I do find him okay in small doses(really small doses), but I mostly agree with you.
His enthusiasm just became annoying before too long and I didn’t really feel like he added anything other than nicknames and cutesy sayings like “You gotta hack or they’ll send you back!”
He’s a nice guy and I wish him the best of luck, but I can’t say I miss him on the broadcasts.
Now I just wish they would find someone else to replace Gubi…
I also respect that he wants to be home with his kids. He does the before and after interviews in the summer and I’ll take that until it’s time for him to return maybe as a coach.
I’ve listened to him for years, think he does a pretty good job, and have met him and some of his family and found them to be great people. I wish both Hud and Physioc the best.
I just don’t like his son. Played against him in Little League. It bothered me that he personally knew the whole Angels team. I felt better when I discovered he threw meatballs down Broad Street.
Actually heard him say, “You can almost hear the dueling banjos playing when you see Randy Johnson out there on the mound.” 2000 Dodgers game against the D-Backs. My friend and I laughed hysterically and then marveled at the honesty of the comment.
“Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to 2012 Royals baseball on Fox Sports….you know Rex, that 2004 Boston Red Sox team was sure a gritty team……”
Fox Sports Kansas City announced a major shakeup Friday in its Royals’ broadcast crew that reunites former Angels announcers Rex Hudler and Steve Physioc while reducing duties for Ryan Lefebvre.
Plans now call for Lefebvre to handle play-by-play for 90 of the 140 televised games; Physioc will call the remaining 50 games. Hudler will serve as analyst on 120 games, while Jeff Montgomery will fill that role for 20 games.
Lefebvre and Physioc will also call games on the radio
I once turned on the radio to the Physioc radio broadcast on my way home from work.
In the roughly 30 minutes of my drive home, I am pretty sure that there were at least 3-4 inning breaks. When I got home, I still did not know the score of the game.
I like Victor, and he does a fine job, but Gooberzaki has got to go! I can’t take this moron for another season. He should have been the one going to KC because that is all he likes to talk about. I’m thinking of buying the MLB.TV package and playing the games through my computer to the tv with the hopes of getting Terry Smith calling the game. Does anybody know if that will work? Goober makes me want to throw up…..H E L P ARTIE!!!!!!!!!!
Although it makes me laugh many times that people complain that he talks about KC so much in his broadcasts as it isn’t like most Ball players in the booths don’t refer back to previous teams they played for when talking about situations. Thing with gooby is that is one of the only teams he played for basically so he only has one team to refer back to since he didn’t play for the angels very long.
but he was our clown. And in between the redundant tips for the little leaguers, I thought he contributed some decent behind-the-scenes baseball knowledge. I also thought he had some clever one-liners and nicknames. I was sorry to see him go and I hope the people in KC appreciate his enthusiasm.
Physioc is a hack, though he seems like a good guy.
Gubicza isn’t even professional enough to be called a hack. Bland and repetitive. His rather timid commentary and delivery indicates that he knows he’s bland and repetitive. You can’t teach personality.
…or grew up there or something or other. I know he has some sort of connection to KC.
Phyzz didn’t bother me that much. Mostly because I’m subject to the abominable, abhorrent, god-awful, pompous ass Stinkee radio announcer John Sterling. The saying around here is that with every Stinkee game you get two games..the one that’s played on the field and the one that’s called by John Sterling. After listening to Sterling you’d be begging for Phyzz.
I enjoyed both Rex and Physioc, wish the Angels had kept them
I live near Kansas City and occasionally watch Royals games. I will probably watch a few more with those two announcing. The Angels start the season at home against KC, it’s going to be odd listening to those two call the games from the Royals’ booth.
I state in the comments below that Rex is better in person than he is on the radio. I originally posted this on Halos Heaven two years ago.
* * * * * * *
(From Splinters, A Memoir by Rex Hudler, 2008, pp 58-61.)
Back With Buck
Next spring I went to camp with the Expos and I was back in Buck Rodgers’ office. "Kid, I just want to tell you that you’re my utility player this year. I brought Damaso Garcia into camp to platoon with Tom Foley at second base because I needed a Latin leader and I think he is going to help us."
"Hey, wait a minute! It was one year ago that we sat in here and you told me I couldn’t hit, I couldn’t catch, and all I could do was run and that I wasn’t good enough to be your utility player! I don’t want you to settle for some bootleg player."
So I made Buck eat his crow and tell me how good I was! "Kid, you showed me last year that you could play."
