In L.A.. Maria Torres notes Angels broadcaster Mark Langston was back at Angel Stadium on Saturday after a heart condition put him in a Houston hospital a little over a week ago, and he assured the media that now he is "healthy and feeling physically normal." Langston said, "I'm not gonna lie. Life is different. I'm good but it's different. It's definitely different. I have to look at it that way. There's a reason that I was given extra time. I don't know what it is but there's a reason for it." He added, "How this whole thing played out in a positive end for me, they can't explain. Every doctor I talk to says, 'You are an absolute miracle because this doesn't happen.'" Langston will "spend the offseason allowing his body to adjust to the defibrillator inserted in his chest." He still "doesn't know what caused his heart to malfunction" (L.A. TIMES, 9/30).
TALKING IT OUT: In N.Y., Michael Blinn noted former SNY Mets analyst Nelson Figueroa "finally addressed his unceremonious exit" from the station after getting fired in May for "showing up to work in a 'state not fit to work.'" Figueroa said, "Going into Year 5, I was thinking it was going to be a chance to do bigger and better things, they decided to go in a different direction." SNY had "decided before the season to promote Todd Zeile to SNY's lead studio analyst, pushing Figueroa back to a complementary role." He said, "I was on a different show and going to have to work almost three times as much to make half as much and it was a very stressful time, I think on all parties" (N.Y. POST, 9/28).
NOTES: TBS' Ron Darling said he is "feeling the best I've felt all summer" as he continues treatment for thyroid cancer. Darling will call the Cardinals-Braves NLDS matchup (L.A. TIMES, 9/29)....Fox' Tom Verducci has "re-signed a multi-year deal" with the net. In addition to MLB duties, Verducci also will "do college football for 'Big Noon Kickoff' and other CFB programming" (THEATHLETIC.com, 9/30).
