Results tagged ‘ Len Kasper ’
5/12 Live from the bleachers
Cubs television broadcasters Len Kasper and Bob Brenly will take their show on the road Sunday. Actually, they’ll be in the Wrigley Field bleachers to broadcast the Cubs’ game against the Pirates. The two will set up in left center next to the batter’s eye. It’s the first time the pair have broadcast a game from the bleachers since the expansion was done.
– Carrie Muskat
1/7/10 Len & Bob Bash
Tickets are still available for the Jan. 14 “Len & Bob Bash,” presented by Bud Light, at the House of Blues in Chicago. This year’s concert will feature performances by G. Love & Special Sauce and The Baseball Project. And Len Kasper and Bob Brenly, the Cubs’ television broadcasters, also will get on stage and perform.
G. Love & Special Sauce is known for a unique blues sound while mixing in classic R&B music. The Baseball Project is composed of avid baseball fans Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, Linda Pitmon and Steve Wynn. Each song is related to the sport, including “Jackie’s Lament” about Jackie Robinson and “Harvey Haddix,” which names 17 of the 18 pitchers in baseball history to throw a perfect game.
Tickets are on sale at the House of Blues and on-line at their website. Advanced tickets are $27.50; they’re $30 the day of the show. It’s a great cause and great fun.
Proceeds will benefit Cubs Charities. Since 2006, the Len & Bob Bash has raised more than $107,000 for Cubs Charities.
– Carrie Muskat
9/29 Sing along
Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins was scheduled to lead the crowd in the seventh inning stretch at Wrigley Field Tuesday night. Cubs TV broadcaster Len Kasper will sing for the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader, followed by Wayne Messmer in the night cap. Bob Brenly will do his best rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” on Thursday, followed by Ron Santo on Friday, Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg on Saturday, and the Wrigley groundscrew on Sunday.
– Carrie Muskat
8/19 Broadcast news
There’s a story Wednesday on MLB.com about players going from on the field to on camera and becoming broadcasters. Cubs television play by play man Len Kasper was asked who he thought could make a smooth transition to the booth.
“Ryan [Dempster] would be the obvious answer,” Kasper said. “I think he likes the camera, he likes the media. He’s very smart, very funny.
“The biggest thing for any player or recent former player is taking your player hat off and understanding you need to be a broadcaster,” he said. “I once heard the line from Mike Krukow, and I think it was Hank Greenwald who told him, ‘You have two choices — you’ll either be known as a former player or as a broadcaster.’ When you think about it, former players who become broadcasters, when it’s all said and done, most people remember them for their broadcasting careers as much as their playing careers. That’s a key distinction. When you do this job, you’re a broadcaster first, ex-player second, and I think my partner [Bob Brenly] embodies that. I think Ryan would jump right in.
“I think Carlos Marmol would be great,” Kasper said. “He has a great personality and loves the game. Every time I talk to him we have an interesting conversation on some nuance of the game. He asks me questions about what we have going on. Knowing him, he might be able to do it in English at some point. He’s gotten much better at his English.
“Jake Fox would be excellent,” Kasper said. “He’s really smart. The big thing for Jake is to slow down. He talks real fast. I think he’d be a natural.”
– Carrie Muskat
Cubby blue
Three members of the Blue Man Group were on the field during the Cubs’ early batting practice session, talking to Ryan Theriot, Micah Hoffpauir and some of the other players. They posed for photos. If you haven’t seen the show, the men are bald, they wear black jackets and pants, and their faces and hands are all bright blue. It was a weird sight.
* The West Side Social Club is hosting an evening with Lou Piniella and Ernie Banks on July 8 at Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse in Chicago to benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Tickets are $50 and limited. Visit westsiderooters.com for info.
* The lineup for seventh inning stretch singers at Wrigley Field for the homestand include:
Thursday: Bill Kurtis, broadcaster
Friday, Bob Uecker, Brewers Broadcaster
Saturday: Len Kasper, Cubs TV Broadcaster
Sunday: Greg Olsen, Chicago Bears Tight End
Monday: Erik Estrada, actor. It’s ’70s night
July 7: Tom Dreesen, comedian
July 8: TBD
July 10: Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks captain
July 11: Brad Miller, Chicago Bulls center
July 12: Kurt Busch, NASCAR driver, for the day game, and Ron Santo for the night game.
– Carrie Muskat
BB's bum knee
The Cubs have been relatively healthy this spring, but do have one “player” on crutches. Bob Brenly, the Cubs’ TV analyst, was hobbling Monday after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Brenly says he had the procedure done in preparation for possible knee replacement surgery after the season. He’s used to this — he’s had seven surgeries on his knees. That’s what happens to catchers. Monday was his first Cactus League game. Brenly and teammate Len Kasper will have their first broadcast Wednesday from Las Vegas.
“I could play,” Brenly said. “I’m day to day.”
– Carrie Muskat
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