One-on-One with Josh Caray

In his first year as the radio voice for the Rome Braves of the South Atlantic League, Josh Caray is following in some very large footsteps. The 25-year- old graduate of Oglethorpe University is the grandson of Baseball Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Caray, the son of Atlanta Braves sportscaster Skip Caray and the half-brother of Chip Caray, the play-by-play announcer for Braves' games on TBS. While preparing for a game at Riley Park recently, Caray went one- on- one with The Post and Courier's Bill Henley:

How much pressure is there to live up to the Caray name?

"None. I mean, really, this is a lot of fun for me, and I know what's going on.

I think the best word for it is I've been desensitized to this stuff, so I step into a broadcast booth and it's maybe not as daunting for me as it would be for someÂ-one else. And really, I'm just calling it like it is. If people like it, great. If people don't, that's just the way it goes. I know I'm not going to make everyone happy. You never can in this business. I just do the best job I can and hopefully it works out well."

Have you ever gotten to work with your dad?

"Actually they did a piece in the Atlanta Journal- Constitution about my dad comÂ-ing up to visit me in Rome a few weeks ago, so we had him up there. Had him onÂ-air for awhile. I had a sore throat as well, so he got to call a couple plays as well. It was great to have him up there."

How surreal was it to have him being a guest on your show?

"Not very. I kinda expected it and I try not to make things any bigger than what they are. To me, it's just Dad coming up to visit. I talked about being desensitized to stepping into a booth; I'm desensitized to him. I don't see him as a broadcaster. I see him as Dad. That's what happens when you live with someone for 18 years."

That must make the conversation on air a little easier.

"Oh, a lot easier. I remember I did it with my brother and truth be told, my brother and I really aren't that close because he's much older than I am. He was 18 when I was born. I had him doing a demo with me and I found it very hard to talk to him because I don't know him that well. And, I think that's what it would be for anyone."

What is the most useful lesson you've learned from either your father or your grandfather?

"Just be honest. If the team's playing bad, you've just got to say they're playing bad.

There's no way to sugarcoat it. Fans are a lot smarter than I think baseball players and broadcasters think they are and if you try to sugarcoat it, you're going to lose a lot of respect with the fan base. You've got to treat them as equals. You've just got to tell it like it is. Unfortunately, in today's busiÂ-ness world, a lot of people are products of the organization as opposed to real broadÂ-cast journalists. It's unfortunate because you see a lot of sugarcoating going on and that's not the way to go. You've got to be honest."

What's the most important thing you've learned yourself while on the job?

" The biggest thing I've learned about myself is I hate slow games ... that someÂ-times my attention to detail wanes. I reÂ-member there was one game where there were two pitchers both with the same height, same build, and I mixed up who was pitching and that's a mistake a lot of people have made, believe it or not, espeÂ-cially in the minor leagues, but it's one of those things I have to be more aware of.

But, that's one of those things that comes with time and doing this again and again. And, I'm learning."

What's your favorite play to call?

"I guess it would be a single to the outÂ-field and a runner trying to score from second and talking about the relay and the guy coming around third and all that.

There's just so much happening, but for me, it's so easy to call because it just seems to flow so easily.

Designated hitter or no?

"No, absolutely not. In fact, I don't know why they have it in the minor leagues, especially when one of those teams are in the National League. It's kind of silly."

What do you do with your down time on the road?

"It depends. If we're in a city like Charleston, I try to go see the historic sites. At night, I try to go with the nightÂ-life a little bit. But if it's a place where there's not a whole lot to do, I just try to find a spot to eat, get a book to read, usuÂ-ally there's a ballgame on. I'm a big Jerry Springer fan."

What's your favorite ballpark food?

"Cracker Jack."

Is there a dream job out there for you?

" There's not one, but I would love to work in one of the major markets one day - a Chicago, New York, L. A. or someÂ-thing like that. Or, at the most minimal, I'd like to work with the Braves in Atlanta because that's what I grew up around and it's a lot easier to broadcast a game with a team that you've been following for years than it is to hop right off the bus and broadcast a team that you've only known for a month or so.

Do you have a favorite team?

"Braves, but any of the big market clubs would be a lot of fun too."