I have agreed with Jim Palmer for the first time in my life. When Ramos challenged a pitch in the 1st inning that was well in the strike zone I told my wife. "that was just stupid". Palmer then stated the same thing.
I like the challenge but I swear I would fine players calling for them in the first inning. They should be saved for late innings and when the game is on the line. I think some players call for them because they are embarassed. And in the 4th inning we are out of challenges. Ridiculous. That's also part of managing. There's no reason to call for a challenge with 2 outs and no one on base in the 4th.
That being said I'm about to mute the sound. I just can't take Palmer's insufferable announcing and the O's network's refusal to stray from the game. This analyzing every single pitch is driving me crazy.
We are very lucky to have Michael Kay and his various sidekicks.
2for....the only time it is acceptable to listen to Palmer is the last inning or two. Why?
You get to hear his "ifs and buts / candies and nuts" and "if my aunt had nuts she would be my uncle" sphiels as he tries to glaze another Orioles loss to the Yankees. My personal favorite (and he used it last night) is where he talks about "hard hit balls" that "so unlucky" were hit directly to Yankee fielders.
"We had a chance in the ____ inning with X up to bat. He hit the ball hard but unfortunately it was directly to the outfielder. If that somehow falls in, we're probably having a different conversation now."
Jim....that's baseball. There are a dozen plus "hard hit" balls every game that are easy outs.
And sometimes he will change up the "hard hit ball" sphiel to say "you know, in the ____ inning with X up to bat, that ball was hit so hard it caught the fielder, and not the fielder catching the ball. The Orioles bad luck just continues."
It's hilarious to listen to.
The best part is this is coming from a guy that turned from a power arm to a junkball / finesse pitch to contact pitcher and made the Hall of Fame doing so