Among the things that had changed between the end of the St. Louis Cardinals' brief All-Star Break and their road series against the Cincinnati Reds: Broadcaster and Mad Hungarian Al Hrabosky's voice, which had—without explanation—gotten higher and gruffer, among other adjectives. Hrabosky explained it on the air—he had neck surgery, due, apparently, to a long-term back condition—but as people begin to tune in every day again I've seen the eyebrows rise and the mouths begin to open and close as people wonder whether or not they're supposed to ask about it.
↵With that in mind, a public service: Al Hrabosky has apparently had neck surgery. He has not, so far as I know, gotten into a wild brawl with other announcers; taken a fastball to the neck from Cal Eldred or a slowball to the neck from Ricky Horton; fractured his wrist in a collision with Wilson Betemit; fought as a sniper in Vietnam, which is why his sleeves are so long, you know; been caught sleeping with Ryne Sandberg or LeBron James's girlfriend or Jim Edmonds's boyfriend; or even divorced Dan McLaughlin.
↵If I hear anything to the controversy, you'll be the first I don't say anything to, but kind of wink at, you know, like, "Are you noticing that? Is it okay to notice he sounds weird?"
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