It appears that ROOT has dismissed Tom Helmer according to Helmer’s tweets. That was after Alanna Rizzo won herself a promotion to MLB Network’s staff. I will miss his post game antics as I participated in the post game celebrations a couple of times myself.
This was Tom’s post on Facebook about the situation:
Root Sports informed me today that they want to go in a “different direction” with the pre and post game show. That direction does no include me. I will miss each and every one of you. You made this job the best one in television.
If EVER i’ve wanted to start a petition this would be that time (i know, many things going on in the world more important than sports that should have a petition…) Losing Tom and Alanna? Man, I loved how much Helmer brought to the team. His personality was extremely infectious…each member of the Root Sports staff brought something to the table and Tom was like the comic relief (which we needed a lot of at the end of last season)…
I’m heading over to “complain” on the Root FB page…who’s with me???
Me.Or at least I’ll try.I’m having a very bad techno week.Anyway,although some posters at IRT were not Helmer fans,I loved him.I thought the over the top fan gatherings after wins were the fun in a lousy season.I really thought he and the Cowboy had great chemistry and were a great ying/yang combo on the field before and after away games.Thought he brought out a little “mischief” in the cowboy and loosened him up alittle.I will really miss him and wish him the best.
I complained last night. I grew to appreciate Tom and will miss him. What are we going to chant at the post-game show if we can’t yell “on the wall”?
I wrote on both Helmer’s and Root’s FB pages and sent an email to Root.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Helmer/199635556732407
http://www.facebook.com/ROOTSPORTSRM
http://rockymountain.rootsports.com/CreateTicket.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=25930
Baseball broadcast producers suffer from the notion that telecasts must be pitched toward a core audience consisting of 12 year old boys. For all his accolades, Drew Goodman’s work suffers greatly from this syndrome; unchecked dull apologetic wholesomeness results. The type of clever, edgy, and incisive commentary that would be preferred by adults (and serious fans) is precluded, especially when you pair the play-by-play guy with a color-commentator who’s tasked with portraying himself as a goof. The late Skip Caray was masterful at edgy-clever-incisive. Atlanta broadcasts featuring Skip and Joe Simpson set the standard (a high bar). I am forever dismayed to hear fans pan the TBS broadcasts in the playoffs: they in-fact do a superb job.
Young guys like Tom Hellmer get stuck with having to play the “court jester” role on broadcast crews, and Tom did it well. As Gary notes above, he was key in humanizing a “print” (not to mention “Wyoming”) guy like Tracy. It will be interesting to see what “new direction” Root has in-mind. May be less of a “carnival” will be a relief.
Yet when Tom stepped in the booth, he did an excellent job, and improved the Rockies’ broadcasts considerably. Some of you will recall me advocating a booth of Tom + Alana back on the ITR. Would have been notable.
Well, all-in-all I hope Root knows what it’s doing (which history leads me to doubt), because they’re casting aside an excellent broadcaster. Good luck to you Tom, although you won’t need it. You have a big future in front of you.
Well said. Drew wore out his welcome years ago. He needs to learn what he says in the game is not about him, but the fans. I could care less how his kids are doing. tell me how Todd’s kids are doing. Tom has a bright future as a play-by-play man. I think whoever the executive producer is on these broadcasts needs to find a way to critique Drew. It is a shame Drew has been handed this awesome responsibility to viewers of Rockies games and he obviously takes it so lightly by not preparing for the broadcasts.
As someone who lived in Denver for many years, including all the Rockies’ formative years (through 2001), there were only a few people in the booth who truly did an outstanding job. The one who comes to mind immediately was Dave Campbell, who for my money appealed to who Jeem and others refer to as the ‘adult fans.’ In reality, those adults are the same people who contribute here on RWO and before on ITR. Now that I live in Florida and only get to Denver occasionally, I rarely have/had the opportunity to hear Hellmer, but what I saw I didn’t like. He and other stunt men like him are best left to the little league set who tunes in on occasion. Am I being too serious? Maybe. Am I being an old school baseball elitist? Probably. I just don’t think the game needs to be jazzed up with silly stuff. The adage that ‘baseball is boring to boring people’ really holds true.
