Despite the Braves’ lackluster start, euphoria is commonplace these days at Truist Park. Whether it’s the unwavering high of last October, Ronald Acuña’s heroics or the free-flowing booze, 755 Battery Avenue is metro Atlanta area’s ultimate hotspot.
The team’s broadcasters typically are unable to fully consume the aura from the press-box heights. That wasn’t the case Friday, when they were entrenched in right field, surrounded by the sellout crowd of 40,064.
Bally Sports’ Braves broadcast team twice worked from the outfield stands in 2019. The pandemic stopped the crew from doing so again in 2020 and 2021, but the “Baseball from the Bleachers” broadcast, as coined by Bally Sports, returned Friday - with one key difference.
“This is the World Series champs, man,” broadcaster Jeff Francoeur said. “Fans are fired up. This fan base is really taking it to the next level right now. This place was rocking tonight.”
Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com
Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com
Chip Caray and Francoeur called the game from a fully equipped broadcast area in the right-field stands in the Chop House. They and the fans were treated to a thriller in which the Braves, still trying to find form with more than one-fourth of the season completed, rallied late to top the Marlins 6-4 for a series-opening victory.
“It’s a blast,” Caray said. “I got to do this at Wrigley Field in the bleachers and had the idea, why don’t we do it and showcase the ballpark? Do something different, just break out of our every-day routine. And we love being around the fans so much that this lets us behave like fans, watch the game like fans, and gives us a different perspective on what a major-league game looks like coming at you instead of watching the ball go out to the outfield.”
Throughout the night, Caray and Francoeur engaged with fans. Before the game, they greeted spectators, signed autographs and took photos on the way to their station. They continued the interactions between innings and after the game. “Jeff has such great magnetism, people love being around him,” Caray said of his teammate.
Of course, despite sipping Terrapin beer during the broadcast – one of their favorite perks of the fan-like experience – it was still work. When the game was ongoing, they focused on the action. Francoeur would acknowledge fans with a wave when able. One inebriated fan yelled to Caray, “That’s a Chip smile if I’ve ever seen one” during play-by-play. Caray, whether he heard the comment or not, maintained his gleaming grin.
Among Francoeur’s favorite parts of the night was playing catch with right fielder Travis Demeritte. Francoeur stood in the right-field seats and threw the ball with Demeritte, who apparently was graced by Francoeur’s magic touch. He singled home a run in the fifth, snapping a career-worst 0-for-34 skid.
“We asked him if he could throw to me in the second inning, and that was awesome,” Francoeur said. “He’s scuffling right now – I said on air, after that, he’s getting a hit tonight. He got a hit and drove in a run. Good for him.”
Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com
Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com
The crew hosted guests during the evening, including Braves pitchers Mike Soroka and Tyler Matzek, both currently sidelined because of injury. The young Soroka has impressed on broadcasts before, but he’d never done one from the stands. He spent two innings at the desk.
“It was cool,” Soroka said. “It was a good conversation. … It was fun. It’s always good to see those guys. Those guys are easy to talk to. That’s what allows me to loosen up and be me.”
Soroka also complimented Caray and Francoeur for their questions, mainly those about pitching intricacies. Soroka, still just 24, draws consistent praise for his mature outlook and insight. He’s intrigued at the thought of one day broadcasting, but that’s down the road.
“Sometimes, honestly, it feels a little awkward to be up there,” he said. “Especially because, although this is my fourth year up, I’ve only played about two seasons here (because of injuries). I think that’s something to remember when I go up there. I’m not there to actually criticize and/or talk about that kind of stuff.
“Maybe one day, but it’s definitely a fun experience. It serves well. Same as anything else, once you do it the first time, you have no problem doing it again. So it’s a good option, but I hope I don’t worry about that for about 15 years.”
Matzek was a key figure in the Braves’ World Series run in October, not only beloved for his performance but also his personality. He and Bally Sports analyst Peter Moylan, a former Braves reliever and fan favorite, were at one point at the desk together. “We kind of ganged up on Frenchy, it was fun,” Matzek said of the reliever takeover.
The southpaw said as the broadcast progressed, he felt more comfortable. It had been a long time since Matzek had watched the game from the stands as a fan, and he relished the opportunity.
“It’s unbelievable. You can feel the energy a little more sitting in the stands with the fans,” he said. “In the bullpen, we’re a little bit lower and shaded from the sound. But being up there with the fans, you could feel the energy. It’s hard to explain unless you’re truly in the stands with the fans.”
The energy peaked in the seventh, when the Braves scored three times to snag the lead for good. The spark, as usual, came from Acuña, whose surprise pinch-hit appearance made Truist Park erupt. When his name was announced, Miami made a pitching change, allowing anticipation to continue building in the stadium as the lights were dimmed and fans did the chop with their phone lights on.
Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com
Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com
Moments later, Acuña ripped a game-tying double down the left-field line (and executed a picture-perfect bat flip). The atmosphere of a May game against the Marlins resembled one of a postseason game.
“It’s not every day you’re on a broadcast and Ronnie goes up and has a game-tying pinch hit,” Matzek said. “To see him go up there and do that is always impressive. Seeing that from the stands was another impressive way to see it.”
The Bally crew couldn’t have asked for better circumstances, from the weather to the crowd to the game’s result. Look for more “Baseball from The Bleachers” later this season. Caray and Francoeur ensure they’ll be back in the stands (the latter hinted at a potential future guest, close friend and former Brave Brian McCann). Caray even wonders if one day they could do a broadcast from an area near the on-deck circle, with players interacting with Francoeur during the game.
“Showcasing this place (ballpark) in different and unique ways, if it’s technologically possible, I’m in favor of it,” Caray said. “I think it’s a great idea, and I hope that we would be able to pursue that down the road. That’s up to the folks at Bally and the Braves to see if it’s even feasible. It’d be fun.”
