Bart Scott "knows he has work to do" on his knowledge of baseball as he joins Chris Carlin and Maggie Gray next week in replacing longtime WFAN afternoon host Mike Francesa, according to Neil Best of NEWSDAY. Scott during three December shows "experienced some early wobbles when talking baseball." He said, "To me football and basketball are like breathing; I’ve watched it my entire life.” He said that he views the challenge regarding baseball as the same as having to get "'up to speed' against NFL competition as an undrafted free agent." Scott: "I look at it the same way. It’s baseball. It just means I have to pay attention to it, that’s all. ... It’s in the details. I’ll get the details cleaned up.” Scott added, "It’s important for me to get a sense of the history of the Mets and the Yankees because I’m a Tigers fan." Best notes Scott is widely viewed "as the wild card, an unpredictable font of opinions and stories," among the new hosts. If all goes well, Scott will "straddle the line between provocative and incendiary, leaning toward the former." Carlin said Scott "brings an edginess" to the broadcasts. Carlin: "It brings an unabashed lack of fear. It’s funny. When you’re in radio you can be around some people you work with and they can have that and it can scare you. Are they going to say the wrong thing?" Mark Lepselter, who reps Scott, said that WFAN execs "saw his potential after midsummer fill-in shifts." Scott for three years was part of CBS' NFL pregame show, but Lepselter said, “He has more space now, more real estate to convey his thoughts, show his personality." Best notes Scott is "unconcerned about three voices being a crowd, but he urged listeners to be patient" (NEWSDAY, 12/28).
