Diamondbacks Bullpen

[shoewizard]

baseballmod:
1:08 pm Topic: Diamondbacks baseball

baseballmod:
1:08 pm Thanks for participating in today's chat. Please keep submitting your questions.

baseballmod:
1:29 pm Thanks for logging on to today's chat with Thom Brennaman. Please keep submitting your questions. The chat will begin in about 30 minutes.

baseballmod:
1:40 pm Please keep submitting your quesitons for Thom. The chat will begin in about 20 minutes.

dbacksguest:
1:59 pm Hi Fans! Welcome to today's chat. I look forward to answering your questions.

shaung97:
1:59 pm What do you consider to be your greastest baseball moment as a broadcaster?

dbacksguest:
2:01 pm The obvious answer is game 7 of the 2001 World Series. Games like that are the pinnacle of the broadcasting business. But for me, I have a special place in my heart for Opening Day in 1998 here is Arizona. The excitement of the birth of the franchise continues to hold a special place in my heart.

auntiejane:
2:01 pm Hi Thom, from Lake Powell, Ariz. What is your opinion on the designated hitter and on the use of instant replay?

dbacksguest:
2:03 pm As for the DH, not a fan. As for instant replay, we had an incident here the other night where a ball hit by Eric Byrnes was interfered with by a fan in the left field bleachers. I think in situations like that there is place for instant replay in baseball. Not for balls and strikes, not for safe or out. Just fair or foul ball, home run or not.

intersactioner:
2:03 pm How many more wins do you think Brandon Webb needs to secure the Cy Young?

dbacksguest:
2:05 pm Obviously this will depend on Brandon's health. We are all anxious to see Saturday's start. He says he feels great and if he remains healthy for the rest of the season I feel he is the odds on favorite to win the Cy Young.

travisj:
2:06 pm What do you think Mark Grace's chances are to one day be a Major League manager?

dbacksguest:
2:07 pm That's up to him. I think if he wants to become a manager in the Big Leagues he's going to have to manage some in the Minor Leagues.

rereit:
2:07 pm Who provides statistics to you when you're broadcasting; do you know all of that off the top of your head, or are there others that help out behind the scenes?

dbacksguest:
2:10 pm One of the biggest behind the scenes heroes for our broadcasts is Mike Swanson, Director of PR. He provides us daily updated stats and facts about the team and players that we use every night. Curt Zacker works with us in the booth keeping score and monitoring the internet. We have a great staff that makes my job easy.

Geoffrey_Rains:
2:10 pm you worked with bob brenly for a while any chance you think you two might ever anounce together again?

dbacksguest:
2:11 pm We worked last year's NLCS today and I hope he'll join us on FOX for this year's NLCS.

Base_Ball:
2:12 pm Hello Im a senior at Paradise Valley High School. I have played baseball for my whole life and I now am thinking about what i would like to do for a career. How do you suggest I get into sports broadcasting?

dbacksguest:
2:16 pm Start practicing. Whether you are sitting in front of a TV or out at a little leage game, do you own commentary and play-by-play. The more comfortable you become, the more natural it is. College is a must. Gain experience wherever you can. Intern at a radio or TV station, work for sports information deparment at your college.

David_Yauch:
2:17 pm What do you think the Diamondbacks chances are of making the playoffs if Webb stays healthy?

dbacksguest:
2:19 pm You have clearly picked out the most important key- Brandon Webb and starting pitching. If Webb is healthy and the rest of the rotation pitches well it's going to be a fun time down here at the ballpark in September and October.

mlbsm:
2:20 pm what do you think you would be doing right now if you didn't get into broadcasting?

dbacksguest:
2:22 pm I'd like to think that I'd be working with the Humane Society or some other field helping those less fortunate and those who cannot help themselves.

travisj:
2:22 pm What was it like being in the same booth as Harey Carey?

dbacksguest:
2:24 pm I can't explain to you how much fun it was to work with Harey. He really taught me to love my job and helped me realize how lucky I am to be doing this for a living. I really miss him.

Natalie_Brown:
2:25 pm Thom, why aren't there more women broadcasters in sports? It seems like there is always the token female on the field (Melissa Stark on MNF for example). But what about the "in the booth announcers" - why mostly men?

dbacksguest:
2:27 pm I think it's a great idea for women to be in the booth. A huge part of our audience are women and we need to do our best to reach out to them. The Yankees have a woman, Suzyn Waldman, who works as a radio announcer for the team. I don't think it will be long before you see more women in all aspects of baseball.

shaung97:
2:28 pm who would you vote for in the diamondbacks hometown heroes?

dbacksguest:
2:29 pm I voted for Gonzo...more than once.

dbacksguest:
2:30 pm Thanks for all the great questions. I'm heading to LA this afternoon to do the Giants and Dodgers game tomorrow on FOX but I'll be keeping an eye on the scoreboard from Chase. See you Sunday with Joe...

TJ
_________________
League average when you are paying league minimum is great value, League average when you are paying 10 million sucks.

[matt]

He was on 910 yesterday and I liked him a lot more during that segment that I do when he's broadcasting.

[TAP]

2:01 pm Hi Thom, from Lake Powell, Ariz. What is your opinion on the designated hitter and on the use of instant replay?

dbacksguest:
2:03 pm As for the DH, not a fan. As for instant replay, we had an incident here the other night where a ball hit by Eric Byrnes was interfered with by a fan in the left field bleachers. I think in situations like that there is place for instant replay in baseball. Not for balls and strikes, not for safe or out. Just fair or foul ball, home run or not.
Thom, that was the CF bleachers -- I was leaning over the LF wall watching the play. Finley cried like a baby in CF until the impires agreed to call it a double instead of HR. The CF fan that interfered was escorted out 5 minutes later by security. But I do agree with Thom, replay has its place in situations like that where the umps are already spending 5 minutes in a huddle; Replay would have settled it instantly and accurately.

travisj:
2:06 pm What do you think Mark Grace's chances are to one day be a Major League manager?

dbacksguest:
2:07 pm That's up to him. I think if he wants to become a manager in the Big Leagues he's going to have to manage some in the Minor Leagues.
Very true, but I wonder if Mark isn't waiting for a team (Cubs?) that will take a chance on him w/o the minor league seasoning.

rereit:
2:07 pm Who provides statistics to you when you're broadcasting; do you know all of that off the top of your head, or are there others that help out behind the scenes?

dbacksguest:
2:10 pm One of the biggest behind the scenes heroes for our broadcasts is Mike Swanson, Director of PR. He provides us daily updated stats and facts about the team and players that we use every night. Curt Zacker works with us in the booth keeping score and monitoring the internet. We have a great staff that makes my job easy.

Natalie_Brown:
2:25 pm Thom, why aren't there more women broadcasters in sports? It seems like there is always the token female on the field (Melissa Stark on MNF for example). But what about the "in the booth announcers" - why mostly men?

dbacksguest:
2:27 pm I think it's a great idea for women to be in the booth. A huge part of our audience are women and we need to do our best to reach out to them. The Yankees have a woman, Suzyn Waldman, who works as a radio announcer for the team. I don't think it will be long before you see more women in all aspects of baseball.
Maybe Whozurmomma?

[moviegeekjn]

[B. O. N. D.]

[TAP]

[B. O. N. D.]