Kerber/Vitale will go down as an epically massive mistake

[mph6689new]

We've got Stick and Rivers on this pregame show.

Why not just let them handle this game?

Yuck! Not a fan of Kerbs /Vitale yet but willing to give them a try. I thought Rivers was the worst “analyst” in Blues history. Totally unvarnished homer who added nothing

Rob Ramage owns that trophy!

[Old_Goat]

We've got Stick and Rivers on this pregame show.

Why not just let them handle this game?

Yuck! Not a fan of Kerbs /Vitale yet but willing to give them a try. I thought Rivers was the worst “analyst” in Blues history. Totally unvarnished homer who added nothing

Rob Ramage owns that trophy!

Actually Rob is an excellent analyst of the game and players. The role that he had during the strike shortened '95 season was for rink-side down in the corner for the occasional up close commentary and not play-by-play Color analyst. He just is very uncomfortable in front of the camera and therefore what & how he was saying came across very awkwardly. He is a fantastic, straight-shooting respectful human and highly respected by the wide professional hockey world.

[Mr Novaks]

I didn’t mind Kerbs on the radio, but on TV he just comes across as mediocre. Vitale on the other hand is absolutely miserable. Would much rather see Rivers on the commentary.

[Bubble4427]

I didn’t mind Kerbs on the radio, but on TV he just comes across as mediocre. Vitale on the other hand is absolutely miserable. Would much rather see Rivers on the commentary.

Kerb’s is fine.
No complaints from me.
Vitale is actually better on TV than he is on radio IMO. I’m still not a fan but he’s much better on TV.
(I realize that they are also on radio….but they both sound different than they did last year)

[TBone]

Kerb’s is fine.
No complaints from me.
Vitale is actually better on TV than he is on radio IMO. I’m still not a fan but he’s much better on TV.
(I realize that they are also on radio….but they both sound different than they did last year)

I was more upset when Ken Wilson, Joe Micheletti and Darren Pang all eventually moved on.

Regarding Kerber and Vitale, it could be worse. The woman PBP announcer on ESPN is absolutely unlistenable to.

[Bubble4427]

Kerb’s is fine.
No complaints from me.
Vitale is actually better on TV than he is on radio IMO. I’m still not a fan but he’s much better on TV.
(I realize that they are also on radio….but they both sound different than they did last year)

I was more upset when Ken Wilson, Joe Micheletti and Darren Pang all eventually moved on.

Regarding Kerber and Vitale, it could be worse. The woman PBP announcer on ESPN is absolutely unlistenable to.

She is BRUTAL.

[callitwhatyouwant]

Kerb’s is fine.
No complaints from me.
Vitale is actually better on TV than he is on radio IMO. I’m still not a fan but he’s much better on TV.
(I realize that they are also on radio….but they both sound different than they did last year)

I was more upset when Ken Wilson, Joe Micheletti and Darren Pang all eventually moved on.

Regarding Kerber and Vitale, it could be worse. The woman PBP announcer on ESPN is absolutely unlistenable to.

Honestly, I've been pleasantly surprised. Vitale is still on top of his game as far as knowledgeable hockey so he's been doing pretty well. Very little distractions so far. Kirbs I always respected as a radio guy. Thought he was good there. The only issue I have with him is I don't see very many "great stories" being told or great calls to be had in the future. He kind of just reacts at the last moment and you don't see the build up.

I'll say this, anyone who is complaining needs to go flip on a half dozen random nhl broadcasts on espn +. I can all but guarantee you, you will find 2 that are way worse. And there's a chance for more. And like you said, the national broadcast at times is brutal beyond belief. I can think in our division alone, Stars is milktoast, Avs is disgusting, and Mild is moldy cheese. That's just in our own division. Utah seemed to have a good one when I listened in last year, same with Chicago.

[stlblue06]

The continued Kerbs/Vitale hate is borderline odd. Going from Panger to Rivers was MUCH more a downgrade than this yet there wasn’t anywhere close to as much outrage for that. I thought both were good last night.

I miss JK (and Panger) too but it’s not like they replaced them with a couple randoms or little experience guys.

[seattleblue]

They were atrocious when I finally heard them in preseason but I haven't heard them for much of the first few games. Last night the audio was 4 seconds ahead of the stream so the game was continually being spoiled if that makes sense. But that was a technical thing. It seems like people are saying they are better, maybe they have been. It's not like Kerber can't call a game when he is focused on it. I have noticed that every single opposing broadcast is going through how the Blues barely got in (Chicago in particular keeps talking about the long shootout point). Calgary and Vancouver teams both cited the Calgary sweep. They all talked about the agonizing fashion in which the Blues lost in the playoffs. Been a lot of praise for Snuggerud and after the game Mike Rupp on the Van broadcast said that Binner is now being known as "that guy in hockey" where you need a big save or a big game, he delivers. His rep is turning around.

