Darren Oliver

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

Time For Y'all to Admit It: C.J. Wilson is a Bona Fide Ace

​No doubt Kenny Rogers is the Rangers' best all-time left-handed pitcher. But is C.J. Wilson already No. 2? He further helped his cause Tuesday night in Tampa, somehow resisting his stupid, "instinctive" urge to bare-hand comebackers long enough to shut out the Rays in a complete-game, 8-0 v ... More >>

The Rangers Keep Walking Off to Hold Off the Angels

​Driving back from San Antonio last night I was re-introduced to the Rangers. Hello, drama! After overcoming deficits of 7-2 and 3-0 in the 8th inning in wins over the Indians last weekend, the Rangers -- thanks to a bad, postpartum outing by Alexi Ogando -- spotted the lowly Mariners a 6-3 l ... More >>

It's Never Too Early For Playoff Baseball

Josh Hamilton just before he drove in Ian Kinsler to win last night's ballgame​Took the boy to the ballpark last night, where, Chuck Morgan told us, we were joined by a little more than 25,000 others -- not bad for a 193-degree start-timer against the lowly Mariners, but not great either. Not now, ... More >>

And Then ... There Was Baseball. Rangers, Your Move.

Yorvit Torrealba and the Rangers should get healthy against baseball's worst Astros ​When we last left our Rangers they and pitcher Derek Holland were clubbed around in New York by the Yankees. Not, no last Wednesday. Way back on April 16.It was hours after the Rangers' 5-2 loss in the ... More >>

Whitt's End: 5.20.11

​ Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Mavs got outplayed last night, plain and simple. The Rangers' loss to the Royals was more painful. Texas was one pitch from winning until .230-hitting Mike Aviles capped a gutsy 11-pitch at ... 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 >>

While the Bullpen Further Implodes and the Losses Mount, There is Good Texas Rangers News

​Watched Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler totally half-ass and boot a grounder Sunday afternoon in Oakland. On Monday Elvis Andrus made his seventh error of the season. Thought to myself, This team is getting lazy. Suddenly the laziness is compounded by the losing. Last night the beleaguer ... More >>

While Rangers' Bullpen Continues Implosion, Neftali Feliz Says He'll Never Start

​Neftali Feliz will pitch Wednesday night in Frisco. But if it's up to him, he'll never pitch in the Rangers' starting rotation. While Texas continues to blow games -- yesterday it was Darren Oliver allowing Hideki Matsui's 10th-inning homer in a 5-4 loss -- and erase the warm-n-fuzzies from ... More >>

Whitt's End: 4.29.11

​Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Most surprising thing about Cowboys first-round draft pick Tyron Smith? According to scout Walter Juliff, he's related to a former Cowboy with the same last name. Goes by the nam ... More >>

Rangers Sweep Royals, But Who's Gonna Close Now?

​A couple times this year I've questioned manager Ron Washington's use -- overuse? -- of Rangers' releiver Neftali Feliz. Like in the season opener, when Wash inserted Feliz to get the final three outs of a 9-5 win. And two days later when Feliz again pitched in a four-run win. And yet again l ... More >>

Batter Up

Texas Rangers Set Opening Day Pitching Staff and Who the Heck is Mason Tobin?

Don't laugh, we'll actually see this jersey on the mound for the Rangers this season​A year ago today we were dissecting the depth of a Texas Rangers' pitching staff anchored by No. 1 and 2 starters named Scott Feldman and Rich Harden. Hopefully that perspective will soften the blow of ... More >>

Josh Hamilton Says Dealing Michael Young Doesn't Make Sense; Nolan Ryan and Jon Daniels Confirm He's Requested a Trade

Photos by Sam MertenJosh Hamilton says trading Michael Young would be "a big loss."​As workers cleaned up the aftermath of Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium across the street from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, the Texas Rangers equipment truck headed out this afternoon to the team's spring traini ... More >>

Michael Young OK With Moving Again. But Where?

