Our Texas Rangers Baseball

Opening day!

2011-04-12T08:50:00.000-05:00

What a great day, my wife brought my son who is 4 months old out to the ballpark and walked around with me and we took pictures with him. He loved being there, just like his old man!

Oh, then there was the game. great day to be at the ball game... The Rangers looked good, I love opening day! Nothing could have been better than this day a W a dog a beer my boy! what a day! I love this game!
Today was a good day.

1st Spring game!

2011-02-27T15:30:00.000-06:00

It does not matter that it is spring training game #1. I hate listining to a loosing game it is 4 zip right now, Tanner Sheppers is pitching now maybe things will turn around...I love baseball but lossing sucks!

Just 4 fun and I like the movie...

2011-02-08T15:40:00.002-06:00

Mon Feb 07 04:36pm EST

Bueller? For which Cubs game did Ferris play hookey?

By David Brown

With pitchers and catchers only moments from reporting to spring training, nothing else says baseball like an investigative essay about the time Ferris Bueller took in a ballgame at Wrigley Field.
Yes, Larry Granillo of Wezen-Ball has done it again. Piecing together details from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and the Baseball-Reference website, Larry does his best Sherlock Holmes-ian deducing to conclude which Chicago Cubs-Atlanta Braves game that Ferris, best bud Cameron Frye and special lady friend Sloane Peterson "saw" in the 1986 film.
You're probably thinking: What took someone so long?

[LINK: The cultural importance of Ferris' trip to Wrigley]

What a cool way for Larry to introduce himself to readers at Baseball Prospectus, where he also now contributes:

It appears obvious now that this is a real ballgame that Ferris is at, not just something recreated for a film crew. The Harry Caray play-by-play and the Braves players on the field are pretty solid evidence of that. So what game, then, are they watching? Did the Cubs win, or did Ferris sing "Danke Schön" as a way to wash away the stink of a Cubs loss?

View some of the evidence, along with a clip from the film, below.
Note: The baseball scenes begin at the 2:17 mark.

The movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" was released on June 11, 1986. The ballgame then must have been filmed either real early in the 1986 season or sometime during 1985. Looking at game logs from those seasons, we see that there was no game in 1986 in which Lee Smith (#46) faced the Braves at Wrigley Field. There were four such games in '85, though Smith left the Braves hitless in one of those. Of the remaining three games, it isn't hard to find the game we're looking for.

It might not have been "hard," but Larry appears to be the first person in the history of the Internet to publish such a finding. His conclusion: It was a June 5, 1985 game that the Cubs lost (of course they did) 4-2 to the Atlanta Braves. Go on over and please read Larry's post for more of his detective work.
That's not to say that there might not have been any movie magic at play here: SB Nation's Al Yellon presents his case on why Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara and Alan Ruck likely shot their Wrigley scenes later in the year and the TV footage of the June 5 game was edited into the movie later.
As an aside, one of the minor things that always bugged me about "Bueller" — and about any movie shot in Chicago — is when they're driving along, say, Lake Shore Drive and then, in the next cut, they're going the opposite direction, only to switch back a second later. Not important to the movie; it's just art. It only matters to the synapses of a local who knows which way is which.
No such creative license was taken in filming the baseball scene, however. Featuring real players in a real game, it remains as pure as Bueller's intentions.

Let's start this thing!

2011-02-05T16:22:00.000-06:00

Truck Day an annual rite of spring for MLB clubs
By Mark Newman / MLB.com

Monday -- the day after the Super Bowl across their shared parking area. Equipment will be loaded from the Rangers' clubhouse in the late morning, and at 3:30 p.m. ET, their truck will depart for Surprise, Ariz. Rangers players (to be announced) and their mascot, Rangers Captain, are expected to participate in a photo opportunity.

Live Video of the scorebord take down and construction

2011-01-23T11:39:00.002-06:00

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?topic_id=16411622&c_id=tex&partnerId=ed-4348649-179201544

Brandon Webb - a one year deal if he passes the Physical

2010-12-27T09:43:00.000-06:00

The 31-year-old Webb has missed the last two years, except for four innings, because of shoulder trouble, but he was stellar before then, winning one Cy Young and coming in second twice from 2006 to 2008 while pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Didn't we just go through this with Ben Sheets?

Well Cliff it was real....

2010-12-14T07:10:00.002-06:00

Well it was fun while it lasted. Thanks for the memories. I can honestly say in the short time you were here we had our ups and downs. I will say there is no way I could see you here in TX for 7 years with the back issues you are having and the way Nolan will want you to pitch. Did I want you here, well yeah, for the stupid money, well yeah but I have to say "things worked out for the best". Good luck and will beat you next year!

All my best...

At least your not going to NY.

2010-12-14T07:09:00.001-06:00

Sipkin/News

Cliff Lee returns to Philadelphia where he faces the Yankees in the 2009 World Series with teammates Ryan Howard and Chase Utley (far right).

Cliff Lee yawned and chewed gum while his glove, a basket hanging near his chest, snagged the Johnny Damon popup. It was Game 1 of the 2009 World Series at Yankee Stadium, and Lee was in the sixth inning of a masterpiece sublime enough to include that iconic moment. In the outfield and dugout, his teammates laughed and marveled at Lee's nonchalance.

That catch represented the peak of an otherworldly postseason for the lefty, and defined Lee for the Philadelphia public as a Phillie forever. It had the same effect on the pitcher, whose hurt was raw when the Phils traded him to Seattle in December to make room in the payroll for Roy Halladay. Twelve months later, clearly still pulled by the memory of a heightened experience, Lee did what professional athletes almost never do: He prioritized desire over dollars.
Of course, the approximately $100 million that the Phillies will pay Lee over the next five years is more than almost anyone would make in five lifetimes, but that is almost irrelevant in baseball. Athletes are among the most competitive people in this competitive country, and in their business, contracts indicate status and success nearly as much as titles do. Lee could have become one of the highest-paid athletes in the world had he signed with the Yankees. No matter how much he will make, it could not have been easy to turn down so much more.
Instead of doing that, he will try to recreate his favorite memory. It is a nice narrative, even a noble impulse, but it is fraught with risk and potential disappointment. The Phillies are already altered from the team Lee joined in July 2009, when he was traded from Cleveland.
The Phils' lineup is reduced, due to age and attrition. Jayson Werth, Lee's good friend and the team's only righthanded power hitter, is gone, having decided to accept a Publishers Clearing House check for $126 million from the Washington Nationals. Infielders Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins are aging, and could not make it through last season without suffering serious and nagging injuries. This month, centerfielder Shane Victorino turned 30, the last Phils starter to cross the precarious boundary. Decline awaits in a few years, if not sooner.
Unlike the Yankees, the Phils will not be able to buy their way out of a rebuilding phase. Had Lee signed with New York, he would have received the implicit promise of $200 million payrolls every season, enough to purchase playoff contention despite an abundance of aging regulars.
Derek Jeter can't play shortstop in a year or two? Move him somewhere else, and sign an All-Star replacement. CC's arm is dead after all those innings? Well, when is King Felix a free agent?
The Yankees would have given Lee not just more money, but the security of knowing he would not ever be stuck for long on an irrelevant team. The Phillies might be great next year, and a rotation beginning with Halladay, Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt sounds like one of the best ever. But what if it doesn't immediately click, due to injuries or inconsistency or other human frailty (remember, that group without Lee was supposed to win a World Series this year)?
This Phils team has a one-year window before it sees sweeping change. Oswalt, Jimmy Rollins, Raul Ibanez, Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson have potentially expiring deals, and could follow Werth out of town in 11 months. Halladay, Hamels and Victorino might follow in the ensuing years. And Cliff Lee might be stuck chasing the ghosts of an elusive memory, and wishing he had just taken the money.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2010/12/14/2010-12-14_in_signing_with_phillies_cliff_lee_chases_memory_of_world_series_run_but_he_may_.html#ixzz185et5Ia8