Now what did happen to Campbell anyway?
last I heard he was calling games for ESPN radio
Yes, Campbell was quite good, but as I recall he was paired w/ that Dave Armstrong who was the all time champion worst pbp guy in history. Same little boy pitch but at an enormously higher level of annoying. Ok not all time worst, that title belongs to John Sterling, now, to my outright bewilderment, in his something-like 26th year w/ the Yankees. We ran that guy out of Georgia after about 3 yrs. I recently heard him refered to as “revered” Yankees broadcaster. Whew!
I don’t mean to be too hard on Drew. He does a commendable job, certainly lightyears ahead of that feeb Armstrong. I’d just like to see the broadcasts have more of an edge. And I don’ think Drew himself would dispute that he works at smoothing out the edges on the Rockies’ broadcasts. In fact, it’s part of his role. I actually enjoy him on the radio show w/ Hastings (hey how about Scott on the Rockies?). He’s quite a bit edgier there (different audience).
But yeah. Campbell is good. Bring him back.
Soup left as the Rocks color man due to a conflict. He had a job doing some national games with ESPN. Which in the end did not set well with the Fox Sports Net local affliate, Rocky Moutain Sports Net. RMSN wanted him to be dedicated to only them, but he decided to go with ESPN. As I recall.
Here’s a wikipedia link to Soup’s career.
http://tinyurl.com/78r2db8
IMHO, Soup was the best commentator the Rocks have ever had.
And is there a groundswell to ‘draft’ Ameila Earhart to replace Alana? Just wondering….
Sorry Trip, i didn’t see this comment needed approval until now (i’m not used to looking for post approval)…i’ve changed the policy so you guys should be able to put in a couple of links without approval – now that i have the “spam filter” on here i’m not as worried…
I want to complain. How do I do so? I went to the root page and “contact us” section but the only things you can contact them about are techno support problems. Is there a separate section that I am not finding to voice an opinion or a complaint?
I posted the links above but they are awaiting moderator approval to show up here. And yeah I think the only way to contact Root on their website is through that support section, I just used the “broadcast support option”
If folks are on Facebook and want to leave comments there, search “Tom Helmer” and “Root Sports”.
Thanks rox4brains
What is going on with Root? Alanna gone. George Frazier possibly gone. Now Tom Helmer?
Yep Helmer could be clown or “jester” but he also did a fine job when in the both calling games. I actually thought he was pretty good. I will miss his antic’s. He certainly brought some levity when nothing much else woas going good.
Does anyone know what this may or may not mean for Tracy Ringolsby? Jeff Huson? He Marc Stout … what about you? Will you become a Root employee?
Tom was refreshing sometimes, and a good booth sub. (George possibly gone?? YAHOOOO. Take the hick act and the mangled English and get on outta here.) Could not disagree more with the Goodman critics. To me he is knowledgeable and informative, articulate and even funny sometimes, with an easy relaxed conversational style. I love listening to Drew and hope is our forever guy like other teams have had.
Helmer was fine in his role, and I agree with Gary that Helmer had a way of bringing out a different side of the Cowboy. I disagree with those who thought he did a good job when subbing for Drew. Those games made me realize that we really are fortunate to have a fine play-by-play guy. So I certainly hope Drew is coming back. Frazier? Well …
Now they just need to get rid of Goodman and I’ll be happy. I’d rather watch the game on silent than listen to Goodman call play-by-play. All he does is bring up the same point or stat over and over and over again and makes excuses for every Rockies player. We need a guy like Hastings in the booth who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. I’m sure Helmer was a nice guy but I couldn’t stand the post game show when he would get up on that desk and hoot and holler and make himself look like an idiot. Sad to see Alanna leave but I’d rather work for the MLB Network too.
Goodman is so “vanilla” that I know pretty much what he is going to say next before he even says it. That’s alright and still somewhat annoying, but I really want something more objective while calling the game the way it is actually happening. If J Tracy makes a bonehead move (just about every game) it is “really” is ok to point out why that move just might backfire.
