Chapter 1: Why is Bruce Beck considered a broadcasting legend?
When we were talking about the local NBC, the sunny day that is today, and opening day, you think about someone like Bruce Beck, who is a sunshine, rainbow, just amazing type of uplifting spirit. So we are getting Bruce Beck on the phone momentarily, as Al is just making sure he's on a good, solid line so we don't have to have him drop. Bruce is pulling over.
Bruce is pulling over just to talk to us. That's how... He'll be on the side of the road with that other guy. On the side of the road. But I wanted to talk to Bruce today because I think he just personifies the type of day that it is.
You think he's on Roosevelt Avenue underneath the train line?
Maybe. That's not a great place to pull over because of these old parking spots and everything else.
It's a lot of busy things. He's on the median underneath the viaduct across the street from Citi Field. Yeah, I mean, that's a possibility as well. Right. That would be on the north side of Citi Field. Anything is a possibility. But here he is ready to go.
The one and only from NBC, Bruce Beck. Good morning, Bruce. How are you?
Geo Boomers, good morning. It's baseball opening day. Are you ready?
Yeah! More so now that we're talking to you. This is just the perfect day for you. And, you know, my parents were loyal NBC local news people growing up. So I've been watching you forever growing up. Even I was telling Boomer a story in the break where last year after an event in the city, went to breakfast with my wife and Janice Huff is coming out of the place. I go, oh, my God, Janice Huff.
So, like, you guys have meant a lot to me, and I appreciate your work, and it's an honor to talk to you today. So, yeah, I mean, this has got to be ā I mean, you still, after all these years of covering baseball and covering New York sports, still love today like you always have, huh?
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Chapter 2: What makes Opening Day special for fans and broadcasters?
That's right, Bruce. We're talking to Bruce Beck, eight-time New York Emmy Award winner of WNBC here in New York. So you mentioned you had a one-on-one with Soto and others. Were you able to crack Juan Soto a little bit? He's a tough one to crack in these interviews. Did you get anything out of him? You're right.
He is a little bit close to the vest. I do believe he thinks this team's got the components that can get them to the postseason and perhaps a World Series. I tried to talk about the relationship with Lindor because there was a lot of discussion about that during the offseason, but I think that cooler heads have prevailed. I think these guys will certainly get along. I think they did get along.
I just think that there's changes abound, and when you look at a team that changed its core dramatically, there's a lot of questions with the Mets. There's a lot of excitement, but it's a different group. Everybody rooted for Alonzo and Nimmo and Diaz and McNeil, but now they've got Marcus Simeon and Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert and Devin Williams.
I mean, there's a lot of questions, but there's also excitement because the Mets fans believe it was time, I think, to try something new, although they said goodbye to some of their favorites.
Yeah, I don't know if the Mets fans felt as passionate about changing as much as David Sturridge did. And, you know, I think he did the right thing. I thought he brought in professional baseball players, including Luke Weaver. There's going to be a lot of change in the coaching staff as well, six new coaches. I mean, there's, you know, hope springs eternal, as you said, Bruce.
And this is the time where, like, when I look at this Mets team, I see a lot of professional baseball players on this team. There's not a lot of minor leaguers. Like some people think. I would say that I'm excited about Carson Bench. I'm excited about Nolan McClain. And there is a lot to be hopeful for.
I think if you look at the Mets and what happened after June 13th last year, they were 38-55. And they had a $340 million payroll. It was a collapse. And so David Stearns talked about defense, solidifying defense first. I'm not sure that all those questions were answered because he's got Bo Bichette at third base playing a different position.
He's got Polanco over at first base, hasn't really played there. But this team, I think, is just trying to reinvent things. And I believe with Soto and Lindor, two MVP candidates every year. that they will have a very good offense. Bo Bichette, the most clutch hitter in baseball last year, I think he will really add something to the middle of that lineup.
I think the pitching staff is the question.
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Chapter 3: What insights did Bruce Beck share about the Mets' new season?
What is going to happen with that staff? Peralta will be good. I think McClain, who had eight starts last year, will be an outstanding pro for many years to come. He's only 24. You saw what he did in the World Baseball Classic. But what about the rest of that staff? Clay Holmes, Sean Minaya, what will Senga do? David Peterson is solid given, but is that staff good enough to propel them to 90 wins?
That's the question.
Bruce, you've seen it all throughout New York sports in your career. There's been so many people who have come and gone, and you have stayed here. Who are some of your favorite players throughout the years and coaches to have covered?
I mean, I'd start with Lou Carneseca. Nothing happens in the performance that doesn't happen in the rehearsal. I would go to Tom Coughlin, Eli Manning, Michael Strahan, Derek Cheater, Pete Alonzo. Aaron Judge, Mariano Rivera, the salt of the earth. I mean, there's David Wright. There's no one who embodied what the Mets were better than David Wright. There's so many.
It's hard to point to just one, but I think this whole industry and the way you do survive is you build relationships. I tell kids all the time, attention to detail, preparation, but relationships is more important than anything else. You have to be in the locker room. The only way to get the pulse of the team is to be in the locker room, to be at practice, to be at games.
You can't do it just on the phone. You can't do it in the studio. So if you grind out there, it's old shoe leather mentality. You can build relationships and find out also what a team is really thinking.
Working with the kids. That's right. This is Bruce Beck.
Yeah, he's a guy.
I want to work with my kids. Yes, exactly. That is tremendous. That is beautiful. And Bruce, I do.
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Chapter 4: How does Bruce Beck prepare for a pregame show?
You've got the New York Liberty. You've got the New York City Marathon. You've got the U.S. Open every year. You've got the Belmont State. It's such a privilege to cover this stuff, and I don't take it lightly. I never do. And I just believe that if you go about the day with a positivity and an infectiousness, I think it works. Jeter once said to me, tough but fair. And I believe in that.
I think I can ask a tough question. I think I can do a tough interview. But don't make it personal. make it fair, and build relationships and trust. And if you do that, no one can ever look and say you didn't do your job fairly or well.
Bruce, you got two big fans right here forever. Thanks for joining us. Have a great time covering opening day today. What opening day is this for you? Do you know what Mets opening day it is for you? What number?
This is my 29th with WNBC. I mean, I was at Yankees opening day in 1961 with my dad. when Maris won the game in extra innings with a homer, and Mantle also homered in that game. Hell, you're that old? Yeah, yeah, I'm that old. Damn! But the thing is... You got some work done? I've had so many of them. I remember Mel Stottlemyre, who had seven or eight opening day starts and four shutouts.
So opening day is... Wow, my heart's pounding. And it's pounding because I once remember talking to Sparky Anderson... He had managed over 3,500 games at the time. He was working with the Tigers at the time. I went in for a pregame chat. And I said, Sparky, are you nervous? He goes, yeah, I'm nervous. Why are you nervous? He goes, the day I'm not nervous is the day I quit. I said, why?
He said, because it means I care. So I think that little bit of nervousness, the anxiousness, means that you're passionate and that you care about the product. And, hey, I'm on my way to Citi Field instead of going to some 9-to-5 job. Like, who am I to complain, right? Absolutely, Chris. That's exactly right. Tomorrow I'm going to St. John's Duke. I mean, this is a great time for New York sports.
It's really one of the electric times of the year, and I think the Reds can get to the Final Four. I really do.
Oh, that would be great. And hopefully we see some winnings, some more winning, a championship maybe here in this town. Thanks, Bruce, for hopping on this morning. Enjoy today.
Thanks, guys, very much. And let's play golf in the spring. I want to get shots from Boomer. Yes.
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