Elvis Andrus

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

Rangers 7, Angels 0: My Top 10 Observer-ations

​10. Remember not long ago when it looked like Alexi Ogando was done? Since three sub-par starts in June he's back to being one of the best surprises in baseball, especially after last night, when he threw eight scoreless innings and lowered his ERA to 2.72 (7th-best in the AL). Moving him bac ... More >>

Whitt's End: 7.15.11

​Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Derek Holland looked unusually sharp from the first pitch last night. Seattle's woeful offensively. I had a feeling, so I Tweetcalled for a no-hitter in the bottom of the 1st. Holland took ... 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 >>

Welcome Back to Earth, Texas Rangers. Welcome Back, Colby Lewis?

So Alexi Ogando is human. The Rangers' bullpen is shaky. Julio Borbon's center-to-home throws look like Mat McBriar's punts. And Nos. 1-2 hitters are cooler than a New York night. Admit it, right now Texas' 10-5 feels more like 5-10. After Ogando gave up three homers last night, A ... More >>

Which Of Your Texas Rangers Has The Coolest Intro Music?

​Last week, the Morning News' Rangers beat writer/columnist Evan Grant shared the music being used at the start of this baseball season by most of your Texas Rangers players -- either at-bat music or welcome-to-the-mound stuff, naturally.The best news that wasn't? Grant reported that catcher Mike ... More >>

A Rangers Repeat? History Suggests Odds Are Long.

One Hit Wonders

Bronze Beltre

Rangers and Yanks Both Lose Cliff Lee Sweepstakes as Southpaw Heads Back to Philly

Sam MertenThanks for the memories, Cliff.​After much procrastination, former Texas Rangers ace Cliff Lee has decided to return to the Philadelphia Phillies, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan, with Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweeting that the deal is for five years and approximately $ ... 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 >>

Gold Gloves = Tarnished Trophies

​I thought Elvis Andrus got ripped off last year when he didn't win American League Rookie of the Year. But it's nothing compared to the travesty of him not winning a Gold Glove yesterday. Think of it this way: With your life at stake and a grounder hit in the hole, who would you rather ... More >>

2010 ALCS GAME 5 - Yankees 7, Rangers 2: My Top 10 Observer-ations

​10. The better team didn't win Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, but the more desperate team did. The Rangers are on a magical, unprecedented playoff roll, but asking them to be good enough - to be mature enough - to sweep the 95-win defending champions in New York was unrealistic. Those of ... More >>

2010 ALCS Game 4 - Rangers 10, Yankees 3: My Top 10 Observer-ations

This guy is the Yankees' only hope. In other words, 'tis over.​10. And that, my friends, is why I wanted the New York Yankees. Between CC Sabathia and Mariano Rivera, this is a flawed pitching staff. Just ask the Rangers, who in this series have posted 5, 7, 8 and 10 runs in building a comm ... More >>

GAME 5 - Rangers 5, Rays 1: My Top 10 Observations

For all of those who suffered through losing seasons in this joint ... here's to us!​10. Antlers > Rays. Ironic that the Rangers - who for years and decades floundered playing feast-or-famine baseball founded on the home run - scored their first three runs via speed. Think about it, the ... More >>

Rangers Reeling, But We're Not Worried. Yet. Right?

​The Texas Rangers haven't won a game since last Wednesday. They've dropped four in a row - including a 7-2 Labor Day thrashing at the hands of the Blue Jays in Toronto and one of the wildest, worst endings to a game you ever did see on Sunday in Minnesota - and seven of their last nine. Pitc ... More >>

Texas Rangers' Bats Go Cold; You Growing Uneasy?

​I know the big news of the day regarding your Texas Rangers will be this deal about the new owner and all - Mark Cuban vs.Nolan Ryan - but quietly the baseball team is tip-toeing close to a slump. For now it's a funk, and when you build a nine-game cushion you can absorb a bump in ... 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 >>

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

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 >>

This is the Problem I Have With Rangers' Manager Ron Washington

​I like Ron Washington. Really do. I don't necessarily trust his relentless optimism about everything and I lost a lot of respect for him for using cocaine in the middle of last season, but I like him. There is a part of him, however, that I don't like. His in-game decisions as a basebal ... More >>

Whitt's End: 4.16.10

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Not only should Dirk Nowitzki be on the first-team All-NBA squad and a legit MVP candidate, he'll be unstoppable against the Spurs. San Antonio has its nucleus back - Tim Duncan, Manu Ginob ... More >>

The Rangers May Be Out But They Are Not Down--Not Come Next April

Batter Up

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 >>

Who's the Most Trusted Man in Dallas/Fort Worth? On TV? When it Comes to Sports?