"I told you I needed two months to get into shape. And now I’ll tell you another thing. That Damaso Garcia is a dog. He’s going to quit. He won’t play hard for you. He’s very temperamental. You’ve got the wrong guy! I should have that platoon job." When I left his office, I thanked Buck because this was the first time in my career that I made a major-league team out of spring training. I was happy about that and let my manager know how I felt about it.
Jennifer and I went to Montreal to start out our married life together during the baseball season. The Expos had good players in 1989 and we battled the Mets for first place. The Mets were tough and they had good players too: Darryl Strawberry, Ho Jo (Howard Johnson), Sid Fernandez, Ron Darling and David Cone. I loved going to play the Mets in Shea Stadium because I could feel the heat. We’d go in there and we’d battle. It was awesome! I was in a pennant race in the NL West with New York right where I wanted to be!
I’ll never forget that I was at Shea the first time I’d ever experienced a kid cussing me out. This kid was saying words that a sailor wouldn’t say. And he was standing next to his mom and dad! The parents were cussing me. The kid was pointing at me and cussing me. I was trippin’, but I loved that negative stuff because it made me even tougher. I said to myself, "Wow, welcome to the world!"
It turned out I was right about Damaso Garcia. He quit after 200 at bats! He left the team and went home – and those were my 200 at bats he took with him! I didn’t say anything to Buck Rodgers, but I told him Garcia would quit on the team and that’s exactly what he did. I was not a poison slinger so I let the whole thing go. There were times when I really got frustrated! Even though we were struggling, I wasn’t getting a chance to play and I was a good player. Sometimes I would stand up in the clubhouse and yell, "Who doesn’t want to play today? If you don’t want to play why don’t you tell that man (Buck Rodgers) and I’ll play for you. I’m tired of sitting on the bench; this is getting frustrating. Let’s go!" They all knew I could play outfield and infield and so everyone was quiet. They were a little nervous about me and my intensity.
Those Expos teams had lots of good players: Tim Raines and Tim Wallach were the top position guys and we had a terrific pitching staff with starters Bryn Smith, Dennis Martinez, Pascal Perez, Kevin Gross, Mark Langston and Tim Burke was our closer. I had finally arrived and they knew I could play. I wasn’t afraid to be myself. I was stealing bases, and in one game I hit a big pinch hit home run off John Franco who was the Cincinnati Reds closer that year. I came up to bat with two runners on base and Buck said, "Kid – go get him!" Tim Wallach called me over to the dugout and he said that when Franco goes to his change-up, his glove gets big. "He’s a fanner, Hud." That’s a baseball term for opening up the glove when you’re going to throw the change-up.
I got in the on-deck circle, got loose, went to the batter’s box and saw the glove fan open. I took a change-up off the plate – ball one. I knew it was coming. They knew I was an aggressive hitter. I swung at a lot of pitches and they tried to get me to swing at balls out of the strike zone. Franco was very good at coaxing hitters to swing at that change-up in the dirt. The glove fanned open again and the pitch was a ball and it was now a 2-0 count. On the third pitch, Franco narrowed his grip so I knew a fastball was coming. I hit a three-run, pinch-hit dinger in a nationally televised game on CBS! Beautiful!
A big crowd in Montreal saw that blast – it must have been a giveaway day – ha ha! I circled the bases after the hit and we won the game. I was doing the post-game show on the field and the team was waiting for me when I got into the clubhouse. They were cheering for me! "Hud, way to go!" We had a three-game lead in the division and that win kept us tight in the race. We were right at the top of the standings and I wept with joy. Here I was, challenging guys in the clubhouse to enjoy playing the game or I’d take their spot and when I came through, they were genuinely happy for me. It made me feel good.
(From Splinters, A Memoir by Rex Hudler, 2008, pp 58-61.)
* * * * * * * *
My apologies for the long selection above. It starts at the beginning of that chapter because I did not want the statement regarding Damaso Garcia to be taken out of context.
In December 2009 I was shopping in the Tustin Market Place. I browsed through the book section in Costco and saw a sign stating Rex Hudler would be autographing his book "Splinters" at this store a couple days later. I did a quick calculation and concluded I would not be returning to Costco that soon. I picked up a copy of "Splinters" and purchased it then and there. A week later in the same Costco I came across a stack of "Splinters" that Rex Hudler had autographed. I did not need a second copy, so I did without the autograph.
