Len & Bob

I think Len and Bon are very good announcer,probably the best that I have truly heard on WGN, I know there was always harry, but lets face it, while he said some funny things up in the booth, he had the face for radio, and the voice for a silent movie atleast towards the end of his career. Stoney was good though I don't think anyone can deny that. However, I think Len an Bob make a very good team especially compared to the Chip/stone combo. I think during there time every broadcast went something like this.

1 Play by play by chip

2 before stone could say anything chip would bring up something about dinner and who picked up the check (normally chip complained cause he picked up the check)

3 if they were playing the Brewers somehow whether he was pitching or not, chip would reference Ben Sheets as an olympic hero

4 back to play by play by chip.

this consituted 80 percent of the chatter that went on in the book under chip/stone

Now, i like len and bob cause len has a good voice and knows enough to call a the play by play. I like Bob cause he gives a managers position in the color, where as more colors give a players perspective. bob tends to do this sometimes, but goes more with the managerial perspective. Now maybe a 3rd member player perspective analyst might make you be more happy. Finally i like these two guys because they are not huge homers, yes they know more about the Cubs than any other team, but they don't seem to openly root for the Cubs in the booth like others (hawk and DJ) seem to do.

An announcing team can best be judged in lopsided games.  Actually, Len and Bob are quite good.  They talk about a few pop culture issues and keep things moving as the game winds down.  Keep in mind how diificult it will be to keep a basically PG rated tone to two guys talking about a ball game.  I know I couldn't do it.   I'd venture into something audience inappropriate within an inning.

Now, bad is Hawk Harrelson and Darren Jackson.  Especially if the White Sox are being pasted.  Hawk goes silent leaving Captain Boring , Darren Jackson to fend for himself.  It's bad brodacasting, but funny as hell.   Joe Carter had to be the worst thing ever tried.

Steve Stone, I believe spoiled those of us who heard him, not only when Harry was losing it, but back when Harry was still on top his game.  He had that knack of predicting the pitch, the hitter's reaction, and all of that.  Brenly is pretty decent, just not Stoney.

Len is just a professional play by play guy.  He is not nearly as corn pone as Chip Caray, but he is not doing a song and dance act.  He gives Brenly room to work, and sets him up for points relevant to what is occurring on the field.  His hiome run call is kinda weak, but at least it's not contrived.  Len has grown on me. 

I would love for Mark Grace to return  some time in the future, and Sutcliffe is pretty cool as well.  But, if Brenly never gets the call to manage again, I can see them going years as the broadcast team.

before stone could say anything chip would bring up something about dinner and who picked up the check (normally chip complained cause he picked up the check)

YES! You are correct sir!

I've gotten used to Len & Bob and think they developed a nice chemistry together.  A broadcasting team needs a few years before they can really gel.  They are far better than Chip Caray, Joe Carter, and Ron Santo.  Another guy I thought was pretty good was Dave Otto.  He would be a nice pairing with Pat Hughes on radio.

They actually do some nice work, they just happened to have followed Chip Caray and Steve Stone.  Stone was great and Caray was finally coming along (but still annoying).  My dream team would be Joe Carter and Ron Santo.  Could you imagine that broadcast?