WGN-AM yesterday announced the hiring of veteran broadcaster and former Cubs player Keith Moreland as the radio color analyst for Cubs games, succeeding the late Ron Santo, according to Bruce Miles of the Illinois DAILY HERALD. Moreland, who signed a "three-year contract," will work alongside play-by-play announcer Pat Hughes. Moreland, who called Univ. of Texas baseball games for 16 years and football games for nine, "apparently impressed the Cubs and WGN enough during stints on both radio and TV the last two years." Moreland beat out fellow former Cubs player Dave Otto. WGN Sports Dir Dave Eanet: "Keith is a terrific broadcaster. He’s been doing the job at a very high level. ... He’s got a nice conversational sound." Moreland said, "I’m just going to be me. I can probably butcher the English language with the best of them. I do understand the game. I feel very confident knowing the things you might be thinking of doing strategy wise. I think probably mine will be a little more analysis, but I’m also still a guy who likes to have fun, and Pat’s easy to have fun with" (Illinois DAILY HERALD, 2/17). In Chicago, Paul Sullivan notes Moreland has a "folksy style with an analytical bent and isn't shy about criticizing players." Moreland "won't be a cheerleader in the Santo vein, but he has no qualms about his allegiance." He said, "First and foremost, I want them to win. It's much easier to do your job when you win" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/17). Moreland added, "No one can replace Ron Santo. All I can do is be myself" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/17).
TAGGED OUT IN A RUNDOWN: The NATIONAL POST's Jeremy Sandler reported Rogers Communications has told Blue Jays TV analyst Rance Mulliniks and on-field reporter Sam Cosentino that they "will no longer be part of the team for Blue Jays broadcasts on Sportsnet and Sportsnet One." Mulliniks: "I think it was really a result of there was some changes in management at Rogers Sportsnet and they just really wanted to go in another direction." Cosentino who will continue to work for Rogers on the network's junior hockey coverage. Sandler noted the departures "leave play-by-play man Buck Martinez and analyst Pat Tabler to handle the Blue Jays games" (NATIONALPOST.com, 2/16).
