Rex Hudler stood out among Angels voicesCourtesy
Los Angeles Times
(November 27, 2009) Certainly Rex Hudler was not appreciated by every Angels listener. He always held on to a baseball. If the Angels played near Halloween (which meant a good postseason run), Hudler would dress in a goofy costume. He was unabashedly an Angels rooter.
But in a baseball broadcaster, is that so awful? For many of us forever Chicago Cubs fans, there is great joy in listening to former Cubs All-Star third baseman Ron Santo on the radio for Chicago games. His unfiltered exuberances, his despairing "Oh, Gods" uttered at particularly unfortunate moments, his unintelligible bellows in honor of the occasional big, good play? It makes having satellite radio a treat. Hudler was a little like that for the Angels, and it was interesting to read the e-mail and blog-response support Hudler received after he and Steve Physioc were let go by Fox Sports West and the Angels this week. In baseball terms, the stats didn't add up. The Angels had a broadcast crew that included Hudler, Physioc, Terry Smith, Rory Markas, Mark Gubicza and Jose Mota. That was too many voices. You'd turn on the radio or television and have to do a mental checklist. Who was doing what? It costs less money to have four guys doing the television and radio than to have six, and we all know about budgeting these days. One e-mailer who was upset with the decision said he would be agreeable only if it meant the Angels, by saving broadcast money, were able to keep free agents John Lackey and Chone Figgins. But in the crowded Angels' radio and TV booth, Hudler's voice was noticeable. He had little-boy joy. He was a fan and wasn't ashamed to admit that. There's something about baseball where it doesn't seem so bad to have one guy who represents the fans in the booth. Does Santo make mistakes, make you cringe, make you throw up your hands in despair? Well, yes, and that's the charm. So did Hudler. That's not such a bad thing. _______________________
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