OT: Matt Shepard out as Tigers tv play by play announcer; Karsch thoughts
Wasn't a fan of Matt. They were definitely due for an upgrade.
To make this somewhat non OT, what's everyone's thoughts on Doug Karsch doing play by play for Michigan radio? I've had to listen a few times this year and it was pretty rough. He frequently fails to describe key parts of plays like how many yards were gained, who caught the pass, etc. His gravelly voice is just not suited for radio. I think Jansen does a great job doing color. He's always well prepared for the game. Dan Dickerson is the gold standard for radio play by play. I'd like to see someone closer to his abilities doing Michigan games.
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:39 AM ^
Karsch makes me long for the return of Jimmy B. He is flat out terrible. The grating voice is unlistenable. And I want to hear how a play is developing, not "he's at the 50, the 40, the 30, 20, 10, touchdown." That is the laziest form of play calling.
What seals it for me is listening to how opposing teams' announcers (e.g., OSU) call the same plays. The difference is night and day. You actually get an understanding of what is happening on the field.
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:45 AM ^
It's maddening when you a key piece of information is left out. They really need to bring in a pro. I don't care if they have a tie to Michigan.
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:50 AM ^
jim brandstatter fumbled over every big call he ever made. He couldn't keep up with plays and you never knew what was going on. I feel bad for Karsch but I don't see any of his calls becoming iconic with that voice. He is better at relaying information though
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:50 AM ^
I agree that Karsch is still growing into it, but Brandstatter was the actual worst play by play person I've ever heard. Almost impossible to follow what was happening with him.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:02 PM ^
It really felt like Brandstatter would watch each play as a fan and then remember he had to tell the listener what the hell was going on, which resulted in a bunch of breathless, crammed together words that rarely described anything meaningful. It was awful and also very unfair to him since it was clearly so outside of his abilities.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:04 PM ^
Crazy that he somehow got the Lions and Michigan job at the same time. I think he was doing color for the Lions.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:05 PM ^
Yeah, he did color for both for a while and honestly, he was really good at that. It gave him time to watch the play as a fan and then provide the analysis after the fact.
October 3rd, 2023 at 3:16 PM ^
He was good at color. It was just funny that he was flying around on jets trying to prepare for both games when he was terrible at play by play.
October 3rd, 2023 at 2:58 PM ^
He was fantastic at color and I don't get the switch to Lomas Brown who is tedious to listen to. (as was Matt S on Tigers)
Jimmy was not good at PBP however.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:49 PM ^
Brandy was horrible at pbp, just an old man shaking his fist at the moon. Karsch is worlds better and seems like a great dude and I wish him the best, but there is a reason why there is something called a "radio voice." It's crisp and pleasant and it carries when the excitement of a game amps up. Was recently listening to a quarter of the ECU game and when the crowd noise rose up Karsch's voice just got washed out in the din.
And I'm shocked they let Shephard go. I was not a fan when they hired him but he's grown on me. He's knowledgeable and plays well off his partners. And I hope they keep the rotating color chair because it gets stale when it's the same two guys every game, especially baseball which is every day.
October 3rd, 2023 at 3:00 PM ^
I agree that Jimmy was horrendous. My comment about longing for his play calling was hyperbolic, to show my immense displeasure with Karsch's performance. I would be pleased if they hired Matt S.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:22 PM ^
Karsch not only has the grating voice, it goes goes up at least octaves when there's a big play going on. It gets too high say a Michigan TD or INT run back, for example. I am no fan of Doug Karsch.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:30 PM ^
I lived in Ohio for a bit and heard a good deal of OSU on the radio...the OSU guys are very good at their job and are an enjoyable listen - even if the subject matter sucks.
October 3rd, 2023 at 2:28 PM ^
I agree. The OSU guys are a bit generic, but they call a good game while being informative.
October 3rd, 2023 at 3:12 PM ^
Paul Keels is OSU football's play-by-play guy. Pretty sure he does basketball, too. I don't know how tough he is, but his football PBP is top-notch.
October 3rd, 2023 at 4:37 PM ^
Most tough guys I’ve known spend a lot of time telling you how tough they are. You can’t observe toughness; it needs to be verbally hurled at you.
October 3rd, 2023 at 2:37 PM ^
Why does Michigan refuse to get an actual play-by-play announcer? Jim Brandstatter didn't have the skill set for it. He was always better as the color guy. And then they go with Doug Karsch?
October 3rd, 2023 at 8:26 PM ^
This is a great point. I remember watching (I believe) a big10 network dramatic / cinematic short replay of The Game and it used a constant back and forth of both the UM and OSU broadcast I can literally remember being jealous of the quality of the OSU broadcast team.
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:43 AM ^
Glad to hear that Shep is gone--- awful voice and little true knowledge of baseball (he sounds like he's reading out of an encyclopedia).
I really hope the Tigers elevate Dan Dickerson to the job of TV play-by-play. Better yet, simulcast the TV and radio feed. DD is a true professional with a vast knowledge of baseball, he's genuine and warm, plus truly a fan of the 🐯 Tigers.
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:48 AM ^
Legit question, is that a elevation or promotion? I feel like the skill level necessary on radio is much higher than TV where I can see what's happening with my own eyes.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:05 PM ^
I believe Dan is an employee of the Tigers, and no one in their right mind would leave being beloved in the MLB club to move over to a network in shambles.
It's also a different job, calling radio vs TV. Obviously we've seen that Dan can do it, but he might just prefer the radio style
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:52 AM ^
Dan has seemed like the no-brainer choice for years...I wonder if he doesn't want all of the additional on-camera stuff that goes with being the TV announcer..? Or maybe he just really loves being the "voice" of the game as the radio guy.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:20 PM ^
Hard no on that one, rob. Summer evenings in Michigan are working or playing in the yard, sitting around the firepit or on the deck listening to Dan Dickerson on the radio. Who wants to sit inside and watch a game when you can be outside? The only thing keeping DD from being an all-time great is time. It's too bad they can't get Andy Dirks to dump his lucrative real estate business and go on the road with the Tigers. (/s) Those 2 together in the booth make it seem like they're sitting with you at the firepit shooting the breeze.
