AL West

Take Me Out to the Brisket: An Englishman on BBQ Sandwiches at Rangers Ballpark

Here's something -- I am a very big fan of baseball. I can't explain why. I guess it's like really fast cricket. Anyway, I used to watch it late at night on TV back in the U.K. quite obsessively. It's the only American sport I've ever managed to get on board with, American football being poorly name ... More >>

A Sandy Hook Parent Will Throw Out the First Pitch at Tomorrow's Rangers Home Opener

Emilie Parker, a tow-headed and ever-smiling 6-year-old, was gunned down on December 14 along with 19 of her classmates at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Her parents, Robbie and Alyssa Parker, have coped with her death by sharing their memories of her in the media and on Facebook. She was a vibrant g ... More >>

Divorcing Josh Hamilton Was Exactly What the Rangers Needed to Do

Shortly after Rangers general manager Jon Daniels swapped erratic right-hander Edinson Volquez and reliever Danny Herrera for Josh Hamilton five years ago, I placed seemingly unrealistic expectations on the troubled outfielder. "He has the potential to be the best center fielder in Rangers' history ... More >>

Watch Thieves Smash Truck Through Glass Door, Steal Absurd Amount of Rangers Merchandise

The video above was taken at about 2:30 a.m. on Decenber 1 from inside the Texas Rangers store on McKinney Avenue. If you'll watch carefully -- or really if you just keep your eyes open -- you'll see the taillights of a white Ford pickup creep slowly backward, then smash through the glass door. Two ... More >>

Five Key Holes the Rangers Need to Fill This Winter, and How They Should Fill Them

Just a few days after the 2012 MLB season kicked off in Japan, one of the elite players scheduled to become a free agent in the coming offseason took himself off the market. The Giants enticed Matt Cain to stay in San Francisco, signing him to a six-year, $127.5 million contract extension -- the mos ... More >>

A Rangers-A's Open Thread, Because You Guys Aren't Getting Any Work Done Anyway

The good news: Meaningful day-time baseball. The bad news: It comes about a week too soon. The Rangers have one more crack at Oakland's swinging (and walking) A's this afternoon. It's win-and-they're-in, lose-and-they're-kind-of-in. Since workplace productivity will be in the tank anyway, we figu ... More >>

Time For Ron Washington to Stop Shilling For Ace Cash Express

If you watch a Rangers game on TV for more than about five minutes, you're bound to encounter manager Ron Washington telling you wonderful things about Ace Cash Express. If you can ignore the glare from Washington's shiny pate -- he often appears sans baseball cap, even though he is a man who benefi ... More >>

Big Thanks To Minnesota

Why (and How) the Rangers Should Go All In as the Trade Deadline Looms

What a week for Your Texas Rangers. Nolan Ryan and Ron Washington took turns publicly ripping Josh Hamilton for the alarming lack of discipline he's displayed at the plate, increasing the likelihood that he'll be headed elsewhere this offseason. Fans booed the slumping slugger at home for the firs ... More >>

A Texas Rangers Midseason Report: It's Time to Go All In

With the baseball season at the symbolic halfway point, we asked former Unfair Parker Sam Merten to root around in his beard and see if he could come up with anything to say. He obliged ... and obliged ... and ... Sports are unpredictable. That's why we watch. And there's no greater evidence than t ... More >>

Tigers by the Tail

Best Part About the Rangers Inking Roy Oswalt? Low Expectations and a Big Upside.

Heading into Tuesday night's 10-3 ass-kicking by the Seattle Mariners, the Rangers and their fans had very little to complain about the 2012 season. Name an offensive stat -- batting average, runs scored, hits, home runs, total bases, on-base-plus-slugging percentage (my personal fave) -- and the Ra ... More >>

Eric Nadel is a Rangers Hall of Famer

The Texas Rangers just confirmed what everybody already knew: Eric Nadel is a bad ass.The team announced at a press conference this afternoon that the longtime radio broadcaster, the voice that has narrated, if not propelled, its climb into Major League Baseball's upper ranks, is the 2012 inductee i ... More >>

