ajcsportstalk

By Nikki

October 5, 2006 01:05 PM | Link to this

Thanks, Fox. :(

By ALAN

October 5, 2006 01:10 PM | Link to this

this is a bad call…..

By Gary

October 5, 2006 01:12 PM | Link to this

Sutton is my favorite. There is just no better insight into what a pitcher or hitter may be thinking than that of a Hall of Fame 300-game winner. Even though I like all of the braves announcers better than those of other networks, the one I could most easily live without is Skip. I’m just not into the bad jokes he makes to fill air time. Pete, Joe, you guys are great and a pleasure to listen to.

By nitwit

October 5, 2006 01:16 PM | Link to this

They should have gotten rid of Joe Simpson and his goofy “Chucky” James references. Sutton was smooth, I liked him alot he gave accurate insight to the game. Also many years ago while he was pitching with the Dodgers he got in a fight with Steve Garvey. Sutton was perceivedas the bad guy for taking on Garvey the most beloved player in the game at that time. Well, as the years have gone by we found out what Garvey was all about and I for one began to appreciate Sutton as a person and a broadcaster. I think he was a good guy, I wish him well.

By Turn2

October 5, 2006 01:21 PM | Link to this

Geez… and his hair was just beginning to look somewhat normal — adios Don

By nitwit

October 5, 2006 01:22 PM | Link to this

Also,I don’t really care for Chip Carey. I like his dad ok, but Chip just seems like that geek down the street when he talks about baseball. It’s hard to respect an announcer when he has not played a sport beyond sandlot ball, especially ih he is just a young whooper snapper like Chip is.

By Mark Biles

October 5, 2006 01:29 PM | Link to this

Don Sutton was a knowledgeable, funny, and easy-going announcer that was absolutely a joy to listen to. The way he and Skip picked at one another was always amusing, especially since it was always done in good fun.

I’ve spent many hours listening to Sutton announce the games as I listened on the radio in the car on a trip, on my walkman on a hike, or just to the game on the tube. He really made the games more interesting— especially by painting a vivid picture in my mind of the games I’d listen to on the radio. His southern dialect reminded me of discussing the game with a friend.

Don Sutton will be sorely missed as a Braves announcer. Thanks for the memories, Don.

Mark Biles

By dfree

October 5, 2006 01:36 PM | Link to this

screw him, he’s a didger fan

By Jay

October 5, 2006 01:37 PM | Link to this

Too too bad - such an informed, intelligent announcer. I learned more listening to him than any other baseball announcer I’ve ever heard. What is up with the people who make decissions like this? They must be 20ish idiots who think that Don isn’t exciting enough for baseball - I generally dislike the way the braves annoucing rotation has been headed over the last five years. I hope Don gets a great paying national position. He’s one of the best ever.

By Tracie

October 5, 2006 01:47 PM | Link to this

Does not matter what Braves fans want. The more and more I see channels like Fox and TS play the games the more I do not want to watch or listen. It does not matter who the braves are playing they are bias and want the other team to win. It gets on my nerves. I dont think there is a team that is hated more through the media and sports magazines and shows then the Braves. That also included the Atlanta Journal. There is always something negative in the Journal. At times I wonder what town you hale from. At times I believe your New York owned? Is that a posibility?

By ned

October 5, 2006 01:48 PM | Link to this

Sorry to see Don go. Thanks for the memories and much luck in whatever you do next.

By Roger

October 5, 2006 01:48 PM | Link to this

Thanks Don, Fox needs to get there heads on right -sorry but listening to Rathbun and whatever coach(hey I hear Girardi is looking for work) telling us what we want to hear and not the way it is-Skip,Pete,Joe, and Don are the names we all will remember during the glory days of the braves-not a different “color” guy every year!!

By Bud

October 5, 2006 01:49 PM | Link to this

This sucks!!! Don is a fantastic announcer…he’s been in the bigs, he’s very insightful, and adds just the right amount to the broadcast…he doesn’t blabber on and on and on like Tim McCarver.

If they wanted to make a better combination in the booth, they’d keep Sutton and Van Wieren together and the’d dump Skip Caray and replace him with Bob Rathbun to go with Joe Simpson. Bob has that cool radio DJ voice…and Skip is just plain grumpy and unhappy.

By Mike Lum

October 5, 2006 01:52 PM | Link to this

Really bad move. Sutton was the best of the bunch followed by Van Wiren, then Simpson, then the Careys. Actually Ron Gant is way better than the Careys.

By John

October 5, 2006 01:52 PM | Link to this

What took so long?!! Listening to the dull-witted Sutton prattle on and on and on made me want to bang my head against the wall!
He must have been paid by the word, and they just simply couldn’t afford him anymore.

By South Ga

October 5, 2006 01:54 PM | Link to this

Thank the Lord, I am so sick of hearing Sutton and his lame stories. Sutton bored the hell out of me. Now if they’ll bring back Skip & Pete full time we’ll be able to listen to and watch the Braves and get useful Braves information instead of information about the other team. Don, please stay off of any of the local airwaves and you probably do need to apologize to W.D. for turning your back on him a couple of years ago. I haven’t liked you since I heard about that incident.

By time for the truth

October 5, 2006 01:56 PM | Link to this

Chip Carey is appalling, a silly little rather nurdish boy is how he comes across - doubtless there was some nepotism involved in his arrival and clearly we see all too clearly now that there was an inevitability that five would become four after a while. … he needs to be sacked not Don.

If you read this Don, you always come across as the archetypal “gent” of baseball - perhaps not quite critical enough at times - like the others of the Braves - but I suppose you always had to be mindful of who your paymasters were.

There will be a distinct blandness about Braves coverage now, two of them have never played the game and the other two are OK but too often sound like clones of one another.

Hopefully Don will find another job commensurate with his skills and the Braves will just have to absorb this self inflicted loss of excellence.

Cheers for all the games you covered on radio and TV. I am English and you helped me understand some of the more obscure niceties of the game. Its almost, but not quite as demanding and as rarefied as cricket …grin

By ron

October 5, 2006 01:57 PM | Link to this

good and good riddance.

By Jimmy

October 5, 2006 01:57 PM | Link to this

I listen to the Braves more often than watch, and I think that they should have gotten rid of all of them except for Don Sutton and Pete Van Wieren a long time ago. Chip Caray is a dork, and the only reason he has the job is because of his last name. So long, Don, and good luck. You will be missed.

By Richard T.

October 5, 2006 01:58 PM | Link to this

What??? Terminate Sutton and keep Skip Caray? Who’s running that show. Sutton comes across as warm and friendly. Carey has some kind of chip on his shoulder, and I’m not talking about his son.

By GT

October 5, 2006 01:59 PM | Link to this

Glad to see the know it all go. I think there is a certain segment of the listening audience that loved this guy, but I just don’t like the type.

By TOM

October 5, 2006 01:59 PM | Link to this

Thanks For the Memories Don!!! You will be missed.

By bonzo

October 5, 2006 01:59 PM | Link to this

Sutton is the best of the lot. Chip comes off as humorless and really St. Louis-ey. Skip is decent and goes off the deep end at times, which keeps things interesting. Simpson is average. Now I’ll listen to fewer games.

By Bryan

October 5, 2006 02:00 PM | Link to this

this is stupid. You A$$ Holes who are talking smack are idiots.

Bad move.

By Wes

October 5, 2006 02:01 PM | Link to this

I’d like to personally thank Fox, AOL and Time Warner Media for this, as well as all of the other bs changes that have surrounded the Braves the last few years. Don has been around so long its going to be difficult listening to games without him, but this is what happens when corporate ownership gets involved.

Thanks for the memories, insight and all of the great calls, Don.

By Wes

October 5, 2006 02:02 PM | Link to this

One more thing, why not fire the GOD AWFUL huys you have calling the games on television now (except TBS)? No insight, boring commentary, and pathetic play calling ability. Its great that Fox keeps these f’n losers, but lets Don Sutton go.

By Tad

October 5, 2006 02:02 PM | Link to this

That is a shame. I wish they could have canned Chip Carey instead.

By DD

October 5, 2006 02:03 PM | Link to this

Now get rid of the Carey clowns already! Then I can listen to the WHOLE game again instead of turning down the volume when they’re on.

By DD

October 5, 2006 02:04 PM | Link to this

Kick him out of the HOF too. He didn’t deserve it.

By j

October 5, 2006 02:05 PM | Link to this

This is horrible Don was one of the best in the business and will be missed. As for Bob Rathburn this guys is more boring than re-runs of Saved by the bell on TBS and he does Braves,Thrashers, and Hawks. We need and expert for each individual sport just like Don was with the Braves I hope he excepts the playoff job because next year the Bravo’s will be back in the mix.

By Marshall

October 5, 2006 02:07 PM | Link to this

Don was good as an analyst, but bad as a play-by-play guy. I will miss his analysis, but not his weak play-by-play work.

By G'Vegas Dawg

October 5, 2006 02:11 PM | Link to this

THAT SUX!!

By ohforfour

October 5, 2006 02:12 PM | Link to this

This is a shame, but its not really surprising. Having five announcers at the same time the TV telecasts are being cut way back doesn’t make any sense from a corporate point of view. I’d be surprised if at least one of other announcers didn’t get shown the door in the next year or two. Personally, I could do without Joe Simpson. I’ve always liked Skip Caray but he is starting to sound like he’s bored with the whole thing. Somebody mentioned the teasing that Don and Skip used to throw at each other. They’ve very seldom worked together in recent years, but I used to love it when Skip would make insinuations about Don throwing loaded pitches back in the day. That used to really get under Don’s skin..

The ideal solution would be for Don to sign on with Fox to replace either Jeff Torborg or Bob Rathbun. Torborg is okay (and a BIG improvement over Tom Paciorek, which ain’t saying much) but Rathbun puts me to sleep. I’d take Sutton over either one. As it stands now, I turn the sound off when they are on one of the Fox stations and listen to the old crew on the radio.

Whatever happens, all the best to Don and his family. Drink a glass of vino for me…

By Sophia

October 5, 2006 02:12 PM | Link to this

I can’t take another season of Bob Rathbun and the nonsense he goes on and on about each game!

By Brian

October 5, 2006 02:16 PM | Link to this

Since Turner Sports doesn’t own Turner South anymore. Does that mean Sutton is available to work the new Turner South (Sportsouth) games?

By the way, I have had the pleasure of speaking to Ernie Johnson Sr. a truly great baseball announcer that deserves to be in the hall of fame.

By wmac

October 5, 2006 02:18 PM | Link to this

I glad most agree that Don was good at his job and he will be missed, good luck on your future, Don..

By Lance

October 5, 2006 02:22 PM | Link to this

Bob Rathburn is by far the cheesiest announcer I have ever heard. His voice sounds fake, he looks fake. The more games Skip, Pete, Joe and Don do the better.

By Doc Holiday

October 5, 2006 02:34 PM | Link to this

If they insist on keeping Joe Simpson for another year, it should be stipulated in his contract that he is forbidden to do the following:

By craig

October 5, 2006 02:35 PM | Link to this

don was great…an excellent announcer…..i’d want Chip out if it were up to me(which is isnt)..chip just tried to be too proper and u just get tired of hearing ‘he’s a tough cookie’

By Cobby

October 5, 2006 02:37 PM | Link to this

I learned more from baseball from Sutton and CArey than I did from my old coaches. They did more than broadcast, they taught their audience. I am not happy about these changes.

By Mark

October 5, 2006 02:37 PM | Link to this

Sutton is by far the best commentator in the booth (not just Atlanta’s but all of MLB) If he has to leave the booth, I’d like to see the Braves offer him the pitching coach job…..

By robert

October 5, 2006 02:38 PM | Link to this

Now if we could only get rid of that miserable sack of dung, Skip!!

By Tom

October 5, 2006 02:38 PM | Link to this

Turner should have never sold anything to Time Warner. Time Warner has run the Braves into the ground.

By Don

October 5, 2006 02:39 PM | Link to this

Skip Caray and Don Sutton, when they got to work together, were as good as it gets, maybe better. As good as John Miller and Joe Morgan who I used to really like (I don’t watch as much baseball as I used to). Pete Van Wieren had encyclopedic knowledge of the game and I also enjoyed listening to him. Joe Simpson was only so so.

Now take Bob Rathbun. Please. Take him anywhere but here. A hot air machine who likes the sound of his own voice.

Jeff Torborg has some good information delivered in a dull and boring way. Otherwise he’s dull and boring.

Tell me who said: Chipper fouls one off into the stands and it’s caught by a fan from Lavonia. What do we have here? Another caring father at the ball game with his daughter! What’s wrong with that woman? Absolutely nothing! Yeah! Skip.

Goodbye Guys! Skip, Don, and Pete, we’ll miss you. The games won’t be anywhere near as entertaining and informative without you!

By Old timer Braves fan

October 5, 2006 02:41 PM | Link to this

If this is simply a money move..well far be it from me to have to write Don’s check.. but on sheer talent alone this move will cause our family to move further away from cable. We will give Turner sports the year off also. Good luck Don . It’s been a great run.

By Michael

October 5, 2006 02:42 PM | Link to this

This is a very sad, sad day. I was very young when the Braves started their great run of Division titles, and the most distinct thing I can remember about all of those glory years was Skip Carey’s and Sutton’s voice doing radio and tv. He will be missed.

By mo

October 5, 2006 02:45 PM | Link to this

Don Sutton leaving the announcer booth would be a good move only if he is going to be the Braves’ pitching coach. Other than that, Don was the best we had. He was insightful, and no one… I mean NO ONE has shown the insight as to what a pitcher is thinking than Don Sutton.

I hope he is planning on coaching for the Braves. I think he will make a wonderful pitching coach.

By hunter

October 5, 2006 02:48 PM | Link to this

It says he is no longer with TBS.

FSN and the new Turner South could pick him up, right?

By Lamar

October 5, 2006 02:51 PM | Link to this

The Braves are imploding! Don was the best of the announcers….! They could have gotten rid of both Careys and any of the others before Don.

Now the Braves will be happy to continue taking your money, especially those outrageous prices for food and drink in the stadium, but you’re about to see them slide back to pre 90’s quality. So we’ll all be getting a poor product at a price many can not afford…on the field and in the booth!

By Steve

October 5, 2006 02:56 PM | Link to this

I hate to see the changes. I enjoyed listening to Don and hate to see him go. Of course, I do not like change in general. The Braves have had a great foursome for the last 17 years. I don’t think any team in the majors has had a better broadcast team.

Don, you will be missed.

By braves fan

October 5, 2006 02:57 PM | Link to this

FoxSportsNet and the newly renamed SportsSouth need to scoop up Sutton and replace Torborg (and Rathburn if possible) with him. I’m sad to see the way things have deteriorated at TBS. I knew somebody had to go since they had 5 guys calling very few games on TBS. Like I said, if the Fox networks want to cultivate the Braves fans that were TBS faithfuls, they should bring in the familiar announcers.

By Jeff

October 5, 2006 02:59 PM | Link to this

This is another rediculous move by TBS/Turner/FOX or whatever the hell this conglomerate is that now likes to mess things up in Atlanta. I think every single one of us who is outraged should write and call and generally pester the hell out of the TBS offices and, if need be, FOX and Time Warner and the Braves organization itself. They may not care about a couple of calls, but hundreds of them on a routine basis may cause them to think about this. If nothing else, start to boycott when companies tick you off - call their advertisers and explain you will not patronize them because of the policies of the station. Trust me, from experience, this can have an affect on things. WE as the consumers, the fans, the general public have power in matters like this, we just don’t flex our muscle often enough. I am tired of corporate pains in the a** making decisions about teams, announcers, stations and entertainment options that I enjoy. Stand up people, make your voice heard, and not just in blogs like this (although these are great for venting.) Don’t let some suit at Time Warner or FOX or TBS mess with your Southern traditions and favorites any longer.

That being said, Don, you were a class act and a great guy. Your sense of humor and baseball insight will be missed. I will never forget you and Skip calling the final inning of the final game of the 1995 World Series, the crowning moment in Atlanta baseball history. Best wishes, my friend, and I hope you find your way back to Atlanta soon.

As for TBS/Time Warner/FOX…. screw you guys, you are all idiots, and you will hear from me and (hopefully) many of my friends.

By H2F

October 5, 2006 03:00 PM | Link to this

I don’t think some of you have ever listened to the radio (without the television on) when Sutton was the main announcer.

Sutton’s a pretty smart guy, but as a play-by-play man, he’s awful. He rarely would give you the game situation - score, outs, etc.

