Felger and Mazz - Creating False Naratives one day at a time

[HomeBrew1901]

Mazz actually wants Ortiz on the bench. They shouldn't have to make room for Ortiz because Gonzalez is the most important bat. Just accept the rules as it is.

Hey Mazz, how about trying to be creative to get both bats in the lineup?

I actually don't have an issue with Mazz taking that stance, you may not like it but that's the beauty of it. It sounds like he would rather bench Ortiz than risk injury by having him or Gonzalez play a position that he isn't comfortable with.

It's not like he is beating the Teixeira horse anymore.

 

[smastroyin]

"you know who plays RF with aplomb? Mark Teixeira, that's who"

I have to admit, if I were Tony Mazz I would probably say that just to get people's mouths frothing.

(I realize that Teix hasn't played in the OF since he was 24)

 

[YouDownWithOBP?]

I was impressed with Felgers JD Drew discussion today: hit on his career OPS and SLG with the Sox, post season accomplishments, the market in which he signed ( though he couldnt name any of Lee, Soriano, Matthews, etc from that offseason). Basically making the case that Drew is not the bust that the average fan wants him to be. He even went on to agree with Theo regarding RBI's being an overrated stat.

Too bad all Mazz could do was cite his Runs and Rbis and yell out "wheres the production" with the statment that Runs are essentially OBP, and Rbis are essentially SLG. He also claimed it was a bad signing since Drew is just Trot Nixon at double the cost.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Wiggins is absolutely dreadful. He says "Francona can't handle the adversity and the pressure of managing in Boston. They are supposed to win and now you are starting to see the true colors of Francona."

I guess that whole winning 2 World Series and coming back from down 0-3 to the Yankees isn't enough. My head hurts from banging it on a wall.

 

[HomeBrew1901]

Oh right... Wiggy Wednesday... click.

I'll turn it back on at 4.

 

[Phenom]

Ughh...this is one of those days where Felger's "stir the pot at all costs" style makes for some maddening radio.

I understand he wants to have a "take," but this whole notion that Francona is showing his weaknesses as a manager is quite a friggin' stretch. Dear lord...and Mazz just follows along. I can't believe this man used to cover baseball on a daily basis.

 

[Sparky Lyle]

Oh right... Wiggy Wednesday... click.

I'll turn it back on at 4.

OMG, does he suck. Nice guy and all, but does he suck.

 

[Blacken]

Masserotti is fucking infuriating. The callers on his little show after Felger leaves are worse.

 

[Rocco Graziosa]

OMG, does he suck. Nice guy and all, but does he suck.

He seems like a WICKED nice guy. But he's just so fucking god damned stupid. I find myself "rooting" for him on the show but that has deteriorated now to the point where I simply hope he says nothing so he doesn't embarrass himself. And for the most part I just give up and change the channel.

Which makes one wonder, why the fuck was he hired in the first place? Say what you want about all the other talent on the station, but you can at least make a case as to why they were chosen. This guy? I can recall him a few times on SportsExtra, where he gushed about the Pats and Tom Brady, but other than that I got nothing. He must have some friends in VERY high places at that station because I'm having a hard time believing someone heard him speak and said "now THATS a guy we should put on our sports radio station".

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Rocco the reason why they hired Wiggens is two fold:

1. He won a Super Bowl with the Patriots
2. He is a local guy

I'm sure the producers looked at number one and said, "the guy knows football" and then looked at number two and said, "he grew up here, he can fake the rest."

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

3. He probably works pretty cheap.

 

[smastroyin]

Too bad Roosey Colvin isn't local.

 

[Curtis_Lesspanic]

Mike Flynn who is on the weekends is pretty entertaining. I wouldn't mind seeing him get a shot.

 

[Rocco Graziosa]

Rocco the reason why they hired Wiggens is two fold:

1. He won a Super Bowl with the Patriots
2. He is a local guy

I'm sure the producers looked at number one and said, "the guy knows football" and then looked at number two and said, "he grew up here, he can fake the rest."

Your probably right although you would think they would realize that in all probability #1 wears out after about a show, and #2 wears out in about a show and a half.

