Yankees Announce YES Announcers

[GaryMrMets]

This bit of information I got from the New York Radio Message Board. It is also at New Jersey online.com, the link is below:

http://www.musicradio77.com/wwwboard/messages/147718.html

It's Official: Suzan Waldman Joins the YES network

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Posted by C. Coyne on December 03, 2001 at 18:10:39:

Not really a "radio" story, but it pertains to a prominent NY personality, so what the hell. Suzan has landed on her feet, to no great suprise, the following is an AP report on the subject, the link follows:

Waldman, Hickman hired as Yankees' TV announcers The Associated Press
12/3/01 3:57 PM

NEW YORK (AP) -- Suzyn Waldman and Fred Hickman were hired Monday as announcers' for the New York Yankees' YES Network, which starts broadcasting in March,

Waldman will broadcast 35 games for the regional sports network and appear on pre- and postgame shows for an additional 115 games. YES plans to televise one-hour pregame shows next season.

Hickman, 45, was with Turner Broadcasting System on CNN and TNT from 1980- 84, and from 1986 until September. Waldman, 55, was with WFAN radio in New York from 1987 until this year and broadcast games on the Madison Square Garden Network, WPIX and WYNY. In January 1999, she helped end a 14-year feud between Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and Hall of Famer Yogi Berra.

http://www.nj.com/sportsflash/yankees/index.ssf?/newsflash/get_story.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?s0373_BC_BBA--Yankees-Announce&&sports&njo_yanks

It was quite a coop to bag Hickman, he's a great sportscaster. He brings instant credibility to the Network, and gives it an instant, distinct, non MSG identity.

[Yankee 21]

I really don't like her much.

[Baseball Guru]

Don't know her but Hickman is a good guy...

[Yankee 21]

She's just really annoying. She seems like she thinks she knows it all and doesn't!

[Baseball Guru]

By RONALD BLUM

NEW YORK (AP) - In what is likely to be their first move of the offseason, the New York Yankees closed in Monday on a four-year contract with reliever Steve Karsay worth about $21 million.

The deal for the native New Yorker probably will be finalized later this week, two people familiar with the talks said on the condition they not be identified.

Karsay, a 29-year-old right-hander, began last season with Cleveland, then was traded to Atlanta on June 22 along with Steve Reed for John Rocker. Karsay was 0-1 with one save and a 1.25 ERA in 31 games for Cleveland, striking out 44 in 43 2-3 innings.

He then went 3-4 with a 3.43 ERA in 43 games for Atlanta, striking out 49 in 44 2-3 innings.

Following the departure of Jeff Nelson to Seattle as a free agent after the 2000 season, the Yankees lacked bullpen depth.

New York acquired Mark Wohlers and Jay Witasick, but both struggled and manager Joe Torre trusted only closer Mariano Rivera and setup men Mike Stanton and Ramiro Mendoza in key situations.

Stanton pitched 80 1-3 innings, up from 68 the previous year and 62 1-3 in 1999, and seemed weary during the second half of the season.

Karsay's boyhood home was about a 10-minute drive from Shea Stadium, and in the mid-80s he attended 15-20 Mets' games per season even though he was more of a Yankees fan.

He made his Braves' debut at Shea Stadium last summer.

``New York's New York. You take it for what it is,'' Karsay said in June. ``I grew up here, so I don't have a problem with it.''

Karsay is represented by SFX, which also represents the Yankees' top free-agent target: first baseman Jason Giambi. Talks keep progressing, but no deal was close Monday.

Outfielder Moises Alou, another potential Yankee, also is represented by SFX.