Braves

By The Captain

April 28, 2006 12:48 PM | Link to this

Quite frankly I think it’s crap. While Jeff Torborg is a heck of a lot better than Tom Paciorek, there’s no replacing the usual suspects. For those of us out of state who can’t listen to the games on the radio, that means we’ll only get to hear them on the 2 games that TBS airs a month.

By John

April 28, 2006 12:48 PM | Link to this

This is a complete travesty. Bob Rathbun is the worst announcer in sports. I refuse to even listen to him on FSN, and now I forced to deal with him on Turner South? Skip, Pete, Don and Joe ARE the Braves. All Braves fans should let Fox Sports know how disgusted we are by this.

By Scott

April 28, 2006 12:48 PM | Link to this

Just another example of corporate America taking over. They couldn’t care less about what the fan wants, only what lines their pockets. I guess I will be using the MUTE button during broadcasts. It could be worse. We could still have Tom P. calling games! Please Mr. Blank…BUY MY BRAVES!

By debi

April 28, 2006 12:48 PM | Link to this

I just wish I could get Turner South

By Gobraves01

April 28, 2006 12:49 PM | Link to this

It sucks hardcore!!! I love Skip, Pete, Don, Joe, and Chip. It doesn’t feel like Braves Baseball if they’re giving the play by plays.

By lilianralton

April 28, 2006 12:50 PM | Link to this

It absolutely stinks.These fox guys bored the hell out of me.They do not know our braves like our own broadcasters and most of the time when the game is on they are having discussions about entirely different subjects. Fox also run ads while the action is still on. They might as well talk cricket but then again I probably know more about international cricket than the bunch of them together.Hell NO!!!!!!!

By Jared

April 28, 2006 12:51 PM | Link to this

ARGGGGGHHHHHH!!!! I guess quality is not something Fox is interested in…

By Chris

April 28, 2006 12:51 PM | Link to this

This is the worst decision ever. The Fox Sports guys are cheesy at best.

Bring back Skip and Pete!!

By Farnum

April 28, 2006 12:51 PM | Link to this

By bill

April 28, 2006 12:53 PM | Link to this

Another out of town person who thinks they know what best for Brave’s fans. Give us back out broadcast team.

By Scott

April 28, 2006 12:53 PM | Link to this

Hey DOB, do you have any information on how to contact FSN to let them know how we feel? Maybe if enough people air their complaints, they will rethink this decision? Can you imagine anyone taking games away from Harry Caray? Or how about another broadcaster besides Vin Scully doing the Dodgers? Ripping away our tradition is the start of them dismantling our franchise? WHERE ARE YOU ARTHUR????

By Scott Sapp

April 28, 2006 12:53 PM | Link to this

i love listening to a good game called by the ‘home team’ in a hammock ON THE RADIO.

By Jman

April 28, 2006 12:54 PM | Link to this

IT SUCKS!!! It doesnt get any better than Skip, Joe, Pete, Don, and Chip. Truly sad news! Cant they wait until next year to do this? I like Rathbun, but Torborg is ridiculous! Terrible, terrible news. I hate it. Guess I’ll be turning the sound down on the TV and listening to radio play by play. Now if Liberty Media gets the team life is really gonna suck for us Braves fans. Fox has screwed up TV coverage, and if Liberty gets the team then the streak ends next year folks. Things are falling off one-by-one. At least we’ll win it this year.

By ck

April 28, 2006 12:54 PM | Link to this

I wont miss Skip and his pessimistic attitude at all. His comments are all but inspiring.

By Brian

April 28, 2006 12:56 PM | Link to this

This is just one of the MANY stupid things Turner South has done recently. Name me one person that likes listening to Bob Rathman, he gets on everyone’s nerves and is clueless to calling a game. How can they justify this moronic move? How convenient that there is no way to contact Turner South via their website. Turner South is NOT my South!

By Cecilia

April 28, 2006 12:57 PM | Link to this

Kiss my grits and we are turning it off. Guess we should have expected something like this..sorry that such personable icons of Atlanta sports broadcasting are being tossed aside. Who is next???

By Mark

April 28, 2006 12:57 PM | Link to this

After watching one spring game with Rathburn and Torborg, I have not watched another. Now, it looks like I will be limited to watching 70 games on TBS and finding something else to do with the rest of my summer. And it won’t be hard, believe me. Fox can do what they want, but the Braves are losing viewers faster than they can count and it will eventually be felt at the gate. Selling to Liberty will just accelerate the decline —— what a travesty. With the Braves off to such a lousy start and now dissing their TV crew, the timing could not be worse for this franchise. What happened to the days when the team actually had a say in who broadcast their games?

By Mark

April 28, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this

This is an absolute disaster. I could not be more displeased with this decision. If the new company wants to alienate and upset the core audience that watches these games, then they have accomplished that fact. Skip and Pete are part of the charm of Braves games. They know the players, have been around them for years, and I almost feel like I know them. Why??!!???? I can not reiterate this enough about what a horrible decision this is. Did they not know about the outcry that happened a couple of years ago? Maybe we can convince these guys like we did a few years back to reverse this awful decision. I guess hope is all I got at this point.

