Pronk + Hammy - walk off HR

[bookelly]

Paulie C posted this via twitter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbjxKFeXWWI&feature=youtu.be



Edit/ I watched this about 17 times. I can't help it.

[bookelly]

Here's another angle. Via @chrisperez twitter. http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/14685842#utm_campaign=twitter.com&utm_source=14685842&utm_medium=social



/twitter is fun...who knew?

[Am I Here Again?]

The crowd noise is great! Love how it gets loud when Pronk hits it the climbs to deafening when it clears the wall! Seattle Guy in the back row is just a bonus!

[FUDU]

Not to be a downer but that was not one of Tom's better calls.

[Erie Warrior]

Not to be a downer but that was not one of Tom's better calls.

Yeah, well chipolte causes cancer.

[DarNoor]

I thought it was a great call. I especially liked how didn't say anything as Travis was running the bases. He let the crowd to the talking. Other announcers would scream over the crowd. I love Hammy,

[skatingtripods]

Not to be a downer but that was not one of Tom's better calls.

Sadly, agree with this. But, in his defense, from my view on the Porch, I wasn't sure that he got enough of it either.

That said, hearing him say that the magic is back at Progressive Field gave me chills.

[Dellucci TailGator]

I thought it was a great call. I especially liked how didn't say anything as Travis was running the bases. He let the crowd to the talking. Other announcers would scream over the crowd. I love Hammy,

Agreed. He knew that the crowd noise was loud enough to fill the space and he let it breathe.

Think of how pissed you get when Hammy prematurely calls a homer. Times that by 10 if it's at the end of a game. Or think if Saunders goes up and catches that.

The only homers to CF I can remember being confident would end games were hit by Belle, Ramirez and Thome. I thought he played it just right. THis wasn't Santana's home run, where you could call it off the bat.

[Commodore Perry]

I thought it was a great call. I especially liked how didn't say anything as Travis was running the bases. He let the crowd to the talking. Other announcers would scream over the crowd. I love Hammy,

+1

The pause was perfect. Absolutely perfect. He says its gone and lets that hang in the air over the crowd going crazy. Goosebumps.

[FUDU]

I'm speaking to Hammy calling the HR itself, that is what I consider "the call" (not the long silence & fans rightfully screaming their heads off). It was very boring and short, he's made 1st inning Cactus League HR calls sound better than that. As to his comments after the fact I agree, great to hear him speak in that regard.

[GodHatesClevelandSport]

Hamilton generally overdoes it with most of his calls. Screaming is his way of showing excitement. He's especially awful when the Indians are awful as he takes shots at other teams and way overplays August wins that put the team 20 games under.

Good to hear him a bit subdued.

[leadpipe]

Hamilton generally overdoes it with most of his calls. Screaming is his way of showing excitement. He's especially awful when the Indians are awful as he takes shots at other teams and way overplays August wins that put the team 20 games under.

Good to hear him a bit subdued.

This call is the same one he uses every time someone hits a fly ball that falls 20 feet short of the track. Actually, probably more subdued than that. Drive me nuts. It was one thing when Herby was in his late, delusional years and couldn't tell the difference, but night in and night out with the false calls is more than annoying. There are things to like about him, but this knocks him down on my list.

[NH Tribe Fan]

I've listened to many radio play-by-play guys over the years, and Hamilton is one of the best.

Wish I could still listen to him.

[Rat_Tail]

Underwood's voice cracked when he said "Gone" after Pronk's walk-off.

Tribe easily deserves a home primetime game.

[statmasta]

I thought it was a great call. I especially liked how didn't say anything as Travis was running the bases. He let the crowd to the talking. Other announcers would scream over the crowd. I love Hammy,

That's fine for TV as you get the images of Hafner rounding the bases and the crowd going wild, but that's NOT the way to do it on the radio. He should have said more.

I think Underwood's call was much better.

[statmasta]

Hamilton generally overdoes it with most of his calls. Screaming is his way of showing excitement. He's especially awful when the Indians are awful as he takes shots at other teams and way overplays August wins that put the team 20 games under.

Good to hear him a bit subdued.

This call is the same one he uses every time someone hits a fly ball that falls 20 feet short of the track. Actually, probably more subdued than that. Drive me nuts. It was one thing when Herby was in his late, delusional years and couldn't tell the difference, but night in and night out with the false calls is more than annoying. There are things to like about him, but this knocks him down on my list.

