The Astros are expected to "bring in [Blue Jays radio analyst] Alan Ashby as early as Tuesday for a news conference regarding his return to Houston to call Astros games on Comcast SportsNet Houston," according to David Barron of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. With confirmation that current Astros play-by-play voice Bill Brown is "cutting back his schedule to about a hundred games a year, it would not be a surprise this week to learn that [former MLBer] Geoff Blum is signing on to do games alongside Ashby in Brown’s absence and work as a CSN Houston studio analyst on game days when he isn’t in the booth." It is "more likely" that former Astros manager Larry Dierker and former MLBers Craig Biggio or Jeff Bagwell will "have studio duties rather than booth duties" (CHRON.com, 1/6). In Toronto, Bob Elliott reported Ashby "resigned from his position" at CJCL-AM last Monday. Ashby during his six years with the Blue Jays was "insightful, whether in his usual position to the left of Jerry Howarth in the radio booth or a floor above at Rogers Centre when filling in on Sportsnet TV" (TORONTOSUN.com, 1/4). Also in Toronto, Steve Simmons wrote it will be "difficult to replace his honest voice." But "maybe this is the big opportunity" for Mike Wilner, who covers the Blue Jays for CJCL (TORONTO SUN, 1/6).