By Voice of Reason

April 28, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this

I think it’s time to come off the hip for the $140 it costs to acquire the DelayPlayRadio device that syncs up the radio broadcast with the TV broadcast…

By Wilson

April 28, 2006 12:59 PM | Link to this

Rob Rathbun is a helmet-haired doofus. His web page is at http://www.bobrathbun.com so go at it.

By jclark

April 28, 2006 12:59 PM | Link to this

I have to say that I’m a bit tired of Skip Carrey anyway. Listening to his radio show has convinced me that he is a very rude guy. I haven’t enjoyed listening to him for quite a while.

By Tony

April 28, 2006 12:59 PM | Link to this

Come back to the Cubs, Chip and enjoy national exposure.

Go Cubbies!

By Matt

April 28, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this

It’s hard enough listening to Joe and Don but this really sucks. These guys are clowns. Guess I’ll be getting a “replay radio”!

By Monica

April 28, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this

So what is FSN going to do next - ban the seventh inning stretch? Skip and company are about as traditional. That absolutely stinks. Guess I won’t be watching the games that are on Turner South - or I will mute the TV and find Skip and company on the radio.

By E.T.

April 28, 2006 01:02 PM | Link to this

The ATL takes another direct hit. The “every day is an opening day” slogan gets more and more ridiculous. “Every day is a closing day” is more like it. Thanks to Skip, Pete, Joe and Don for many years of great fun.

By George

April 28, 2006 01:02 PM | Link to this

I think it totally stinks. As far as I am concerned Skip & Pete ARE the Braves. Without them I will watch far fewer games…maybe none.

By brent

April 28, 2006 01:02 PM | Link to this

Skip can not be replaced anywhere or anytime. He is the voice of the Atlanta Braves in my opinion. This goes right along with the $7 beers at The Ted for why I have gone to fewer and fewer games the last 9 years, despite that fact that I live in town and make over $100,000.00. Going to a Braves game is just not as fun as it used to be…and I dropped my AOL service a few years ago as a result.

By You Sir Are No Skip Caray

April 28, 2006 01:02 PM | Link to this

Bob Rathbun is horrible. A terrible move by Fox! Mute the sound and crank up the radio.

By Fred

April 28, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this

F**k Fox

By Ryan

April 28, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this

BOO!!! Bob Rathbun Sucks. There is no replacing Skip and Pete!

By Kenny

April 28, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this

Baseball is supposed to be about traditions. Free agency and greed have done a lot to take loyalty and team out of baseball. So if we lose players all the time, we can at least depend on the announcers we have come to know and appreciate. Not so fast. Corporate media could not care less. When Pete and Skip go that will be that for me. I like Joe and Don but I still miss Ernie. What’s UGA football without Munson? I hate to think. When there’s no more Skip and Pete, my loyalty will be gone. There’s certainly nothing on the field or in the corporate penthouse to admire.

By Chris

April 28, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this

This P** Me Off I see this as major disrespt for those like pete skip don and joe who have been bringing us braves fans great broadcast for years Bob Rathbun and Jeff Torborg are not even on the level when it comes to broadcasting.

By Brad

April 28, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this

Living in Montana, I would love to be able to get Turner South, but not as much right now. The Braves guys are awesome and I can’t imagine why they would be replaced. I love listening to those guys on MLB.com’s radio broadcasts, they do such an awesome job.

By CURTIS

April 28, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this

Wherever you are if you turn on Turner and hear Skip and Co doing a Braves games you feel sort of at home. That’s too bad.

By Dick

April 28, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this

As the old saying goes “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Chip Carey was a nice new bright spot on the announcing crew, he could make Don Sutton tolerable. I had rather have Sutton by himself than Jeff Torborg. Just because you played ball or coached doesn’t make you a sports announcer.

By mountaingtfan

April 28, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this

Guess I will have to turn the TV off and the radio on. It never ceases to amaze me haw many people outside Atlanta know just what Atlantans want. Come on Arthur…the Braves are more exciting than a bunch of fish!

By Gram

April 28, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this

I am bitterly disappointed! I will tune in less because of this travesty. We have the best announcing team in baseball. They are like family to me and thousands of other Braves fans. Why change? So disappointed…..

By G

April 28, 2006 01:05 PM | Link to this

Idiots.

The Braves with this team was the ONLY thing I ever watched TSS for. That’s the end of that.

By mountaingtfan

April 28, 2006 01:05 PM | Link to this

Guess I will have to turn the TV off and the radio on. It never ceases to amaze me how many people outside Atlanta know just what Atlantans want. Come on Arthur…the Braves are more exciting than a bunch of fish!

