Hud/Fizz or Mota/Gooby?

by scareduck on Apr 29, 2007 11:59 AM PDT

One weekend into it (okay, the first time I've had an extended listen, anyway): who's the better TV team? Rex Hudler and Steve Physioc, or Jose Mota and Mark Gubicza?

Pros for the Wonderdog And The Basketball Caller:

Hud's unabashed enthusiasm. It can be a hard game, and as probably everybody around here knows, I sure as hell couldn't do it. Gotta give him props for that.
Fizz generally follows the game well, gives the score when necessary, and doesn't do anything specific to annoy me.
Cons:
There are times when you wonder whether Fizz is really a baseball man, and it shows at times.
Hud brings almost nothing to the game aside from his cheerleading.
Pros for the Mota/Gubicza pair:
Mota's pretty clear despite starting with the obvious handicap of not being a native English speaker.
Gubicza seems to have a clue as a former pitcher.
Cons:
Mota's a little dull in the early going, but then, compared to some of the broadcasters I've heard, so is Vin Scully, in my view the gold standard of baseball announcers.
I've heard Gubicza say silly things in postgame shows, so he's hardly immune from being the usual ex-jock broadcaster, but even then, he's far from the worst I've seen in that regard.

Poll

Physioc/Hudler or Mota/Gubicza

Physioc/Hudler

74 votes

Mota/Gubicza

23 votes

Physioc and somebody else, the Wonderdog sucks

5 votes

Wonderdog and somebody else, Physioc sucks

24 votes

Kill 'em all, let Red Barber sort 'em out

6 votes

132 votes | Poll has closed

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan and may or may not be a reflection of human evolution, divine enlightenment or nine cans into a 12-pack.

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Comments

Mota & Gooby

Phys is the worst and often times doesn't pay attention to the game. However, apparently neither do Mota & Gooby.

In today's game, after Scios was ejected for the bs call against Willits, Mota said there was a "new left fielder - Q." Q, of course had been playing left for the entire game.
Mota and Goob also noted that you Reggie should learn that when someone dives, they can't throw you out, so go ahead and take that extra second. However, if either had bothered to actually pay attention to the tape, Reggie was only facing home and Dino told him when to go. - Time to hold open auditions.

"If my mind and my heart were done, it would be easier." -Troy Percival

by LTUPHLO on Apr 29, 2007 1:03 PM PDT 0 recs

I have to say..

As bad Hud/Fuzz are, Mota/Gubicza manage to be even worse. Gubi's ok. I'm sorry, but they should not let Mota say any players names ever. I had to check the TV to make sure it wasn't on TeleMundo

by Hutch (someone took my name) on Apr 29, 2007 1:46 PM PDT 0 recs

Moron!

Do you live in Southern California pal?

For your information, a lot of the players on the Angels are Latino!

and actually have Latino names and are pronounced correctly when Mota says them.

Take your thinly disguised racism, pack it in your American-brand-Mexican-Built SUV and move to Mississippi.

Acuda Matata!!!!!!!!!

by atomburn on Apr 29, 2007 3:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

you are going to need more than that

to call the guy a racist.

by Rev Halofan on Apr 29, 2007 3:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

The guy doesn't like Mota...

...because he can't stand to hear a Latino pronounce another Latino's name.

He's basically asking Mota to be subordinate, to obey the white American standard of pronunciation.

Acuda Matata!!!!!!!!!

by atomburn on Apr 29, 2007 3:35 PM PDT up 0 recs

Are you a graduate student in Chicano studies?

...cause it sure sounds like it. Switch to decaf and mellow out with the 'everybody's a racist' shit. It's really tired, and dumb.

by Kenny Katella on Apr 29, 2007 3:44 PM PDT up 0 recs

Graphic Arts

but it's clear you don't even have a bachelor's degree given your close read of my response. I like how you put "everybody's a rasict" in quotes!

you might want to pass that by your advisors before bringing that before committee.

Acuda Matata!!!!!!!!!

by atomburn on Apr 29, 2007 3:57 PM PDT up 0 recs

dude...