For me anyway baseball is a thinking man’s game, and Drew doesn’t go to deep into the thinking aspect of baseball!
Get Dante Bichette or Larry Walker in there!! Those guys both would be great commentators!! I watch on MLB Extra Innings and I have to admit I would actually listen to the Diamondback announcers because they actually get into the game and make it exciting! The Rockies need a commentator that cares about the Colorado Rockies not someone why only cares about his own voice.
For what it’s worth, I really liked Tom Helmer. I enjoyed the way he played off Mr. Ringlososbee. The post game will never be the same.
I guess there’s a fan farewell gathering taking place this Sunday at 2:00 at Blake Street Tavern for Helmer. The man is supposed to show up. He even mentioned it during his interview with Dave Krieger on KOA yesterday. (The segment is available to listen to on KOA’s website, btw)
Well, nobody ragging on Huson,amazing.However,I like him so I will not start that thread.I guess u’all like him because not a mention,pro or con.I think he is much more insightful and critical of the play[or lack thereof]than anyone else on ROOT.I am surprised at all the venom about Frazier now that he only does about half the games.
I agree. Huson is pretty good. Talks a bit much, but it seems they encourage that at Root.
Noticed Dusty Saunders in Post this am. Doesn’t sound like Root really has a plan. Scandal?
Don’t know about scandal,but sounded like Helmer was truly blindsided.As far as Huey talking too much,I’m afraid that’s true of all commentators in all sports.It’s like a second of “dead air”and the sponsors will all bolt.They all seem to forget:”its the game,stupid.”
Sorry to hear Helmer gone… he and Cowboy made for a fun (if not a bit goofy) post-game show. He’ll be all right, he’s actually better than most of our local sports anchors.
I’ve been resisting posting this so as not to be mean, but what the heck.
Drew is a great sports announcer, apparently a great guy, I enjoy him with Scott on the Fan, but once it gets past mid-May, I can’t stand him anymore on Rockies telecasts. I agree with many of the comments above… I don’t think he’s a purist on the game as much as a broadcast professional doing his best performance on a gig. Hey, we can’t all be Vin Scully and Jack Buck. However, the best PBP guys are the guys you don’t want to tune out before the all star break. Heck, I used to tune in the Cubs every chance I got just to laugh at/with Harry, and every time I am in Wisconsin, I tune in to Bob Uecker. Would probably listen every day if I lived there.
It often seems to me like Drew is trying to change baseball terminology and create his own. Every bunt to Drew is a drag bunt (it isn’t). How many times a game does the ball come off the bat, Drew calls it a popup and the OF catches it 10 feet in front of the warning track? I always thought the proper way to refer to more than 9 batters in an inning is called “batting around”, not “hitting around”. Every strikeout to him is a punchout, it gets old. There are others, but it’s been 4 months since I last watched a Rox broadcast, so my mind was able to be cleansed! lol I’ll remember all of them about the 5th inning of Opening Day. I feel bad for nit-picking, because the guy has done more in his field than I could have ever done, and I admire most of his other work. I believe the old expression is “a little of him (at least on Rockies telecasts) goes a long way”.
Of course, I like George Frazier, so you can consider the source! lol
Just hope the Cowboy isn’t going anywhere!
I agree with you except I can’t find any positive qualities for Drew as a broadcaster. I think Drew tries to cover up his lack of preparation with an insincere hominess in his style. Why does every hit need to be a “knock?” Why is every game called an “affair?” Why did he try to singlehandedly call Carlos Gonzalez “Little Pony” when the nickname obviously didn’t fit. LIsteners spent the summer of 2010 listening to Drew try to give Cargo a lame nickname. Goodman is so old school and cliche driven it is very hard to listen to him announce, if at all.
A professional play-by-play man brings out the best of his fellow broadcasters. Drew treats his like verbal punching bags. He even gets a kick out of demanding his producer to look up stats and other trivia while on the air live. You have a laptop in front of you Drew. Use it. Quit asking questions live on the air when a pro would know the answer and then present it on the air for the enjoyment of the audience.
