Kasper says he'll miss his old job

Former Marlins TV announcer now works for Cubs

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

Len Kasper said he wanted to stay with the Marlins, but he couldn't pass up the offer to work for the Cubs. (Florida Marlins)

 

MIAMI -- Behind the microphone, Len Kasper is one of the best in the business at broadcasting baseball games.

But what about his singing?

 

Kasper, the talented former Marlins TV announcer, realizes it's a matter of time before his voice will be put to the test.

 

Hired in the offseason by WGN-TV as the Cubs' play-by-play announcer, Kasper anticipates there will be a day where he is asked to sing that seventh-inning standard, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."

 

Respected for being immensely prepared, Kasper already is thinking ahead. He and his new analyst, former manager Bob Brenly, have plotted a singing strategy.

 

"I know Bob and I will be asked to do it," Kasper said. "They don't know this yet, but that's going to be a given, that it won't be Len singing it, and then Bob singing it separately. We're going to do it together. We're either going to sound great together, or we're going to sound horrible together. We're a team. He's not going to leave me hanging out to dry, and I'm going to do the same for him. I don't think we'll harmonize, necessarily, unless Bob is a great singer. I've been told, getting the words wrong and singing it out of key actually is probably a good thing."

 

Singing aside, Kasper hit a high note in his career by landing the desirable Cubs job.

 

He leaves behind a short but distinguished legacy in three seasons broadcasting Marlins games.

 

The affable Kasper teamed with analyst Tommy Hutton to form a highly entertaining broadcast duo since 2002.

 

As excited as he is about moving on to a larger spotlight, Kasper departs South Florida with some sadness because of the great friendships he's formed with the organization, the community and working for Fox Sports Net Florida and PAX.

 

The Marlins team of Kasper, Hutton and Craig Minervini, the pregame host and in-game reporter for Fox, generated some of the largest TV ratings in franchise history.

 

"When I started with the Marlins, the team's ownership took over basically when pitchers and catchers reported in 2002," Kasper said. "I was hired on March 6, so the [spring Training] games had already started. That was a whirlwind, to say the least. I remember jumping into the booth with Tommy about 10 or 11 days after I got hired. We just hit the ground running. I felt we had chemistry the first pitch of that first telecast. Working with him has been an honor and just a complete joy. I'm going to miss working with him, and Craig Minervini. The people at FSN Florida have been so great to my whole family. I have felt like I've been part of the Marlins and the Fox family here in Florida, and I'm definitely going to miss it."

 

Ironically, some of his biggest highlights with the Marlins came in the 2003 National League Championship Series against the Cubs. In that memorable series, the Marlins rallied for eight runs in the eighth inning of Game 6 to force a Game 7, which they also won en route to the World Series title.

 

"The No. 1 [highlight] has to be the 2003 World Series run," Kasper said. "Interestingly enough, I think the most memorable part of that season was the NLCS against the team that I'm now with, the Chicago Cubs. It will be interesting to talk to Derrek Lee, who is now a Chicago Cub, and is on the other side. Maybe the two most memorable games I've ever been in were Games 6 and 7 at Wrigley Field."

 

The search for Kasper's replacement continues. Fox will hire the lead announcer with the backing of the Marlins.

 

Kasper becomes the second straight lead TV announcer to move up in the broadcasting ranks after gaining notoriety with the Marlins. Prior to Kasper, the popular Dave O'Brien left after the 2001 season to work for ESPN.

 

While the Marlins have become a hotbed for young broadcasting talent, Kasper doesn't believe the job is a springboard to bigger and better things.

 

"When I was hired, I said my goal was to be the TV voice of the Marlins, along with Tommy, for as long as I possibly can," Kasper said. "Circumstances played out where I had another opportunity that was an incredible one. It's not that I wanted to leave the Marlins or South Florida. This opportunity was just too good to pass up. I don't look at this market or this team in any way as a springboard. I think it's a destination job. It's just worked out that the last two TV play-by-play announcers have moved on.

 

"I absolutely think the Marlins is a destination job. When you consider where you live in the offseason, the winters are unbelievable here. You get to basically live at home in Spring Training, which is a huge advantage. And you look at the success. The Marlins have won two World Series championships in their first 12 years. I think it's a great job. I think it's a great organization, and I think it is more circumstances that really have led to the last couple of guys moving on to other things. I don't think it says anything bad about the market or the job at all.

 

"I got a lot of great exposure during 2003 because of our World Series run. One of the reasons a lot of our calls ended up in the highlights was because there were so many big games. I never got into this business to be on the highlight shows. Working with the Marlins is something I could have envisioned for the rest of my career. In the end, it didn't work out that way. Every memory I will have of working with the Marlins and being here in South Florida will be positive."

:tissue

Len is a class act, forever the voice of our 2003 World Champion Florida Marlins.

The Marlins team of Kasper, Hutton and Craig Minervini, the pregame host and in-game reporter for Fox, generated some of the largest TV ratings in franchise history.

 

Boy am i gonna miss this guy, I had never heard a better broadcast before Len, Tommy, and Minervini. I hope they bring in someone who has the same feel about him as Len does. Young and excited to call games. the greatest thing to hear these past years was Len get SO excited for the big plays and homers. Now that Carlos is a done deal this is the most important thing to me. Get someone GOOD to be in the booth with Tommy, cuz i really like tommy too, he's not a Tim McCockver, who takes himself so god damn seriously like he's only working to become a HOF announcer like a select few others. he doesnt mince words. and he doesnt reach beyond his capabilities, i.e. baseball. simple and to the point but funny and relaxed...... jesus... i need baseball.

if he wanted to stay here, then he shold have stayed.