His inflection is awful. When Skip or Joe Simpson describe a batted ball, you almost always know how far it’s going to carry. With Sutton, you never know. A pop out can sound like a monstrous homer when he describes it.

I don’t understand the hatred of Joe and Skip. Skip’s sarcastic, but I find that charming. He believes in baseball, not in gimmickry.

Simpson’s not afraid to tell the truth. If Pete Van Wieren has any flaw, he’s an eternal optimist. Simpson understood the Braves’ issues, properly diagnosed them, and correctly predicted that nothing would be accomplished is those weren’t corrected.

Neither he nor Caray are the modern day “cookie cutter” announcers. Cookie cutters sound too much alike and offer no individual personality. Most prattle about useless statistics (“Smith has 18 RBI with runners in scoring position, with two outs, and a 2-1 count”) and have no bond with the team they’re calling. Caray and Simpson live and die with the Braves, but both are realistic. Very few announcers in baseball offer the depth and dry humor of the two.

By Tad

October 5, 2006 03:00 PM | Link to this

So what does this mean for the games broadcast on 640 and 96.1? Skip, Pete, Joe, and overdramatic Chip?

By Magman

October 5, 2006 03:02 PM | Link to this

Don was my favorite. Has a real insight into the game, I will miss him. I would like to echo a question from above. Does this mean that he could be available for the Turner South( or whatever they will be called now ) broadcasts? Looks like we will be seeing more of them than anybody else.

By H2F

October 5, 2006 03:04 PM | Link to this

I don’t think some of you have ever listened to the radio (without the television on) when Sutton was the main announcer.

Sutton’s a pretty smart guy, but as a play-by-play man, he’s awful. He rarely would give you the game situation - score, outs, etc.

His inflection is awful. When Skip or Joe Simpson describe a batted ball, you almost always know how far it’s going to carry. With Sutton, you never know. A pop out can sound like a monstrous homer when he describes it.

I don’t understand the hatred of Joe and Skip. Skip’s sarcastic, but I find that charming. He believes in baseball, not in gimmickry.

Simpson’s not afraid to tell the truth. If Pete Van Wieren has any flaw, he’s an eternal optimist. Simpson understood the Braves’ issues, properly diagnosed them, and correctly predicted that nothing would be accomplished is those weren’t corrected.

Neither he nor Caray are the modern day “cookie cutter” announcers. Cookie cutters sound too much alike and offer no individual personality. Most prattle about useless statistics (“Smith has 18 RBI with runners in scoring position, with two outs, and a 2-1 count”) and have no bond with the team they’re calling. Caray and Simpson live and die with the Braves, but both are realistic. Very few announcers in baseball offer the depth and dry humor of the two.

By Robert

October 5, 2006 03:07 PM | Link to this

Can we get rid of Skip too? PLEASE????

By Matt

October 5, 2006 03:09 PM | Link to this

Of the five (the two Carays, Van Wieren, Simpson and Sutton) Don was my least favorite. But that’s like saying NY Strip is my least favorite type of steak, they’re all top notch. Here’s hoping Fox somehow figures out the demand for the true Braves announcers and find a way to work out a contract with them either this season or whenever possible.

As for Rathbun and Gant/Torborg, I don’t really care because I basically tune out everything they say anyways. With the TBS crew, I do listen, but with the FSN crew, I pretty much just watch the game and ignore whatever tidbit of Jeff Torborg’s stint with the White Sox that he’s discussing now.

By Matt

October 5, 2006 03:11 PM | Link to this

And I agree with H2F, Pete and Joe are my favorites. Great chemistry too.

By Tad

October 5, 2006 03:11 PM | Link to this

So what does this mean for the games broadcast on 640 and 96.1? Skip, Pete, Joe, and overdramatic Chip?

By Artie

October 5, 2006 03:11 PM | Link to this

Thank God!!!! One arrogant bastard gone…just one more to go!!!! Can’t wait until the door hits Skipper in the arse!!!

By Artie

October 5, 2006 03:12 PM | Link to this

Thank God!!!! One arrogant bastard gone…just one more to go!!!! Can’t wait until the door hits Skipper in the arse!!!

By william

October 5, 2006 03:13 PM | Link to this

I think sports south needs to hire Don Pete and Skip Jr and get rid of what thet are trying to use now.

By Artie

October 5, 2006 03:13 PM | Link to this

Thank God!!!! One arrogant bastard down, one more to go. Can’t wait for the door to hit Skipper in the arse!!!!

By Lee

October 5, 2006 03:13 PM | Link to this

The only announcers that I’d like to see go are Bob Rathbun and ESPECIALLY Jeff Torborg. It would be nice not to feel compelled to turn down my TV and turn up my radio every time Sport South or FSN South

By JS

October 5, 2006 03:16 PM | Link to this

Please Sportsouth, hire Don Sutton and get rid of Bob Rathbun and Torborg/Gant. At least Don has an opinion, Rathbun is as impartial as Switzerland, Gant is master of the obvious and Torborg loves to hear him self talk about the time he managed the Marlins and….

By Nezman

October 5, 2006 03:18 PM | Link to this

The one thing that I always loved about the braves games was that if I could not get to the T.V., I could still listen to the radio and it felt like I was not missing the game. I think it is a mistake to let Don Sutton go and Jeff Torborg bores me to tears.

By Braves 20

October 5, 2006 03:28 PM | Link to this

Five in an announcer rotation is too many, we all knew that when the junior Caray was hired. But Sutton provided insight that only a Hall of Famer could - no disrespect for Simpson who did a hell of a job dissing New York every time he could. One major mistake TBS made several years ago was when they stoped pairing Skip and Don together they were hiliarious but yet you knew exactly what was going on down the field. We’ve had it good folks - just listen to other market’s announcers and “analysts” for proof - many of them are Brave’s cast-offs. Or imagine Jon Miller and Joe Morgan doing all your games! Don probably doesn’t need the money - certainly not as much as the quality and integrity of the Brave’s broadcasts need him. Sad.

By Jon

October 5, 2006 03:29 PM | Link to this

This is yet another corporate decision motivated by profits and not a desire to entertain the fans. I liked Don for analysis and would have rather seen Chip or Joe depart. Chip is the most annoying “cheerleader”; no player is below average—just struggling or in a slump. The positive attitude is appreciated, but some realism would be nice, too. Also, Chip keeps talking and talking and talking! Silence now and then for a few seconds is pleasant. I mean, it’s all about the game anyway, right? As for Joe, he milks his career so much, you’d think he and not Sutton were the hall of fame’r.

By DecaturTechFan

October 5, 2006 03:31 PM | Link to this

Thanks Fox for another boner. Keep it up and nothing from Turner’s dynasty will be left.

By DecaturTechFan

October 5, 2006 03:33 PM | Link to this

BTW, who are all you carpetbaggers who dont like Skip? He is to the Braves what his dad was to the Cubs. go root for another team. We natives LOVE Skip and Don!!

By Tom

October 5, 2006 03:44 PM | Link to this

I moved to New York state 2 years ago, and when ask what I missed the most, I quickly said, The Braves on the radio…with Don and Skip and Pete. The Braves will never be the same anyway, now that Corp. America has taken over. So sad to say, but whats next? Don, May God Bless You in whatever you do, you are truly a class act….and will be missed.

By Kat

October 5, 2006 03:44 PM | Link to this

Hooray!!!! What took em so long? What a know it all bore he is. Somewhere in the background a Braves game was going on…but it was always “The Don Sutton Show.” At last now we can watch the Braves without having to hit the mute button, and saying “Shut Up Don!”.

By Tom

October 5, 2006 03:49 PM | Link to this

Tooooo Bad. Though he was a Dodger, he has been a Brave longer. My dad warned me about things like this when I was a young boy. Someone even touched on this theory. Young people begin to assend into the corporate world (now baseball) and think they can do things better….re-invent the wheel lets say. I too have been a Braves fan since Murphy,Horner,Chambless and Hubbard…along with that a Skip,Pete,Ernie Johnson fan. We grew to like Don the Dodger…Leave things alone…why not ask or atleast do some research before you venture into change !!!! P.S. put the Braves back on TBS and let Braves Fans watch the Braves, listen to Braves announcers and just maybe…. the fan base will grow.

By buff

October 5, 2006 03:50 PM | Link to this

Does this mean we have to listen to RON GANT try and call games more often? I’d just assume rub a rusty nail accross my eyeball…

By Blaney

October 5, 2006 03:50 PM | Link to this

As with most modern day sports announcers he talks too much. Bring back Milo Hamiliton and Ernie Johnson. I can recall pleasant, talk-free, dead air time monents listening to them on the radio. They called the game; nothing more. Just the facts and a little insight. Never over analyzed. Alas, those days are gone.

By Daybed Wagmoe

October 5, 2006 03:51 PM | Link to this

sutton’s really good, i enjoyed hearing his commentary.

i REALLLY, REALLY wish that they’d get rid of torborg and rathbun. those two are the worst announcers in the game of baseball.

By Tom

October 5, 2006 03:55 PM | Link to this

One more thing….my wife is a Braves fan. SHe has never stepped foot in Atlanta nor has she ever been to a Braves game. She watched the Braves back in the 80’s when one of the only channels our town could get was TBS…. she still knows nothing about baseball but remembers the announcers being “entertaining”. Keep up the good work corporate folks……….

By Chief

October 5, 2006 03:57 PM | Link to this

Don and Pete were easily the two best announcers on the Braves team. That Turner Sports would choose to get rid of either of them shows they don’t recognize talent when they see it. Funny that just last year, Peter Gammons (correctly) noted in a column that he considered the Braves’ 4-man team the best in baseball. Upon hearing this comment, the Braves/Turner have worked overtime to split them up and marginalize them.

This won’t hurt Don a bit — he’ll find bigger and better things. Unfortunately, it’s just the latest crumbling of the Braves dynasty to manifest itself.

By Old Sarge

October 5, 2006 03:59 PM | Link to this

Don is the fabric of the game, I enjoyed him. Joe Simpson’s contrived laugh sickens me, we could do without him. Maybe I’m out of line, but is Torborg stuck in the fifties or what, holy Koufax man, can you discuss something a little more recent?

By brabus

October 5, 2006 04:01 PM | Link to this

F U FSN

By Brad

October 5, 2006 04:04 PM | Link to this

I will really miss Don. He and Skip are my favorites. Well, just like the division run we knew having all these great commentators had to end also. We’ll miss you Don!

By JR

October 5, 2006 04:05 PM | Link to this

Sutton is pretty obviously a nice guy, but he is in that class of announcer (Joe Theismann, Joe Morgan) who feels the need to analyze every play until our ears are bleeding. I can’t count the times I’ve said “Just Shut Up!” to my tv screen when Don has yaked and yaked on and on.

Baseball is not brain surgery. One announcer to tell us the score and the count would be quite sufficient.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

October 5, 2006 04:11 PM | Link to this

As annoying as Sutton can be, he does know his stuff. He is knowledgeable about the game and to be honest I was surprised he wasn’t named the pitching coach before this past season started. I know he has with Cox’s blessing helped guys in the past. I do hope he stays around. But, its apparent that Skip, Pete, Joe, and Don are being slowly forced out.

By Dick

October 5, 2006 04:12 PM | Link to this

i HAD RATHER HAVE SUTTON THAN JEFF TORBERG. JEFF IS WORSE THAN JOE MORGAN AND THAT IS PRETTY DARN BAD.

By Jimbo

October 5, 2006 04:13 PM | Link to this

Hoo Ray!!!!!!! Bravo!!!! One down and two to go….Skip and his son Dip. Hopefully they will be next to walk the plank.

By Jimbo

October 5, 2006 04:15 PM | Link to this

One down and two to go…Skip and his son dip should be next to walk the plank.

By mike r.

October 5, 2006 04:15 PM | Link to this

now who is going to be calling the plays? ron gant? come on!! its disgusting to see someone like him leave, and to have dorks from fox or the “new” turner south talk. i mean, to come up with dumb comments like they do on a daily basis, you really have to work at it to be that boring/stupid/senseless.

By Bob

October 5, 2006 04:19 PM | Link to this

I guess I saw this coming. Turner Broadcasting has been slowly getting rid of long time employees since they dumped Turner South and are in the process of eliminating Sports properties. Most have jobs that are better than staying at Turner under the current situation, and I hope the rest land on their feet in a good way… including Don.

By Sandy

October 5, 2006 04:26 PM | Link to this

Thanks for nothing! This blows! What next?

By Sandy

October 5, 2006 04:27 PM | Link to this

Thanks for nothing! What next? This blows!

By Brian

October 5, 2006 04:29 PM | Link to this

Please….NO MORE RATHBORING…..or TOREBORG…..I know they mean well, but It has almost become painful to listen to…. I would welcome any change….Sorry to see Don go….but I’m sure he will be fine in Dodger Blue once again….

By monty

October 5, 2006 04:29 PM | Link to this

Don was the best of the BRaves announcers in terms of color commentary.i’m like the others who even though I was a fan of Ron Gant the player,he doesn’t cut it as an announcer. Neither does Jeff Torborg.I’ve grown weary of hearing Skip mention wanting a drink. “Another fifth in the Fifth” or whatever he says or ” you too buddy and the horse you road in on,” I cant imagine if I had a 10 year old son falling asleep with his transitor radio in his ear ,like I did listening to Milo Hamilton and Ernie Johnson, listening to skip make his usual off color statements.

By Jay H.

October 5, 2006 04:41 PM | Link to this

Don Sutton will be sorely missed. Many clubs have tried to hire him away…..the Dodgers especially. Now he can go to L.A. and have a blast. Don did a great job here……..

By Mike W

October 5, 2006 04:43 PM | Link to this

Real baseball fans appreciate and respect announcers with the insight and experience of Don Sutton. Those who prefer Chip Carey require every aspect of the game to be explained… Don is as smooth as they come and actually brings credibility to the booth…and… most importantly…he appreciated Braves’ fans…unlike Skip Carey, who long ago forgot who he works for. [Hey Skip, why don’t you quit? it’s obvious that you despise your audience]

By Chop Chop

October 5, 2006 04:44 PM | Link to this

One fewer Dodger on the broadcasts is fine by me. Don did a decent job, but I won’t miss the guy. Good riddance, Dodger.

By mike

October 5, 2006 04:45 PM | Link to this

Ron Gant is way better than the Careys? HaHaHa - Ron Gant needs to learn to enunciate and learn that every inch of air time does not need to be filled. He alose seems very nervous - Good bye Don. We enjoyed the Braves that much more while listening to you.

By edward

October 5, 2006 04:46 PM | Link to this

Its a good thing I dont get that station, whatever its name is now, up here in Pittsburgh,Pa. First TBS giving away all the games and now they are throwing out all the broadcasters. And replacing with whom??? BOB RATHBON??? I fall asleep in the middle of a 10run inning with that guy. As much as I like monotones for golf, it just dont work in baseball fellas!

Goodbye Don. We will miss you. Have fun with the Dodgers!! (Like y’all didnt know he was gonna go there!!)

By Ken

October 5, 2006 04:47 PM | Link to this

Don, you will be missed. You were one of my favorite Brave play by play guys Good Luck with your new job.

By bensapp

October 5, 2006 04:51 PM | Link to this

We’ll miss you Don. It’s a travesty that a group of announcers who has been together for as long as Pete, Joe, Skip, and Don don’t get the respect they deserve from Turner South/Fox Sports Net/Sports South. Other markets would have mutinied if there announcers had been treated like ours have over the last several years. Other markets wouldn’t have sold the entire organization twice in the last decade either.

By By John

October 5, 2006 04:53 PM | Link to this

Don was the best of the bunch. At least he knew what he was talking about and didn’t keep running his mouth just to be talking.I am very disappointed in you choice of announcers. Don and Pete were the better of the four announcers so I guess we know who will be gone next. Bob and Jeff probably do the best they know how to do, but they do not have the voice nor the knowledge of the game that Don and Pete possess. All Jeff knows how to say is the pitcher has “lost command” of his pitches.

By Judy

October 5, 2006 04:55 PM | Link to this

Folks I turn the volume off for include Joe Morgan, Ron Gant, Chip and Skip. Don will be missed and I’ll raise a glass to him in memory. As long as Pete is around life will be good for Braves fans.

