After suspending each of the pair during the 2012 season, the Arizona Diamondbacks will not be retaining either Daron Sutton or Mark Grace in their announce team for 2013.
Sutton was suspended back in June by the team because of, essentially, his preference towards wearing a suit as opposed to Diamondbacks branded gear in the broadcast booth. As for Grace, he took a leave of absence in August after his second DUI arrest. Neither announcer returned after their disappearances from the booth.
To replace the pair in the booth, the Diamondbacks apparently have their eye on Chicago. The Chicago Tribune reports Steve Stone, the partner of Hawk Harrelson (one of our favorites) with the White Sox, is apparently on the team's radar, and an interview he gave this week where he admitted that Harrelson frustrates him sometimes is apparently just throwing more fuel on the fire.
As for their other target? It's Cubs broadcaster and former Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly, who is a free agent after his contract with the Cubs expired after this season finished. Brenly will likely be a hot commodity for any team looking to change up their announcers, and Arizona won't be the only team with interest.
You would think that Sutton, who still commentated on Fox this season after his suspension by the Diamondbacks, would receive plenty of offers from teams looking for a new play by play man. A perfect landing place for him in my mind is in Atlanta, where the Braves TV duo of Chip Caray and Joe Simpson causes migraines for viewers and Sutton's father Don is one of the radio broadcasters. However, I don't think that either Caray or Simpson will be going anywhere, Caray due to his last name, and Simpson due to his long-time affiliation with the team. Give Grace's arrest record, it may be much harder for him to find another announcing job anytime soon.
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About Joe Lucia
I hate your favorite team. I also sort of hate most of my favorite teams.