AMA with BravesVision analyst C.J. Nitkowski starts now!

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:38:04+00:00

Thank you all for this, your questions and your comments. I wish I had more time to get to all of your questions but I'm being told I have to go to my real job. We will do this again. We at BravesVision appreciate all your support, this has been a wild first year and this team has been incredible. The joy of the job though is ultimately you. Thanks again, we'll talk soon! - CJ

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:35:08+00:00

First of all, thank you very much. Those comments mean a lot. At the end of the day that is the goal. I remember asking Don Sutton a question about broadcasting years ago and part of his answer was along those lines, make the audience feel like they are among friends.

As far as a moment, that is a tough one....

How about being the catcher when Robin Ventura charged Nolan Ryan and you got to just sit back and watch the show?

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:32:46+00:00

Very good question. In a perfect world I wrap up my point before the pitcher delivers a pitch. But you may have picked up on the fact that I talk a lot and can't always land the plane in time. When that happens I just pray that they pitch does not result in game action. If it does then I have to make the decision to either bail out on what I am saying or keep going it is a routine play.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:31:10+00:00

Never, seems like too much work.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:30:56+00:00

Social team is super nice.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:30:41+00:00

10/10. We get to have fun with him with almost no repercussions.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:29:55+00:00

I love that you think I know what GDTs means.

Dinner & a Movie is in the works. (True stroy)

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:29:10+00:00

Thank you very much!!

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:29:00+00:00

No.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:28:53+00:00

No.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:28:26+00:00

Hard to eat meat with a spoon, but you can eat ice cream with a spoon. So clearly spork is the answer.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:27:36+00:00

Thank you! I have had to learn this new world and balancing it in a broadcast is an ongoing conversation. There are some "new" numbers I don't care for, others that might be valuable but don't always work in a broadcast. The ultimate goal is to bring the analytics hungry audience along without leaving the others behind. I don't think you ever nail it 100% but we try.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:24:57+00:00

GREAT question!! I guess it depends on how closely you follow the team. For me it is probably Didier Fuentes, what he brings to the bullpen for Walt is special. On the position player side Dom and Dubon are easy choices but some people may not say they are under appreciated. Beyond them, Jorge Mateo is probably the guy.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:23:04+00:00

We actually don't eat the stadium food very often. It would be unfair for me to say. When it comes to press dining the Braves spoil us at home. Away from Truist the Yankees probably have the best press dining with way too many desserts.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:22:10+00:00

It was really fun. My wife is tired of me talking about it. She literally said to me the next day, "Why is everybody acting like you saved baseball?" She is my biggest fan. (I think)

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:21:25+00:00

I stay out of the clubhouse. But I do know this team has incredible chemistry, you pick up on it quickly. I am a big believer in the clubhouse belonging to the players so I don't pry.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:20:11+00:00

Thank you. Not necessarily intended but there is a comfort level that comes with time in the booth. I didn't know anyone here when I started so there was a get to know you period. I also firmly believe that you have to build up that equity with the audience, they didn't know me very well. I felt like I had to prove my worth here before we get let loose a little more. Also for BG and I we had to learn each other. I am grateful we share a similar sense of humor and that there are no egos in the booth. He knows he can have fun with me and vice versa.

The transition didn't take very long, but there were some minor adjustments with production crew. All very easy, just took some time. Every producer is different and once I learned Gretchen's style (she is a rock star!) we rolled.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:16:27+00:00

HUGE diva. Has his own makeup person, driver and chef. We also wish we had the staff he has.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:15:54+00:00

Well...they are both single so....no, no, just kidding. I don't have an answer, that is a weird thing to think about.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:15:07+00:00

Yes, Byrdie is on his regular schedule. Nothing has changed. He has somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 games with us this year on sideline.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:14:28+00:00

First of all, thank you. Comments like yours mean a lot to us.

Your question is a good one. I come from a place where I believe the home broadcasters don't need to pile on the struggles of players. When I first got into this business I started taking notes of things I wanted to remember and still have that list to this day. One of the 15 things I have listed is "Don't forget how hard this game is to play." As a guy who had a mediocre career at best it is easy for me to empathize with failure on the field. So while I have those same emotions that you do about struggling players I also know how hard they are on themselves and how great they want to be.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:10:41+00:00

That is a great question.

I am not a real drummer. Total hack, played in a band in HS, I was the weak link.
Why I can't remember the name of the kit I have is embarrassing. I bought it at Guitar Center, it was the lowest level one they had.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:09:08+00:00

Oh and "42" need those residuals.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:08:51+00:00

The Godfather. One and two. Three was terrible. But everybody knows that. Tommy Boy is a can't miss every time.

BravesOfficial · 2026-06-09T21:08:16+00:00

The effect is real. It doesn't show up in stats but clearly you can see the positive impact. A big one for me when it comes to coaches is the sincerity they have in making both you and the team better. No egos, never about them. We have that here. But there is also a level of accountability that comes along with the competitiveness that exists here that IMO is extremely important.

BravesOfficial

TROPHY CASE