Paul Sullivan: Cubs' intrasquad telecast on Marquee Sports Network put me to sleep — and I can't thank them enough
CHICAGO — I informed Len Kasper on Wednesday that I fell asleep the night before while watching the Chicago Cubs intrasquad game on Marquee Sports Network.
It was the highest compliment I could pay to Kasper and Jim Deshaies, the veteran Cubs broadcast team who were working their first “game” at Wrigley Field for the new team-owned network.
Former Cubs and White Sox pitcher Jeff Samardzija used to say the same about watching Ken “Hawk” Harrelson and Tom Paciorek on Sox telecasts when he was growing up in northwest Indiana.
There’s nothing quite as comforting as taking a nap during a baseball game in the middle of the summer, then waking up knowing your trusted announcers will fill you in on anything you missed.
Unless it’s the postseason or a no-hitter is happening, baseball is a game that doesn’t require your undivided attention. That’s why we love it. Just having baseball back on TV, or in this case on my laptop, was as welcome a summer treat as the humming of the cicadas at sunset.
I suggested to the Cubs last week they needed to start showing practice games on their network to satiate viewers thirsting for some baseball. And for once in my long Tribune career, someone from the Cubs actually took my advice. (Well, twice if you count firing general manager Ed Lynch. But that took a year to happen instead of a few days.)
Even though it was just a meaningless intrasquad game, Kasper said it “felt pretty normal” for him and Deshaies.
“Cubs vs. Cubs, it was hard for me to wrap my head around,” he said. “I even said at one point, ‘Kris Bryant is playing third, but there’s another third baseman on the Cubs in this game.’ We had fun with that. I think the crowd noise over the p.a. is going to be the biggest thing.”
Yes, that fake crowd noise. You may have noticed it if you have Marquee Sports Network on your cable or streaming service, which apparently most of you do not.
According to The Athletic, MLB is providing pre-recorded crowd noise to teams, which would make it rather generic at all ballparks.
“It’s going to take a really impressive feel by whoever’s doing it,” an anonymous executive told reporter Eno Sarris. “If done well, it’s going to be awesome. If done poorly, it’s going to be awful.”
I found it awful in the press box at Wrigley. But watching the game on my laptop, the fake noise seemed much less intrusive, or at least low-key enough to put me to sleep in my comfy chair.
“From my perspective of doing games, it felt like riding a horse,” Kasper said. “I think it will be an adjustment for everybody, but the good thing about our sport is that it’s everyday, and once you get into a routine you can quickly adjust.”
At least the organ music sounded normal from new Cubs organist Josh Langhoff, who said he was working his first game Wednesday at Wrigley. But I could’ve done without the “Whoomp There It Is” drop-in after Josh Phegley’s home run off Alec Mills, who is likely to be in the rotation and didn’t deserve to be “whoomped” at home.
Oddly, there were no sound effects after home runs off of Tyler Chatwood by Ian Happ and Willson Contreras. Whoomp, there is isn’t.
Kasper and Deshaies will be broadcasting all their games from Wrigley, even the ones on the road since broadcast crews are not allowed to travel in 2020.
One of the things I admire about Kasper and Deshaies is they’re not afraid to go a few seconds without saying something just to say something. I wondered whether they’ll have to talk more to make up for the lack of crowd noise.
“I think the natural thing to do is just do it how we always do it,” Deshaies said. “And then kind of go from there.”
One thing missing will be the ubiquitous crowd shots that late WGN-Ch. 9 director Arne Harris turned into an art form with his patented “hat shots” and “rooftop shots.” Former directors Pete Toma and Marc Brady continued that tradition on Cubs broadcasts.
Marquee Sports Network will have to be creative and find something else to show besides the players and empty seats. Deshaies facetiously suggested showing the writers working in the press box, which would certainly lead to sagging ratings.
For now, interest in watching baseball is extremely high. Fortunately for Marquee, the Cubs haven’t had any players opt out. But as the season goes on, there’s always a chance some players will decide it’s not worth the risk.
“I think some more players will opt out,” Anthony Rizzo said. “Listen, we are in a pandemic. We’re all at risk. We all want to play baseball because that’s what we love to do, and we have an opportunity to bring joy to a lot of people that are home at home … But we’re all human. If guys start testing positive left and right and this gets out of control, I’m sure you’ll see some guys opt out.”
Of course, one of the biggest keys to keeping Cubs fans’ interest is getting Comcast to pick up Marquee so the majority can actually watch the games.
If they don’t get a deal done by opening day — denying Cubs fans their joy — it will go down as the biggest mistake the organization has made since the Milton Bradley signing.
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