[George Zipp]

I have watched most of the first three games (the third period of the MN game not so much) and they seem to be sticking mostly to hockey and not going off on many tangents.

The only memorable one to me was last night, when one of them (think it was Vitale) was talking about Texier and France and a vacation to France where he went to Giverny, which is the home of Claude Monet. It was a fairly ridiculous off topic convo because Vitale couldn't figure out for the life of him how to pronounce Giverny, even though he was there. Maybe I'm being a snob bc I've been there and I'm more than familiar with it but he was being a goof about the whole thing. Then they started talking hockey again.

[Hooking]

I don't know if it's the two game winning streak and the Blues playing pretty great and Binnington rebounding from that bad game 1 (NO I AM NOT BLAMING HIM FOR GAME 1! But saying he still has the mental fortitude that we all know he can have.) but Kerbs and Vitale have been less annoying as time has gone on.

Only 3 games and i watched some Kings highlights with a box of tissues missing JK but maybe it will get better.

[Blues Dave]

Without a choice I listen. I don't want to be disrespectful, so I'll just say the old thing....If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[ChooseBlues]

Let’s stop pretending this is subjective.

Chris Kerber has the voice. That’s not the issue. The issue is he’s got the attention span of a distracted golden retriever in a squirrel sanctuary. Play-by-play isn’t a part-time gig—you don’t get to dip in when the puck’s already halfway to the net and yell “OH!” like you just woke up from a nap.

Kerbs consistently abandons the rhythm of the game to toss out some off-topic reference, then turns to Joey like, “You see that?” Meanwhile, the team is cycling, the crowd’s rising, and the broadcast momentum is dead. It’s not just bad—it’s broadcast malpractice.

Joey Vitale? He’s got one skill: replay breakdown. Credit where it’s due. He knows how to time his analysis before the puck drops again. But once the game resumes, he’s still riffing like it’s a podcast no one asked for. The puck enters the zone, danger builds, and Joey’s still chewing on Kerbs’ last dad joke like it’s a leftover meatball sub.

The real tragedy? Neither of them seems to notice. Joey’s used to Kerbs being so off-tempo that he doesn’t even register when the play demands silence and focus. And Kerbs? He’ll miscall a player, reverse the action, and never correct it—because hey, it’s radio, right? Who’s gonna know?

Compare this to Hockey Night in Canada. Cuthbert, Bartlett, Singh—they understand that play-by-play is a living thing. It breathes. It builds. Even the quiet moments matter. That’s how you earn the big calls. That’s how you make a goal feel like a climax, not a surprise party you forgot to RSVP to.

Kerbs has the tools. He could be great. But right now? He’s lazy. He’s filler. He’s killing the pulse of the game. And Joey, while salvageable, is being dragged down by the same lack of discipline.

We went from near the top of the broadcast pack to basement-tier banter. It’s not just disappointing—it’s embarrassing.

[SameOldBlues]

Let’s stop pretending this is subjective.

Chris Kerber has the voice. That’s not the issue. The issue is he’s got the attention span of a distracted golden retriever in a squirrel sanctuary. Play-by-play isn’t a part-time gig—you don’t get to dip in when the puck’s already halfway to the net and yell “OH!” like you just woke up from a nap.

Kerbs consistently abandons the rhythm of the game to toss out some off-topic reference, then turns to Joey like, “You see that?” Meanwhile, the team is cycling, the crowd’s rising, and the broadcast momentum is dead. It’s not just bad—it’s broadcast malpractice.

Joey Vitale? He’s got one skill: replay breakdown. Credit where it’s due. He knows how to time his analysis before the puck drops again. But once the game resumes, he’s still riffing like it’s a podcast no one asked for. The puck enters the zone, danger builds, and Joey’s still chewing on Kerbs’ last dad joke like it’s a leftover meatball sub.

The real tragedy? Neither of them seems to notice. Joey’s used to Kerbs being so off-tempo that he doesn’t even register when the play demands silence and focus. And Kerbs? He’ll miscall a player, reverse the action, and never correct it—because hey, it’s radio, right? Who’s gonna know?

Compare this to Hockey Night in Canada. Cuthbert, Bartlett, Singh—they understand that play-by-play is a living thing. It breathes. It builds. Even the quiet moments matter. That’s how you earn the big calls. That’s how you make a goal feel like a climax, not a surprise party you forgot to RSVP to.