Hall of Famer pitcher Bob Feller placed in hospice care

2010-12-09T07:08:00.000-06:00

By Ian Casselberry

It's been a sad year in baseball, as we've lost so many icons of the game — Ron Santo, Sparky Anderson, George Steinbrenner — just to name a few.
The news worsened Wednesday night with the news that Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller has been placed in hospice care.
Feller, 92, recently had been admitted to the Cleveland Clinic with pneumonia. That was likely a complication of his treatment for leukemia, which Feller was diagnosed with in August.
But Feller has struggled through a variety of serious ailments over the past few months. Chemotherapy treatments had resulted in him suffering from vertigo. A heart problem required the installation of a pacemaker. And when Feller was admitted to the Cleveland Clinic, he was also diagnosed with thrush, an infection of the mucus membrane lining the mouth and throat that was preventing him from eating.
That's no way for any person to exist, of course, but it's even tougher hear about it when he or she is an iconic, robust figure such as Feller.
Feller pitched 18 seasons for the Indians, compiling a 266-162 record and 3.25 ERA. That win total is the highest in franchise history. Feller also is the team's all-time leader in innings pitched (3,827), strikeouts (2,581), complete games (279) and games started (484). He threw three no-hitters in his career and 12 one-hitters.
Additionally, Feller also holds Indians single-season records for complete games (36), strikeouts (348), innings pitched (371 1/3), walks (208) and shutouts (10).
The man was so good that he earned not one, not two, but three nicknames. He was called "Rapid Robert" for a fastball that was estimated to reach 104 miles per hour. (Feller claimed to once throw even harder than that.) But this was before the advent of radar guns, so unusual methods were sometimes deployed to gauge Feller's fastball. Such as racing it against a motorcycle.
From Sports Illustrated:

In 1941, for example, a motorcycle going 86 mph roared up behind him and tried to beat his pitch to the plate. The pitch won easily. Deduced from that: Feller threw at 104.

Feller was also called "Bullet Bob" (hopefully he didn't throw his fastball beside a firing handgun) and "The Heater from Van Meter," his hometown in Iowa. (Van Meter features a museum devoted to Feller and his career.)

And he accomplished all of these feats despite missing three seasons while serving in World War II. He enlisted in the Navy the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed. After returning from the war, Feller went on to pitch for 12 more seasons.
Feller was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. His No. 19 was retired by the Indians in 1957, one of only seven numbers given that honor by the team.

Thu Dec 09 01:52am EST

Round Rock Express unveils new colors, logos, unis

2010-12-03T17:13:00.000-06:00

Round Rock Express unveils new colors, logos, unis .Friday, 03 December 2010 15:43 .
BallparkDigest.com

To coincide with their new status as the top farm team of the Texas Rangers, the Round Rock Express (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) unveiled new colors and logos that are reminiscent of the colors and look of the Rangers.

The rebranding includes a new primary mark, new secondary marks, new colors and new uniforms. While blue and red continue as the Express colors, they now are in line with the Texas Rangers colors; the blue is a brighter royal blue, while the red remains unchanged. The new marks incorporate traditional Express elements, including a "train" theme and the Texas flag. The interlocking R logo remains as is save color alteration.

"We worked hard to keep some of our traditional elements while tying the past to the future," said team CEO Reid Ryan of Ryan Sanders Baseball. "We have honored our traditions from the past but also pushed forward in a new direction. Given our new affiliation with the Rangers, it was important to us to align ourselves with their color scheme."

Round Rock's new primary mark (above) includes the Express word mark with half a baseball encircled by a red banner with "Round Rock" in white lettering. Portions of the Texas flag are in the background with a cattle catcher in the foreground. The new E-Train logo (above) features a metallic E concaved upward with a cattle catcher at the bottom.

The Express will don four jerseys this season: white (home; below), gray (road), blue (alternate) and red (alternate). The white and blue jerseys both sport the Express word mark across the chest. The gray and red jerseys both feature the interlocking R logo on the left chest.

"Having been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to work on the Corpus Christi Hooks brand identity and other Ryan Sanders Baseball projects, we were tremendously excited when Round Rock's affiliation change to the Texas Rangers led to the team contacting us about creating a new branding identity for the Express," Dan Simon of Studio Simon said. "We hope that Express fans are as excited about the new identity as they are about their hometown team being the new Triple-A affiliate of the American League champion Texas Rangers."

Four new caps also will be worn for the 2011 season: blue with E-Train logo, red with E-Train logo, blue with interlocking R logo, and blue with interlocking R logo and red bill.

2010-10-29T05:57:00.001-05:00

It's just a sick feeling right now. That deer in the headlights look. That's how I feel.

It is here and I am there!

2010-10-25T18:38:00.000-05:00

turn of good luck?

2010-10-17T10:25:00.000-05:00

Well, was good luck after all? I tried for over an hour to buy WS tickets this morning...not happening. So now I at least have the 1 ticket I got on Thursday...It will be fun but I wish I could have friends with me.

Oh Yeah!

2010-10-13T19:54:00.000-05:00

Your World Series Ticket Opportunity Begins Tomorrow

Congratulations! You are a winner for the 2010 Texas Rangers World Series Ticket Opportunity. We are pleased to offer you the opportunity to purchase up to four tickets for one potential game of the World Series at Rangers Ballpark before they go on sale to the general public.

Outstanding! I never win anything and I open up my email and find this. Now I would have liked to win tickets but hey, this is nice too.

I am ready!

2010-09-26T11:33:00.000-05:00

2010-09-11T00:26:00.001-05:00

2010-09-10T23:08:00.000-05:00

I love this game!

Now that feels good

2010-09-09T08:47:00.002-05:00

Amazing how good a W make you feel!

Ouch

2010-09-07T12:58:00.000-05:00

Boy, what a tough weekend. 4 in a row...lost, gone, wrong time for this to be going on. I am thinking about the balance of the team being upset with the many individual players added recently. The mental aspect of the game is a concern. It never needs to be said, everyone knows what is at stake. Just getting into the playoffs is not enough. This team is ready for so much more. We just need something to tie it all together!

I like this pick up of Mark Prior.