The above selection rang a bell with me. I only went to four games at Stade Olympique in Montreal. Those were during a four game series versus Cincinnati July 20-23, 1989. The Expos swept the four game set and appeared to be serious contenders to win the NL East division. In the Saturday July 22 game the Reds led 5-1 entering the last of the ninth. Reds closer John Franco was in his third inning of work. Tim Wallach and Nelson Santovenia got things rolling with back-to-back singles. Rex Hudler then pinch-hit for Jeff Huson. Rex gives a fine detailed description of that at bat in "Splinters" which is quoted above.
For this Saturday game I had a field box seat down the right field line. In the eighth inning I moved behind the Expos dugout on the first base side. I was behind the home plate side of the dugout. After the Reds tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the ninth and were then retired I moved to the front row. For the four games in Montreal I had that seat for all of half an inning. John Franco was only able to retire one batter in the bottom of the ninth as the Expos rallied for five runs to win the game 6-5. When Hudler hit his three-run home run he hustled around the bases and ran straight towards me. Rex high-fived a half dozen teammates before disappearing into the dugout. Hud was pumped! The crowd was into it. The Reds still led 5-4 with nobody out.
Mike Fitzgerald then coaxed Franco for a walk. Otis Nixon proceeded to sacrifice Fitzgerald to second. Here is where "Splinters" gets strange. The page before Hudler hits this pinch-hit home run Rex states "Garcia would quit on the team and that’s exactly what he did." Not on July 22. None other than Damaso Garcia came to the plate in the bottom of the last down 5-4 with one out and the tying run on second base. Damaso proceeded to sock a sayonara walk-off home run. It was pandemonium in Montreal! There was joy in Mudville! John Franco was only able to retire one batter in the bottom of the ninth as the Expos rallied for five runs to win the game 6-5.
On September 9, 2002 I took my wife and two year old son to Tommy’s Sushi in Tustin. We sat in a booth and ordered sushi, soy beans, miso soup and sake. Roger noticed the man sitting in the booth across the aisle from us was wearing an Angels cap. I looked up from the menu and exclaimed "That’s the Wonder Dog!" Rex conversed with us during the rest of his meal. That was for at least twenty minutes. The Angels were hosting the Oakland Athletics in a four game series that was starting that night. I told Rex that I would be going to three of the A’s games. Rex enthusiastically said I should go to all four. I told Rex that I was at the July 1989 game when he hit the three-run pinch-hit home run off of John Franco. I told him I also saw him hit a home run against the Dodgers in May 1989. Hud immediately replied "That was off Ricky Horton. It was the only home run I ever hit at Dodger Stadium!" Rex was very gracious. He made a much better impression with me in person than he does while broadcasting.
We need a sports psychologist here to figure out why Hudler would slight Damaso Garcia and two paragraphs later NEGLECT to say that Garcia hit a walk-off home run. Pull up a shrink’s couch. What is the rest of the story there? Damaso’s last game with the Expos was on September 12, 1989. Garcia did not leave the team and go home until that date or later. Garcia’s walk-off home run off of John Franco was the second to last of his career. Garcia’s last major league home run came was on August 15, 1989 off of Giants pitcher Dave Dravecky. That was the last hit Dravecky ever allowed. Two batters later Dravecky broke his arm throwing a wild pitch and never pitched in the majors again. For the record Garcia had two major league walk-off home runs. Hudler never had one. In 1989 Hudler did lead Garcia in go ahead hits (all hits where the team went from tied or behind to ahead) 3-1. Garcia does not get that go ahead hit on July 22, 1989 if Hudler had not at least reached base in the same inning. Hudler wrote that negative stuff made him even tougher. Evidently negative stuff also made Damaso Garcia tougher.
Wow.
I guess the Royals felt that having to deal with Dayton Moore wasn’t enough pain for the fans.
~MMP~ - February 10, 2012
I felt pretty lonely with my strong anti-Rex sentiment
But then I saw this reported Hardball Talk. I have to admit, not even I thought he was that bad.
Suboptimal - February 10, 2012
Sub, I am right there with you with the anti-Rex sentiment.
The dude is a goon. I don’t care if he’s a nice guy or enthusiastic. He is totally unlistenable.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - February 10, 2012
you weren't drinking enough
ladybug - February 10, 2012
I do find him okay in small doses(really small doses), but I mostly agree with you.
His enthusiasm just became annoying before too long and I didn’t really feel like he added anything other than nicknames and cutesy sayings like “You gotta hack or they’ll send you back!”
He’s a nice guy and I wish him the best of luck, but I can’t say I miss him on the broadcasts.
