Whitt's End: 2.11.11

Bill Lumbergh

Flyovers should be left to college football.

Paige Skinner

that's exactly how i write too. music with muted tv. weird. didn't think anyone else did that.

antiarmen

I pretty much agree with "sports radio" verbatim, on his first paragraph! Richie's taste in music is one of the biggest head scratchers for me! I mean, I could understand the cluelessness if he were...say..25!

keen eye for the radio guy

this was the most MEH post for a whitt's end that i can remember.i wasnt even going to comment initially, however, i must point out that this was a VERY slow sports and news week so i understand.

as for the radio:the 6 o'clock hour is pure radio anthrax.the word association game?really???who's fault is that?who was the genius that thought that game would be a good idea?there are allegedly 4 minds collaborating for content and THATS the result???

its really beginning to sound like a give up.i wanna root for the new kid on the block, but damn.i see NO effort.by the way, greggo is reading boxscores again like he did all of 2006 up until he was kicked off the show that fateful afternoon october 2007.just sayin. you draw your own conclusions.

the 2LiveJews better start warming up b/c it wont be long b4 bruce points to the dugout.

sports radio listener

I think Greggo sounds good but the show could use some tweaking. I agree the word association game is a whip (like the Bored, oops, I mean Board) and so is everything Armen. He comes off like a skateboard man dope most of the time with the "dudes" and "man" and his drops are excruciating. He's holding the show back and Sybil doesn't add much either. I will say that Richie has gotten better as a host, but it is awfully tough to keep listening after he extols the greatness of Linkin Park or Fred Durst then bags on Greggo for playing Neil Young on his ipod, then says your tastes suck if you like Neil Young....hmm right, 40-something-year-old Korn worshiper.

Some of the back and forth arguments between Richie and Greggo do sound forced and hopefully the disagreements will be more natural in the future if they want better radio. All in all, it's probably the best show on the Fan but would be by far the worst on the Ticket. The Hard Line mails it in on a daily basis but it's still way better than anything else at the time slot.

Josh and Elf seem like two of the nicest guys, but I think their show is pretty generic. They are also hopelessly dorky in a middle aged man way when they talk about the "hipness" of Jason Mraz. They are so nice though that's it's tough to dislike them. Some of that niceness may be holding Josh back a bit, for instance he brought up the Bob Ortegel firing recently and told a story of his own experience of a team's brass not liking his own broadcasting. He used the Cubs as an example where clearly he could have used the Rangers, but probably felt uncomfortable talking dirt about them. The audience of course would like that sort of insight, but he's just too good a guy to do it. Their supporting cast sucks though and BaD Radio is tons better.

I'm not sure how Gregg hasn't been fired yet. The morning show is already terrible but he takes it to a new level. Newy is good for sports but his show is dull. Don't really listen to Gavin or Arnie. How long until the next lineup change?

truth hurts

my spies tell me major changes are coming. can you blame bruce and cbs mgmt for pulling the plug on the Tardline when Jake Z & TC's podcast gets better #s?

and you're right, gregg is the worst thing on dfw radio since jen engel.

Baseball Intelligence

Are the Rangers better or worse heading into this season? Lets take a look...shall we?Lineup:1. Elvis -> Elvis: push (possibly better with another year under his belt)2. Michael Young -> Michael Young (Yes he'll be here): improvement since he's not at 3rd3. Hamilton -> Hamilton: push (if healthy, which was last years concern)4. Vlad -> Beltre: possible downgrade in the first half, gotta be an upgrade in the 2nd half5. Nellie -> Nellie: I think Nellie is gonna be better this year6. Blanco/Arias (remember Kins was hurt) -> Kins: UPGRADE7. Salty/Teagarden -> Torrrealba/Traenor: upgrade8. Davis -> Moreland: Upgrade9. Borbon -. Borbon: Push

Rotation:

Feldman/Harden/Lewis/Wilson/Harrison -> Wilson/Lewis/Hunter/Webb?/Holland?/Whoever emerges: I'd say at worst that's a push. Although I expect some progress from Hunter's secondary pitches and maybe not the exact same electricity from CJ but more consistency and pretty much the same from Colby. This rotation could surprise people. And keep your eye on Holland.

If you just look at the facts it's tough to say that this team is worse off in 2011 than in 2010. The lineup and defense is markedly better, you can't dispute that. The rotation, I think, will be about the same or better.

The simple fact that Cliff Lee is not a Ranger does not make this a lost year. This is still a very good team. Lets not jump off the bandwagon before it leaves the station...

reality checks distant cousin

The offense being better is questionable unless you assume Beltre will go bonkers like last season. Michael is likely a downgrade from Vlad at DH, and that's assuming Michael stays. Is Hamilton hitting .359 with a 1044 OPS again the best case scenario or the usual we should expect? Even by his breakout 2008's standards, his 2010 dwarfs that season. Moreland only looks decent because he had a good postseason and is propped up against a probable bust in Chris Davis, a struggling-when-he-was-here Justin Smoak, and a complete spare Jorge Cantu. In the regular season, he batted .250 and his AAA numbers ain't that great.