2010-09-03T19:05:00.000-05:00

29 years old, turns 30 on Sep 7, 2nd pick in the 2001 draft. 6'5" 225 Right hander, .592 winning % W49 L29 GS109 ERA3.51

"For his age he's (Mark Prior) one of the best pitchers I've seen at pitching to the situation. Usually, that's what veteran pitchers do. Instead of trying to get this guy out and that guy out, he has an idea and a plan on what he wants to do." - Manager Dusty Baker on MLB.com (December 4, 2003)

Mark spent a month with the Flyers as a relief pitcher, throwing 11.0 innings over nine outings, striking out 22 of 44 total batters faced while not allowing an earned run.

If Mechanics are still an issue with Mark then I think he is coming to a great place. No one better than Nolan and mike to get it on track. They will send down the right instructions and get Mark on the right path. I like this!

Thanks TAG!

2010-08-28T19:13:00.000-05:00

2010-08-27T19:28:00.001-05:00

I love having David Murphy!

2010-08-23T21:51:00.001-05:00

Broken up in the 9 th but got the W! Oh and the shutout. Picked up a game on the homefield. Nice job rich.

2010-08-23T21:40:00.000-05:00

No hit by committee?

Your killing Me

2010-08-23T11:52:00.000-05:00

Up or down, I watch every pitch, every play. I get so pumped watching the 3 run jack. I get so bummed seeing us get picked off at first! Being at the game and seeing us beat Boston in 11 with Cruz knocking one out was a thing of beauty. siting at home watching us loose 3 to the Rays and split with the O's well, I just hate it. I know we lost little ground but we should have put some distance there. I see the bone head base running plays and I just think how the lack of experience and polish is hurting right now. Don't get me wrong, Our Rangers, firing on all cylinders will beat any team in baseball but what about when we are not at our best. To me it is the ability to keep wining when you are not at your best that makes the great teams. There is much more ball to be played but time is slipping away. Lets bring it all together and bring it home! I love our Rangers but some days your just killing me!

Offday relaxing...with the team secure in Ryan's hands

2010-08-12T15:58:00.004-05:00

We needed to close that one out

2010-08-12T07:57:00.000-05:00

I know it was the Yankees but with a 6-1 lead we needed to close that one out and take those two games. To me those where statement games. What we we said was maybe we can beat you, if things work out. What we needed to say was, we will beat you! Lets see what we can do with the Red Sox and we have another shot at NY in September. We need to learn to shut the door on NY!

Enough said!

2010-08-11T08:22:00.003-05:00

Roll on Rangers!!!

W Tonight

2010-08-10T15:00:00.002-05:00

I am going ahead and predicting the W tonight. I just have a feeling we take this one. I will be at the game tomorrow but I will be watching tonight. CJ gets number 11

Tue, 8/10

TV: FSSW HD, TWC 960 Radio: 105.3 The Fan, KFLC 1270

Rangers Ballpark in Arlington 7:05 PM CT

NY69-42

TX64-47

Burnett, A.J.

(9-9, 4.93)

Wilson, C.J.
(10-5, 3.30)

David Murphy all the time please!

2010-08-10T13:46:00.001-05:00

There is no reason to not play David all the time. Please, give the man some PT the more he plays the better he does...I have been saying this all year now.

See ya nose picker!!

2010-08-05T12:11:00.000-05:00

Maybe the biggest news has little monitary implications, but has a lot to do with public relations, Nolan Ryan said to 105.3 The Fan, Tom Hicks has been removed completely from any ownership role within the organization. Prior, Hicks was going to be given less than 1 percent ownership equity with Greenberg/Ryan with the ceremonial title of Chairman Emeritus. That has now all been stripped. The reason? According to sources (not Ryan), the title and fractional ownership equity was a nod for the land deal around the Ballpark that was stripped yesterday. When the deal was terminated, so was any cermonial offering to Hicks.

This is the only picture of Hicks I ever took. Boy is it fitting!

Glad that is done.

2010-08-05T08:14:00.000-05:00

I cannot stand Cuban. The fact he was a creditor to the Rangers and was allowed to bid still stinks of ethical shit to me. But the better group won in the end. Cuban operating the Mavs at a $20million a year loss and there not any better a team than they have ever been. What destruction he would have brought to the Rangers. I have never like Cuban, I think he is a dishonest jerk that takes his money and makes a joke of all of us. Let him stick to going in the Mavs locker room...He will never be in the Rangers clubhouse.

Message from Chuck!

2010-08-04T08:51:00.000-05:00

Hpw's this for a coincidence?

Chuck Greenberg, the Pittsburgh sports attorney who has partnered with Nolan Ryan and is attempting to purchase the Texas Rangers, has posted a message on his Facebook page regarding today's auction for the purchase of the club, and with it, sees an interesting day in history that coincides with his partner, Nolan Ryan. Greenberg writes:

Big day ahead. We've had the best bid and strongest ownership group all along, and today we demonstrate it once and for all. Thanks to everyone for your support. I can't tell you how much Nolan and I appreciate it. Now its time to bring it on home. See you at the ballpark for the Yankees next week...by the way, on this day in Rangers history in 1993, Robin Ventura paid a visit to Nolan on the mound. So step on up...

Here they all are... Thanks to Evan Grant

2010-08-04T08:40:00.003-05:00

Perhaps the most dramatic moment in Rangers history to date takes place Wednesday morning, not at The Ballpark, but in a courtroom in Fort Worth where the team will be put up for auction. It now appears that two groups will be bidding against one another: Rangers Baseball Express (headed by Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan) and a Mark Cuban-Jim Crane tag team. But before all the action gets started at 9 am CT Wednesday, you've got to know who all the players are, how we got here and maybe what their motivations are:

Jim Crane: The freight cargo magnate from Houston who pitched in college has been like a bad cold in this whole deal: He simply won't go away. Rejected as a bidder back in December, his lingering presence seemed to be the reason bankers so decidedly rejected the deal between Hicks Sports Group and the Ryan-Greenberg group. There is some thought that Crane either directly or indirectly was in contact with managers at Monarch Alternative Capital, letting them know he remained interested in buying the team and at a higher price than Greenberg-Ryan. An interesting question about this, then is why has Crane taken on Cuban as a partner. If he had the wherewithal to go it alone, why take on a partner now? Other concerns exist over his handshake agreement to buy the Houston Astros. Did he simply back out? Or did Drayton McLane simply disregard discussions prior to the handshake agreement and sign players to long-term agreements before the final paperwork could be drawn up. Regardless of the past, the biggest issue with him is the prospect he will be an "absentee" owner. Non-local ownership is never a good idea in pro sports. The inclusion of Cuban softens some of that.

Mark Cuban: The Dallas Mavericks owner flirted with the idea of buying the Chicago Cubs when the were up for sale, but it's not clear if he actually made a bid that was rejected or if he never made an actual bid. While Cuban's personality as basketball owner is larger than life, baseball would be more of an investment for him. He bought the Mavericks because he wanted them passionately. He has gotten involved with the Rangers because they have become an attractive investment. Cuban's chief accomplishment in the process has been to force a restructuring of the deal that strips a number of side deals from the sale that would have greatly benefited Tom Hicks. Even if he doesn't win the bid, Greenberg-Ryan will be less beholding to Hicks in the future because of Cuban's involvement. If Cuban does win the bid, though, he faces the prospect of having to convince Nolan Ryan to stay on with the club. If he can do that, it might allow Ryan to act, in effect, as Rangers CEO. But there are a lot of hurdles to cross between the auction and getting that done.