By Steve

April 28, 2006 01:05 PM | Link to this

*READ ME*

I have yet to meet one person that has been a Braves fan for the past 15 yrs or more that does not love listening to Skip, Pete & Don. This is like when they changed the recipe for Coca Cola. What are they thinking? Skip and Pete are the only link we have to the Braves from the 80’s, before all the new fans and division wins. Something needs to be done, before we are months into this Torborg/Rathburn deal. Any ideas???? let me know, i will do whatever it takes. This isn’t an idle BLOG idea, let’s make something happen people.

By Gram

April 28, 2006 01:06 PM | Link to this

I am bitterly disappointed! I will tune in less because of this travesty. We have the best announcing team in baseball. They are like family to me and thousands of other Braves fans. Why change? So disappointed…..

By Michael

April 28, 2006 01:06 PM | Link to this

I disapprove of this change. Skip, Pete, Don, Joe, and Chip are the best in baseball. It is more than enough to be forced to endure the FSN broadcasts. They should leave the Turner South broadcasts alone.

By JD

April 28, 2006 01:06 PM | Link to this

Perhaps Mr Caray Jr shouldn’t have been so condescending to fans for so many years before he changed!

Hey Skip! I hope a cut in pay is in order!

By Mr. David

April 28, 2006 01:07 PM | Link to this

This is terrible! My 81 year old mother-in-law who NEVER misses a game will be devistated.

I don’t have the heart to tell her. Where do we call to protest this?

Next thing you know they’ll be replacing Dave and Val on Junkin’. Marvin Woods will be replaced by some line cook from Olive Garden on Home Plate!

By Ronnie

April 28, 2006 01:07 PM | Link to this

Anyone going to the game tonight? Make a sign!

By KB

April 28, 2006 01:07 PM | Link to this

What a mistake! The current crew is the best. The thing I like best about Carey & Crew is that they areFair and balanced. Isn’t that what Fox is all about?

By ERIC

April 28, 2006 01:08 PM | Link to this

I THINK IT REAllY SUCKS, MAN, REALLY SUCKS…fu fox!!!

By mike p.

April 28, 2006 01:08 PM | Link to this

here is another example of greed.fox could care less about the fans period.they have better announcers than rathburn and torborg. p.u.!!why do we atlantan’s have to put up with a third rate announcing team?use former players to call the games not a washed up manager waiting for his next gig.we deserve better.we need arthur blank!!!

By John

April 28, 2006 01:11 PM | Link to this

Haven’t we been through this before? Didn’t someone try to replace our beloved announcers and there was such an uproar that they were brought back? I hope Fox is listening. I didn’t watch any games on TV last time they were booted and I won’t this time. Better break out the radio again.

By JD

April 28, 2006 01:11 PM | Link to this

btw, if the Braves had a real manager, they’d have more than one ring after FIFTEEN divisionals!

Geez, anyone could manage the talent they’ve had to the division title.

They need a real manager to win the big one.

A motivator.

A Lasorda! A Torre! A Martin! A Pinella! A Sparky!

Anyone but Cox…….Same thing year in, year out! Bland….Bland….Bland…..

By Allen

April 28, 2006 01:12 PM | Link to this

Terrible Decision. Those guys are great! Fox is screwing up BIG time!!

By towner

April 28, 2006 01:12 PM | Link to this

bob rathbun is the worst broadcaster i’ve ever been forced to listen to. did anyone listen to him broadcast the georgia football games that come on sport south? he is terrible! i don’t know why he’s been allowed to carry on with braves games for so long. we need a private owner who will listen to fans that will take things like this into account before making stupid decisions. rathbun blows.

By Mac McLemore

April 28, 2006 01:13 PM | Link to this

Hey Fox Sports,

Letting ANYONE replace our Braves “regular guys” is ridiculous. It reminds me of the way I felt when Dominque was replaced by Danny Manning. Ludicrous! You should have been thankful - you had the BEST baseball broadcasters in the game!

You not only tried to fix what wasn’t broke - now you broke what didn’t need to be fixed. I speak for Braves fans everywhere. I’m glad you didn’t acquire the Varsity. You would have replaced the chili dog with sushi and the frosted orange with Perrier.

By pat

April 28, 2006 01:13 PM | Link to this

I hope Fox will change their minds, we can barely stand these two once a week. We love Skip, Chip, Pete, Don & Joe and the whole gang. Thanks

By Jimmie

April 28, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this

Did you know that you can rearrange the letters in “Bob Rathbun and Jeff Torborg” to spell “Complete Assface Morons”? It’s true!

By JD

April 28, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this

Posers

Losers

Big Game Folders!

By Amy

April 28, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this

I agree with other comments- it doesn’t feel like Braves baseball without Skip, Pete, and the others. Braves fans let their voices be heard when Time Warner tried pulling Skip and Pete off TBS a couple years ago- let’s make sure Fox hears us, too.

By sb

April 28, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this

There is a fan forum on the FSN South home page. We could all post messages on this page about how this is the worst idea they have had EVER!

Follow this link… http://msn.foxsports.com/regional/south?workingCategory=273

By Rebecca

April 28, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this

What would we give for the days when Ted was around? The worst merger in history, just gets worse and worse.

