It wasn't long ago that I discovered that longtime Mets broadcaster Fran Healy wouldn't be returning to the team's broadcast booth for 2006. Faith and Fear in Flushing is trying to put Healy's tenure with the team into context:
You wake up Metsopotamians of a certain vintage in the middle of a sound sleep even now and ask them to name Mets announcers, and the name Lindsey Nelson will come up no later than fourth as they gather their thoughts. That's how strong his imprint was on the collective Met consciousness. That's how identified the original trio of Lindsey, Ralph and Bob is with the franchise still.Fran Healy is the third-longest tenured Mets announcer in team history. He's five seasons ahead of Lindsey Freaking Nelson! LINDSEY FREAKING NELSON!
Eeek! I really have been away from New York for a looong time.
Back in the Summer of 2003, I had my own Healy head-scratching moment. Thanks to Deadspin for the link.
BTW -- it turns out that Ron Darling, late of the Washington Nationals broadcast booth, will be joining Keith Hernandez in the Mets booth in 2006. And after watching Darling up close last season, I'd have to say it's more than appropriate that he'll be stepping in for a talent like Healy.
Have fun, New York.
Given that Darling’s only been at this a year, there’s at least the potential that he’ll grow into the job, as Hernandez did; that wasn’t at all a possibility with Healy.