Eckersley will be joined by analyst Jerry Remy and play-by-play voice Dave O'Brien up to 30 times in '19getty images
In Boston, Jason Mastrodonato notes Dennis Eckersley has "signed a new-five year contract with NESN" that will see the Baseball HOFer calling 85 Red Sox broadcasts a year. Eckersley will share the booth with fellow analyst Jerry Remy alongside play-by-play voice Dave O'Brien as many as 30 times this season, beginning with the April 9 home opener against the Blue Jays. The joint appearances will have a "focus on more important series, including 11 of those 30 games" coming in September. Eckersley and Remy have a "well-regarded on-air relationship that often creates a smooth dynamic for back-and-forth conversation" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/21).
STEPPING UP: On Long Island, Neil Best noted Wayne Randazzo is taking over as the Mets' new radio play-by-play man after "four years as pregame and postgame reporter/host and filling in in the booth on radio and television." The move "coincides with the Mets moving" from WOR-AM to WCBS-AM. Randazzo "expects a smooth transition" to his new role. He will also "continue to work the postgame show" (NEWSDAY, 2/20). Meanwhile, in N.Y., Mike Puma reported Keith Hernandez is "entering the final year of his SNY contract," but he has "zero plans to retire." The 65-year-old Hernandez, who is recovering from back surgery earlier this year, "wants to keep working into his 70s" (TWITTER.com, 2/19).
BACK FOR MORE: In Oakland, Jon Becker noted former MLBer Coco Crisp is joining the A’s radio broadcast team this season, as he will appear “in the booth for 33 games" alongside Ken Korach and Vince Cotroneo on the new flagship radio station KTRB-AM. Crisp also will be “utilized on their new TuneIn channel that features 24/7 A’s coverage, anchored by Chris Townsend.” Crisp is the latest former A’s player to “take a swing at broadcasting,” although Dallas Braden, Eric Chavez, Scott Hatteberg and Mark Mulder did their work “primarily on television.” Crisp will debut on March 10 (EAST BAY TIMES, 2/20).
