Baltimore Orioles

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

Rangers-Angels Take Baseball's Center Stage. Or at Least They Should.

​There are only two division races in baseball. And only one with playoff implications. As we play the regular season's final month the Tigers, Phillies, Brewers and Braves each have leads of at least 7 games with only 20 remaining. In the AL East the Yankees lead the Red Sox by 2.5, bu ... More >>

Michael Young Whiffs; Texas Rangers Lose

​Not saying by any means that it was an easy or routine play. As Rangers' manager Ron Washington said, the ball was "smoked." But it's a ball that third baseman Michael Young could've stopped, right?When Young did the ole on Casper Wells' hot shot in the 7th inning Wednesday night, I was remi ... More >>

Mike Adams Flops in His Rangers Debut. Even Worse Than Cliff Lee Flopped.

Welcome to Texas?​The Titanic. Waterworld. Joey Galloway as a Cowboy. The Dallas Wave. And now, finding his sheepish spot among the worst debuts in the history of ever: Mike Adams, Texas Ranger. Ugliest opening act on our baseball team since waaay back, well, actually, since Cliff Lee stunk ... More >>

Rangers: 2 Losses 2 Trades = Better Team

Newest Ranger Mike Adams​Your Rangers lost two of three in Toronto over the weekend, and came out of it a distinctly better team. How's that? Texas was handcuffed by (again) Brett Cecil Friday night and by Brandon Morrow Sunday afternoon. But more importantly, GM Jon Daniels pulled off ... More >>

Rangers Partying Like it's, well, June 2010

​Your Rangers have done what good, potentially great teams do: Beat shitty opponents. When the Rangers begin their series in Anaheim against the second-place Angels Tuesday night, it will be their first opponent with a winning record in a month. Amazing. Since playing the Brav ... More >>

Triumph Over Tragedy: Rangers Roll Into All-Star Break

​Thursday: The lowest point in the history of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Sunday: The high point of Texas' baseball season. Was sitting at a blackjack table in Las Vegas when I looked up and saw Nolan Ryan in front of a microphone on TV. As the closed caption scrolled "Josh is very di ... More >>

If the Rangers Can Beat Justin Verlander in Detroit, Watch Out

​Two more homers. Another win, this one 3-0 over the Baltimore Orioles. Three consecutive series victories. Everything, it seems, is going boffo for the Rangers. With 18 dingers, 58 runs, splendid starting pitching and an 8-1 record, they are both the talk of baseball and the best team in ... More >>

A Rangers Repeat? History Suggests Odds Are Long.

One Hit Wonders

Bronze Beltre

Rockies 11, Rangers 10: My Top 10 Observer-ations

​10. Crowd last night was around 8,000, just a couple days after a record 12,000 for Rangers-Giants. As opposed to the Royals-A's on Tuesday, when I swear there weren't 1,000 people here. Nothing like a World Series to crowd the bandwagon. 9. I've said it before and I'll say it again: N ... More >>

Ten Items Worth a Look-See: Mavs, Stars, Cowboys, Rangers and Fox News Pundit Says Michael Vick "Should Have Been Executed"

The fans gave him a break, and even President Obama applauded Vick's return to the NFL. Tucker Carlson of Fox News? Not so much.​10. Mark Teixeira says teammate Andy Pettitte's "probably leaning toward retirement," which is good news for the Texas Rangers and everyone else aiming to win the AL pen ... More >>

Do the Rangers' New Owners Have the Money and Will to Build on a Winning Formula?

2010 World Series - Rangers vs. Giants: GAME 5 Preview

Cliff Lee vs. Tim Lincecum: Do or Dead. Nolan Ryan has seven no-hitters. Fergie Jenkins is a Hall of Famer who produced a 25-win season in Arlington. Kenny Rogers hurled a perfect game at Rangers Ballpark. But if I could pick any pitcher to be on the mound for the Texas Rangers in an eli ... More >>

Colby Lewis: Another One of JD's Genius Moves

Sam MertenJon Daniels​Back on July 11, I spent a couple innings with Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels inside a luxury suite at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington as the team finished a lousy four-game series with the Baltimore Orioles. His team would lose that day and limped into the All-S ... More >>

Nolan Ryan's Latest Rangers' Prediction: "I'll Take the World Series in Seven."

Photos by Sam MertenNolan Ryan bites his lip after predicting that the Rangers will win the franchise's first World Series Championship this year.​Team president Nolan Ryan predicted a World Series victory for the Texas Rangers during a rally held this afternoon at the home plate gate outside ... More >>

Can Neftali Feliz Save Your Texas Rangers?

​He's converted 31 of 34 save chances. He struck out the side in Sunday's important 6-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. He's even gone to the dominating dreadlocks wrapped in a bandana. But when push comes to shove and the Texas Rangers need a crucial inning, do we trust Neftali ... More >>

The Texas Rangers Thrive while Owner Tom Hicks' Sports Empire Crumbles.

