Chris Davis (Baseball)

Why Can't the Texas Rangers Always Play the Kansas City Royals?

Arm-Chair Managing in the Hours Before Ron Washington's Fired

Human Rain Delay: Part Deux

Your Rangers Officially Don’t Suck

Past the Halfway Mark, the Rangers Look Like Contenders and Pretenders

The Worst Thing Ever Seen at a Texas Rangers Game, Ever

10 Steps to Fixing Your Texas Rangers

Strangers 9, Indians 1

1-0!Seriously, who are these guys decked out in red? *The starting pitcher (Kevin Millwood) throws six shutout innings, the first Ranger to do so since Charlie Hough in 1989. *The 20-year-old shortstop (Elvis Andrus) gets a hit in his first at-bat and ranges on the first-base side of second, ... More >>

After a Dynamic Season Opener, Rangers Fans are Seeing Red

The Rangers' debut was shockingly accessorized by pitching, defense and, don't look now, relevance.

Movin' On Up

Frisco bleeds talent in Arlington's direction

Rangers Win Again; Chris Davis Finally Loses

Who will we see in Arlington next: Him or Justin Smoak?Let's play three strikes with your Texas Rangers. Your first-place Texas Rangers. Yes, I am surprised. And impressed. Steeeriiiike One - Chris Davis demoted. Davis is a good guy with a great glove, but the Rangers could afford to be patie ... More >>

Glass Halfway Full? Or Empty?

Well, that sucked.With one All-Star back in the lineup and another shoulda-been All-Star on the mound, the Texas Rangers began their crucial three-game series in Anaheim last night by promptly taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The next time there was good news for Josh Hamilto ... More >>

Rangers Win Game, Lose Potential Owner?

Getting cold feet?Talked yesterday afternoon to David McDavid , he of the best odds to buy the Texas Rangers from Tom Hicks. Nothing definitive, but the auto tycoon has cooled slightly on the idea of owning our baseball team to the point where he said he is - for now - "leaning against i ... More >>

Whitt's End: 8.7.09

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Sunday is the NFL's annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. More importantly, it's the induction of my first Dallas Cowboys hero - Bob Hayes. I'll be watching. For one thing, to see if Luci ... More >>

Pudge Over Potential

​I realize Pudge Rodriguez was brought here with the understanding he'd be a backup. But less than a week into his second coming, scuh-roo that! If starting Pudge throughout the three-game series against the Yankees that starts tonight in New York hurts Taylor Teagarden's wittle feewings or m ... More >>

Rangers 10, Yankees 9. Frank(ie)ly, That Was Too Close For Comfort.

​Random thoughts after a roller-coaster, thrilling, frustrating, sweat-stained best game of the Rangers' season: *From 0-4 to 2-4 to 7-4 to 7-5 to 10-5 to 10-9, seriously, what a damn entertaining baseball game. *Elvis Andrus turns 21 today. His baseball IQ turns 219. *I watched the game ... More >>

Some Random, Frustrated Thoughts on Your Texas Rangers

Yeah, he had some help. But he blew it.​*Catching and throwing the ball has rarely been a problem this season, but yesterday's 5-3 loss was hideously reminiscent of years gone by. First off, I blame C.J. Wilson. The worst thing you can do when protecting a 1-run lead is walk the l ... More >>

Batter Up

Yeah, he had some help. But he blew it.​*Catching and throwing the ball has rarely been a problem this season, but yesterday's 5-3 loss was hideously reminiscent of years gone by. First off, I blame C.J. Wilson. The worst thing you can do when protecting a 1-run lead is walk the l ... More >>

Texas Rangers: The Hits Keep a Comin'

Neftali Feliz likes him. So should you.​I have no idea who or what Omega El Fuerte is. But if it's good enough for Texas Rangers' fireballin' phenom Neftali Feliz, it's good enough for me. When the ridiculous rookie enters a game over the weekend in a crucial series against the Seattle Mari ... More >>

Whitt's End: 10.09.09

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Ho hum, The Ticket's dynasty rolls on as one of the most dominant entities in sports. In September's Arbitron PPM ratings - I hear, by the way, that only 1,400 meters are used to garner these numb ... More >>

The Texas Rangers May Trade Kevin Millwood, But They're Giving Away Holiday Cheer

Danny FulgencioCraig Gentry was called up to the bigs in September, and now he's spreading major-league cheer at Children's.​Our Danny Fulgencio trailed some of Your Texas Rangers -- among them, Chris Davis, David Murphy, Ian Kinsler, Derek Holland and new hitting coach Clint Hurdle -- as they mad ... More >>

Your Texas Rangers Have Money! And Vladimir Guerrero!!

