It was the ninth inning of Mets-Brewers Sport 3, a winner-take-all matchup to advance to the Nationwide League Division Collection. The Mets had been down two runs, had two on, and slugger Pete Alonso was on the plate.

It was a second meant for Gary Cohen — the legendary 36-year voice of the New York Mets. However he wasn’t contained in the raucous American Household Subject confines calling the sport, as a result of he couldn’t be. As an alternative, he was in New York Metropolis, on the SNY studios, making ready for the post-game present.

The 66-year-old’s complete life has been devoted to this crew. The Queens native grew up going to video games, and has an encyclopedic data of its historical past. However as that sport unfolded, he mentioned that he didn’t permit himself to think about what he was lacking, as a result of he nonetheless had a job to do. Even when it wasn’t the one he wished in that second.

“It’s sort of an enormous deal,” Cohen mentioned of the Mets’ magical run. “So no, it hasn’t gotten any simpler. It nonetheless stinks simply as a lot because it did the primary time.”

What occurred subsequent will without end be seared within the minds of even probably the most informal of Mets supporters: A season-saving three-run shot that crept over the right-field wall. Alonso blew a kiss as he rounded first. He closed his eyes and screamed as he rounded third. He was mobbed by his teammates after crossing dwelling plate.

Cohen wasn’t on the decision as a result of ESPN has the rights to the Wild Card Collection. TBS and FOX have the rights to rounds that come after. Cohen referred to as practically each common season sport this 12 months. Every part from their dreary 0-5 begin, to Grimace’s first pitch and the win streak that adopted, to the clincher on the common season’s remaining day.

However as a substitute of becoming a member of the crew, workers and radio announcers on a flight to Milwaukee, Cohen’s season within the sales space got here to a detailed two weeks in the past in Atlanta.

Throughout baseball, the native voices who followers get to know and (normally) love over 162 common season video games are changed by nationwide broadcasters for the playoffs. Whereas there are smart logistical, contractual and monetary the explanation why native TV broadcasters are sidelined for the postseason, that truth doesn’t erase the ache related to lacking the decision — each for the announcers themselves and the fan bases that really feel lower off.

“It’s sort of like taking a transatlantic voyage on a ship, after which getting thrown overboard a mile from shore,” Cohen mentioned with an sad chuckle. “It’s bizarre.”

Not like their tv counterparts, radio broadcasters stick with their native groups by way of the postseason. So within the Alonso second, Mets radio broadcaster Howie Rose was capable of give it the decision of his life. “He did it,” shrieked Rose — seemingly out-of-his thoughts excited, but additionally totally keyed in on describing the scene earlier than him.

Cohen, in the meantime, may solely watch. He gathered his ideas and ready to current them on SNY after the sport. Cohen was pleased for Rose and is complimentary of the nationwide announcers who’re doing the video games in his stead. He’s totally conscious he accepted a job that forestalls him from calling these moments. He additionally didn’t faux to cover his personal disappointment.

“I’m certain they’re having a blast doing that,” he mentioned. “I can solely sit right here envious of the enjoyable they need to be having.”

Taking a job as a tv broadcaster comes with caché, cash and identify recognition. Simply as there are solely 30 managerial jobs, 30 GMs and 30 beginning shortstops, just one individual generally is a main tv play-by-play voice.

Nevertheless it additionally comes with one innate flaw, an understanding for everybody taking this coveted place. When the common season ends, your responsibility is ceded to another person.

“Think about being a participant and spending all the season on the roster, after which being informed you gained’t be on the postseason roster,” mentioned one present TV play-by-play broadcaster who wished to stay nameless. “That’s how I really feel.”

Atlanta’s Austin Riley hit an enormous dwelling run within the NLDS final season to finish a four-run comeback in opposition to the Phillies. And Braves broadcaster Brandon Gaudin was in attendance — as a fan.

He jumped up and down. The longtime Braves supporter was capable of rejoice that second as he would have as a child. One thing he acknowledged was particular.

“Then the adrenaline wears off and I’m wondering, ‘What would I’ve mentioned? What would my name have been in that second?’” Gaudin mentioned. “I keep in mind the deafening roar and considering how cool it might have been to rapidly punch that decision, after which sit again and let the chills go down your physique as the gang takes over.

“Did I take into consideration {that a} couple moments after the house run occurred? I did. I puzzled what it might have been like.”

Brandon Gaudin, proper, offers up his Braves duties when October arrives. (Doral Chenoweth / The Columbus Dispatch)

Earlier than Len Kasper took over within the Chicago White Sox radio sales space, he spent 16 years because the Cubs’ tv voice. In his final six seasons, the Cubs went to the playoffs 5 occasions — most notably breaking a 108-year World Collection championship drought in 2016.

Kasper took the extremely uncommon step of leaving tv for radio, partly, as a result of he didn’t wish to expertise that feeling anymore. When he left, he defined it to then-manager David Ross by asking him how he’d have felt to be left off the 2016 playoff roster.

“You wish to really feel such as you’re part of it,” Kasper mentioned. “Calling the video games after they depend probably the most. Radio announcers get the decision all the way in which till the tip.

“I feel there’s huge worth in that, and that’s one of many causes I made the swap.”

Sitting in between his two radio co-hosts, Michael Kay had a gripe. Kay calls Yankees video games on YES. And he was assigned to name the Astros-Tigers Wild Card Collection on ESPN.

