Reynolds catches on with SNY as analyst

Neil Best

April 25, 2008

The statistics for the Class A Wausau (Wis.) Timbers of 1981 hint at the future of two players who were roommates that summer:

Infielder Harold Reynolds batted .296 with 98 runs scored and 11 home runs in 493 at-bats.

Outfielder Omar Minaya hit .148 with 11 runs and one homer in 54 at-bats.

The former would go on to become an all-star in the major leagues. The latter settled for front-office work.

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Now they are on the same team again - sort of.

Mostly- Mets-owned SNY has hired Reynolds as a part-time studio analyst, beginning tonight.

The appearance also will mark his return to television, 21 months after ESPN fired him amid allegations of sexual harassment. Reynolds later sued. The case was settled out of court last week, which made SNY more comfortable bringing him aboard and might open other TV possibilities.

"Obviously, it's making a difference. People are starting to call," he said of the settlement of a suit he was focused on "setting the record straight."

Reynolds declined to discuss specifics but said, "The settlement speaks for itself. I don't think they could settle if they think they have a case."

ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys responded:

"That is ridiculous, and he knows it. Our case was strong. We only settled to spare the women involved further difficult disruptions in their lives and because he accepted substantially less than it would have cost us to litigate it. He walked away with little from it."

SNY executive producer Curt Gowdy Jr. said, "We were aware of the issue and satisfied with how Harold and ESPN resolved the situation."

Regardless, Reynolds' reputation surely has suffered since the end of his 11-year run as an ESPN analyst, during which he had a Digger Phelpsian tendency to stumble through sentences but nonetheless was popular among viewers.

"Time will tell," he said. "Some people will judge it regardless. I can't worry about that."

The partnership makes sense, given his ties to everyone from ownership to Minaya to manager Willie Randolph to Gowdy, who once was Reynolds' producer on the Little League World Series.

The gig is limited to about 20 games, usually working with lead analyst Lee Mazzilli on pre- and postgame shows.

Reynolds, 47, mostly will work early in the week, after his MLB.com shifts.

Unlike Mazzilli and Darryl Strawberry, SNY's other new studio analyst, Reynolds does not have direct ties to the Mets. But he said he is in New York enough to understand the vibe.

"With the Mets and Yankees, it's fire a guy after they lose two games," he said. "I think I can bring a fresh perspective to things."

Reynolds recalled Minaya even in A ball being an astute observer who would ask questions and make observations in meetings.