Okay Cliff Lee, Show Us Your Stuff

​The Texas Rangers have a five-game lead in the American League West. Tonight they begin a four-game series with the second-place Anaheim Angels in Arlington. (And over the next 11 days they'll face the Angels seven times. How the West was won, anyone?) In other words, time for new pitching a ... More >>

Whitt's End: 7.9.10

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Hope last night doesn't come back to haunt the Texas Rangers down the road. Despite leading 4-0 with undefeated pitcher Tommy Hunter on the mound in Arlington, the Rangers imploded late and lost t ... More >>

It's All In The Timing

Are the Texas Rangers Good Enough to Dare Get Better?

​Let's don't talk too loud - might wake them up - but your Texas Rangers are suddenly 5.5 games ahead of the Anaheim Angels in the American League West. Another good start by Colby Lewis, another pivotal hit by Michael Young, another save by Neftali Feliz and, presto, a 4-3 win over ... More >>

As Rangers Look to Add Another Game to Division Lead Tonight, a Reminder of the Architect of This Surprising Bunch

Photos by Sam MertenAll-Stars Josh Hamilton and Elvis Andrus​As Richie mentions in this week's paper version of Unfair Park, the Texas Rangers could be headed toward their winningest season in franchise history, as they nabbed their 50th win of the season last night and increased their lead to ... More >>

The Top 10 Most Underrated Players in the History of Dallas-Fort Worth

​Michael Young is crushing the ball. That's nothing new. He's also playing flawlessly in the field. Again, nothing new. And last night he sparked a Texas Rangers' 4-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles with first his bat, then his hustle. Want something else not so new? We underappreciate him ... More >>

Moves by Rangers at Winter Meetings Has Our Baseball Weenie Harden-ing

Meet the Rangers' new ace: Rich Harden​Despite the financial restraints stemming from the team's unresolved ownership situation, Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels skillfully inked the most dominant free-agent starter at this week's Winter Meetings in Indianapolis without adding payroll ... More >>

American Baseball, the European Way

​Even if European soccer owner Tom Hicks convinced Major League Baseball to inject the same screwy tables that govern soccer into America's pasttime your Texas Rangers wouldn't be a playoff team. But, alas, they wouldn't be relegated, either. If baseball were run according to European soccer ... More >>

The Texas Rangers and Their Holland Tunnel

Now isn't the time for potential. It's the time for production. Right?​The Rangers' past is sucky and their future is murky. There are frightening skeletons in the closet and financial potholes down the road. The present, however, smells delicious. That's why Derek Holland should be taken o ... More >>

Did Mike Jacobs Save Ron Washington's Job?

Because the Kansas City Royals couldn't catch the ball, the Texas Rangers hung on to their manager. For now. After a 3-0 start that feels like months ago, the Rangers are 5-7. Not good, especially considering nine of those 12 have been at home and half against the lowly Orioles and Royals. ... More >>

One Kosher Statistic About Ian Kinsler's Hitting for the Cycle We'd Hate to Pass Over

Now, Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler doesn't necessarily identify himself as Jewish -- his dad is, his mom ain't, and the guy was never bar mitzvahed. Though, as he told ESPN.com last August, he knows he's beloved in the Jewish community: "If you have any kind of Jewish ancestry attached to ... More >>

The Rangers Are Losing Games, but Not Tom Hicks. So Sorry.

I can think of where Tom Hicks wasted $65 million.Just when some of you - okay, and most of me - blamed the Texas Rangers' weekend sweep in Detroit on the lack of a certain rosy-hued sartorial splendor, we've got a new scapegoat. The Rangers wore red again last night. But they also hande ... More >>

Hatin' On Pinstripes

See Damn Yankees in Fort Worth

Tom Hicks Choose Arlington Over Anfield. Rangers Fans ... Um ... Rejoice?

Texas Rangers '08 Schedule Released -- We'll Be In Last By April 7!

Rangers: The Texas Treadmills

Your Rangers yet again perfect the art of going nowhere fast

Balls of Fury

30-3: Only the Eighth-Greatest Beatdown Ever?

Play It Again, Sammy

Can the Rangers' oldest rookie leave his diva days behind and deliver?

Where Did You Go, Raffy Palmeiro?

Rained Out

No refunds, Rangers fans, even though the dark clouds of the A-Rod trade threaten the entire season

Enough to Make You Sick

In the struggle for a shrinking pot of money from asbestos litigation, the sickest victims are getting nickels and dimes while lawyers get their millions

Ain't Enough

Terry Allen on everything, including baseball, passion and the art of epic lying

Unlucky Luis

All-Star Tuesday should have been a great one for Rangers second baseman Alicea

Texas ex

Former Rangers manager Whitey Herzog loves baseball enough to hate it

A bush league of their own

Long before the Texas Rangers, major-league baseball was played in Dallas by a minor-league team called the Dallas Eagles

Senor baseball

Luis Mayoral's job with the Rangers isn't all brown and white

Here's the pitch

The Texas Rangers can't buy a win unless you pay up

Damned Rangers

The Texas Rangers better win the pennant this year, if only to atone for subjecting fans to two decades of baseball hell. Mike Shropshire chronicles the team's cursed early years in an exclusive Observer excerpt.