ATLANTA — Julio Teheran came just four outs shy of providing one of the most memorable rookie pitching performances in recent memory.
By going 7 2/3 innings without allowing a single hit to the Pirates, the 23-year-old flirted with the idea of becoming the 22nd rookie to ever throw a no-hitter and the first since Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz in 2007 versus the Orioles. It's a fairly impressive list, too, one that includes Vida Blue and Christy Mathewson. But it was not to be.
Somewhat lost in the masterful performance, though, was that the game nearly offered Braves play-by-play Chip Caray one of his career's most memorable calls.
He called Ubaldo Jimenez's no-hitter against Atlanta back in 2010, but the game would have been his first no-hit call for the hometown club in over 20 years of broadcasting.
So, Caray joined the Chopcast team — Zach Dillard, Cory McCartney and Jay Clemens — to talk about Teheran's gem and continued dominance, broadcasting memories and family ties, his basketball backgrounds and more Braves odds and ends. Here are the highlights:
-- As a broadcaster, at what point does a no-hitter become a distinct possibility and require ample foreshadowing?
-- What has been most impressive and/or telling in Teheran's development?
-- With such inescapable family ties to legendary broadcasters, how did Caray manage to develop his own style along the way? Was there any good advice along the way?
-- Were there other career options besides broadcasting?
-- Just how cold was it in Colorado earlier this season (where Teheran started this streak of excellence)? What are the problems with the MLB's scheduling?
-- As the Braves travel to Los Angeles, is there any extra meaning to the Dodgers series, or is it just one of many for a team searching for a World Series?