Now I just wish they would find someone else to replace Gubi…
~MMP~ - February 10, 2012
Someone like Tim Salomon maybe.
MoralesHomers - February 10, 2012
I would like that but
I also respect that he wants to be home with his kids. He does the before and after interviews in the summer and I’ll take that until it’s time for him to return maybe as a coach.
angelsfan7 - February 11, 2012
What are the odds that Phyzz gets the boot
after the first home-stand in May?
eyespy - February 10, 2012
No bet.
red floyd - February 10, 2012
Congrats to Hud for finding a position. Wish he was in our booth instead of Gubi.
Poor Phyzz. He didn’t get a job with his beloved MFY.
red floyd - February 10, 2012
he's gettingthisclose to the East coast though
ladybug - February 10, 2012
And that delicious Kansas City BBQ.
halofolife - February 10, 2012
We have got to get Torii to the All-Star Game this year.
He kills it at Kauffman.
5thStarter - February 10, 2012
One of the best nicknames coined on this site...
The Grand Phyzzard
cupie - February 10, 2012
So, I'm guessing this has been covered ad nauseum, but how does everyone feel about Victor and Goobi?
I like ’em both.
5thStarter - February 10, 2012
I really like Victor.
Goober i could do without. You could record one game of him and turn him in to a sound board and get the same thing.
Darth Duane - February 10, 2012
Now I really want the Gubi Soundboard.
AlanFalcon - February 10, 2012 via mobile
You could make a Dean Chance remix.
BruinHalo - February 10, 2012
I like them both, too
LanaBanana - February 10, 2012
We generally like Victor and generally hate Goobi
ryanfea - February 10, 2012
generally
ladybug - February 10, 2012
Love Victor's dry wit and his general snark.
Gubi… I can take or leave… I’d much rather have Hud as the color guy.
red floyd - February 10, 2012
Victor posts on HH sometimes...
so tread lightly haters.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - February 10, 2012
I see no haters
That guy is quality.
SportsChicken - February 11, 2012
I love it when Victor makes fun of Gubi and it goes over his head.
I also helped the Rojas family buy hats in my store once. Cool bunch.
Halowitz - February 13, 2012 via mobile
*Gooby
Gubi? Guby? Goobee?
5thStarter - February 10, 2012
Really happy for Hud.
mustard_man - February 10, 2012
I really like Physioc
I’ve listened to him for years, think he does a pretty good job, and have met him and some of his family and found them to be great people. I wish both Hud and Physioc the best.
JeffJoiner - February 10, 2012
The Phys kids are cool for the most part-
I just don’t like his son. Played against him in Little League. It bothered me that he personally knew the whole Angels team. I felt better when I discovered he threw meatballs down Broad Street.
BruinHalo - February 10, 2012
But my dislike of boy Phys is completely unfair
He’s probably a really nice guy.
BruinHalo - February 10, 2012
We've all been kids and picked arbitrary sides
If he’s anything like his dad, he’s a great guy.
JeffJoiner - February 10, 2012
You know we went to HS with his daughter Ryan
She was on the morning announcements
Halowitz - February 13, 2012 via mobile
You a crazy...
Dude couldn’t even pronounce the names of the player correctly.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - February 10, 2012
Jim Hill is the absolute king of mispronounciation.
Does it at least two times every newscast.
sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher - February 10, 2012
Racist!
PieceOfAase - February 10, 2012
Imposter!
BruinHalo - February 10, 2012
Are you forgetting Vin Scully?
That guy butchers names on the regular. Mayseer Izturis? Seriously?
halofolife - February 10, 2012
And my favorite...
“Albert Coyospe”
sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher - February 10, 2012
That's Joe Buck.
MAY-zer Izturis
red floyd - February 10, 2012
Vin Scully can say anyting
Actually heard him say, “You can almost hear the dueling banjos playing when you see Randy Johnson out there on the mound.” 2000 Dodgers game against the D-Backs. My friend and I laughed hysterically and then marveled at the honesty of the comment.
Anyone else would be fired.
tolbs1010 - February 11, 2012
*anything
tolbs1010 - February 11, 2012
I loved it when he called Rex Hudler "The Wonder Horse"
Halowitz - February 13, 2012 via mobile
My heart and prayers go out to the victims of this unfortunate hiring.
clover_black - February 10, 2012
Maybe this will give the chronically unemployed some hope.
RexTookMyStash - February 10, 2012
By getting jobs, that make them work during the broadcasts?
eyespy - February 10, 2012
Ketchup
or Mustard ?
