To: Stephen A. Smith

From: Andrew Marchand

Re: Baseball

CC: Abner Doubleday

Dear Stephen A.,

To successfully survive on sports-talk radio in this town, you can’t just yell and seemingly relate every commentary to Philadelphia, the NBA or boxing. You have to know baseball.

This week, you said on your new 1050-ESPN radio show that you just learned Jose Reyes has a good arm. (In other news, Derek Jeter tends to come through in the clutch.)

Since you are from Hollis, Queens, you know what makes New York sports fans tick. It is baseball, baseball, baseball, then football, basketball, etc.

You usually lead your show on the Mets and Yankees – that’s a good start – but then you scatter-shot around from topic to topic. It is tough to follow.

While Memo consultants have expressed their distaste for your style, it could possibly work here. You have a strong personality that catches listeners’ attentions.

But you have to know the basics, especially when you rip so often. You need to learn baseball – and quickly.