By David

October 5, 2006 04:56 PM | Link to this

Don Sutton is the single best baseball announcer I have ever heard. I learned more about the game from listening to him over the past 17 years than I had from the cumulative years of coaching I had as a kid. He’s a baseball savant, a southern gentlemen and a witty man. If we don’t trade Andruw, this is the single worst thing that will happen to the Braves this offseason. Don Sutton not calling Braves games will make it feel like the 1980s again.

By bravesoldie

October 5, 2006 05:09 PM | Link to this

Don is the best of them all. Pete and/or Joe are a great combination with Don and Chip is getting better every game. Skip has gotten way too cynical, Ron Gant totally sucks (must have attended the Joe Morgan School of Broadcasting) and Torburg would be great announcing “classic” games with all his great but old stories.

By Frank

October 5, 2006 05:10 PM | Link to this

I am very glad to see Sutton go.. It seems to be all about him.. I have not listened as much lately because I have grown so tired of all his stories.!!! Looking for Change. I also do not care much for Chip as I feel as he rides the family coat tails..

By Swangirl

October 5, 2006 05:17 PM | Link to this

A much better move would be to quietly awaken Jeff (the human corpse) Torborg from his perpetual coma and remove him permanently from the Fox games. The guy acts like he played ball with Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner, for goodness sake. Wait a minute…maybe he did!

By John

October 5, 2006 05:22 PM | Link to this

Don will be missed. I always enjoyed his comments. He would make a great pitching coach or manager. Maybe Fox will hire him. Rathburn and Torborg are terrible. How many of you folks miss Ernie Johnson? A great announcer and a wonderful person. I guess times change and we all have to take what they give us.

By sicem

October 5, 2006 05:23 PM | Link to this

I hate to see Don go but most of all I hate to see Rathburn be the main announcer for the Braves the guy is just too twerpy. I will probably turn the sound down and put on some good tunes during the games next year.

By Tulsabravo

October 5, 2006 05:30 PM | Link to this

I didn’t like Don when he started with the Braves (I thought he was biased toward the Dodgers,) but I soon came to admire him. Not for just his knowledge of baseball, but for the way he treated everyone he came in contact(callers included) with respect. Just listening to the animosity Skip seemed to have for the umpteenth caller on the pre-game or post-game talk show who once again asked him to explain the infield-fly rule, and then Don the next night explaining the rule with incredible patience and tireless enthusiam for the game was enough to show me that Mr. Sutton was one of the best assests the Braves organization had. He will truly be missed.

By sutton kills chip, rathbun, and turborg

October 5, 2006 05:32 PM | Link to this

You idiots who say Sutton is boring and worthless are retarded. Tell me how Chip (who’s favorite band is Rush) Carey and Rathbun are better announcers. When they play on TS or FOX I’m in my car listening to Skip, Pete and Don.

YOU WILL BE BADLY MISSED DON, THANKS FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF THE GAME. A HALL OF FAME PICTHER ANNOUNCING FOR THE GREATEST 10 YEAR SPAN OF PITCHING IN THE MAJORS ‘91-‘01.

You idiots downing Don will regret it the coming seasons. Your probably are the ones who leave in the 7th inning.

By MLB

October 5, 2006 05:36 PM | Link to this

Time Warner sucks.

By What Team

October 5, 2006 05:41 PM | Link to this

Way to go guys!

Hey! Let’s get Joe Buck in there!

By Russ Brock

October 5, 2006 05:48 PM | Link to this

Braves? Who cares? Fourteen years in the playoffs and only one world series win. They broke my heart so much I am numb to them. I wouldn’t care if they packed up and moved in the middle of the night like the Baltimore Colts for which old man Robert Irsay is burning in hell. The Indianapolis Colts still sounds stupid.

By Jerry M

October 5, 2006 05:50 PM | Link to this

There is no radio here near Charlotte. I have never liked Skip, too much ego and childish. Pete is the best. The rest I don’t care.

By TagButler

October 5, 2006 05:53 PM | Link to this

Maybe Don can go to work for Turner South, or Sport South, or whatever they’re calling it now. Sutton would be a huge upgrade over Torborg.

By Joe

October 5, 2006 05:53 PM | Link to this

Sutton Talks too much Sutton Talks much too much

He needs to write a frickin BOOK if he needs to expound so much on all his knowledge.

I really wonder about you people who like listening to him. Can you all not think for yourselves? Can you not deduce about the why’s in game situations.

Do you honestly need to know what Sandy Koufax thought when he was on the mound holding a 1-run lead? Or which team beat who on July 20, 1967?

SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESH!

We know almost NOTHING about so many young players in the game today because people liek Don Sutton yak on and on about players from the PAST!

Go read the baseball books folks, if that’s what you want!

Joe

By chisholm story

October 5, 2006 05:57 PM | Link to this

Don’t let Jeff Torburg get away

By Enrique

October 5, 2006 05:57 PM | Link to this

Sad to see him go. Don could see things before anyone. He will be missed. Good luck.

By Brian

October 5, 2006 06:00 PM | Link to this

I’d be willing to bet that this was a move to allow Sutton to call Braves games on FSN and SportSouth. There could be a similar announcement in a few days regarding another member of the team for the same reason.

By Derek

October 5, 2006 06:03 PM | Link to this

PLEASE get rid of No pesonality man SKIP!

By Berg

October 5, 2006 06:03 PM | Link to this

Now maybe Don can replace Torberg at FSN. That would be a huge upgrade.

By SUTTON KILLS CHIP

October 5, 2006 06:09 PM | Link to this

JOE: I THINK YOUR THE ONE WHO EVERYONE NEEDS TO WORRY ABOUT. I MEAN REALLY WHO SAYS “SHEEEEEESH” SERIOUSLY. AND NO ONE WANTS TO READ BOOKS LIKE YOU. HE BRINGS THE PLAYERS ELEMENT TO THE GAME AS WELL AS BEING A GREAT ANNOUNCER.

AND YOU RUSS BROCK YOUR NOT EVEN A BRAVES FAN AFTER MAKING THAT COMMENT. WOW, SURE YOUR NOT A METS FAN. HOW ABOUT WATCHING BOBBY WIN THE DIVISION WITH DIFFERENT LINEUPS FOR 14 YEARS. YOU SHOULD CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY TO HAVE WITNESSED ONE OF THE GREATEST SPORTS ACHIEVEMENTS OF ALL TIME. AT LEAST WE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT WITH OUR PAYROLL GOING DOWN EVERY YEAR. AGAIN YOUR PROBABLY THE LEAVE IN 7TH INNING, BEAT TRAFFIC TYPE. GO BRAVOS, NO MATTER HOW MANY TITLES.

By Gary

October 5, 2006 06:11 PM | Link to this

I’m stunned. Don was the best of the bunch. He gave great insight into the game and his stories were grand. Listening to him I’d know the batting stance of the batter, where the pitch was and what type of pitch, where the fielders were, where the catcher setup, that the batter was late coming around, etc., etc. I like Joe and Pete, just pleasant, but with very little info. Chip is….below par. Talks alot without saying much.

They should have gotten rid of Skip. No info, no pleasantry, just, “The windup…and the pitch…ball one… (all in an aggrevated way and then….nothing).” Skip is the worst I’ve heard in all the states I’ve lived in…including all minor league announcers.

Don was great. Next to Vin Scully he’s the best I’ve heard. I’m hoping he’s leaving because he’s got something better that he’s going to. If they just fired him…that’d be crazy. We’ll miss him.

Good luck Don!

By DON KILLS CHIP

October 5, 2006 06:14 PM | Link to this

P.S. JOE, DON WAS THE FIRST TO START TALKING ABOUT WHERE THE NEW YOUNG PHENOMS WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL, HOMETOWN, SCOUTING REPORTS, ETC. YOU AND CHIP CAN GO FLIRT WITH EACH OTHER AND READ YOUR BOOKS YOU ALWAYS TALK ABOUT.

By Danny

October 5, 2006 06:19 PM | Link to this

OK, whats next, fire Bobby? Fire Skip? Heck, lets fire everybody and go back to Losersville again. Idiots.

By nwgafan

October 5, 2006 06:21 PM | Link to this

Should dump that jackass joe simpson, I quit watching any game he announces years ago.

By Michael

October 5, 2006 06:23 PM | Link to this

Good. Glad he’s gone. He never shut up, plus I he is a former Dodger. How dare the Braves for hiring him in the first place.

By Don Drysdale

October 5, 2006 06:25 PM | Link to this

Don was the greatest in the booth. I cannot believe they have severed his contract. Just another bitter pill we Braves’ fans have to take this year. Much insight, best in the booth. Hope he keeps as many fond memories of Georgia and the Braves as we have of him.

By Stuart

October 5, 2006 06:27 PM | Link to this

what a shame…sutton will definitely be missed. the organization is making a huge mistake not letting the true voices of the Braves (the big five, now four) broadcast every game on tv and radio, no offense to the rathburn/torborg/gant crew. but the big five are part of what make the Braves so fun to watch/listen to. as if missing the playoffs wasn’t enough, it looks like the Braves are going downhill off the field as well.

By Humpback Liner

October 5, 2006 06:36 PM | Link to this

Sutton is very knowledgeable of the game but Sutton if you go somewhere else leave that “Damage Control” BS at Turner Field

By mike

October 5, 2006 06:38 PM | Link to this

I dont get it. The dump Sutton and keep Rathboring. He must have pictures of somebody.

By Joe

October 5, 2006 06:40 PM | Link to this

Hey sutton kills chip!

Nobody says “sheesh” anymore. But people write it in posts on message boards.

you sound like one of those dumb a.z.z.e.s that need to be told every thing. Can’t find knowledge for yourself!

You can go with Don if you want to. A fishing trip to bback mountain perhaps?

“sheeeesh!”

By Brad in KY

October 5, 2006 06:48 PM | Link to this

They should’ve dumped Chip Carey. Why can’t Chip simply call the bases ‘bases’? He always calls them pillows! And home plate is the ‘dish’. Damn, I’m so sick of that. And then Skip starts lecturing him about stuff and I just have to turn it off…

I’ll miss Don Sutton.

By Brad in KY

October 5, 2006 06:50 PM | Link to this

By the Way

Sutton isn’t being replaced by Bob Rathbun. Rathbun is on another network. Sutton is essentially being replaced by Chip Carey.

Rathbun’s being on FSN doesn’t affect Sutton at all…

By Jim

October 5, 2006 06:52 PM | Link to this

By Oleo Jones

October 5, 2006 07:15 PM | Link to this

It’s about time. The braves announcers are overpaid, not good, not entertaining & need to go. carey, sutton were the worst. I hope the rest of the crew is fired. Also, the team stinks as well, but we knew that.

By Tampaparrotthead

October 5, 2006 07:15 PM | Link to this

You can actually read this blog and tell the people that have real experience as a baseball player or coach. Anybody that knows anything at all about baseball would know that Don Sutton brought an element to the broadcast that can only be brought out by someone with experience in the game.

Did he talk too much? Maybe at times he did, but name me one announcer, play-by-play or color commentator, who doesn’t talk too much at times. They all do, but I believe that it’s truly a case of erring on the side of caution… we’d rather give them too much than not enough.

Don Sutton was and is a classy guy and a gentleman. And to whoever said that he shouldn’t be in the HOF… GET A LIFE! You don’t win over 300 games in a 20+ year professional baseball career by not knowing what’s going on and by not being one of the best of the best.

You better believe we’re going to miss Don Sutton on these broadcast… but don’t worry about him, he’s a professional now just as he was during his playing days and he’ll land squarely on his feet.

One of the classiest things that i’ve ever witnessed in my life was in 1991 when the Braves were on the verge of winning the National League pennant. In the 9th inning of the last game, it was Don Sutton’s inning to call the play-by-play and right before the inning started he told Pete Van Wieren that he had been here (in Atlanta) for all these years and had waited so long to make this call and deserved the opportunity to do so. Being the gentleman that he is, he turned the play-by-play duties over to Pete to call the last inning. No other announcer in the game would have done that and I’ll forever respect Don Sutton for that particular act of kindness.

Best wishes and Godspeed to you and yours, Mr. Sutton!

By Ronnie

October 5, 2006 07:23 PM | Link to this

Sutton goes and Chip Caray stays? No justice.

No justice? No peace.

By David

October 5, 2006 07:24 PM | Link to this

Bob Rathbun makes it hard to listen to a game. I honestly turn the volume down or even press “mute” when he is broadcasting. Sutton may be “a bit much” sometimes, but he is a Hall of Famer and his insight is very, very keen and rare on TV these days. This is a mistake, I think.

By Carroll

October 5, 2006 07:28 PM | Link to this

This just plain flat out suxks. Sutton was the best announcer we had.

By Luke

October 5, 2006 07:36 PM | Link to this

http://www.petitiononline.com/031025/petition.html

By kennyd

October 5, 2006 07:36 PM | Link to this

terrible news. i hated all the braves broadcasters when i first moved down here eight years ago but they slowly grew on me and i do now love them. just terrible news. he was informative, knew his stuff, knew how to be fair to players and the team but, for the most part, did not seem to hesitate to call them out for lackluster performance on the field or bad behavior off the field, while still at the same time expressing his distaste for the poor performance or misdeeds of the individual or teams with class and tact and not going over the top trying to make himself the story. this is a big loss for the braves. he also never grated on my nerves although there are some on this board whi disagree with me. i actually liked his style. now we are stuck it seems with fox and rathburn. somebody please bring back Ted Turner so that this team will have the money it needs for quality players, pitching, bench depth, broadcasters, and a broadcast channell. no team in baseball has the overall quality broadcast like TBS had in terms of picture quality and announcers and now it seems we are going to lose that. i guess the stupid corporation that runs the braves and TBS thinks that we all want to see Rush Hour for the six millionth time instead of braves games.

By Dwayne

October 5, 2006 07:45 PM | Link to this

Thank you lord for finally getting him off the air, but you left the one who was worse (Chip). I would rather have Chip gone than Don, but this is a start. Praise Jesus.

By brad webb

October 5, 2006 07:49 PM | Link to this

I’m 63 and Don Sutton was one of the best baseball announcers I’ve ever heard. This is a very bad move for Turner South, Sutton was entertaining and worth listening to. The other Braves announcers are just average.

By dave spencedr

October 5, 2006 07:55 PM | Link to this

Don was my favorite. I could listen to the combination of Don and Pete without ever tiring of them. Can’t say that about the others.

By Larry Yarbray

October 5, 2006 08:01 PM | Link to this

great baseball man and a good announcer but bored me at times talking golf during a baseball game.

By Amber

October 5, 2006 08:09 PM | Link to this

I learned more about different pitches with Don Sutton in the booth than anyone else. I’m sad that he’s leaving and probably sadder if Torborg sticks around. THAT is boring. He’s like someone’s old grandpa, “Y’know, back in 1843, I remember this one kid…” That detracts from the game. Sutton’s commentary added to it.

By Steve

October 5, 2006 08:15 PM | Link to this

Don Sutton was the one who gave us great insight into what someone who had played the game thought. Did they get rid of him or did he dump them for a better deal? Skip Carey needs to retire. Why in heavens name did they keep him and dump someone who actually knows something about the game and appreciates the fans. Carey (the dad)is a pompous has been. If he is broadcasting I turn it off. Son is good. Dad stinks. But back to the subject. Sutton will do well for himself. He is respected and knows the game. Van Weiren, Simpson and Sutton is the team to keep. Knowledgeable and two with major league experience. If you notice Skip loses his train of thought and makes a lot of mistakes. Time for him to head to pasture. Don, we will miss you. At least I will!!

By bubbabaseball 10

October 5, 2006 08:16 PM | Link to this

Just D@^&%$MN!!!! one of the best broadcasters in baseball

By John the Handsome

October 5, 2006 08:18 PM | Link to this

Now get rid of the sarcastic Carey and anything will be an improvement. Sutton, like Joe Morgan, never shuts up. An for a grown man to look like he does makes you wonder if he’s a homo.

By Jeffrey

October 5, 2006 08:34 PM | Link to this

Thank you Don for the great and fun years. I was wary of Sutton when he first arrived knowing of his Dodger roots. It did not take long to ease my fears. My favorite combo was Don & Skip. They made you feel like you were at the game with two old friends. Don had been rumored to be headed to the Dodgers last year so maybe that will happen now. Best of luck and you will always be family to us.

By chuck d

October 5, 2006 08:36 PM | Link to this

John, you are obviously not a braves fan. Skip is the Braves. Don looks like a homo? What straight guy would refer to himself as “John the Handsome”? You are obviously the homo.

