I’ve not checked the Monster.com ads this evening, but there’s a good chance a baseball team in Flushing seeks an announcer with solid baseball experience, and most importantly, the ability to sound kind of like Gary Cohen to persons who aren’t paying very close attention.
From Phillies.com :
Tom McCarthy, who spent the last two seasons as a play-by-play announcer for the New York Mets on WFAN, is returning to his roots as a member of the Phillies broadcasting team, Rob Brooks, Manager, Broadcasting announced today.
The New Jersey native broadcast Phillies games from 2001 through the 2005 season. In addition to play-by-play on radio, McCarthy also hosted the Phillies’ pre- and post-game shows. His contract is five years in length.
Jim Jackson will return handling pre- and post-game shows on WPHT The Big Talker 1210 AM and the Phillies radio network. “I’m excited to be back in Philadelphia,” said McCarthy. “I enjoyed my two years with WFAN and the Mets. Both are first-class as are the Phillies. I’m looking forward to returning and can’t wait for spring training to get here.”
I recall reading an item a while back where the Phillies were doing a fan survey about the broadcast team. Perhaps they finally got the hint about the level of disdain and ridicule for Chris Wheeler and McCarthys return has something to do with the results of said survey. The article says that he will be doing 3 innings of the telecast, so he is more than welcome back, especially if this means less Wheeler.
Seems like a step back, no? Though if J.Roll is to be believed the Fightins will be a fun 2-MVP 100 win juggernaut.