Orioles broadcaster Buck Martinez will not return to the pressbox in Camden Yards next year. Martinez will be the in-house personality for the Toronto Blue Jays. Martinez was, of course, a former catcher and manager of the Jays so he will fit right in the Toronto booth.
Will I miss Martinez? Well, you bet..
Sorry, had to be done.
Honestly I never had a problem with Buck, he was a fine enough announcer. He wasn’t anything that was remarkably memorable in the history of Baltimore broadcasting, but he was solid enough. For some reason Orioles fans tend to be rather hard on the MASN team of broadcasters. Davis, Hunter and Dempsey are too “polly-anna”; Palmer is too full of himself; Thorne reacts too positively to other teams. I have heard it all. I guess until we ressurrect Chuck Thompson no one will be happy.
MASN has made no indication yet as to who will take Buck’s place in the booth – I think I know a young Baltimorean with a golden throat who would love to take a crack at it.
In other news, the Winter Meetings ended today without any further moves from Orioles brass. The Baltimore Sun reported today that the Orioles are contuining their search for a legit closer and Tiger Fernando Rodney was at the “top of their list”. Rodney is certainly a proven closer last year converting 37 of his 38 save attempts. This is the first I have seen Rodeny’s name linked to the Orioles and it will probably not mean much in the end.
The winter is far from over and the Birds are looking to fill holes at third base, first as well as the aforementined closer. Andy acted quickly in Indianapolis this year, something we are not really accustomed to here in Baltimore, and I think we can look forward to more moves as the year moves on.
