Jerry Coleman no longer will be scheduled to call any play-by-play during Padres radio broadcasts.

It's the first time that's happened since 1980 (when he managed the club) and just the second time since he joined the Padres' broadcast team in 1972. Coleman still will call play-by-play if Ted Leitner or Andy Masur is unable to work a game.

For the past two seasons, Coleman worked one inning of play-by-play and three innings of color analysis. This year he will do analysis for four innings (5-8). Leitner will handle the play-by-play for the first three innings and the last three; Masur will do innings 4-6.

“The other way was complicated; this works better,” Coleman said Thursday as he made his way back to San Diego from spring training. “At least I'm working. I enjoy being around the game. It's fine.”

Coleman will be 85 before the season ends and his contract expires at the end of 2009. But he reiterated what he has said many times regarding his Padres future: “I'll stay as long as they want me.”