Following up on Bob Brenley’s departure from the broadcast booth earlier this week, the good people at Bleed Cubbie Blue check in today with the suggestion that the Cubs use this opportunity to stop their “celebrity” 7th inning stretch conductor and interview.  I’ve been saying this for years.

For those of you unaware, the Cubs started bringing in actual celebrities to sing Take Me Out To The Ballgame following the death of Harry Caray prior to the 1998 season.  What started as a tribute to the late broadcaster has, over the past 15 years, turned into another opportunity for every C and D-List actor looking to plug an appearance at Zanies or their new straight-to-DVD film release.  Just this past season, the Cubs welcomed such luminaries as comedians Tom Dreesen and Jon Lovitz, former Bull Bobby Hansen, and former Bear Donnell Woolford.  If these “stars” were only singing the stretch and then hitting the street, it might be bearable for it to continue.  However, the Cubs give up a half-inning of their broadcast so that Len Kasper can interview these superstars when he should be doing play-by-play.

For years, I would suggest switching over to a tape of Harry Caray singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame.  At this point, though, it may be better to just switch to the organ and letting the crowd lead themselves.  A whole generation of Cubs fans have been raised without hearing Caray and likely hold no special regard for him.