Since when does taking a hall of famer (not named Joe Morgan) out of the box sound like a good idea. This is terrible

By John

October 5, 2006 08:37 PM | Link to this

“I’ll miss Don.” ??? Are all you guys from Alabama?

Sutton flat out sucked! You guys like ANY of the other announcers??? Well, I guarantee you they all hated working with “will you ever shut up?” Don Sutton.

They are all having a party right now.

By jawga

October 5, 2006 08:39 PM | Link to this

This just Sux. Whats next the braves move to CH36? I for one dont listen to the post game show anymore….why because as much as I love Limmer on 2nd base he sucks as an anoncer. (sorry dude)

By jkelly

October 5, 2006 08:43 PM | Link to this

I wasn’t a baseball fan ‘till I moved here in 1990. Got hooked on the Braves soon after(good timing, eh?) and learned to love the game. Don and the rest of the crew taught me alot and I miss very few games, even if it is from my couch. Still it is hard listening to other commentary teams. I will miss the insight and relaxed nature of Mr. Sutton. Best wishes.

By JJ

October 5, 2006 08:54 PM | Link to this

Bad move. Please, please, please get rid of Skip Caray. Don is the best of the bunch.

By Gary

October 5, 2006 09:03 PM | Link to this

Don Sutton will be missed by most Brave fans. That is unless he can replace one of the morbid announcers that are on Sport South. Are you listening FOX?

By Beachcomber

October 5, 2006 09:08 PM | Link to this

Tampa Parrot Head - So very well said. Thank you from a neighbor across the bay in Pinellas. Sutton has forgotten more baseball than most analysts know.

By John the Handsome

October 5, 2006 09:14 PM | Link to this

That’s what the girls called me in high school. Bill Clinton had nothing on me oh Chuckie boy. Go Detroit.

By Mickey Montana

October 5, 2006 09:15 PM | Link to this

I suppose we can’t expect Don Sutton to take 5 or so games after ‘mulling it over.’ Some other broadcast team will surely pick him up. Another dark day for Atlanta. Don, we’ll miss you.

By Roger in Central Alabama.

October 5, 2006 09:28 PM | Link to this

Don Sutton was a professional. I’m sure most Braves fans will miss him. Look, not everyone will like every announcer on the Braves broadcasts. Don, however, was one of my favorites. He has a vast supply of baseball knowledge and can just about tell everytime what a manager will do in a certain situation. Skip tends to bore listeners at times with his wandering conversation, but I like Skip and all the rest of the guys. I’m having a hard time getting used to Chip Carrey. He’s a good enough announcer, but you can tell that he doesn’t have the knowledge of the game like Van Wieren, Sutton, Joe Simpson and his dad Skip. I guess we Braves fans will survive, but it’s sure tough when your favorite players and announcers move on somewhere else. Best of luck Don, YOU WILL BE MISSED.

By Gran Jen

October 5, 2006 09:30 PM | Link to this

Well, this is just another example of corporate-owned baseball! Just makes me sick! Don Sutton is a classy baseball guy, and a very good announcer. I have always loved his stories of the ‘old days’, as I am old enough to appreciate them. With the Braves being on TBS less and less, the fan base will quickly fade away, as people want to see their team everyday. People that live in other places can’t go to Turner field, for crying out loud! When Bobby and John leave after next year, that will be the final nail in the coffin as far as I’m concerned! Good luck, Don, and I hope you get on with the Dodgers, that would be good for them!

By Bill

October 5, 2006 09:31 PM | Link to this

It’s about time. I’m glad he’s gone. I lost all respect for Don Sutton.During the strike year, they were having a call in show on WGST Radio. He got into an argument with a seventy year old gentleman about signing autographs and he called him awful names.I’m so glad that know it all is gone.

By will

October 5, 2006 09:36 PM | Link to this

good riddance, dodger. He needs to be a pitching coach somewhere, maybe the braves

By Jack Lee

October 5, 2006 09:38 PM | Link to this

I will greatly miss Don Sutton as an analyst. His knowledge of the game’s subtleties makes for great viewing and listening. I grew up in two major league cities, Cleveland and Chicago. I’ve been a Braves’ fan since ‘69 and consider myself fairly knowledgeable concerning baseball. However, each night Don worked, I learned something new about the game. Jack Lee Owensboro, Ky

By Drixie

October 5, 2006 09:40 PM | Link to this

Sutton was the best of the broadcasting team. He actually knew something about baseball which is why so many Braves fans never understood his worth. Good luck Don, and thanks!

By Dave

October 5, 2006 09:41 PM | Link to this

This is good news. Sutton drives me crazy with his ability to turn everything into a story about him. Let him take his self-centeredness back to the Dodgers. And Don - get a haircut for goodness sake! You look ridiculous.

By Melanie

October 5, 2006 09:44 PM | Link to this

Good riddance. Biggest jerk I ever met in my life.

By Holly Armstrong

October 5, 2006 09:49 PM | Link to this

Before the Braves were into 1990’s winning season’s…before they captured the Nation’s heart, Sutton captured the attention of all who would listen. “…40,000 ticket holders today are disguised as empty seats.” Why else would you listen tho’ the team couldn’t fill the stands? I did- Thanks Sutton.

By Holly Armstrong

October 5, 2006 09:53 PM | Link to this

Before the winning seasons of the 1990’s…before the Braves won the Nation’s heart, Sutton announced it as he saw it. “40,000 ticket holders today are disguised as empty seats.” There wasn’t a reason to listen, but we did. Thanks, Sutton.

By Pam

October 5, 2006 09:53 PM | Link to this

If I had to rank the Braves announcers, Don would be the last one I would consider getting rid of. He brings a perspective to the game that no one else does. Best wishes, Don, on your next venture!

By greg

October 5, 2006 09:54 PM | Link to this

I turned off the sound with Turdborg and what’s his name broadcasting to listen to the voice of the Braves - Don, Skip, Pete, and Joe on the radio (I LOVE this guys!) -until I couldn’t take the time warp experience of the delay any longer.

AOL/TW is the epitome of a corporation that knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. No wonder they are sinking as a corp.

Goodbye Don, and thanks for your contribution to my enjoyment of Braves baseball. You will be missed!

By Holly Armstrong

October 5, 2006 09:57 PM | Link to this

Before the reigning 1990’s…before the Braves were the Nation’s sweethearts, before the Tomahawk Chop- Don Sutton called it as he saw it: “40,000 ticket holders are disguised as empty seats on this beautiful Thursday afternoon.” There wasn’t a reason to listen but we did- Thanks, Don.

By Barry T

October 5, 2006 09:58 PM | Link to this

BAD BAD move keep Don and get rid of the grumpy Skip Carey. He has been negitive for years. No one likes change and we really do not like change when it is such a BAD move.

By Ben

October 5, 2006 10:07 PM | Link to this

Too bad. One of the game’s best.

By T

October 5, 2006 10:17 PM | Link to this

Not surprising at all by the Braves. Almost every move they’ve made in the last 5 years has been wrong. This one included! You bring in a Chip Carey and get rid of a HOF pitcher!? are you kidding? Chip is a complete joke and Sutton is as solid as they come. I ask anyone who has listened to the two I mention, can you honestly say that you have learned anything about baseball from Chip (except anything you don’t want to know about the Cubs) vs. Don Sutton? There isn’t a broadcast where listening to DS I don’t learn something or gain a perspective about a pitcher or an everyday player.

Keep yapp’n on Chip with your “professional announcer” play-by-play and color commentary for the Braves. The fans will eventually figure you out. As for Sutton. Some other team wil reap the benefits of his wisdom/knowledge/insight and witt as the Braves let ANOTHER, go.

I used to think the Braves had the best announcers. Now they are incomplete.

By Sara

October 5, 2006 10:17 PM | Link to this

That’s really unfortunate. I liked Don and the rest of the old school gang. If anyone, they should’ve sacked Chip Caray, but I’ll bet Skip threatened to bail or something if they did. Maybe Turner’s afraid of Harry coming back to haunt the Braves if they don’t let ‘em both stay; who knows, really.

I do know that Don & Co. were the voice of the Braves during my childhood and adolescence, and I can fondly remember many a late night game they called when I was allowed to stay up and watch the outcome. Just won’t be the same without Don in the rotation, but the times, they are a-changin’…

By T

October 5, 2006 10:18 PM | Link to this

Not surprising at all by the Braves. Almost every move they’ve made in the last 5 years has been wrong. This one included! You bring in a Chip Carey and get rid of a HOF pitcher!? are you kidding? Chip is a complete joke and Sutton is as solid as they come. I ask anyone who has listened to the two I mention, can you honestly say that you have learned anything about baseball from Chip (except anything you don’t want to know about the Cubs) vs. Don Sutton? There isn’t a broadcast where listening to DS I don’t learn something or gain a perspective about a pitcher or an everyday player.

Keep yapp’n on Chip with your “professional announcer” play-by-play and color commentary for the Braves. The fans will eventually figure you out. As for Sutton. Some other team wil reap the benefits of his wisdom/knowledge/insight and witt as the Braves let ANOTHER, go.

I used to think the Braves had the best announcers. Now they are incomplete.

By Drexel Gal

October 5, 2006 10:19 PM | Link to this

Good move. If Sutton were paid by the word, he would be the world’s first trillionaire. The entire broadcast team is “tired”. Skip Caray sounds bored. Joe Simpson insults fans by name. Pete Van Wieren pretends to be an expert —- and still insists to this day that the SF Giants WON the 1962 World Series (they LOST in seven games). Chip Caray has the job only because of his drunk grandfather and drunk father. Get some new blood. Someone with some LIFE.

By Opinion M

October 5, 2006 10:28 PM | Link to this

Truely a depressing day, but expected. It is the end of an era officially. The Braves had a wonderful trip but the ride was pretty much over when Maddux, Glavine and the Great Rocking Leo left. I can see Andruw, and Hubbard leaving in the near future, Bobby and/or JS announcing retirement shortly following.

By T

October 5, 2006 10:29 PM | Link to this

What a joke! Let’s see… get rid of a HOF pitcher and bring in “Mr. microphone” Chip Carey. The Braves used to have the best announcing team. Not anymore. Don brought an insight to every broadcast that was unequaled. Everyone has their favorite or the one they hate. But if you did not like Sutton, then you were not a baseball fan. It is another bad move in a long line of bad moves made by the Braves over the last 4-5 years. Good luck DS… and some other team’s fans will benefit from the Braves stupidity!

By elladee

October 5, 2006 10:30 PM | Link to this

I have to say I am relieved. I wanted to hear the play by play of the game, while Don Sutton just seemed to tell stories about himself while the game was going on around him.

By Allen

October 5, 2006 10:33 PM | Link to this

Cliche Chip is in and Don Sutton is out? What’s next? Dump Pete and bring in Scooby Do? After they’re through, our announcers will have all the expertise of the Cub Scouts.

By Jeff

October 5, 2006 10:37 PM | Link to this

After listening to the cliche ridden dopes they’re replacing the long time team with, I’ll continue to stay in mute and totally ignore the commercials. Doesn’t management know how dumb these people are or could they even care less?

By kevin

October 5, 2006 10:37 PM | Link to this

Don Sutton and the rest of the TBS team were the best in the business—A LOT better than the d* bags you’d see on ESPN or FOX. It’s a real shame that someone as knowledgeable as Sutton is going to be gone next year.

By John

October 5, 2006 10:41 PM | Link to this

Who is Don Sutton?

By Jerome

October 5, 2006 10:46 PM | Link to this

I will greatly miss Don Sutton as an analyst. His knowledge of the game’s subtleties makes for great viewing and listening. Don was always pleasant and warm at and away from the games. Here we go again…I heard Milo Hamilton is being considered to replace Don..Would someone please give Skip some Ex-lax for all those lame jokes…Borrrrrinnng! Don was so insightful…I guess I will be bold and say what everyone is thinking….Maybe he should replace Bobby Cox!

By Bob

October 5, 2006 10:54 PM | Link to this

For me this is like if the Dodgers dumped Vin Scully, it’s stupid! Just like your idea of fewer and fewer Braves games. Thanks TBS you keep geting worse and worse, if it wasn’t for the Drew Carey Show (tivo) and the Braves we’d never watch ya. Yea ya’ll are “Really Funny” haha….

By anotherdamnjack

October 5, 2006 11:05 PM | Link to this

Sorry to see Don go. They should have decided on who was going to be broadcasting the Braves’ games by seniority. MLB has a union, right?

By Doug

October 5, 2006 11:10 PM | Link to this

Good ridance. Don is pompous and boring. No humor or personality. Skip is one of the best in the business. Watching a game should be more entertaining than just stat after stat. I always got the feeling the other announcers didn’t like Don either. Now I think this probably proves that was correct.

By Jimbo

October 5, 2006 11:22 PM | Link to this

Get rid of all the dead weight. Pete, Joe and Torborg should stay.

By DCL

October 5, 2006 11:31 PM | Link to this

Bob Rathbun and Torborg are AWFUL. They are a very poor substitute for any of the other true Braves announcers. Torborg could not make it as a manager so now he should be listened to as an “expert”. Don Sutton is a 300 game winning hall of fame player. He is the expert Torborg pretends to be.

By JB

October 5, 2006 11:33 PM | Link to this

Hey Don, I saw you in a Mexican joint in Alpharetta one day having lunch you were probably on your way to the ballpark. You were by youself reading the newspaper. I sat at the table next to you and leaned over and said “Congratulations on making the Hall of Fame.” That was all, not asking for an autograph or anything. You looked at me like I was a nobody who had just said something bad about your mother and didn’t even say a word back to me.

See ya later, you phony.

JB

By Jason

October 5, 2006 11:34 PM | Link to this

Bob Rathbun and Jeff “Father of the Demon” Torborg can east a d*ck.

I swear in 20 years HBo will be prducing docs on the curse of these two assclowns.

By Jamie M

October 5, 2006 11:36 PM | Link to this

Not funny. Dropping Don is not a good idea. I miss the days when the guys shared the TV and radio responsibilities during the games. I guess this is what happens when corporations take over major sports. Thanks alot FOX and TBS.

By dale

October 5, 2006 11:51 PM | Link to this

what does it matter? You’re not going to see much of any of them soon, unless they sign up with the “new” Sportsouth.

By ELAINE

October 5, 2006 11:52 PM | Link to this

THIS MOVE SUCKS. BUT I GUESS IF YOU GET RID OF GOOD PLAYERS, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FOR ANYONE ELSE IN THE ORGANIZATION. WHO IS NEXT????????

By Otis

October 5, 2006 11:59 PM | Link to this

What Fox Cable should have done was to get rid of the Careys, especially Skip. SKip would be one of theose obnoxious persons who would argue with everyone for no good reason. He is basically a Neal Boortz under another name and almost the same size

By stephenD

October 6, 2006 12:06 AM | Link to this

Bad call Fox.

Don will be missed

By Rip

October 6, 2006 12:15 AM | Link to this

Thanks Don for 17 great years. A great Player and great announcer,you will be missed . Chip, Skip and Joe get old, same thing over and over. Van, Torborg,Gant ok. Wish you would take BC with you,some new blood running the Braves would make it more exciting.

By Lpierre

October 6, 2006 12:17 AM | Link to this

As an anaylist Don was above average. As a play by play announcer, Don was as bad as it gets. He could make a homerun as exciting as a foul ball. It shouldn’t take 17 years to correct a mistake. Let’s move on……….

By terry Lee

October 6, 2006 12:20 AM | Link to this

Hey Don, I saw you in the grocery store near my house and I said Hi.You looked at me like my name was Joey Brumbelow. See ya pal!!!!

By ohforfour

October 6, 2006 12:35 AM | Link to this

I’ve read almost all of these comments, and its apparent some folks need to get some basic facts straight.

First, Skip, Chip, Joe, Pete and Don are/were under contract to Turner Broadcasting/Time Warner.

Bob Rathbun and Jeff Torborg are under contract to FoxSports (FSN; SportSouth)

Turner Broadcasting/Time Warner has NOTHING to do with the FoxSports (FSN; SportSouth). They are different/separate companies.

In the past, WTBS and TurnerSouth were properties of Turner Broadcasting/Time Warner. This summer, Turner South was sold to Fox. Skip, Chip, Joe, Pete and Don remained under contract to Turner Broadcasting/Time Warner, so Fox couldn’t use them on FSN or TurnerSouth (which just this month had its name changed to SportSouth) even if it wanted to.

Now that Sutton is gone from Time Warner/TBS, he could theoretically sign with Fox.

Rathbun/Torborg are Fox’s problem, not TW’s.

