Gary Cohen Reflects on Missing Playoff Games
Gary Cohen, the voice of the Mets, had not envisioned a September without postseason games. During a recent episode of SI Media with Jimmy Traina, Cohen expressed that the toughest adjustment since moving from radio has been the inability to call playoff games.
“That’s the worst part of the job,” he shared. “Back when I was at a radio station, covering every playoff game was standard. My wife and I often discussed it, and I knew what I was stepping into. But, you know, it didn’t exactly end on a high note.”
Cohen has been the Mets’ broadcaster since 2006 when the team launched on the SNY network. However, due to MLB’s control over postseason broadcast rights, local announcers, including him, won’t be commentating during October.
He has a history in radio, notably known for his passionate call during Andy Chavez’s spectacular catch in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS while serving as a part-time broadcaster.
This sentiment isn’t unique to Cohen; other broadcasters have voiced similar frustrations, recognizing the challenge of being sidelined after a long season where teams play over 120 games.
Michael Kay recently shared his disappointment over not getting to call the Yankees’ season opener, which is set to air on Netflix.
Meanwhile, numerous fans are expressing their desire for the league to allow local broadcasts for games aired nationally, hoping for more personalized viewing options.
Whether local broadcasters will eventually get to call postseason games remains unclear, but fans—especially those frustrated with networks like Apple and Netflix—will surely welcome the change if it happens.
