Scully's Replacement?

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Catchers are squatting, and pitchers reporting - you be of good cheer. “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

Hah, you thought it was Andy Williams singing about Christmas. Nope, for millions of baseball fans Spring Training rings in The National Pastime. A time of renewed hope and fresh starts. The season (for me) officially kicks off Monday, April 3, 2017, 1:15 pm (PST) with the Los Angeles Dodgers battling the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.

With 162 games to play, 30 teams step confidently into opening day with renewed hope.

Yes, I’m still ecstatic about the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs! Go Cubs go! Ok, I’m a California resident but a die hard Cubs fan at heart. However, the Dodgers have always held a special place in my baseball loyalties.

I’ll admit my spring ritual is to begin each season listening to a game on the radio with play-by-play announcer Vince (Vin) Scully broadcasting. This year however, after 67 years as the voice of the Dodgers he will have a replacement in the broadcast booth. Yes, you heard correctly.

Joe Davis' second season with the Dodgers will be his first as the team's full-time play-by-play announcer on SportsNet LA, which will televise 16 Spring Training games. Davis will team with analyst Orel Hershiser in some spring games, while Charley Steiner and Rick Monday will handle others.

So how do you brace yourself for such a dramatic shift in the baseball universe?

My suggestion is to start the season off with something familiar. For me it’s tuning into Chicago Cubs Baseball on 800 KXIC with the magic of the iPhone, Android phone, tablet device, computer, or yes an ole’ fashioned transistor radio - fans of the game can experience the melodic cadence of baseball from anywhere.

I delight in listening to Spring Training games to get an idea of who was traded to what team. Tune to your favorite local radio station or download MLB.com At Bat® and enjoy.

So, join me if you like. Opening Day, Monday, 1:15 p.m. (PST), from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. when the voice of Joe Davis, or will it be Charlie Steiner, or maybe Rick Monday, will grace the air waves? We’ll see . . .

On second thought, maybe we should be singing the 1962 Danny Kaye song, "So I say D - I say Do - Dod - Dodg - Dodgers - team - team - team, Oh . . . "

Yes, it’s that wonderful time of year!

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