The White Sox have agreed to a four-year contract extension with television play-by-play announcer Ken “Hawk” Harrelson that will keep him in the booth through the ’15 season. Next season will be Harrelson’s 27th as a White Sox broadcaster (White Sox). In Chicago, Daryl Van Schouwen noted for the last three seasons, Harrelson has been paired with analyst Steve Stone. Harrelson is “well-known for being a ‘homer,’ but he told it like it was during the final broadcast of the season.” Harrelson said of the 79-83 White Sox, “This is the most underachieving team I have ever seen” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 9/29).
CALLING IT LIKE THEY SEE IT: On Long Island, Neil Best wrote SportsNet N.Y.’s Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling were “sharply critical Wednesday when the Mets removed Jose Reyes from the game against the Reds after a first-inning bunt single.” Hernandez: “To be honest with you, I am not going to agree with this move at all. But it is what it is.” Cohen said, “I’m a little stunned." Darling: "I don’t know what to say” (NEWSDAY, 9/29). Reyes asked to be removed from the game in order to protect his lead in the NL batting average race (THE DAILY).
WATCH WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: NEWSDAY's Best noted it is "still unanswered ... whether this will be the last Yankees autumn" for either WCBS-AM or its announcers. The station's contract “is up and ESPN is expected to bid.” The “shaky signal at 1050-AM would be a huge concern for fans, but ESPN long has been looking to buy a local FM station.” Best notes that "would help a lot, not only for Yankees games but in ESPN’s long, losing New York ratings war with WFAN” (NEWSDAY.com, 9/28).
GUEST STARRING: MLB Network announced A's P Dallas Braden and Giants LF Mark DeRosa will serve as guest studio analysts during the net's postseason coverage. Braden will appear on "MLB Tonight" for a two-night stint beginning tomorrow, while DeRosa will join “MLB Tonight” October 3-5 (MLB Network).
