NBC hockey announcer Mike Emrick on Friday night helped Bob Costas call Cubs-Pirates on MLB Network, and it "didn't take them long to mesh on air," according to Rob Biertempfel of the PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW. The first inning "was mostly Costas," but Emrick "was more involved" in the second. The fourth and fifth innings "were Emrick's turn to do play-by-play." Due to blackout restrictions, the MLB Net feed "was not available to viewers in the Pittsburgh area," but was simulcast on MLB Net Radio. Emrick: "This was my debut, and this was my swan song. This is work, but tonight it's my joy. It's a one-time thing, and I know that" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 7/10). In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes Emrick's call was "what could be expected of a modest gentleman." Emrick "didn’t say much, at first, indicating that as a novelty act he didn’t wish to be heard as one, that the game and Costas’ call of it was what mattered." He "wasn’t shy, just deferential." But Emrick "eventually spoke more" (N.Y. POST, 7/11). YAHOO SPORTS' Sean Leahy noted Emrick had "worked two innings on radio in March during a Pirates Spring Training game a few months after Costas had invited him to call a regular season game after watching an HBO 'Real Sports' segment on the broadcasting legend" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/9).
TWITTER REAX: The MMQB's Peter King wrote he could "listen to Doc Emrick and Bob Costas all day. All week." Emrick is "such a natural, at all games." Golf Digest's Ron Sirak: "Hey Doc Emrick great job on @MLB from an old golf writer who grew up on Bob Prince and Jim Woods." MLB.com's Adam Berry: "Made it to San Diego in time to hear Doc Emrick on @MLBNetwork saying 'Raise the Jolly Roger.' What a neat moment for him." Philadelphia-based WIP-FM's Glen Macnow: "Doc Emrick calling a baseball game? Well, I'm putting down the remote." Golf writer Ryan Ballengee: "How's Doc Emrick doing with the Pirates game? I'm DVRing it and that's the first time I've ever recorded a baseball game."
