Len & Bob: The Dynamic Duo
When former Cubs broadcasters Steve Stone and Chip Caray left after the 2004 season, I was very unhappy. Stone was highly critical of Dusty Baker that year and supposedly Baker didn't like it one bit. Of course, Stone was always that way towards previous Cubs managers yet that didn't seem to matter to Dusty. Stone had enough and left WGN and Chip Caray followed suit after clashing with some Cubs players that year including an infamous incident on the team plane.
After the 2004 season WGN hired Bob Brenly and Len Kasper. Initially I was none too pleased with the hires. Not that I had anything personal against either man, but to me anyone would have been inferior to Stone and Caray especially the way they were treated by Cubs management. Be that as it may, over the last 5 seasons I've warmed up to Len and Bob and today I have to admit that I'm a huge fan of both. I think the two of them have gotten better and better with each year and Brenly's work especially in the NLDS on TBS has been superb. I've come to respect and admire Brenly so much this season that I don't want him to leave for a managerial job although I really think he'd fit in great with the Indians.
I don't know what plans the new owners have for the broadcasters, but I hope Mr. Ricketts keeps this guys together for a long time. However, I do think that Bob Brenly deserves a chance to manage again in the big leagues. This guy has a World Series ring and overall he did a great job in Arizona. Bob's from Ohio and not far from Cleveland and I think he'd fit in perfectly with the rebuilding Indians. If Brenly ever does leave, I'd like to see Rick Sutcliffe replace him in the booth. Sut is a very good broadcaster IMHO although I think he's a Cubs homer. Still, he calls a good game and I think he should leave the East Coast Bias Sports Network to return to the Cubs if that opportunity ever arises. He's never disrespected the Cubs unlike Mark Grace. Sut is a total pro, a cancer survivor, and if people knew the whole story about why he came back to Chicago after 1984, you'd appreciate this guy a whole lot more. He could have pitched for the Yankees and his hometown Royals for a whole lot more money than the Cubs offered, but loyalty and his love of Chicago brought him back here in 1985. That's the kind of person Rick Sutcliffe is. And if Brenly ever does leave, which in a way I hope doesn't happen, Sut would be the one I'd choose as his replacement.
After the 2004 season WGN hired Bob Brenly and Len Kasper. Initially I was none too pleased with the hires. Not that I had anything personal against either man, but to me anyone would have been inferior to Stone and Caray especially the way they were treated by Cubs management. Be that as it may, over the last 5 seasons I've warmed up to Len and Bob and today I have to admit that I'm a huge fan of both. I think the two of them have gotten better and better with each year and Brenly's work especially in the NLDS on TBS has been superb. I've come to respect and admire Brenly so much this season that I don't want him to leave for a managerial job although I really think he'd fit in great with the Indians.
I don't know what plans the new owners have for the broadcasters, but I hope Mr. Ricketts keeps this guys together for a long time. However, I do think that Bob Brenly deserves a chance to manage again in the big leagues. This guy has a World Series ring and overall he did a great job in Arizona. Bob's from Ohio and not far from Cleveland and I think he'd fit in perfectly with the rebuilding Indians. If Brenly ever does leave, I'd like to see Rick Sutcliffe replace him in the booth. Sut is a very good broadcaster IMHO although I think he's a Cubs homer. Still, he calls a good game and I think he should leave the East Coast Bias Sports Network to return to the Cubs if that opportunity ever arises. He's never disrespected the Cubs unlike Mark Grace. Sut is a total pro, a cancer survivor, and if people knew the whole story about why he came back to Chicago after 1984, you'd appreciate this guy a whole lot more. He could have pitched for the Yankees and his hometown Royals for a whole lot more money than the Cubs offered, but loyalty and his love of Chicago brought him back here in 1985. That's the kind of person Rick Sutcliffe is. And if Brenly ever does leave, which in a way I hope doesn't happen, Sut would be the one I'd choose as his replacement.
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