An Excuse For Hotdogs

So Long, Pudge Rodriguez

While the Mavs stare bleakly into James Harden's beard and the Cowboys kick tires ahead of Thursday's draft, the local sports world takes a minute to look longingly in reverse today, over the long, remarkable career of Pudge Rodriguez, arguably the best catcher of all time. (And what is baseball goo ... More >>

Yu Darvish's Deb-Yu: Five Observations of Last Night's Game from a Mariners Blogger

We asked Seattle-based sports blogger and A.L. West obsessive Brian Elsner to review Yu Darvish's Major League debut from a division foe's perspective. These are his thoughts. 1. Darvish Needs to Rely on All Those Other Pitches Everyone raves about the number of pitches Darvish can throw; I've hear ... More >>

Happy Opening Day. Let's Predict Some Stuff.

Oh, it's a Good Friday alright. Maybe the best Friday, if you happen to have a job that allows you escape the cubical farm and head to the nearest TV-and-frosty-beer-equipped bar with your fellow farmers. (For bar suggestions, mosey here.) Going to the game? Well, then, it's an Even Better Friday. ... More >>

What the Ballpark in Arlington Will Look Like When the Texas Rangers Return to the Field

Back in November the Texas Rangers invited media folk out to the Ballpark in Arlington for a sneak peek at $11.5 million worth of renovations being made out in Vandergriff Plaza, where, among other things, the team's adding a private-party zone, retooling the kids' area and building a new bar. Said ... More >>

To Promote New Play About '66 Cowboys and Sportswriters, Mike Shropshire Tells All

​As I've noted a few times, Mike Shropshire's Seasons in Hell, about the "worst team in baseball history" (the '73-'75 Texas Rangers), is my favorite sports book; probably has something to do with being raised on the '73-'75 Texas Rangers. Anyway.On a very related note, a Friend of Unfair Park sen ... More >>

You Can Always Get What Yu Wants: Texas Rangers and Darvish Agree to Six-Year Deal

​With a 4 p.m. deadline on the horizon, T.R. Sullivan wasn't hopeful at daybreak: "The word Wednesday morning was that the Rangers' optimism has waned a bit." Sources have been saying in recent days that Japanese pitching sensation and magazine cover boy Yu Darvish wanted a five-year deal, the Tex ... More >>

If Signing Yu Darvish and Prince Fielder Are Mutually Exclusive, The Texas Rangers Might Be Better Off If Darvish Returns to Japan

As Wednesday's 4 p.m. deadline nears in the negotiations between the Texas Rangers and Yu Darvish, the most significant hang-up is reportedly the 25-year-old's request for a five-year contract and the team's preference for a six-year deal, according to Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan. Understandably, Dar ... More >>

Former Rangers Prez Mike Stone Talks About Helping to Save the Fort Worth Cats

You can buy this 1953 Cats-Oilers game program for a mere $38.​Longtime Friends of Unfair Park will recall: In early 2009, United League Baseball co-founders John Bryant (yes, that John Bryant) and Byron Pierce said that come time for first pitch 2010, they would have a minor-league ballclub on th ... More >>

Are Yu Kidding Me? The Texas Rangers Are About to Open the Bank Vault For Darvish.

​In winning the well-publicized bidding for Yu Darvish shortly after 10 Monday night, the Texas Rangers have positioned themselves to sign the famous Japanese hurler to one of the riskiest contracts in baseball history. And unless the 25-year-old right-hander immediately establishes himself among ... More >>

How Will the Texas Rangers Celebrate 40 Years in Arlington? With Lots of Throwin' Back.

​Since every Cowboys game is a Game 6 these days, it's time to look to the 2012 baseball season, when Your Texas Rangers will celebrate 40 years in Arlington. And for those of us who've been going to games since first pitch at Arlington Stadium (thanks, Dad), today's announcement is full of all ki ... More >>

Hell of a Day to Be a Texas Rangers Fan as Angels Snap up Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson

​What you see at right is the artwork currently decorating the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's website: side-by-side pics of Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson, both of whom are now Angels. The now-former Cardinal's deal is for 10 years and worth between $250 and $260 million, and is said to include a ... More >>

Exploring Texas Rangers' Options as Wheelin' and Dealin' Begins at Hilton Anatole

Photo by Sam MertenThe scene yesterday afternoon in the lobby of the Hilton Anatole.​Likely bracing for the departure of free-agent hurler C.J. Wilson, the Texas Rangers have already inked former Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan to a two-year, $14.5 million contract and announced Neftali Feli ... More >>