"you don't even have a bachelor's degree"

What the hell is that supposed to mean? That comment right there just offended about 73% of the US population. How old are you, bro?

by Hutch (someone took my name) on Apr 29, 2007 5:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

W O O T

In case i never mentioned it, I am the only member of the Cal State L.A. alumni assocaition who was expelled from Cal State L.A. !

by Rev Halofan on Apr 29, 2007 5:37 PM PDT up 0 recs

Dude, I'm Hispanic and you need to chill

the fuck out. I'm sure there was no racism intended in the comment. Cool your jets.

Light Up That Halo! ...and tell Clutch to chill!

by cardinalwraith on Apr 30, 2007 5:20 PM PDT up 0 recs

well

I'm half Mexican, and yes, I do live in Southern California. You need to calm-the-fuck-down, PAL. I don't care if Mota spoke in a South African accent. My point was that I just can't understand him a lot of the time and since I am a baseballl nut, it's usually important that I can understand the annoucers. I've been a member of this blog for a while now and I liked it because it was ususally only about baseball and the arguments never got personal. However, you seem to have some hidden agenda. Thank you for letting everyone else see that you are a total fool.

by Hutch (someone took my name) on Apr 29, 2007 5:02 PM PDT up 0 recs

fine dude...

you win. maybe you're not a racist...

but your comment sounds a whole lot like the white superiority complex many OC residents have whether they're conscious of it or not.

I left oc because of that bullshit, I'm in LA where our segregation is right out in the open!

Acuda Matata!!!!!!!!!

by atomburn on Apr 29, 2007 5:26 PM PDT up 0 recs

Cool stay in LA

Lets win with what we got!!!

by P237 on May 1, 2007 10:20 AM PDT up 0 recs

So, how's your Spanish?

Jes' askin'. Personally, I don't find Mota's accent a problem. I even learned something today: Vin Scully's been mispronouncing Odalis Perez's first name all this time. At least, that's what I surmise after hearning Mota say it.

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Apr 29, 2007 4:45 PM PDT up 0 recs

Agree

Vlad's last name is pronouned Weh Weh (rolled R) Oh, and "Vlad" should rhyme with "bod" not "bad" - so the idea that a name sounds universally the same is outdted.

Mota is intelligent, experienced, little drab, not as boring as Terry Smith, more composed than Steve Physioc and his negatives of pronunciation are balanced by the positives of the poetry he brings in his descriptions.

And he called the homer ump many innings before the problems started today by noting that he was an illinois native... his subtle jabs were sharp knives in the back - whereas other Angels broadcasters are too obtuse to discuss anything but bluntly or not at all...

But being offended by an accent as one's sole admission is STILL a stretch to "racist"...

by Rev Halofan on Apr 29, 2007 4:52 PM PDT up 0 recs

thanks

I knew once I brought up the accent thing some dumbass would shit his pants and call me a racist. I still like Hud though!HA!
I think Mota was great at what he was already doing last season and not PLAY-BY-PLAY! Play-by-play is a hard thing to do and needs to be reserved by professional broadcasters.

by Hutch (someone took my name) on Apr 29, 2007 5:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

Agreed with most of the above... except

I think Hud adds a dynamic to the game that is often not seen. He has been around the leagues, and I do mean AROUND.

He's been on 6 MLB teams spanning coasts, and even crossing the Pacific to play in Japan! His style and mannerisms blend seamlessly into his statistical analysis and back to his --admittedly rather amusing -- aphorisms.

Physioc is just a pleasure to listen to. He's Joe Buck with even more class. Despite his occasional yarn, he really is an exceptional announcer, able to transition from his stories to important plays and easily back to the stories once the play has completed.

Mota on the other hand is simply banal. Enough said.

Gooby is a little eccentric, but his style warrants that he stays somewhere in the broadcast.

