Future of Commentary

[ElMago9]

“Rookie of the year, MVP...get in line!”

I hear that repetitive comment every Kris Bryant at bat. There’s various, more significant features to improve upon before even touching up commentary, but it’d be quite refreshing to hear some new voices in the booth one of these years.

With that being said, I was curious...if you could realistically choose any commentary team to call the games on The Show, who would you pick?

I know folks tend to hate Joe Buck, but he’d be acceptable to me, if it means getting rid of the current three. I’d take Dan Shulman, Jon Sciambi, Tim Kurkjian. Not necessarily those three mentioned together, but guys like that. There’s obviously others as well, but I just wanted to name a few.

What about you?

[ninertravel]

Re: Future of Commentary

Sterling would be funny if they went radio route. then we could get done ridiculous one liners every home run that be could come up with that are not just yankee players

[Caulfield]

Re: Future of Commentary

for me, I'd go from a 3-man booth to a 2-man booth. quality over quantity, I always say

[RogerDodger]

Re: Future of Commentary

Sterling would be funny if they went radio route. then we could get done ridiculous one liners every home run that be could come up with that are not just yankee players

I posted a similar idea before news of this years game was beginning to be announced.

Keep the current broadcasting team and add plenty of lines to flesh it out.

BUT...

As an alternate, bring in a one man radio booth (which could also use an audio version of Heidi seeing as she is also now part of the game) to be a radio broadcaster. I wouldn't pick somebody who was a current MLB broadcaster but a voice actor who could be brought in during the season to add new names and new lines. Program it such that he describes the plays in detail and pours out statistical data, most of which the game is already tracking anyway. Less of the anecdotal stories that become old, just a ton of data.

It be a great way of offering an alternative to the broadcast presentation.

[Caulfield]

Re: Future of Commentary

I posted a similar idea before news of this years game was beginning to be announced.

Keep the current broadcasting team and add plenty of lines to flesh it out.


BUT...


As an alternate, bring in a one man radio booth (which could also use an audio version of Heidi seeing as she is also now part of the game) to be a radio broadcaster. I wouldn't pick somebody who was a current MLB broadcaster but a voice actor who could be brought in during the season to add new names and new lines. Program it such that he describes the plays in detail and pours out statistical data, most of which the game is already tracking anyway. Less of the anecdotal stories that become old, just a ton of data.


It be a great way of offering an alternative to the broadcast presentation.

thats a win-win: a 1-man radio booth would be a more accurate depiction for minor league games too, versus a 4-man/woman television team

[KnightTemplar]

Re: Future of Commentary

Won't make any difference. It's the writing, like TOO MUCH OF IT. How about they shut up for a few seconds instead of jabbering incessantly? Just curious, when you are deeply involved in a pressure situation does it bother any of you that you can't think because these guys won't shut up. Do you actually hear them when you're trying to concentrate? Then you get an irritating "DeRo" line.

I dunno, Matt needs to be replaced, but it will never happen. Probably too difficult to sync all the lines and two color guys are just flat out annoying and over kill, especially then they get repetitive and WON'T SHUT UP. Lord have mercy, SHUT UP for a couple seconds.

[Caulfield]

Re: Future of Commentary

Won't make any difference. It's the writing, like TOO MUCH OF IT. How about they shut up for a few seconds instead of jabbering incessantly? Just curious, when you are deeply involved in a pressure situation does it bother any of you that you can't think because these guys won't shut up. Do you actually hear them when you're trying to concentrate? Then you get an irritating "DeRo" line.

amen exactly. I dont normally play with commentary on (just enough to get a small taste). When Mike Trout is at the dish he's not wishing he had running commentary in a bluetooth on his helmet; he wants to focus on getting on base. When deGrom is on the hill he doesnt wanna hear how great he is, he wants to send dudes back to the dugout. My Sunday game is my main game for commentary or if I'm just in a play now game when I want a game with no pressure or strings attached

[audbal]

Re: Future of Commentary

I'd take a couple talented voice actors who could replicate a major league broadcast. Not as expensive and more time to give it the attention it deserves.

[Baseball Purist]

Re: Future of Commentary

I'd take a couple talented voice actors who could replicate a major league broadcast. Not as expensive and more time to give it the attention it deserves.

This this this. And for a baseball game I think this would be ideal. I remember 2k football back in the day had two voice actors and the commentary was really above its time. Very conversational and dynamic. If the show could ever nail that aspect I would be in heaven.

[sfpxgalaxy]

Re: Future of Commentary

The future of commentary in all sport games is Text-to-speech technology.
It's the only way we get non repetitive commentary.
It's not there yet but it's getting close.

[BigOrangeVol4Life]

Re: Future of Commentary

Probably wouldn't be able to do it until the power of the PS5 is available, but I'd like to see a break given to Matt Vasgersian and the ability to choose between 4 play by play announcers (2 TV guys and 2 radio guys). Record their signature home run and big play calls. Of course, they would be more excited for the home team.

[audbal]

Re: Future of Commentary

This this this. And for a baseball game I think this would be ideal. I remember 2k football back in the day had two voice actors and the commentary was really above its time. Very conversational and dynamic. If the show could ever nail that aspect I would be in heaven.

I was thinking of 2k football when I typed this.

[JayhawkerStL]

Re: Future of Commentary

I was thinking of 2k football when I typed this.

2K just has the special sauce to get sports commentary nailed down. NBA 2K is great, and MLB 2K was fantastic. I'd take Gary Thorne in The Show, for sure. He did a nice job in the NHL series, too, but it lacked the 2K special sauce. So EA hired Mike Emrick, making the same mistake most of these games make. Great announcers are not necessarily great voice actors. Emrick may be a legend, but he is awful in the game.

The Madden team has picked up on this, not using actors, but they went with guys without NFL work on their resume, but worked out really well. Charles Davis is actually doing color now in the NFL, and got it after his work in the video game.

The trick seems to be recording both guys together as much as possible. Record the dialogue as it happens, don't just write lines and try to paste it together.

[Bruin26]

Re: Future of Commentary

I've always felt with many sports games they would be better off just getting voice actors to do the commentary. I get how hearing familiar voices we know adds to the immersion, but think the overall commentary could be better if they went with actors. Matt doing a real game versus The Show is night and day difference. I remember a couple years back how they said they have tried to bring out his enthusiasm more when recording.

I would think having voice actors might allow them to record more lines so the commentary doesn't get stale as quickly the longer you play the game.

In the past I have left commentary on for only the first few weeks of the season and then turn it off and have music playing while I play the game. Anything more and you just keep hearing the same stuff.

I think the NBA 2K series has helped theirs by having rotating color commentators and imagine that could help a lot with this series if they were able to go that direction. It will still get stale the longer you play, but not near as quickly.

[hockeyyt988]

Re: Future of Commentary

I wouldn’t mind Joe Buck either but do enjoy Marty V though I feel he doesn’t have the excitement he really should have.

I’m starting to not stand Mark Derosa. He literally has 19 lines about “back in the late 90s, pitchers work east-west, getting you leaning left-right”. One of the lines goes through the next 3 pitches after.


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