By Todd

April 28, 2006 01:15 PM | Link to this

Absolutely TERRIBLE! Skip, Chip, Pete, Don & Joe give the broadcasts a local feel as they have the knowledge and experience to present the Braves.

By Randy

April 28, 2006 01:16 PM | Link to this

In the future when the Braves are on Turner South. I will simply turn it off and turn on the radio. I will not support the switch to Rathbun and Torborg. Fox can take their new station and shove it! Major League Baseball needs to step in and realize moves like this are hurting their product. LISTEN TO THE FANS!!

By Brent

April 28, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this

We knew this was coming the moment Fox bought the network.

I’m just a little surprised they decided to make the change in-season.

Also, it looks like some announcers will be looking for work in the off-season.

By dylan

April 28, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this

I just wanted to point out this doesnt came from the sale of the actual braves just the sale of turner south I am not sure arthur balnk ever had any real interest in turner south adding a failing network only makes sense if you are already a successful network that can use the new acquisition to showcase sporting events or niche programming. With all that said I cant stand rathburn and torborg makes references that predate paciorek which I didnt think was possible.Fox likes to be the young station on tv and they do everything to appeal to the youth why is it then that on their sports channels they use people that relate to youth about as well as Bob Dole.for God sakes fox put together a tema of younger guys like maybe chip caray, mark lemke, and ron gant.At least those guys might talk about players we have actually heard of.

By Rip Curlsin

April 28, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this

I just vomited. No pun intended but Turner South will get the “skip” button on my remote. Will have to go OLD School and listen to them on the radio. (I assume pete and crew will still do radio?).

Braves announcers are storytellers and they are the major reason why I fell in love with the team. My favorite line last year was when Skip noted that Joe Simpson was vacationing in Destin, Florida and he was probably wearing a speedo right now. I can only imagine Joe’s reaction as he watched the game while on vacation. It is sad to see that chemistry become so underappreciated. That type of dialog is the art form that makes Braves telecasts one of a kind.

By Red Sox Braves fan

April 28, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this

I’m a Red Sox fan transplanted to Atlanta and I have divided loyalties now because of Skip, Pete, Joe, and Don. They’re on my radio all spring, summer, and into fall. If corporate America takes them away, I may stop listening every day to the Braves. And stop caring … what twerps these corporate types are. I’m rooting for Arthur over Liberty Media.

By Jeff

April 28, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this

Fox is basically a pack of idiots-Braves have had the greatest broadcast crew in all of baseball for years-I’ll only watch TBS games for the rest of the year and then (after 25 years) I’m outa there-sadly.

By Ryan

April 28, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this

This is rediculous. The sale of the Braves to Time Warner/AOL is looking like the worst decision ever made, judging from all the stupid decisions taking place upon the resale of the team. The IRS should look into this deal and make Liberty Media pay taxes on the sale, so Arthur Blank can restore OUR HOMETOWN TEAM to hometown ownership.

By JD

April 28, 2006 01:18 PM | Link to this

C’mon folks, familiarity does not equal greatness. This team is mediocre at best!

Skip has always hated his and the Braves own fans. He has a sense of entitlement ala his Dad.

Just ask him about the infield fly rule if you are a newbie to the game and watch him go apopleptic.

Any announcer who ridicules the teams fans (as he did for several years) is not worth anything.

The crew here will never approach legendary status no matter what this team does.

By evan

April 28, 2006 01:18 PM | Link to this

What I think is crap is the reduction of games on TBS. All TBS shows is redundant repeats of old comedy shows, B comedy movies, and worthless censored versions of “Sex In the City”.

I don’t thing TBS has to show every game, but they can surely show more games than the do, especially Friday Night and Saturday games.

That’s the real travesty!

By E_Rod

April 28, 2006 01:18 PM | Link to this

It’s about time Skip and his condescending ways were kicked to the curb. Maybe Fox can do us another favor and take over the AJC that way we can get rid of some Moore sport people.

By Chris

April 28, 2006 01:19 PM | Link to this

It is crap…we all know who are the true voices of the Braves!

By Carolina Lady

April 28, 2006 01:20 PM | Link to this

There are no words to express the disgust I feel at this change. Baseball fans are loyal to a fault; the long-time announcers are part of our collective baseball family and we want them back. Period.

Is it boycott time, yet?

By linda

April 28, 2006 01:20 PM | Link to this

Well. I will be putting up an antenna to enhance radio reception because i will NOT listen to those jokers that Fox thinks are so great. This is TRULY a travesty.

Arthur Blank, we REALLY need to to step up to the plate and not let Liberty Media take over, because that will just be one MORE media fiasco trying to own OUR braves.

Heck… Let’s start a conglomerate and each of us pitch in $100 per share… i would be the City of Atlanta … and surrounding areas out to rome, athens, douglas, macon, etc etc would come together to have a TRULY publicly owned team… keep our GM, Cox, and broadcast teams… this is just SO not RIGHT!!!

my heart is broken to think i’ll be seeing less and less of Pete and Skip, not to mention Chip, Don and Joe

shaking head sadly

please someone fix this before it’s too broken!!

