After losing Jim Rome to rival XTRA Sports 1360, Evans, the vice president of programming and operations at XX Sports 1090, "could either concede Rome's time slot or try and beat him."

Evans has chosen to go on the attack, so starting Monday, 1090 has a new lineup.

Scott Kaplan and Billy Ray Smith move back an hour to 6-10 a.m.

Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton, who has done a show in afternoon drive for most of his nearly three decades on the air, moves to 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Darren Smith moves to 2-6 p.m., followed by John Kentera from 6-9 p.m.

"I looked at everything and decided to move Scott and Billy Ray because there are more people listening to the radio at 10 a.m. than 5 a.m., " Evans said.

"Plus, I want those guys on the air for the first hour or Rome's show."

Rome has been on 1090 for several years, but he's part of the Premiere Radio Network, which is part of the Clear Channel group. XTRA Sports 1360 is a Clear Channel station, so it was logical for 1360 to insist Rome switch to its air.

"A lot of news in sports happens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., so it made sense for Lee Hamilton to go in that slot, report the breaking news and bang a lot of calls," Evans said. "Lee's a savvy guy, and we wanted his energy opposite Rome.

"Darren's Smith's show is more interview oriented while Lee's is caller driven.

"Listeners driving home can get two or three interviews from Darren, and I think Darren can wrap up the day in sports while people are winding down their day.

"Then John Kentera comes in at the end of the insanity and puts it all together.

"Instead of the way it had always been, this lineup makes a lot of sense to me. Plus, it makes a lot of sense during baseball season.

"This season Darren was working two hours, Lee came in for two hours, then Darren was back for two hours on the 'BP Show'.

"Now both guys will work four hours, all in a row."

At 1360, program director Brian Wilson's lineup includes a pair of Fox Sports Radio national shows to start the day, followed by three local shows, then national shows to close out the evening.

Dan Patrick has the 6-9 a.m. slot with Rome doing his usual 9 a.m.-noon gig.

The first local show is Chris Ello, who moves back to the noon-3 p.m. slot, where he'll work with Ben Higgins.

Ello had a tendency to filibuster through his three hours, barely taking a breath. Higgins will help that show tremendously.

The "Chargers Power Hour" follows from 3-4 p.m. with Josh Rosenberg teaming with Charod Williams from 4-7 p.m.

"We're excited to have Rome on board," Wilson said. "And we're excited about teaming Ello and Higgins. We had a lot of really good feedback on Ben (when he was doing a noon-3 p.m. show), so we decided to team Chris and Ben to build up our midday."

XTRA Sports 1360 has been on the air three years, but has always chased 1090 in the ratings.

Buoyed by a Padres pennant run, 1090 enjoyed a great summer.

In men-35 plus, the target audience for both stations, 1090 did a 6.6 rating in the morning while 1360 did an 0.6.

In middays, 1090 did a 6.9 and 1360 a 1.9. The drivetime numbers were 6.7 for 1090 and 0.7.

At night -- with the Padres -- 1090 did a 9.3 and 1360 an 0.8.

"I really don't like to comment on ratings numbers," Wilson said. "But I feel some momentum. I feel people are finding us.

"We're starting to market the station a little bit.

"We're chugging along, but we're in this for the long haul."

ESPN finds a home

ESPN Radio has landed on San Diego 1700, starting Monday.

The sister station of 1090, will carry ESPN's national programming with those same programs available to 1090 overnight and on weekends.

Plus, both stations will be able to carry ESPN's extensive play-by-play lineup, which includes all postseason baseball, including the World Series.

XX 1090 had been affiliated with Sporting News Radio while 1360 continues to work with Fox Sports Radio.