Today was supposed to be the final game behind the microphone for Jim Kaat, as he was retiring after a 23-year career as a broadcaster. (The game between the Red Sox and Yankees was rained out, so it is unclear if he will do any other games this weekend.) He went into the booth after a very good 25-year career as a pitcher. Kaat was a terrific announcer who I had a lot of respect for doing Yankees games on the YES Network.While Michael Kay is generally reviled by Sox fans (and MANY Yankees fans) as a worthless shill, Kaat always did the games with a sense that the fans had some intelligence, and never talked down to them. He had no schtick, and no ego. I especially enjoyed his take on pitching, and I also liked his stories of his days as a pitcher with Minnesota, the Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia and St. Louis. He was always a calm presence in a broadcast booth that at times would go way overboard with nonsense.
I wish Jim Kaat all the best on his retirement from the booth. Yankee games were a little less unbearable with his presence on the YES Network.
Thanks for everything, Jim. You will definitely be missed.
JK behind the mike is as class an act as he was on the mound. He will be missed as he drives the country with his wife in a van.
ReplyDeleteHis take on the lack of complete games, is in line with my thoughts:
ReplyDeleteKaat was on FOX yesterday;
He will definitely, be missed by me.