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!

Comments

Morning Coffee

In this episode, Morning Coffee . . . Now, I’m not saying everyone needs coffee. Some folks get by just fine on, I don’t know, sunlight and positive thinking. Me? I’m pretty sure I started drinking the stuff sometime around the Reagan administration. Reading John Gierach’s "Ode to Campfire Coffee" in Trout Bum (a book that should be required reading for anyone who sees sleeping on the ground as recreation) got me thinking about how we’ve managed to complicate something as fundamentally simple as boiling water and adding grounds. Taste, you say? Look, black coffee is an acquired taste, like tequila or cilantro. I just don’t get it. Gierach, bless his heart, mostly drinks his java streamside, probably while wearing wool socks and waders and contemplating the mysteries of the universe. As for me? My outdoor coffee experience is a bit different. Picture this: the High Sierra, where campfires are banned (to avoid agitating Smoky Bear), and I’m huddled over a Whisperlite , coax...

Golf Evolving

In this episode, TGL–Golf Evolving . . . Welcome back to On the Fly! This week, I want to share what Lori discovered on ESPN about professional golf: the NEW TGL league. You see, golf has evolved over the centuries. The game has always adapted from Scotland's windswept links to Augusta's manicured courses. But what if I told you that the most significant change in golf history isn't happening on a sprawling 18-hole masterpiece but inside a building? Inspired by Paul Harvey's "The Rest of the Story," we’re about to tee off! Good morning, Americans! Today, we're talking about golf—a sport as old as time yet as new as tomorrow. Who hasn’t heard of Tiger Woods, the golfing phenom? Also, if you’re a golf fan, you've probably heard of Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irish star. But have you heard of their brainchild? It's called TGL–turning the golf world on its ear. TGL stands for TMRW Golf League. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy founded TMRW Sports in partne...

Decoding the Cryptic

In this episode, Decoding the Cryptic . . . Welcome back to On the Fly ! This week, we're tackling something that's been driving me—and probably you— absolutely crazy : cryptic social media posts. You know the type: a jumble of acronyms, vague references, and absolutely no context. It's like trying to decipher ancient hieroglyphs, and honestly, it makes me want to throw my phone across the room. I'm referring to those posts (and emails) from friends and family that leave you scratching your head. "OMG, just had the worst day. IDK what I'm going to do. BRB." Okay, BRB, but . . . what happened? Did a rogue squirrel steal your lunch? Did your car break down? Are you suddenly moving to Tasmania? I'm genuinely concerned, but I have no clue what's going on! And this got me thinking: Is this a modern form of writer's block? Are people so afraid of being unable to tell a story clearly that they resort to these vague snippets? Or is it just a sign of o...

Starry, Starry Night

In this episode, Starry, Starry Night . . . Welcome back to On the Fly! This week, we're exploring the basics of astrophotography. Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what's really out there? I’ve discovered a way to explore distant galaxies–without a telescope–or leaving my backyard. Consider this: each night, when the skies are clear, a breathtaking display unfolds above us—a cosmic dance of light and color. When you step outside, you notice the moon and perhaps a few stars. However, you can open a gateway to the universe with a camera, some adjustments, and a tripod. Suddenly, faint whispers of light transform into vibrant galaxies, swirling nebulae, and star clusters that shimmer like diamonds scattered across black velvet. That fuzzy patch you thought was just a smudge becomes the Andromeda Galaxy, our closest galactic neighbor, an astonishing 2.5 million light-years away. You're capturing light that has traveled millions of years to reach your came...

On The Fly

Search This Blog