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Around SBN: The Animated GIFs Of January

Lewin and TAG


Small discussion over at the DMN blog about Lewin's contract not being renewed past this season, and TAG's expiring after 2010.

For all of Lewin's shortcomings, the guy has kept us entertained through some long and miserable summers, and to see him go before the Rangers are about to make a real run at this thing in the next few years would be a damn shame.

TAG on the other hand, is truly a staple of the Ranger organization, and you don't need me to list the reasons why. The guy is awesome, and a true homer in every sense of the word....which is of course why we love the guy. And as many of you can contest, we truly don't know how good we've got it with these two; listening to most out of town announcers is the equivalent of a constantly bitching girlfriend/wife. Or something in that regard.

Maybe it's just an early panic, and management has something in the works. But if the Lewin/TAG tandem is split after the year, it's going to be a sad day for Ranger fans.

I'm assuming many of you would love a move of Dave Barnett to TV? ;)


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Of all teams excluding the Dodgers,

we have the best TV guys that I’ve heard.

I’m a bigger Lewin fan than a lot of people, but I can definitely see how he could grate on some people. TAG is the anti-Lewin, which brings the telecast together perfectly. I don’t know that there’s a better broadcast team in baseball.

What’s awesome is listening to the “exciting play” montages on SportsCenter or the MLB Network. If there’s a guy screaming maniacally, more than likely it’s Lewin.

by AmnGuest2006 on Jul 23, 2009 11:42 PM CDT reply actions  

+1

"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels

Hello Win Column

by LSJ on Jul 23, 2009 11:43 PM CDT up reply actions  

For all the crap they get

Lewin, TAG, and even Knoxy are top of the line. I wouldn’t want any other guy doing any of those three jobs, now if you want Erin Andrews to replace Knoxie then we can talk

by blueballlefty on Jul 23, 2009 11:42 PM CDT reply actions  

Knox would be easier to take if we saw him like once a game, tops.

"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels

Hello Win Column

by LSJ on Jul 23, 2009 11:47 PM CDT up reply actions  

knox

thats what i’ve been saying, they need to time his segments better.

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jul 24, 2009 8:06 AM CDT up reply actions  

you don't like

missing LIVE action so that he can finish up some interview with some Tabernacle Choir or somesuch?

Adam Lambert is indeed a rock god,so suck it.

by red shoe ranger on Jul 24, 2009 8:36 AM CDT up reply actions  

top of the line at being creepy?

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jul 24, 2009 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions  

For real.

He is, without a doubt, my least favorite element of games. Except during Angels games when I have to see Scioscia’s doubchey, smug face EVERY TWO MINUTES.

by FuturePants on Jul 24, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions  

Hey, if Lewin leaves...

I’d be glad to step into the booth.

"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels

Hello Win Column

by LSJ on Jul 23, 2009 11:43 PM CDT reply actions  

Great...

I’m guessing “What the hell Salty, I hate you now” isn’t going to be an acceptable comment in the booth.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Jul 24, 2009 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions  

Yeah, my sense just from hearing him on broadcasts

is that Lewin really likes it here and probably wants to raise his family here. TAG’s in a perfect situation and I dont think he’d want to leave unless he just got too old for it or something, then maybe he’d just do home games or something. I think the only thing that would take Lewin away is if he got a big national gig that drew him away. I definitely consider Lewin one of the best play-by-play guys. I cant stand Joe Buck.

by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Jul 23, 2009 11:43 PM CDT reply actions  

I like Joe Buck when there is an exciting game going on.

More often than not it’s football is where he excels in,but he did call one of the best world series series’ IMO. That being in 2001.

Btw,Josh does great radio for the Chargers.

by TooLegitToQuit on Jul 23, 2009 11:50 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions  

You like Joe Buck?

No. Word. To. Express. Inner. Rage.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?

by thedirkatron on Jul 23, 2009 11:59 PM CDT up reply actions  

You need to die in a fire.

You know, for the good of us real humans everywhere.

Your kind aren’t welcome among us.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?

by thedirkatron on Jul 24, 2009 12:03 AM CDT up reply actions  

No, you seek help.