After Club Signs Nathan, Moves Neffy to Rotation, Rangers Offer Wilson Arbitration

​My bad. Been meaning to get back in here and post something, anything, of note, and there's been plenty in recent days. And as Josh's Broken Groin notes, it's been way too long. So then, to today's Breaking, or Broken, Rangers News: The club has offered salary arbitration for next season to C.J. ... More >>

Breaking Down the Texas Rangers Offseason Plans in the Wake of Coming So Close

Photos courtesy Texas RangersNo need to place all of the blame on Nellie. There are plenty of other folks at fault for losing the World Series.​No matter how hard you try to find a scapegoat, the story of the 2011 World Series doesn't have a chapter about its version of Bill Buckner, nor shoul ... More >>

This Week in "Dewey Defeats Truman," FOX4

​I didn't sleep a wink last night -- kept replaying over and over the myriad mistakes made by Ron Washington and the Texas Rangers last night, twice one strike away from Winning It All. They're recounted below, blow by painful blow; how Sam gets it up for tonight's Do-or-Die preview and open threa ... More >>

Rangers Radio Great Eric Nadel Knows How You Feel. But: "Time For an Attitude Change."

​Last night, during the 10th inning of Game 6, Steve Busby handed the mic to his Rangers broadcast partner -- Eric Nadel, Frick Award finalist and a man whose voice has gotten us through countless seasons in hell. Buzz wanted to make sure Eric had the opportunity to call the final out of the game, ... More >>

Final Gut Check: Rangers-Cardinals World Series Game 7 Preview and Open Thread

St. Louis CardinalsTrying to forget this happened won't be easy for Texas, but they have to find a way if they want to salvage the championship.​As I've written before, I fell in love with the game of baseball in 1986 -- the first year I watched every inning of the World Series. Although I ha ... More >>

Guts, Not Gaffes Give Texas an Opportunity for the Kill Shot: Rangers-St. Louis Cardinals World Series Game 6 Preview and Open Thread

Texas RangersMike Napoli celebrates his game-winning double in the eighth inning of Game 5.​The intellect of one of the best managers and greatest players in baseball history short-circuited at the worst possible times for the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5 of the World Series, but Monday night ... More >>

Leaving on a High Note: Rangers-Cardinals World Series Game 5 Preview and Open Thread

Texas RangersSouthpaw Derek Holland exits last night's masterpiece in style -- something C.J. Wilson and the Texas Rangers hope to emulate tonight.​I expected Derek Holland to finally realize his potential as a top-of-the-rotation arm in the American League Championship Series. That, of course ... More >>

Forgetting About Last Night and Entering Must-Win Mode: Texas Rangers-St. Louis Cardinals World Series Game 4 Preview and Open Thread

St. Louis CardinalsAlbert Pujols joined Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson as the only players to hit three home runs in a World Series game. He also became the third player to have six RBI and the second player to have five hits in a World Series game. Oh, and he set a record for total bases as well with ... More >>

Stealing the Mojo: Rangers-Cardinals World Series Game 3 Preview and Open Thread

Texas RangersIan Kinsler completes the best defensive play I've seen in my 25 years watching the Fall Classic -- a diving stop by Elvis Andrus and flip to Kinsler with his glove to end the fifth inning of Game 2. Just spectacular athleticism displayed by Andrus.​If you've read my piece about S ... More >>

If Nothing Else, the Rangers Need to Win World Series Just to Spruce Up Cooperstown Exhibit

​The video you'll find after the jump was posted two days ago by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. So far it's been viewed 60 times. In it, John O'Dell, curator of history and research, provides a brief tour of Rangers artifacts in the Hall -- brief, because t ... More >>

Refusing to Let Championship Dreams Wash Away: Texas Rangers-St. Louis Cardinals World Series Game 2 Preview and Open Thread

Texas Rangers​Sometimes the worst managerial moves are the ones that weren't made, but the focus tends to be on the ones that were. The vast majority of media and fans across the country agree that Tony La Russa out-managed Ron Washington in Game 1 of the World Series last night, which is har ... More >>

