Rating the TV booths: The AL West

MESA, AZ - MARCH 8: Broadcaster Glen Kuiper Jr. of the Oakland Athletics works from the pressbox during the game against the Chicago White Sox at Hohokam Stadium on March 8, 2015 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
MESA, AZ - MARCH 8: Broadcaster Glen Kuiper Jr. of the Oakland Athletics works from the pressbox during the game against the Chicago White Sox at Hohokam Stadium on March 8, 2015 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
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A younger C.J. Nitkowski, who needs more air time in Texas. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
A younger C.J. Nitkowski, who needs more air time in Texas. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Texas Rangers: Dave Raymond, play-by-play; Tom Grieve, C.J. Nitkowski, color

It isn’t so much that the Rangers telecast booth is particularly weak. It’s not. It is, however, ordinary, and in the AL West that’s enough to put it behind its competition.

Grieve, a north Texas legend, is the dominant force. An original Ranger and one of their first stars, he retired in 1979 and soon found himself in the team’s front office.  That included a decade as the team’s general manager.

He moved from that position into the color chair in 1995, and has remained ever since.

The problem is that Grieve’s work as an MLB analyst largely mirrors his on-field and front-office experience, which has more than a modest relationship to the Peter Principle. During his time as GM, the Rangers finished 50 games under .500 and did not win a division title.

When Grieve speaks, one gets the sense that he has repeating something for the 50th time…and realizes it. One wonders whether he is or soon will be past his prime.

Raymond is in his fifth season doing Rangers games. He’s totally competent at that assignment. Nitkowski, who can and sometimes does fill either the play-by-play or color roles, is fully competent in both aspects.

For the present, Nitkowski sits too much in Grieve’s shadow, minimizing the obvious wit, quickness of thought and clarity that shine through on his MLB Network show.

In short, the Rangers most competent telecast personality occupies the booth’s least important position.

Experience: 3

Likeability: 3

Knowledge: 3

Humor: 3

Rapport: 4

Oratory: 4

Total: 20