Commentating is lo duca's true calling...

[Ray D]

He has a world-class case of Joe Theisman Disease--- can't speak two sentences without one of them being  "Back when I was the greatest player of all time....." 

Joe Theisman has many diseases, that being one.  Others include: cannot stop talking; no personality whatsoever, no sense of humor, can't get along with anyone.

Ray Knight has none of these latter diseases, and I'm not so sure he has the first. I don't think he regards himself as having been a great player, except for a few exceptional seasons.

[MrMadison]

Paul Lo Duca should either stay Nats commentator or go into pro wrestling announcing.

I dunno if he's got the "OH MY GOD, IT'S STONE COLD! STONE COLD! STONE COLD!" in him to make it as a wrestling announcer.

Lo Duca seems a little more low-key.

[Skipper88]

Knight's not as bad as Joe Theisman  ( who could be that bad???)   but every example is  "When I played with ....."   or "When I used to try to hit a curveball."   It gets freaking old after about the 100th time.  

I will say this, however:  there is no broadcast team ANYWHERE that is as useless or as annoying as the Mets TV team with Darling and Hernandez.   I watched two of their games against Florida this week and by the 5th inning in both games I had the sound turned off.  

[Ray D]

there is no broadcast team ANYWHERE that is as useless or as annoying as the Mets TV team with Darling and Hernandez.   

Darling was with the Nats in '05. (Not everyone knows that. I don't know if you've been here that long.)   He wasn't really awful, but not great. I'll give him credit for working hard to improve - at the beginning of the season he really was awful, by the end he was near tolerable.

And I'll give the Darling/Hernandez team credit for this: when Willie Randolph was rumored to be fired a few days ago, and Gary Carter publicly "applied" for the job (even though Willie was still managing), Darling and Hernandez criticized Carter severely on air (I heard a recording on Mike and Mike) even though they had all been teamates.

[BBQ]

How can we stop Flores from starting on an everyday basis!? He is amazing and Lo Duca is actually a very good commentator

[Skipper88]

How can we stop Flores from starting on an everyday basis!? He is amazing and Lo Duca is actually a very good commentator

Exact same issue as when Dmitri came back and Boone was tearing it up.     I haven't looked at the schedule or the box scores,  but my impression is that Dmitri went back to being the starter & Boone sat on the bench until Zimmy got hurt. 

If they put LoDuca back in as the starter and he doesn't hit .280 or better and throw out 40% or better, I'm sorrry   I don't care how much he's making or how much "veteran leadership" he provides.  Flores is proving that he can play every day at this level-- leave him in the lineup.

[Paris]

Lo Duca is great in the booth. I think it's where he belongs, and his being there as a result of an injury is one of those happy accidents.  I'd like to say Chad was good too, but he was very quiet this afternoon and didn't say much at all, which probably disqualifies him from the job. Don Sutton is knowledgeable, but, although I can't say why exactly, he becomes annoying quickly. Maybe it's because the focus is always on him: when I was this or that, or when I was taught to throw whatever & on & on. OTOH, there something about Lo Duca, his voice, or his low-key style, that is just keeps your attention where it belongs, on the game and players on the field.

[kimnat]

Don Sutton is knowledgeable, but, although I can't say why exactly, he becomes annoying quickly. Maybe it's because the focus is always on him: when I was this or that, or when I was taught to throw whatever & on & on. OTOH, there something about Lo Duca, his voice, or his low-key style, that is just keeps your attention where it belongs, on the game and players on the field.

YEAH!! THAT'S  IT!!!

[blue911]

Lo Duca seemed to get more comfortable with each game. Something that Ray Knight hasn't been able to master.

[nats2playoffs]

Most color commentators try too hard to make the game more interesting.  Lo Duca is relaxed and informative.  It's like watching the game with a major leaguer sitting next to you.  He's very matter-of-fact about what happens on the field, without criticizing players (on either team) and without apologizing when things don't go our way.  When an opponent got a key hit, he said that our pitcher threw it the best spot possible to get him out, but the batter just got a good hit anyway. 


Getting the job done

[spidernat]

When an opponent got a key hit, he said that our pitcher threw it the best spot possible to get him out, but the batter just got a good hit anyway. 

Unfortunately this is also Sutton's calling card. 

[blue911]

Unfortunately this is also Sutton's calling card. 

Yeah, just once you'd love to hear them say "Boy, this guy is a real piece of crap. He must be banging the Owner's wife"

[2IPAs]

There was certainly no "dead air" with Lo Duca in the booth. The man likes to talk.  I still smile when I remember his comment during our early season losing streak that a squirrel could do better. Very New York.

[Ashburn]

Where's Carpenter?

[kimnat]

vacation along w/ daughter's college graduation