In the World Series Match-Up Between the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals, Don't Dismiss the Impact of Tony La Russa

St. Louis CardinalsTony La Russa on the field at Busch Stadium yesterday afternoon.​For whatever reason, my relationship with baseball went from casual to deeply committed bordering on obsessive during the 1986 baseball season. Like most kids growing up in North Texas, my father taught me to l ... More >>

Albert Pujols Better Than Joltin' Joe? Say It Ain't So!: Texas Rangers-St. Louis Cardinals World Series Preview and Game 1 Open Thread

Texas RangersGives you that warm, fuzzy feeling inside, doesn't it?​It's finally here. Pinch yourself. Your Texas Rangers are back in the World Series, and this time feels much different than last year's playoff run. There's a confidence flowing through my body that just wasn't there before, a ... More >>

The Power of Plan B: Texas Rangers-Detroit Tigers ALCS Game 6 Preview and Open Thread

​Not so long ago, Minnesota Twins backstop Joe Mauer was the consensus pick as baseball's best catcher. But the 2009 American League MVP, four-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner and .323 career hitter had another injury-plagued season in 2011 (missing significant time for "leg weaknes ... More >>

Memo to Ron Washington: It's the, Um, Postseason, Just In Case You Forgot

Photos by Sam MertenPerhaps more than any of his players, Ron Washington needs to break out of his postseason slump.​After the Texas Rangers fired Buck Showalter following the 2006 season, general manager Jon Daniels interviewed five candidates. Of course, there was Ron Washington, a longtime ... More >>

Forever Young: Texas Rangers-Detroit Tigers ALCS Game 4 Preview and Open Thread

Photo by Sam MertenElvis Andrus and a beardless Michael Young haven't hit their strides yet at the plate, but that's about to change. ​As depressing as it was, I believe Game 3 of the American League Championship Series was an anomaly, much like Game 1 of the ALDS. Nothing seemed right. And w ... More >>

Shark-Infested Waters: Texas Rangers-Detroit Tigers ALCS Game 3 Preview and Open Thread

via​Wow. What an amazing start to the American League Championship Series for Your Texas Rangers. Two close games. Two incredible wins. Now Detroit has to win four of the next five games to get back to the World Series for the first time since they fell to St. Louis in 2006. Ain't gonna hap ... More >>

Fear the 'Stache: Texas Rangers-Detroit Tigers ALCS Game 2 Preview and Open Thread

Back in February 2009, I penned a cover story about the Texas Rangers' new philosophy of relying on kiddos from their farm system instead of throwing big money at the likes of Alex Rodriguez, Chan Ho Park and Kevin Millwood. The youth movement was in full swing that spring as Elvis Andrus took over ... More >>

Verlander, Smerlander: ALCS Preview and Rangers-Tigers Game 1 Open Thread

[Editor's note: At the request of a few regulars, we're going with a rare weekend-night open thread to celebrate the Rangers' second straight appearance in the American League Championship Series. Will we do this again tomorrow? Hard to say. Let's see how tonight goes. I'll be in and out, but tonigh ... More >>

Counting Down the Many Highlights of This Rangers Season Before First Pitch of the ALDS

Doesn't seem like that long ago we were just here: trying to work and watch a Rangers post-season game. Today's extended dance remix of the 2011 major league season starts at 4:07 this afternoon at the Ballpark in Arlington, with Texas, for the first time ever, facing Rays rookie Matt Moore, who has ... More >>

Begin 2011's Post-Season Play By Reliving Texas Rangers' 2010 World Series Run in MLB Spot

​Thanks to my 8-year-old son's intense but not at all unpleasant love affair with baseball, I've spent way too many evenings in recent days glued to the MLB Network watching Tampa Bay and/or Boston slug it out to see which team lands the American League wild-card spot. Because if the Rangers beat ... More >>

Whitt's End: 9.23.11

​Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Doomsday scenario for Monday Night Football: Quarterback Jon Kitna. Running back DeMarco Murray. Receivers Kevin Ogletree, Jesse Holley and Dwayne Harris. Center Kevin Kowalski. Left guard ... More >>

Moneyball: The Formulas Work

Baseball story blends stats with heart.

Michael Young: Half Man, Half Hitting Machine

Though slumps and stardom, all Michael Young does is hit.