Flanny in the booth

MASN announced today that former Oriole Mike Flanagan will fill Buck Martinez's place as color analyst in the broadcast booth for the 2010 season. Fans will hear Flanagan from the booth for the first time this season on April 15, as the O's take on the Athletics in Oakland at 10:05 p.m. Flanagan will split games with Hall of Famer Jim Palmer, who will continue to provide color commentary for half of this season's O's games on MASN. The 59-year-old former Orioles player, coach, front office executive, and broadcaster has experienced the game and the franchise from just about every angle in spending 34 years with the Orioles. Flanagan was drafted by Baltimore in 1973 and spent 18 years in the big leagues, earning a spot on the 1978 All-Star team and the 1979 Cy Young Award and helping the Birds to their 1983 World Series Championship. Following his retirement in '92, Flanny spent time on the team's coaching staff (as the pitching coach) and then with the organization from the O's front office. The Orioles Hall of Famer is also no stranger to the broadcast booth after providing game analysis for the Orioles television network from 1996-97 and 1999-2002. "As a former player, coach, front office executive, and broadcaster, Mike knows every aspect of the game and can provide a unique and comprehensive perspective to MASN's Orioles viewers," MASN spokesman Todd Webster said in a statement released by MASN. "With more than three decades of experience with the Baltimore Orioles, Mike knows this team, this franchise and these fans better than anybody." "Having spent 34 years in the organization, I am looking forward to bringing my experience and perspective to Orioles fans throughout the region," Flanagan said in the same statement. "I am excited about the club and think we are going in the right direction and am equally excited to join MASN, which has quickly established itself as one of the leading regional sports networks in the country. It will be great to be back in the booth with Gary Thorne and Jim Hunter and to be contributing my insights to MASN's first-rate production."