A lot of times, a play-by-player is like an umpire: If you don’t notice him, he is doing a good job.

Dave O’Brien is unnoticeable. He is a solid, easy-listen play-by-player who gives his analysts a lot of room to work.

O’Brien broadcasts 50 Mets games for Ch. 11 and other games for ESPN. On the Mets, he doesn’t have the information that digs inside the team the way Gary Cohen or Howie Rose can on radio.

Parachuting in between his ESPN gigs for one Mets game a week prevents O’Brien from going deeper. With his national ESPN experience, he usually does provide detailed information of opponents.

On ESPN, this works better, because you expect a more balanced broadcast. When Mets fans watch Ch. 11, they get a good play-by-play broadcast, but not a great, incisive Metscast.