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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2009 > January > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTough job replacing Skip and Pete
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So you think the Braves replacing John Smoltz will be tough? Well, try finding the successors by spring training for Skip Caray and Pete Van Wieren, both nationally known broadcasting gods and both as associated with the franchise as Aaron, Spahn and tomahawks.
That’s bases-loaded pressure until the new Skip and Pete are hired. In other words, the Braves can’t afford to blow this.
“No doubt,” said Derek Schiller, the Braves executive vice president for sales and marketing. He also is the point man for this decision. “For any team, broadcasters represent the primary way in which fans learn and follow your team. They are an extremely important mechanism in everything that the team does on the field and in the community. They become powerful messengers of the brand.”
Not only that, Schiller knows true baseball fans huddle more with the radio and television guys of their favorite team than with family members and friends. He knows his choice of the new Skip and Pete will affect choppers and chanters for maybe a couple of generations.
He also knows a wrong decision can get somebody fired. That is, if you don’t get it, but Schiller gets it. He said he hopes to have the new Skip and Pete by the end of the month. He confirmed that Milwaukee Brewers announcer Jim Powell is among the finalists for one of the spots.
“This is an unusual situation in that we are searching for two broadcasters at the same time, and I think in a lot of cases, you’re looking for one, where you’ve had one person retire or one person move on to another job,” said Schiller, who was forced into this situation. First, Caray died in August after 33 years with the Braves. Soon afterward, his broadcast partner for that stretch, Van Wieren, retired.
You had the humor and sarcasm of Caray to complement the professional and analytical ways of Van Wieren. You had them during those horrific days for Braves from the mid-1970s through much of the 1980s. You also had them during those unprecedented days of the 1990s through the early part of this century when the Braves won 14 straight division titles. So, if you’re a Braves fan, you’ll always have Skip and Pete in your heart. Thus the major problem for Braves officials: They won’t find another Skip and Pete.
“Having gone through a lot of different tapes and videos of broadcasters out there, one of things I’ve noticed is the difference of style,” said Schiller, stressing that he won’t hire a screamer. “What we believe is important, and what we believe has been the essence of Skip and Pete through the years, is that they’re very conversational. You almost feel like you’re sitting in on two people next to one another on your couch and talking Braves baseball.
“My hope is that anything that we do with our broadcasters going forward (that same Skip and Pete feeling is) what we’re trying to represent. It should be very easygoing, comfortable and, certainly, a bit entertaining, but at the end of the day, it should be informative about what’s going on with the game.”
Just a personal note: I was a Big Red Machine fan, and I fumed with others after Cincinnati Reds officials fired the great Jim McIntyre as their radio voice after the 1970 season. They hired a 26-year-old nobody without major league experience. I couldn’t stand him at the start, but I couldn’t get enough of him by midseason.
His name was Al Michaels.
Permalink | Comments (54) | Categories: Braves/MLB
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By Mr. Obvious
January 12, 2009 2:50 PM | Link to this
Contrary to the beloved Skip and Pete, it will be MUCH easier to replace Frank “Wrong Again” Wren.
Smoltz deserved better.
The Fans deserved better.
By GW
January 12, 2009 3:02 PM | Link to this
I hope they get at least one announcer with some connection to the Braves’ history. Carpetbaggers can be here today, gone tomorrow. What is the status of Chip Caray on radio?
By Nocahoma
January 12, 2009 3:33 PM | Link to this
It is time to get over it and move on…The Braves offered Smoltz a chance to pitch this year with a contract that could have earned him over 10 mil…Smoltz is a rich guy…The Braves alone have paid him over 130 million…If he had wanted to pitch for the Braves he would have taken the deal…Two Million did not make this decision…Smoltz realizes that he has one last chance to pitch in the playoffs and he also knows that the Braves are rebuilding…He deserves this chance…I just do not understand why he could not just admit it…I attended my first Braves game in 1966…Smoltz is one of my top five Braves players of all time…Let him go win a championship…
By Najeh Davenpoop
January 12, 2009 3:41 PM | Link to this
Anyone but Chip.
By atlpaddy
January 12, 2009 3:47 PM | Link to this
Please God, do not let the new announcer be Bob Rathbun. With Derek Schiller in charge, I’m not feeling too confident, though.
And oh yeah, FIRE FRANK WREN!