Chuck Greenberg: The Pittsburgh native who grew up only a couple of miles from Cuban has spent nearly 18 months on this deal. He has taken up temporary residence in Dallas and intends to move to Westlake - if he gets the team. It's hard to see what the problems are with Greenberg's bid. It seems to be completely fair, is already financed and has the blessings of Major League Baseball. In addition, it's the only route that insures Nolan Ryan stays on. But when Greenberg got involved in the sale, he had no idea that Hicks Sports Group's outstanding debt would be placed on the bond market at a discounted rate and had no idea that an inflexible hedge fund would buy up most of it. Publicly, it seems Greenberg has made every right move necessary to buy a club from an owner. The problem is that the Rangers really haven't been owned by Tom Hicks since HSG went into default. Greenberg has big plans for improving the game experience for fans, but it's uncertain just how deep his pockets are or how well-financed he may be for the future (he is assuming a lot of debt). His biggest mistake initially may have been trying to get Hicks to agree to a sweetheart deal only to have Hicks shop it around. His biggest mistake lately may have been restructuring and enhancing his bid for the team once all the side deals were stripped away. In essence, that move, which came within one bang of a gavel from ending this whole fiasco, proved that the club itself was worth more than Greenberg and Ryan were paying in the original deal.

Tom Hicks: The embattled Rangers owner defaulted on $525 million in loans by announcing he would not make a $10 million interest-only payment, then told the banks publicly to be reasonable. Since that announcement in March, 2009, it appears six quarters worth of interest-only payments have passed without a penny heading the creditors way. It's likely pushed the true value of the debt from $525 million to close to $600 million. According to sources close to the negotiations, lenders are enraged by Hicks' decision to thumb his nose at creditors. During the sale process, he seemed to take his own time, trying to keep either control or a percentage of the team, even as the debt, interest and penalties piled up. What started out in March, 2009 being billed as an attempt to sell a minority interest in the Rangers has now turned into a full-scale dismantling of his place in the sports business. In the end, the man who has held the Rangers longer than any other owner will now be more well-known for being the man who drove the Rangers to bankruptcy.

Judge Michael Lynn: The Fort Worth-based bankruptcy judge is known for innovative rulings, but he seems to be taking this case down a very traditional path. This thing goes to auction; highest bidder wins. End of story. That works in most bankruptcy cases, but not one where so many people are emotionally involved. Lynn said last week that he would have taken the enhanced offer made by Greenberg and Ryan, but allowed the auction to proceed anyway. There have been moments during the trial when Lynn has seemed a little thin-skinned, bristling at disjointed rantings and ravings by journalists in his home town. His decision to have Ron Washington on the stand, smacked of the dramatic. The manager is so far removed from the bankruptcy process that it seemed a little foolish to ask him about certain issues. Then Judge Lynn reassured Washington and urged him to go win the World Series. Looked like he wanted to demonstrate that he's a Rangers fan for the masses. In all, he's done a good job of handling an extremely acrimonious situation. If he can actually bring this case to an effective resolution on Wednesday, he will have performed a miracle to sort through this bankruptcy in three months.

Major League Baseball: Though it has talked tough, been supportive of the Rangers and loaned the club money, MLB's power stands to be weakened by the case. While Commissioner Bud Selig has the broad powers to strip the club from an owner or to veto a prospective owner, it appears it will do neither. Selig is a consensus builder and a deal-maker, who has twice averted a work stoppage by getting deals done with the tough-negotiating Players Association. But in Monarch, a fund that does not care about doing future business with MLB and a company that has piled up enough litigation to make the league wonder whether it's precious anti-trust exemption could be imperiled if it flexes its muscles too much, it seems MLB has met its match. MLB's best attempt to force out other bidders has been to announce any group other than Greenberg-Ryan would probably be facing nine to 12 months worth of an approval process. That would drive interest and penalties due the lenders that much higher and make the net worth of a bid smaller.

Monarch Alternative Credit: The New York-based hedge fund's acquisition of distressed HSG debt was the wild card in this disaster. Monarch wants to make as much money as possible on this deal and has held all the cards all the way. Baseball suggested it might not deal with Monarch if a deal wasn't reached. Monarch's response: Give us our money. To every suggestion made by Greenberg-Ryan or MLB, Monarch's response has been the same: Give us our money. The hedge fund has gotten six months worth of advertising out of it by constantly being cited in reports about the case. In the end, it appears Monarch is better at bankruptcy than baseball. It certainly appears that Monarch deals with it more often. Reports that Monarch has offered short-term or "bridge" financing to Cuban and Crane, but not Greenberg is completely legal at this point. The creditor holds all the advantages in bankruptcy of this nature. So, the notion that Monarch will simply pay Cuban a fee to jack up the price of the club to the point with which Monarch feels comfortable may seem sleazy, but it is completely legal in bankruptcy.

Nolan Ryan: Nobody in this case is in better position than Ryan. If Greenberg-Ryan wins the bid, Ryan remains president, goes into the ownership group and has exactly what he wants. If Cuban-Crane win, they absolutely must find a way to keep Ryan (and GM Jon Daniels) or face the wrath of an already angry fan base. If Ryan wants to stay in baseball next year, he can have a very powerful position. The key phrase here is - "if he wants to." The sale process has taken a toll on Ryan and if he ends up losing this after 18 months worth of heartache, it's possible he'll just call it a career. But, he signed up to work for the Rangers and build a championship club. He's helped put this team on the verge of being just that and done it without any resources. I think he'd like to see what he can do with some resources.

8.5

2010-07-28T11:10:00.002-05:00

Scheppers moved back to bullpen

2010-07-20T16:12:00.000-05:00

The Rangers have moved RHP Tanner Scheppers back to the bullpen in Triple-A Oklahoma City. The 44th overall pick in 2009 started the season in the bullpen and then moved to the rotation. He made six starts and had a 5.84 ERA in that span. He was solid in eight relief opportunities early in the season (1.89 ERA) as he was carefully monitored.

"In an effort to line up our depth for the Major League team for the stretch drive, we have moved Tanner Scheppers to the bullpen," assistant GM Thad Levine said via email. "Like we have done recently with some of our other prospect pitchers, we think that breaking Tanner into the Major League bullpen is a good way to start his transition to the majors. With our current pitching depth and our goal for Tanner for innings pitched this year, we feel that he can make the most impact as bullpen depth for the Major League team as we try to best position ourselves for playing meaningful games in September and beyond."

So look for Scheppers in that Rangers bullpen at some point soon this season. He could certainly have an impact down the stretch.

By Richard Durrett

And then there was one.

2010-07-17T17:18:00.000-05:00

This is a good read By Chris Cox / MLB.com 07/17/10 2:57 PM ET

FRISCO, Texas -- Beau Jones is the only player among the five the Rangers received in the Mark Teixeira trade who has not yet made it to Arlington.

Even if he never makes it to the big leagues, the Rangers fans would have to be satisfied with what team got for the All-Star first baseman. Pitcher Neftali Feliz and shortstop Elvis Andrus are All-Stars, Matt Harrison is pitching in the Rangers' bullpen and Jarrod Saltalamacchia is at Triple-A Oklahoma City, but he is still considered their once and future catcher.