It may just be sports broadcasting, but your sickness may be symptomatic of a much deeper problem.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jul 24, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions  

I second this sentiment

I’m a white boy who doesn’t think a black man is good enough to manage my baseball team. - LSJ
"I really think that" - LSJ, on being asked by AirJordan

by FirebatM3 on Jul 24, 2009 12:35 AM CDT up reply actions  

yeah he's not bad at football

i find him laboriously boring in baseball though. then again he brings the gravity. im unsure how josh would fare in a huge, meaningful game, but i bet it would be entertaining.

by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Jul 23, 2009 11:59 PM CDT up reply actions  

Joe Buck knows as much about the teams he's broadcasting as

the average fan in the stadium knows. He’s awful

I’m a white boy who doesn’t think a black man is good enough to manage my baseball team. - LSJ
"I really think that" - LSJ, on being asked by AirJordan

by FirebatM3 on Jul 24, 2009 12:36 AM CDT up reply actions  

That was painful to watch

Mainly because the talent-less black hole created by the two of them nearly pulled me into my TV screen…

Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.

by TheJeezus on Jul 24, 2009 8:40 AM CDT up reply actions  

I was half-expecting some sort of altercation on camera.

"Guys are visual creatures, that’s how we’ve been wired, for millennia…only fat and or ugly chicks use that word you just typed." - Rodney

by inactive lsb user on Jul 24, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions  

Nah

Artie was told by the producer to spice it up if things got boring. And did they ever get boring. Paul Rudd and random SNL guy talking with Joe Buck about what growing up in Missouri is like does not good television make.

by brettgardner on Jul 24, 2009 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions  

I really doubt he wants to move

He seems pretty well set in Southlake with his kids. I hope they get something worked out.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jul 24, 2009 7:31 AM CDT up reply actions  

If Lewin and Tag weren't options, I'd love to go to a one man booth (a la the Dodgers, w/Scully) using Eric Nadel.

That’d be baseball heaven.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?

by thedirkatron on Jul 24, 2009 12:05 AM CDT reply actions  

I second this..

Nadel is a broadcasting genius.

by Houston27 on Jul 24, 2009 7:53 AM CDT up reply actions  

this is my dream

I can't help it. I’m an asshole.
-brettgardner on Jul 7, 2009 10:55 PM EDT

by Jayslick on Jul 24, 2009 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions  

Are we about due for a TAG rant?

Some of the off the wall stuff Lewin come up with is pretty stupid. But that is pasrt of his charm. As for TAG, what other team has a color analysis with his experience? TWe are lucky to have the two of them.

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY

by RangerMad on Jul 24, 2009 12:05 AM CDT reply actions  

Do you guys really like Barnett? I hate listening to him on the radio, he always gets me excited for no reason. “Jones hits a LONG ONE, he got a good piece of that, Hunter ranges back, looks up…and…makes the catch in front of the track.” (example). I would be really sad if I didn’t hear Josh next year. First comment, long time lurker btw.

by ByronDawson on Jul 24, 2009 12:06 AM CDT reply actions  

Naw, that was just sarcasm on Plum's part

Everybody hates Barnett’s announcing. Even Jesus.

Welcome aboard BTW. Be sure to check out the LSB users guide if you haven’t already.

"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels

Hello Win Column

by LSJ on Jul 24, 2009 12:09 AM CDT up reply actions  

Hey!

Thanks for pointing that out. I thought me and my friends were the only ones who referred to Marlon as the byrd-man of Arlington. Guess I’m not as clever as I thought.

by ByronDawson on Jul 24, 2009 12:11 AM CDT up reply actions  

Barnett

is HORRIBLE…and I think almost universally hated here.

"You'll meet them again on their long journey to the middle." -Lester Bangs

by BAC on Jul 24, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions  

he always sounds like he's on qualudes or sumpn to me

I can't help it. I’m an asshole.
-brettgardner on Jul 7, 2009 10:55 PM EDT

by Jayslick on Jul 24, 2009 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions  

"The guy is awesome, and a true homer in every sense of the word"

Which is exactly why I wouldn’t mind seeing him go.

. . . if I didn’t understand that most booth analysts are even worse.

by philkid3 on Jul 24, 2009 1:08 AM CDT reply actions  

Pretty must every booth guy

has a homer element to them, apart from maybe Vin Scully. Jim Deshaies and Bill Brown are pretty good in that sense too, IMO.

Which is probably why you keep the guys.

Remember to retire Fin's number, Mark.

by jonthefon on Jul 24, 2009 1:28 AM CDT up reply actions  

I have zero problem with him being a homer

I’m a Rangers fan, watching a Rangers game. I like that he wants the team to win. TAG and Lewin were on The Ticket the other day and talked about this very subject. They basically said, if you’re a Rangers fan, and you don’t want to hear other Rangers’ fans comment on the game — then the broadcast isn’t for you.

I totally agree with them.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jul 24, 2009 7:35 AM CDT up reply actions  

Well, there's degrees of being a homer

I agree, the home broadcast team should be pro-Rangers to a point, but when it gets overdone to the point of defending the team when they look like shit for over a month… you’re entering Angel broadcast territory. And TAG can get to that point at times, based on what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen people say here.

Overall I think he’s really good compared to the average TV color guy, but he can overdo it at times.