By Raleigh Brave
January 12, 2009 4:10 PM | Link to this
Don’t forget Ernie Johnson!!! The Braves of yore are gone. No more Superstation. No more ever enlarging fan base. Chipper is next on the block and then when Cox goes. That will be that. The Braves may win again but the good ol’days are gone for good. And don’t forget Al Michaels went on to become a national announcer. We love Pete and Skip and Ernie because they were family. Michaels is big time but a corporate guy.
By smokey
January 12, 2009 4:11 PM | Link to this
I’d like to see Don Sutton back. I know some don’t like him but he explained the nuances of pitching very well.
I agree, No Bob Rathbun and please don’t go all nostaligic and hire Skip’s youngest.
By smyrna dave
January 12, 2009 4:13 PM | Link to this
The current management team has managed to fire or run off a very talented array of staff that was in place throughout the 90’s. I have every confidence that a sub-par individuals will be doing play by play; not many great decisions have been made since Stan Kasten was shown the door.
By Matt
January 12, 2009 4:16 PM | Link to this
GW, Powell is from Roswell and he knows Braves history well. He will be a good replacement if chosen.
By Plate Appearance
January 12, 2009 4:19 PM | Link to this
NOT JIM POWELL
I recently read an AJC article where the Braves were considering the Brewer’s Jim Powell for the next Braves broadcaster.
Please, not Jim Powell!
He’s the antithesis of everything Skip and Pete were in the booth.
If you’ve listened to Brewers baseball, as I have — with a MLB internet radio subscription, Powell sounds exactly like a clone of Bob Uecker, without the humor.
In other words, he’s totally unoriginal.
What does it tell you about a broadcaster when someone fully takes on the style and sound quality of the other broadcaster? That he’s really not his own person!
Get someone who’s original, a knowledgeable baseball person, and is willing to give his opinion — even if it doesn’t stick with the so called “party line”.
I’m all for trying to bring Don Sutton back — or for trying to get Pete to come back on at least a part time basis!
But please not Jim Powell!
By bulldogbubba
January 12, 2009 4:20 PM | Link to this
If any Braves official reads these,s blogs I want to say also”DO NOT HIRE BOOB RATBURN for any job with the Braves. He is about the worst you can do. Him and Jeff Torborg were the worst announcers ever!!!!
By Terence Moore
January 12, 2009 4:24 PM | Link to this
GW,
Somebody else asked me earlier today if the Braves could get somebody with ties to the team. I gave them my Al Michaels story. Michaels had no ties to the Reds. He was an announcer for a minor league team in Hawaii.
That said, the Reds did keep their color guy named Joe Nuxhall when they made the switch for the 1971 season from Jim McIntyre to Michaels. Nuxhall was a legendary pitcher for the Reds, so there was the connection.
Nuxhall started in the broadcast booth with the Reds in 1966. And before he died a year or so ago, he lasted through Michaels and current Reds play-by-play guy Marty Brennaman.
So … maybe one of the two announcers could have a Brave connection.
Any suggestions?
By Marc
January 12, 2009 4:24 PM | Link to this
I’ll still miss Skip and Pete, but good luck to the new guys!
By Kirk Mims
January 12, 2009 4:27 PM | Link to this
I wish they had kept Don Sutton. It was a short sided decision to let him go. It was obvoius that Skip and Pete were getting close the end.
By Herschel Talker
January 12, 2009 4:32 PM | Link to this
It will be easy to replace Skip. He was a hack whose baseball knowledge was non-existent, he was rude, and his taglines were as trite as Terence’s writing. Rest in Peace, Skip, but his act wore thin many, many years ago.
By Roger
January 12, 2009 4:43 PM | Link to this
Skip and Pete can not be replaced. Sure, they can find a couple of guys to do the job but they can’t and never will replace Skip or Pete. Skip was always there with a “left field” comment or joke and the professor “Pete” was always there with his far reaching baseball knowledge. I think with the problems the Braves have had with signing new players, loosing Smoltz and our two best announcers, it will be a long 2009 season. I also believe that attendance will be off at Turner Field this coming season. Let’s just hope the announcers hired will do half the job Skip & pete did.
By Olin
January 12, 2009 4:48 PM | Link to this
I haven’t heard anyone mention Mark Lemke. He has a wonderful radio voice and certainly knows the game and is loyal. Why not?
