Think about it. ESPN's Baseball Tonight is looking for a guy 1 month before the season starts? The guy they're looking for is Singlio? C'mon. I don't buy that.

I think this was the Sox getting rid of Singleton while giving him some dignity.

If you read the Sun-Times yesterday Singleton said the Baseball Tonight thing isn't a done deal.

I think the Sox told him he was gone a couple weeks ago and Singleton then applied for Baseball Tonight. Maybe it took a while to get Stone to agree. That's why this happend so late in the game. They were trying to get Stone since last season ended I'll bet.

Then, Singleton and the Sox orchestrated a lie to help Singleton keep his pride. I mean, Stone was signed sealed and delivered awfully quick. Right after Singleton was gone Stone was hired. Usually it takes a little more time to cut a deal. You'd think Stone would want more time to think about it. Unless, of course, he had time because this was schemed weeks ago.

It would be something Reinsdorf would do. It's no big deal. It's kind of polite if you think about it. All that matters is Singleton is gone. But I don't buy the Baseball Tonight story. He was fired first and then applied for Baseball Tonight. I'll bet he doesn't even get that job.

What do you think of that theory?

This is absolutely incorrect.

Maybe Ranger. It was just a theory. Hell, you'd be the last to know how it went down anyway Ranger.

I don't care whats going down. Singleton sucked and I'm glad he's gone. Maybe he will get better or be good on ESPN, but he sucked here...and his partner didn't help him at all.

_________________

Ranger, Stone says he's gonna do things with you. What does that mean?

Actually, I think I was! Joking aside, Chris got a great opportunity and I think he'll do very well at it. Not everyone may realize it, but he has a terrific understanding of the game and knows how to express his thoughts. TV will be perfect for him.

I don't know, but it sounds creepy.

I don't think Chris was a bad guy. Farmer was always a dick to him. He just was a bad at calling games.

Seriously Ranger, is Stone gonna have to do 3 innings of play by play? That seems like a Sox tradition.

Farmer had to do 3 with Rooney.

Singleton had to do 3 inning with Farmer.

Will Stone be made to do 3 innings?

I hope not. They should keep the play by play to broadcasting pros and the color job to the ex ball players.

Yeah. I'm not joking. I guess he said that on the Mike North show. They played it on some of the updates yesterday or the day before.

I thought it meant he'll be doing shows with you.

So who is going to be the broadcast pro in the Sox radio booth? Because Farmer isn't.

_________________

Believe me. I know he's not. But we're stuck with him. He kisses Jerry's ass so he'll stay. Why make it worse by making Stone learn on the job and do the middle three. He never had to do it in his 20+ years with the Cubs. He's a great color man. Don't make a good asset do something he won't be good at.

This statement contradicts itself.

_________________
You know me like that.

Good catch Dr. Ken.

All of this could have been avoided if the Sox didn't go on the cheap and not re-up with John Rooney. He's the best radioman in the business...think if the Sox had the best hitter or player in the game they would simply let him walk?

_________________

No offense, but anyone who actually heard Singleton knows he was absolutely horrible. Even if we agree there was some improvement, he just want from horrible to bad. He had no business being in that role, and it was probably a bit more difficult for him because Farmer isn't the typical play by play announcer.

The White Sox could have hired somebody who has a terfiffic understanding of the game AND knows how to express his thoughts. Instead, they went with Chris Singleton.

Maybe he'll improve on TV, but I doubt it.

Great move by hiring Steve Stone fulltime. I only wish it would have been on the TV Side because I think there's a delay between the radio and TV action.

Damn. I wish Ranger would answer that Stone "Play by Play" question.

Ranger, if you don't know could you please find out and report back here?

I'm really curious.

They did with Albert Belle (Yeah, I know this is not fair given the discussion in the Bust thread, but hey... )

_________________
There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Rongey, please deliver the following tips to Farmer:

1. Call the game and shut your fucking mouth about everything else. We don't give a rat's ass about your purported friendships with half of mankind. We don't give a fuck how you golfed. Call the game and that's it.

2. If you ever think of blurting out "Read that my friend Patrick Swayze is ill, went golfing a few times together" - re-read tip #1.

The best was when he went to the White House with the Sox to meet the Prez after the World Series. On a later broadcast this arrogant SOB said...

"Saw my good buddy President Bush at the White House the other day. He asked me how the Sox were gonna do. I asked him how the war was going."

