeager and just a bit too slick for my tastes; and, worst of all, ultimate toady Chris Wheeler. It's enough to make you long for the return of Andy Musser.

Comments

[Tom Goodman]

"It's enough to make you long for the return of Andy Musser."

No it isn't!!

[Tom G]

Omar "Who Can I Sign en la Manana" Minaya strikes again!

[gr]

can you believe we grew up having to listen to wheeler and musser as a broadcasting team? who's bright idea was that?

[Mike Cunningham]

Agreed. This is definitely a loss for the Phillies. His Around the League wrap-up at the end of games are fantastic. He is a capable broadcaster, perhaps without a lot of "flair", but rarely misses.

I've grown accustomed to LA. Although, when you see him do the Fox Broadcasts, you can see his weaknesses.

Scott Graham is PURE unadulterated torture.

And Chris Wheeler is the most annoying human being on the planet.

It's time to shuffle the deck.

[Mike]

Gosh I miss Whitey.

[Mom]

I miss Whitey, too, very much. Dad and I come out with one or another of his lines quite often. I personally think Wheeler must have pictures of somebody, because there is no way he should be on the air. As great as Harry is/was, he has lost a lot of his edge and maybe it's time for him to start thinking about the "r" word.

[Bill]

I think you guys are right and wrong. I agree on Wheeler..never liked him...he is weasley and an apologist and just plain annoying. However, I have grown to like Scott on the radio. Much better than Wheeler.

I was never a fan of Tommy Mac on baseball broadcasts. Hated his recap with a passion and I didn't like his style. And if he called them the Phils or Phightin Phils one more time I was going to scream. They are the Phillies...please use the proper name for the team once in a while!!

As for Harry, I still love him, losing it or not. It would be a huge loss to my life if was no longer doing Phillies games.

TD, is T-Mac staying on Hawk games?

[Tom Durso]

Every single member of Phillies City-State should say, "I miss Whitey" at least once a day.

T-Mac will indeed remain as the voice of the Hawks, Will.

Okay, let me get this straight. T Mac heads to THE STINKIN' METS and now I'm supposed to feel good (or sorry) for him. To quote from the movie "Airplane"......."he made his choice, he bought his ticket........I say let him crash." Along with the f...ing Mets. Dad

[Bill]

I miss Whitey.

[Matt]

Yes, I miss Whitey, too.

Unfortunately, I need to disagree with most of the posters here in that I like Scott Graham's radio work. I think he and Anderson have good chemistry together -- whatever that means . . . .

I also agree that Harry has lost a . . . step, for lack of a better phrase . . . and seriously needs to think about retiring so as not to taint the tremendously good work he's already done.

As for Wheeler -- I refuse to call him "Wheels" since I believe nicknames should be reserved for people one actually likes -- he needs to go and I mean yesterday. Unfortunately, for the most part, this Phillies ownership group loves sycophants and other hangers-on way too much for him to ever be let go.

Getting back to the original subject of this post, I like T-Mac personally, too. I would say he's an average baseball broadcaster and an excellent basketball broadcaster. Though, this may be influenced by calling a perfect season and the fact that he bought me a beer once. Maybe just a little bit . . .

[Dottie Boone]

smaragdite respue antiqueness spookological blamable nonconvivial appall radiophosphorus
Afro-Brazil Capoeira Group
http://www.macalester.edu/geography/mage/