We got sad but not unexpected news yesterday that Mike Krukow will retire from his longtime position as color commentator on the Giants TV broadcast, sadly for medical reasons which we have all known about for a long time. Most of that time he was partnered with his former Giants teammate Duane Kuiper in what has to be one of the most, if not THE most, broadcast partnerships in baseball broadcast history. I've always found it remarkable that these two guys started prepping for their broadcast careers by sitting together in the dugout as players and practicing calling the game their team was playing. That hard work paid off in a broadcast routine that never got old.
Over the years we were treated to a whole vocabulary of Krukisms: "Grab some pine, meat!", "that was a rough at bat!", "he rolls out of bed throwing hundos!", "that's a big league knock!" "he really got both cheeks into that one!" and many more. Nobody else has those.
While they had their funny side, the thing I liked about Kruk and Kuip is how they used their time in the broadcast booth to teach the game. Kruk didn't just offer opinions and analysis. He explained WHY he had those opinions. He explained the thinking of both the pitcher and batter, not just in key situations, on almost every pitch. Watching and listening to their broadcasts was like sitting in a classroom where a class in baseball theory was taught.
Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper both deserve to be in the Hall of Fame for their broadcasts and they should go in together. This post shows how impossible it is to talk about either of them without the other. Mike Krukow's retirement. We have truly reached the end of an era in the history of Giants baseball.
"Grab some pine, meat" and "...both cheeks..." are my favorites. As SF Giants fans, we have/have had the best these past years (Kurkow, Kuiper, Miller, Fleming).
ReplyDelete"...all he got was what the little birdy left on the rock..."
DeleteThe Kruk and Kuip On Baseball pregame segment will never be matched for humor, insight and ability to shed light on the life of a professional baseball player. Hopefully KNBR will have a Mike Krukow Show (and eventually a Kruk and Kuip Show) like they had with John Madden. The listening world is not ready to give a final Atta Babe to Mike Krukow yet!
ReplyDeleteKrukow has brightened my commute for years. I often would time my drive to hear his pearls of wisdom. I hope he enjoys himself as he has put in so many years making us fans happy. At a babe!
ReplyDeleteKruk & Kuip, Miller & Flemming have been have made the last few years bearable. Of all the things to not go right this year, loosing Kuip hits by far the hardest- like and ache in the chest. He will be sorely missed.
ReplyDeleteTo add to all that the doc pointed out, it's his cynicism- as well as Kruk and Miller, that always managed to stay somehow positive that I appreciated the most. You could tell they've seen ALL aspects of the game and business for a long time. They knew their very unique audience well, too. Tune in to other broadcasts from different areas and the difference is shocking to say the least.
Farewell our friend and voice. May your sunset burn bright!
Have to wonder if the Giants either have been looking at, or already have been setting up, Pence to fill that role?
Rob in Vancouver
Kuip isn't in such great health either...
ReplyDeleteKruk (and Kuip, sooner or later, hopefully) will be missed.
Neither has traveled with the team for a while.
Mike's retirement was not unexpected but it was the worst news in a season of bad news. Hopefully the Giants can still utilize him as an advisor and he can still do the morning segment on KNBR because he would not need to travel.
ReplyDeleteMy eyes were tearful when I found out the news yesterday. Kruk and Kuip are the voice of baseball on TV. I remember watching all the playoff series with the national broadcasters off, and tuning in on the radio to get the higher quality analysis from our guys. Getting older really hurts.
ReplyDelete- Fan
While I am at it. I want to call out how in tune Krukow is with the Bay Area and Northern California. A great example of happened earlier this year, with the Pride night celebration. Where it seemed like every single Giants official just kept putting their foot in their mouth. But Krukow when he went on KNBR, and spoke about it he clearly showed he understood the fanbase, who was hurt and upset. But he did it without being a scold. I rewatched the clip of that last night. It's really really rare to have someone who just "gets it".
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I appreciate how they've taught me about the integration of baseball fundamentals and game strategy. In particular, I haven't seen any other announcers so consistently incorporate in-game analysis of pitching tactics. Unlike what some so-called baseball experts on YouTube like to grouse about, I think Kruk & Kuip's success has a lot to do with recognizing true Giants fans are astute enough to be able to appreciate a deeper level of game analysis.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed watching Kruk as a player and appreciate his comments and analysis as a broadcaster; we are spoiled at the quality of the broadcasts and interviews he and Kuip have given over the years. Standing with thousands of SF Giant fans in 2012 and enjoying his proclamation that "We are World Champions" is a memory I will always cherish. Wish him well as he enjoys his "retirement" with his family in Reno and hope that he continues to provide his insights on the radio from time to time. He will be missed. APGiantsfan
ReplyDeleteI knew Kruk when he lived in San Luis Obispo. He coached his son’s winter ball team and they practiced at my kids school just down the street from where he lived. He’d show up in his golf cart full of baseball gear with one or more kids in tow and was always in a good mood and always friendly to “the rest of us”. A good player, good
ReplyDeleteCoach, a great teammate, great broadcaster and, based on my interactions, a great guy.
We have seen this coming for many years, but he will truly be missed in our lives. I hope by him stepping back it allows his life to continue on that much longer.
"Gamer Babe"
ReplyDeleteKruk was everything to our Giants games, hats off to Kruk, what a gamer.
Drop trow hog out! Right before the Eldridge walk off slam. Kruk did his homework and knew more about players on other teams than most announcers. He knew the other teams pitchers best but he had good intel every game. He even knew the umpires and their zones. The dude would read the MLB rulebook before every season! We have been incredibly lucky with almost all our announcers in Bay Area sports but Kruk and Kuip might be at the top of the list.
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