 

[Have A Gansett]

Masserotti is fucking infuriating. The callers on his little show after Felger leaves are worse.

He mentioned Teixiera at least 10 times last week. Talk about a one-trick pony.

 

[erb]

He mentioned Teixiera at least 10 times last week. Talk about a one-trick pony.

Yeah he does that just to make people get upset, if you hadn't noticed that already (looks like you haven't)
Also he knows The Nile is not in South America. Do you guys just listen to the show waiting for a reason to post about how much it sucks? Just change the damn channel =/

 

[Blacken]

"Hurrr, change the channel!" Yeah, well, see, that's the thing. They're the best thing there is. That would, one might say, be the problem.

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

Yeah he does that just to make people get upset

Sounds like great radio.

 

[BannedbyNYYFans.com]

Do you guys just listen to the show waiting for a reason to post about how much it sucks? Just change the damn channel =/

Really. How dare you guys post your opinions of the Felger and Mazz Show a message board thread titled "Felger and Mazz".

 

[Mo's OBP]

Felger was obnoxious today with anti-NBA rants, agreeing with callers who dislike the players, "attitudes". No awareness that, whatever the labor issues are, the NBA itself is more popular now since Jordan retired (2nd time).

 

[Sparky Lyle]

[quote name='Mo's OBP' timestamp='1309904084' post='3621281']
Felger was obnoxious today with anti-NBA rants, agreeing with callers who dislike the players, "attitudes". No awareness that, whatever the labor issues are, the NBA itself is more popular now since Jordan retired (2nd time).
[/quote]


I had shit to do today so I didn't listen. If I had, however, I would have loved his rants over NBA basketball. Basketball sucks. I hate it. (Sorry Rocco, duder.) Felger knows nothing about basketball and admits it. Just like me. I know nothing about the game because I hate it so much. As I've said on several occasions here, if you don't like him, if he pisses you off so much, why the fuck do you waste you fucking time listening to him. You don't see me bitching about the Big Show any more. Jesus Fucking Christ.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

If there's anyone who uses profanity better than Sparky, I've yet to meet them.

 

[doldmoose34]

If there's anyone who uses profanity better than Sparky, I've yet to meet them.

Shut the Fuck UP, I'll meet you Sat

 

[erb]

Really. How dare you guys post your opinions of the Felger and Mazz Show a message board thread titled "Felger and Mazz".

Oh sorry I guess if you don't like a radio program you should keep listening to it just to tell everyone why it sucks. Awesome plan.

 

[TFisNEXT]

Wiggins is absolutely dreadful. He says "Francona can't handle the adversity and the pressure of managing in Boston. They are supposed to win and now you are starting to see the true colors of Francona."

I guess that whole winning 2 World Series and coming back from down 0-3 to the Yankees isn't enough. My head hurts from banging it on a wall.

Yeah WTF was that all about? Francona wins two WS and his teams in the playoffs are 9-3 facing elimination. You mentioned 0-3 to the Yankees, but they were down 3-1 to the Indians in '07 too. They nearly got the Rays in '08 too from down 3-1. Last year's injury-decimated team fought their way to 89 wins and stayed on the fringe of the playoff hunt into September. If anything, Francona's teams have been proven to be very hard outs.

 

[Dalton Jones]

Oh sorry I guess if you don't like a radio program you should keep listening to it just to tell everyone why it sucks. Awesome plan.

Listen, we're all sports fans so we listen to sports radio. I, like most people I would imagine, switch from one show to the other. I find myself switching furiously more and more because both shows have reached a level of suckitude I didn't think possible when Felger debuted. If you're indifferent to the content of what is said on either show I suppose you can just say, "hey, it's radio and that's what these guys have to do to get ratings." That wouldn't be wrong. But if you actually listen to the content lately, especially to Felger's show, it's truly mind-boggling how stupid they've become.

To paraphrase a legendary Felger quote: is it possible for a show to be good, and then for it not to be good? It is getting worse. It will probably get better when football starts. But right now all Felger can do is talk about baseball and he knows NOTHING about baseball.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Yesterday (and I assume Tuesday too) Felger was on against Mike Adams.

