New Cubs TV analyst Bob Brenly set a relaxed tone for Saturday’s debut broadcast after WGN-Ch. 9 cameras showed a fan holding a sign at HoHoKam Park that read: “Welcome Brenly and Kasper.”
Brenly, who worked Cubs games for WGN-AM in 1990 and ’91, said: “Well, it’s great to be back. And congratulations, you did a nice job on that sign, Len.”
Though it was the first time Brenly and Len Kasper worked together since being hired to replace Chip Caray and Steve Stone, you couldn’t tell. They enjoyed a smooth, breezy chemistry that resulted in several amusing moments.
In the seventh inning, when boredom easily can creep into a spring-training telecast, Kasper noted that infielders Nomar Garciaparra and Todd Walker were lounging in the outfield, their backs against the grass.
“This is spring training, and a lot of guys will run in the outfield [during games],” Kasper said. “The Cubs’ double-play combination, I guess they want to take a nap.”
Brenly then jumped in, adding with some sarcasm: “They’re doing crunches. That’s what they’re doing. They’re doing some ab work. If you bob your head up and down a little bit, it makes you look like you’re doing sit-ups.”
Responded Kasper: “You were doing them up in here in the booth between innings, setting a standard that’s way too high for this crew.”
An inning earlier, Kasper had asked Brenly, the former manager of the Diamondbacks, if he ever had been thrown out of a spring-training game.
“I tried to get ejected many times,” Brenly replied. “[I thought]: `My son had a game across town and if I leave right now, I can make it.’ But the umpire said, `If I have to stay, you have to stay,’ and he refused to throw me out.”
It was no surprise to hear Brenly, 50, in midseason form. Former catchers tend to make the best managers, and former catchers-turned-managers should make the best analysts. Especially ones with intelligence and wit.
“From a credentials standpoint,” said Cubs Vice President John McDonough, who spearheaded the broadcasting search, “you can’t do better.”
When reigning American League MVP Vladimir Guerrero stepped to the plate, Brenly said: “Our advance scouts with the Diamondbacks used to say his hitting zone is from on-deck circle to on-deck circle.”
The only concern with Brenly is that his relationship with Dusty Baker will preclude him from questioning the Cubs’ manager when the occasion arises.
Brenly and Baker were teammates on the 1984 Giants. They later worked on the same coaching staff under Roger Craig, and when Baker was elevated to manager in 1993, Brenly remained in San Francisco for three seasons before becoming the lead national analyst for Fox.
Brenly said last week that his job is not to “rip and slash and burn and criticize” every decision a manager makes. And he’s right. A manager knows his personnel–which players are battling injury, which ones handle pressure best–better than anyone.
But there’s still a time for first- and second-guessing the manager. It’s the beauty of baseball.
When Brenly and Kasper interviewed Baker during the third inning Saturday, it was a love fest. Brenly praised Baker for helping him early in his playing career, and Baker replied: “Thank you, BB. You always like to see a guy prosper, especially a guy who fought his way to get to where he wanted to be.”
So it was hugs and kisses, as it should be in spring training. The real stuff is three weeks away.