By Tom

April 28, 2006 01:22 PM | Link to this

This is like the Dodgers getting rid of Vin Scully. Pete and Skip are a southern tradition. They are a summer tradition

By Kelli

April 28, 2006 01:23 PM | Link to this

Hey, Wilson, I tried the link to bob rathburn’s website. It didn’t work. Never mind though. I’m going to turner south’s website and cuss a few people out. Everyone who is as upset about this terrible move as I am need to e-mail and write Fox and Turner South. This is ridiculous. They couls have atleast consulted Braves fans first. Once again, fans lose. F**k you Fox!!

By Matt

April 28, 2006 01:23 PM | Link to this

A complete travesty. I will no longer watch Braves games, or any other programming on Turner South or FSN South.

By Robi

April 28, 2006 01:23 PM | Link to this

This is a bad move for those of us that do not get to go to as many games since we are used the the brave voices.

By JD

April 28, 2006 01:23 PM | Link to this

$100 a share……..

Laughing at the naivete…….

By Al

April 28, 2006 01:25 PM | Link to this

Hey! I LIKE Bob Rathbun! I also like eating shards of glass and telling children that there is no Santa Claus!

By David

April 28, 2006 01:25 PM | Link to this

You mean to say that FOX is doing something dumb and wrong? And, this should surprise us in what way? It’s FOX for crying out loud. I believe that the News portion (if it can be called that) believes in appointed Presidents.

I’ll still listen on WSB and watch the game when it’s NOT on FOX.

By Larry

April 28, 2006 01:25 PM | Link to this

Way to go, Ted! Look at what your terrible decision has led to. Won’t miss Skip and his attitude, but it’s a terrible decision nonetheless!

By Brian

April 28, 2006 01:25 PM | Link to this

This is a travesty. It has been difficult enough keeping up with Braves games getting shifted around over the past several years between TBS, FSN, Turner South, etc. At least with TBS & Turner South you could count on the same announcers. I have DREADED those nights when games are on FSN simply because of Bob Rathbun and until this year, Tom Paciorek. Bob Rathbun is grating, cheesy, and unlike the Turner crew…DOES NOT KNOW BASEBALL. He divies up his time between various sports rather than just learning and calling one game. They made a good move replacing Paciorek who is a nice man but not an enjoyable broadcaster. Torberg is better but who wouldn’t be. Skip & crew are Braves baseball. Corporate entities are constantly trying to make broadcasts more generic to try and appeal to larger audiences and get away from “homers” calling games. What Fox Sports is not comprehending here is that those who turn on Turner South are turning to watch the BRAVES and not a generic play by play. This SUCKS and my wife will be happy that I will now not be watching on nights when games are on Turner South.

By John Robert White

April 28, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this

This is just totally wrong. Come on, Fox is doing away with some of the best announcers in the history of baseball. That would be like the Falcons trading Michael Vick and I know that one isn’t going to happen anytime soon and I am glad that at least someone has some sense. I do not mind listening to Rathbun, but this is one of the worst moves that I have ever seen. Fox should be ashamed of itself.

A network with any sense would see what the fans and players think before doing this. I guess this is just Fox showing that they do not care about what us fans think, just like Fox News in my opinion. Please, Fox can you survey the fans on this one and then make a sensable decision based on it? That would definitely produce results that favor Skip, Pete, Don, Chip, and Joe. Those five are second to none in announcing. This is also like what it would have been if the Cubs had decided while Harry Carry was alive to replace him with someone else. There are just certain announcers who you cannot replace and this crew is one of them. Rathbun is better in announcing basketball anyway. So, as a result, I think that this is one of the stupidest decision that I have seen in a long time and Fox, you should be ASHAMED of yourself for doing this as you might cause the Braves to lose some fans as a result. It won’t result in me changing to like another team, but it sure has affected a lot and it definitely affects at how I look at Fox and just how arrogant they are and how they will do whatever they want and not what the fans wishes are. Go Braves, but FOX just plain SUCKS!!

By dbird

April 28, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this

Oh my God! this is BAD! Hope they know they will lose a lots of Radio Fans. Why does the corporate world do this? Nothing was wrong with them. What the HECK is going on.

By Brian

April 28, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this

The only people I can think of who are happy about this are at 96 Rock. This is such crap! This is why we need Arthur Blank to step up and buy our Braves.

By Dennis

April 28, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this

Arthur,

If you build the franchise, we will come!

No disrespect but the Fox announcers are terrible! We will just have to turn on the radio and tune out your sponsors.

By Mike B.

April 28, 2006 01:28 PM | Link to this

This is ridiculous. Didn’t we do this a couple of years ago? As has been said before, Skip, Pete, Joe, and Don (and now Chip) ARE Braves baseball. I’ve been listening to Skip and Pete call games for 25 years, and I’m only 29. Someone please put a stop to this…no disrespect to Rathbun et. al., but taking these guys off the air would be like replacing Bobby Cox with a magic 8-ball.