By the way, the fact that TBS is showing fewer and fewer Braves games is not necessarily a deliberate decision on its part. If I’m not mistaken, Major League Baseball is now restricting the number of games local teams can broadcast around the nation over the public airwaves. So games had to be moved to the regional channels like TurnerSouth and FSN. Someone correct me if I’m wrong on that…

By Glen

October 6, 2006 12:37 AM | Link to this

I have enjoyed Sutton’s insight, but I’m not a big fan of the way he tends to summarize the play instead of calling the action. Joe Simpsson seems to do this as well, and on radio it can be annoying.

Chip, Skip, and Pete are my favorites and they are much better than the folks on Turner/Sports/Fox South. You don’t have be a genius to figure out that the change of announcers along with fractionalization of Braves broadcasts among 3 stations, has resulted in declining ratings.

By David Stinson

October 6, 2006 12:40 AM | Link to this

Don Sutton is one of the best baseball analysts in the business, and is 100 times better than Joe Simpson. Keeping Don, Pete, and Harry’s offspring would have been the only choice that made sense. But once again, the Braves find a way to screw it up just like post season play. Braves, get use to crowds of 8000 plus fans a game again, because it is on the way!

By Titothebear

October 6, 2006 12:56 AM | Link to this

Anyone else notice Sutton almost never enuciated the ‘S’ that ended many words. He talked about the Atalanta Brave and Marcus Gile. Chipper Jone and other. He was a windbage but, seemingly, a well-intentioned one, I’ll miss the old boy and I wish him the very best. He’s been an inspiration to me. Several years ago, he had kidney cancer. Not too long after that, I did too. I figured if he could make it, may be I could too. He did! So far, so good. God bless you Don.

By Ralph

October 6, 2006 01:04 AM | Link to this

Sutton was a good radio announcer, but when it came to T.V. he drove me crazy with all his stories and constant talking while there was action on the field he would wonder into something that happened to him in 1977 and he talk and talk and talk to the point that I turned the sound off on my T.V. Chip Carey , Pete Van Wieren and Simpson keep the game simple with minimum talk. Then Turner South puts on Bob Rathburn and Jeff Torborg why have different announcers is plain stupid, Torborg means well but he keep making predictions that back fire on him and he’s another taker. Why is it that ex-players and managers feel like they have to talk every second of of every game. Turner South, TBS and Fox South are going to ruin the Atlanta Braves and turn off a bunch of Braves fan the same fans that made TBS what it is today. Who ever is making all the changes in TBS, Turner South and Fox should be fired. When you try to fix something that isn’t broken, you break it…….Sutton was a good radio announcer, but when it came to T.V. he drove me crazy with all his stories and constant talking while there was action on the field he would wonder into something that happened to him in 1977 and he talk and talk and talk to the point that I turned the sound off on my T.V. Chip Carey , Pete Van Wieren and Simpson keep the game simple with minimum talk. Then Turner South puts on Bob Rathburn and Jeff Torborg why have different announcers is plain stupid, Torborg means well but he keep making predictions that back fire on him and he’s another taker. Why is it that ex-players and managers feel like they have to talk every second of of every game. Turner South, TBS and Fox South are going to ruin the Atlanta Braves and turn off a bunch of Braves fan the same fans that made TBS what it is today. Who ever is making all the changes in TBS, Turner South and Fox should be fired. When you try to fix something that isn’t broken, you break it…….Good luck Sutton

By Wedgie Evans

October 6, 2006 01:20 AM | Link to this

The guy they should have got rid of is the abominable Chip Caray, who makes Bob Rathbun sound like a Hall of Fame broadcaster. Thanks, Fox, for screwing up a formula that worked great for the last 15 years.

By gotigers72

October 6, 2006 01:36 AM | Link to this

I enjoyed Sutton’s presence on the broadcasting team. He added so much insight, especially about pitching. He is a HOF pitcher, so obviously he knew what he was talking about.

It will not effect me as far as listening and watching games. I was a big Ernie Johnson fan, but I am a Braves fan, so it didn’t effect me when Ernie retired, although I do miss his announcing. Of course I’m a Skip fan as most Braves fans are. Jeff Torborg grew on me this year for the same reason I liked Sutton. Ex-player AND ex-manager with insight that helps me understand the game more, since they added that inside information touch. I like Pete, Chip and Joe too. they’re all good announcers. Skip just has that sense of humor that adds a little something extra. “If you promise to patronize our sponsors, you can go walk the dog now”.

By DJ

October 6, 2006 01:41 AM | Link to this

It was time. Don will end up in sunny LA or SD. He was insightful…when he didn’t have “The Professor” sidetracking him. By the way, “professor” of what? Stories that went on and on, only to be interrupted by action on the field. The team should put Pete “The Professor” out to pasture if he doesn’t focus on the GAME ACTION. Skip will retire in a few years, and little Chip can then continue to talk about the other Chip(per) - the broken down one who needs to stops chewing tobacco and be a better example to his teammates and to the kids watching the Braves live or on TV! Enough said…

By Brandon

October 6, 2006 01:48 AM | Link to this

I was so sick of Sutton’s “that man right there” “one heckuva guy” “the best in the business” “Gene Moch” and the way he just gushes over people. Sometimes Chip would get him on such an annoying rant, we’d say “Don is running amock again”. His stories old and tired.

Torborg is the best announcer I have ever heard. He gives better insight and critiques than anyone in Baseball. He notices things that no one even mentions! It’s easy to see how he could get hired to so many managerial jobs, with the intelligent way he talks about the game.

By Pinball34

October 6, 2006 02:01 AM | Link to this

See ya, MOTORMOUTH.

By Ron

October 6, 2006 02:20 AM | Link to this

That one was right down Broadway, he’ll make a U-turn and get a new piece of lumber, 1-2-3 nothin’ doing, that’ll put a lid on it. So long, Don. Hope you realize your dream of replacing Vin Scully in L.A.

By Rob

October 6, 2006 04:05 AM | Link to this

you trade a 324 win pitcher of Hall of Fame Status for Chip Carey? On what grounds and who exactly was the genius behind this decision? Sutton has forgotten more about baseball than Chip ever knew. What’s next, are they going to change the name of the supposedly politically incorrect “Braves” to the Atlanta Liberties….? Don’t bet against it… God Bless you Don…

By Chass

October 6, 2006 05:54 AM | Link to this

.. Braves can keep Don Sutton,get rid of Skip Caray instead!Should have done that long time ago..

By Steve

October 6, 2006 05:54 AM | Link to this

Bob Rathbun is the worst announcer in the history of ANY sporting event! I’d rather hear Brent Mussbuger and he only ranks somewhere between listening to Bob Rathbun or pulling my toe nails off with pliers! Thanks to Don for the years of insight into a pitchers mind. We’ve all learned something from him about the game. Good Luck DON!

By David

October 6, 2006 05:54 AM | Link to this

The only positive that could possibly come out of this would be for Don Sutton to be hired as the pitching coach for the Braves.

By Kevin

October 6, 2006 06:08 AM | Link to this

Okay Okay reason leavin braves tv broadcast be by Rathbone n (i use be a cather for dodgers) jeff torborg,No hear skip r chip just radio u idiots only…Try have chip with torborg some on foxsports south n foxnet…..

By James

October 6, 2006 06:25 AM | Link to this

First they leave WSB. Now they abandon the best broadcaster they’ve ever had. Now there’s o reason to follow the Braves on the air.

By Kevin

October 6, 2006 06:27 AM | Link to this

All I know is it is painful to listen to Bob Rathman and Jeff Torborg. They have nothing new to offer other than their memories of when Gehrig gave his big speech. I hope they get rid of both of them. Yikes….

By Bart Dawson

October 6, 2006 06:44 AM | Link to this

I know all good things must come to an end at some point. I guess this is the case for the broadcast team. I have enjoyed listening to Skip and Pete since our area cable company started picking up TBS, around 1980, as well as Ernie Johnson on radio as far back as 1970. I still miss Ernie’s voice. But the fun these guys have and the pleasure they all bring to me in listening to the TV broacasts is unmatched. It’s weird but it’s like loosing a close friend. Not that Bob and Jeff don’t do a good job. They do. But I would hope that the new Sports South team includes the current TBS crew and Mr Sutton. All good things do come to an end but in this case, it’s not time…

By DaveM

October 6, 2006 07:07 AM | Link to this

TBS needs to put Chip and Joe together for TV - Skip and Pete go to the radio booth. Don will have no trouble relocating. LA would be a good fit.

By Jimmy

October 6, 2006 07:26 AM | Link to this

Welcome to corporate America! No doubt consultants had to come in and advise this decision. Regretably, the decision-makers toss common sense aside and farm out the best player on the team. My grandfather played with the Miracle Braves of 1914, and he would have loved Don Sutton’s broadcasting!!

By Jim

October 6, 2006 07:29 AM | Link to this

This is as bad as trading off Glavine and Maddux. The Braves broke up a winning combination and didn’t make the playoffs. Look where Tommy and Greg are now. The broadcast team is just as much a part of that winning ‘aura’.

By bravlady

October 6, 2006 07:39 AM | Link to this

Sutton talked himself right out of a job…good riddance but he should take Chip with him. The two belong together.

By John Williamsn

October 6, 2006 07:39 AM | Link to this

Don Sutton was by far the best guy in the booth since Ernie Johnson. No other Braves announcer has the insight he does after winning well over 300 games as a player. In a season full of blown saves and costly mistakes, TBS really BLEW this one!!!

By Artie

October 6, 2006 07:47 AM | Link to this

No more Don Sutton? He was probably the best announcer we had!!! If they had to get rid of somebody, it should have been that moron, wiseass, Skip Carey! He makes more blunders than the rest of them, combined!!!

By What channel R the braves on?

October 6, 2006 07:55 AM | Link to this

The last couple of years of Braves telecasts/broadcasts have foreshadowed something like this happening. Change is eminent and nothing lasts forever, but I never thought I would see the day where the Braves became an afterthought regarding TBS programming.

Every Wednesday we have had to listen to Bob Rathman and Jeff Torberg doing Braves games, and before him was Tom Pachorek. I have sorely missed the day-in-day-out regular TBS broadcasts that I have grown accustomed to over the years.

I will certainly miss Don Sutton, my favorite Braves broadcaster and one of my favorite pitchers or all time. Braves broadcasts are already not the same, and they have just changed again for the worst.

By FightingIrish

October 6, 2006 07:57 AM | Link to this

Great pitcher, pathetic announcer. Glad to see the back of him. Not a team player.

By John from Jackson

October 6, 2006 08:08 AM | Link to this

Don’t take it personally Don, it was only business.

By opieandy

October 6, 2006 08:09 AM | Link to this

HORRIBLE decisions, horrible news. Sutton was the best of the bunch, a top-notch announcer and totally class act to boot. The Carays are the ones who should be gone. Skip is an embarrasment to broadcasting, and Chip is no better with his homerisms, cliches and overannouncing.

By gt81

October 6, 2006 08:12 AM | Link to this

The Braves as a whole are not the same. Yes 5 was too many however, where did Chip fit into the rotation. Maybe Don can land with the “new” Braves flagship station. Any relief from those 2 would be a welcome relief!!!! All we need now is for a real group to buy the Braves and invest in their roster to compete with everyone else with the $$$. I just think between the 3 stations our Braves are scattered all over the place. Thanks Don for your work over the years.Atlanta will miss you more than you know….

By cincybravesfan

October 6, 2006 08:17 AM | Link to this

This whole thing stinks. No Sutton and now no Braves on TBS? I’ve been a Braves fan since moving to GA in 1967. I’ve lived in Cincinnati, OH since 1996. My decision to move here was finalized only after tuning the radio in my car to WSB750AM and discovering that I could pick up Braves games at night. I thought between this an TBS, I can still keep in touch with my Braves. It was a big factor in my comeing up to a great job here but it’s getting harder and harder. No WSB, which I still can’t believe, and now no TBS?

For me, the voices of Skip, Pete, Joe and Don come as a refreshing, familiar call every spring. Don provided the insight that only a Hall of Fame pitcher could. I’ve been listening to Skip since he was the voice of the Hawks in the early 70’s and later when it was just he and Ernie. Pete is phenomenal in his breadth and scope of knowledge, he is almost like a member of the family. Joe’s self-effacing humor and understanding of the game is the glue that holds the broadcasts together.

I hope this deal went down in the right way. This is all happening in a very cheap way. This isn’t like a sale at Wal Mart. The Braves and the guys who bring me the games are like my friends and family. It hurts me to see this group fall apart. Don is a class guy, just seeing him in the recent “Hometown Hero” TV show on ESPN shows what a class act he is.

I’m going to miss Don, I’ll always remember him, like so many other things, in 1991. Best wishes Don and thanks for the great memories!

By Ed Trainor

October 6, 2006 08:17 AM | Link to this

Bob Rathbun and Jeff Torborg are the worst announcer i have ever listerned too. Turner South should fire them and hire Don. Don is clearly heads and shoulders above the rest….

By Adele Ward

October 6, 2006 08:22 AM | Link to this

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

By Don Johnson

October 6, 2006 08:32 AM | Link to this

Don Sutton was the best announcer by far. He doesn’t win games anymore but he still makes them interesting. Big mistake letting him go.

By Andy Hil

October 6, 2006 08:38 AM | Link to this

Great Great Job over the years. Jealousy and resentment among the Sports Broadcasters/Journalist community is prevalent on every channel. The Skip Carey’s of the world are so deeply resentful of pro ballplayers like Don. Don brought so much valuable insight that the Sports Broadcasters/Journalist simply CANNOT ever approach. God’s speed and continued success Don….again GREAT!thanks!

By Scoop

October 6, 2006 08:40 AM | Link to this

Long overdue. He got so caught up in his minutiae and his monotone, overanalyzing that he often had trouble squeezing in the play-by-play. Baseball is supposed to be fun, which is what Skip and Pete and Joe make it. Sutton made it boring.

By Anthony

October 6, 2006 08:46 AM | Link to this

It’s a shame that basically this all comes down to the dollar and how people want to make more profit for theirselves regardless who else pays for it. Don Sutton will be missed but unfortunately it appears he is but one of the casualties of profit.

By BANNIE

October 6, 2006 08:46 AM | Link to this

Keep Don!! Get rid of SKIP!!!!!!

Don adds more class, knowledge, and

interest. THANK YOU!!

By Willy Wildkit

October 6, 2006 08:58 AM | Link to this

Sorry to see Don be the one cut. It is time for Skip to retire. Sutton brought the player’s perspective to his broadcasts. And he had the southern connection in having spent some of his youth in Alabama.
Skip deserves to go out on the top as the Braves era of division championships ended. I hoped he would step up and move on. Too bad he didn’t. Now it’s all downhill for the Skipper.

By ztide

October 6, 2006 09:04 AM | Link to this

I’ve had enough. About 3 years ago, they took Skip and Pete off of TBS, but restored them later. Now they’re cutting Sutton. I think I’ll just go away too. Rathbun and whatever his name is are awful. It just isn’t worth it anymore. In fact, I’ve already gone away. I didn’t watch a single Braves game this year.

By David

October 6, 2006 09:05 AM | Link to this

Don Sutton wasn’t just the best announcer, far and away, for the Braves broadcasts, he was the best in the business for my money. Great timing, insight, and lack of ego were just a part of his repetoire. It feels like another ominous portent for this franchise, that has been steadily slipping since Ted Turner sold out.

By Cornholio

October 6, 2006 09:15 AM | Link to this

DUMB MOVE !

UNLOAD PETE VAN WIEREN, THE OFFICIAL BRAVES’ SPIN DOCTOR ! I’M TIRED OF THE SUGAR COATING OF A BAD TEAM. “GEE, SKIP, THOUGH ITS THE LAST GAME OF THE YEAR, AND WE ARE MATHEMATICALLY OUT OF IT, IF THE METS & DODGERS TEAM PLANES CRASH, THE BRAVES STILL MIGHT HAVE A PLAYOFF SHOT. “

RATHBUN, GANT & TORBORG SHOULD BE RUN OUT AS WELL. PATHETIC !

By jokurone

October 6, 2006 09:16 AM | Link to this

glad to see him go always kinda of cocky. bring in Jeff Torborg from sports south. he has a lot of good insight and stories.

By Jim O

October 6, 2006 09:18 AM | Link to this

I agree with 90% of the posting - Don was great, should have let the kid go instead.