Ah, the bad ol' days.​When Walter Cronkite punted the bucket recently, the title of "Most Trusted Man in America" fell to - believe it or not - Jon Stewart. While this news made me, a Daily Show devotee, click my heels, it also got me to thinking: Who's the Most Trusted Sportscaster in ... More >>

The Resilient Rangers

Now that's more like it.​Okay, I'm impressed. Friday night's kick-to-the-crotch loss to the Boston Red Sox felt like that moment. Big game. Big crowd. Gigantic implosion. Frankie Francisco's blown save - six runs - felt like the big-bang instant in which a demoralized, gutted bunch of Texas ... More >>

Because I'm Better Than Bitter, 20 Things I Love

I love sports and stuff and, oh yeah, freaky things like, say, baby heads in glass vases.​No, no, no. You got me all wrong. Am I skeptical? Cynical? Inquisitive? Smart-assy? Guilty. But bitter? Hardly. I consider myself more tell-it-like-it-is realistic rather than jump-off-the-hi ... 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 >>

Whitt's End: 5.22.09

Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *You'll have to savor this offering like a cow with its cud, because this morning I'm headed out to the Byron Nelson to chug margaritas and chase girls in The Pavilion watch golf and conduct research ... More >>

Mowed Down in Motown

I Millwould've yanked Kevin in the 8th. You? Well, you were warned. Actually, the Texas Rangers played decent baseball in Detroit this week despite a three-game sweep. Just not so sure they played smart baseball. Especially in this afternoon's 4-3 loss to the Tigers, their franchise-record 11 ... More >>

I Glove Elvis Andrus

Michael Who?It's taken one month to realize that Texas Rangers' rookie shortstop Elvis Andrus would be okay. It took one play last night to remember he's going to be a star. For once, I think it's safe to say the Texas Rangers knew what they were doing. In last night's 6-5 win over the Seattl ... More >>

The Texas Strangers

Seriously, who are these guys? With generally the same cast of characters that has face-planted out of the gate the last two seasons, the Texas Rangers are off to a dream start. Granted 2-0 gets only a subtle nod in Boston or New York or Anaheim, but in Arlington it's cause to get Laura Mi ... 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.

Play Baaaaaaalllllllllll!

No time to dilly-daddle this morning, as I'm headed out to Arlington for Texas Rangers' Opening Day. Gotta get there in time to beat some traffic, smell the fresh-cut grass and, of course, see former Prez George W. Bush throw out the first pitch. I know it'll never happen, but wouldn't Dub ... More >>

We Have an Elvis Sighting!

How's this for Elvis Andrus' Major League debut? A two-out double down the right-field line, with reigning American League Cy Young winner Cliff Lee on the mound and former President George W. Bush in the TV booth offering his thoughts on Fox4. Not bad, I say. Especially for a 20-year ... More >>

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 >>

Whitt's End: 4.3.09

Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Seems Highland Park-ex and potential No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick Matthew Stafford isn't comfortable talking with teams - specifically a psychologist for the San Francisco 49ers - about his parent ... More >>

Dwarfed by the Cowboys' New Stadium, the Rangers Spiffy Up Their Park

Rangers Spring Training Grades

TexasRangers.com The kid's catching on pretty fastOnly 19 days until the Texas Rangers open the 2009 regular season at home against the Cleveland Indians. In other words, time for some mid-spring training grades. So far, so good I'd have to say. No major injuries. Josh Hamilton is pound ... More >>

The Hapless Texas Rangers Turn to their Farm System

You Could Use Some ... Baseball?

Has there ever been a better team player in the history of Metroplex sports?Approximately 5,000 fans braved freezing temperatures and decades of losing at Saturday's Rangers Fan Fest in Arlington. I was one of them. The highlights: *General manager Jon Daniels says he's recently tal ... More >>

Texas Rangers: Hot Stove or Cold Shoulder?

Give the Rangers credit. They are trying. With the Cowboys imploding and the Mavs and Stars wallowing in mediocrity, our local baseball team has a prime opportunity to earn some much-needed love this winter. Texas hasn't done diddly-poo as far as free agency, bringing in only reliever Derek Turnbow ... More >>

Movin' On Up

Frisco bleeds talent in Arlington's direction

Cheap Seats

The RoughRiders knock it out of the park