In Ft. Worth, Stefan Stevenson notes longtime MLB Rangers TV personality Jim Knox is "not returning" to FS Southwest in '17. Knox has been part of the Rangers’ broadcast team for 15 seasons, "creating an avid following among fans who he’d interview in the stands." His departure follows last week's announcement that announcer Steve Busby also was "not renewed." Dave Raymond, who joined the club this past season as a utility play-by-play man, will "take over the main announcing duties" in '17 (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 11/8). In Dallas, Barry Horn notes Knox "came up with quirky stories" and sometimes his bits "bled into the game." Horn: "That annoyed some hardcore viewers. But for those not keeping score at home, he provided amusing sidelights" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/8).
HONOR ROLL: In Chicago, Darly Van Schouwen notes play-by-play announcers Hawk Harrelson (White Sox) and Pat Hughes (Cubs) are "among eight finalists" for the '17 Ford C. Frick Award, which is "presented for excellence in baseball broadcasting." They are joined by broadcasters Gary Cohen (Mets), Jacques Doucet (Expos), Bill King (A's), Mike Krukow (Giants), Ned Martin (Red Sox) and Dewayne Staats (Rays) "as the eight finalists" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 11/8).
AMERICAN HORROR STORY In West Virginia, Chuck Landon writes after three years of operation, the American Sports Network "steadily has grown worse and worse and worse." From "graphics to picture quality to announcers to reliability to customer service, it's at the bottom of the sport network food chain." The net "might have hit a new low" with Marshall-Old Dominion on Saturday. ASN'S Dave Armstrong and Richard Baldinger "weren't doing the game from the press box" at ODU in Virginia, but instead were "sitting somewhere in Liberty, Mo." Landon: "It was ludicrous" (Huntington HERALD-DISPATCH, 11/8).