October 3rd, 2023 at 3:01 PM ^
Right.
Rob had me until he said move DD from radio.
The one sport I enjoy as much or more on radio than TV, DD is our treasure. As a summer sport (mostly) played at a leisurely pace (although faster this year) you want that in the background of whatever you are doing.
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:49 PM ^
But did you read my entire post? In particular, this:
"Better yet, simulcast the TV and radio feed."
I doubt that you did.
October 3rd, 2023 at 1:43 PM ^
Simulcasts rarely work well. The skills you need are entirely different.
I personally enjoy listening to games on MLB.tv using the radio feed instead of the TV audio, but I can't imagine trying to put TV audio on the radio.
October 3rd, 2023 at 2:16 PM ^
The Freep article said:
"The Tigers and Bally Sports Detroit decided to part with Shepard after taking feedback from fans, executives and industry professionals. The decision to replace Shepard developed over time based on a lengthy evaluation process.
As for the search process, the Tigers and Bally Sports Detroit plan to be ambitious with their list of candidates. The plan is to hire someone with experience broadcasting baseball.
Radio broadcaster Dan Dickerson will not transition to TV."
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:49 AM ^
Can we bring Shep back to Michigan basketball? Would be a big upgrade.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:24 PM ^
That gets my vote. I love the way Shep would say "Dump It Down!!"
October 3rd, 2023 at 3:39 PM ^
Trade him for Brian Boesch who does excellent baseball. IIRC he called PBP for our College World Series run and was perfect. Still remember "A-K-O flashes the leather" from that call. I'm fine with Brian's basketball, but this switch would work for me.
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:50 AM ^
Going from Rod and Mario to the current booth was roughly a thousand steps down. There's no enthusiasm, no joy, and I'm not sure how to accurately describe this but I'll try, no "I'm sitting in the bleachers with my friends talking about the game" vibe from them. It's a clinical approach.
As for Karsch, I can't stand his voice. He's knowledgeable, he's a fan, but I'd rather listen a random TV announcer than him (with the exception of Beth Mowins, her voice also grates me). I wish there was a way to recreate the days of Beckmann and Brandstatter, put AI to use or something.
October 3rd, 2023 at 2:34 PM ^
Speaking of Beth Mowins I agree. Horrible voice. I have no issue with a woman calling the game, but why her? How was she deemed the best?
Now Lisa Byington I can listen to. She's got a smoothe voice.
October 3rd, 2023 at 3:06 PM ^
I once met Lisa Byington sitting at the counter at the old Pizza Bob's. She was in town to call softball. Talked for 1/2 an hour over chipatis. She was very humble and accessible. She was also a big fan of Hutch and the team.
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:50 AM ^
Well, I'm glad the Tigers are addressing the real problem with the team: The TV play-by-play guy. This oughta solve everything.
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:53 AM ^
yeah it definitely doesn't hold a candle to hiring a new head of baseball operations and gm in the last 18 months
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:54 AM ^
I thought Shep did a good job announcing Michigan basketball on the radio and would love it if he returned in that capacity, but he was definitely out of his element in the baseball booth.
As for Karsch, he needs to go. I had to listen to the game this past Saturday on the radio and he was brutal. I would think Michigan could get someone better than him.
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:56 AM ^
Maybe Mario and Rod will be returning?
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:59 AM ^
not unless they are in different booths
October 3rd, 2023 at 1:06 PM ^
Hey- if Blink 182 can get back together so can Mario and Rod....
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:27 PM ^
It's too bad that Mario and Rob disliked each other so much.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:33 PM ^
I would love that, especially if they dropped all pretenses.
"The Tigers are coming off a three-game west coast swing in which they won two out of three. You would know that, Rod, if you weren't drunk half the time."
"Suck it, Mario. They got great pitching out of their bullpen, unlike your mom."
"What does that even mean, asshole? Triple play, by the way."
"You know what that means. Great play."
October 3rd, 2023 at 2:24 PM ^
Over one of their dead bodies, not sure whose, though.
October 3rd, 2023 at 6:22 PM ^
Definitely Mario's.
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:57 AM ^
I vote for Sam Webb, whatever it is.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:10 PM ^
I loved him doing Michigan's men's basketball games. I would not mind him returning to that job.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:15 PM ^
Would the Dodgers' voice Joe Davis be interested?
He's from Potterville (southwest of Lansing).
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:23 PM ^
I'd be very surprised if he was interested. Dodgers' TV gig is about as good as it gets. And he's well-liked among the Dodgers' fan-base as Scully's successor (which wasn't a given, it's hard to be the man who follows the man).
Even with Davis, the Tigers would still need someone for weekends (when Davis calls national FOX MLB and NFL games).
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:26 PM ^
Just bring back Mario. He's got another 10 years in him. And he's a native Detroiter.
Rod Allen has done Marlins games the last 2 years. The incident was several years ago, time has passed. Mario's not a buffoon like Thom Brennaman, the incident shouldn't have be a career-ender.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:35 PM ^
I don't know how much longer Doug Karsch can last. He'll certainly finish this season but Michigan should seriously consider a new play-by-play voice for next season. I liked Doug as a sideline reporter prior to his current gig.
Doug's future might depend on how many complaints Learfield gets. As far as I know, this is not a U of M decision. (Am not sure about who does the hiring selection)
Matt Shepard was a very fit at Michigan BB. I'd welcome him back in that role.