Cubs should get their Boog-ie on to replace Len Kasper

Since the Cubs first appeared on WGN in 1948, they’ve had only four primary TV play-by-play announcers: Jack Brickhouse, Harry Caray, Chip Caray and Len Kasper.

Calling Cubs games is an opportunity of a lifetime because a person could spend a lifetime on the job. That’s why Kasper’s move from Cubs TV to White Sox radio made no sense to many people. Marquee Sports Network general manager Mike McCarthy even said Kasper could have stayed as long as he wanted. And with the sports-media industry in flux, that probably was a good idea.

But his ‘‘opportunity of a lifetime,’’ as he described it, was calling baseball on the radio, particularly a World Series, and the Sox gave him the best chance to do that. He doesn’t even have to pack.

‘‘If Cubs games were still on WGN, I’d still be doing this,’’ Kasper said on the day of the announcement.

That’s quite a statement, and it would have been more so back in the superstation days. Kasper clearly is his own man, following his dream, no matter what anyone else thinks. And for that, he should be applauded — though I didn’t hear much applause from inconsolable Cubs fans.

‘‘We know our fans love change,’’ Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney said, his words dripping with sarcasm.

But he’s right. McCarthy figures to face more scrutiny replacing Kasper than Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer will for any move he makes this offseason.

So I thought I’d help him out. Being a sports-broadcasting nerd, I racked my brain to think of candidates who would meet Kenney’s stated requirement of fitting with the ‘‘Cubs’ culture.’’

I was watching the Illinois-Duke basketball game on ESPN a few days after Kasper’s departure, and, though the game was a blowout, the broadcast was entertaining, humorous and informative. And it hit me: I want Jon Sciambi calling Cubs games.

In some ways, ‘‘Boog,’’ who called the game with Jay Bilas, is an extension of Kasper. He has a low-key demeanor and a soothing sound. He knows the game and its history. He’s also funnier, has a tremendous dry wit and isn’t afraid to poke fun at himself. Sciambi would make for a seamless transition with Cubs fans.

He has a great gig now calling MLB and college basketball games on ESPN TV and baseball on ESPN Radio. He also has been a team’s lead play-by-play man, calling the Braves on TV (2007-09) and the Marlins on radio (1997-2004).

Never mind the lack of Cubs ties. Kasper didn’t have any. He came over after a stint with the Marlins (2002-04). Cubs analyst Jim Deshaies didn’t have any. He was in the Astros’ booth (1997-2012). But Marquee’s hiring of Cole Wright as pregame and postgame show host might be an indication the network wants a Cubs connection.

Wright was born in Joliet and went to Waubonsie Valley High School. He grew up a Cubs fan, watching Harry Caray and Steve Stone on WGN and wearing Andre Dawson’s No. 8 in Little League. Sciambi grew up in New York and went to Boston College.

If local ties are important to Marquee, Wayne Randazzo would be a fine hire. He went to St. Charles East High School and North Central College, worked at 670 The Score and called Kane County Cougars games. He does a fantastic job calling Mets games on the radio.

But Marquee fancies itself as a national network, and Sciambi has that appeal. He’s popular on social media, and he’s tight with Cubs manager David Ross from their time working in the same booth at ESPN. You might recall them getting reacquainted during the Marlins-Cubs wild-card series, which Sciambi called.

Kasper will be missed, but ‘‘Boog’’ would maintain the sound and standard of the broadcast. Besides, everyone else seems to be leaving ESPN. Why not him?

REMOTE PATROL

• Which game will the NFL move to Sunday night in Week 17? We’ll need to know how Week 16 shakes out, but two season finales could have a division title on the line: Steelers-Browns and Redskins-Eagles. (The latter would be between a 6-9 team and a 5-9-1 team. Oy.) Or the NFL could do what it did in 2017, when it scheduled nine games at 3:25 p.m. and nixed the night game.
• Bears fans who want to watch the 49ers-Cardinals game at 3:30 p.m. Saturday (the Bears are chasing the Cards for a wild-card spot) won’t find it on national TV. It will appear on Amazon Prime and streaming service Twitch, in addition to mobile devices through the NFL and Yahoo Sports properties.
• Greg Gumbel and Rich Gannon will call the Bears-Jaguars game at noon Sunday on Ch. 2. The game originally was to air on Fox-32, but the league moved it two weeks ago.
• When the Vikings visit the Saints at 3:30 p.m. Friday on Fox-32 and NFL Network, the league will have played on every day of the week this season.