Midday with MFB

jimv

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Midday with MFB is not scheduled to debut until next week, but they're on WEEI right now doing the Red Sox post game
 
edit - grammar
 

jimv

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I listened for a bit before calling it a night. It wasn't awful - Brenz (Benz? Bens?) was professional and much better than Mut's smug stupidity. Fauria's big dumb football player schtick seems like it could grow old very quickly though.
 

Steve Dillard

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Benz is quickly becoming Salk.  It must be EEI based, but it seems the entire show is Benz acting as MC for the show "coming up next"... and then introducing a bunch of topics that they'll talk about next, and then spend a few moments on each topic rehashing their views, before quickly moving to the next tease that they made. 
 
Benz:  coming up next we'll talk about the Verducci article on the Sox outfield
 5 minutes later
Benz:  Verducci's article points out that Sox have the worst offensive stats in 40 years.  Lou, what do you think?
 
Merloni:  They have five outfielders who couldn't start on any other team
Benz:  right.  How about Drew sitting this second game?
Merloni:  not sure why he sat, but I think they needed to upgrade at SS.
 
Benz:  And coming up we'll talk about Tom Brady and whether he's declining.
 

Traut

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Benz sounds like Mut. No idea why they replaced Mut with Benz. The three of these guys lack chemistry together.
 

Kliq

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I'm fairly lenient when it comes to my listening standards, but this is an awful show. I actually didn't mind Mutt and Merloni that much, but I can't stand these guys. Fauria is awful and the show constantly makes toilet humor and bad jokes. So far I have heard extended conversations about which famous puppets are you willing to have sex with, and whether or not you would be able to finish if you were with a drag queen. If I wanted to hear that kind of stuff, I would listen to Howard Stern. It's painful.
 

Traut

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Why did they replace Mut with Benz? I understand adding a third man but I think Mut was a better host. Perhaps more than any WEEI, Mut always came across as a guy who did his homework before going on air.
 

NortheasternPJ

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I keep trying to give this show a shot, outside of its awful name, but I just can't do it. Today they were talking about Mike Vrabel's moving auction (which they made boring) and then it turned into Spygate.
 
I just don't understand the dynamic. B doesn't really drive the show, then he has two pro athletes who are pretty much generic and not interesting. Neither one has a dynamic personality. Having both of them just adds to the noise and brings nothing to the table. Maybe that'll change during football season where Fauria will bring more. 
 

Byrdbrain

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I don't mind Merloni seems like an OK guy and seems to enjoy sports in general and not just baseball. I'm hoping Fauria will be good during football season because he is pretty awful now. He really seems to know next to nothing about any sport other than football so any comparison analysis he makes always goes back to football.
 
Benz doesn't seem to add anything that Mut didn't and I didn't like Mut.
 

Harry Hooper

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I liked Fauria before when he was auditioning*. Since he got the gig he's been a disappointment, however.
 
 
* That was pre-Benz, so maybe he's the issue and not Fauria.
 

riboflav

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I like it when they opined the other day that Erin Andrews enjoyed being stalked and basically asked for it. These guys are awesome.
 
EDIT: (Internet keeps dropping) It's like the only way today for most media members to be provocative or just plain interesting is to say some of the dumbest stuff they can think. That is, remarks that are racist, sexist, intimidating, etc. substitute for compelling, insightful, and stimulating. 
 

ForKeeps

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Oct 13, 2011
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Has anyone seen Benz in his appearances on Sport's Tonight or whatever it's called now? During the crosstalk sections they'll ask him something and he'll turn and look directly into the camera and deliver a prepared speech. It's really awkward.
 

Marbleheader

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This show is beyond terrible. It's like 3 guys in a locker room talking about chicks and bodily functions. I really dislike Gresh and wish EEI could put together a show worth listening to. I try to give Dale and Holley a shot, but they usually have some clown like Thornton or Dickerson on and it's unlistenable. It's amazing how bad their talent decisions are. They let Felger get away but still employ Mustard and Johnson.
 
Aug 5, 2014
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Marbleheader said:
This show is beyond terrible. It's like 3 guys in a locker room talking about chicks and bodily functions. I really dislike Gresh and wish EEI could put together a show worth listening to. I try to give Dale and Holley a shot, but they usually have some clown like Thornton or Dickerson on and it's unlistenable. It's amazing how bad their talent decisions are. They let Felger get away but still employ Mustard and Johnson.
What's that?

Benz in a Salk clone. Lou is barely passable as a "baseball guy" and Fauria like zolak minus the actual football intelligence. How Fauria hasn't killed Benz for all of his spygate talk is beyond me.
 

riboflav

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JTComedicGenius said:
What's that?