Other than that, I believe we have one of the better announcing teams in the MLB -- with obvious deference to the always outstanding Jon Miller and Joe Morgan.

by shiftyeyedgoat on Apr 29, 2007 2:01 PM PDT 0 recs

I don't agree with you at all about Physioc

Unless your definition of the word "blend" is: insists on yammering about inconsequential shit when something interesting is happening right before our eyes...

by Rev Halofan on Apr 29, 2007 2:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

You nailed it!

Done.

by wumbug on Apr 29, 2007 8:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

Hud and Fizz, no doubt about it.

For many, many years I never got any Angels' TV broadcasts. ZIP. What few games I got on TV, I got stuck with the other teams' homer (jerks like hawk). Finally after so long, it was GREAT to hear announcers pulling for the Angels. I still get a mix of broadcasts because of the way MLB ExtraInnings is set up, but I consider it a blessing when I get a game called by Hud and Fizz.

by Fan Since 1981 on Apr 29, 2007 2:04 PM PDT 0 recs

I enjoy Mota and Gubicza's intelligence

that's severely missing from Hudd and Phyzarrd's game-calling.

they had some intersting insights, discussing pitch selection in almost every at-bat. Enjoyable way to cover the game within the game.

Acuda Matata!!!!!!!!!

by atomburn on Apr 29, 2007 3:11 PM PDT 0 recs

Hud/Fizz...

I know that Hud-man is a total homer, and Fizz drones on and on about almost anything other than baseball half the time, but I got to admit, after hearing Mota/Gooby all weekend... I kinda missed Hud's enthusiasm. they may not be the best, but at least they are entertaining.

Mota and Gooby, know the game, and occasionally have some interesting insight, but they are dull, dull dull. They are only one short step up from the Braves broadcast team that used to put me to sleep on the Superstation back in the day. Those guys were the worst!

Jeff

Help me out, and help raise money for the MS Society of OC http://www.ms150baytobay.com/sipperphoto

by sipperphoto on Apr 29, 2007 5:17 PM PDT 0 recs

anybody but Phys and Hud

ANYBODY.

i got my undergrad at K-State in the early '80's- i assure you i was sick of Phys >25 years ago, when he was the local sports anchor out of Topeka.

by rbrianc on Apr 29, 2007 8:58 PM PDT up 0 recs

Fizz Sucks

by AlohaHalofan on Apr 29, 2007 9:23 PM PDT 0 recs

I Say...

Fire them all and bring back Al Conin.

by WiseAndEck on Apr 29, 2007 9:37 PM PDT 0 recs

Best. Post. Ever.

AL CONIN for LIFE.

by Rev Halofan on Apr 29, 2007 10:03 PM PDT up 0 recs

This is comical!

I love this thread! Racial tension, sex, drugs and rock and roll, baby!

This is a great topic and I think we can all agree that Hud/Phys is "pretty dang good" compared to the rest of the announcing teams out there.

As for Mota, I appreciate his knowledge of the game (he wasn't that great of a player, but comes from some very exceptional bloodlines), his CORRECT pronunciations of latin players (I am a white boy, I might add), but I personally do not like Mota as a lead announcer. I liked him as a "in the dugout" or a 3rd announcer. He is not a lead in my opinion.

Gubicza should be announcing for the Royals, an organization he served with a lot longer than the Halos organization. I would like to hear how he does if he does any of the Angels-Royals games...maybe a bit of love for his old team? I do not care for him being an Angels announcer.

GO ANGELS!

Rodney King once said, "Can't we all just get along?"

'86 never happened!

by Downing Rules on Apr 30, 2007 1:37 PM PDT 0 recs

Given the opportunity to call games

for the Angels or Royals, which would you take?

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Apr 30, 2007 1:55 PM PDT up 0 recs

Uh, Angels...

but, then again, I am an Angels fan.

But, if team A had paid me $14.2 million to pitch for them and I pitched several years for them (12, to be exact), then team B paid me $1.6 million and I only pitched in 2 games (4-2/3 innings!)...I might feel more love in the town where team A was located. Especially if I won 20 games one year in city A.