​If you can't beat 'em, sign 'em? For years Vladimir Guerrero tormented the Texas Rangers. Now, in a sign that new owner Chuck Greenberg has money and moxy and motivation, the Rangers will this week sign the free-agent slugger to a one-year contract. While Tom Hicks, Jr. has some fun wit ... More >>

Tortured by His Bat for a Decade, Texas Finally Signs Rangers-Killer Vladimir Guerrero

​If you can't beat 'em, sign 'em? For years Vladimir Guerrero tormented the Texas Rangers. Now, in a sign that new owner Chuck Greenberg has money and moxy and motivation, the Rangers will this week sign the free-agent slugger to a one-year contract. While Tom Hicks, Jr. has some fun wit ... More >>

Texas Rangers About to Take the First Steps of a Championship Journey

​This is no longer the year before the year. This, finally, is the year. After Neal McCoy's National Anthem and the obligatory military flyover and Roger Staubach's ceremonial first pitch, Texas Rangers' starter Scott Feldman will at 1:07 p.m. officially launch against the Toronto Blue Jays&n ... More >>

Texas Rangers: It Could Be Worse?

​You look at the Rangers' 9-11 start through 20 games and mumble "meh", same old Rangers. Right? But, believe it or not, this could be a lot worse. Consider: *Supposed ace Rich Harden is yet to make a quality start, issuing 18 walks in 17 innings. *Taylor Teagarden is 1 for 27. *Chris Da ... More >>

Whitt's End: 4.30.10

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Dearly beloved, we have gathered here today to pay our last respects to the 2010 Dallas Mavericks. In life, they were an entertaining bunch. Fun. Fast. Full of energy and entertainment. But i ... More >>

Whitt's End: 5.7.10

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Newy Scruggs is on vacation next week from 105.3 The Fan, which means two things: 1. I'll miss my pawdnuh. 2. At least one of the days I'll be joined by a very special, very familiar mys ... More >>

Texas Rangers: Less Fireworks, More Fun?

​And now, for two facts that have never ever gone together in the past: 1. The Texas Rangers are 10th in the American League (out of 14 teams) in home runs. 2. The Texas Rangers have a winning record. I know. Weird. When the Rangers beat the woeful Kansas City Royals on Sunday, they did it wi ... More >>

Texas Rangers: Fool's Gold or Gritty Perseverance?

​While I was gone the Texas Rangers, well, um, let's face it ... they crumbled. Starters not making it past the fifth inning. Bullpen overworked. Bottom third of the order about as effective as BP's oil spill plans G, H and I. Four consecutive losses. Division lead kaput. Not good. I keep app ... More >>

The Texas Rangers Are Putting Together a Winning, Weird Season

Where would the Rangers be without Colby Lewis? And others.​I was at Texas Rangers' spring training out in Surprise, Arizona the day they signed journeyman catcher Matt Treanor. Honestly, it registered a .5 on my 1-10 scale. The Rangers had their catchers of the future in Jarrod Saltalamacc ... More >>

Texas Rangers: More Buck For Their Bang

​Strangely successful season for your Rangers so far. In spring training manager Ron Washington admitted to using cocaine. Their catching tandem is Matt Treanor-Max Ramirez, instead of the planned Jarrod Saltalamacchia-Taylor Teagarden. Chris Davis is gone, and forgotten? Their elite closer ... More >>

Your Texas Rangers, With Its Weird Winning Record Into July, Is Hardly The Baseball Team We Recognize.