Benz in a Salk clone. Lou is barely passable as a "baseball guy" and Fauria like zolak minus the actual football intelligence. How Fauria hasn't killed Benz for all of his spygate talk is beyond me.
 
Probably because Benz's opinion is completely made up for the sake of radio.
 

Vinho Tinto

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It's amazing how much EEI has struggled with midday since Dale and Holley were broken up.  The standard is pretty low for what is acceptable since mornings and afternoon drive are where ads money really comes in from. But this show is pretty horrendous. I'd rather listen to a national show like Jim Rome over this hot mess. 
 

CantKeepmedown

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I'd take Rome and/or Dan Patrick over these 3.  Just horrible.  Fauria comes off like a meathead, always laughing and tee-heeing like a 5th grader laughing at an inappropriate joke.  Benz is just.........nothing, really.  He really adds nothing.  Merloni is the best of the three, IMO, and that's not saying much.  
 

bluefenderstrat

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Yeah, this show sucks.   Benz constantly does this "here's an argument no one has made and I'm going to rail against it" routine to try and generate calls & discussion.    Mut was mediocre, but there was no reason to bring Benz in from out of town and (presumably) pay him more $.
 

LMontro

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bluefenderstrat said:
Yeah, this show sucks.   Benz constantly does this "here's an argument no one has made and I'm going to rail against it" routine to try and generate calls & discussion.    Mut was mediocre, but there was no reason to bring Benz in from out of town and (presumably) pay him more $.
 
Steeler fan, Spygate truther, and overall , just a d-bag.  He is awful and I can't listen to that show at all.  Odd choice.  
 

Traut

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Rob Dibble does evening drive on Hartford's local ESPN station. His co-host is so obese he sounds obese on the air. Rob Dibble's show has chunks of MFB in its stool. Rob Dibble's show isn't very good.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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Wow. I had to go back pretty far for this. Anyway, I happened to catch Benz on CSN's SportsTonight this morning. Is h supposed to be "the lone voice above the din of madness" in re to Belichick?

He was pissed that the Pats took the long snapper from Navy. "I thought they were supposed to take a cornerback? Guess you can't question Belichick's greatness around here." Of course Greg Dickerson chortled, agreed with him and gave some "advice". Because when I think Greg Dickerson, I think iconoclast.

TL;DR: Tim Benz is a bozo who gets pissed about nothing.
 

PeaceSignMoose

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Tim Benz's goal in life is to ultimately be a less charismatic Michael Felger.  Sadly, I would take Salk every day of the week over Benz.
 

Humphrey

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PeaceSignMoose said:
Tim Benz's goal in life is to ultimately be a less charismatic Michael Felger.  Sadly, I would take Salk every day of the week over Benz.
I have to agree, replacing Salk with Benz was throwing gasoline on a fire.
 
I just listened to their interview with Welker.  Tim Benz is horrible.  Dumb, unfunny and boring.  How is this guy employed?  He's brutal.  
 
Oh, and lots of awful "Rate Caitlyn Jenner" talk at the end.  Gronk's brother with some genius comments - "Where did those titties come from?  Is that a mangina down there?"  
 
If this is par for the course, this show is awful.  
 

Corsi

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Benz says hes's leaving the show and going back to Pittsburgh.
 

WenZink

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Corsi said:
Benz says hes's leaving the show and going back to Pittsburgh.
 
In 6 months, his name will just be the answer to some obscure trivia question.  Kind of like,  "What was the name of that guy that used to do Sox pre/post game coverage, when the games were telecast on Channel 68?"
 
 

HomeBrew1901

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I tried listening to these guys on my drive back from NH last Friday and I couldn't get over how boring and unfunny they were and it was obvious that they were trying too.  I think the topic was sports movies or something and it just flat our sucked.
 

Phenom

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HomeBrew1901 said:
I tried listening to these guys on my drive back from NH last Friday and I couldn't get over how boring and unfunny they were and it was obvious that they were trying too.  I think the topic was sports movies or something and it just flat our sucked.
 
Yeah, Benz was a lame host. He was probably the most vanilla antagonist in sports radio, and no, that is not a compliment by any stretch.
 

Corsi

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I played softball against Tim Benz once.  Boy did he suck and he's like 5'2''.
 

Erik Hanson's Hook

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Glad Benz is gone. You could combine the best qualities of he and Salk and still have an awful sports talk show host. That time slot has seen some astounding mediocrity since Dale & Holley moved. Benz also suffers from SFS (Shiny Forehead Syndrome) when he's on TV for Comcast. It's...uncomfortable.
 
