Neely, the TV voice of the Padres last season on Channel 4, has been relegated to backing up legendary broadcaster Dick Enberg this season.

With Enberg in England on a three-week hiatus to call Wimbledon for NBC and ESPN, Neely has assumed the Padres' play-by-play duties, and he sounds like he has been calling games all season.

He has been around the club from nearly the first day of spring training, calling spring games, and doing pregame and postgame interviews during the regular seasons. He sits in the press box during games, takes notes and pays attention.

Until working an NCAA Super Regional for ESPN last week, however, Neely hadn't called a game this season.

"That helped chip the rust off," Neely said of calling the Alabama-Clemson series last week in South Carolina. "I've been calling baseball since 1990 (mostly in the minor leagues) and have done probably 2,500 games.

"So you don't forget things."

Neely is in a funny spot.

He's in the second season of a two-year contract, while Enberg is in the first year of a multiyear deal.

Ratings on Channel 4 have been solid this season, perhaps due in part to Enberg's presence. Mostly, I suspect, it's because the team is in first place and people love a winner.

"Obviously, I'd love to come back," Neely said. "I told the Padres and Channel 4 I'd do whatever it takes to stay.

"I just moved my family here we love it."

Enberg is slated to call about 120 games this season with Neely doing about 30.

An ideal situation would be for the Padres and Channel 4 to bring Neely back in a broader role, perhaps splitting games more evenly with Enberg.

What about a 90-60 split with Neely making some of the more arduous road trips like the one he's on now - Tampa Bay and Florida, or Philadelphia and New York? Maybe Enberg could contribute some pregame features. He's one of the greatest storytellers in broadcasting.

Sit-down interviews with Hall of Famers Tony Gwynn and Dave Winfield could be great.

Hall of Famer Jim Palmer was in town with the Baltimore Orioles last week. A sit down with Enberg could have been sensational.

It's obvious the Padres have two quality announcers. Neely is proving that. It would be sad to let either one get away.

Enberg still adjusting

Make no mistake, Dick Enberg is one of the all-time greats in broadcasting. His mere presence on a telecast adds a sense of importance.

Listening to him at Wimbledon, it's obvious he's passionate about tennis. He's at ease with the surroundings, the players and the game.

But his transition back to daily baseball play-by-play after 30-plus years away hasn't been so smooth.

While he does appear passionate, Enberg has been tentative on his play-by-play. He's slow to identify players and situations.

It's not that Enberg is a prima donna and doesn't prepare. He arrives at Petco Park about 1 p.m. for a 7 p.m. game and can be seen pouring over notes, looking for angles and talking to people.

But it takes time to get re-acclimated to the game.

New York Mets radio play-by-play man Wayne Hagin, a veteran of nearly three decades calling major league games, missed the 2007 season.

He said it took him more than 40 games in 2008 before he felt comfortable again.

Enberg, comparatively, last called baseball on a day-to-day basis in the 1970s, working with Don Drysdale on California Angels broadcasts.