Bob Costas to host ALCS studio coverage, not handling play-by-play duties

For better or for worse, fans of the New York Yankees won't have to worry about legendary broadcaster Bob Costas calling the action when the Bronx Bombers open the American League Championship Series at the Houston Astros on Wednesday night. 

As Anthony Rieber explained for Newsday, TBS has confirmed that Costas won't handle ALCS play-by-by duties. Instead, Costas will host "TBS' pre and postgame coverage of the ALCS."

The ALCS will be called by Brian Anderson and former players Ron Darling and Jeff Francoeur. MLB Network personality Lauren Shehadi will continue serving as TBS' reporter for the ALCS. 

New York sports radio icon Mike Francesa recently generated headlines when he used his podcast to lash out at Costas for not letting things "breathe" during ALDS contests. As Dan Mennella of Audacy pointed out, fans of both the Yankees and Guardians accused the 70-year-old of showing bias toward either club at points of the series. 

"I’m going to give you an honest answer: I don’t pay a whole lot of attention to it because of the dynamics that we’ve been talking about," Costas responded to such takes during a Tuesday appearance on Cleveland sports radio station 92.3 The Fan. "So I understand what it is. There was one comment — in line with what you’re talking about — 'You don’t have to say these things about the Yankees. Everybody knows this.' Does that person understand the nature of a national broadcast? Yes, everybody from Sacramento to Bangor, Maine, knows who Aaron Judge is this year, but what about other factors within it?"

Despite the heavy criticism, Warner Media notes this was always the plan for Costas, who called a full postseason series this October for the first time since 2000.