Photo: New York Post
The lingering dust after the shake-up in the New York Mets’ radio booth has settled, and the lineup in the booth, as well as pre-and-post game host, have been set, as per reports.
Andrew Marchand of the New York Post confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that Wayne Randazzo, rumored to be a clear favorite for the position in early December — again via Marchand — will sit alongside longtime Mets play-by-play announcer Howie Rose this season.
How much longer Randazzo, 34, will remain in that spot is yet to be determined, as WCBS, the Mets’ radio home, only gave the former pre-and-postgame host a one-year deal, as per Marchand’s sources.
The article also notes that as the season progresses, vice president of Entercom, who owns WCBS as well as WFAN, Mark Chernoff “is expected to bring in some play-by-players for what will be [an audition]” to “see if he favors these voices over Randazzo going forward”.
Also confirmed in the report — and what should be viewed as a home run for the fanbase — is the return of former Mets beat reporter for WFAN, Ed Coleman, to the broadcast team as the host of the pre-and-postgame show. Coleman remained with WFAN when the Mets moved their game broadcasts to 710 WOR.
There were rumors swirling that the longtime Mets radio personality could retire. Apparently, that’s not the case. In actuality, it couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Coleman, 70, will do around 120-130 games,” Marchand wrote. “While WCBS morning anchor, Brad Heller, is expected to fill in on the rest.”
Originally joining WFAN as an underling of Steve Somers in the 1980s, Coleman became the station’s beat reporter in the early 1990s and as-needed play-by-by substitute when Rose would be off calling Rangers, and then Islanders games.
Between Mets Extra (showing my age), as well as pre-and-postgame hosting duties, Ed Coleman has been a part of the Mets family for as long as I can remember. Welcome back, Eddie.
