WFAN’s new Mets broadcaster Josh Lewin talks about his move from Texas to New York, the team’s respectable start and the rest of the NL East’s flaws.
Q: Why did you stop doing Rangers broadcasts after 2010?
A: It just wasn’t a fit anymore. I left with good memories and good things to say about the people there. There was nothing awful or weird about it. (Rangers owner/president) Nolan Ryan had a very different thought about what a broadcast should be and sound like. We just agreed to shake hands and walk away.
Q: Was it a big adjustment coming from Texas to New York?
A: The adjustment has been going from TV to radio. I had not done baseball on radio since 1994. You develop some really bad radio habits on TV, just making sure you’re giving the score and doing the simple geography of where the ball is at all times. That’s been my most frustrating challenge. It’s not just like riding a bike as it turns out after 17 years of TV.
Q: With some of the Mets’ recent struggles, what were you expecting coming here?
A: I feel like I’ve seen this movie with the Texas Rangers in 2004. They cut payroll significantly and said they would not compete and, lo and behold, they were right in it to the last weekend of the season. That’s always something I can identify with it, the whole underdog thing. The Mets are just putting their heads down and quietly succeeding.
Q: Why do you think this team has surpassed expectations so far?
A: First and foremost, Johan Santana has not just been serviceable, he’s been outstanding. Between he, (R.A.) Dickey and (Jon) Niese, that’s a pretty formidable 1-2-3 in a division that is filled with uncertainty. Between that, David Wright’s hot start and Kirk Nieuwenhuis turning heads, there are a lot of things falling into place.
Q: With some of the other NL East teams struggling, is it ridiculous to say the Mets can stay in the division race?
A: That’s the thing about this division: Everyone’s got a little something. The Marlins are combustible, and it turns out they can’t score. The Phillies are getting older and have key players injured. The Nationals are, for the moment terrific, but you are waiting to see if they can sustain it. And everyone has a little something they have to overcome, and that’s nice. It feels more like an open derby than it did in spring training.