So.. I'm listening to The ticket this afternoon and John Rhadigan is filling in for BAD radio.. Anyway, to make a long story short, they were discussing a recent story about a guy getting cut off in traffic, flips the the other guy the finger, thus confrontation ensues..They were talking about how they would react in a similar situation and Rhadigan says (paraphrased) "after what I've been through the last couple of months, that's nothing!" followed by " I got the ULTIMATE flip off"

They were laughing but there was just a hint of animosity in Rhad's voice. Surely he doesn't think he was given a raw deal. I mean he was allowed to slide back into his previous role without penalty,and the whole incident has been removed from history. I just found it kinda interesting

I heard John Mulligan on the Ticket too. He did sound bitter. My take - don't suck so bad as a play-by-play guy and you won't get hammered. I used to tolerate him as a fill-in on the Ticket, but now all I can think of is how bad he was at play-by-play.

Rhad's is a good guy. I know him. When you think you can fill his shoes? Have at it. Josh Lewin never should have been let go. Big shoes to fill. But John did his best. He is a class act.

I'm fine with Rhadigan... Actually never really gave him a thought when he was doing PRE/POST game stuff (pre promotion). I also liked Lewin and loved his energy, learned something new in just about every broadcast. I work in a related industry and know full well that it's an extremely hard job to do well. But it doesn't change the fact that he should have NO REASON to hold a grudge, he was lucky just to get a crack at it.

and just for the record, I'm "ok" with Barnett

Rhad's is a good guy. I know him. When you think you can fill his shoes? Have at it. Josh Lewin never should have been let go. Big shoes to fill. But John did his best. He is a class act.

Seconded.

Nolan Ryan screwed this whole thing up out of a petty dislike for people who he doesn't believe are "baseball enough." Same reason he asked Hicks for permission to fire Daniels in April 2009.

Rhadigan wasn't good at play-by-play in his first couple months at it and was cut pretty fast, replaced by a guy who very clearly isn't very familiar with many baseball players on other teams, regularly loses the ball and misjudges fly balls, knows zilch about statistical analysis of the sport, and so on. He just happens to be better at the idle chatter stuff that most fans care more about during games.

Rhadigan's been a good sport about it, but ultimately this was all royally screwed up by The Great Nolan Ryan.

And, for the record, he doesn't hold a grudge. He is still employed by them. Barnett is okay, I'd like to see what Tom and Dolgan could do. Maybe too dry? But you're right, Josh dug up all kind of interesting stats and facts. Tom always breaks the game down for the novice. That was the best tandem I have ever heard. Next to Tom and Mark Holtz. Neck and neck. "Hello win column" and "Ball game!". Both give me chills to this day.

Of course Rhadigan holds a grudge, never fired or demoted a guy yet that wasn't pissed about it. Of course he got a raw deal but he was also given a once in a lifetime opportunity and he failed. Ratings were down and complaints were up so he got pulled. All this with the leering press staying silent and then openly criticizing the Rangers for making the obvious move. Why did they turn a blind eye, because he was their buddy and he is a "good guy".

They write his pay check still. He could care less. I am sure he'd like the gig, but he doesn't have it and he is good with it. I don't think Barnett is better. Far from it. Josh and Tom were"it" for me. Nolan's worst mistake.

Josh and Tom were fantastic... Oh well, I guess it could be worse. At least the play ON the field keeps me distracted (mostly)

Smart man. This may just be me... but whoever calls the Frisco game? Weak. Very weak. Hire tow beer drinking spares like me and another. But, Please!

I can't believe people on this site are saying that Josh Lewin was a great play by play guy. Yeah, he was great if you like your baseball called by a gameshow host.

Lewin was not great, but compared to Rhads - he was legendary.

Nice guy or not, Rhads was hideous. He just has nothing interesting or entertaining to say and he reminds me of a computer-generated studio host. I would listen to 10 straight hours of the Tee Box before I listened to an hour of Rhads and Moore. Those two have never found a fence they didn't like to sit on.

Hell, I would almost take an idiot like Rocco spewing uninformed opinion after uninformed opinion over two guys that sound like they should be teaching a training class in Excel.

jd21 -

Come on, man, can you at least be a little fooking fair? Lewin was "nerdy" at times, and did bring up some odd, quirky things occasionally, but the vast majority of his input on a nightly basis showed that he not only was an expert on all things baseball, but that he loved & had a great enthusiasm for the game. Your revisionist "gameshow host" comment is insulting and wrong, and makes you seem like a real dick.

For the love of baseball, BRING BACK JOSH! Baseball by nature requires patience and sometimes can be dull to the casual fan - which I am not. Josh brought at least a little bit of fun to the broadcast which was needed.

Gods no. plz never again with Lewin or anyone like him. Barnett is awesome.

WWJDD

right on man...

I will say that Barnett was a definite mid season upgrade. But I HOPE that the FO is looking for the perfect fit moving forward (like Josh) Bringing back Josh would be awesome (assuming he'd do it (fingers crossed)).. I just don't think Nolan would eat that much crow.

As far as Rangers play by play goes, there was Mark Holtz, and there is everybody else.