Felger's show could be four consecutive hours of him simply breathing and it would be better and more informative than Mike Adams' show. I can't believe that you switch back and forth between TSH and EEI during this week, much less switch "furiously".

 

[TFP]

I like Felger and Mazz as a show, I recognize what they're trying to do, and generally take most of it in stride. It's definitely miles better than The Big Show right now, and most of the time I listen to it happily while laughing occasionally.

But I just cannot take it when they talk baseball for an extended length of time. It's likely a problem that is inherent to sports talk radio versus the nature of a long baseball season (needing "sports takes" and reactions based on tiny sample sizes), but most of their baseball talk makes me want to drive an ice pick through my skull. It's too bad too because it's such a contrast from their hockey talk, which I love despite disagreeing with 75% of Felger's opinions on hockey.

I see a lot of music listening in my future this summer.

 

[Soxbrained]

I used to listen to F&M. I haven't listened for more than 3 mins in a few month. I'd put it on, and I'm instantly reminded why I stopped listening. I can't stand the baiting, and I can't stand Tony Mazz's voice and style. "You're right Mike".
I only listen to T&R, sometimes DA in the evening, and my favorite spot is when McAdam sits in with Gresh and Zo for an hour or two.

 

[Dalton Jones]

Yesterday (and I assume Tuesday too) Felger was on against Mike Adams.

Felger's show could be four consecutive hours of him simply breathing and it would be better and more informative than Mike Adams' show. I can't believe that you switch back and forth between TSH and EEI during this week, much less switch "furiously".

I can't argue with you there. Adams blows.

 

[fairlee76]

I had shit to do today so I didn't listen. If I had, however, I would have loved his rants over NBA basketball. Basketball sucks. I hate it. (Sorry Rocco, duder.) Felger knows nothing about basketball and admits it. Just like me. I know nothing about the game because I hate it so much. As I've said on several occasions here, if you don't like him, if he pisses you off so much, why the fuck do you waste you fucking time listening to him. You don't see me bitching about the Big Show any more. Jesus Fucking Christ.

Full disclosure: I have not listened to their show regularly for a year or so. Will tune in on big sports days but that is about it.

My issue with Felger talking basketball is that he acknowledges hating it and not paying attention to it (except for when one of the "fake tough guys" on the Celtics does something to raise Felgie's hackles) yet still talks about it. Look, I get that it is a sportstalk station and that they need to cover the NBA. But maybe Felger and Mazz can just focus on what they know? Favre/Teixeira/KG rants and Mazz's sycophant act should take them far.

Wrong thread I know, but I love T+R's approach to talk radio. Humorous and sometimes ridiculous kicks the shit out of preachy and whiny.

 

[Ahriman]

Felger and Bertrand is a superior show to Felger and Mazz. Bertrand actually challenges Felger on some of the dumber things he says, especially when it comes to the Bruins.

 

[Phenom]

Felger and Bertrand is a superior show to Felger and Mazz. Bertrand actually challenges Felger on some of the dumber things he says, especially when it comes to the Bruins.

I've been saying that for a long time...Felger absolutely carries the show and that point is further proven whenever Mazz is out. The show doesn't suffer at all, and as you mentioned, improves in some cases. I think Felger works really well with a stable of "younger sidekicks" (it's the formula his ESPN show was based off of...with Haggerty, Russillo, and others often sitting in).

When Felger is out and it's just Mazz with somebody else, the show is absolutely brutal. I can't stand Massarotti's baseball show either. It's just Tony screaming into a microphone reiterating the same talking points he already hammered into the ground from 2-6.

I never advocate anybody losing their job, but I'm not really sure what Mazz brings to the table for them at the salary he probably commands. I understand that TSH execs probably thought they needed to bring in established names at their launch, but now that they're established, I think they could survive without Mazz and save some bucks too...(again, I don't mean for that to come off as me railing for somebody to lose their job, it's just that I don't think Mazz is a necessary component to the show. It's clearly Felger's gig).