The fifth player could slip into oblivion and no one would fret, because the trade is already considered a success. But Jones, a left-handed reliever at Double-A Frisco, would like to give the Rangers even more bang for their buck.

"They've gotten enough out of [the trade], and I'm pretty sure they're satisfied with the guys up there," Jones said. "I just want to pitch in the big leagues, whether it'd be with the Rangers or somebody else.

"I'd love to complete the trade and make it five-for-five, but if I don't, I want to pitch in the big leagues with somebody. I'm trying to make it happen."

He has a chance. Jones, 23, who was a last-minute addition to the July 31, 2007 trade with the Braves, is off to a strong start for the Roughriders, carrying a 1-0 record with a 2.31 ERA in 20 appearances out of the bullpen.

His Major League hopes are real.

"Left-handers who throw strikes have a way of finding themselves up here," general manager Jon Daniels said. "Beau has settled into his role in the bullpen."

Added Jones: "I've had success here. It's all about consistency, and that's what I'm striving for. I'm playing here, playing with these guys, playing in this league. It's definitely fun over here."

The move almost didn't happen for Jones, the Braves' supplemental first-round Draft pick in 2005 out of Destrehan (La.) High School, because the deal was all but done. But Harrison was hurt at the time and the Braves agreed to add Jones to overcome any last-minute hesitations on the Rangers' side.

"Matt was on the [disabled list] at the time of the deal with a shoulder issue that ultimately turned out to be a foot issue," Daniels said. "He had a turf toe that was altering his mechanics and that led to shoulder soreness. Beau was a guy we liked and Atlanta agreed to include him in the deal, because there was a question on Matt's health."

Since then, Jones has become a quality pitcher during his time in the organization, playing for both Class A Bakersfield and Frisco in each of the past two seasons before settling in with the Roughriders this year.

"Everybody wants to go up to the big leagues. That's a goal and that's why we're playing," Jones said. "I felt like the trade gave me an opportunity. I came over here in a big-time trade."

That's why Jones would like to complete the trade with his own emergence in the Major Leagues.

For that to happen, he knows he'll need more consistency with his fastball, something he feels may be holding him back from stringing together solid performances.

"The main thing I'm trying to do is locate my fastball a little bit better," Jones said. "I feel like I'm really streaky right now. I'm either hot or cold and I'm trying to be consistent all the way though. I want these guys to know what I bring to the table every time I step on the rubber."

Should that happen, Jones might complete the trade in ways neither the Rangers nor Braves would have imagined, with all five players making it to the Major Leagues.

"Beau Jones has to do it," Jones said. "Those guys have done it. Congratulations to them. I still talk to them, we still talk about it. We realize what we were a part of. Teixeira was a great player and it turned out to be a really big deal for the Rangers.

"They have the future staples of the organization with Elvis, Feliz, Salty, Harry and all those guys," he said. "I've got to make it. Those guys have made it, now I want to try and give myself the opportunity to make it."

OUTSTANDING Molina becomes 5th Ranger in club history to hit for the cycle Friday night

2010-07-17T12:23:00.003-05:00

had just said to my wife, the only way he hits the tripple is if he hits a home run and asks to stay at third base...Then this...

Texas Cycle Hitters

Bengie Molina, July 16, 2010 at Boston

Ian Kinsler, April 15, 2009, v. Baltimore
Gary Matthews Jr., Sept. 13, 2006, v. Detroit
Mark Teixeira, Aug. 17, 2004, v. Cleveland
Oddibe McDowell, July 23, 1985, v. Cleveland

No Thanks Cuban!

2010-07-16T16:30:00.000-05:00

Mark Cuban wants to be involved in Texas Rangers ownership, and he's offering many different options to get there.

The team will go up for auction Aug. 4, leaving the group led by Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenberg in limbo after it had initially been chosen as the winning bidder. Bankruptcy proceedings have muddied the waters and opened the process back up.

"I want to see the Rangers run," Cuban said to KTCK-AM in Dallas. "I think Chuck and Ryan deserve a lot of credit and what they're doing is a good thing, but with the way the deal has been structured, there is some risk there. And so I offered to help on a bunch of different levels so let's see what happens."

Cuban said that he will try to help get that group back on track, but if it doesn't work out, he is open to becoming part of another group trying to purchase the team.

"If you were to ask me a couple weeks ago if I was going to be involved, I would have said probably not," Cuban told the radio station. "But now with some of the court rulings, it's changed the economics of everything. ... That changes what some of the potential bidders can offer. I wanted to make sure I was at the table just in case."

That doesn't mean he'd leave Ryan and Greenberg out in the cold.

"If any group that I'm involved with did end up getting [the Rangers], we would certainly ask Nolan to be a part of it. And Chuck for that matter," Cuban told KTCK. "I'm hoping I'm more of a backstop than anything else.

"It really can be a good deal financially, but someone needs to be a backstop."

Greenberg could not be reached for comment.

This isn't Cuban's first atttempt to buy an MLB team. He put together a group trying to purchase the Cubs before the Ricketts family won the team.

Beating the Red Sox

2010-07-16T16:18:00.000-05:00

While I always love a W and beating the Red Sox is great, I can not stop thinking about the fact they are down 7 players on the DL and we scorred our runs off Wakefield. After that nothing. Still makes me a little om edge. I guess we will see what happens tonight! I can't wait!

Rangers have lingering concerns about Derek Holland's knee | Texas Rangers News | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News

2010-07-16T14:31:00.000-05:00

Right-hander Rich Harden will make two more rehab starts before being considered for reinstatement from the 15-day disabled list, and left-hander Derek Holland is seven to 10 days from going on a rehab assignment.
Harden, who threw 48 pitches over 2 1/3 innings Sunday, will start tonight for Oklahoma City and pitch again Wednesday. He is slated to throw 70 pitches tonight and 90 in his third start.
Holland's shoulder is no longer an issue after he suffered mild inflammation of the rotator cuff May 30. But there are lingering concerns about his right knee, which was injured in spring training and again last month.
Briefly: The Rangers signed their 12th-round draft pick, outfielder Josh Richmond , and assigned the former Louisville star to Class A Spokane, a short-season club. Thirty of the Rangers' 53 picks in the June draft are under contract.
Jeff Wilson

Nolan Ryan sues over Texas Rangers bid

2010-07-12T20:16:00.001-05:00

By Ben Rooney, staff reporterJuly 12, 2010: 7:03 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A group of investors led by baseball great Nolan Ryan and sports mogul Chuck Greenberg is suing the Texas Rangers for breaching an agreement to sell the team, court documents showed Monday.

The Greenberg-Ryan group, as the investors are known, announced plans in May to buy the Rangers in a bankruptcy sale valued at $575 million.

But the civil complaint filed in a Texas bankruptcy court claims that William Snyder, the court-appointed chief restructuring officer (CRO), has been soliciting new bids in violation of an Asset Purchase Agreement and is attempting to "hijack" the deal.

"The CRO was never provided with any authority to take over this Bankruptcy Case by, inter alia, soliciting new bids, modifying agreed-to bidding procedures or taking any of the actions he is now threatening to take in an attempt to hijack the proceedings," according to the documents.