Also Ranger, tell him not to mention how he went to mass during Sunday broadcasts. He always likes to let people know what a good Catholic he is. Nobody cares.

I think Farmer is pissed that Stone is his partner. He knows everybody respects Stone and nobody respects him. At least when he was with Singleton he thought "Hell, at least I'm better than him."

The point is that Singleton is good at explaining the game and analyzing it, and his style will fit television well. You may not like his delivery, but his content was good. I thought he was best as a guest on a show when he had time to explain the details of the game and didn't have to worry about framing his thought around the pitch. Those are the moments when you could tell that he truly understands baseball. He'll do well in the studio. Whether or not you like him is a matter of opinion and I'm not really concerned about debating his ability, I just believe he'll flourish in his new situation and I'm happy for him.

BD, I don't know about the "3 innings" thing but I'm assuming he will do at least a couple per game. He did some when he was filling in for DJ. Again, I don't know for sure...it's just an assumption. I guess we'll find out more tomorrow.

Thanks. That's what I assumed too. Well, it's a mistake. Stone is noted as the best analyst and you're gonna make him do "play by play"? If it's one inning guess I can accept it. I'll bet he eventually does the middle three however. Vin Skully does a whole game by himself. Euker does it in Milwaukee. Tons of announcers across MLB do the entire play by play. I don't know why the Sox don't do it that way.

They forced Singleton to learn it on the job. DJ had to learn on the job although it's easier on TV. It was tough enough for both of them to learn the 'color job'. They're gonna force Stone to learn play by play too. Doesn't make sense.

you gotta point hear beardown, why woulds espn come looking for cris singleton when they could get any other washed up retired player.

Thanks. I don't care what Ranger says. I really think my theory is plausible. Ranger wouldn't know anyway. No offense Ranger. Reinsdorf just wouldn't share this with you.

Like I said, in the Sun-Times, Singleton said it wasn't a done deal with ESPN. Why would he quit the Sox job before he had the ESPN job? Why would ESPN be looking for a guy one month before the season started? Why would it be Singlio?

The Sox told Singleton that they would handle it this way to save his pride and to avoid him having to tell future employers that he was fired. I'm sure they gave him a nice buy out for the final year of his deal.

Singleton, even if he doesn't get the ESPN job, is happy to take the buy out, not have the burden of traveling for 6 months, and get away from Farmer and his critics.

I'm sure Singlio applied at ESPN once he knew the Sox were gonna bring in Stone to replace him. It took Stone a while to decide to take on 162 games. That's why this all went down so late.

If Singlio does get hired he won't be a main guy on Baseball Tonight. He'll probably get the weekend shifts that air on the deuce. Watch. Singlio will end up not being hired for Baseball Tonight . Even if he does I'll still stand by my theory. Once again, I don't think this was an evil plot either. It's kind of a polite way to let go of Singleton. I'm just glad Singlio is out of the booth.

Beardown, here's the one thing that I don't understand about your scenario - the timing. It's not like Stone had other job opportunities over the past three months, so why wait until now?

Because he was just undecided. He didn't know if he wanted to take on 162 games. They probably asked him after last year. He just decided late and they schemed up this scenario. They had to give Singleton a chance to apply at ESPN so that wouldn't be a complete lie.

I mean, don't you find it curious that Stone would decide on such a huge life-style change and work out a contract in a day or so like Stone claims?

Maybe Stone will follow Terry's lead and broadcast from his house...

Actually, Beardown raises a great point about Stone. I'm not sure I could drop everything and head on that schedule...Then again, maybe Stone didn't have much to drop...

He does have a wife. Staged or otherwise. He had to run it by her.

Here is yesterdays Sun-Times article where Singleton says he's hasn't signed with ESPN but hopes he will. I just don't know why he would quit the Sox before he's hired at ESPN. Especially when the Sox would be on the hook for that final year if he made them fire him. Why would he forfeit that money without being hired at ESPN? That's why I think he took a buy out when the Sox told him they wanted Stone.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/824215,stone030408.article

Any of you Sox fans here want to make this your avatar?

http://www.checkoutmycards.com/CardImages/Cards/014/095/03F.jpg

BD, no offense to you because I know you'd love to be right on this one, but you couldn't be more wrong. Your theory is complete dog****. "Plausible" and "probable" are two different things.

I may not know everything, but I know enough to know that it's time to give this one a rest.