NC Times: Jerry Coleman will have reduced role in 2010

“I’ve never seen a game like this. Every game this year has been like this.”

John Lynch, president and CEO of the Broadcast Company of the Americas——the parent company of XX Sports Radio 1090, the Padres’ flagship station——said Coleman will call only 20-30 home day games.

Coleman will still be involved every day, however, doing pregame features.

“What does that mean?” Coleman said. “I guess I’ll be doing the ‘Manager’s Report’ like I’ve always done. “Honestly, I haven’t been told much. “At my age, I’m still fortunate to be working. I’m happy to have a job with the Padres and with XX. Really, I’m delighted to be working.”

Lynch said he has the utmost respect for Coleman, 85, and that he “will be involved as long as he wants.”

“We want to be very respectful of Jerry,” Lynch said. “But we also have to think about the station and our audience. We feel this is a more appropriate role.

“Jerry would still like to be playing second base for the Yankees. But things change.”

Coleman, jokingly, said that’s not true.

“If I had my way, I’d be playing second base for the Padres, play 10 games, get hurt and make $4 million,” said Coleman, the 1949 American League Rookie of the Year and 1950 World Series MVP as a member of the New York Yankees.