"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels

Hello Win Column

by LSJ on Jul 24, 2009 8:35 AM CDT up reply actions  

Well of course

But I don’t think it’s overdone whatsoever. But that’s an opinion so whatever.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jul 24, 2009 8:43 AM CDT up reply actions  

Overdone

Man, I’ll always have a soft spot for Craig Way, because of the moments he’s called, but his homerism drives me freaking insane. There are times when he’s not even fucking making sense because he’s being such a homer.

Jon, who’s that a picture of?

Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.

by TheJeezus on Jul 24, 2009 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions  

Laura Harris, AKA Daisy Adair on "Dead Like Me"

 #2 on the list of chicks I’ll probably never even meet.

"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels

Hello Win Column

by LSJ on Jul 24, 2009 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions  

She was also on 24

one of the early seasons, cant remember which. (2 i think)

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jul 24, 2009 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions  

Yup, played the crazy terrorist girlfriend in season 2.

"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels

Hello Win Column

by LSJ on Jul 24, 2009 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions  

Homer broadcasters

there’s a big difference b/w a broadcaster who is excited about what the team is doing (Lewin) and some douche who thinks that his guys can do no wrong and every call that goes against them is a tragedy. (Hudler)

I want someone in that booth that gets excited with me on the big plays and can keep me entertained when things get rough. Josh and TAG do that better than any other team.

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
Dykstra has all the money!
ElectricOkra.com

by WhipSmart on Jul 24, 2009 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions  

Yeah, I have no problem with Lewin's excitement

That’s why I love him despite his sometimes-annoying quirks. And I don’t mean to rag on TAG or anything either, like I said compared to the average color announcer in baseball, he’s among the best I’ve heard. They do make a great team, and I’d hate to see them split up like Nadel and Rojas where.

"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels

Hello Win Column

by LSJ on Jul 24, 2009 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions  

but what about poopie?

my beef with Lewin isnt about him being a homer, its about him not shutting the fuck up, he talks incessantly, and rarely about baseball. so what you end up with is a guy who is always talking over the game, but its about poopie, or ice age 2, or the last law and order, or where he ate, email me me and let me know about which ice age 2 character Ian Kinsler is. All the while we have men on 1st and 2nd, 2 outs and are down by a run in the 7th and its the most important moment of the game, and instead of focusing on that moment, educating the fans about that moment and allowing the focus to be on the team in their most important moment, we are hearing about poopie’s take on ice age 2.

he was great for a club 20 games out august 1st every season, but when a club comes to a point where we are in it every day until august and fighting for a pennant and playing great ball, the focus needs to be on the play on the field, the team’s tenacity, the game, not what poopie thinks about the last 5 minutes of lost, or tag’s Iphone, or whatever god damned nonsense Lewen is constantly and incessantly spewing out of his head.

This club is has grown out of the Josh Lewen phase, and personally i couldnt be happier b/c it means we taken this club to the next level, a level where we compete every season for the foreseeable future and having a guy around who takes the focus away from the product on the field, isnt necessary anymore. Instead of drawing fans attention away from the play of the rangers the time has come for a game caller who will educate the lesser fans and focus on the game in front of us all.

this isnt a bad thing, its a good thing, the rangers needs for an announcer have changed and its their duty to react and make the necessary changes.

I can't help it. I’m an asshole.
-brettgardner on Jul 7, 2009 10:55 PM EDT

by Jayslick on Jul 24, 2009 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions  

Al Leiter is a surprisingly good color guy.

One year (can’t remember which one) he did a World Series game for Fox when they had a different player in the booth for each game. Every other guy they had on was terrible, but he was damn good. And if I’m not mistaken, he was still playing at the time, so he couldn’t have any real broadcasting knowledge. He’s also one of my favorites on MLB Tonight, although I really like all of them.

I don’t know how much having ties to a ballclub goes into the hiring decisions, but if we had to replace TAG, he would be my first choice. I’m guessing on the ladder of broadcasting jobs the MLB Network is probably higher, though.

by AmnGuest2006 on Jul 24, 2009 2:30 AM CDT reply actions  

I thought Al Leiter was white?

Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.

by TheJeezus on Jul 24, 2009 9:07 AM CDT up reply actions  

I agree.

Leiter is smart and often insightful.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?

by thedirkatron on Jul 24, 2009 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions  

Yep...

he has been pretty good on the MLB network too. They need to have him on much more.

