In S.F., Susan Slusser reports Mark Mulder will "no longer be" a part of A's telecasts on NBC Sports California. Mulder "served as an occasional color analyst" for the net, working 20 games in '16 and 35 in '17. Mulder said that the A’s at one point had "spoken to him about increasing his workload next season." But Mulder said, "They told me a little over a month ago that they were going in a different direction. The only thing I can really think of is that they are looking for someone who will maybe want the job full-time, not just part of the season like me." Slusser notes Mulder was "popular with fans and had earned positive reviews for his work with the A’s" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/10).
SWITCHING ROLES: ESPN.com's Brett Okamoto reported longtime MMA referee John McCarthy is "moving to the broadcast booth" for Bellator MMA. McCarthy will "join the promotion's broadcast as a color commentator," with his first event being Bellator 192 on Jan. 20. McCarthy said that he does "not consider himself retired from officiating ... but his role will change drastically." He characterized the Bellator deal as "long-term." McCarthy joins current Bellator announcers Mike Goldberg, Mauro Ranallo and Chael Sonnen (ESPN.com, 1/9).
READING THE DEFENSE: In San Diego, Tom Krasovic wrote CBS' Tony Romo "came through once again" on Sunday during the Jaguars-Bills Wild Card game. Romo pointed out ahead of developments that the Jaguars "should attack" the middle of the Bills defense by "throwing passes over aggressive linebackers." Romo later read the Jaguars defense "with the aplomb of a contemporary quarterback," noting in real time that the Bills "could’ve gouged the pass-coverage design with a deep sideline pass" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/9).
HALL CALL? In San Diego, Bryce Miller writes late broadcaster Dick Enberg "belongs" in the Int'l Tennis HOF, as he covered 28 Wimbledons and paired with the late Bud Collins "to build Breakfast at Wimbledon into sleepy-eyed appointment television." The HOF recently "retooled its induction policies, moving the 'contributor' category Enberg would be nominated in to a four-year cycle -- meaning the soonest he could make it" is '21. One "hang-up, apparently, is the word 'international' in the hall’s title" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/10).