Funke5ive - February 10, 2012
I can see it now..
First broadcast of the year:
“Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to 2012 Royals baseball on Fox Sports….you know Rex, that 2004 Boston Red Sox team was sure a gritty team……”
Doctor Wu - February 10, 2012
To which Rex responds,
“That’s true. I was a first round draft pick of the Yankees, so I can tell you first hand those two teams play the game the…”
Physioc then interupts, “Oh and Derek Jeter, so handsome and so talented.”
Hud says, “That’s right. You little leaguers watching should watch how Jeter plays the game and try to do what he does every day.”
This will continue until about the 4th inning when they decide to throw the Royal fan audience a bone by callig a play or two on the game in progress.
snowhor - February 10, 2012
And then they get distracted by a cloud that looks like a bunny
~MMP~ - February 10, 2012
and then have the camera guys focus on the kids eating cotton candy and the girls eating hot dogs
ladybug - February 11, 2012
wait... that would be our current broadcasters.... just sayin.
angelsfan7 - February 11, 2012
Thats more the producers than the broadcasters though
Broadcasters don’t have any say about where the camera is aiming.
ryanfea - February 12, 2012
omg
you devil you.
that is too funny and so true
Funke5ive - February 12, 2012
My dream broadcast team for the Angels...
Play by play – Mo Vaughn
Color – Roger Lodge
I think these two would really have a chemistry.
Doctor Wu - February 10, 2012
I want Lodge doing play by play so he can discuss what's going on in song
~MMP~ - February 10, 2012
714-TICKETS!!!!!
red floyd - February 10, 2012
I vomited everywhere
ryanfea - February 10, 2012
Sloppy seconds never felt so good.
Now, all 4200 Royals fans can subject himself to listen to the Non Sequitur King Physioc.
PieceOfAase - February 10, 2012
My favorite Phyzz Moment
Phyzz: Rex, you would figure this would be the last batter this Oriole pitcher is going to face.
Rex: Uh, yeah it would be…if they had someone warming up in the bullpen.
njhalofan - February 10, 2012
When did that happen? That line by Hud is awesome!
red floyd - February 10, 2012
It was a game in Baltimore maybe around 2008.
njhalofan - February 11, 2012
I hate the announcing style of Physioc
Completely generic. He’s just a hack for hire. I am so glad he is no longer associated with our organization.
I like Hud. I wish him well.
waters96 - February 10, 2012
Great for Hud, he should do well.
TheKingfish - February 10, 2012
Dammit. I wanted Hud at the Big A.
angelslogic - February 10, 2012
Yo i was just joking about Phys following Hud
http://www.halosheaven.com/2012/2/3/2769072/hudler-could-join-royals-tv-team#90713235
KB_24 - February 10, 2012
Was this part of the Callaspo deal?
Fred Fredrix - February 10, 2012
Here's the straight scoop:
angelslogic - February 10, 2012
Can they take Jose Mota too?
aybars chew - February 10, 2012 via mobile
LOL
KB_24 - February 10, 2012
Let's trade Jose for Hud.
red floyd - February 10, 2012
brilliant!
ladybug - February 10, 2012
I second that suggestion
angelsfan7 - February 11, 2012
How bad were their prior guys ...
that they felt they had to get two Angels’ rejects?
Seriously, the endless recycling of talent in baseball is good for the environment and all, but some shit needs to stay buried.
And please, Gubi and Mota, join them soon. We need to get Torre back in the booth with Rojas.
LazorkoRules - February 10, 2012
omg
please
Funke5ive - February 10, 2012
Rex did some great work in our community.
Congrats KC…hopefully THIS helps
autry's cowboys - February 10, 2012
I once turned on the radio to the Physioc radio broadcast on my way home from work.
In the roughly 30 minutes of my drive home, I am pretty sure that there were at least 3-4 inning breaks. When I got home, I still did not know the score of the game.
WhatShouldIThrowToday? - February 10, 2012
I'm sure you learned a bunch of Yankees fun facts though!
No matter who the Angels were actually playing.
~MMP~ - February 10, 2012
too true
eyespy - February 10, 2012
Royals take second-best as always
Gubi is a natural fit for boring baseball but let us have the Hudman back
highlandhalo - February 10, 2012
A good hire
They weren’t the best technical team, but they were entertaining. It’s good to have that type of banter during 0-0 games.
oasisman - February 10, 2012
Wait. Wasn't Hud busted for weed in KC?