But being in a die-hard Braves fan living in Northern VA, won’t get to see many games in the years to come with the changing of the format. The Braves will miss a lot of their fan base from outside the Atlanta area. There loss and my loss!

By Rodger

October 6, 2006 09:20 AM | Link to this

Don,

Thanks for many great years!

When he first came on board, on a part time basis, he drove me crazy because he never shut up! But as he got more comfortable in the booth, Don became a terrific source of knowledge on both how the game was played, and how it should be played. A southern gentleman with a smooth voice, I have really enjoyed listening to him as much as any announcer in sports. Simpson can be irritating to listen to, and his “player insight” came from someone who was a…er, what was he? And please don’t get me started on Chip-he often sounds like he’s not watching the same game as everyone else! This is a HUGE mistake for the Braves organization (not Fox or Turner South-HELLO?), and I wish Don the best wherever he may end up.

BTW, I imagine all the Skip bashing is by people who only joined the bandwagon after the Braves started winning. Skip would be the ONLY entertainment through many dark, losing seasons. Thanks, Skip!

By Deenie Culver

October 6, 2006 09:23 AM | Link to this

Thank God. Even though Sutton is originally from Clio, Alabama, I am so very tired of his over analyzing EVERYTHING! The average fan wants to watch the game with as little commentary as possible. The other four announcers are fabulous. However, while we are at it, Jeff Torborg (former player) is a great announcer. Bob Rathbun is an idiot!

By Jim G

October 6, 2006 09:39 AM | Link to this

This really sucks. If it’s about numbers get rid of Bob Rathbun and Jeff Torborg and keep Sutton. Rathbun and Torborg are the dullest announcers the Braves have ever had. They may be nice guys but listening to them is like listening to a weather report. It may be a generational thing but I enjoyed Sutton’s stories about baseball past. He certainly was able to communicate baseball from a player’s standpoint that I don’t hear from any of the other announcers. I almost gagged listening to Torborg go on and on about how he taught Brian McCann how to block the plate and his previous managerial zzzzzzzzzzz

By Billy

October 6, 2006 09:40 AM | Link to this

Good to see him leave, ole dodger.

By quint

October 6, 2006 09:42 AM | Link to this

I agree with some other posters. Make him a pitching coach in the minors with the idea that he take over at the major league level some day. Did Sutton ever have elbow or shoulder surgery? I thought he did not. Maybe he coud teach some of the younger guys how to avoid that.

ANd Bob Rathburn: He is a textbook announcer. Take alll of the techniques of a good announcer, pour them into makeup and hair oil and you get Rathburn. A caricature of an announcer. I hate his style. I turn the volume off when he is on t.v. and listen to the radio.

By Terence

October 6, 2006 09:42 AM | Link to this

I for one am very disappointed in this decision. I’ve been living in Atlanta for the past 13 years and been a fan since around 1986. I agree with a lot of the other people who have posted. I actually loved to hear some of Don’s stories because they actually had something to do with what was going on in the game. I hope some of those Fox big wigs read our posts.

We will miss you Don. Good luck in whatever you choose to do.

By quint

October 6, 2006 09:44 AM | Link to this

And another thing: Has Jeff Torborg played for and managed every team in the majors? It sure sounds like it from his commentary last year.

By alienjerk

October 6, 2006 09:45 AM | Link to this

I liked Don in the booth. He was real. Chip is the fake. He looks fake and sounds fake. The only reason he’s there is his Dad.

By Stacy

October 6, 2006 09:50 AM | Link to this

What? No one really knows which radio station broadcast the Braves Game. You just press seek and listen for Sutton. They will definitely lose some radio fans without Sutton, especially those Sunday Games.

By Raydell

October 6, 2006 09:54 AM | Link to this

I can’t believe Don will be gone. I’d rather see Chip Carey gone. Better yet, Chip and Skip! I get the distinct feeling that Chip would rather be in Chicago. And Skip is beginning to make too many mistakes…wrong innings, wrong score, wrong names. He’s knowledgeable but I’d rather listen to Pete, Joe and Don!

By mesmo

October 6, 2006 09:54 AM | Link to this

It was pretty obvious when they signed Chip that one of the old boys would be leaving soon, turned out to be Don. Personally I like them all and feel that we have been well-served for many years. Some teams have only two announcers and they can get tiresome in a hurry. I will miss Don, a first class guy in every way, Hall of Famer, bright, cool, and very good at announcing baseball.

I live far away from Atlanta now and listen to the games over MLB.com. My only complaint is with the radio station, WGST, what a sick and silly format they have given us, rock and roll baseball; no taste, no style, just bad cliches and no respect for the game. I sincerely hope that Liberty gives us a better carrier (but I doubt if they will). One more thing, do they have to play the same commercials all season long? Everytime there is a pitching change do we have to hear the same Verizon commercial? Personally I am so sick of these ads that I would never trade with Verizon or UPS or Geico or the others, just out of spite for their boring, dumb commercials. I like Skip Carey but can grow very tired of his voice with all the commercials he is cashing in on…too much, Skip, chill out a little.

By chopperhobby

October 6, 2006 10:00 AM | Link to this

Nice going TBS - you had a 1 in 5 choice and you end up dropping the one with the most game experience and knowledge of the game!

By bobby

October 6, 2006 10:09 AM | Link to this

whatever station they wind up on get people that are w/the Braves yr. round. torborg flys in to do games and rathbun is ok, keep he and ron gant if anything. then get some pitching!

By Drez

October 6, 2006 10:12 AM | Link to this

I personally enjoyed Don when he was doing color, but I really disliked him as a play-by-play guy. His play by play was boring and monotone. Joe Simpson is the worst of the lot. Skip is so-so on tv, but his radio play-by-play is the best of the group. Pete is the best overall.

By kennyd

October 6, 2006 10:22 AM | Link to this

YOUR TEAM! YOUR SOUTH! GO BRAVES! what a joke! get a living breathing real freaking owner in here already!!! get Ted back. get mark cuban. get king awtha blank. get somebody. please, mlb, ban these corporations from taking ownership of teams and running proud organizations into the ground.

By kennyd

October 6, 2006 10:26 AM | Link to this

bobby, did you just say rathbun is ok, keep he and ron gant if anything. wow! lay off the wacky tobaccey already there fella. can you give give me directions on how to get from here to the planet you live on. it sounds like it must be a great place where even terrible announcers sound okay.

By Jeff

October 6, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this

When Sutton joined the broadcast team in ‘89, I thought he was arrogant but definitely added fire to a crew that, I swear, pops tranquilizers before each and every broadcast. Some games, I can almost hear Pete and Skip snoring.

Over time, Don mellowed out too…and kept mellowing. Maybe Don, Pete, Skip and Joe can get gigs calling the seniors’ games at Sun City!

Good luck, Don. Not a bad run, huh?

By Jim

October 6, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this

let’s review the following: a new owner who only wants a tax savings and does not care what the fans think. i would say this move is similar to the previous bone head moves. as much as laugh at Ted’s misadaventures on liberal talks circuts he at lease was a true base ball fan and wanted to win one for the fans and himself

By Dirty Dawg

October 6, 2006 10:28 AM | Link to this

Gad it’s amazing the comments over this. Sutton was as good as gone half a dozen years ago - just couldn’t come to terms with the Dodgers. Skip and Don can’t stand each other and both had it in their contracts that they wouldn’t be teamed together - when they have it’s only when they had no choice. Sutton doesn’t just not shut up, he drones on, and on and on…talk about annoying, listening to him was like fingernails across a blackboard. Skip is a miserable, sarcastic SOB and I thought he was ready to be put out to pasture - and probably should be…and about Sutton’s hair…well, you get the picture.

Oh yes, if you don’t like Torborg you don’t know baseball.

By Dave

October 6, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this

Thank heavens he is gone!! Finally I can enjoy Braves baseball on TBS again. This is the highlight of the Braves season.

By JT

October 6, 2006 10:45 AM | Link to this

Don is a Great announcer, It’s a Shame what they are doing with the Broadcasting these days. Anybody else notice that the first year TBS doesn’t air 90 % of the games The Braves don’t make the playoffs? Funny huh? The Braves have been jinxed! Thanks alot TS! Jeff Torbooring? Please, He’s not a Braves Fan! I think if Skip left all ya’ll would miss his stupid off the wall jokes! And How bout the classic calls like ” Theres a Drive Deep Left field, back to the wall……. and It’s caught for the 3rd out! Skip get some new glasses, getting me all excited, thinkin someone just hit a bomb, and it’s just a High pop out! I hope TBS ratings go Down the Drain! Bad decision Folks!

By Mike

October 6, 2006 10:46 AM | Link to this

Who’s bright idea was it to make Chip Carey the main man in the booth for the braves? It absolutely makes my skin crawl to listen to him spew his over polished babble. Don’t know how I’m gonna be able to watch games from now on. They definitely got rid of the wrong announcer.

By dave

October 6, 2006 10:46 AM | Link to this

Sutton’s insight as a former player, and particularly as a pitcher,will be missed. I felt he added a lot to the broadcast, more technical perspective, than the others

By abj

October 6, 2006 11:04 AM | Link to this

What a terrible call! Don, you will be greatly missed. I hope this will lead you on a greater path - you have much to offer. God Bless.

By Train Wreck Bystander

October 6, 2006 11:10 AM | Link to this

Well, when Chip joined the gang I was expecting Skip to retire - kind of like a line of succession.

I can take Chip or I can take Skip… but Chip and Skip together are grating.

Does anyone else get the sense that TBS wanted Don to be on the TBS crew that covered all of MLB in 2008?

I enjoyed listening to a game when Don was working and wish him the best of luck in whatever he does.

By billbob

October 6, 2006 11:13 AM | Link to this

This is AOL TimeWarners fault. They have destroyed the Braves, they have desroyed TBS, they are in the process of desroying Turner South, and now they are destroying a great broadcast lineup. IDIOTS!

By Jon

October 6, 2006 11:13 AM | Link to this

As with most business decisions like this, the decision not to retain Sutton has much more to do with politics and economics than it has to do with talent. To me, Sutton is one of the best analysts in baseball, informing and relating his knowledge and experience to the fans without beating them over the head with so-called “expertise” and “HOF brilliance” a la someone like Joe Morgan. Added to that insight, Sutton has a talent for broadcasting—a strong voice and a frequently folksy manner, without the latter seeming like a facade and without sacrificing a sense of intelligence—something few ex-jocks can pull off in the booth.

By d

October 6, 2006 11:16 AM | Link to this

with them getting rid of sutton was a big mistake the only reason they kept chipcarey was because of skip carey

By David

October 6, 2006 11:18 AM | Link to this

Don Sutton should have stayed, and Joe Simpson should have left. Joe’s about as boring to listen to as watching grass grow.

By WJT

October 6, 2006 11:22 AM | Link to this

If this is about money, why not just get rid of Silly Skip and Chip—neither of which add any insight to the game. Sutton has probably taught baseball to more people than any announcer I have ever listened to. He will be missed! Also, it’s time for FSN to get rid of Torburg and Rathbun. They’re terrible!

By D

October 6, 2006 11:22 AM | Link to this

MAYBE the Dodgers will offer sutton a job good luck DON WE WILL MISS YOU FROM all the true braves fans

By Brett

October 6, 2006 11:28 AM | Link to this

How is it that Bob Rathbun and Jeff Torborg are able to leap ahead of Sutton and the other guys to broadcast the majority of the games on television? It doesn’t even feel like listening to the home team’s announcers when watching games on Fox Sports and TBS.

The original Braves announcers should be split up to broadcast on Fox, TBS and TurnerSouth. I would recommend dividing the TBS and TurnerSouth games to Pete, Skip, Chip and Joe and let Bob and Don handle the Fox games. Jeff is too dry and monotoned. Nothing personal. Tom Paciorek was so much better.

Here’s how they rank (from best to worst): 1. Pete 2. Don 3. Joe 4. Skip 5. Chip 6. Bob 7. Jeff

Hey Fox Sports, now you can get rid of Jeff and replace him with Don.

By cubsfan

October 6, 2006 11:29 AM | Link to this

Chip needs to go back to chicago and this time do the whitesox games

By Corby Simmons

October 6, 2006 11:35 AM | Link to this

Mr.Sutton is one of the best, he is smart,funny and his relationship with Skip was one of the most emjoyable reasons to watch or listen to the games. I wish Ted still owned the team. Fox will do for Braves broadcasting what it did for television;destroy it or turn it into some dog and pony show for idiots or people with an attention span of an American Idol fan ! Wherever Mr. Sutton goes that’s where I will be.

By grandslam

October 6, 2006 11:46 AM | Link to this

It was a business decision folks. With Turner Broadcasting televising fewer games now, there was no reason for them to have five announcers anymore. Like some of the more intelligent earlier posters pointed out ——this doesn’t have anything to do with the Fox announcers. Fox is a different company from TBS (my normal practice is to mute them and listen to the REAL Braves announcers on the radio). I’m sure Chip’s services come cheaper than Sutton’s — so Sutton was the one to go. It sucks, but that’s the way it is. It would be nice if good things could stay the same, but that ain’t the way life works. I’ll miss those days of the big four announcers. As for Sutton, my opinion is that he is an excellent analyst, but is a terrible play-by-play man. On the radio you couldn’t tell whether it was a pop up, or a home run ten rows back in the seats when he was calling the game. I definitely won’t miss all his golf references either. A lot of us don’t play golf and don’t give a rat’s a%$ about hearing about it.

By Joe

October 6, 2006 11:49 AM | Link to this

It goes something like this. Lower the quality and quantity, charge the same price and the gullible public won’t notice.

What an absurd, asinine and witless decision by the decision makers at TBS.

By Dave from Satellite Beach,Fl

October 6, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this

First of all, whomever the “High and Mighty” mental midgets who decided to drop the Braves games next year are idiots. They say, “well Braves fans will still see the games on “Sports heading South” What if you live in Florida? It doesn’t surprize me about Sutton I don’t think we’ll ever see the Braves of old with ownership on par with the Falcons of old.

By kathy

October 6, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this

I’d trade BOTH Rathbun & Torborg for one Don Sutton anyday.

I have to turn the sound to mute when Ratbun & Torborg are announing. ick

By Dan

October 6, 2006 11:58 AM | Link to this

Don could easily replace Joe Morgan on ESPN. I didn’t like Don Sutton at 1st, only because he was a Dodger and he destroyed the Braves when he pitched here. His ERA must have been 2.00 at Atlanta Stadium. However, I learned more about pitching from him and he is a great teacher of the game. Also, back in 1991 he gave my daughter’s birth announcement on the air. Now that was cool. Don, you are a class act. You can go national if you want.

By Rob

October 6, 2006 12:01 PM | Link to this

Do you have a problem posting my comments, c********?

By SMITHTV

October 6, 2006 12:01 PM | Link to this

Well I’ll say this: Maybe one of the options Sutton could explore is replacing the most god-awful announcer/analyst in the history of universe: Fox’s Tim McCarver. Sutton’s in the Hall and actually knows how the game is played. With McCarver it’s just one stupid comment after another.

By Rob

October 6, 2006 12:01 PM | Link to this

Do you have a problem posting my comments, c********?

By Rob

October 6, 2006 12:01 PM | Link to this

Do you have a problem posting my comments, c********?

By Rob

October 6, 2006 12:01 PM | Link to this

Do you have a problem posting my comments, c********?

By Romola

October 6, 2006 12:05 PM | Link to this

Getting rid of Don Sutton is the worst mistake that could be made. Skip and Chip plus Torborg and Rathbun need a lesson in loyalty to the team. I hope Don will get a much better job. He is a taltented announcer.

By SMITHTV

October 6, 2006 12:05 PM | Link to this

Well I’ll say this: Maybe one of the options Sutton could explore is replacing the most god-awful announcer/analyst in the history of universe: Fox’s Tim McCarver. Sutton’s in the Hall and actually knows how the game is played. With McCarver it’s just one stupid comment after another.

By jbmlaw

October 6, 2006 12:08 PM | Link to this

The Braves broadcast team was great because of the differences among the guys. A numbers guru, the cynical wise-cracker, everyman who had a decent career as an outfielder, the young true fan, and a pitching genius. We have a hole in our lineup now.

My dream would be to see Don replace McCarver on national broadcasts - I could turn the sound on again.