Less Mitch Williams and Dave Valle please.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Jul 24, 2009 6:34 PM CDT up reply actions  

The broadcast call of Dewayne Wise's catch in Buehrle's perfect game yesterday...

horrible. I immediatley wondered how much differently it would have gone if Josh was calling that game. It would have been classic…

by Anonymous New Guy on Jul 24, 2009 8:28 AM CDT reply actions  

Josh would have been so excited

he would be speaking in tongues…

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
Dykstra has all the money!
ElectricOkra.com

by WhipSmart on Jul 24, 2009 8:42 AM CDT up reply actions  

Josh

would destroy any “historical” call. Understatement would be best in my mind….

Adam Lambert is indeed a rock god,so suck it.

by red shoe ranger on Jul 24, 2009 8:43 AM CDT up reply actions  

I think Josh is very good at

the “exciting” plays. He describes what happened and then pauses to let the celebration speak for itself.

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY

by RangerMad on Jul 24, 2009 9:10 AM CDT up reply actions  

They won't do a Lewin deal until after the deadline

probably not until late in the season. It wouldn’t look good to the players to give Lewin big money and not add payroll on the field.

by txranfanted on Jul 24, 2009 8:41 AM CDT reply actions  

r.u.serious?

Adam Lambert is indeed a rock god,so suck it.

by red shoe ranger on Jul 24, 2009 8:41 AM CDT up reply actions  

Can't decide

Sometimes I come up with stupid stuff, that sounds plausible, until someone else comes along and blows it out of the water.

by txranfanted on Jul 24, 2009 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions  

SF Giants

guys are way better. More informative and intellectual.

I was a Ranger fan when being a Rangers fan wasn't cool.

by JTodd on Jul 24, 2009 9:36 AM CDT reply actions  

They're very good...

Krukow and Kiper may be my favorite color commentators right now.

Jon Miller does some stuff for them too (mostly radio I think). Pretty solid commentators.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Jul 24, 2009 6:39 PM CDT up reply actions  

I emailed Chuck about who to contact on this
Probably the best person to send an email to is John Blake. John is our Executive VP of Communications and handles the broadcast area. He will pass along to the right people, including Nolan Ryan.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jul 24, 2009 9:38 AM CDT reply actions  

along with that email

kindly request a new partner for eric nadel :)

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jul 24, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions  

Ha well

Here is Blake’s email if anyone is interested jblake@texasrangers.com

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jul 24, 2009 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions  

email sent

I can't help it. I’m an asshole.
-brettgardner on Jul 7, 2009 10:55 PM EDT

by Jayslick on Jul 24, 2009 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions  

emailed John

supporting Josh and TAG. And questioning Barnetts baseball IQ.

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY

by RangerMad on Jul 24, 2009 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions  

Man, I wish Lewin would go away

He’s decent when calling national games on Fox. No over-the-top, uncalled for screaming. But as a Rangers broadcaster, he makes a small part of me wish for bad things to happen to the team, just so I get to hear him say “That’s too bad”

I know the vast majority of teams have homer broadcasters these days. But Lewin is the one I’m subjected to every day, so I loathe him.

TAG is decent. Now and then his whining about the Rangers apparently being the only team in MLB to ever hit fly balls that are caught on the warning track (“He just missed that one, boy”) gets old, but I can handle Tom. Lewin needs to go.

by Hard8 on Jul 24, 2009 10:02 AM CDT reply actions   1 recs

your opinion is unpopular....

but I agree with your conclusion.

Adam Lambert is indeed a rock god,so suck it.

by red shoe ranger on Jul 24, 2009 10:11 AM CDT reply actions  

^^^^^

reply is my friend

meant to reply to Hard8

Adam Lambert is indeed a rock god,so suck it.

by red shoe ranger on Jul 24, 2009 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions  

I’m just fine with Lewin and TAG as long as they’re not sitting in front of the camera talking directly to the audience. When they’re actually doing play by play I love it but during pregame or post game when the camera is pointed directly at them it drives me nuts. Lewin has no idea what to do when TAG is talking so he’s frantically looking back and forth between TAG and the camera and blinking ninety miles a minute. It almost makes me uncomfortable to watch him and the longer that TAG talks the more frantic Lewin starts to look.

Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

by Bezekira on Jul 24, 2009 10:19 AM CDT reply actions  

Yep

Josh is usually going ballistic during face time. Can’t say he is apathetic.

"Guys are visual creatures, that’s how we’ve been wired, for millennia…only fat and or ugly chicks use that word you just typed." - Rodney

by inactive lsb user on Jul 24, 2009 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions  

I flew up to KC this morning on the same SW flight as Josh...

I was surprised that he wasn’t on the team plane this morning…maybe because he had his son with him. I asked him if he had heard that the Angels had rallied late to get the win (knowing he surely had) and he said, “Yeah, the Angels are so annoying.”

Ephesians 3:20-21...and I can only imagine

by TedFord on Jul 24, 2009 4:49 PM CDT reply actions  

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