Cubs broadcast decision could take months

Don't look for a quick decision on a replacement for Bob Brenly in the Cubs' TV booth.

The process is likely to take weeks, if not a couple of months, and it's probably more complicated than it looks.

“The contract belongs to WGN, and we'll work with the Cubs and Comcast (SportsNet),” said Bob Vorwald, director of productions for WGN. Vorwald, who spoke Thursday, serves as executive producer for Cubs baseball on WGN. “We'll get together and agree on what we're all looking for. This is not something you put a timetable on because you want to get the right guy.”

The Cubs' TV job, either play-by-play or analyst, is one of the most coveted in the industry, and no doubt there will be plenty of applicants for the position Brenly left Wednesday after eight years.

But the demands of the job are heavy, and several potential candidates are under contract for other jobs.

The Cubs locally televise all but a handful of games that are broadcast on national outlets. That means whoever wants the job must commit to 140-plus games. Some possible candidates like their national gigs with a fraction of the games and less-demanding travel. The Cubs went with two analysts — Joe Carter and Dave Otto — in 2001 and 2002, but they are looking for one analyst to take Brenly's place.

There are a number of “name” candidates out there, but WGN, Comcast and the Cubs won't necessarily go that route. Oftentimes, a big name does not equate to solid broadcasting ability, and Cubs TV viewers are known to be a picky lot when it comes to their announcers and analysts.

So as of now, there are no “front-runners” because the process has yet to begin and there are no formal candidates.

Brenly was officially hired Thursday by the Arizona Diamondbacks as their TV analyst.