Interview With Len Kasper, Part One
By Mike J.
I enjoy getting email from readers. The ratio of hits to comments is very high, and sometimes I'm not really sure what everyone is thinking when they visit the site. Every time something about what I've written pops up in my inbox, I'm excited to read what someone has to say.
Especially, for instance, if it's Len Kasper. Len found what I had
written about him and his style of announcing, in which I...well, you can go back and read it yourself. Since then we've traded a few emails back and forth, culminating in an email interview.
Len Kasper is one of the more progressive announcers in the game today, drawing on the work of the statistical baseball community to enrich the broadcast. The amount of preparation put into each broadcast is evident and he works well with color commentator Bob Brenly to talk about some really interesting stuff on the air. I recommend you read the interview he did with
Cub Town (parts
one and
two) before reading this one, as you can find out a lot about his experience in broadcasting and his expectations heading into the season. Here he answers questions on broadcasting, stats in baseball, and about the Cubs and baseball in general. Come back tomorrow for part two of the interview.
On broadcastingOld Style Cubs: Describe your pre-game preparation: what resources do you draw on for your information? How much do you prepare beforehand with Bob Brenly?
Len Kasper: Wow, I could go on forever on this one. For me, it's an everyday thing, even in the off-season. I'm on the internet at least a couple hours a day looking at all the Chicago papers and I also skim through all the baseball headlines around the country for my team folders for future reference. I probably spend 30 minutes on my scorebook for each game at home and then another hour on it at the park once I get the lineups. I try to show up to the park anywhere from 3 and a half to 4 hours prior to gametime, depending on the day. Some getaway afternoon games I'll get there a little later because the teams usually report to the park a little later. I probably spend an hour or so in the clubhouse and on the field talking to players/coaches/managers prior to heading up to the booth for the broadcast. It's a routine I'm comfortable with...it's a lot of preparation, but I love every minute of it.
OSC: Speaking of your broadcasting partner, how has your relationship with Bob Brenly developed since the beginning of the season? Did you know each other at all before coming to Chicago?
LK: I always thought Bob was great to talk to when he was the D-Backs' manager. I wouldn't say we "knew" each other before this year, but he was always friendly and very helpful as a manager. He and I get along great on and off the air. I would say our rapport off the air is similar to our on-air rapport. It feels very natural and seamless. He's a great person and a wonderful broadcasting partner.
OSC: You've probably met a lot of famous players and coaches in your broadcasting career, and I imagine being starstruck fades away after a while. Still, when's the last time you thought, "Wow, I can't believe I'm talking to _____!"?
LK: That's a good question. I would say riding on the Cubs caravan in January and just shooting the breeze with Ryne Sandberg for hours was pretty amazing. Here I am listening to a Hall of Famer tell me what it was like to face Nolan Ryan!
OSC: You've worked in the same organization with broadcasting greats such as Bob Uecker and now Pat Hughes. Has either of them, or anyone else for that matter, given you any advice that has helped you get to where you are today or become a better broadcaster?
LK: Oh sure, I seek and receive advice all the time. Bob and Pat were great to me in Milwaukee and I have the pleasure of seeing Pat every day now with the Cubs. I've learned a lot from many different broadcasters in my career, including my partner Bob Brenly.
[For specific advice], I don't know who told me this or how I learned it, but "be yourself" is the best advice I've ever heard and it's the best advice I could ever give to a young broadcaster.
OSC: What's been the most exciting game you've called in your career? With the Cubs?
LK: In my career, I'd have to say the Marlins' wildcard clincher in 2003 stands out. My first ever big league broadcast makes the list because you never forget your first one. It was Brewers-Pirates, April 24, 1999. With the Cubs, the Zambrano complete game win over the Phillies stands out--2:00, great pitchers' duel against Brett Myers. And Wednesday's [May 18] thrilling 9th inning in Pittsburgh was as dramatic as it gets.
OSC: Who's been the best guest singer for the seventh inning stretch so far? Who have you enjoyed meeting the most?
LK: That's an easy one--Bonnie Hunt. Huge Cubs fan, she was lots of fun. I hope we have her on again sometime. I think she's a terrific actor and she has a great sense of humor.
On statistics
OSC: Just about everyone gets their first taste of baseball statistics from the back of trading cards, but not everyone who really starts studying baseball statistics gets into it in the same way. How were you first introduced to the sophisticated side of baseball stats?
LK: I would say when I got to Florida and got to know Jon "Boog" Sciambi, who did radio for the Marlins at that time was when I really got into sabermetrics. I was familiar with Baseball Prospectus, but Boog really got me into the Bill James approach to baseball statistics. I feel like I know SO much more about the game now than I did even 5 years ago. And I hope to know a lot more than I know now 5 years from now.
Tomorrow: more on stats and the Cubs so far this year.
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