That's what makes him so awesome. He makes routine flyouts suspenseful and exciting.

[FUDU]

^ this this 1,000 times this.

Exactly what makes Hammy so good is his ability to paint such an awesome picture of every baseball play for his radio listeners. The TV viewer can often pre-determine how things will play out during each AB b/c he can see it with his own eyes, that can be rather boring. With radio you rely on the play by play call. With a man on first could you imagine Hammy saying "here's the pitch, single into right field, the runner advances around second to third...now it's men on the corners with 1 out." As opposed to "Pedro set to deliver, here's the pitch, A LASER BEAM JUST OUT OF REACH OF VAUGHN, OMAR IS GOING TO TRY FOR THIRD, HERE COMES THE THROW, VIZQUEL SLIDES....SAFE SAFE, HE BEAT A GREAT THROW TO SET UP A HUGE AB WITH MEN ON THE CORNERS." All of that while screaming.

Otherwise the radio listener gains no sense of urgency or just how close or exciting the play is, regardless of whether it was close or exciting anyway.

[Erie Warrior]

Amen, you guys are all dicks. Hamilton is an excellent PBP guy. Spoiled if you think he's less than great.

[bookelly]

I thought it was a great call. I especially liked how didn't say anything as Travis was running the bases. He let the crowd to the talking. Other announcers would scream over the crowd. I love Hammy,

That's fine for TV as you get the images of Hafner rounding the bases and the crowd going wild, but that's NOT the way to do it on the radio. He should have said more.

I think Underwood's call was much better.

I couldn't disagree more amigo. He let the crowd noise tell the story. Brilliant call. I especially like the "go-oooonnnnnnn" in a musical voice. He was so amped it nearly choked him up.

"THE MAGIC IS BACK!!!" - awesome...just fucking (sorry Swerb) awesome.

[OldDawg]

Cav's Tait = Awesome. Will be greatly missed. Really painted a picture.
Tribe's Hammy = Also awesome. Like most of you, I love his calls and enthusiasm.
Brown's PBP Donovan = blah. No comparison to these other guys.

[skatingtripods]

Amen, you guys are all dicks. Hamilton is an excellent PBP guy. Spoiled if you think he's less than great.

I think he is great. I just expected him to explode. Letting the crowd take care of it was cool too.

[hermanfontenot]

I thought it was a great call. I especially liked how didn't say anything as Travis was running the bases. He let the crowd to the talking. Other announcers would scream over the crowd. I love Hammy,

This is my problem with Gus Johnson. You know he'd be screaming the entire length of Hafner's trip around the bases.

There used to be a clip on Youtube of Clay Matthews's interception on the one-yard line that clinched the win over the Bills in the '89 playoffs. Charlie Jones and Merlin Olson don't say a word for five minutes after the play. They go silent and let the pictures and the audio tell the story- the stadium going berzerk, Matthews holding the ball up, the dejection on the Buffalo sideline. That's how it's supposed to be done.

[Triple-S]

Cav's Tait = Awesome. Will be greatly missed. Really painted a picture.
Tribe's Hammy = Also awesome. Like most of you, I love his calls and enthusiasm.
Brown's PBP Donovan = blah. No comparison to these other guys.

I disagree.

A major reason Donovan hasn't reached anywhere near those guys is because he's really not been able to call any historic/big games for the Browns outside of the 02 Falcons game.

Every Sunday in the fall, I'll crank down the TV and crank up the radio just to listen to him and Dieken for the sheer amazing homerism they bring to doing games., and he brings a great amount of enthusiasm to the broadcast booth.

[FUDU]

I thought it was a great call. I especially liked how didn't say anything as Travis was running the bases. He let the crowd to the talking. Other announcers would scream over the crowd. I love Hammy,

This is my problem with Gus Johnson. You know he'd be screaming the entire length of Hafner's trip around the bases.

There used to be a clip on Youtube of Clay Matthews's interception on the one-yard line that clinched the win over the Bills in the '89 playoffs. Charlie Jones and Merlin Olson don't say a word for five minutes after the play. They go silent and let the pictures and the audio tell the story- the stadium going berzerk, Matthews holding the ball up, the dejection on the Buffalo sideline. That's how it's supposed to be done.

