RIP Vin Scully

Mike Goliat had a hell of a day.

 

There's only audio available but Vin calling the last half-inning of a perfect game for Koufax is pure announcing gold. No one will ever do it better.

His gems:
"There are 29,000 people at the ballpark and a million butterflies."

And after a ball was called on a pitch Torborg tried to frame (which Scully noted and correctly said was a ball), "A lot of the people in the ball park are starting to see the pitches with their heart."

And, "I would think the mound at Dodger Stadium right now is the loneliest place in the world."

When he said, "Swung on and missed ... a perfect game!" he then did the best Vin Scully thing ever -- he shut up for 35 seconds and let the crowd do the talking.

 

I know he's so reclusive it probably won't happen but I'd sure love to hear Sandy Koufax weigh in on Vin today.

 

One thing I noticed this morning during Jeremy Schaap's obit on ESPN: Most of the people whose clips were used were dead (e.g. Lasorda). I'm sure this has been in the can for a long time.

 

The secret, which has escaped everyone since ESPN became the WWL, is to let the broadcast "breathe."

Shut up. Hold the shot instead of fan reactions to every pitch. The tension is already there. Let the audience experience it like they are there. It's not necessary to explain it all.

Fox and NBC are the worst offenders. Despite how much Jim Nantz makes me gag, the Masters coverage is so good because the people in the truck let the story tell itself.

Vin was even better on radio at letting the crowd mic tell the story. Listen to the Koufax broadcast, or even home run calls. He goes 30 seconds to a minute before interrupting. It's gorgeous use of sound.

 

My old friend Charles P. is incorrect. Koufax was a Brooklyn Dodger his first three seasons in the bigs, as a teenage bonus baby who saw spot duty.