The rotation has big questions. Can we expect CJ and Colby to pitch up to the level of last season again or is it optimistic considering both were breakouts? We all assumed Scott Feldman was going to be good going into last season too. Although he had a good rookie campaign, Tommy Hunter barely pitched to a bat that didn't make contact and was exposed in the postseason. Will Derek Holland finally breakout or be a tease like usual? Brandon Webb was a good gamble, but who knows what to expect after being shelved for two seasons.

The Rangers not dealing for Greinke or Garza after Cliff leaving could be a big mistake. The farm system isn't what it used to be a year ago but had enough to land either. As is, the AL West will be tons more competitive and catching lightning in a bottle like last season's playoffs may be wishful thinking. As good a season it was a year ago, it sure does stink they took a nap in the World Series and didn't put up a better fight against a team they were overwhelming favorites against.

reality check

The Rangers don't have the NL central to plunder this year like last June.

luniz

It's debateable that the fly over cost anywhere near that. If they're doing a training mission either way, why not fly them over the superbowl and get a little extra promotion for the Navy? People are just looking for reasons to bitch about stuff and it's annoying.

It's nobody's business where Sean Payton or Jason Garret live. Anybody that has a problem with it should mind their own damn business.

If Butler could come back for the playoffs the Mavs chances go way up. I really hope he does because I like the way he plays. He's a good guy.

MickeyG

I always wonder where they come up with these wild numbers. SO I called Hertz and yep, those jets rent for $100,000 per hour +tax and fuel. Who knew?

Rob_Em

Richie, are you still trying to relive your youth by hooking up with chicks half your age?

I ask because I stumbled across a 46 year old (female, for those of you wondering) this week, and we solved a puzzle... I recommend it.

Of course, a 40-something for me is like a 60-something for you, which would probably not be good. I'm rambling now. Sorry.

Anyway, I will be back next week to resume sending you juvenile, hateful texts that you ignore during RAGE. Hopefully, someone picked up the slack this week.

kergo

BTW, this team is not better heading into spring training. I predict 85 wins, and third place.The Angels will be good again, and Oakland's young pitching staff is THAT good. The Rangers are actually two good injuiries away from 70-92.

Sparky

The fly-over: yes, stupid, but as it's been pointed out, 90% of the crap at the SB is for the television audience, not the folks lucky/rich enough to be attending the game.

Cigarettes: never gonna happen. Will middle/upper class Uptown-living white guys stop smoking? Sure. Now drive two hours in any direction and find a small, meth-addled town and find the local pub. Guarantee you that 75% of the people there are smoking.

Please change careers

Richie - any chance you will change careers soon? I honestly think you would be a better marriage counselor than sports radio host/blogger.

Richie Whitt

Thanks, but two careers are plenty.

Judge_Softy

I'm here all week, folks...try the veal.

Judge_Softy

Why does your blurb on Stojakovic merit being posted before the break? I guess you must have considered it to be FRONT PEJA news...ROCK ME!

midnitewriter

All I wish for in an instance such as this is a "Really Like" button to push.

Judge_Softy

Fergie and the former GnR guitarist should start a new side project called Slash 'n' Gash.

Cow Sheep

I'd buy stadium bonds so I could sit in Super Bowl concourse temporary bleachers to hear that one announced.

ParleyPPratt

Don't know, don't care about the people inside Cowboys Stadium, but wouldn't the flyover be more for the people watching on TV?

Josh's broken records

They flew over god's country (n-Gbury) twice leading up to it..and the kiddoes thought it was worth atleast 450k..probably 455 or so.

ScottsMerkin

If its for people on TV couldnt we just show a video of a fly by and save the $450k, just saying

ParleyPPratt

This idea has merit. Why not just show a video of the Anthem as well? Halftime show?

Rooster

Flyovers - still dig em, but might lose some luster in a domed stadium, even if it has a hole in the roof. It's better at the baseball game.

Cigarettes - Rare? Been to Europe lately?

Valentines Day - is there a man on the planet that doesn't hate it? Whatever you get her isn't going to be good enough. You just can't win if you're a guy. I honestly think the only reason Valentines Day exists, is chicks enjoy complaining about what their guy got them for Valentines Day.

Gambling addicts - for every two dudes living the life in Vegas, there are 10,000 who try and are living in their mom's basement as a result.

kergo

sh%t......third b@tches!? Is this bit still funny? It is to me.

I've been waitin' all night for WE, when you just can't tolerate no more, when you are desperate, when, you, are, AT THE WHITT"S END. When you gotta take the 98 with 160,000 miles on it, to the pavement, to escape.......but Colorado's full of snow, and Corpus is only in the 50's. So, you read a little bit of RW, and relax-Whitt's End.

(reading)......hmmmm? meh. Ummmm, really nothing here that's of any value.

Richie Whitt

Guilty.

Dmkergo

Just kiddin'....not a bad Whitt's End. Please consider my intro as the official lead in.Kergie out!

P1Steven

FEB 14th & 15th are the two bigges crotch kicks to my wallet each year. V-day then my wifes B-day. Honestly, I have no problem honoring both, but it is a bitch to get a table anywhere. Your HOT is a 10. (I would gladly give her sexy time explosion) Your not is a 10 on the richter scale. Im sure UTAH will thank Derron Williams for pushing Jerry Sloan out the door after he signs elsewhere this offseason.

Richie Whitt

Deron had three turnovers in the final minute at home of Bulls' loss this week, then Sloan walks. Yep.