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

I never advocate anybody losing their job, but I'm not really sure what Mazz brings to the table for them at the salary he probably commands. I understand that TSH execs probably thought they needed to bring in established names at their launch, but now that they're established, I think they could survive without Mazz and save some bucks too...(again, I don't mean for that to come off as me railing for somebody to lose their job, it's just that I don't think Mazz is a necessary component to the show. It's clearly Felger's gig).

Without Tony, who's going to do the funny voices mocking the Boston accent? That bit is indispensable, it hasn't gotten stale at all.




/sarcasm

 

[fairlee76]

Without Tony, who's going to do the funny voices mocking the Boston accent? That bit is indispensable, it hasn't gotten stale at all.




/sarcasm

I would love to see Mazz replaced by someone willing to challenge Felger. That is provided T+R can pay him a consultant's fee to do some Naughty Massarotti voice overs a few times per year.

 

[WenZink]

Felger and Bertrand is a superior show to Felger and Mazz....

Felger and Butch Stearns would be a superior show to Felger and Mazz.

Hell, Felger and Mustard and Johnson would be a superior...... sorry, a bridge too far.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Felger and Butch Stearns would be a superior show to Felger and Mazz.

Hell, Felger and Mustard and Johnson would be a superior...... sorry, a bridge too far.

Are you crazy about Butch Stearns? That would be an epic and total train wreck.

Personally, I think Massarotti has been a lot better than he was back at the beginning of the year. Granted, I don't listen to him four hours a day, every day, but the bits and pieces I've picked up have been improvements over the slop that we were subjected to in January. I think that the Teixeira stuff is him busting balls (I can almost guarantee that he reads this forum) and using Teixeira to tweak us. He was really into the Bruins run and had a more optimistic point of view to Felger's. I also think that we was genuinely excited about the games and it came through in his discussions.

Would Felger be better off with another partner? Probably. But the question is who? The list of people who don't have a job isn't very inspiring:

- Dale Arnold
- Larry Johnson
- Eddie Andelman
- Bob Neumier (spell? -- BTW, five years ago this would have been gold, but Neumy's fastball went the way of his afro)
- Butch Stearns
- Fred Smerlas
- Steve DeOssie
- Craig Mustard
- Gary Tanguay
- The dude who used to be Zolak's co-host (name is escaping me right now)

Ryan Rusillo would be good, but he has a job at ESPN. Bob Ryan would be pretty awesome, but he has too many things to do now. The CHB gets distracted after two days. Sean McDonough? Perhaps, but he's been out of the Boston sports loop for almost a decade.

 

[dcmissle]

Are you crazy about Butch Stearns? That would be an epic and total train wreck.

Personally, I think Massarotti has been a lot better than he was back at the beginning of the year. Granted, I don't listen to him four hours a day, every day, but the bits and pieces I've picked up have been improvements over the slop that we were subjected to in January. I think that the Teixeira stuff is him busting balls (I can almost guarantee that he reads this forum) and using Teixeira to tweak us. He was really into the Bruins run and had a more optimistic point of view to Felger's. I also think that we was genuinely excited about the games and it came through in his discussions.

Would Felger be better off with another partner? Probably. But the question is who? The list of people who don't have a job isn't very inspiring:

- Dale Arnold
- Larry Johnson
- Eddie Andelman
- Bob Neumier (spell? -- BTW, five years ago this would have been gold, but Neumy's fastball went the way of his afro)
- Butch Stearns
- Fred Smerlas
- Steve DeOssie
- Craig Mustard
- Gary Tanguay
- The dude who used to be Zolak's co-host (name is escaping me right now)

Ryan Rusillo would be good, but he has a job at ESPN. Bob Ryan would be pretty awesome, but he has too many things to do now. The CHB gets distracted after two days. Sean McDonough? Perhaps, but he's been out of the Boston sports loop for almost a decade.

Eddie Andelman has not yet joined Don Kent in the broadcast studio in the sky?

Are Smerlas and DeOssie out at 'EEI permanently?

