Back Where I Belong (Hopefully)

(Me in the booth at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard - Bridgeport, 2002)

I'm not a overly-confident guy. Those of you who know me pretty well understand that. Thus when I speak with any kind of confidence, it's almost worth alerting the press.

That being said, I think I'm a good broadcaster. I believe this because I'm surrounded by outstanding broadcasters, be it Tony Savino in the mornings on WGCH, or The Killer and Nick Angotto, John Spang (and others) helping me call games. I learn from each of them, and hopefully teach a few things as well.

It might not surprise you to know that I keep a database of broadcasts. For the most part, I know when I've been on the air. Most significantly, I can pretty much find any game that I've called, dating back to my first one on the radio (April 10, 1999 - Greenwich vs. Port Chester in baseball). Since then, I've called many other games in all of the "big" sports - football, basketball, hockey, even lacrosse and softball. Yet all along, despite being the "voice of the Cardinals" (and no, I don't believe that) and probably being most closely associated with Cardinal football, I still believe I'm a baseball guy first.

It's the sport I've given my heart to. It's been with me for as long as I can remember. And it's the sport that I haven't called in over four years. My last game was Greenwich and Danbury in the CIAC Class LL Semi-final on June 8, 2004 at Muzzy Field in Bristol.

That changes tomorrow.

For four year, I begged and pleaded. I tried to get back to doing Renegades games (I called some from 2001-2003) yet I never seemed to have the right contact. I offered to do things on the Internet, and often said I'd work gratis. THAT'S how much I wanted to do baseball.

Now I'm finally back with the Gades, and I get to head out to the park to broadcast their Saturday evening contest with the Staten Island Yankees. When I met with Gades' voice Sean Ford a few weeks ago, I talked about joining him at Dutchess Stadium for a few games. He was cool with it, but he had one provision: "You're going to have to call the middle three innings." I guess I can live with it.

I believe I'm a good baseball broadcaster. A very good one. But it's been four years and I'm hoping it's just like riding a bicycle. So yeah, color me nervous.

Oh, and not only do they stream, but the games are archived. How cool is that?

I'd be pleased if you tune in. You can also hear us on the AM radio dial at 1420 in Peekskill (WLNA), 1260 in Beacon (WBNR), and 920 in Kingston (WGHQ).