Paul M. Banks a.k.a. The Sports Bank
As the only person to work for both Chicago baseball teams as both a player and as a broadcaster, current White Sox radio color analyst Steve Stone is the foremost authority on Chicago baseball. Stone or “Stony” as he is nicknamed, has also done television broadcasts for ESPN and TBS and will become the Sox television analyst in 2009. Stony, also 670 The Score’s lead Baseball Analyst, is well known and loved for his baseball predictions, the high rate at which these predictions comes true, and the multitude of products that he has endorsed over the years. From 1983-97, Stone was the WGN color commentator for Chicago Cubs telecasts, working with Hall of Fame announcer Harry Caray for 15 years.
As a player, Stony won a Cy Young and The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year award in 1980.
I had an exclusive with Stony on Saturday night before the Sox-Indians game. Here’s what he had to say about the Cubs and their postseason prospects:
“They’re certainly capable of beating anybody, but I think they scored 17 runs, total against the Dodgers for the season. So the Dodgers are a team that can shut them down, not saying that they will, but I do think the Dodgers can create a more difficult match-up. And then probably the other team is Philadelphia. The first round is when you’re more likely to be knocked out by a team you’re actually better than. In 3 of 5 a lot more so than in 4 of 7. Although in 4 of 7 the best team doesn’t always win either.
On his bold predictions, and how often they come true…
This year when I said the Cubs would win their division by 8-10 games and most people in this city thought I was crazy, I stuck by that. They were actually up 11 before they took their foot off the gas pedal, but they could have pretty much won the division by whatever margin they wanted to because they were far and away better than anyone else in the division. I remember on June 11th when I did {ESPN’s} “Pardon the Interruption,” I said to Cub guy Mike Wilbon, I want to have it on record that I told you the Cubs would win the division by 8 and 10 games, because they are a far superior team to Milwaukee.
To read more from this interview Click Here.
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Good postings here, Paul. Steve Stone is by far and away the best broadcaster in baseball. If you listen to him, he has psychic abilities to call the next pitch or tell you that the batter is going to get a hit. How the Cubs could have let him go a few years ago was a travesty. The White Sox were brilliant to pick him up. I’m looking forward to seeing him on TV for the Sox next year!
Thanks Ben. It certainly was a treat having an exclusive with him. I felt my baseball IQ increasing from just a 10 minute conversation.
And you’re right I remember in 2004 when Adam Dunn was facing the Cubs Mike REmlinger and Stony said “I wouldnt pitch to this guy,” next pitch. bam. Dunn goes deep.