Don Sutton, Calling It as He Sees It

As Sutton discussed his career on the field and in the broadcast booth, he relaxed in a box seat behind home plate at RFK Stadium. On a sunny afternoon, hours before game time, the Nationals were taking batting practice and signing autographs.

The signature-seekers orbited Sutton, too, adding a warm touch to the newcomer's welcome to Washington.

Carpenter has helped ease Sutton's transition as well. On the air, they work together as smoothly as a shortstop and second baseman turning a slick double play.

"In spring training, after one game, we looked at each other and said it felt as if we'd been working together a long time," Carpenter said. "We both love the game and love to see baseball played the right way. We like to broadcast it the right way, too."

Carpenter's approach has been to play to Sutton's strength, steering him to the subject of pitching, which is a big issue with the rebuilding Nats.

"I try to play the role of a fan, to set him up on some of his tangents on pitching," said Carpenter, who is in his 24th season of doing big-league broadcasts. "I've learned a lot from him in a short period of time."

Sutton took the MASN job after an abrupt departure from Atlanta. He doesn't sugarcoat the separation.

"I got fired," said Sutton, bluntly but not angrily. "I have no idea why. After 18 years. In a brief, three-minute phone call. 'Thanks for showing up. We're going in a different direction. God bless you; we wish you the best.' It happens."

Sutton rebounded this season, his move to Washington enhanced by the fact that he has a number of friends and former associates in the Nationals organization.

Watching the Nationals' sometimes futile efforts on the field after years of describing the Braves' regular runs for the playoffs has not discouraged Sutton. During his Atlanta tenure, he recalled, the Braves struggled while a winning franchise was being put together. Besides, Sutton said, what happened in Atlanta can happen here.

"I've already seen this movie," he said. "And it has a happy ending."

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