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Chop Chick – A Fan's View of the Atlanta Braves

Lack of Braves’ spring games on TV is disappointing

12:56 pm March 11, 2009, by Jennifer Cooper

Originally published on Feb. 25, 2009

The long winter is finally over: The Braves play their first Grapefruit League today, against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla. Unfortunately, unless you’re at Joker Marchant Stadium this afternoon, you won’t get to see any of the action — and that’s the way it will be for most of March.

After tomorrow’s game against the Astros, which will be broadcast on ESPN, we won’t see the Braves on TV until Friday, March 27, when they play the Tigers at 1:05 p.m.

I’m hoping that maybe they just haven’t completely filled out their broadcast schedule yet, but I’m guessing that’s not the case. Is it the economy, which seems to take the blame for everything these days? Does it have something to do with the World Baseball Classic being shown on ESPN? Are the new broadcast teams still working out the kinks? I’m not sure what the explanation is, but I know I’m disappointed.

It’s a shame we won’t get to familiarize ourselves with Garret Anderson or Derek Lowe or watch the youngsters battle it out for roster spots and playing time. Heck, I just like having baseball on again, no matter who’s out on the field.

On the bright side, sort of, we will have radio broadcasts on WGST 640 on weekends, starting Friday, March 6, with a 7:05 p.m. game against the Astros. But that brings up another difficult subject: No Skip and no Pete.

I often look wistfully at the radio in my kitchen, which has carried the voices of those two guys as long as that radio has been there, and I know it won’t be the same this year. I’m sure Jim Powell is a nice guy, and it’ll be good to have Don Sutton back, but they’ve got some impossible shoes to fill. It may be a Braves game on the radio, but it won’t feel like a Braves broadcast.

So what are your thoughts on this spring’s broadcast schedule? What do you think of the new broadcast teams?

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8 comments Add your comment

old timer

March 28th, 2009
8:17 am

The Braves of the 70,s and 80,s helped make Ted a lot of money……and he took the money with him. Always follow the money, thats why the Braves are not on as much any more. If thats not enough, we then name the park after him. Is this a great country or what?

old bravo

March 23rd, 2009
3:35 pm

A sign of the times??? Not a good way to advertise your product!! Hate to see a huge downturn in attendance but I bet it’s coming.

Mac O'Hearn

March 20th, 2009
4:59 pm

Even when the games are listed in the Comast listing, they don’t come on. Perhaps the Braves are trying to “sell tickets” to the Spring Training games. My wife (TBS/CNN) employee are very disappointed in the turn the Braves have taken since they were sold.

Rodger Messer

March 19th, 2009
9:36 pm

I could not agree more. I have been a Braves fan (for better or worse ) since 1969 and I say the potential is there

jim tiller

March 19th, 2009
7:43 pm

it is so disappointing as to how the braves are not on t.v. as much. i grew up from the time i was 9 years old watching the braves with mike lum and gene garber i watched the bad days to the good and the braves and their ownership seems to think the braves can’t draw a t.v. crowd and what a crock. i have so many people i know that watch the braves no matter what and i know the braves draw a crowd where ever they go. they need to get a clue and understand that the braves had a t.v. crowd long before them and will long after them. it is what it is and unless you are somebody like me who knows what time of day it is , they will never know what money they are missing out on and know what the braves mean to their fans who will be here no matter what and be here long after . they need a history lesson on the draw the braves have and quit worring about the number of times they can show sex and the city and all the other junk they show on tbs now. i make time in my busy schedule so why can’t they. enough said.

Navy Chief

March 18th, 2009
5:54 pm

TBS doesn’t play nearly as many Braves games as it use to. Take it from a Navy guy who was raised on the Braves but can’t seem to get stationed in Georgia to see them on a regular basis. I’m stationed in Maryland so about the only time I get to see the Braves on TV is when they are playing the Nationals or during interleague when they play the Orioles.

Stan Clark

March 17th, 2009
7:19 pm

Guess TBS thinks we’ll watch endless re-runs of Mr. Dees and Happy Gilmore.

Chris

March 17th, 2009
4:26 pm

I actually got to see 1 Braves game on TV this spring, but only because it was carried on the YES Network when the Braves played the Yanks in Tampa.

With all of the stations that carry the Braves (and don’t even get me started on how annoying it is to search for each game on a different channel) you’d think they could find some airtime for games.