FAN hire could be Sterling successor
JOHN Sterling will turn 85 in July, but WFAN and the Yankees expect him to do most, but not all, of the games this upcoming season as the team’s radio play-by-player.
That is why Justin Shackil is on the verge of what one day could become a very big job, The Post has learned. WFAN is expected to offer Shackil the job vacated by Sweeny Murti, as Yankees reporter and fill-in play-byplayer.
Though terms still need to be agreed upon, and it is still being worked out whether Shackil will do both the pregame and postgame show, he would become Sterling’s permanent play-by-play backup with the expectation the 36-year-old would call 25 games this year, give or take. He could also continue to do some YES Network fill-in work.
Shackil will not be guaranteed to succeed Sterling if he ever does retire, but if a contract is agreed upon, he would have a long, public audition to be next in line. Besides YES and Yankee Stadium work, Shackil calls boxing for DAZN, and hosts a podcast with David Cone and YES researcher James Smyth.
Last year, Sterling cut back on the amount of games he called, but he still is determined to do as many as possible. Sterling still loves to call games, though he has not been shy about not enjoying traveling anymore.
WFAN had to scramble some last year to fill in the dates with Ryan Ruocco, a top choice, largely unavailable due to his YES and ESPN commitments.
Brendan Burke stood out, but his NHL work on Islanders and TNT telecasts prevents him from being able to be on call for WFAN. Rickie Ricardo, the Yankees’ Spanish language announcer, offered a big sound. And Shackil excelled.
In Murti’s old spot, WFAN wants someone who can do the studio shows and be ready, at any moment, to team with analyst Suzyn Waldman if Sterling needs time off.
WCBS, which along with WFAN is owned by Audacy, will have a similar setup, with Howie Rose being joined by newcomer Keith Raad. Pat McCarthy will be the swing man, serving as the pregane and postgame reporter and as Rose’s backup. Shackil could have a similar role, if it all works out.
FAN beats ESPN New York soundly
ESPN New York’s sound changed to start the year, but the results stayed the same for the first month of the winter radio book. WFAN beat ESPN New York in all parts. It is only the first month of a threemonth period, so full conclusions should not be drawn.
ESPN New York’s “DiPietro & Rothenberg,” in its first month head-to-head with WFAN’s No. 1 show, “Boomer & Gio,” was 14th in the market (2.6 percent), while Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti were atop the Nielsen Audio New York charts with 11.3 share of the 25-54 males that the two stations traditionally sell advertising against. In afternoons, from 3-6:30 p.m., WFAN’s “Carton & Roberts” was second in the market (7.8 share), while ESPN New York’s “The Michael Kay Show” was tied for 14th (3.1 percent). In middays, WFAN’s “Tiki & Tierney” was third (6.0), while the combo of Mike Greenberg’s and Bart Scott’s and Alan Hahn’s shows were tied for 13th (2.4).
MSG treating Rangers like an AHL team
MSG Network failing to send the Rangers’ announcers to broadcast live from arenas out west is embarrassing. An MSG spokesman said that it was the plan from the beginning of the season. When asked why, the spokesman said that was all he could say on the subject.
It’s the Rangers, the announcers should be on site, the same way the Yankees, Mets, Knicks and Nets TV announcers are all on site.