By Barb

October 6, 2006 12:12 PM | Link to this

Does Turner Broadcasting care one flip about Braves fans? I think not. First we have those unqualified announcers on TS and FSN, who can’t pronounce players’ names, don’t do justice to calling the games, leaving us no alternative except to turn our radios on to the Braves radio network where Don, Pete, Skip, Chip and Joe bring such professionalism, expertise and ease in their delivery of the play-by-play.
I always looked forward to Don Sutton’s turn in the booth, and am genuinely sorry his contract was not renewed. I sincerely believe he will be highly sought after by other networks who recognize his experience, knowledge and ability to analyze the game and convey all of that to the viewers. I certainly wish him well, and at the same time, make my plans to part ways with the Braves broadcasts, as they have really sunk to a new low.

By Timothy Gunter

October 6, 2006 12:13 PM | Link to this

I think that this is a bad call. The veteran crew of Sutton, Skip Caray, Pete Van Wieren and Joe Simpson could not be matched anywhere in baseball. they know this baseball team just about as good as bobby cox. bob rathbun is no bueno and I especially dislike Tom Paciorek. Now that TBS is not going to carry as many games, I think that this will hurt our fanbase from all the fans across the country. All in all, I wish that Arthur Blank or some other brilliant Atlanta businessman buys our team and saves them from the scummy, dirty AOL Time Warner. hope to see our braves in the postseason 2007. my 2 cents.

By Braves 20

October 6, 2006 12:16 PM | Link to this

Saw an unsubstantiated comment in a post that Don and Skip had a contractual agreement that they would not work together. Perhaps so. But their, again unsubstantiated, dislike for each other never showed on the air. They were by far the best pairing - a pair of pros.

By Ray

October 6, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this

I think this is very sad, and I didn’t like watching Braves baseball on Turner South after the changes were made. I have nothing against Bob Rathburn or Jeff Torborg, but when it comes to listening to Braves play by play, Skip Cary, Pete Van Weiren, Joe Simpson, Don Sutton, and Chip Caray are our guys that should be doing all of the games. They are a tradition here, and I won’t watch the games if they are not doing them.

By Worried 2 Def

October 6, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this

It doesn’t really matter to me anymore because TBS won’t be carrying the Braves before too long. Since I live in VA, I guess I’ll have to pay for the MLB package on DirecTv, if I want to watch Braves games. It doesn’t SEEM like an era is ending.

By jr

October 6, 2006 12:21 PM | Link to this

can not beleve they keep Chip an let Don go. Chip needs to grow up,makes to many mistakes an trys to be smartcomments k** his dad, buthe diffently is not skip.

By William Bradley

October 6, 2006 12:30 PM | Link to this

I enjoyed listing to Don I hope FSN would pick him up, Rathbum and Torborg need to go, they have no knowledge or understanding how the baseball fan from the South thanks and reacts to there home team.

I agree any body would be better than Tim McCarver.

By Scott Mc

October 6, 2006 12:32 PM | Link to this

If I could have picked only one to stay, it would have been Sutton (sorry Skip). And if I could have given any of them the ax, it would have been Bob Rathbun (with Paciorek a close 2nd). We had a good run there for a while. It’s sad to see Don go the way of our winning ways… Bye Bye

By Jeff Fisher

October 6, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this

Sadly, the Braves have forgotten AGAIN that the fans are the ones who pay the bills.

Good luck Don.

By don

October 6, 2006 12:46 PM | Link to this

Well, they got rid of the only one with a scintilla of credibility. All five are nothing more than blatant homers. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil in regard to the Braves, their ownership, their management, etc. Skip and Chip are probably the worst with Pete and Joe close behind.

They all need a little tutoring from Marty Brennaman.

By Kim

October 6, 2006 12:54 PM | Link to this

Love Sutton, love all the five. Adore the commentary and kidding around. Love the Braves, and will root for them next year, but we will miss you, Don.

By Joe

October 6, 2006 12:55 PM | Link to this

Don’s insight was always welcome. The broadcasters that should have been let go are Skip, Chip and Joe. Don and Pete describe the game and don’t try to be funny like the other three.

By David Boles

October 6, 2006 12:55 PM | Link to this

Never cared for Sutton as a player (mostly because he used to beat us like a drum) but as a broadcaster thought he was excellent. He provided insights into pitching like no one I have ever heard in the broadcast booth. Also really enjoyed the banter between he and Skip. Heres hoping Sports South will add Sutton to their broadcasts

By Jim

October 6, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this

I listen to all of the Major League teams on satellite radio, and thought that Van Wieren and Sutton were the best. Although I never liked Sutton as a player, he was one of the most knowledgeable color guys I’ve ever heard on baseball. This will leave a real void in the Braves broadcasts. People who make these decisions must not listen to the games.

By John

October 6, 2006 01:08 PM | Link to this

Don will certainly be missed; especially by those of us who appreciate true baseball knowledge. Don and Pete know more and relate to the fans better than the other three put together. If one must go, it should be Chippie, but I understand nepotism. Best of luck Don!!!!

By John

October 6, 2006 01:09 PM | Link to this

Don will certainly be missed; especially by those of us who appreciate true baseball knowledge. Don and Pete know more and relate to the fans better than the other three put together. If one must go, it should be Chippie, but I understand nepotism. Best of luck Don!!!!

By Tim

October 6, 2006 01:10 PM | Link to this

Get ready for some and cheap and easy baseball coverage next year. Local fox channels specialize in lame graphics, poor sound, and bad commentators. Bob and Jeff are about the most annoying broadcasters I’ve ever heard, making their obnoxious counterparts at REAL fox sports sound like geniuses. They are only slightly better than Ron Gant (the worst, seriously) and the idiotic comments of Mark Lemke on 96rock.

Sutton was an eloquent speaker and excellent analyst of pitching and other aspects of baseball. He’ll be missed.

Fox could do no wrong in trying to grab Sutton for Torborg’s spot.

I find myself watching more and more braves games on mute, and i fear it’s only going to more and more in the future.

By Disgusted Sad

October 6, 2006 01:20 PM | Link to this

Sutton is one of the most knowledgeable announcers on ‘any’ level, and I have listened to announcers around the country! Where do the ‘idiots’ come from who make these decisions? I hate the phrase “that sucks” - so I won’t say it … but …….

By kenlevy_99

October 6, 2006 01:24 PM | Link to this

Don Sutton was my favorite. In addition to his great knowledge of the game, listening to him was easy and enjoyable. I’m sorry to see him go and Braves braodcasts won’t be the same without him. Pete and Skip are institutions or brands. Chip clearly is the Braves’ voice of the future. Joe is so likeable and has grown tremendously. But if I had to break up the broadcast team and the decision came down between Joe and Don. I would not have parted company with Don. But I don’t make those decisions and my decision has nothing to do with money, which I am sure was the deciding factor in this decision. Good Luck Don and thanks for the memories.

By Brett

October 6, 2006 01:34 PM | Link to this

This is ridiculous, Sutton is the man, The voice of the Braves. This is disappointing. This goes to show that the Braves are turning the corner for a downhill spiral.

By mike r.

October 6, 2006 01:49 PM | Link to this

well, not only do I hate watching fox, but now im gonna have to stop watching baseball altogether. are the braves really trying to get under all of our nerves? they already gotten under mine. no more baseball in the south as we used to know it.

By Dennis the Menace

October 6, 2006 01:56 PM | Link to this

I always thought he was our version of Tim McCarver, running endlessly on and pontificating in that condescending way of his. I’m glad to see the back of him and his nasty hair.

By Ron

October 6, 2006 02:00 PM | Link to this

I understand that big corporations make the decisions these days, but I’m a life-long Braves fan and love hearing my ‘home-team’ announcers. If the new SportsSouth and FSN are going to carry most of the Braves games the least they could do is to allow our favorite announcers to call the games. Skip, Pete, Chip, Don & Joe. Let Rathburn & Torborg go.

By Patricia

October 6, 2006 02:04 PM | Link to this

While Bob Rathbun and Jeffborg are fine broadcasters, I prefer the TBS crew. They are by far the better team. I am sure if Fox Sports South and Turner South did a pole they would realize the viewers would rather have the TBS crew doing all Braves games.

I am very sorry to hear Sutton will not be back next year. He was very popular and I’m disappointed that Fox saw fit to not extend his contract, but it doesn’t surprise me. They have no concept on what local and national viewers want, and if they did I’m not so sure they would care anyway.

Sincerely,

Patricia

By mike r.

October 6, 2006 02:05 PM | Link to this

i’d rather get a proctology exams from dr “hook” than to listen to any moron who works for fox/espn/the “new” turner south. how do these idiots get their job? i figured you have to know the game, be smart, dont be boring, in order to broadcast. i have a 10 year old cousin that is more elocuent than all those morons combined.

By gerald

October 6, 2006 02:06 PM | Link to this

i am gonna miss don and his expert testimony. He is a great announcer. I say we get rid of skip or joe instead. Joe really has no connection. With skip and chip its father son. Don is an expert about pitching. And pete is the old fashioned smart guy. Joe is just dumb. well after looking at the numbers joe and don are similar. Joe batted .242 and Don won 324 wins i believe. So yeah go with the expert. lmao.I will no longer be listening to the braves games on the radio.

By William

October 6, 2006 02:10 PM | Link to this

Since Turner Soouth is now carrying the majority of the games on TV, it was inevitable someone had to go. Chip Caray was the latest to be added, but you knew he and his dad would be kept. Too bad for Don. He knew about as much about the game, or more, than anyone. Turner South could sure use some help. They would do well to talk to Don.Maybe he could get back with the Dodgers. He labored for them for a long time as a player.

By Adam

October 6, 2006 02:11 PM | Link to this

i will miss don

By Bob

October 6, 2006 02:21 PM | Link to this

Poor move- Sutton may be the best in the business- with his knowledge of the game and professional approach, he adds more than just casual play calling. Someone will probably go after him- too bad for Braves fans.

By Robert Barnett

October 6, 2006 02:22 PM | Link to this

Sutton gone!!! Keep Sutton and throw the Caray’s out and the booth would be a lot less crowded and a lot less abrasive!

By genuinebravesfan

October 6, 2006 02:25 PM | Link to this

I’ve read several of the comments here and if Don Sutton was as obnoxious as they said he was, he needed to go. We baseball fans help to pay his salary by watching the telecasts and buying from the companies that air commercials on the Braves games. If Sutton is stuck on himself, then this is a good move. He should have been happy a fan would recognize him and say something nice about him being selected to the hall of fame. There are too many people in the world that think they are better than anyone else. I just hope Sutton is not in that number. Sutton is a good announcer, although he does seem to personalize and go on and on about a topic. Guess we’ll have to be satisfied with Skip, Pete, Chip & Joe (on a limited basis) because more games will be telecast on FSN and Sportsouth beginning next year.

By Tomahawk

October 6, 2006 03:06 PM | Link to this

Hey, its obvious what Fox should do. Ask Sutton to take Jeff Torborg’s position as color analyst for the new SportSouth games, which will be increasing in number the next couple years, probably remaining high for some time. Nothing against Torborg, but I don’t really think he cares if he stays or goes, plus he doesn’t seem to be available all the time. Ron Gant is terrible as a fill-in. Or Sutton would be good at splitting the role with Torborg. Then Sutton could work post-season with TBS if he wanted, there are lots of analysts that switch networks for postseason work. Or he could tell TBS to stick it where the sun don’t shine for firing him and sit out the postseason..either way he could still be part of the Braves broadcasts during the regular season.

By Brian

October 6, 2006 03:07 PM | Link to this

This is just the latest in a string of moves to make the Braves a small market, low payroll team.

Don Sutton, along with Joe Simpson and Pete Van Weiren, always made a Braves telecast enjoyable. His insight into hitting and pitching elevated the commentary well above what you can expect to find in any other city.

Perhaps our out of town ownership has more treats in store for us. I can hardly wait.

By Michael

October 6, 2006 03:12 PM | Link to this

Things have gone down hill ever since Ted sold the stations to Time-Warner. First they mess with the schedules, then T-W starts selling off pieces (which turned then SportSouth into a Fox Sports clone and later turned the southern living station Turner South into a clone of FSN South), then Fox starts letting go of staff and announcers to replace them with cookie-cutter sportcasters. Now T-W gives Don the boot and tries to sell the Braves to the people that used to be partners in the old SportSouth. Eventally the only good Braves announcers will be on radio.

I’m with Lee, I turn down the volumn on the TV when the Braves are not on TBS and listen to the play-by-play on the radio.

By Rutha

October 6, 2006 03:13 PM | Link to this

Thank goodness, Don Sutton, the mouth of the South, will be gone next season. Now I won’t have to hit the tv mute button to avoid hearing him talk about cabbage leaves and aluminum foil. If Sutton was broadcasting on radio, of course, I turned up the television. Whichever place he was, I wasn’t. A batter could come to the plate, strike out, or somehow get on base, and Sutton would still be talking about his greatness or some other mundane subject before he’d notice that there had been action on the field. In my opinion, it should be a requirement for ALL baseball announcers working for any station to take a course called, “How to Broadcast Baseball 101” from Skip Carey. Sutton will be missed. Not.

By Matt O'Shea

October 6, 2006 03:13 PM | Link to this

Remember when ALL of the games were on TBS? And the announcers would educate and entertain you at the same time? Even when the Braves were miserable? And remember when we’d even stay up to watch those late west coast games with the baby blue, elastic waisted uni’s, only to watch the Braves get their butts kicked? It is becoming more and more clear that the ‘decision makers’ have never realized that it has been so much more than the penants over left field that have made the Braves so great through ALL, and i mean ALL, of these years.

By Jackson677

October 6, 2006 03:17 PM | Link to this

Don Sutton and Skip Carey calling TBS games together will always be a fond memory. They were the perfect compliment to each other. Zaniness with a rough edge and knowledge of the game blended together. They entertained and provided a prespective on what Braves fans had sufferred through and an honest attempt to tell the fans what was actually happening on and off the field. It is sad. Almost as sad as when I see Leo in Baltimore and Glavine in New York. On the bright side, at least Don won’t have to witness the day when Bobby finally hangs it up.

By TN Jed

October 6, 2006 03:18 PM | Link to this

The answer is simple: Put Don, Skip, &Pete on this new Fox thing or I and most fans will stop watching and listening to the braves

By Jeffrey

October 6, 2006 03:19 PM | Link to this

As to the Braves being shown on TBS, that will end totally after the 2007 season.

From a 7/12/2006 column by Mark Bowman at MLB.COM:

Just before the start of Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at PNC Park, Major League Baseball announced its new television agreement for 2008-2013. Beginning in 2007, the agreement provides Turner Sports the rights to all Division Series games. Starting in 2008, they’ll have the rights to provide 26 Sunday afternoon regular-season broadcasts.

At the same time, TBS announced that next season will be the final one in which it will exclusively air Braves games for a national audience. Beginning in 2008, the only regular-season broadcasts will be those Sunday afternoon contests, which may or may not feature the Braves.

End of quote.

In addition MLB has limited the number of games that can be shown by any team over cable or free television. That will affect teams like the Cubs and stations like WGN. This is all a move by those greedy little minions of Bud Selig to force us all to pay a yearly fee to watch our team on the MLB.com web site. Even there you are often balcked out from seeing games played close to your city.

By JT

October 6, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this

DUMP RATHBUN AND TORBORG AND GIVE THE JOB TO SUTTON AND GANT!!!!

By Lizzieb

October 6, 2006 03:22 PM | Link to this

Why not get rid of Chip Caray instead? Don Sutton did talk too much but he is extremely knowledgeable about baseball. Chip just wants to go back to “THE BEST” Chicago.

By Bob

October 6, 2006 03:23 PM | Link to this

Ted, this is all your fault! It’s not like you were too poor to continue to own the team! Joe, you’re top-drawer and if you want to, you can work anywhere — to hell with these crackers. Braves fans, pretty soon you’ll be treated to the mediocre likes of Rathbun and not long after that, McCarver and similar fools on pay-per-view. Get used to it, they don’t care about you.

By Skip Cary

October 6, 2006 03:26 PM | Link to this

That SOB was a sorry announcer. Glad to see him go. I get more time on the air now with my stupid little kid. I did like the way he would rub his little afro up against me though….

Skip Cary

By Ross Glover

October 6, 2006 03:27 PM | Link to this

What a bummer! Don Sutton will find a better company than Time Warner to work for. Fox can mess up anything. Rathbun likes to hear himself talk and doesn’t seem to know what’s happening on the field. That goes for the producer too. Torborg tells us Diaz looks like Joe Barnie who played for the old Brooklyn Dodgers back in 1923.I’ll watch the TV and listen on radio.

