Former UC San Diego pitcher Tim Strombel (2007-08) has found a unique way to stay connected to his alma mater. As the live streaming voice of Triton baseball, water polo and volleyball, as well as the host of UCSD's weekly online podcast, Triton Talk, he is likely better known (and recognized) than he was as a student-athlete. With the 2015-16 college athletics campaign now in the books, the San Jose native shared some thoughts on his on-air style and calling the action at UC San Diego.
Q: When you were playing baseball at UC San Diego, did you ever spend time in the bullpen "announcing" games?
STROMBEL: I was always told I was better at talking about baseball, than I was playing it. I tried to bring my voice and energy to the table whenever I could, supporting my teammates loudly and proudly during our games.
Q: For you, what are the easiest and hardest parts of doing baseball play-by-play?
STROMBEL: The easiest part of doing baseball play-by-play, for me, and the most fun part, is the freedom to describe what you are seeing, interpret why it is happening, and put my own spin and voice to it. You work within the confines of what the game is willing to give you, and baseball is one of those fantastic sports where you never know when you will see something you have never seen before. Not to mention UCSD is blessed with the services of Doga Gur, one of the best SID's in the country. In addition to a myriad of other responsibilities, Doga is always there with stats and notes that bring the broadcast up another couple of levels.
The hardest part about doing baseball play-by-play is the overall timing and structure of the game for the broadcaster. Baseball games can take three-four hours (or more), and 95 percent of the action is routine and uneventful. You have to constantly be ready for that five percent of the action, knowing all the players on both teams and how the situation factors into your reaction to what happens. I think that is the toughest part for any baseball broadcast, because those instances happen in a moment, and then they're over. You don't get a second chance on a live broadcast.
Q: Growing up, who was your favorite sports media personality? Are there any particular individuals you've tried to pattern yourself after?
STROMBEL: Without question my biggest influences would have to be long-time San Francisco Giants announcers Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper, known as Kruk and Kuip to us fans. Growing up, I loved listening to them call baseball games because it wasn't just about the two teams on the field. It was about the ambience, about having fun watching the game, while at the same time remembering it was just a game.
They have a way of bringing comic relief into the broadcast, and that can really break up the tension of a stale baseball game. That is one thing I try to carry over into my broadcasts. The game might be good or bad, but I want to make sure you get a great experience while watching. After all, the viewer has donated their time to the broadcast, so why not make it as enjoyable and entertaining as possible.
Q: Baseball was obviously a natural choice as far as sports to associate with, but you've served as the voice of a variety of others at UC San Diego, including volleyball and water polo. Is there one that you've found particularly difficult?
STROMBEL: I've loved the opportunity to call softball, volleyball and water polo games for UCSD. Luckily for me, I was able to cut my volleyball chops with two of the best volleyball coaches in the nation, UCSD men's volleyball head coach Kevin Ring and UCSD women's volleyball head coach Ricci Luyties. Water polo was great to learn also, especially with UCSD women's head coach Brad Kreutzkamp on the broadcast with me. All three of those coaches are tremendously knowledgeable and they certainly sped up my learning curve.
I've only had the chance to do a handful of softball games over the years, but I would have to say that has been the toughest game for me to pick up. The most difficult part is that it is so similar to baseball in various ways, yet so different in terminology and strategy in other ways. Many people see the sports through one looking glass, but I can tell you firsthand that it takes a real handle and grip on the game to get fluent and fast enough for softball. I've certainly made progress, though, and am looking forward to filling in for more games next season if necessary.
Q: How would you describe your style as a play-by-play announcer?
STROMBEL: Range. The broadcast should be a journey that takes you from A to Z, but the order in which it happens in the middle is fluid. I like to think I can adapt to the tone or mood of the game, recognizing shifts along the way and reflecting them in how I approach the broadcast. Is the game in a tense situation? Maybe I can break that tension with a quick stat or whimsical anecdote about a relevant situation.
In terms of the pure sound of the game, I like to combine play-by-play with color commentary whenever I can. I enjoy attempting to climb into the mind of the athlete to think about why he or she did something, or why they will try to do something soon thereafter. Although for the most part I'm talking to myself, I certainly don't listen to myself, so I would be interested to see how others would classify my style. Feel free to tweet me (@Timmy2Sides) with feedback.
Q: What was your most memorable UCSD call?
STROMBEL: My most memorable call of this past year would have to be the 15th Annual Harper Cup between San Diego State and UCSD (women's water polo). It's a yearly event that had been dominated by the Aztecs since inception, with State winning the first 12 before UCSD got its first win. The game was tied through TWO overtime periods and a golden-goal period. Then, in the second golden-goal period, junior Lauren Boyer made a behind-the-back, no-look shot for the win. It was a huge moment for the program and the team, and a moment that every broadcaster lives for.
