Just two nights into his tenure as the host of KNBR 680 AM's Sports Phone 680, the evening show that airs at 7 p.m., former big leaguer F.P. Santangelo is proving to be an upgrade over the overly opinionated, sometimes under-informed Damon Bruce.
Bruce is a smart broadcaster who understands the need to attract an audience, so he goes out of his way to be the critic in the wilderness that some Bay Area listeners feel is filled with KNBR hosts who fawn over the San Francisco Giants, Golden State Warriors, and San Francisco 49ers. He found an audience that follows him as he leaves KNBR night time.
Bruce often became so concerned with stirring things up that he skimmed the facts. Not long before he was given the afternoon show on KNBR 1050 AM, he complained that the Giants should've passed on signing hitters Aubrey Huff and Mark DeRosa and signed starting pitcher Brad Penny. It was widely reported that Penny actually turned down a better offer from the Giants to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Minor detail? Maybe...unless you're a Giants fan who wished they'd signed Penny.
Santangelo's shown he's willing to be frank in his assessment of the Giants. He'll just have insight that allow fans to get a wider view of organization.
Bruce was highly critical of Giants general manager Brian Sabean for not signing big-name free agent hitters but rarely knew if big-name free agent hitters met with the Giants or had just dismissed the club's overtures outright.
Santangelo and play-by-play broadcaster Dave Flemming will handle postgame duties following Giants broadcasts this season.
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