Farmer needs to let Stone talk

Teddy Greenstein | ON SPORTS MEDIA AND COLLEGES
March 8, 2008


Ed Farmer finally respects his radio partner enough to ask him questions. If only he would listen to the answers.

"How many hits did you have in the big leagues?" Farmer asked Steve Stone on Friday during their inaugural White Sox broadcast on WSCR-AM 670.

"It's deceptive," Stone replied. "I batted an even .100, but …"

Farmer interrupts.

Stone: "They invented the designated hitter for …"

Farmer interrupts.

The man cannot help himself.

Farmer would interrupt a call from the White House to tell President Bush about his last birdie. He would cut off Ara Parseghian to tell him about the speed traps between Chicago and South Bend.

Stone has a one-year contract to do Sox radio, but it's Farmer who's on the hot seat. If he can't work with Stone, he can't work with anyone.

He was so cold to Chris Singleton last season, the Blackhawks could have played in the radio booth. A fan even asked Farmer about his mean streak at SoxFest.

But that was 2007. Just as the actual Sox should improve, the radio broadcasts should be infinitely better. That was clear even during a lame spring training game that offered no suspense and barely a hint of crowd noise.

Stone's knowledge of the league is so strong he could get away with showing up to the ballpark during the national anthem.

Instead he works it and reports what he hears—that Jerry Owens' groin still is bothering him and that Robin Ventura says "first-step quickness" will key Josh Fields' development.

Stone even managed to squeeze in two interesting factoids about his own career: He started out as a catcher before nasty foul tips pushed him to the mound, and the first big-leaguer he ever faced in batting practice was Willie Mays.

Stone, who was synonymous with Cubs TV for nearly two decades, said earlier this week that there are two major differences doing radio.

"You can't really analyze replays," he said. "And you don't have to wear as much makeup."

Stone doesn't need any eye shadow. What he needs is a partner who will let him speak in complete sentences.

tgreenstein@tribune.com



couldnt agree more, however, probably a bit early (one broadcast) to bring out the hammers.

Teddy was right. I listened to part of the broadcast and parts where Stone was allowed to speak were fine, almost good. But Famer kept stepping over his partner.

agreed. i listened for a couple innings.

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@audioidkid

I was actually surprised that Stone's trademark 'For all the young players out there' actually worked well on the radio too. He used it when Liefer ran to third with a ball hit in front of him which is a no no.

It was their first time working together, right ?

I didn't (or wasn't) expecting it to be a perfect broadcast, and I think it will get better.

Please, farmer is like that all the time, it doesnt matter who is in the booth. Teddy was dead. Farmer is just way to smug for me, cant stand the guy.

So the Tribune does hire zombies!

Farmer isn't my favorite, but Stone will make this a great listen.

My only question is, on non-HD broadcasts, is the game on TV out of sync with the radio broadcast ?