Rhadigan Out As Rangers Broadcaster

The Rangers announced earlier today the “demotion” of John Rhadigan from the play by play position, back into the role as the pregame and post-game anchor. Dave Barnett from the radio side will be replacing him for the remainder of the 2011 season. Here was the official press release from the Rangers –

Arlington, TX – The Texas Rangers today announced several changes in the on-air personnel for the club’s television and radio broadcasts.

The changes will be effective beginning with Friday’s game against the Kansas City Royals and will be in place for the remainder of the 2011 season.

Dave Barnett will become the Rangers’ lead television play-by-play announcer on Fox Sports Southwest and TXA21 telecasts, working with analyst Tom Grieve.

Steve Busby will join Eric Nadel on the majority of the games on 103.3 FM ESPN and the Rangers ESPN Radio Network. Pre and post-game radio host Bryan Dolgin will also do play-by-play on a number of games during the remainder of the 2011 season.

John Rhadigan will be returning to Fox Sports Southwest as the lead anchor of FSSW’s Rangers pre and postgame coverage and other programming on the network.

“We feel that this restructuring will provide Rangers fans with quality television and radio broadcasts from a pregame, in-game, and post-game perspective,” said Rangers Executive Vice President for Communications John Blake. “We have a group of experienced and knowledgeable broadcasters who should work well in these roles.”

Barnett joined the Rangers broadcast team in 2009 and has worked primarily in the radio booth since that time. The longtime ESPN announcer has also provided play-by-play coverage on a limited number of Rangers television games in that span.

Busby has been a part of Rangers radio and television coverage for over 25 years. Most recently, the former major league pitcher has served as a lead analyst on Fox Sports Southwest’s pre and post game Rangers programming while working a limited schedule of television and radio games over the last several years.

Dolgin is in his second year hosting Rangers pre and post game radio coverage and has been a fill-in play-by-play broadcaster for the club over that span.

This is a good move, as most fans (myself included) felt that Rhadigan was not prepared for the task ahead of him. We look forward to hearing the game from Dave Barnett.

-Jonathan