 

[Soxbrained]

Would Felger be better off with another partner? Probably. But the question is who? The list of people who don't have a job isn't very inspiring:

- Dale Arnold
- Larry Johnson
- Eddie Andelman
- Bob Neumier (spell? -- BTW, five years ago this would have been gold, but Neumy's fastball went the way of his afro)
- Butch Stearns
- Fred Smerlas
- Steve DeOssie
- Craig Mustard
- Gary Tanguay
- The dude who used to be Zolak's co-host (name is escaping me right now)

Pete Sheppard. He doesn't have a job..

 

[WenZink]

Are you crazy about Butch Stearns? That would be an epic and total train wreck.

Personally, I think Massarotti has been a lot better than he was back at the beginning of the year. Granted, I don't listen to him four hours a day, every day, but the bits and pieces I've picked up have been improvements over the slop that we were subjected to in January. I think that the Teixeira stuff is him busting balls (I can almost guarantee that he reads this forum) and using Teixeira to tweak us. He was really into the Bruins run and had a more optimistic point of view to Felger's. I also think that we was genuinely excited about the games and it came through in his discussions.

Would Felger be better off with another partner? Probably. But the question is who? The list of people who don't have a job isn't very inspiring:

- Dale Arnold
- Larry Johnson
- Eddie Andelman
- Bob Neumier (spell? -- BTW, five years ago this would have been gold, but Neumy's fastball went the way of his afro)
- Butch Stearns
- Fred Smerlas
- Steve DeOssie
- Craig Mustard
- Gary Tanguay
- The dude who used to be Zolak's co-host (name is escaping me right now)

Ryan Rusillo would be good, but he has a job at ESPN. Bob Ryan would be pretty awesome, but he has too many things to do now. The CHB gets distracted after two days. Sean McDonough? Perhaps, but he's been out of the Boston sports loop for almost a decade.

So you inferred from my post that I'm "Crazy about Butch Stearns?"

I'm guessing that most readers would have gotten the intended implication that I think Tony Mazz is one of the biggest pieces of sh*t to hit the airwaves. Butch Stearns is just stupid. Tony Mazz is as lazy as Nick Cafardo and is as vile as Dan Shaughnessy -- but at least CHB can write. By his own admission, TM often doesn't bother to watch the games that he then, arrogantly, comments upon. And his sole purpose on the air is to elicit listener response with his dim-witted consipiracy theories about local franchises being cheap.

The last time I caught one of Tony's pearls of wisdom was on his baseball show back in May. He was offereing as evidence of the Red Sox' "cheapness" the fact that they didn't match Detroit's offer for Victor Martinez and were, instead, left with a black hole at catcher. And, as Tony, continued, they could have moved Victor to the DH role next year, or even not picked up Ortiz' option for this year and it would have cost them no more. (never mind the fact that they'd have 3 years remaining on VMart's deal, while Ortiz is year to year.) Butch Stearns could never have come up with anything that patently specious... okay, maybe because Butch has problems putting together 3 syllable words, but that's a good thing in his case.

Massarotti just sucks period. He offers nothing. He makes Felger and Mazz unlistenable, and I actually am a fan of Felger and watch his work on CSN. Of your list, everybody but Mustard and Johnson would be an improvement over Tony Massarotti. Hell, why not add Bob Gamere to the list, assuming they could make sure no one under the age of 16 came close to the 98.5 studios during the broadcast. In fact, I just thought of a decent role for Tony Mazz... make him the host for a revival of "Candlepins for Cash."

 

[WenZink]

Eddie Andelman has not yet joined Don Kent in the broadcast studio in the sky?
...

Don Kent is dead? Did they bury him on the sunny slope of Crotched Mountain?

 

[dcmissle]

Don Kent is dead? Did they bury him on the sunny slope of Crotched Mountain?

Yep, 3/2/10. Dunno.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

So you inferred from my post that I'm "Crazy about Butch Stearns?"

