WLBZ-TV was solid on Ox game

For purposes of this review, file WLBZ-TV’s Monday night broadcast of the Bangor Blue Ox game against Albany under “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”

There were lots of things to like, some things that caused double-takes, and a few regrettable moments. But after the last out was in the scorebook, Channel 2’s overall broadcast rated a solid B-plus.

Unlike last week, there were no transmitter troubles to take the station off the air. There were also no sound problems and great graphics, making the game near-perfect technically.

Broadcasters Bill Green (play-by-play) and Matthew Fine (analysis) also did a fine job, despite running the spectrum from `homerism’ to complete objectivity.

Green wasn’t afraid to criticize shoddy play by either team. He chided Gerald Davis’ one-handed grab of a flare to right field as a bit too nonchalant for his taste. During the postgame wrapup, Green assessed the game this way: “Some things you can point to: poor team defense!.. But they were also outhit.”

Fine openly wondered early on why no coaches visited Bangor starter Jamie Davis on the mound after he gave up a three-run homer in the third for a 7-0 deficit.

But Fine also referred to Bangor as “we” a few times and Green called Albany the “bad guys” late in the game.

Both had a few minor mixups involving players’ names or statistics, but quickly corrected them each time.

Green was masterful working baseball trivia into various points during the game, once remarking that a current theory holds that players should roll their pant legs up to make it harder for umpires to judge low strikes around the players’ knees.

After Lonnie Goldberg struck out looking, Green remarked, “He should roll his pants up Matt.”

WLBZ isn’t having much luck getting good games to broadcast. Both of their broadcasts have been nine-run losses by Bangor – 10-1 last week and 14-5 Monday. Maybe the third time, Saturday at 7:30 p.m., will be the charm.

Other highs and lows:

And boy, are my arms tired: Both Fine and the graphics people referred to players as having “flew out” in previous at-bats. The problem? The baseball term is flied out, so as not to confuse it with the actual act of personal flight.

“Oops” award: To Fine for his call of Goldberg’s double in the bottom of the fourth. “There’s a shot to left field. Tolliver going back – and it’s gone! No, actually, no, it’s off the Pizza Dome sign. I’m sorry. I thought it bounced back.”

I’ll never forget old what’s-his-name: Green briefly mistook his broadcast partner for the man he replaced at Channel 2, Lee Goldberg when he said “It hits at the base of the dome. High bounce that you saw Lee… Matt, excuse me.”

Commendable criticism citation: Green wins this for his no-nonsense evaluation of a Bangor defensive play in the top of the fifth. “Goldberg sees him, sees he’s not going and decides to get the out [at first], but Parker’s not paying attention… Corey Parker not being very alert right there.”

Golden graphics award: To Jeff Solari and his fellow statisticians for going the extra mile, computing each player’s batting average during the game and constantly updating it on the graphics before almost each at-bat – quite possibly a first in the Bangor market.