By Frank
January 12, 2009 4:57 PM | Link to this
I would think they need to think about lookin into getting Mr. Sutton back into the fold.
He has a connection to the Braves, having the humor-side of a broadcast team, and as a former player, he has knowledge of the game.
My gut feeling it doesn’t happen because of the way he was let go the first time….but I think it would go toward bringing in someone who would make one-half of the new Braves broadcast team, enjoyable to listen to.
By Chazs
January 12, 2009 5:07 PM | Link to this
I would like to Boog move up. Jon Sciambi has the knowelege, easy demeanour and just enough wackiness to work out. I see him, if given time, as the next Skip.
By bravesfanbob
January 12, 2009 5:10 PM | Link to this
I’ve got an idea! Fire Wren, and hire him as the broadcaster. Then the fans behind home plate could throw tomatoes at him. They can’t do that through the glass in his office. Actually, Lemke would be a good color guy, but leave room for Smoltz, although he will probably work for ESPN. Boog and Joe do a good job, as they made the games in August and September enjoyable last year, and that took a lot of work.
By Buzzed
January 12, 2009 5:16 PM | Link to this
Why did they get rid of Don Sutton? I liked him better than the new guy last year!
Let”s face it, it wasn’t about money. Smoltz left because he didn’t feel like he was getting the respect he deserved. That had been going on since before the “home-boy upstairs” episode….
By JSS
January 12, 2009 5:17 PM | Link to this
The two guys on their Spanish broadcasts are excellent (yes they speak English too!!!) and I think one of them should move over. As for new voices with play-by-play experience, Josh Caray has had some time in Rome. I will caution that if the Braves move in the manner I suspect they are leaning, we might get the horrible racist out of Macon, one Bill Shanks… Heaven have mercy on us all… I just want one good baseball man or woman on the air…. Three person booth, and some chemistry…
By George
January 12, 2009 5:20 PM | Link to this
How about Milo Hamilton teamed with somebody….??? You’ve got history, experience, a great voice….
By SCOTT
January 12, 2009 5:20 PM | Link to this
The BRAVES are doom in every way until the team is sold to someone who really care about wining again . Turner feild will have thousands of empty seat for years to come .How sad
By Bob Horner
January 12, 2009 5:26 PM | Link to this
Let’s lure the drunken knuckleballer Phil Neikro to the booth and let him slobber into the mic for a few hours a night. Wouldn’t be much difference from Don Sutton. That clown got sauced in the booth on many occasions.
As long as Chip Caray is not in the mix, I’m happy. Or Barfin’ Bob Rathbun.
How about Ronnie Gant? That guy is proving to be a solid broadcaster
By Marc
January 12, 2009 5:34 PM | Link to this
Olin-
Lemke actually wouldn’t be a bad x-player to have in the booth. Throw in a good baseball fan, I mean “broadcaster”, and you have a good duo I think. Good call.
By Kris
January 12, 2009 5:38 PM | Link to this
What is the deal with Chip?
By simpleton
January 12, 2009 5:38 PM | Link to this
i agree, bring back LEMKE!
By Jim Powell = Bob Uecker CLONE _ (Yes, really.)
January 12, 2009 5:43 PM | Link to this
Mark Lemke sounds like he has a wad of “chaw” in his mouth when he calls a game.
Regarding Jim Powell -
When you listen to a Milwaukee Brewers game on XM Satellite Radio or via MLB.com, it truly is a near-IMPOSSIBLE task to distinguish Bob Uecker from Jim Powell.
Unless you are listening very intently at the moment one of them announces that the other is taking over the broadcast for the next few innings, you simply CANNOT tell their voices apart and don’t notice any difference.
Actually, Mr. Uecker HAS talent, an actual knowledge of baseball and a sense of humor.
Other than that, there is no difference.
By Marie
January 12, 2009 5:49 PM | Link to this
I miss Skip and Pete… Hershel Talker - you’re an idiot. and you would certainly know rude.
By tim
January 12, 2009 5:50 PM | Link to this
Herschel Talker-obviously Skip must of refused to answer some sort of inane baseball question for you on the radio or something….I never met the man, but heard and read many stories…All Skip ever did for me was to keep me connected to the games with wit and humor that you didn’t or don’t get….sorry for you.