By Deenie Culver

April 28, 2006 01:29 PM | Link to this

I agree that Bob Rathbun is an idiot! What bothers me the most is that Skip, Pete, Chip, and Joe were replaced by a complete idiot (Bob Rathbun). Jeff Torborg is a baseball man and knows what he is doing but Braves fans are going to rise up. In fact, I will not watch Fox and will listen on the Braves Radio Network instead…that is how strongly I feel about this. They will be sorry.

By Mike

April 28, 2006 01:30 PM | Link to this

This is crap!

By ROH

April 28, 2006 01:31 PM | Link to this

This is absolute crap. Nobody wants to listen to Bob Rathbun or Jeff Torborg. Guess I will be finding something else to watch. The luxury of having Skip, Chip, Don, Pete, and Joe is if there is nothing on TV, you can just turn it over to Turner South and watch a game (no matter who the Braves are playing)and being entertained. Guess the new owners don’t want to keep viewers entertained.

By Craig

April 28, 2006 01:31 PM | Link to this

Do what I’ve been doing for years..TV sound down, radio on.

By scott

April 28, 2006 01:32 PM | Link to this

shouldnt fox know what happende recently when they banned them form some tv games. this is terrible.

By aaron ayers

April 28, 2006 01:32 PM | Link to this

what a load of crap. Skip, Pete, Don, Joe, and Chip are as much a part of Braves baseball as Bobby Cox! Good job Turner South, you just bought your way into much lower ratings. I disliked having to listen to those guys on FSN Wednesdays already, now its only going to get worse.

By Jeff

April 28, 2006 01:32 PM | Link to this

Well so much for watching the Braves on Turner South. Those guys just plain old fashion stink

By modest

April 28, 2006 01:32 PM | Link to this

Oh hell no! FSN sucks! Their broadcasters are the worse in all of sports. WTF!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I am so p** off right now. Are the big money corporations trying to make us hate watching/going to games? This is freaking insane. I am so p** off right now. Thanks for ruining my Friday.

By JR

April 28, 2006 01:34 PM | Link to this

Well don’t that just suck? Now not only do we have to listen and learn who the new players are, now we have to learn who the new broadcasters are too?

By Marty Perez

April 28, 2006 01:36 PM | Link to this

I’ve been watching the Braves since 1969. Skip Caray was always an obnoxious creep. Now he’s senile. Good riddance. Milo was the best pure broadcaster the Braves ever had.

By Gretchen

April 28, 2006 01:37 PM | Link to this

I just emailed the idiots over at Fox Sports. We should all give them a piece of our mind and tell them not mess with our Braves. Maybe if we flood them withe emails maybe they will think twice.

By mike p.

April 28, 2006 01:37 PM | Link to this

hey j.d. if you know so much about braves baseball then give us a better solution about the broadcast team,not the baseball team.this forum is about broadcasting!!!!!!!

By LG

April 28, 2006 01:38 PM | Link to this

Bad Decision

By BB

April 28, 2006 01:38 PM | Link to this

BRING BACK THE BRAVES ANNOUNCERS, THE OTHERS ARE HORRIBLE.

By Joe

April 28, 2006 01:38 PM | Link to this

Ad sales should go up for radio stations carrying the Braves. Rathbun is adequate, Torborg is a marginal upgrade. Fox should let someone who’s actually seen a baseball game hire their on air talent.

By Steve

April 28, 2006 01:40 PM | Link to this

We need to organize a boycott. Fox will listen when they start losing market share and can’t get any advertisers.

By Kelli

April 28, 2006 01:40 PM | Link to this

I just e-mailed Fox Sports also. I told them they suck doggy balls among other things. What a bunch of a-holes!!!

By JTS

April 28, 2006 01:40 PM | Link to this

Well, that is just fewer Braves games that I will watch on TV. Braves baseball is not worth listening to without Pete, Skip, Don, Joe and Chip. What happen to the motto, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”??? Long gone are the days of Pro Sports when the Fans mattered, now it is all about the money.

By Henry

April 28, 2006 01:41 PM | Link to this

Terrible decision. I like Jeff Torborg more than Tom Paciorek, but Bob Rathburn gets on my nerves. Why would you would replace two hall of fame announcers (with the other three being VERY GOOD announcers) is beyond me. Is this a cost-related move or just based on stupidity?

By Dave

April 28, 2006 01:41 PM | Link to this

This is F#?%/! Bull#$*@!! I cut the volume down & listen to the radio!

By Bravedawg

April 28, 2006 01:42 PM | Link to this

Who cares about Rathburn and Torborg!!! Listening to them is like watching paint dry. We want Skip, Pete and the crew. I will turn down the sound and listen to the radio feed. Once a week on FSN is too much and now this!!! No Skip, Pete, etc. will be like DQ without ice cream!!! Come to your senses FSN!!!