On his radio present the day after that sequence ended, he lamented that he was the sport’s solely tv voice.

“You don’t assume Tigers followers wish to hear Jason Benetti? And so they don’t wish to hear Todd Kalas on the Astros facet,” Kay mentioned. “C’mon. It’s really easy. Simply have secondary audio.”

“It’s not the identical as listening to the voices of these groups,” mentioned Pirates broadcaster Greg Brown. “I don’t know the way I’d have felt — particularly for a crew that hasn’t gotten there fairly often — not to have the ability to take part. For me, it might have left fairly a void in my profession to not proceed into the postseason.”

Whereas all common season NFL video games are televised nationally, baseball is much extra of an area enterprise than many of the different main sports activities. The sport is never a subject of dialog on nationwide drive-time radio. However on a day-to-day foundation, baseball groups matter of their markets.

When native broadcasters are usurped within the postseason, it may possibly create a dynamic the place followers really feel short-changed. That frustration can come within the type of complaints about bias, or only a normal dissatisfaction with the general product.

“Your reference to the broadcasters is stronger than every other sport as a result of there’s 162,” mentioned Joe Davis, the Dodgers broadcaster who additionally calls the playoffs, together with the World Collection, on FOX. “Nearly all of them you’re spending with the 2 guys which might be with the crew.”

“After which, who’re these individuals who present up and name the most important video games of the 12 months? I completely get it. You’re by no means going to be the preferred man within the room in that function.”

And followers usually are not shy about passing these feedback alongside.

“Social media has given followers a digital suggestion field that holds all of us accountable, regionally and nationally, which calls for our deal with enhancing the product,” acknowledged Brian Anderson, who calls Brewers video games on Bally Sports activities and is the voice of TBS within the postseason.

Brian Anderson is on the decision for TBS within the playoffs. (Kirby Lee / USA Immediately)

A median Mets sport on SNY attracts somewhat greater than 250,000 viewers, in accordance with a 2022 report by the Sports activities Enterprise Journal. MLB announced broadcasts averaged 3.6 million viewers during the Division Series. These impacted by the shortage of an area telecast are a fraction of the general viewers. That doesn’t imply their complaints are invalid, or that they fall on deaf ears as soon as October rolls round.

“The season is so darn lengthy, I do know what it’s like when the Cubs followers simply wish to hear their guys,” mentioned Jon Sciambi, who’s the Cubs’ tv broadcaster, and in addition referred to as Mets-Brewers on ESPN. “They’re used to it, and it simply feels bizarre.”

That’s the emotional facet of the equation. After which there’s the pragmatic facet of it too, which Sciambi was fast to notice. The baseball postseason isn’t solely meant for the native viewers. Even in moments like Alonso’s dwelling run, it’s the fan bases that need somebody as excited as them, or to reassure them within the season’s remaining moments.

“There are many individuals watching that sport that aren’t Mets followers, and never Brewers followers,” he mentioned. “There’s a side of it, the place they’re simply watching it.

“In order loud because it will get, I feel that they’re tremendous and used to all the nationwide guys which have performed it.”

When The Athletic requested an interview from MLB for this story, a spokesman mentioned that its broadcast companions could be a greater supply of knowledge. In spite of everything, they decide who broadcasts the video games.

When The Athletic reached out to one of many league’s broadcast companions, its spokesman mentioned that MLB could be higher to reply questions on this subject. In spite of everything, they set the parameters for tv protection of their sport with all their companions.

In the long run, it’s one thing of a joint resolution. Stopping native telecasts from airing alongside a nationwide broadcast is a part of their contractual settlement, a league supply mentioned. And it’s one which’s financially helpful to either side.

FOX pays MLB a reported $729 million per 12 months. Turner pays $470 million, and ESPN pays $550 million. None of those networks conform to that hefty value with the intent to share eyeballs in the course of the sport’s most consequential month.

It wasn’t all the time like this, although. Within the Seventies, native rights-holders used to air the championship sequence. The primary spherical of the NBA and NHL playoffs are broadcast nationally and regionally to today. Some nationwide baseball broadcasters wish to see that choice.

“I preferred that mannequin,” mentioned Anderson, who famous that he tries to incorporate highlights of local calls into their national telecast. “I’ve performed postseason baseball for TBS for 17 years now and I all the time really feel horrible that the voices of the followers of groups concerned are gone.

“No nationwide announcer, me included, will ever be as educated and tuned into the tradition of a crew because the native announcer. To name your crew within the largest moments is one thing all of us need,” he mentioned.

Anderson cited Turner’s “TeamStream” mannequin that’s used in the course of the NCAA Males’s Basketball Match, as an choice “value pursuing.” That may permit native crews to mix for an “AltCast” the place native followers may hear their broadcaster.

“That may be implausible if someway that got here to cross,” Cohen mentioned.

However as Anderson, Cohen and lots of others have famous, that choice sounds simpler in principle than it might be to execute in actuality.

So, for now, Cohen and lots of of his counterparts will sit in studios, within the stands, or simply in entrance of their tv watching the tip of a season they helped carry to this second.

“You’re part of the material for six months,” Cohen mentioned. “After which abruptly, you’re not.”

— The Athletic’s Chad Jennings and Stephen Nesbitt contributed to this report.

(High picture of Gary Cohen with broadcast companion Ron Darling: Kathy Willens / Related Press)