The guy is from Philadelphia, as well, what is the link with So Cal? Did he fall in love with it when he came here for his big 4-2/3 innings in 1997? How does he become an Angels specialist?

But, I surely understand your underlying stab at KC, their franchise and its current state of affairs and the location difference (weather, women (there is no such song as Missouri Girls, now is there?), etc).

'86 never happened!

by Downing Rules on Apr 30, 2007 5:56 PM PDT up 0 recs

Gubicza

Is working for free to pay back the Halos for that contract they gave him where he pitched maybe 3 games and his arm fell off.

by cupie on Apr 30, 2007 3:38 PM PDT up 0 recs

I'm glad someone else noticed this...

Go back to KC, Gooby.

'86 never happened!

by Downing Rules on Apr 30, 2007 5:47 PM PDT up 0 recs

In rebuttal to myself...

I was happy to hear Gubicza apologize and feel regret for "not being able to perform" as an Angel. It sounded quite sincere, although, I sure could have said it with more emotion and sincerity if I had been cut a check for $1.6M to pitch 4-2/3 innings.

'86 never happened!

by Downing Rules on May 2, 2007 1:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

He said it during...

the Aflac trivia question "Who did the Angels receive from the Royals in exchange for Chili Davis in October 1996?" during the May 01 Royals-Angels telecast.

'86 never happened!

by Downing Rules on May 2, 2007 1:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

Announcers

I think we should also get an Italian to pronounce Scioscia and Napoli correctly, a German to say Roenicke and Speier, and an Irishman to say Quinlan in its original Gaelic permutation. It's only fair.

by Higz on Apr 30, 2007 2:38 PM PDT 0 recs

I like them all

I'm hearing the Mota/G team for the first time tonight, and I like that they're consistently talking about the game and only the game--with some good color about the players.

I just don't get the sense of excitement from them, though, that I get from Phys and Hud. PH may not be the smartest tools in the box, but they're still enthusiastic and really get you fired up about watching the game. So it's a tough call. Maybe if we could team Hud with the other two that'd be a nice balance.

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Apr 30, 2007 6:27 PM PDT 0 recs

Good idea

Add Rex as a third announcer. I like that he's a total homer. And he clearly loves the game.

As far as Mota, I don't even notice an accent until he pronounces the hispanic names.

If I went to war and could only take one weapon, it would be an HK47.

by RallyMonkey5 on May 1, 2007 6:33 AM PDT up 0 recs

How about Hudler and Mota (what irony)!

What about a "sampling" of this product?

R.I.P. Mike Penner

by PieceOfAase on May 1, 2007 9:03 AM PDT 0 recs

the Hudler/Mota weed jokes would get out of hand

just too irresistible

by Hutch (someone took my name) on May 1, 2007 10:26 AM PDT up 0 recs

Or how about Dennis Miller?

"Hey cha-cha, Guerrero's batting average is higher than the gross domestic product of Bahrain. Somebody get Crown Prince Al Khalifa on the horn and tell him he can borrow a few dinars from ol' Bid Daddy Vladdy, folks."

by Higz on May 1, 2007 9:10 AM PDT 0 recs

Hud and Dennis Miller!

HAHAHA! That would be awsome! Hudler's head would explode!

by Hutch (someone took my name) on May 1, 2007 10:28 AM PDT up 0 recs

OK, my final stance

I am going to make the final comment on this and after watching the Vlad grand slam replay on the Angles MLB site, I can say that Phizz and Hud are better mainly due to the lack of enthusiasm from Mota. Like Phizz or not, his genuine excitement when plays DO happen cannot be ignored and that grand slam would have had spit sprayed on the booth plexiglas. Mota called it like he was the KC announcer (go back and listen to it). I mean, come on! The top of the first Angels get back-to-back-to-back singles and then a slam! When this happens I want my announcer foaming at the mouth and choking the mic stand.

However the Dennis Miller/Huddler experiment would be awesome. I think it would be the first time Hud would utter the words on the air "dude, you're freaking me out"

by Hutch (someone took my name) on May 2, 2007 11:09 AM PDT 0 recs