McCarver’s list of critics grows along with resume

Tim McCarver will be working his 17th World Series beginning Saturday and ninth for Fox with play-by-play announcer Joe Buck.

His bosses at Fox say McCarver knows baseball, communicates that knowledge well and never shows up unprepared. But for some reason -- maybe because of the visibility of the Series -- he is also a target for criticism. And now, with the proliferation of blogs and websites, it is worse than ever.

There is even a website, www.shutuptimmccarver.com. It includes “McCarver Gems” submitted by readers.

One example is from Game 5 of the 2004 American League Championship Series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.

After Boston’s David Ortiz hit a home run into right field, McCarver allegedly said: “Mt. Everest erupts again!” A number of the site’s readers who submitted the quote pointed out that Mt. Everest is not a volcano.

Here’s another one from Game 4 of the 2005 World Series: “Roy Oswalt is a drop and drive pitcher. What is a drop and drive pitcher? He is a guy who drops and drives. Very simple.”

During a conference call with reporters Thursday, Buck and McCarver talked about such websites.

Said Buck: “I don’t go online, I don’t search out chat rooms or websites or ihatejoebuck.com. That doesn’t even enter into my thinking. That’s all out there.

“If you’re going to cash the checks and you’re going to be the one with your little suit on calling the game, whether it is in the playoffs, World Series, the Super Bowl or whatever it is, you’ve got to realize that not everybody is going to like what you’re doing and that’s fine.

“I don’t like every announcer I hear and I don’t like every TV show I watch and it’s all personal opinion. If I start getting wrapped up in the average fan who starts a blog that doesn’t like the work I do then I’ll be a wreck and can’t do my job. So I just totally disregard all that stuff and it is what it is.”

Said McCarver: “You have to understand that it is a more sensitive world now and from that standpoint, what was said 20 years ago can’t be said today. From a dignified standpoint you have to be more sensitive to the issues of the day. I think it’s a little tougher to be a broadcaster nowadays. I don’t think there is any question about it.

“It certainly doesn’t change your opinions on the air and whether you have strong opinions about a particular play or particular player or about anything about the game. You just try to go about it as honestly and truthfully as you can and you can’t be concerned about all that other stuff.”

McCarver cracked that there are maybe 329 members of the shutuptimmccarver.com club.

“Out of how many computer users, I think that’s a pretty low percentage,” he said. “But it wouldn’t matter if it is 329,629 or 60,329.”

Other weekend events

USC has the weekend off, so UCLA’s game at Notre Dame on NBC Saturday at 11:30 a.m. is in the college football spotlight.

Commentator Pat Haden, who will work the game with Tom Hammond, said UCLA is “a good defensive team out to atone for a poor performance against Oregon.”

Haden also said, “UCLA does some things very well. The Bruins stop the run, rush the passer, and their kicker, Justin Medlock, is the best in the country. If they can keep it close in the beginning, he could be the difference.”

CBS’ Southeastern Conference game of the week is Alabama at No. 7 Tennessee at 12:30 p.m. The ABC game on at the same time is Iowa at Michigan. Tough choice there for those not interested in the UCLA-Notre Dame game -- or if the Irish have already turned it into a rout by 12:30.

On the NASCAR front, there are only five races to go in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. The Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia will be televised by NBC Sunday at 10 a.m. Jeff Burton remains the points leader, and NBC announcer Bill Weber said, “If he can deliver at Martinsville, he will be tough to beat in the Chase.”

The Oakland Raiders play host to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, and guess what? Channel 2 isn’t televising the game. For one thing, it’s a Fox game. At least Fox knows there is no interest in the Raiders. The network is showing the game only in the Phoenix market. But Raiders fans in Los Angeles can listen to it on 570.

USC fans in L.A. may not be able to see Matt Leinart on Sunday, but they can see Reggie Bush -- only not on the field. Bush will be a guest on Fox’s pregame show during the New Orleans Saints’ bye week.

larry.stewart@latimes.com