The complaint says that Ryan and Greenberg engaged in "protracted" negotiations to buy the team and even raised their bid by $10 million at one point to sweeten the deal. The group wants a judge to order the Rangers to stop soliciting bids and abide by the contract.

Hicks your an twit...look at the mess you have made!

So Far So Good...Thats an Understatement!

2010-07-08T15:11:00.000-05:00

Actually, this is the best the team has been since 1996 at least in terms of number of Ws and I think they are better! I am impressed with Wash, he is making all the right moves, giving rest to players, playing everyone and getting quality from the entire team. This is the kind of season I have been waiting for. Josh has made a believer out of me, Vlad, well, I’m glad he is here and the rest of the team I love these guys!

2010-02-12T13:02:00.000-06:00

Fans at Fan Fest welcome Rangers owners’ change | Texas Rangers | Texas Rangers News an...

2010-01-31T20:24:00.000-06:00

Fans at Fan Fest welcome Rangers owners’ change | Texas Rangers | Texas Rangers News an...

It is nice to be heard!

By JEFF WILSON

jwilson@star-telegram.com

ARLINGTON — Only the desire for autographs of star players outweighed the desire to get indoors Saturday during the Texas Rangers Fan Fest.

A hearty and diehard gathering of fans braved bone-chilling temperatures Saturday and an icy wind that whipped through the concourses at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

But frosty as the conditions were, fans felt nothing but warmth for the ownership change that is about to take place with the franchise.

Fans are eagerly awaiting to see what changes will take place under the guidance of Rangers Baseball Express and its two most notable figures, Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan.

The process is under way, after a definitive agreement with Hicks Sports Group was reached last weekend, and could be completed by Opening Day.

Fans, though, don’t want to see many changes on the field. But they are hopeful that their voice will be heard as the new owners make a Rangers game a more enjoyable experience.

"They need to reach out," said Jeff Ferrand, a Dallas resident who attends between 10 and 20 games a season. "I think if you ask most of the fans, we expect it to be a refreshing change from business as usual.

"It seems like some of the fun is gone. It feels like it has turned into more of a business in the last five years."

The Rangers experienced the largest per-date attendance jump in the majors in 2009 while going 87-75. Winning will help attract casual fans, but diehards such as Ferrand and Nick Schneider of Frisco suggest they shouldn’t be taken for granted.

Schneider is a season-ticket holder, but he admits that he had started leaning toward attending fewer games had Tom Hicks remained in control of the ballclub.

"The change is going to be good," Schneider said. "The restrictions that seemed to be in place with Mr. Hicks seem like they’re going away, and I think that’s going to free up not only a lot of money but some pent-up frustrations with the fans."

Fans still enjoy Rangers Ballpark. They still enjoy hearing Chuck Morgan’s voice. The changes made last season to the out-of-town scoreboard in left field and the ribbon paneling on the first deck added to the game experience.

But a new video board is on their wish list; so is a freeze on ticket prices and more interaction with players and the front office.

The good news for fans is that Greenberg also wants to replace the giant screen that sits atop the right-field seats while keeping a Rangers game affordable for a family.

While changes are sought off the field, fans don’t want the direction the team is headed on the field to change. They believe Ryan will add stability to baseball operations, headed by general manager Jon Daniels, and allow the young core to develop.

"Chuck needs to run the fans and the Rangers, the symbol, and let Nolan and JD do the baseball," said Garland resident Lee Powell, also a season-ticket holder. "They’ve got it going. They’ve got the young kids coming. They’ve got a plan."

One fan gave credit to Hicks for putting the current front office in place, but said he fell short in other areas.

"At least he tried, bless his heart," said Rusty Cary, who makes the trip from Amarillo to attend half the home games. "He spent money. He just didn’t spend it in the right places. The best thing he’s done is getting Jon Daniels and Nolan Ryan in here."

The overwhelming theme from the fans, as cold as they were during the Rangers’ annual kickoff to a new season, was excitement about the pending change in ownership.

"I just think it’s about time," Dallas resident Adam Wallman said. "Nothing against the Hicks family. I appreciate everything they’ve done for the Rangers and the Stars, but I think it was time for some new blood."

Jeff Wilson, 817-390-7760

Riley Cooper, so long...

2010-01-27T08:38:00.000-06:00

So I got my question from my Jan 3 post answered, " Ok, here is my question, did Texas just give him 250k with no paperwork? Dose Cooper not sign something saying he will show up or give back the cash?" The answer is no he did not get any cash, he had to show up on Jan 17 to get half the money. Riley decided that he is better suited mentally for football than baseball, I totally agree, and told the Rangers "no thanks, I am playing football"

That’s 250k saved!

Carlton Fisk blasts Mark McGwire - chicagotribune.com

2010-01-21T07:18:00.001-06:00

Carlton Fisk blasts Mark McGwire - chicagotribune.com

Posted using ShareThis

CJ WILSON OFF SEASON WORKOUT

2010-01-20T17:49:00.001-06:00

• Was sent an alert on this video of eclectic pitcher C.J. Wilson's unique off-season workout. Hopefully the martial arts thing will work out better for him than it did for Kevin Millwood or Kam Loe. But even if it doesn't help him retire David Oritz, it would be awesome if he could flip a guy when he charges the mound.

Rangers just about set for spring

2010-01-20T08:39:00.000-06:00

For the most part, Daniels and his staff are through with their offseason shopping. They wouldn't mind adding a veteran catcher at the right price, and they are still keeping track of Ben Sheets. The club had someone watching Sheets' workout Tuesday, but it's unlikely that Texas has enough money to sign him.

That means it's almost time for the spring training competition to begin. Only this time, the Rangers have plenty of good candidates and very few rotation spots to fill. That's the way Daniels wants to keep it.

Colby Lewis a great fit

2010-01-20T08:38:00.000-06:00

I think this is a good move for the Rangers, signing Lewis. At 30 years old, he is well traveled and has become a dominating pitcher in Japan. There will be no needing to work out the kinks or waiting for him to adapt. I expect him to have a good showing this spring and be a contributor to the club.

Weight 230 lbs.
Height 6-4
Bats Right
Throws Right

Mid 90s fastball

Colby Lewis is back after spending two years in Japan. And general manager Jon Daniels said Lewis is in the rotation, along with Feldman and Harden.

Tommy Hunter has the inside track to another spot, leaving Derek Holland, Brandon McCarthy, Matt Harrison, Neftali Feliz and C.J. Wilson fighting for the No. 5 starting job. Daniels said he would prefer to have a lefty claim a position in the rotation, but the club will go with the five best no matter which arm they use.

But while he was overseas, Lewis discovered how to locate his pitches, showing signs of the stuff that made him the Rangers' first pick (38th overall) in the 1999 draft. Lewis added a cutter, a pitch that certainly has served Feldman and Hunter well, to his repertoire to go along with his curve, slider and changeup. His long delivery has given way to a more compact style. And he has learned how to outthink the hitter. That doesn't mean he can't still bring it. He said he hits 96 mph on the radar gun "when I feel good," but for the most part has dialed it back to make sure he hits his spots.

