AJC > Blog > Archives > 2008 > August
August 2008
Oh yeah, I remember this feeling now …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So this is what it feels like when your team is out of it with a month left in the season.
Like all you other longtime Braves fans, I was entirely too familiar with this before 1991, but that was a while ago. And even though they didn’t exactly tear up the NL East the past couple of years, the Wild Card race kept things interesting. Not this year.
A lot of things went wrong this season, things no one could have predicted. Like the fact that the only veteran starter healthy enough to pitch in August would be Mike Hampton. Or that Mark Teixeira and Jeff Franceour would have such terrible offensive seasons. Or that the Braves would lose an astounding 27 (and counting) consecutive one-run games on the road. There’s more, but let’s stop there.
On the bright side (yes, there’s a bright side), we’ll get to see more of Josh Anderson. The 26-year-old outfielder who hit .314 with 42 stolen bases in 49 attempts for Richmond — earning him a berth on the International League’s postseason All-Star team — was called up after Mark Kotsay was traded to the Red Sox on Wednesday. He’ll probably split time in center with Gregor Blanco — another pleasant surprise this season.
Unfortunately, Dave O’Brien says we won’t get to see many other youngsters in September, including outfielder Jordan Schafer or pitcher Tommy Hanson. Oh well, something else to look forward to in spring training.
It seems really strange to be talking about spring training in August, doesn’t it? But that’s what it’s come to around here. I forget: Can the hot stove league officially begin before we hit Labor Day?
So how much of the Braves do you think you’ll watch in September? Will you hang on through the bitter end, like me, even if it’s merely out of habit, or will you just put all your energy into college football or the NFL?
Upcoming TV Schedule
Thursday: vs. Marlins, 7:00, SportSouth
Friday: at Nationals, 7:35, SportSouth
Saturday: at Nationals, 7:10, SportSouth
Sunday: at Nationals, 1:335, SportSouth
Monday: at Marlins, 1:10, SportSouth
Tuesday: at Marlins, 7:10, SportSouth
Wednesday: at Marlins, 1:10, FSN South
Permalink | Comments (48) | Post your comment | Categories: Chop Chick
What will you miss most about Skip?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There’s a pit in my stomach every time I hear Skip Caray’s voice. And the last “So long, everybody,” brings tears to my eyes.
The AJC’s writers (Dave O’Brien, Mark Bradley, Furman Bisher and even Mike Luckovich) have done more justice to him than I possibly could, but I have to honor Skip with this fan’s perspective.
A summer presence since my childhood, Skip made the Braves’ bad times enjoyable and the good times even better. His call of Sid’s slide and the final out of the ‘95 World Series will always be with me, but more important are the many, many times he made me laugh out loud during games that otherwise would have been tough to watch.
After his removal from TV broadcasts, I found myself listening to more games on the kitchen radio, Skip’s and Pete’s voices filling up the room while I puttered around.
And this season, after so many years in contention, the Braves’ struggles brought back the Skip I remember from the 1970s and ’80s — the guy who said exactly what we fans were thinking, only funnier.
The pre-game show on the radio last night was full of wonderful memories and heartfelt thoughts, and Jon Sciambi and Joe Simpson did a great job of honoring his memory during the TV broadcast. They reminded me of all the things I’ll miss: knowing the hometown of each fan who catches a foul ball; the not-so-subtle digs at the umpire, official scorer or network that most recently had ticked him (and usually the fans, too) off; the ridiculing of promos or disclaimers he found useless.
Most of all, though, I’ll miss his perspective of the game and waiting for him to say the next thing that was going to make me laugh. There were countless times that he sent me running to find my husband elsewhere in the house so I could share with him what Skip had just said.
Skip Caray was many things, but what stands out to me most is that he was a fan, just like the rest of us. Braves games won’t ever be the same again.
Permalink | Comments (132) | Post your comment | Categories: Chop Chick
Services »