All-time, my most memorable call wasn't even with me on play-by-play. It was six years ago (May of 2010) when I was doing color commentary on the baseball broadcasts with San Diego broadcast veteran (and fellow UCSD alum) Craig Elsten on the call. UCSD baseball was one of the top teams in the nation and we were up in Compton for the NCAA West Regional. UCSD had never advanced to a D-II College World Series, and they were one out away from that goal. UCSD pitching great and current Pittsburgh Pirate Guido Knudson was on the mound. Recognizing the moment I was about to witness, I pulled out my camera and became a fan while Guido struck out the last hitter of the game. I watched the players dogpile on the mound, many of them being my former teammates from a year or two before. I couldn't have been happier for the group, and it's a moment I'll always remember. To this day, it was the only time I've ever pulled my camera out on a broadcast to record what I was seeing for myself.
Q: What was your most embarrassing moment behind the microphone?
STROMBEL: That would have to have been when I first started doing play-by-play and I took on a high school football assignment. I was terrible. I've seen plenty of football and always wanted to announce it, but I just wasn't ready to be good and fluent with the flow of the game. Not to mention high school football, when you don't know the players on either team, is tough. It requires a good amount of research and tons of prep if you want to be good. I just remember butchering names and giving poor calls on touchdowns. Luckily for me, that was six-plus years ago. I think I would do much better today, but I'm in no hurry to go back to football.
Q: At UC San Diego, you are also the host of the weekly online audio show, Triton Talk. Is that assignment easier or tougher than calling a game?
STROMBEL: Overall, Triton Talk is much easier than the live sport broadcasts. First off, it's a recorded podcast, so there is always an option to go back and re-record something if you don't like the sound of it, and I've certainly taken advantage of that from time to time. Additionally, I always enjoy conducting the interviews because the pressure is all on the interviewee. Sure, I can steer the interview a certain direction, but they have to provide the gas to get us there. It's a job that is 90 percent prep and 10 percent execution, whereas live broadcast play-by-play is more 50-50.
Q: As an alumni-athlete and someone who is still involved with the program, what are your thoughts about the Tritons' pending move to the NCAA Division I?
STROMBEL: I could not be happier about what the student-athletes, past and current, have done for this program. Certainly the recent D-I vote is at the top of that list of accomplishments for me. I think San Diego has to be on any future college athlete's short list of places they would love to play and go to college. Once the move is made official and an invite to the Big West Conference is in hand, I don't think it will take UCSD too long to become an impact school in the conference. UCSD joined D-II in the fall of 2000 and in only 16 years has won a number of national titles, conference titles and All-America honors. I see the same thing happening in the Division I future for the Tritons.
Q: Dream announcing job? How would you handicap your chances of ever getting it?
STROMBEL: For most broadcasters, the dream job would have to be the big show, the pinnacle of whichever sport you are announcing. For me, that would be a Major League Baseball team. Those positions are few, far between, and rarely open up. So the odds of one of those positions are not good. However, you miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take. In that light, I'll be a happy broadcaster as long as I'm announcing for a quality franchise or school that supports its program. So No. 1 would be play-by-play announcer for the San Francisco Giants. No. 1A would be the historic, longtime voice of the Tritons! Now I just have to do the work!
Previous Triton Q&A Features
Jim Ragan (Men's Golf) April 11, 2016
Taylor Tanita (Women's Basketball) February 25, 2016
Courtney Miller (Women's Water Polo) February 5, 2016
Megan Gesner (Women's Fencing) January 29, 2016
Tanner Syftestad (Men's Volleyball) January 4, 2016
Grant Jackson (Men's Basketball) December 18, 2015
Stephanie Sin (Women's Swimming & Diving) November 25, 2015
Beth Mounier (Women's Basketball) November 17, 2015
Nick Alexander (Men's Water Polo) October 21, 2015
Myles Cooper (Strength & Conditioning) October 6, 2015
Jordyn McNutt (Women's Soccer) September 8, 2015
Cameron McElfresh (Men's Soccer) September 1, 2015
Daniel Franz (Men's Cross Country) August 17, 2015
Meagan Wright (Women's Volleyball) August 10, 2015
Chase Cockerill (Men's Water Polo) August 3, 2015
Kelcie Brodsky (Women's Soccer) July 27, 2015
Kuba Waligorski (Men's Soccer) July 20, 2015
Nate Garcia (Cross Country) July 13, 2015
2014-15 • 2013-14 • 2010-13 • 2004-09
#TritonsRising
