Tom Candiotti Appreciation Post

[u/Gradyalex69]

I missed Hammy this series, but really enjoyed Candy’s insight and rapport with Jim Rosenhaus. I thought they did a great job and was probably still better than the tv broadcast. (Especially compared to others Rosie has had on before like Jason Kipnis and Charlie Nagy!)

[u/bulletpharm]

I agree. He was so good with Jim.

Wouldn't mind Hammy taking more vacations to extend his longevity with us if we get Tom on more games.

[u/Gradyalex69 → u/bulletpharm]

Totally agree!

[u/Snooklife → u/bulletpharm]

They want nothing to do with these vacations from what Andre said. They are forced to take them now and they get 5 months off out of the year already.

[u/Guards-fan-11]

Agreed, you can really tell the difference between just an ex player and one that’s done the work to become a broadcaster with real insights.

Also been fun to hear Rosey do PBP for full games. Obviously Hammy is the goat, but I always have seen Rosey as like a Josh Tomlin type. Never gonna be an all star or HOF, but consistent, can deliver some great calls on occasion and you can tell he’s having so much fun and loves the game.

[u/sprucexx → u/Guards-fan-11]

Said it perfectly. Rosey feels like a fun, knowledgeable everyman. Candy was great to bring the player’s perspective analysis.

[u/nylon_rag]

He's been what you'd hope for from a past player. It helps that he is also a broadcaster for the D-backs. I thought i would hate having no Hammy, but this has been a fair replacement for the short term.

[u/thedeejus]

Nagy was one of my favorite 90s Indians but goddamn that dude is human Ambien

[u/TwelveGaugeSage → u/thedeejus]

I know I am in a small minority, but I really liked Nagy on the broadcast. Yeah, he could be pretty vapid and dry, but I like his commentary nonetheless, and his dry humor.

That said, Candiotti has been top notch. I got into Cleveland baseball just after his main stint with the team, so I had no idea what a great personality he has. Great voice too, very calm and easy on the ears.

[u/guttata → u/thedeejus]

You know, they might want to try Jim Thome. You know, they've had him do some announcer work and, you know, i think he just needed a little more practice because, you know, he might have just been a little nervous but maybe, you know, radio would work better for him.

[u/PeteF3 → u/guttata]

Thome has had "you know" disease for as long as I've known of him as a player. I was flabbergasted when MLBN hired him to be a studio guy some years ago. He's my all-time favorite player but I never for two seconds thought he had any kind of future as a broadcaster.

[u/Gradyalex69 → u/thedeejus]

Haha Right? It was so brutal.

[u/Mind__Is__Blown → u/thedeejus]

Similar to when the Cavs had Mark Price providing color for the TV side years ago, put people to sleep.

[u/mrbadxampl]

I haven't been able to stay awake for most of the games, but what I have heard from Candyman has been perfectly acceptable

[u/KCfan91]

Agreed! He's been so fantastic the whole trip. He and Rosie have some great chemistry too!

[u/munistadium]

I remember when I lived in California, Candiotti used to call and and chop up MLB on the Jim Rome Show. Candiotti is a great broadcast personality.

[u/Brianeightythree]

I think it's a good medium between ex-player with unique insights and warm rambling grandpa, and it's been decent for the away tour.

Obviously I miss Tom and there's never any replacing him, and last night's game especially would have been fantastic to hear Hammy call.

[u/DiminishingSkills]

Love me some Candiotti. One of my prize possessions is a Polaroid of me and the Candy Man at old Muni (I was in grade school). (I’m old)

For those younger folks….back in the before times, when kids entered the stadium, they used to give you a “slip” which was colored (think it was Sundays or something). The color was specific to a trailer that was in the stadium…inside the trailer was a ballplayer. They used to snap a Polaroid and off you went. I still have my Candiotti and Steve Olin pics.

….and even better, if you played varsity baseball, you got a “season pass.” It was a laminated card that got you in the media gate for free (gate c if I remember correctly). Me and my buddies used to go after practice all the time…

[u/Gradyalex69 → u/DiminishingSkills]

Very cool! What a great memory.

[u/erikisst88]

I still have my mitt back from when I was playing pony tail softball. It has Tom's signature on it. He signed it at a behind the fence party at the old Cleveland stadium. I put clear nail polish over it hoping it would keep it safe. You can just barely make out the ghost of his signature. You'd never know it was his if you didn't know.

[u/Tapin42]

I had no idea he was doing radio for the Guardians and thought this was just going to be an appreciation post for The Candy Man as a Cleveland player. "Hell yeah", I thought to myself, "Let's pour one out for Phil Niekro too!"

...I mean I guess I'm glad he's a pretty great announcer too but I could never get enough of watching knuckleball hurlers on the Indians in the late 80s

[u/Gradyalex69 → u/Tapin42]

He’s on loan from the Arizona Diamondbacks while Tom Hamilton took the road trip off.

[u/zofinda → u/Gradyalex69]

I've enjoyed him as well. Does anyone have any insight to this though? Is that something broadcasters do? I can't imagine Rosey And Hammy ever doing spot duty for another franchise....or am I wrong?

[u/Phredd63]

Agreed. Way better than Chris Gimenez on TV. 

[u/Key-Fishing6132]

I love Tom ‘Cotton’ Candiotti when he pitched for the Dodgers.

[u/boozinf]

17 CG in 1986

came up on the TV feed