Maybe he owes work service hours?
gitchogritchoffmypetis - February 10, 2012
THIS plus the baby-blue and the endless losing...
Put the city of KC on suicide watch.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - February 10, 2012
Link posted because I don't want Rev to get DMCA'ed
An even worse doom for KC
red floyd - February 10, 2012
Our Loss........
I like Victor, and he does a fine job, but Gooberzaki has got to go! I can’t take this moron for another season. He should have been the one going to KC because that is all he likes to talk about. I’m thinking of buying the MLB.TV package and playing the games through my computer to the tv with the hopes of getting Terry Smith calling the game. Does anybody know if that will work? Goober makes me want to throw up…..H E L P ARTIE!!!!!!!!!!
justaguy92320 - February 10, 2012
Help, I need somebody,
~MMP~ - February 10, 2012
Help, not just anybody.
5thStarter - February 10, 2012
HHHEEELLLPPPPPPP
ladybug - February 10, 2012
Help, you know I need someone.
red floyd - February 10, 2012
Although it makes me laugh many times that people complain that he talks about KC so much in his broadcasts as it isn’t like most Ball players in the booths don’t refer back to previous teams they played for when talking about situations. Thing with gooby is that is one of the only teams he played for basically so he only has one team to refer back to since he didn’t play for the angels very long.
MoralesHomers - February 10, 2012
You might need
THIS
eyespy - February 10, 2012
Thanks, it's just what I need.
justaguy92320 - February 12, 2012
Is it someone to feed?
red floyd - February 12, 2012
Better check the deed.
snowhor - February 12, 2012
Or someone to bleed?
Halo Hurricane - February 13, 2012
Well you look so fancy
red floyd - February 13, 2012
Best of luck to Phyzz and Hud!
I miss those guys.
Downing Rules - February 10, 2012
Gonna miss Hud
Dono Romantico - February 10, 2012
Well at least our announcers have natural hairlines....sorry Terry. Go get em WonderDog!
bobbinhead25 - February 10, 2012
I'd rather have Hud and his Hair Club For Men than........
Goober had his booring commentary and stupid Dean Chance jokes!
justaguy92320 - February 12, 2012
Hudler may have been a clown
but he was our clown. And in between the redundant tips for the little leaguers, I thought he contributed some decent behind-the-scenes baseball knowledge. I also thought he had some clever one-liners and nicknames. I was sorry to see him go and I hope the people in KC appreciate his enthusiasm.
Physioc is a hack, though he seems like a good guy.
Gubicza isn’t even professional enough to be called a hack. Bland and repetitive. His rather timid commentary and delivery indicates that he knows he’s bland and repetitive. You can’t teach personality.
tolbs1010 - February 10, 2012
But Gubi stays within himself when he broadcasts, and he trusts his stuff!!!
red floyd - February 10, 2012
It's all about changing eye levels.
And DEAN CHANCE!
halofolife - February 10, 2012
Don't forget about having strong hands...
And being strong enough to fight it off for a hit….
Darth Duane - February 10, 2012
Wow.
BOTH of them? Didn’t see that coming!
LOL
It’ll be like a family reunion…that we can safely watch from afar.
Oxygen48 - February 11, 2012
I think Phyzz is from KC.
…or grew up there or something or other. I know he has some sort of connection to KC.
Phyzz didn’t bother me that much. Mostly because I’m subject to the abominable, abhorrent, god-awful, pompous ass Stinkee radio announcer John Sterling. The saying around here is that with every Stinkee game you get two games..the one that’s played on the field and the one that’s called by John Sterling. After listening to Sterling you’d be begging for Phyzz.
njhalofan - February 11, 2012
Does this mean,,,,
with the signing of Hud that the Royals have official gone to pot?
alcor805 - February 11, 2012
officially
alcor805 - February 11, 2012
I enjoyed both Rex and Physioc, wish the Angels had kept them
I live near Kansas City and occasionally watch Royals games. I will probably watch a few more with those two announcing. The Angels start the season at home against KC, it’s going to be odd listening to those two call the games from the Royals’ booth.
Shackleford - February 11, 2012
The Royals could be pretty good this year.
That would be the definition of “failing up”.
Stirrups - February 11, 2012
Damn! There goes any hopes for my Victor and Rex announce team.
Say what you will about Rex Hudler, He makes the games fun to listen to. Good luck in KC, Rex and Phys!