By James

April 28, 2006 01:43 PM | Link to this

It’s about time. Skip Caray has the communication skills of a rock and the personality to match!

By ned

April 28, 2006 01:43 PM | Link to this

THIS MOVE SUCKS!! fox doesnt know how to manage news and now its baseball. Skip,Pete, and the crew are the ones braves fans want im sure some boycott of turner south games will change this horrible decision, braves fans need to be proactive!!!

By Jack

April 28, 2006 01:45 PM | Link to this

Total nonsense! Rathbun and Torborg can’t match any combination of Caray & Co. Why fix what isn’t broken

By Dr. Andy

April 28, 2006 01:45 PM | Link to this

There was a restaurant here called Rio Bravo. It was popular. It changed owners. The new owners changed the menue. Rio Bravo is out of business! Sound familiar? What ignorant corporate MBA thought of this? “Let’s see. I think I’ll strip our product of it’s public identity. Cut the viewership by 50%, then increase the viewership by 25%.” Sounds like a loss of income to me.

By DD

April 28, 2006 01:48 PM | Link to this

DITTO!!!!! These comments need to be forwarded to Fox. The broadcasters stink, are boring, and do not know the players! Please God do not let my mute button break!

By Hughes

April 28, 2006 01:48 PM | Link to this

Why to try and fix something that is not broke.

By L. K. Lee

April 28, 2006 01:48 PM | Link to this

I stopped listening to the radio broadcasts long ago because of Skip and his rude comments. As a faithful listener of many years, I observed his grumpy old man demeanor evolve into just plain old MEAN. I will definitely listen to the games that he is not part of. Good move, and long overdue!

By careylenn

April 28, 2006 01:48 PM | Link to this

I WILL NEVER WATCH A MINUTE Back to the radio for me.

By NocAHoma

April 28, 2006 01:49 PM | Link to this

Bob Rathburn is the biggest dork in all of broadcasting! I hate listening to him on the Wednesday night broadcasts! I could tolerate his AM radio morning DJ voice one night a week…but more than that will be intolerable!

By Jim

April 28, 2006 01:49 PM | Link to this

Don’t break up the “team!” They work well together on the air and communicate well with the team. This is “Our South” so keep “Our” team here.

By Travis

April 28, 2006 01:50 PM | Link to this

I’m a Braves fan living in Oakland, and this is HORRIBLE news. WHY??????

By Ben T. Wood

April 28, 2006 01:51 PM | Link to this

Well just tell the bastards that we won’t watch… how about that? Radio is fine and good announcers are everything… besides I can work and be productive while listening to the radio…

So they can kiss my a@#$ and suck up to Time Warner and the rest of the scum that are ruining the sport and the fans’ experience with it.

By Bernie

April 28, 2006 01:51 PM | Link to this

Can anybody say Cronyism?

By MK

April 28, 2006 01:52 PM | Link to this

I agree that these comments need to be forwarded to Fox. I will miss the voices of one of the greatest teams in baseball. It will not be the same. There is not need for a change.

By Shawn B

April 28, 2006 01:52 PM | Link to this

This is GARBAGE!!!!!!!! I’ve been muting the TV and cutting on the radio on Wednesday nights for years when Fox Sports South broadcasts the games, and now I’m going to have to do it on almost all the games. WHAT IS FOX THINKING???? Yet another example that corporations have no respect for sports fans and no respect for the tradition of baseball. The only thing worse than this is if another corporation buys the Braves team, WHOOPS, my god I’m living in a nightmare, someone please WAKE ME UP!!! MR BLANK, HEEEELLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPP.

By Chris

April 28, 2006 01:52 PM | Link to this

Why do people do stupid things such as this?

By Connie

April 28, 2006 01:53 PM | Link to this

It will be like listening to the Ga Dawgs without Larry Munson. Fox could care less about the fans!

By Tony

April 28, 2006 01:53 PM | Link to this

When will these network guys learn? The nation has been watching the Braves and listening to these announcers for years. These guys are one of the reasons the Braves are so popular around the country. To the long time viewers, they are the Braves as much as anyone in the organization, and they’re good announcers too. Terrible decision.

By Donna

April 28, 2006 01:53 PM | Link to this

If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

By ned

April 28, 2006 01:54 PM | Link to this

EVERYONE E-MAIL TUNER SOUTH WITH YOUR COMPLAINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Turner.South@Turner.com Turner.South@Turner.com Turner.South@Turner.com Turner.South@Turner.com

By Butler

April 28, 2006 01:54 PM | Link to this

So Fox killed the Rick and Bubba show on Turner South, and now they’re pushing Skip, Pete and the gang overboard?!!! What pencil-head is making these decisions? I’ve NEVER heard a Braves fan say anything good about Rathbun compared to Skip & Pete.

