Diamondbacks Interested In Stone, Brenly
By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 5, 2012 2:40PM
White Sox TV analyst Steve Stone (left) and Cubs TV analyst Bob Brenly.
Steve Stone and Bob Brenly, two voices of reason and sanity in Chicago baseball, are both being considered for the vacant Arizona Diamondbacks TV broadcast booth, according to the Tribune's Mark Gonzales.
Brenly is in the final year of his contract as the Cubs analyst and could easily jump ship. He managed the Diamondbacks to the 2001 World Series title and has become one of the most respected analysts in baseball. He told the Tribune's Paul Sullivan in August he "had every confidence" a new deal with the Cubs could be reached.
Stone is currently under contract with the Sox but could receive permission to leave is he receives an offer he can't refuse. Stone and White Sox announcer Ken "Hawk" Harrelson have never really developed an on-air chemistry, despite their public declarations that all is hunky dory between them. Reports are that Stone has grown weary of Harrelson's antics and the way Harrelson goes quiet when things aren't going the Sox' way during games. The tension between the two became more palpable as the season progressed, which has led to speculation Stone may be gone. Stone lives and has business interests in Arizona and is incredibly popular there.
Stone told WSCR-AM midday hosts Dan McNeil and Matt Spiegel he's "pretty sure" he'll be back in the broadcast booth with Harrelson next season.
“When you have any type of partner in any business, you’re going to have some periods where things are really good, some periods where they’re not so good, some periods where things are frustrating, some periods where they’re exhilarating. I think a baseball season is like that. I think late in the season, you just realize it’s a roller coaster, and it’s not just a roller coaster for the baseball team. It’s a roller coaster for all of us who follow it that closely on a daily basis.”
The Diamondbacks fired their announce team of Daron Sutton and Mark Grace. Sutton hadn't called a D-Backs game since mid-June, while Grace's second DUI in 15 months sealed his fate. The former Cub has been off the air since late August. Grace was arrested and charged with driving with expired license plates and driving without an interlock device, in addition to his DUI.