By Matt From PA
January 12, 2009 5:54 PM | Link to this
You have my vote for Lemke. He has a really down to earth style and no one is going to mistake his voice for anyone else.
Speaking of Smoltz…..I thought Smoltz was awesome as one of the analysts on the Phillies division series this past fall on TBS. I hope when he retires the Braves can get him as the pitching coach or at least up in the booth.
By The Voice
January 12, 2009 6:12 PM | Link to this
How about Scott Howard…oh wait he’s already replacing a legend and doing it very well
By P. Rose
January 12, 2009 6:21 PM | Link to this
On the air, Chip Caray comes off as annoyingly arrogant. It is one thing to allow your third-generation broadcasting pedigree to go to your head. But Chip goes beyond that - he presumes to “know” the unknowable. For instance, down by a few runs late in the game, he typically will prematurely declare the Braves losers, as if his privileged bloodline makes him privy to the future: “And the Braves will fall to five games under .500…” when the frickin’ game is not even over yet. Or before the game even starts he’ll make demeaning comments like “The Braves will play the role of spoiler against the Phillies in tonight’s game,” when the Braves haven’t even been mathematically eliminated yet - as if he already “knows” that a miraculous run down the stretch is not in the future. His superiority really gets under my skin.
By Steve
January 12, 2009 6:32 PM | Link to this
Neither Gant nor Lemke are polished enough for full-time broadcast duties. The guy I’ve been pleasantly surprised with is John Sciambi, but I guess he’s locked into doing the TV gig. That’s a shame, as he is very, very good at what he does.
I can’t understand all the opposition to Chip Caray. He’s smooth, knows his baseball, and knows the Braves.
I’d say Sutton and Chip Caray could be successful. But if you’re thinking of “replacing” Skip and Pete, forget it. They are absolutely irreplaceable.
By Howie in Augusta
January 12, 2009 6:40 PM | Link to this
You nailed this need TM - - No there won’t be another Skip and Pete just like there’ll be no other Larry Munson(Who by the way was a Braves radio voice before being at UGA )- - I’ve listened to the Braves since 1966 when they started with Milo Hamilton and Ernie Johnson and for whatever reason I believe they’ll find adequate replacements for Skip and Pete…Gosh I hope so because I can’t find them on TV anymore….Go Braves!!!
By braves 4 ever
January 12, 2009 6:41 PM | Link to this
Terence, I to listened to Joe and Marty as a Reds fan as it was the only station in Va that carried Reds baseball and we had No ESPN ! just Sat (1) game baseball that NBC carried. I was 10 at the change out of Al and Marty and listened to thousands of games through the Big Red Machine years of the 70’s. Then in the 80’s when the super station started I got to become a Braves Fan for life. They would make a good comparison to Skip and Pete as I remember the games on Radio were as real as being there, with Life ,Color, Stats, History and just good ole baseball. We need to find some real guys out in the native land who nobody in broadcasting knows but who knows baseball and Braves plus make a radio become ALIVE.
By BravesFanInRockies
January 12, 2009 6:48 PM | Link to this
Mr. Moore,
Thanks to XM, those of us who live outside the broadcast area can listen to the Braves feed of the home games. I was lucky enough to hear most of Skip’s final games, having no idea he was about to leave us.
And I absolutely agree. Finding the right voice to tell the stories is no small task.
By NOT Chip
January 12, 2009 7:06 PM | Link to this
Anyone BUT Chip Caray. I can’t stand that guy. When he does tv I hit the mute button and listen to radio with the tv. On the other hand I thought Don Sutton was fantastic. True insight and as comfortable as Chip is annoying.
By Ernie
January 12, 2009 7:08 PM | Link to this
Uh, how about Chipper? Getting kind of old now but still has that quick uh, wit.
By John
January 12, 2009 7:19 PM | Link to this
Sciambi is a f”””’ disaster. He has an annoying, cloying voice and no attachment to Atlanta, which if anyone has noticed, is in Georgia, a southern state. Enough with the homogenization, please! Surely there is a local type person or two and a person who can bring a human perspective to the disastrous season that is coming.
By mr baseball
January 12, 2009 7:42 PM | Link to this
Just to confuse the folks, how about bringing back short-term ex-Braves announcer Dave O’Brien (now with ESPN), and have him occasionally interview the Braves’ beat writer on air. Might be more entertaining than Letterman’s “Oprah, Uma,” bit.