Angelsfan015 - February 11, 2012
Take what Rex says with a grain of salt
I state in the comments below that Rex is better in person than he is on the radio. I originally posted this on Halos Heaven two years ago.
(From Splinters, A Memoir by Rex Hudler, 2008, pp 58-61.)
Back With Buck
Next spring I went to camp with the Expos and I was back in Buck Rodgers’ office. "Kid, I just want to tell you that you’re my utility player this year. I brought Damaso Garcia into camp to platoon with Tom Foley at second base because I needed a Latin leader and I think he is going to help us."
"Hey, wait a minute! It was one year ago that we sat in here and you told me I couldn’t hit, I couldn’t catch, and all I could do was run and that I wasn’t good enough to be your utility player! I don’t want you to settle for some bootleg player."
So I made Buck eat his crow and tell me how good I was! "Kid, you showed me last year that you could play."
"I told you I needed two months to get into shape. And now I’ll tell you another thing. That Damaso Garcia is a dog. He’s going to quit. He won’t play hard for you. He’s very temperamental. You’ve got the wrong guy! I should have that platoon job." When I left his office, I thanked Buck because this was the first time in my career that I made a major-league team out of spring training. I was happy about that and let my manager know how I felt about it.
Jennifer and I went to Montreal to start out our married life together during the baseball season. The Expos had good players in 1989 and we battled the Mets for first place. The Mets were tough and they had good players too: Darryl Strawberry, Ho Jo (Howard Johnson), Sid Fernandez, Ron Darling and David Cone. I loved going to play the Mets in Shea Stadium because I could feel the heat. We’d go in there and we’d battle. It was awesome! I was in a pennant race in the NL West with New York right where I wanted to be!
I’ll never forget that I was at Shea the first time I’d ever experienced a kid cussing me out. This kid was saying words that a sailor wouldn’t say. And he was standing next to his mom and dad! The parents were cussing me. The kid was pointing at me and cussing me. I was trippin’, but I loved that negative stuff because it made me even tougher. I said to myself, "Wow, welcome to the world!"
It turned out I was right about Damaso Garcia. He quit after 200 at bats! He left the team and went home – and those were my 200 at bats he took with him! I didn’t say anything to Buck Rodgers, but I told him Garcia would quit on the team and that’s exactly what he did. I was not a poison slinger so I let the whole thing go. There were times when I really got frustrated! Even though we were struggling, I wasn’t getting a chance to play and I was a good player. Sometimes I would stand up in the clubhouse and yell, "Who doesn’t want to play today? If you don’t want to play why don’t you tell that man (Buck Rodgers) and I’ll play for you. I’m tired of sitting on the bench; this is getting frustrating. Let’s go!" They all knew I could play outfield and infield and so everyone was quiet. They were a little nervous about me and my intensity.
Those Expos teams had lots of good players: Tim Raines and Tim Wallach were the top position guys and we had a terrific pitching staff with starters Bryn Smith, Dennis Martinez, Pascal Perez, Kevin Gross, Mark Langston and Tim Burke was our closer. I had finally arrived and they knew I could play. I wasn’t afraid to be myself. I was stealing bases, and in one game I hit a big pinch hit home run off John Franco who was the Cincinnati Reds closer that year. I came up to bat with two runners on base and Buck said, "Kid – go get him!" Tim Wallach called me over to the dugout and he said that when Franco goes to his change-up, his glove gets big. "He’s a fanner, Hud." That’s a baseball term for opening up the glove when you’re going to throw the change-up.
I got in the on-deck circle, got loose, went to the batter’s box and saw the glove fan open. I took a change-up off the plate – ball one. I knew it was coming. They knew I was an aggressive hitter. I swung at a lot of pitches and they tried to get me to swing at balls out of the strike zone. Franco was very good at coaxing hitters to swing at that change-up in the dirt. The glove fanned open again and the pitch was a ball and it was now a 2-0 count. On the third pitch, Franco narrowed his grip so I knew a fastball was coming. I hit a three-run, pinch-hit dinger in a nationally televised game on CBS! Beautiful!
A big crowd in Montreal saw that blast – it must have been a giveaway day – ha ha! I circled the bases after the hit and we won the game. I was doing the post-game show on the field and the team was waiting for me when I got into the clubhouse. They were cheering for me! "Hud, way to go!" We had a three-game lead in the division and that win kept us tight in the race. We were right at the top of the standings and I wept with joy. Here I was, challenging guys in the clubhouse to enjoy playing the game or I’d take their spot and when I came through, they were genuinely happy for me. It made me feel good.