Then thank God they only did TV then b/c radio doesn't work that way. Painting the picture that cannot be seen is a HUGE part of radio play by play, silence on the radio is like pointing a blind man to the exit.

Seriously could you hear Gib Shanley calling a kick return " Dino Hall takes it at the 10, he's to the 25, he's to 50, to the 20, TOUCHDOWN!"

[DarNoor]

Cav's Tait = Awesome. Will be greatly missed. Really painted a picture.
Tribe's Hammy = Also awesome. Like most of you, I love his calls and enthusiasm.
Brown's PBP Donovan = blah. No comparison to these other guys.

I disagree.

A major reason Donovan hasn't reached anywhere near those guys is because he's really not been able to call any historic/big games for the Browns outside of the 02 Falcons game.

Every Sunday in the fall, I'll crank down the TV and crank up the radio just to listen to him and Dieken for the sheer amazing homerism they bring to doing games., and he brings a great amount of enthusiasm to the broadcast booth.

As far as Donovan is concerned, i think some of it isn't his fault. A lot of people (like me) still remember Nev Chandler. And no one compares to Nev. I like Donovan. But, no matter how good he is, he will never live up to Nev. It's just like the poor guy who has to follow Joe. The guy can be a great PBP guy, but, in our eyes, he will never be like Joe.

[1Perry]

Hamilton should be around for many more years. Hearing him on the radio the first time at the start of a new season is something I look forward to evry year.

I don't think Hamilton ever expected Pronk to hit one out there and was as excited as the fans in the stadium (btw, great crowd).

[mikeperry]

My father in law is from the Pittsburgh area and has been a Pirates fan all his life. He came to Ohio a few years back and was listening to the Indians game with me. When it was over he asked me, "Who is that announcer? He's great." Now, even though he still lives in Pittsburgh and roots for the Bucs, he listens to the Indians every chance he gets. He has a camp in Erie where he spends some weekends with his wife, and he will find the Indians Radio Network there. This man is not an Indians fan, but he is so impressed with Hammy that he tries to listen to as many Tribe games as possible. Kind of like me with Vin Scully. That is the sign of a great announcer, when people seek out your work when they have no rooting interest in either team playing.

[T_N_T]

My father in law is from the Pittsburgh area and has been a Pirates fan all his life. He came to Ohio a few years back and was listening to the Indians game with me. When it was over he asked me, "Who is that announcer? He's great." Now, even though he still lives in Pittsburgh and roots for the Bucs, he listens to the Indians every chance he gets. He has a camp in Erie where he spends some weekends with his wife, and he will find the Indians Radio Network there. This man is not an Indians fan, but he is so impressed with Hammy that he tries to listen to as many Tribe games as possible. Kind of like me with Vin Scully. That is the sign of a great announcer, when people seek out your work when they have no rooting interest in either team playing.

570 WKBN is a decent station out of Youngstown , I think they are still an Indians radio affiliate, tell him to try it, don't know if it can be received in Pittsburgh area but its worth a try. This clip is classic Hammy and is why he should be in the broadcasters HOF.

[fivekmd]

I live about 25 miles north of Pittsburgh and work in Pittsburgh proper and 570 comes in fine in both places for the most part. It is my only real link to the Tribe.

[Larvell Blanks]

I disagree.

A major reason Donovan hasn't reached anywhere near those guys is because he's really not been able to call any historic/big games for the Browns outside of the 02 Falcons game.

Having call a big game does not qualify you for being a good announcer. Tait was a great PBP guy through some shitty seasons before Snyder hit that runner vs the Bullets.

With Donovan, I keep waiting for more info on what's happening where w/ guys like Tait, he kept you up to date at all times.

[peeker643]

Not to be a downer but that was not one of Tom's better calls.

Sadly, agree with this. But, in his defense, from my view on the Porch, I wasn't sure that he got enough of it either.

That said, hearing him say that the magic is back at Progressive Field gave me chills.

I agree with bioth sides really.

Love Hamilton but I do think the over emotional 'GOOOoooooonnne' on that specific call came off as contrived and over done.

In the press box last Tueday I went to piss as Hamilton was walking down the hall talking to his kid or wife on the phone. Kinda surreal hearing the dude carry on a piece of a conversation in anything other than a baseball setting.

Oh yeah, Terry Pluto was hard at work in the press box too.....for two innings. Then he probably left and just read Pauly C's column before writing his own.