Mets to WOR 710 in 2014...

[Lefty Specialist]

More time for Jeff Wilpon to talk John Franco into taking the job.

[Edgy MD]

Anybody want to help me out with the John Franco thing? Did his name really come up?

[metirish]

I do remember Franco being mentioned as a Jeff Wilpon fave along with Floyd for the radio gig. I think it was a Megdal article so.......

Can't find that online though

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I hear he knows people.

[batmagadanleadoff]

The first thing they do is get Franco in the booth. Then it's just a matter of time before the Mets are back in the ugly blacks. It's a very slippery slope.

[Frayed Knot]

The only names I ever heard were Cliff and also Daryl Hamilton.
On the other hand, we also don't know who was mentioning them or how often, only that reports that there was talk about wanting a former player in the booth. That speculation from that immediately jumps to making this a direct Jeff Wilpon project is simply par for the course.

[Lefty Specialist]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: The first thing they do is get Franco in the booth. Then it's just a matter of time before the Mets are back in the ugly blacks. It's a very slippery slope.

Then they pair him with Al Leiter. It'd be fun if they did a game where Scott Kazmir was pitching.

[Edgy MD]

Frayed Knot wrote: The only names I ever heard were Cliff and also Daryl Hamilton. On the other hand, we also don't know who was mentioning them or how often, only that reports that there was talk about wanting a former player in the booth. That speculation from that immediately jumps to making this a direct Jeff Wilpon project is simply par for the course.

Other speculation seemingly accepted as fact:

• That other names bandied about were meant to replace, not augment, the personalities already in place.
  
• That the date of this announcement reflects a winter-long effort to do anything but what they ended up doing.
  
• That any and all contract issues reflect 100% on the Mets --- not on the radio broadcaster, not on the personalities, not on their ageints.
  
• That radio broadcasters, even ones with two years on the assignment, typically get multi-year contracts.

[G-Fafif]

Casey Stern and WOR/Mets amicably part ways. Pregame/postgame host still TBD.

[Ceetar]

G-Fafif wrote: Casey Stern and WOR/Mets amicably part ways. Pregame/postgame host still TBD.

Where do I send my resume?

[Lefty Specialist]

Just put fifteen minutes of moaning and weeping sound effects at either end and you're done.

[Edgy MD]

Rubin says that a broadcasting source says that industry scuttlebutt says that WOR says that the new Mets pre-game and post-game host will be Andy Masur, presumably no relation to Bill Mazer. Masur is a Chicago-area native who had been calling games for the Padres for a number of years.

[Frayed Knot]

So they (presumably) will hire an experienced p-b-p guy just to handle pre & post? ... yet another sign that can't smell good for the future of the current second banana radio guy who is currently working on just a one-year contract.

[Edgy MD]

Are multi-year contracts standard for local radio broadcasters?

[Frayed Knot]

I think for most on-air guys, yes.
I'm sure Howie is working with more than just a year-to-year deal and I know G, K, & R all are.
IIRC the last time Keith's deal came up he got renewed for maybe four years.

[Ceetar]

Hagin's deals were both for 2 years I believe, and so was..Robertson? Tom.. something.. before him.

edit: McCarthy right? Way to be memorable Tom.

[Edgy MD]

You're talking Tom Robinson.

Gary, Keith, and Ron are not local radio broadcasters. The closest thing I can find on Rose is that he is "believed to have" signed a longer-term deal. And even if he did, his extended tenure places him in a position to receive security beyond the industry standard.

I really don't think we need to frame circumstances as ominous for Lewin a week after he was re-signed. Oooh, they reportedly hired a pre-game/post-game host with play-by-play experience? Wouldn't most candidates come in with the same?

[Frayed Knot]

Working pre & post sounds like the job you have while working your way towards p-b-p, not the other way around, so this has the ring of a somewhat downward move to me (even in a bigger market) both in prestige and money.
And even if it's not, they're bringing on a guy with p-b-p experience to work behind a guy who, according to multiple reports, they (either team or station or both) were reluctant to re-hire in the first place and is only working on a year to year basis. So, yeah, I don't KNOW that this means Josh should be walking on eggshells from now until October, but when your bosses hire a guy who is fully qualified to replace you ...

[Edgy MD]

You know, the WFAN and the Mets knew they weren't bringing Wayne Hagin back, and Hagin for his part said he didn't want to come back, but the announcement that Lewin was hired didn't come until mid-February. So maybe this is just how things get done, especially for a new outlet.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: You know, the WFAN and the Mets knew they weren't bringing Wayne Hagin back, and Hagin for his part said he didn't want to come back, but the announcement that Lewin was hired didn't come until mid-February. So maybe this is just how things get done, especially for a new outlet.

perhaps. And hell, they probably should do their due diligence and research the guy before just keeping him.

If Masur is true I'm sure he'll also be getting those third guy games when Josh is doing whatever it is he's doing and Howie's doing [crossout]Islanders playoff.[/crossout].. I mean, when they take days off. They didn't retain Coleman or Duquette so I guess they do need someone that can do PbP.

[G-Fafif]

Hagin's deals were both for 2 years I believe, and so was..Robertson? Tom.. something.. before him. edit: McCarthy right? Way to be memorable Tom.

You're talking Tom Robinson.

Tom McCarthy was radio, 2006-2007.

Ted Robinson was the 2002-2005 announcer, TV and some radio.

Tom Robson was the hitting coach between 1997 and 2002, save for the patch of 1999 when he was offed in Steve Phillips's wholesale firing of Bobby V coaches.

Tim Robbins is a celebrity Mets fan who narrated SNY's 1969 documentary.

Kevin Roberson was an outfielder on the 1996 Mets.

Jerry Robertson was pictured on 1971 Topps 651, Mets card, blank cap, never pitched for the Mets.

Tom Robinson: Why, I just had lunch with the man!

[Edgy MD]

Fusion. Conflation.

[Theoldmole]

Jackie Robinson is the one in the rotunda.

[Guest themetfairy]

FYI, D-Dad and I are still getting a decent signal in Framingham, Mass.

[Guest themetfairy]

Lost the signal just north of the Mass Pike. Still, it lasted linger than we thought it would.

[Mex17]

The pre and post game shows sound a little flat to me. No frills. Hopefully it is a work in progress.

[MFS62]

Mex17 wrote: The pre and post game shows sound a little flat to me. No frills. Hopefully it is a work in progress.

Awful. Those frills we're not getting in the post game shows include any details about out-of-town games.

Later