On The Air
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
March 16, 2007

It's a home run for baseball analyst John Marzano, who is joining mlb.com as a full-time analyst.

“Although I would've loved to continue my baseball career in Philadelphia, this was too good of an opportunity,” said Marzano, former Central High School and Temple University baseball star.

“Marz” began his broadcast career in 2001 as an analyst for “Phillies Post Game Live” on Comcast SportsNet. He was scheduled to appear on all 101 Phillies game on CSN this season, but because of the new job, only will appear on about 30.

Marzano will give up his appearances on WIP 610-AM because he'll be commuting to the Major League Baseball offices in New York City five mornings a week.

Marzano credits his rise in the broadcasting world to his willingness to be honest.

“Most ex-players think it's easy to do television, but when it's time to be critical they just can't do it,” said Marzano, a former catcher who played parts of 10 seasons with Boston, Texas and Seattle. “You have to forget that you were once a player. People can see through you if you are trying to protect somebody.”

Help wanted

With Marzano's reduced work schedule on CSN, industry sources are speculating that former Phillie Mitch Williams may do the remaining games on “Phillies Post Game Live.”

It would be great if CSN would give former Phillie Darren Daulton a chance to redeem himself after his weird appearance on “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” last year.

Quite Frankly

“NFL on Fox” funnyman Frank Caliendo, who does a mean John Madden impression, will get his own show called “The Frank Show” on TBS this summer.

MVP on SNL

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning hosts “Saturday Night Live” next week on NBC.

ESPN Watchdog

Le Anne Schreiber is the new Ombudsman for ESPN.  The Ombudsman’s role is to critique the network and point out things it is doing wrong, although her workload will be reduced around 99-percent without Michael Irvin on the air.   

E-mail: lauranachman@verizon.net