One the eve of the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning their third postseason run in as many years the club announced Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully underwent a medical procedure and would not call portions of postseason games for radio broadcasts, as was initially planned.
In his first public comments since the surgery, Scully told SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo he was “fine” in an exclusive interview with the Dodgers’ network. “I’m truly optimistic and looking forward to 2016,” he added.
While the voice that’s become synonymous with Dodgers baseball was absent from an October run, Scully focused on the positives of his career. “It was difficult, but it’s a typical case of handling your mind,” he said of not working.
“Instead of feeling sorry for myself that I was missing it, I kept thinking how fortunate I have been all these years to have been involved in all of the others. Really, I kept thinking, ‘do you realize how lucky you are? This is the first time you’ve ever missed one.’ And that made it totally different.”
Despite being removed from the team, Scully tuned in during the National League Division Series, and said he was disappointed and surprised with the Dodgers getting eliminated by the New York Mets.
“I’m glad I’m not a bettor. I would’ve bet the house that Greinke and the Dodgers at home would beat the Mets,” he said. “So, I was flabbergasted and humbled. Sure enough, I was wrong.”
With the Dodgers’ focus now on the 2016 season, Scully reiterated his intention to return for an unprecedented 67th season behind the microphone.
“I’m looking forward to [next year] as much as my second year because I got by the first year and I was so thrilled that there was another one coming up,” he said. “Well, that’s how I feel about ’16. I am chafing at the bit.”
The second part of Scully’s interview with Rizzo will air Monday night at 7 p.m. on SportsNet LA.
