Even that first call might have worked out if Tom hadn't already had so many lousy ones that night. Eddie's problem was that he hesitated at the start, and Tom was primed for garbage. Nevertheless, his potential, I think, was evident: he didn't try to put on a show; he answered Tom's questions straightforwardly; he showed a capacity to provide nice detail.
I love Eddie. He just seems like a regular guy. He doesn't come off as consciously trying to be funny, even as he seeks to entertain. He isn't full of appreciation of his own performance. And, best of all, for some reason he makes Tom laugh every time, and it's always a relief when Tom gets a kick out of an ordinary caller. We make him so impatient so much of the time.