​Your Texas Rangers whiffed on Cliff Lee and Zack Greinke, instead settling for Brandon Webb and Arthur Rhodes. I don't mind the signing of Webb because he's another low-risk, high-reward guy. He only costs $3 million, and what if he - 18 months after a reconstructive shoulder surgery - retur ... More >>

2010 World Series - Rangers vs. Giants: Position by Position Breakdown

​I called Rays in 5 in the ALDS and Rangers in 7 in the ALCS. Why stop while I'm ... tied? Got in to the City by the Bay last night and this place is in a baseball frenzy. There's a pervasive baseball buzz. Lots of similarities between the San Francisco Giants and your Texas Rangers in the Wo ... More >>

2010 ALCS - Rangers-Yankees: Game 5 Preview

Can it end right here? Right now? Abso-friggin'-lutely!​Pssst, I'm not supposed to talk about this. Like a no-no in the 7th inning, baseball's unwritten etiquette says you're not supposed to whisper a word about celebratory plans. Especially when you're on the enemy's fabled field. But ... More >>

GAME 3 - Rays 6, Rangers 3: My Top 10 Observations

​ ​10. 'Twas an occurrence about as rare as Halley's Comet this afternoon out here at Rangers Ballpark. In the Rangers' 39-year history they've played 3,092 home games in Arlington. Game 3 was only the fifth playoff contest. Texas is 0-5 all-time in home playoff games. 9. In ... More >>

Rangers-Rays: Game 2 Preview

​We waited 5,100 days in between Texas Rangers' playoff wins. Might we suddenly get two within 24 hours?   As dominant as Cliff Lee was in the Rangers' 5-1 Game 1 victory on Wednesday, I like the matchup of C.J. Wilson over Tampa's James Shields even more in Game 2 today at 1:37. You ... 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 >>

Rays 24, Rangers 11: My Top 10 Observations

​10. Gawd, that was ugly. A three-game sweep - including an 8-6 loss Wednesday - at one of the best teams in baseball isn't that big of a deal when your injury-riddled lineup looks like the JV, but still ... that looked like the same ol' Rangers of shitty years gone by. I realize it will ... More >>

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

Texas Rangers to Show Their LUV This Morning

Texas RangersTommy Hunter​Can't recall the last time I recorded Rangers games -- '99, maybe? Nevertheless, even a few hours later Nelson Cruz's 10th-inning walk-off last night was a thrilling thing of beauty -- and towering enough to put the Rangers eight and a half up over both the A's and Angels ... 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 >>

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 >>

Angels 6, Rangers 5. Uh-oh?

We trust in ... Omar Beltre?​For the first time in a long time, Darren Oliver sucked. For the first time since June 11, the Texas Rangers lost a road game. Not to panic, but a lot of things that have gone right lately for Texas went wrong in Tuesday night's 6-5 loss to the Angels in Anaheim ... More >>

Rangers-Angels: Expectations For the Season's Biggest Series

​The Texas Rangers lead the Anaheim Angels by 4.5 games. They also owe them a biiiiiiig thank you. Where would the Rangers be without former Angels Darren Oliver and Vladimir Guerrero? Tonight in California the Rangers try to validate their unprecedented hot start in a three-game series again ... More >>

Atta Boy, Jon Daniels

​Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels took a lot of crap early in his career. Altogether now ...    Chris Young and Adrian Gonzalez to the San Diego Padres for who?! If you remember the answer is Adam Eaton, you have an idea of just how far Daniels has progressed. As if sque ... More >>

Listen Up, Texans Rangers Fans: This Right Here Is How You Get Shi ... Um, Stuff Done

See, Rangers fans, we shoulda taken out billboards along I-30.​It's very possible, if not downright likely, that at any second now word will come down that Major League Baseball has seized ownership of the Texas Rangers in order to wrap up the sale of the team to Chuck Greenberg -- after which tim ... More >>

A Week After the Opener Your Texas Rangers Need a Closer

​The Rangers lost three games last season when they took a lead into the ninth inning. In this season's first week, they've already lost two. Hence, an organization founded upon second chances (see Josh Hamilton and Ron Washington) is suddenly playing hardball accountability, yanking Frankie ... More >>

Would-Be Owner Chuck Greenberg has the Money and Moxie to Lead the Texas Rangers Back to Relevancy and into the Playoffs

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 >>

October = Baseball Bummer

​Seems like the Texas Rangers season ended months ago doesn't it? Don't look now, but the cool kids are still playing baseball. The League Championship Series start this week with Angels-Yankees and Dodgers-Phillies. According to national TV ratings, you're not looking at all - as Dallas/Fort ... More >>

The A-Team

Love it when a plan comes together? Not so fast. Sure, they've got A-Rod and I-Rod, but what about Rusty Greer hitting leadoff, Tim Crabtree closing, and Johnny Oates acting human? John Gonzalez goes to Texas Rangers spring training to look for answers.

Positive reinforcement

The Rangers and their fans continue to see the team's glass as half full

Free KittyBoo

Brandon Boyer's Denton label offers pure pop pleasure, seven inches at a time

Do over

Todd Van Poppel doesn't have to be great anymore, just good enough

Getting to first base

Everyone's a contender during spring training, but can Will Clark and the Texas Rangers come back from last season's disappointments?