By Stephen

April 28, 2006 01:55 PM | Link to this

I hate this move Pete and the guys have been there from the start and to this to them is just plan wrong. Wish pete and the guys luck when they leave because of stuff like this next season. Guess I’ll just have to watch the game they show on TBS now. THANKS TO FOX FOR KILLING THE THE RATINGS,

By Colonel

April 28, 2006 01:55 PM | Link to this

Ugh. Another slap in the face. I travel all over the US and, now that TBS doesn’t show all the Braves games, I end up watching alot of broadcasts by other teams. The crew that the Braves have is the best in the business. I can’t imagine why anybody would want to use anybody else. I’m praying for a miracle - that Arthur Blank can get the team. I hate having the team owned by Time Warner and I will hate having it owned by Liberty Media. Ted Turner should be tied to a pole and horse whipped for ever selling his company, and the team, to Time Warner.

By Jimmy

April 28, 2006 01:55 PM | Link to this

This is terrrible. I hate watching games on FSN. The anouncers are terrible. Everyone grew up listening to chip and pete and they are the Braves anouncers. It is wrong to replace them.

By Matt

April 28, 2006 01:56 PM | Link to this

Rathbun is a no-talent poodlehumper and it looks as if he bleaches his teeth with a rod of plutonium. This guy is so desperate for jobs, you can hire him to come announce for your kids birthday party. (I am not joking, go check out his website) As for Torborg, he has potential as an announcer, but not for the Braves. Its obvious that he has no interest in the Braves. Other than a lack of interest in our beloved hometown team, these two guys are lacking in one other important department: CHEMISTRY! Count the awkward dead air moments next time you catch a game on the FUX SPORTS NETWORKS. Lord knows you will have plenty of chances to now. This sucks. We’ll miss you Skip, but at least you have taught me not to step on downed power lines. Thanks buddy.

By tim

April 28, 2006 01:56 PM | Link to this

I can’t believe this!!!! Pete and Skip ARE THE VOICES of the Atlanta Braves. I refuse to listen to Bob Rathbun and Jeff Torborg! I already turn them off and listen to 96.1 FM when fames are on FSN. Braves fans, we need to make some noise about this and show Fox we are a Braves family and will not tolerate this level of disrespect!! We love Skip, Pete, Don, Joe and Chip and will accept nothing less than having this decision reversed.

By Jason

April 28, 2006 01:56 PM | Link to this

I realize that the guys work for Turner and that the games will be on Fox….but I really hope that something can be worked out for next season. Skip, Pete, Don, Joe, and Chip are as much a part of the Braves as Chipper Jones, John Smoltz, or Andruw Jones.

By LAWRENCE

April 28, 2006 01:59 PM | Link to this

I CANNOT STAND LISTENING TO RATHBUN. HE HAS NO IDEA ABOUT BASEBALL AND MY WIFE AND I CANNOT STAND TO WATCH A BRAVES GAME WHEN HE IS ANNOUNCING!!!!! HE IS JUST NOT A BASEBALL COMMENTATOR. BOTTOM LINE. I WILL BET ANYONE THAT THE VIEWING PERCENTAGE DROPS WHEN HE CALLS A GAME. ITS THAT BAD

By greg

April 28, 2006 01:59 PM | Link to this

Hey turner south, here’s an idea, why don’t you just loop Journey’s Greatest Hits and play that during the game instead of live broadcasters. And then you could get a couple of 30 somethings to collect junk from toothless rednecks and re-sell it on the internet. Just an idea. Good luck surviving the next ten years Turner South.

By bw

April 28, 2006 01:59 PM | Link to this

I have grown up listening to Skip, Pete, Don, Ernie (back in the day) and Joe and I thought Chip was a great addition to keep the tradition alive. It won’t seem like a real Braves game without them. I dread FSN broadcasts and mute the game and turn the radio on whenever I can. It seems to be a bit of slap to traditional braves fans. The braves are a tradition in my family, and these guys brought the true experience to life. Nobody can call a big homerun or disect pitching better than this crew. And there is no better memory than listening to Skip scream braves win after the Sid slide. Come on Fox get it together.

By JStone

April 28, 2006 02:00 PM | Link to this

You people need to get a life. And get over it. This is not national security. And moreover, Rathbun is a pro who will do a solid job as always. And as an aside, those of you who think Time Warner is/was a “local” owner are as wrong as you can be.

By Matt

April 28, 2006 02:00 PM | Link to this

But hey, look at the bright side. At least every Braves game will still be televised. Could you imagine living in a market where you could only see half of your team’s games on TV???

By Artman

April 28, 2006 02:00 PM | Link to this

Quite frankly, the pompous attitude of the broadcast crew was getting old, particularly that of Skip Carey. Well, now that the Braves reign is over, the attitude may have disappeared anyway.

By Randall Haire

April 28, 2006 02:00 PM | Link to this

The reason viewership has gone down for the baseball playoffs in the last several years is because Fox insists on using that Buck character which everyone who enjoys the Braves will tell you is anti-Atlanta Braves and is anti-South all together, of course this is just another way for Fox to squeeze a little more joy out of baseball for all of us. Frankly its just crap!

By Headhunter

April 28, 2006 02:01 PM |