No. I didn't say that. I asked if you were crazy for thinking that Butch Stearns is better than Tony Mazz. He's not. And neither are:

- Eddie Andelman
- Bob Neumier (spell? -- BTW, five years ago this would have been gold, but Neumy's fastball went the way of his afro)
- Butch Stearns
- Fred Smerlas
- Steve DeOssie
- Gary Tanguay
- The dude who used to be Zolak's co-host (name is escaping me right now)

 

[WenZink]

No. I didn't say that. I asked if you were crazy for thinking that Butch Stearns is better than Tony Mazz. He's not. And neither are:

- Eddie Andelman
- Bob Neumier (spell? -- BTW, five years ago this would have been gold, but Neumy's fastball went the way of his afro)
- Butch Stearns
- Fred Smerlas
- Steve DeOssie
- Gary Tanguay
- The dude who used to be Zolak's co-host (name is escaping me right now)

At least none on that list would continually insist that the seminal turning point of the Red Sox fortunes over the next decace was when they let Teixeira go to the Yankees for "just a few million more."

btw, in light of your failure to comment on my suggestion, would I be correct to infer that you're on the fence about Bob Gamere?

 

[kb1171]

- Gary Tanguay
- The dude who used to be Zolak's co-host (name is escaping me right now)

Was this on purpose? Wasn't Tanguay Zolak's co-host? If it was by accident its even more awesome.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Was this on purpose? Wasn't Tanguay Zolak's co-host? If it was by accident its even more awesome.

Oh yeah, it was. Ha.

The guy I was thinking of just came to me, Gregg Dickerson. I always get those two empty suits confused.

Speaking of empty suits, Steve Burton should have been on my original list.

And the Great Gamere from beyond the grave would be great sports talk. "Felger, you should have seen it, last night Sinatra, Mantle and Joey Bishop ran a train on Marilyn Monroe. Boy, was Joe DiMaggio steamed!"

 

[Ahriman]

While we're at it, can we get Shank to replace Mazz on the Baseball Reporters? He's been great tonight.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

While we're at it, can we get Shank to replace Mazz on the Baseball Reporters? He's been great tonight.

I don't listen all the time, but every time I listen it is just Mazz doing a 1 hour recap of half the stuff they talked about on F&M. Do they ever have other reporters in anymore?

 

[Blacken]

Bertrand is so, so much better than Mazz. He actually argues with Felger and he's done a great job filling in for Mazz on his little baseball show.

I would shed no tears to see Bertrand replace Mazz. None.

 

[BannedbyNYYFans.com]

I'm guessing that most readers would have gotten the intended implication that I think Tony Mazz is one of the biggest pieces of sh*t to hit the airwaves. Butch Stearns is just stupid. Tony Mazz is as lazy as Nick Cafardo and is as vile as Dan Shaughnessy -- but at least CHB can write. By his own admission, TM often doesn't bother to watch the games that he then, arrogantly, comments upon. And his sole purpose on the air is to elicit listener response with his dim-witted consipiracy theories about local franchises being cheap.

The last time I caught one of Tony's pearls of wisdom was on his baseball show back in May. He was offereing as evidence of the Red Sox' "cheapness" the fact that they didn't match Detroit's offer for Victor Martinez and were, instead, left with a black hole at catcher. And, as Tony, continued, they could have moved Victor to the DH role next year, or even not picked up Ortiz' option for this year and it would have cost them no more. (never mind the fact that they'd have 3 years remaining on VMart's deal, while Ortiz is year to year.) Butch Stearns could never have come up with anything that patently specious... okay, maybe because Butch has problems putting together 3 syllable words, but that's a good thing in his case.

Massarotti just sucks period. He offers nothing. He makes Felger and Mazz unlistenable, and I actually am a fan of Felger and watch his work on CSN. Of your list, everybody but Mustard and Johnson would be an improvement over Tony Massarotti. Hell, why not add Bob Gamere to the list, assuming they could make sure no one under the age of 16 came close to the 98.5 studios during the broadcast. In fact, I just thought of a decent role for Tony Mazz... make him the host for a revival of "Candlepins for Cash."

Couldn't agree more. The show was really great during the hockey playoffs. Good guests, good back and forth with B's fans versus Felger (in regards to Chara and Claude for example). But as soon as they started discussing baseball I was done. Mazz literally is one of the worst sports talk show hosts I've ever heard. Same shit over and over and over. Felger is a real talent but it's unlistenable when Tony dominates the conversation. I'll check back come hockey season.