Drew needs to learn that he is in the booth for his knkowledge of the Rockies. The audience is not watching the Rockies to listen to the Drew Goodman show.
If the batter barely makes contact they call it a “swinging bunt.”
Iggy,great to see someone else who loved Harry despite his well innumerated flaws.When we got cable up here in the great white north[Longmont],Harry,Steve Stone,and WGN brought me back to the game I had so loved as a kid.No matter the score,or the standings,Harry was always the fan-the every man so to speak.Stone was the perfect foil and also very knowledgeable.In the decade before the ROX,Harry took me thru the playoffs and horrible collapse of ’84,last place w/MVP Andre Dawson,Harry’s own collapse and stroke,and another pennant at the end of the decade.I assume Uecker is as fun to listen to do a game as was Harry.I agree with you that Drew is almost too professional and cliche[pardon my french] and it wears thin when the team is going bad.Half of Frazier is more tolerable and I like Huey.I second the hope that the Cowboy will be back w/ROOT.
Wow Gary…I just relived my youth reading your post about the Cubs/Harry/Stone/Dawson. Shaped my love for baseball that exists to this day.
For what its worth, I like Frazier a lot, like Drew, LOVE Rigolsby, liked Alanna, didn’t mind Helmer.
Glad a senior citizen could be helpful.I was home “Mr.Moming” my kids in ’84,’85 and saw some part of every Cubs game in that era[w/help of VCR].
Well, well, well
Here’s where ITR went. Have been outta touch but am glad to get back, what with first workouts next Mon.
I’d love to have Dave Campbell back in the booth and was wondering if he’s had a chance to re-evalutate his relationship with ESPN since he left our broadcasts?
I’d like to see how Marc Stout would do as a play-by-play guy. We’ve had him as a guest host for our SABR meetings and is a lot sharper than Drew. No insult intended.
Frazier’s a yawner and wouldn’t be missed in my house. Mayo on a hot dog?????
I haven’t seen it mentioned here but all the Rockies broadcasters are on the Rox payroll. Does everyone realize this. Root and KOA “hire” them upon approval of the team. I, somehow, think the Helmer dismissal had something to do with the team. What? I don’t know? Just a hunch.
Hey Sabrchip, good to see you – glad you found us!
I had no idea the broadcasters were Rox employees…that does change things a bit – maybe people should be complaining to the front office as opposed to Root…i just feel bad for Tom cause it did seem to come out of nowhere (going into a meeting thinking they were going to talk extension and then walking out unemployed)…
I think Marc and Jeff would make a great team in the booth – I’d love to hear that matchup, but really will miss Tom’s wit.
Just read that the Padres are about to come to a 20 year tv deal that will net about $50 million a year in revenues.
I know that the Rockies current deal will not run out until 2020, but I have no idea how much it is worth. Does anyone know the cash value?
Gut feeling is that its probably 1/4 to 1/2 of that deal at the most because it was locked in at a time before some of these really enormous deals occurred.
This will make competing in this division even tougher.
I tried contacting Root Sports to get them to comment on the situation with Tom, to tell their side of the story. I sent a request to several addresses that I found online and just today, FINALLY, I received this amazing response from them (sarcasm heavily implied):
“Hi Jared, thank you for your message. We decided to go in a different direction with our pre- and post-game show and we are excited for the 2012 Rockies season. We wish Tom all the best in his future endeavors. Thanks for watching ROOT SPORTS!”
Boy, I sure do love giant media machines…they put out such insightful and fulfilling statements (again, sarcasm thick in case it wasn’t obvious)…
Joel Klatt and Jenny Cavner are the replacements for Tom Helmer and Alanna Rizzo.
http://blogs.denverpost.com/rockies/
Oops just copied and pasted and did not realize that Saunders had misspelled Jenny’s last name. It is Cavnar.
Both people grew up in Colorado. I think Jenny Cavnar is a good replacement as she comes over from the San Diego broadcast team and will be coming home. Klatt has experience in baseball so that should be a positive.