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[Note: The numbers are in, and ESPN got its second-highest rating ever for a baseball game. The Giants-Cubs telecast garnered an 8.1 rating and was seen in 7.5 million households (1.4 million households in Chicago and San Francisco, and 6.1 million households elsewhere). Ratings for ABC's Monday Night Football, on at the same time, were not immediately available. ESPN's highest-rated baseball game is the Cardinals' Labor Day game, in which Mark McGwire hit his 60th home run. That telecast got a 9.5 rating. To read more about that game and baseball ratings, click here. ]

ESPN Does Cubs-Giants Justice

By Randy Williams

Chicago defeated San Francisco, 5-3, to settle one of the best pennant races in recent memory, and it was only fitting that ESPN's Jon Miller and Joe Morgan anchored the broadcast. As usual, the duo didn't disappoint.

Because Miller is a San Francisco native and Morgan played for the Giants, I was curious as to whether the pair would show any favoritism towards Dusty Baker's gang. This was especially true with Miller since he was born and raised in the city and is the Giants regular broadcaster. Thankfully, my fears were unfounded.

While some of his comments showed Miller is more familiar with the Giants, he came across as impartial, a remarkable achievement when you consider how excited he must have been to have his favorite team in a one-game playoff. Miller is perhaps the smoothest play-by-play man in the game and his effort on Monday night was nothing short of excellent.

Morgan, as usual, was outstanding. The Hall of Fame second baseman got off to a good start in the top of the first inning, noting that starting pitchers Mark Gardner (Giants) and Steve Trachsel (Cubs) would benefit from the presence of home plate umpire Bruce Froemming.

In the bottom of the fourth, with Giants catcher Brian Johnson batting, Morgan said Johnson should look for a fastball and ignore the curve ball, reasoning that Trachsel would eventually throw a fastball. The Cubs pitcher then threw a hittable heater that Johnson fouled off.

Then, when Cubs manager Jim Riggelman used Matt Mieske to pinch hit in the sixth inning, Morgan made a great point, noting that the Cubs manager didn't want to use Glenallen Hill, his top right-handed man off the bench, too soon.

Miller and Morgan are very easy to listen to and both manage to say plenty without appearing verbose. They've been together on Sunday Night Baseball since 1990 and appear to be improving with age. In Miller's book, "Confessions of a Baseball Purist," he describes his great rapport with Morgan, a relationship that certainly benefits their broadcasts (to read AQB's review of the book, click here).

The pair engaged in an interesting exchange in the top of the third when Giants third baseman Rich Aurelia backed away from home plate with two outs to check out the signs from his third base coach.

Miller asked why Aurelia was bothering to look for a sign when there were two outs and he had to hit away. Morgan noted that the batter was acting out of habit, adding that it is important to look at the third base coach between each pitch so the coach doesn't have to yell for the hitter to look when a play is on.

Miller and Morgan did an outstanding job throughout the telecast and did nothing to dispel my belief that they are the best announcing team in baseball. They were at their best at the end of the telecast, silent for nearly two minutes as the Cubs and their fans celebrated their long-awaited victory.

Kudos to ESPN for a great job in a big spot, particularly at the end of the game and immediately after, when reporter Carlos Diaz hustled to interview Sammy Sosa, Gary Gaetti and winning pitcher Trachsel in the locker room. To the playoffs we go!

Top fact: Morgan noted that Giants first baseman J.T. Snow is the only player from either team to play in a one-game playoff, with the California Angels in 1995. He later pointed out that Cubs first baseman Mark Grace and Giants shortstop Shawon Dunston (then with Chicago) are the only players remaining from the 1989 League Championship Series with San Francisco.

Find me an Editor: A graphic in the top of the third inning misspelled Miller's last name as "Milller." When the same graphic was shown in the top of the fifth, the error was corrected.

Best tip: Morgan said the road team needs to be more aggressive in playoff-type situations. Baker tried this early in the game by sending Stan Javier from first, but the hitter struck out to end the inning.

Best signs: 1) "Next year is now." 2) "Clout in the Clouds," a reference to late Cubs broadcasters Harry Caray and Jack Brickhouse. 3) "We're on a mission from Harry."

Top stats: 1) Morgan noting that Bonds and second baseman Jeff Kent have averaged more than an RBI a game since the end of July. 2) Box score of 1908 Cubs-Giants "playoff" game, showing Chicago's Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown defeated Christy Mathewson.

Did ya notice?: As usual, the all-sports network placed a large "ESPN" logo in the upper right hand corner and eliminated the game info box when Sosa came to the plate. Also used by Fox, this is a ploy to get free advertising when Sammy Sosa/McGwire home runs are replayed on other networks.

Best line: "Maybe they don't think he can handle the fastball." - Morgan, after Jose Mesa threw Cubs third baseman Gary Gaetti an eighth-inning pitch down the middle of the plate. The 40-year-old Gaetti hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning to give Chicago a 2-0 lead.

Best story: In the top of the second, Miller noted that Giants third baseman Charlie Hayes couldn't reach his family in Mississippi in the wake of Hurricane Georges. On behalf of Hayes, Miller then asked any family members who might be listening to call Wrigley Field to let him know they were safe. In the top of fifth, Miller said a Mississippi TV station heard his plea, learned that Hayes' family is healthy, and called to assure that his relatives are safe but without electricity.

Grade: A (Two big-time announcers did a big-time game right)

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