Fusilli Jerry wrote:

philliesphhan wrote:Lots of people are humble and gracious

Doesn't mean they should be announcing baseball games

Exaactly

she got a huge dumper?

Trent Steele wrote:Josh Lewin and the Rangers are parting ways. Watched alot of their games on EI this year. He is outstanding. I would pay at least $500 towards McCarthy's buyout if they hire Lewin

Here is the Dallas Morning News story. I've watched him since he got to Texas, and he has gotten much better especially as the team became a contender. He does less pop schtick now, and obviously does a ton of research. When he gives a fact or stat, you don't have to worry about its accuracy. And he walks the homer/professional line very well, showing excitement at the right times.

Not sure if Wheels would mesh well with Lewin, because Josh comes across as the smartest guy in the booth and that may not be welcome at CBP.

Finally, this quote from the DMN article:

Maybe the Rangers are hoping that Scott Franzke, who once worked their pre- and postgames on radio and has done excellent work in the Philadelphia Phillies' radio booth, will come home.

If the play by play guy we lose for next year is Franzke I'd cry

Dear god we can't lose Franzke. That'd be worse than losing Werth.

if we lose Franzke I'm getting a dog so I have someone to beat

This Franzke thing is just rank speculation, right?

RIGHT!?!?

Seriously, if it's a choice between losing Franzke or McCarthy, they should not only lose McCarthy, they should sacrifice him to the gods.

the gods would be pissed if that were our sacrifice

I don't think that writer has any inside info, he probably just assumes Franzke would be a candidate because he got his start with Texas.

Rockinghorse wrote:I don't think that writer has any inside info, he probably just assumes Franzke would be a candidate because he got his start with Texas.

Maybe, but Phils better not get cheap if the Rangers try prying him away with a bigger contract & TV deal. If Franzke says, "McCarthy is out and I am the new TV guy if you want me to stay," then McCarthy should be out.

I think the Phils have to know that the reality of the situation is that Franzke, and not McCarthy, is Harry's heir. This idea occured to me as I am writing this, but you might argue, in fact, that the Phillies keeping Franzke on the radio is in fact evidence that they know he is the future. By keeping him on the radio while McCarthy's contract plays out, Franzke's tenure on the radio also conveniently coincides with the team as currently constructed running through its prime. Their policy, going back to 2008, has been to let the radio guys continue to be the radio guys through the postseason; Harry was brought in mostly to do the last outs of clinching games, IIRC. You'll notice that they have not extended this policy with McCarthy. The upshot of this policy has been that Franzke has gotten every big call in the postseason, and people have now associated most of the best moments over the past three years with his voice, save for the few (significant) calls reserved for Harry. Franzke would have had the WS-win call last year had the Phils won it, and, for now, he still has a shot at it this year.

McCarthy, on the other hand, is nowhere to be heard in any of these clips. More, Franzke's ascendancy is reinforced every day by WIP and KYW, which will play a significant audio highlight or highlights from the previous night's game, which almost always means using Franzke's call.

McCarthy is on TV, but I actually think that has given him the lower profile in Philly between himself and Franzke.

And now that I've noticed that pattern, I think this has been a conscious decision on the part of the Phillies.

FAIR OR FOUL??/

bleh wrote:

Someone should photoshop that t-shirt to say, "TEAM CURRENTLY AHEAD."

First look, I thought he was wearing Chargers apparel...

Second look, I thought he was wearing Ravens apparel...

Third look, I thought his shirt said College of Brody Jenner....

then I got it...

People should really start writing letters to the team so that they do not re-sign this boob before its too late. Not emails. Letters. Now.

Has there ever been a more disliked broadcaster in Philadelphia?

just one guy i can think of...

This is his 8th year, does he even have 1 memorable call?

bleh wrote:This is his 8th year, does he even have 1 memorable call?

Piazza Territory?