Lewis, 30, proved the past two seasons that he could stay healthy, eat innings and do it with an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio. He pitched 178 innings in 2008 for Hiroshima, striking out 183 and walking 27. He threw 176 innings in 2009 with 186 strikeouts and 19 walks.

Pitching still available, give Sheets a chance!

2010-01-20T08:28:00.001-06:00

Here is a list of what is out there. Mike Maddux watched Sheets throw yesterday.

Sheets, had surgery on the flexor tendon in his right elbow last February, went 86-83 with a 3.72 ERA in his first eight seasons in the Major Leagues, notching double-digit wins seven times and finishing with an ERA under 4.00 in each of his past five seasons. In '08, he went 13-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 31 starts for the Brewers

looking at a similar available pitcher,

Erik Bedard is out there, in seven seasons he went 51-41 3.71 ERA with double digit wins only twice. In '09 he went 5-3 with a 2.82 ERA in 15 starts for the Mariners.

Player Position Former Team New Team Transaction date Notes
1. Bedard, Erik SP SEA --- --- Type B free agent
2. Benson, Kris SP TEX --- --- Minor league free agent
3. Byrd, Paul SP BOS --- --- ---
4. Colon, Bartolo SP CWS --- --- Was released
5. Contreras, Jose SP COL --- --- Free agent
6. Davis, Doug SP ARI --- --- Type B free agent
7. Eaton, Adam SP COL --- --- Minor league free agent
8. Estes, Shawn SP LAD --- --- Was releeased
9. Garland, Jon SP LAD --- --- Club option declined; B free agent
10. Glavine, Tom SP ATL --- --- Was released
11. Hampton, Mike SP HOU --- --- ---
12. Hernandez, Livan SP WSH --- --- Free agent
13. Hill, Rich SP BAL --- --- Minor league free agent
14. Hill, Shawn SP SD --- --- Was released
15. Johnson, Randy SP SF --- --- Retired after 22-year career
16. Looper, Braden SP MIL --- --- Club declined option
17. Lowry, Noah SP SF --- --- Minor league free agent
18. Martinez, Pedro SP PHI --- --- ---
19. Milton, Eric SP LAD --- --- Free agent
20. Moseley, Dustin SP LAA --- --- Non-tendered
21. Padilla, Vicente SP LAD --- --- Free agent
22. Pineiro, Joel SP STL --- --- B free agent Declined arbitration
23. Ponson, Sidney SP KC --- --- Was released
24. Redding, Tim SP NYM --- --- Non-tendered
25. Reyes, Anthony SP CLE --- 12/13/09 Non-tendered;Minor contract
26. Sadowski, Ryan SP HOU --- --- Signed with Korea Lotte Giants
27. Schmidt, Jason SP LAD --- --- Free agent
28. Sheets, Ben SP MIL --- --- Did not play in 2009
29. Smoltz, John SP STL --- --- Free agent
30. Wang, Chien-Ming SP NYY --- --- Non-tendered
31. Washburn, Jarrod SP DET --- --- ---
32. Wellemeyer, Todd SP STL --- --- Free agent

One Year Players

2010-01-11T14:42:00.002-06:00

So over the last few days/weeks the Rangers have signed, Harden, Vlad and Khalil Greene. All of them to 1 year deals. As a fan of the team I love winning and anyone that can help that, great! But at what cost? I enjoy having familiar names on the field, getting to meet the players and see them play through the years. I am sure I will enjoy rooting for and watching these 3 go at it for the Rangers but It gets hard to stay just a little detached from your own team’s players knowing there only here for a year.

I love knowing Ian and Michael are out there day after day and year after year, the ever-changing team leaves something missing for me. Most blame Free agency but it is more than that it is the business baseball has become so much money, so little loyalty, the coldest part of the game, that is not the game I love. Granted I have never been in a big leaguer’s shoes and had to make a contract decision but I just have the hardest time swallowing “I have to what is best for my family” when that is uprooting your family and moving across the country for a million dollars more. I guess business is business and the game has changed so I will learn to embrace the 1-year player each and every year although he can never be my favorite for just one year.

Catcher Needed...

2010-01-08T13:28:00.002-06:00

Salty is working on the shoulder, Taylor is the guy so how about a veteran to help us along? I would say the list is shorter than most think. There just are not a large number of free agent veterean catchers out there, here take a look.

Player Age Status Old Team

Brad Ausmus 40 Free Agent LA Dodgers

Paul Bako 37 Free Agent Philadelphia

Rod Barajas 34 Free Agent (B) Toronto

Ramon Castro 33 Free Agent Chicago Sox

Jason LaRue 35 Free Agent St. Louis

Bengie Molina 35 Free Agent San Francisco

Jose Molina 34 Free Agent NY Yankees

Mike Redmond 38 Free Agent Minnesota

Shawn Riggans 29 Non-Tendered Tampa Bay

Y. Torrealba 31 Free Agent (B) Colorado

So who should it be? Bring back Rod Barajas?

Big Bad Vlad?

2010-01-08T12:27:00.002-06:00

Ok, well I was not totally sold on Vladimir Guerrero but I took a look at the numbers and I guess I have to change my mind. I know he kills us every time he's in the box cause he swings at anything remotely in the area and makes contact too, but that was not enough for me. So I started digging, better yet I looked at a direct comparison with another Ranger killer Jim Thome, Thome seems to hit homers of us at will so I took a comparative look and here is what I found. Averaged over 162 games,

            PA AB   R    H HR RBI
Thome 671 547 105 152 40    111
Vlad    685 613 104 197 36    115

            SB BB SO   BA    OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB
Thome    1 115 164 0.277 0.404 0.557 0.961 146   304
Vlad      15 60   76 0.321 0.386 0.568 0.954 145    348

Factor in Thome is almost 40 and Vlad 5 years younger Vlad is most certainly the better pick.

Who is responsible?

2010-01-03T08:58:00.001-06:00

I just read about Riley Cooper READ STORY , Rangers gave him a 250k bonus with only the expectation of him showing up to Spring training March 1. To hear Cooper tell it Texas should be talking with him more, telling him what is going on. Ok, here is my question, did Texas just give him 250k with no paperwork? dose Cooper not sign something saying he will show up or give back the cash? Did Cooper do this on his own or is there an agent involved? Is it the Ranger's responsibility to hold his hand in the process? “I must not mean that much to them,” Cooper said. Guess he forgot that Texas gave him the 250k and invited him to camp! “Hopefully they contact me. I’m not going to contact them.“I’m waiting, Texas.” Come on Riley are you kidding, you got cash and an invite to camp. What more are you wanting at this point? It is your turn to show interest and prove you are worth the Ranger's time not the other way around.

