The Braves’ season opener this afternoon in Philadelphia will mark the official launch of a new lineup in the team’s broadcast booths.
Former Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur becomes the lead analyst on the Fox Sports South/Fox Sports Southeast telecasts, joining play-by-play voice Chip Caray. Francoeur is expected to work slightly more than 100 games this season. That will include today's opener (3:05 p.m., FSSE) and all telecasts through April 10, according to a FSSO/FSSE spokesman.
Former Braves pitcher Tom Glavine will be used more frequently than in the past as an analyst on the TV broadcasts. He'll make his regular-season debut this year for the series beginning April 11 versus the Mets, joining Caray in the booth.
A three-man booth of Caray, Francoeur and Glavine also will be used at times on Braves telecasts, with the first such occasion in the regular season set for the series beginning April 26 against the Rockies.
Long-time Braves broadcaster Joe Simpson, who will work mostly on radio this season, will return to the TV booth for "select games," according to FSSO/FSSE. His first TV assignment this season will be to join Caray for May 6-12 games at Los Angeles (Dodgers) and Arizona, the spokesman said.
Simpson and Jim Powell will handle the radio broadcasts of the opening series against the Phillies.
Over the course of the season, combinations of four broadcasters – Simpson, Powell, Don Sutton and Ben Ingram – will call games on radio, two broadcasters per game. Sutton's first game this season is scheduled to be Monday's home opener against the Chicago Cubs alongside Powell, according to the Braves.
> For more details on the Braves' changes in their broadcast booths, please read this story.
> Also: The Braves have added an Atlanta FM station to their radio network, Rodney Ho reports.
> And this: An opening-day examination of the Braves' player payroll.
> And: Here are three players who surprised Brian Snitker this spring.
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