Mets legend offers broadcaster praise

Pete Alonso hit one of the most memorable home runs in New York Mets history Thursday night, and radio play-by-play voice Howie Rose delivered an electric call of the moment.

With the Mets trailing the Milwaukee Brewers 2-0 in the ninth inning of a winner take all Wild Card game, Alonso slugged a three-run homer to give New York a lead they would not relinquish . While the game was televised by ESPN, it’s Rose’s radio call of Alonso’s homer to send the Mets to the NLDS that will live forever.

“Swing and a fly ball to right field, pretty well hit,” Rose exclaimed. “Frelick back at the wall, he jumps, it’s gone! He did it! He did it! Pete Alonso with the most memorable home run of his career. Pumps his fist as he rounds second, it’s a three-run homer. He’s given the Mets a 3-2 lead! They all pour out of the dugout. Alonso on his way to home plate, they’re waiting for him! He hits the plate, he’s first congratulated by Nimmo! Hugged by Lindor! There are a dozen Mets waiting for him outside the dugout. Pete Alonso keeps this fairytale season going with the fairytale swing of his career!”

Chills. The call from Rose was perfect and it garnered unanimous praise from baseball fans including his former radio partner and now longtime TV voice of the Mets, Gary Cohen. Cohen was asked to assess Alonso’s home run during SNY’s postgame coverage, but he first needed to celebrate Rose’s radio call of what was one of the biggest moments in franchise history.

“First of all, before I address that, I love Howie Rose in ‘Matteau, Matteau, Matteau’ mode,” Cohen said. “That was awesome. Thanks, Howie.”

“Matteau, Matteau, Matteau” is of course in reference to Rose’s call of Stephane Matteau’s double overtime walk-off goal for the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals against the New Jersey Devils. Although the stakes may have been higher in ’94 for the Rangers, Rose’s call of Alonso’s home run will be remembered similarly for Mets fans.

Despite calls for Major League Baseball’s TV partners to let local broadcasters announce playoff games , Cohen is relegated to pre and postgame studio work on SNY during the postseason. In 2006, Cohen controversially reentered the Mets radio booth for two innings each game during the playoffs, which is why he was on the call as Endy Chavez robbed Scott Rolen of a home run. But in every Mets playoff run since 2006, Cohen has stayed out of the radio booth, contributing as a studio analyst on SNY instead.

Cohen would undoubtedly love to be calling these playoff games for the Mets and their fans, but he must take solace in knowing Rose is behind the microphone to meet every moment.

[ SNY ]

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