Let me paint a picture for you: You are the manager of a big-league team deep in the playoffs. Entering the sixth inning on a crisp October night, you have a man on first with one out in a tie game. The thought of calling for a hit-and-run crosses your mind, but then you consider the fact that the opposing manager may call for a pitch-out. You look down at your bench and see that your starting pitcher is rubbing his left shoulder. He's thrown a great game, but looks as though he might have lost something off his fastball in the past half-inning. The men in your bullpen are warm. Oh wait, can't forget about that man on first. And should you pinch-hit here? This guy hasn't been able to hit a lefty all year and he's already 0-for-2 with two strikeouts. So many questions. So many concerns. What's that? A nationally televised interview? After this half-inning? You can't be serious.
Of all the asinine things to occur in baseball over the past few years, whether it be tied all-star games or juiced-up meatheads, one of the worst has to be the in-game interview. Over the past few years in the playoffs, FOX has interviewed managers between innings of, one could say, slightly vital games. It's not like Ozzie Guillen didn't have enough on his plate that he has to hear Joe Buck ask him about his unorthodox call for closer Bobby Jenks.
Then again, this is coming from the same network that has brought us Scooter. The supposedly lovable animated baseball is bent on educating the youthful baseball fans on the dynamics of certain pitches. While Scooter is describing the technicalities of a fastball (being that it goes fast and straight'??this is a difficult task) many fans are plotting the execution of the jubilant sphere.
It's not as if baseball is the only sport to institute such an absurd interview policy. While less obnoxious, the interrogation by reporters of football coaches walking off the field during halftime is still very unreasonable. Does Bill Parcells really want to talk to Jay Glazer right after Drew Bledsoe threw a pick for a touchdown to put his team down 20-3 at the halfway mark?
As a member of the media, I do believe that players and coaches should answer to the press. The press is really the only bridge between the members of teams and their respective fans, and the fans deserve to know what is going on with the dynamics of their teams. There are limitations, though, and those limitations should protect players and coaches while they are doing their job. These guys are free game after practice, at a press conference, even at a ridiculously orchestrated sit-down interview with Michael Irvin. However, while on the field of play, from the first pitch to a late-inning Chris Burke home run, members of the team should be off limits to the media.
And another thing... Wait... What the hell? Hold on, I have a phone call. I just have to take this. It'll only be a few minutes. Hold on one sec.
Hello?... Hey, how are you?... Am I doing anything important? No, just my job. Of course it's an ideal time to talk... Would I like to participate in a survey? Sure. Ok. I have a few minutes to spare.... Um, yeah, I probably use my microwave oven twice a week... Hmm. I'd say that I'm somewhere between happy and quite happy with it's performance, somewhere in the middle there... Actually, I probably should get back, people are supposed to be paying attention to what I'm doing... Thanks... Yup... You too. Bye.
Sorry about that. Anyway, where was I? Right, my profession.
It seems as though if it were up to Mike Scioscia or other Major League managers, they would not participate in such a silly ritual. To me it appears this is simply a bargaining deal with FOX and Major League Baseball that forces these managers to answer questions from McCarver about whether or not Brendan Donnelly reminds Scioscia of a young Mel Rojas.
However, Astros' manager Phil 'Scrap Iron' Garner seemed to know what he's doing, pushing the in-game interview duties off on pitching coach Jim Hickey. Maybe it's the way he violently reacted to Geoff Blum's Game 3 home run, or maybe it was his consistency in turning to the aging Jeff Bagwell in key situations, but Garner seems to be a member of the old school, refusing to cater to the absurd decrees from above.
Maybe that's what Baseball needs. More Phil Garners, more Lou Piniellas, more Jimmy Leylands in the playoffs to pass off the interviews to their bench coaches. Maybe then, FOX might get bored of talking to the Hickeys of the world.
Until then, we can only sit back and watch McCarver ask obscure questions through the gaps in his dentures. With our luck, Scooter himself will give the next interview. Though, once I think about it, I'm not sure which is worse.