By Benny

October 6, 2006 03:32 PM | Link to this

Don had run out of war stories anyway, but I think I would have kept him over Chip. Chip needs to go back to Chicago, or better yet to AA or A.

By Ron

October 6, 2006 03:49 PM | Link to this

OK Who’s the idiot who decided not to resign Don Sutton? Talk about stupid! Torborg and Rathbun? That’s a joke, right?

By Jeff

October 6, 2006 03:56 PM | Link to this

Don Sutton is a class act. He will be missed, but you know he will show up some where and will not miss a beat. He has all the tools for his trade and I wish him well. God Bless Don Sutton.

By Cindy

October 6, 2006 04:05 PM | Link to this

As with most of you, I’m sorry to see Sutton go and really would have preferred seeing the Carey’s leave. THEY are horrible announcers. It looks like I may be watching with the sound muted!! At least then I can watch the ballgame without the inane comments from the two Carey idiots!

By Cindy

October 6, 2006 04:09 PM | Link to this

Dear Skip Cary, I realize that you think you’re being funny but obviously you are not Skip Carey because you didn’t even spell your name correctly! Stay out of the mix if you don’t have anything of value to say.

By mark

October 6, 2006 04:18 PM | Link to this

Hey…I’m 49 and never posted anything to any board because I was always too busy working…I was laid off seven months ago and am practically broke…Where are that “atta boy” chat rooms for hard working guys that don’t make nearly the money these bonehead ex-jocks make for a second career after an already-inflated,over-indulged life that most of us can only daydream about as our jobs are outsourced and downsized…I’m not sure…I’m guessing here. But I’ll bet Don Sutton (with his severance from the Braves, his speaking fees,his pension from MLB and that vast good-ol-boy network that exists in the jockocracy ) will be just fine…We are all the losers here…Don Sutton doesn’t give a damn about you…

By Steve

October 6, 2006 04:21 PM | Link to this

This really stinks!! If I were picking one to go it certainly wouldn’t be Don or Pete. Have greatly enjoyed his voice and wisdom over the years. And what’s up with TBS dumping the Braves? Need more time for re-runs 7-10? The new corporate owners need to check the history and see what built TBS in the 70’s.

Thanks for the memories Don, and good luck. We will miss you.

By Chris

October 6, 2006 04:34 PM | Link to this

Don Sutton is a class act. I really hate to see and hear that he’s gone. To h*ll with Fox!!!!! Don’s knowledge of the game will surely be missed. Best of luck Don!

By tony

October 6, 2006 04:48 PM | Link to this

i enjoyed don sutton more than any of the announcers,get rid of skip carey he is a jerk

By Mike

October 6, 2006 05:31 PM | Link to this

I like Don Sutton too, but what really makes me sad is how Turner Sports has all but eliminated Braves telecasts outside of the Southeast. Although I live in Houston now, I’ve always been a Braves fan. I grew up in Atlanta, attended the first Braves game in 1966, saw Henry Aaron hit #715 in 1974, and I remember fondly going to games with my dad and grandfather. Now, about the only chance I get to see the Braves is when there’s a nationally televised game, or they play the Astros. So for me, the end of the era started when Turner first cut back on the telecasts, and now it’s reaching its sad conclusion.

By eric

October 6, 2006 05:42 PM | Link to this

Don Sutton was the best announcer that they have. Since the over population of the Careys the announcing has been all downhill. Tell them we will give them 2 for 1. Both of the Carey’s for Don. I am sure that Don will not be out of work long. He is a legend and takes a lot of the legitimacy of this crew with him.

By Dennis

October 6, 2006 05:52 PM | Link to this

Braves broadcasts will be more boring with the loss of Sutton. He is the most articulate of the Braves broadcasters. He can turn a phrase like no broadcaster I have heard since Dizzy Dean did Game Of The Week on TV. He is a true baseball man and he knows the inside scoop. And he tells the best stories. He always brings a smile to my face.

By Jim

October 6, 2006 06:31 PM | Link to this

If it had been Skip stepping down, it would have been tragic, since it’s only Sutton, it’s magic. Granted, Skip isn’t Milo Hamilton, or Vin Scully, but he is ours, Don Sutton never was. Sutton was a Dodger, and that fact was always very apparent when the Braves played in L.A., or, when L.A. infected Atlanta. Goodbye Don, good riddance, get out of our faces.

By gw gorley

October 6, 2006 08:06 PM | Link to this

Don is my favorite. It,s time for Pete or Skip to retire to make room for Don. Don’t screw up the the Braves lile the Hawks. G Gorley

By beki

October 6, 2006 09:07 PM | Link to this

When we arrived in Atlanta in ‘68,there was Milo Hamilton then Ernie Johnson arrived as co-announcer. When Aaron hit his 715th homer,Milo shoved Johnson aside and called the shot. Milo Hamilton was a megalomania masquerading as a sports announcer;Don Sutton is the opposite: a southern gentleman who taught me the intricacies of pitch selection and control. He, Skip and Pete were a great team;until,Joe “Mr.Bland” Simpson was added and paired with Skip. I think Skip will probably be the next to go ( which is why,I think, Chip came to Atlanta ). It’s all about money.

By Robert

October 6, 2006 10:41 PM | Link to this

I think Bobby Cox would make a great addition to the announcing crew

By supergrass

October 6, 2006 11:58 PM | Link to this

it stinks!

By JKMack

October 7, 2006 01:55 AM | Link to this

Torborg is my favorite of all the guys broadcasting the Brave games this year. He knows the game, yet doesn’t have the typical announcer’s slickness or ego that tends to get in the way of the game itself. Whatever changes are made, I hope Torborg stays right where he’s at.

Of all the announcer combinations this season, I enjoyed the Rathbun/Torborg Braves broadcasts most and that’s nothing against the fine longtime TBS guys like Pete.

And we all miss Ernie Johnson Sr. as an every game announcer.

By Julie

October 7, 2006 02:30 AM | Link to this

I think it’s a huge mistake!! I for one will truly miss him.

By homer

October 7, 2006 06:56 AM | Link to this

i am a braves fan that has never ever lived in atlanta, but i am in my 29 year of rooting for them. you should see my house on the west coast, its covered in braves stuff. in my 29 years, don sutton has taught me more about baseball than any other man in the world. i’ve watched hundreds of games involving him, and he is the greatest. bummer. sign o’ the times.

thanks don!!

oh, and don played for the dodgers, not the didgers.

By Mark

October 7, 2006 08:42 AM | Link to this

I was hoping that we would not be subject to “The Life and Times of Jeff Torborg” again next year. How many times do we need to hear “when I was manager at” or “my son is the strenght and conditioning coach of the Chicago White sox”. Who cares? This is an Atlanta Braves telecast - not Torborg TV!

By Mark

October 7, 2006 08:44 AM | Link to this

I was hoping that we would not be subject to “The Life and Times of Jeff Torborg” again next year. How many times do we need to hear “when I was manager at” or “my son is the strenght and conditioning coach of the Chicago White sox”. Who cares? This is an Atlanta Braves telecast - not Torborg TV!

By scoot007

October 7, 2006 03:09 PM | Link to this

Ever since Chip has been on tv. I have been watching the braves with the mute on I had to buy a raido so that I could still watch the Braves, and I do not watch them at all on Fox South… They should pair Ron Gant and Don togeather and dump the chip and skip show and never never get rid of Pete.., Pete and Don are a class act, they know baseball, the new owners do not….

By Jeffrey

October 7, 2006 09:01 PM | Link to this

Let’s face it. The Braves sadly are a sinking ship. Everyone who can get out is getting out. I predict that when 2007 ends most everything we have known about the Braves will also end.

Cox & Schuerholz are both in their last contract year in 2007 and probably will not be back in 2008. Leo left last year. Now it is Corrales, Gonzalez, and perhaps Pendleton leaving. Dayton Moore took off to Kansas City and Stan Kasten and a number of our scouts are now in Washington. The list of ex-Braves from the past few years is endless. I imagine Don is just one year ahead of the rest of the broadcast crew which probably will also be gone after 2007. The question is, will there be any fans left after 2007? Will the last one left please turn out the lights!

By Jim

October 7, 2006 11:10 PM | Link to this

What wonderful news! Finally, Don Sutton is toast! It doesn’t get any better than this. It is far better than having a playoff spot.

By Ken

October 8, 2006 09:02 AM | Link to this

Don Sutton has the knowledge from many years in the majors. He will be missed for his character, his personality and his knowledge.

By Larry

October 8, 2006 09:25 AM | Link to this

Sorry to see him go after all this time, but at least it’s not Skip or Pete. Chip has the enthusiasm and Joe has a pretty good perspective.

Enjoy your ‘siver & golden’ years, Mr. Sutton. You’ve earned them! We’ll miss you, so check in from time to time…

By LAC

October 8, 2006 09:55 AM | Link to this

THANK GOD he’s GONE… What took the past 10 years to do it ?????

He was about as BAD as that Jack Buck… Why do BAD MLB guys make it like those two clowns ?????

Yeah Jack, you’re gone…but I remeber those STUPID comments… “Down here in Georgia”

Next sutton will be in the announcers HOF…next to old Jack… Two LOSERS !

By Cindy

October 8, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this

Turner South should hire Sutton and boot Torborg for TV broadcasts. When games have been on FSN or TS, I have had to listen to the radio broadcast for it to really be Braves baseball. Rathbun and Torborg just do not seem to be real Braves fans and are flat out boring to listen to. Sutton and the gang know and love the Braves, good or bad, and I respect the way they do the games.

By Coop

October 8, 2006 11:02 AM | Link to this

MEMO TO John Schurholtz from Derek Jeter:

“Yeah. We didn’t win. What, are you going to go celebrate because you won a division title? No, we’re here to win championships, that’s our focus every year.”

By DaveC

October 8, 2006 05:41 PM | Link to this

Ted…PLEASE buy the Braves and TBS back…baseball will never be the same w/o “our” guys doing play-by-play and color. We true Braves fans in south Georgia love listening to the crew…they’re a part of our family…it will no longer be the same…kinda like UGA w/o Larry(God forbid!)

By gtne80

October 9, 2006 11:08 AM | Link to this

Good riddance. Sutton has been a blowhard since the beginning. It’s obvious that his ego has clashed with Skip Carey since they haven’t done a broadcast together in years. I’m tired of Sutton’s overworked cliche’s (Not every out is on a good pitch…..yadda, yadda, yadda).

Now if we could get rid of Torborg. I put him in the same category with Joe Morgan and Tim McCarver as having overblown egos (except the former two actually had careers). Virtually every sentence out of his mouth begins with “I.” Seems I remember when I was a kid, every pack of baseball cards had a Jeff Torborg which no one wanted.

Put Skip, Chip, Pete and Joe Simpson in the booth. Jettison Rathbun and Torborg along with Sutton.

Oh, and we don’t need Ron Gant either.

By Maurice

October 9, 2006 11:08 AM | Link to this

What! we got rid of the intelligent one. ah man my tv’s going on mute next year!

By Akennas

October 9, 2006 11:41 AM | Link to this

This really bothers me - Don was by far the most intelligent, insightful contributor among the five. I cannot stand Chip Carey, and Skip Carey has become a sarcastic bore. Pete Van Wieren is bland but very professional, and Joe Simpson is next to only Sutton as a strong contributor. I guess Don just rubbed the wrong people the wrong way. Just one more disincentive to listen to Braves games, something I have been doing since I came to Atlanta to attend summer quarter at GT in 1973 and discovered the Braves through Milo Hamilton and his calls as Hank Aaron, Davey Johnson and Darrell Evans all hit 40+ home runs at The Launching Pad. I was hooked that year - I am less hooked with Don Sutton gone.

By Wayne

October 9, 2006 02:12 PM | Link to this

Fox-FSN-TS—the only thing worse than McCarver and Torberg is Joe Morgan. You can use a quality man like Don Sutton. He knows baseball and is not interested in promoting his own agenda. McCarver and Morgan don’t even watch or talk about the game. Fat boy with Morgan is not much better. All of you (networks) need some quality help. The “Don” is the one.

Thanks for the great years Don. It was a privilage listening to you.

By barvo

October 9, 2006 03:57 PM | Link to this

Should have been Chip Caray. He’s the most obnoxious know-it-all announcer in baseball. I will concede that it’s not totally his fault— TBS consistently puts him in position to make an a* of himself with their absurd policy of swapping of the “announcer” and “analyst” roles throughout the game.

His dad is a treasure though. He’s always good for a good quip or two throughout the game. I agree with those who say Skip seems “bored”— this is probably why I tend to identify with him more than I do the others… his sarcastic, blase tone is unusual to see and quite entertaining.

By Robert

October 9, 2006 05:18 PM | Link to this

I would have kept Don and let Joe go but the remaining four are better than Fox or ESPN. I hope Fox/Turner South hire Don and replaces Bob Ratbreath.

By Brad

October 10, 2006 10:41 AM | Link to this

This was a decision made by an idiot in my opinion. To keep a slob like skip carey and his son [who has diarhea of the mouth as does Joe Simpson] is rediculous. The only quality people they had were Don and Pete. When the others were on, I hit the “mute” button and enjoyed the game. The other were distractions.

By Rob

October 10, 2006 04:50 PM | Link to this

Who cares about the broadcasting booth!!…We need a a leadoff hitter aka CARL CRAWFORD -get this deal done!

By Ed

October 10, 2006 05:30 PM | Link to this

As most of this blog recognizes, Sutton was far and away best of the lot, including the national announcing teams. Most insightful and never annoying. Pete’s still got it, but the other three are a chore to listen to, which means I won’t be. Really sad, stupid decision.

By dfree

October 10, 2006 10:11 PM | Link to this

rathurn kicks sutton’s a* every day of the week and twice on tuesdays, screw sutton he’s a dodger fan, the careys are cardinals fans, van weiren is out to lunch, simpson likes the mariners, rathburn is a true fan, great man by the way, met him once at a function in marrieta , engaging, personal man, man of his word, sutton is a man of his hair, god-dam what a bad hair do, like a f*** chia pet, an old dying chia pet, rathburn is the true voice of the braves, and whoever they get with him will be brought up by his grace, dignity, and banter. love live rathburn, a brave through and through

By daniel

October 11, 2006 11:33 AM | Link to this

When Sutton was on I hit the mute button.he is the most boring person on the faceofthe earth.He is terrible.I like Joe and Skip.I watch every game.Go Braves.Farm Sutton out to Cedartown.

By Jim Mashburn

October 11, 2006 12:40 PM | Link to this

It’s sad, unfortunate, and disappointing that Don Sutton has to be the one to go. He and Joe Simpson bring more to the Braves’ broadcasts than all the rest of the broadcast crew combined. That’s not always the case for ex-players. These two are the exceptions. Baseball broadcasting (especially the Braves’) have for a long time now been not much more than a conversation between the guys in the booth who let us listen in. Skip Caray is worst of all. He uses his position as his personal forum for ogling the pretty women in the ballpark or enlightening us with his political/social perspective. Any time I turn the radio on to hear the Braves and hear that tell-tale silence from the “color” guy, I know it’s Skip in the silence, ignoring the listener while he pleases himself elsewhere. It would be interesting to know the real story behind Sutton’s dismissal.

By Billy

October 11, 2006 01:01 PM | Link to this

I have been a Braves fan since the 60’s. I grew up with Ernie and Milo. I now have a son who is as loyal to the Braves as I. BUT, on one Spring trainign day in 1996 his love was almost destroyed by one DON SUTTON. We were walking in the gate at Disneyworld for a Spring training game. I said look , there is Don Sutton. Ask him for his atuograph. My son at age 6 was scared. He said grabbed my leg and said no. I said “could my son have your autograph?” He quickly yelled “NO, your son has a mouth and he can ask for himself.” I then turned and said we don’t need someone’s autograph with that attitude. That was a Dodger attitude. Hey he used to play for them, now I see why I still hate the Dodgers to this day.

By Jason

October 11, 2006 02:46 PM | Link to this

If nothing else, this is a sign, an icon of the Braves tumble.

No playoffs for the first time since 1990. Don Sutton is gone. Ownership change.

Maybe it’s just me, but it doesn’t look good. I am glad we have Smoltz back and Wickman as our close, but right now, that’s the only bright spot.

By Sam Doughty

October 13, 2006 11:00 AM | Link to this

Glad to see Sutton gone. But Chip is by far the worst of the crew.. I like Joe Simpson and Skip the best and I bet a poll would show that. Sam Doughty Rockwood, Tenn.