​Strangely successful season for your Rangers so far. In spring training manager Ron Washington admitted to using cocaine. Their catching tandem is Matt Treanor-Max Ramirez, instead of the planned Jarrod Saltalamacchia-Taylor Teagarden. Chris Davis is gone, and forgotten? Their elite closer ... More >>

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 >>

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 >>

Rangers 3, Yankees 0: As Good As it Gets

​Same as we shouldn't get too low with the Dallas Cowboys, let's not get too high with the Texas Rangers. Because, well ... oh eff it. You know what, let's do get high. I know the Rangers didn't face C.C. Sabathia or Andy Pettite, but sweeping the New York Yankees in September is about as goo ... More >>

Whitt's End: 9.24.10

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Times like these make me regret that I stopped referring to Wade Phillips as "Stumbledoofus." After missing two crucial field goals in two weeks, David Buehler should be on a short leash and a l ... More >>

The Texas Rangers' Magic Number: ZERO!!!

​Usually by the time we start feeling fall, your Texas Rangers have long since raised the white flag. But I'll be damned, tonight in Arlington they're going to raise a championship banner. Cue Prince, it is indeed time to party like it's 1999. When Nelson Cruz nabbed a lazy fly ball to s ... More >>

Werth It? Doing the Rangers' Math as Fat Contracts Swirl Around MLB Winter Meetings.

Photos by Sam MertenDamn. If Jayson Werth commands a seven-year, $126 million deal, how much is this guy worth?​Prior to the beginning of baseball's winter meetings yesterday at Walt Disney World Resort, a flurry of activity resulted in big-name players dealt and fat contracts inked. Predictab ... More >>

Texas Rangers Spring Training: My Top 10 Observer-ations

​10. Pitchers and catchers report today. Means backyard pool parties and bikinis can't be far behind. 9. Whatever happens the first week of camp, it can't be more shocking than a year ago when manager Ron Washington announced that he had snorted cocaine the previous season. 8. Last year' ... More >>

It's Never Too Early For Spring Training Knee-Jerk Reactions

Photo by Sam MertenIan Kinsler could be gearing up for a career year.​You hear it every year around this time: Spring training stats are meaningless. And, sure, while that can be true for guys like Doug Deeds -- the 29-year-old career minor leaguer who's hitting .357 with two homers and four RBI f ... More >>

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 >>

Rangers Re-Do: Frankie Francisco for Mike Napoli

​Mike Napoli may help the Texas Rangers win some games this season, but right now he's a big pain in the butt. How's that? Because think of the team's landscape had general manager Jon Daniels not acquired Napoli from the Toronto Blue Jays on January 25 for reliever Frankie Francisco. If tha ... More >>

Josh Hamilton Breaks His Arm: My Top 10 Observer-ations

Uh-oh.​10. With Josh Hamilton it's always when, not if. And now you know why a lot of us were cringing and complaining when we saw him sliding on the rain-delay tarp in Baltimore last Friday night. He's one of the best players in baseball, but also one of the most injury-prone. 9. And do I ... More >>

Texas Rangers Win a Series. But Is John Rhadigan Winning?

​As I've said before, new Rangers' TV play-by-play voice John Rhadigan is one of the nicest people I've ever met. Love him as a friend. Be honored to have him as a neighbor. Or a role model. Whatever. Great dude. But as the voice of my baseball? Um, let's see how he's doing 1/4th into his fir ... More >>

Mitch Moreland Closes the Case at Rangers' 1st Base

​First place, thanks to 1st base. With his 11th-inning homer to beat the looming storm last night in Arlington, Mitch Moreland not only provided a walk-off win over the Houston Astros but also further cemented our confidence that he's the Rangers' 1st baseman of the present, and the futu ... 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 >>

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 >>

Cruz-ing to Another World Series: Rangers-Tigers ALCS Game 5 Preview and Open Thread

Photos by Sam MertenNelson Cruz giving me a free ticket to the gun show last year.As the trade deadline approached in July 2006, it seemed inevitable that Jon Daniels would make a bold move to bolster a mediocre offense in his first season as general manager. He targeted the best hitter on the mar ... More >>