He and Fauria are painful, but I don't mind Lou. He's obviously knowledgable on the Sox, and his Pats fandom shows itself in a fun way during football season. Wish they could find some good talent to pair him with.
 
Ax Fauria next.
 

BigJimEd

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Erik Hanson's Hook said:
Glad Benz is gone. You could combine the best qualities of he and Salk and still have an awful sports talk show host. That time slot has seen some astounding mediocrity since Dale & Holley moved. Benz also suffers from SFS (Shiny Forehead Syndrome) when he's on TV for Comcast. It's...uncomfortable.
 
He and Fauria are painful, but I don't mind Lou. He's obviously knowledgable on the Sox, and his Pats fandom shows itself in a fun way during football season. Wish they could find some good talent to pair him with.
 
Ax Fauria next.
agreed with everything. Benz was horrible. Didn't think they could do worse than Mut but they somehow managed.

Fauria should be next. He's not insightful at all and he's not funny. He thinks he is which makes it worse. He's among the worst sports radio hosts on the air.

Merloni is solid. Not great but good enough if paired with some decent talent.


EEI needs to start developing some talent.
 

the1andonly3003

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Erik Hanson's Hook said:
Glad Benz is gone. You could combine the best qualities of he and Salk and still have an awful sports talk show host. That time slot has seen some astounding mediocrity since Dale & Holley moved. Benz also suffers from SFS (Shiny Forehead Syndrome) when he's on TV for Comcast. It's...uncomfortable.
 
He and Fauria are painful, but I don't mind Lou. He's obviously knowledgable on the Sox, and his Pats fandom shows itself in a fun way during football season. Wish they could find some good talent to pair him with.
 
Ax Fauria next.
well, at least he is "good" enough to get local TV work unlike Mike Salk
 

Kliq

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I find Fauria passable depending on the topic. I have a low standard of sports talk radio, I thought Benz was just kind of there. I do think this is a great chance for WEEI to go with somebody new instead of just inserting another one of their guys who don't have a steady gig into the hole.
 

PeaceSignMoose

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Kliq said:
I find Fauria passable depending on the topic. I have a low standard of sports talk radio, I thought Benz was just kind of there. I do think this is a great chance for WEEI to go with somebody new instead of just inserting another one of their guys who don't have a steady gig into the hole.
 
Get ready for Middays with Mustard and Johnson!
 

Byrdbrain

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It should be Trenni, Lou and someone other than Fauria.
I've only heard Trenni in small doses but from what I've heard she has been horrible.
I'm all for trying out some new blood but unfortunately it will probably be Ordway or Tanguay.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Benz is awful. I don't remember what the topic was but they one day had a female journalist on the phone and Benz basically sounded like he was trying to bed her, ignoring whatever was saying. Soon after a caller called him out on it and basically said "it sounded like you were trying to sleep with her." His comeback was "yeah and then I did the same with your mom".

Benz is worthless so good luck Pitt. Fauria I find worth something on certain topics, especially for a former athlete's inside view on the NFL, but overall he comes off as a frat boy. Merloni is solid.

I've been pretty surprised at Thornton's contributions at the 4 o clock hour, but otherwise I haven't understood the need for a third guy model that they've gone to.

As an off topic aside, holy fuck whoever does the weekend shows is painful. All of them.
 

NortheasternPJ

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Good riddance to Middays with MFB. They should have hired Bertrand when they had the chance. 
 
Hope they get some new blood in here as echoed above. We don't need Middays with Danny Pichahhhhhd either. Can Fauria, get someone who's not going to be a "bro" with Merloni. 
 

JBJ_HOF

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Byrdbrain said:
I've only heard Trenni in small doses but from what I've heard she has been horrible.
I'm all for trying out some new blood but unfortunately it will probably be Ordway or Tanguay.
Could not agree less. Easily one of, if not the best fill-in hosts. Knowledgeable on all topics, willing to give the needed "hot takez" while not a bombastic host.
 

WenZink

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JBJ_HOF said:
Could not agree less. Easily one of, if not the best fill-in hosts. Knowledgeable on all topics, willing to give the needed "hot takez" while not a bombastic host.
My inclination is to want to see her succeed.  I agree that Trenni is knowledgable and professional.  That being said, I have no idea how she would "settle" in doing a talk show 5 X a week.  I don' t think I 've seen/heard enough of her to predict.  It would certainly be worth a try, but I'm not sure the overwhelmingy male demographic of sports talk radio would warm to her.  We're talking about a frat-boy mentality.. the kind of listeners that chuckle at Tony Mazz recalling his days as a single guy and getting himself some "boob salad."