(From Splinters, A Memoir by Rex Hudler, 2008, pp 58-61.)
* * * * * * * *
My apologies for the long selection above. It starts at the beginning of that chapter because I did not want the statement regarding Damaso Garcia to be taken out of context.
In December 2009 I was shopping in the Tustin Market Place. I browsed through the book section in Costco and saw a sign stating Rex Hudler would be autographing his book "Splinters" at this store a couple days later. I did a quick calculation and concluded I would not be returning to Costco that soon. I picked up a copy of "Splinters" and purchased it then and there. A week later in the same Costco I came across a stack of "Splinters" that Rex Hudler had autographed. I did not need a second copy, so I did without the autograph.
The above selection rang a bell with me. I only went to four games at Stade Olympique in Montreal. Those were during a four game series versus Cincinnati July 20-23, 1989. The Expos swept the four game set and appeared to be serious contenders to win the NL East division. In the Saturday July 22 game the Reds led 5-1 entering the last of the ninth. Reds closer John Franco was in his third inning of work. Tim Wallach and Nelson Santovenia got things rolling with back-to-back singles. Rex Hudler then pinch-hit for Jeff Huson. Rex gives a fine detailed description of that at bat in "Splinters" which is quoted above.
For this Saturday game I had a field box seat down the right field line. In the eighth inning I moved behind the Expos dugout on the first base side. I was behind the home plate side of the dugout. After the Reds tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the ninth and were then retired I moved to the front row. For the four games in Montreal I had that seat for all of half an inning. John Franco was only able to retire one batter in the bottom of the ninth as the Expos rallied for five runs to win the game 6-5. When Hudler hit his three-run home run he hustled around the bases and ran straight towards me. Rex high-fived a half dozen teammates before disappearing into the dugout. Hud was pumped! The crowd was into it. The Reds still led 5-4 with nobody out.
Mike Fitzgerald then coaxed Franco for a walk. Otis Nixon proceeded to sacrifice Fitzgerald to second. Here is where "Splinters" gets strange. The page before Hudler hits this pinch-hit home run Rex states "Garcia would quit on the team and that’s exactly what he did." Not on July 22. None other than Damaso Garcia came to the plate in the bottom of the last down 5-4 with one out and the tying run on second base. Damaso proceeded to sock a sayonara walk-off home run. It was pandemonium in Montreal! There was joy in Mudville! John Franco was only able to retire one batter in the bottom of the ninth as the Expos rallied for five runs to win the game 6-5.
On September 9, 2002 I took my wife and two year old son to Tommy’s Sushi in Tustin. We sat in a booth and ordered sushi, soy beans, miso soup and sake. Roger noticed the man sitting in the booth across the aisle from us was wearing an Angels cap. I looked up from the menu and exclaimed "That’s the Wonder Dog!" Rex conversed with us during the rest of his meal. That was for at least twenty minutes. The Angels were hosting the Oakland Athletics in a four game series that was starting that night. I told Rex that I would be going to three of the A’s games. Rex enthusiastically said I should go to all four. I told Rex that I was at the July 1989 game when he hit the three-run pinch-hit home run off of John Franco. I told him I also saw him hit a home run against the Dodgers in May 1989. Hud immediately replied "That was off Ricky Horton. It was the only home run I ever hit at Dodger Stadium!" Rex was very gracious. He made a much better impression with me in person than he does while broadcasting.
We need a sports psychologist here to figure out why Hudler would slight Damaso Garcia and two paragraphs later NEGLECT to say that Garcia hit a walk-off home run. Pull up a shrink’s couch. What is the rest of the story there? Damaso’s last game with the Expos was on September 12, 1989. Garcia did not leave the team and go home until that date or later. Garcia’s walk-off home run off of John Franco was the second to last of his career. Garcia’s last major league home run came was on August 15, 1989 off of Giants pitcher Dave Dravecky. That was the last hit Dravecky ever allowed. Two batters later Dravecky broke his arm throwing a wild pitch and never pitched in the majors again. For the record Garcia had two major league walk-off home runs. Hudler never had one. In 1989 Hudler did lead Garcia in go ahead hits (all hits where the team went from tied or behind to ahead) 3-1. Garcia does not get that go ahead hit on July 22, 1989 if Hudler had not at least reached base in the same inning. Hudler wrote that negative stuff made him even tougher. Evidently negative stuff also made Damaso Garcia tougher.
Yetijuice - February 13, 2012
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