Chosen by the Texas Rangers in the 25th round, 754th overall, of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft…Started 23 games in right field and two in center field and batted .247 with 16 runs, eight walks, eight RBI and five doubles in 30 games...Had a .216 average in 12 SEC games...Had at least one hit in Florida’s first six games...Nine of his 22 hits went for extra bases...Had a pair of outfield assists and a fielding percentage of .978...Did not see action after April 10 while recovering from a knee injury...Entered the home win over UCF as a defensive replacement and singled and score in his only at-bat...Drove in two runs during the 11-4 win over Alabama with his first sac fly in the sixth and an RBI triple in the eighth...Appeared in all three games versus Tennessee, with two starts in right field, and recorded his fifth double of the season… Walked, stole a base and scored in the sixth in the 5-4 victory over Florida State...Started league action with a .444 (4-for-9) effort at Arkansas and extended his hitting streak to four games with at least one hit in each outing...Belted a solo shot in the ninth inning of game one...Delivered an RBI grounder in game two and was 1-for-3 in the finale...Played in two games during the Duquesne series and was 2-for-7 (.286)...Had a pair of hits in game three...Recorded his first career triple in a 2-for-4 performance against Duquesne...Also singled and scored in the sixth inning...Was 2-for-7 (.286) with three walks, three strikeouts and two runs during Miami’s visit…Went 3-for-7 (.429) in the sweep of Eastern Michigan, highlighted by his first career grand slam in game two...Turned a 5-4 deficit into an 8-5 advantage in the fifth inning with a towering shot that cleared the trees in left field and landed in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center parking lot...Turned in a .364 (4-for-11) performance against eighth-ranked Louisville...Doubled and scored in the finale...Had his first multiple-hit effort of the year by poking two doubles in Saturday’s 10-4 win...Singled in his initial at bat of the year off UL All-American Justin Marks…

3 of the top 20 Prospects

2009-12-23T15:08:00.001-06:00

20. Martin Perez, LHP, Rangers
Why he's here: The third Ranger on the list, Perez has a delivery and repertoire that draw comparisons to Johan Santana. That may not be fair to Perez, but as an 18-year-old, he was the best pitcher in the South Atlantic League, and his compact delivery is a near-duplicate of Santana's.

What he'll be: Well, have we mentioned Santana? There's just a long way for Perez to go from A-ball to the majors, and his workload has been handled very carefully so far.

When he arrives: Let's give Perez a couple of years to let his low-90s fastball that touches 96, plus changeup and plus curveball time to incubate. He should be on this list at least two more times.

12. Justin Smoak, 1B, Rangers

Why he's here: A switch-hitter from the South, Smoak looks a bit like Chipper Jones at the plate with his stance and mannerisms. He has a chance to hit like Jones, too, with consistency, polish and power.

What he'll be: Smoak doesn't quite have Mark Teixeira's explosive power, but he's a similar-caliber hitter and defender. He just needs to add a bit of polish and figure out how to turn on inside pitches.

When he arrives: With Hank Blalock out of the picture, the first-base job is open in Texas. While Smoak has competition, he should become the full-time first sacker by 2011.

8. Neftali Feliz, RHP, Rangers
Why he's here: Feliz has one of baseball's quickest, most electric arms, and showed it off when he first was called up to the major leagues last August.

What he'll be: The big question with Feliz is his ultimate role. Before tiring down the stretch last year, Feliz showed he could be an impact relief arm, and his feel for his secondary stuff comes and goes. The Rangers see that easy upper-90s gas, though, and see a starter.

When he arrives: Feliz is expected to break camp in 2010 in Texas' rotation. It might take a while for him to truly arrive as a starter, as was the case for flamethrowers such as Edwin Jackson and A.J. Burnett.

Walter Johnson or Nolan Ryan

2009-12-23T13:19:00.007-06:00

Someone asked me the quuestion who was better and I started thinking about it and here is what I came up with.

Because Ryan played 27 years to Johnsons 21 if you factor Ryan’s stats at 21 years (for averaging) you can get a better picture. Johnson averaged 5 more wins a year and 1 less loss with both Ryan and Johnson playing 38 games. Ryan started on average 5 more games a year as Jonson worked in relief. Johnson averaged 25 complete games per year to Ryan’s 11 as well as Johnson throwing an average of 5 shutouts to Ryan’s 3. Interestingly, Johnson has 34 career saves and Ryan has 3. Innings per year Johnson, 282 Ryan 256 and Ryan gave up fewer hits 3923 to Johnson 4913. Johnson was actually a little wilder than Ryan believe it or not, Johnson on average hit 10 batters to Ryan’s 8 not a huge difference. Of course strike outs are no contest, even if you average it out over 21 years that comes to 162 per year for Johnson and 272 for Ryan. Ryan did walk more, 133 a year to Jonson’s 65 per year average. Another interesting statistic is ERA+, this is ERA adjusted to take into account the ball parks the pitcher pitched in, Jonson 1.47 and Ryan 1.11 regular ERA, Johnson 2.17 and Ryan 3.19. In the end they both lost close to the same number of games, Jonson 279 and Ryan 292.

Take some things into consideration, pitching rotation, Intentional walks and decades. Johnson was truly dominating for his time; hitters had little chance when he was on the mound. In his prime, bring Johnson to the ballpark against today’s hitters the story would probably change. On the other hand Take Ryan in his prime and put him in Johnson’s time or today and the hitters would simply be overmatched. While Johnson brought brute force and was considered a beast in his time standing 6 foot 1 inch tall and 200 pounds today he would be average in size. Ryan at 6 foot 2 inch tall and 220 pounds would not only have mastered Johnson in his time but did master his own time even against the slightly larger players.

If you must choose then Ryan is the winner now and then.

A tale once told by an umpire was Walter Johnson pitching with two strikes on a young batter who turned and walked towards the dugout. The umpire reminded the player that he had a strike left to which the player replied, "You can call it, I didn't see the first two!"

Prospect Watch: Tanner Scheppers

2009-12-22T08:09:00.002-06:00

Darren Oliver a better way to spend that 3 million!

2009-12-21T08:31:00.001-06:00

Do this deal!

Oliver, a third-round pick by the Rangers in the 1988 First-Year Player Draft, broke in with the club in 1993. Dealt by Texas to St. Louis in July 1998, Oliver returned to Arlington for a 2000-01 stint.

He spent the last three seasons as a key middle reliever for the Angels, compiling a 15-3 record with a 3.10 ERA in 178 games. Last season, Oliver went 5-1 with a 2.71 ERA in 63 appearances.

LOWEL TRAD IS DEAD HURRAH

2009-12-20T15:44:00.001-06:00

Mike Lowell failed his physical with the rangers and the trade is dead. Now we kind find some one worth while!!!!

Wow is it spring yet?

2009-12-17T11:11:00.001-06:00

Boy, do I have spring fever...I am ready for some baseball! Listening to MLB on XM and it just gets me going...

Will see Rusty Greer, Ian Kinsler, Scott Feldman, Tommy Hunter, Derek Holland, and Chris Davis tonight at the Newburg party, if that does not get you itching for the season to start what does?

What is Lowell for?

2009-12-16T14:00:00.002-06:00

I do not understand the Rangers interest in Lowell. Are we really to think of him in the DH spot? he won't be at 3rd base, so what gives? What is Lowell for?

Today is a good day!

2009-12-16T13:31:00.000-06:00

For me and for the Texas Rangers today is a good day. Having Nolan staying with the club is fantastic for me as not only a Ryan fan but also a Ranger fan. He has served the Rangers well and the continued attitude he brings to the club can only do great things. I am very excited about the future of the Texas Rangers!