Kerbs has the tools. He could be great. But right now? He’s lazy. He’s filler. He’s killing the pulse of the game. And Joey, while salvageable, is being dragged down by the same lack of discipline.

We went from near the top of the broadcast pack to basement-tier banter. It’s not just disappointing—it’s embarrassing.

Bravo and well said. Ive been listening to the opponent’s broadcasts and it’s s even more pronounced how bad they are by comparison.

[xpath]

Let’s stop pretending this is subjective.

Chris Kerber has the voice. That’s not the issue. The issue is he’s got the attention span of a distracted golden retriever in a squirrel sanctuary. Play-by-play isn’t a part-time gig—you don’t get to dip in when the puck’s already halfway to the net and yell “OH!” like you just woke up from a nap.

Kerbs consistently abandons the rhythm of the game to toss out some off-topic reference, then turns to Joey like, “You see that?” Meanwhile, the team is cycling, the crowd’s rising, and the broadcast momentum is dead. It’s not just bad—it’s broadcast malpractice.

Joey Vitale? He’s got one skill: replay breakdown. Credit where it’s due. He knows how to time his analysis before the puck drops again. But once the game resumes, he’s still riffing like it’s a podcast no one asked for. The puck enters the zone, danger builds, and Joey’s still chewing on Kerbs’ last dad joke like it’s a leftover meatball sub.

The real tragedy? Neither of them seems to notice. Joey’s used to Kerbs being so off-tempo that he doesn’t even register when the play demands silence and focus. And Kerbs? He’ll miscall a player, reverse the action, and never correct it—because hey, it’s radio, right? Who’s gonna know?

Compare this to Hockey Night in Canada. Cuthbert, Bartlett, Singh—they understand that play-by-play is a living thing. It breathes. It builds. Even the quiet moments matter. That’s how you earn the big calls. That’s how you make a goal feel like a climax, not a surprise party you forgot to RSVP to.

Kerbs has the tools. He could be great. But right now? He’s lazy. He’s filler. He’s killing the pulse of the game. And Joey, while salvageable, is being dragged down by the same lack of discipline.

We went from near the top of the broadcast pack to basement-tier banter. It’s not just disappointing—it’s embarrassing.

Just want to say I agree 100%.

Sometimes I have the game on while doing work in another tab and it's nice to hear what's going on without watching every minute. If you're not watching the game while Kerbs is talking you really have no idea what's happening.

[11WSChamps]

Let’s stop pretending this is subjective.

Chris Kerber has the voice. That’s not the issue. The issue is he’s got the attention span of a distracted golden retriever in a squirrel sanctuary. Play-by-play isn’t a part-time gig—you don’t get to dip in when the puck’s already halfway to the net and yell “OH!” like you just woke up from a nap.

Kerbs consistently abandons the rhythm of the game to toss out some off-topic reference, then turns to Joey like, “You see that?” Meanwhile, the team is cycling, the crowd’s rising, and the broadcast momentum is dead. It’s not just bad—it’s broadcast malpractice.

Joey Vitale? He’s got one skill: replay breakdown. Credit where it’s due. He knows how to time his analysis before the puck drops again. But once the game resumes, he’s still riffing like it’s a podcast no one asked for. The puck enters the zone, danger builds, and Joey’s still chewing on Kerbs’ last dad joke like it’s a leftover meatball sub.

The real tragedy? Neither of them seems to notice. Joey’s used to Kerbs being so off-tempo that he doesn’t even register when the play demands silence and focus. And Kerbs? He’ll miscall a player, reverse the action, and never correct it—because hey, it’s radio, right? Who’s gonna know?

Compare this to Hockey Night in Canada. Cuthbert, Bartlett, Singh—they understand that play-by-play is a living thing. It breathes. It builds. Even the quiet moments matter. That’s how you earn the big calls. That’s how you make a goal feel like a climax, not a surprise party you forgot to RSVP to.

Kerbs has the tools. He could be great. But right now? He’s lazy. He’s filler. He’s killing the pulse of the game. And Joey, while salvageable, is being dragged down by the same lack of discipline.

We went from near the top of the broadcast pack to basement-tier banter. It’s not just disappointing—it’s embarrassing.

Right on the money.

Last night was a good example.

There were at least a couple of goals were Kerber suddenly shouts "SCORES"! and if you were listening instead of watching you would have had no idea what set the goal up.

The play by play seems more like a hobby than a profession.