Bill Walton's greatest hits calling Sox-Halos
Scott Merkin
@scottmerkinOf all the interesting, entertaining and often mind-boggling comments made by Bill Walton as guest analyst on the White Sox broadcast during their 7-2 victory over the Angels Friday, this following one might have intrigued Chicago fans the most.
¡°White Sox on their way to winning another championship,¡± Walton said. ¡°Who's going to stop them?¡±
Well, for starters, Friday¡¯s win put the White Sox at 55-66 and still a long, long way behind the Twins and Indians in the American League Central and AL Wild Card races. Then again, Walton has a more cosmic view of the world than most, and might have been speaking of a vision he had for a future title on the South Side.
¡°Where does this team rank in the pantheon of greatest teams in the history of the sport?¡± Walton later added.
Here¡¯s a look at a few of Walton¡¯s standout lines from his first foray into baseball broadcasting with the great White Sox television play-by-play voice, Jason Benetti.
¡°Fortunately for all of us, the White Sox have provided me my own translator.¡±
Walton from the broadcast¡¯s pregame show, during which he talked with Ozzie Guillen, the White Sox manager during the 2005 World Series championship. It¡¯s not often Guillen is the low-key persona in the conversation. Walton made reference a numbers of times to Billy Russo, the official White Sox interpreter.
"Today is National Roller Coaster Day. It¡¯s National Airborne Day. Try to keep me anchored to the planet.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t have to start with, 'Let me ask you.' You are going to ask me anyway.¡±
Walton humorously admonishing Benetti early in the broadcast.
¡°[Mike] Trout? He¡¯s good. Did you have the salmon for dinner?¡±
One of Walton¡¯s many references to Trout, quite possibly the greatest player in the game.
¡°Why doesn¡¯t he bat all the time?¡±
Walton asking why Trout doesn¡¯t get to hit more than once through the order.
"That¡¯s Trout? Swimming upstream, avoiding all the flies, and sending one ricocheting through the universe."
Walton getting philosophical after Trout homered.
¡°How about a triple play? Carry it over.¡±
Walton¡¯s carryover idea might be something to consider.
¡°I would not be a good catcher. I¡¯m much better at getting high than getting low.¡±
Yes, we might have the night¡¯s winner right here.
¡°How many innings do they play? Is there a mercy rule if some team gets ahead by 30 runs?¡±
More game changes proposed by Walton.
¡°Chico Ruiz would have scored from third on that play.¡±
Ruiz probably didn¡¯t get this much airtime in total during his big league career.
¡°The White Sox extend this insurmountable lead.¡±
It was a 2-0 lead at the time.
We now pause for Walton comparing Welington Castillo¡¯s speed to Usain Bolt, and also suggesting Albert Pujols would steal third when perched on second.
¡°If you are ever feeling down about life, just put on John Fogerty.¡±
Staying true to his California roots.
¡°What a fantastic turn of events if you love the White Sox, and I¡¯m falling in love by the breath.¡±
Walton called for James McCann¡¯s grand slam in the eighth before it happened, and then celebrated McCann¡¯s second grand slam in the past three games.
¡°He¡¯s not a Bummer. He¡¯s a meteor. He¡¯s an asteroid soaring through the universe.¡±
The left-hander¡¯s last name was an easy mark for Walton.
¡°The White Sox win. Print the banner. Line up the parade.¡±
OK, still a bit too soon for that.
¡°I apologize on behalf of the human race for destroying your broadcast, and I hope I don¡¯t ruin your career, which I think I already let that bus go by.¡±
Walton¡¯s response to Benetti thanking him for being part of the broadcast.
¡°I¡¯m Bill. This is ¡ .¡±
Walton had perfect recall of intricate facts about family members of his friends. Somehow he couldn¡¯t remember Benetti¡¯s first name.
Kudos to Benetti for letting Walton follow through with his exceptional commentary, while keeping the focus on a third win in four games for the White Sox. Put him in coach, Bill was ready to play.