By Plate Appearance
January 12, 2009 7:53 PM | Link to this
GET PETE’S INPUT
I’d really like to see the Braves management team get Pete Van Wieren’s opinion on which announcers to hire next — and to attach an extremely strong weight to his opinion.
Who better to ask than Pete? He was the best in the business! He is the best in the business!
Why not consider some young talent coming up? Someone who’s been doing minor league baseball, for example.
And yes, please do go with someone who’s both conversational and knowledgeable — and not a screamer!
I like Jeff Torborg a lot! He provides real insight into the game, and yet in a pleasant, conversational way.
By Tim
January 12, 2009 8:17 PM | Link to this
TM - I grew up listening to Brenneman and Nuxall do the early 70’s Big Red Machine games….”this one belongs to the Reds!” Given the state of the bravos this year, we need an announcing team similar to the early Skip and Pete….since the team is going to be horrible.
By harry
January 12, 2009 8:22 PM | Link to this
Late last season, after Skip had died, my wife and I talked about the changes in the broadcast booth and how the camaraderie would be changing there. Well, Joe and John may not be Skip and Pete, but they’re of the same mold. My wife and I think they’re worthy successors, but they are their own team. Just like Skip and Pete were. We’ll take them on their merits.
By OldBravesBag
January 12, 2009 8:36 PM | Link to this
Skip and Pete can never be replaced……we were so lucky to have them……
By Billy
January 12, 2009 8:40 PM | Link to this
Milo Hamilton, 66-75 was the BEST voice this club ever knew, until Pete Van Wieren arrived in 1976, since then all the others have been third rate. There is no one left out there that is worthy of having the title, voice of the Atlanta Braves.
By Najeh Davenpoop
January 12, 2009 8:45 PM | Link to this
I don’t mind Bob Rathbun for Hawks games, but I have a feeling he would talk too much during Braves games and get annoying.
Sciambi isn’t horrible, but I’m sure they can do better than him though.
Of course, like most of the rest of y’all I’ve been listening to Skip and Pete my whole life, so I’m a little spoiled when it comes to commentator quality.
Like I said earlier though… anyone but Chip.
By Howie in Augusta
January 12, 2009 8:47 PM | Link to this
I agree with John about Sciambi - The dullest, most listless, annoying tv play-by-play guy I’ve ever heard…He’s the reason I need a good radio broadcast crew….Joe Simpson is not bad - I guess I’m used to him after so many yrs. and Sutton was OK…Remember when John Sterling (THUH Yankees win THUUUH!)did Braves games?? And that guy is the pride of NY now? And I agree with everyone that Chip is no Skip…I just hope that Frank Wren has nothing to do with acquiring an A-one broadcast team as his record as GM speaks for itself….
By JohnnyTide
January 12, 2009 8:58 PM | Link to this
Pete was fine and I will miss him but Skip was short and rude to people trying to learn the game.
By magman
January 12, 2009 9:32 PM | Link to this
Bring Don Sutton back.
By Michael
January 12, 2009 10:07 PM | Link to this
I definitely think Mark Lemke is worth a shot. He sounds pretty good and knowledgeable on the pregame and postgame shows and obviously has some baseball knowledge.
I have liked Chip Caray for a while. He’s not the grumbly guy his dad was, but he’s definitely got the tools.
Don Sutton is definitely good at the job. If he could be lured back here, that would benefit everybody.
I think the key to whatever combination is used is you need to have a good balance like Skip and Pete did. Going with Al Michaels, you need a team like him and John Madden. I’m not saying I like the two, but they kinda complement each other. Al Michaels does a good job of play-by-play, and Madden spouts off the stupidest and most obvious stuff, but in a way that’s entertaining.
I just hope the Braves can stay away from any Fox announcers. I’m still cringing from the loons that called the BSC championship. Fox’s baseball people haven’t been good since ever, and ESPN still tortures us with Jon Miller and Joe Morgan.
By fordcobra
January 12, 2009 10:11 PM | Link to this
I think we need to worry about another starting pitcher and Heavy Hitter before we worry about a mouthpiece.
By kent m
January 12, 2009 10:20 PM | Link to this
Skip and Pete were boring beyond belief.Skip was all style, little content.