Jon Daniels

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

The 50 Most Powerful Peeps in DFW Sports: Take 7

​Power is subjective. But when you see it -- when you sense it's immense influence -- you just know it. Each summer, as I construct my list of the 50 Most Powerful People in Metroplex Sports, the criteria gets a triple-digit tweaking. This year I deemed the allure of power  ... More >>

Leonys Martin's Long Ride to Center

The Rangers' newest prospect fled communism in Cuba for center field in Frisco. He won't be there for long.

Rangers Finish Perfect Homestand, With Help From Their Shiny New Toy

​The weather. The ring ceremony. The attendance. And, oh by the way, the results.When the Rangers beat reigning AL Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez 7-3 yesterday, it capped the perfect start to their encore season.They're now 6-0, joining the Cincinnati Reds as the only undefeated teams in base ... More >>

Whitt's End: 3.25.11

​Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Like me, do you think the Texas Rangers are kinda getting caught with their pants on the ground with their pitching staff exposed? The time to go get a reliable closer is not next year, it' ... 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 >>

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 >>

Surprise, Surprise. Chuck Greenberg is ... Poof.

​And just like that, the man who saved Nolan Ryan's job with the Texas Rangers has been replaced. By Nolan Ryan. I heard rumblings about this a couple weeks ago. Even hinted in a Whitt's End and on 105.3 The Fan that there were - seemingly out of nowhere - cracks in the foundation of the re ... More >>

"With a Heavy Heart," Chuck Greenberg On Why He's No Longer a Texas Ranger: He and Nolan Ryan Have "Somewhat Different Styles."

Sam MertenChuck Greenberg at a press conference at the ballpark last August​Odd news to wake up to this morning: After being the man leading the charge to take control of the Texas Rangers last summer, and having been very much the public face of the franchise in the months since, Chuck Greenberg' ... 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 >>

Texas Rangers Spring Training Clouded with Awkward Spat with Iconic Captain Michael Young.

Michael Young Wants Out and I Don't Blame Him

​He's been the face of the franchise for a decade, the team spokesman who was left to explain a lot of  horrible Texas Rangers' baseball. He's been a batting champ, an All-Star Game MVP and a Gold Glove fielder with a sparkling image. He's moved from second to short to third to, now, ... More >>

Not Sure I Get the Texas Rangers' Latest Trade ... For Another Catcher

Adios, Frankie​A week after Texas Rangers team president Nolan Ryan said he's happy with the team and that his roster is set for spring training, his franchise made a trade yesterday. One I don't quite grasp. The Rangers sent reliever Frankie Francisco to the Toronto Blue Jays for veteran c ... More >>

You Like the Texas Rangers More than Las Vegas

​Witnessed lots of folks outside Rangers Ballpark last night who believe in their baseball team. The Rangers Rally was a warm hug on a chilly night and the theory goes like this: The present belongs to the San Francisco Giants, but the future belongs to the Texas Rangers. You buyin' it? ... More >>

Five Reasons Why Your Texas Rangers Will Keep Postseason Badass Cliff Lee Next Season

Photos by Sam MertenCliff Lee tosses in the outfield on July 11 following his first start with the Rangers.​Ever since New York Baseball Digest's Frank Russo posted his "Five Reasons Why the Yankees Will Sign Cliff Lee" on Monday, it has made the rounds, and several of my fellow Texas Rangers ... More >>

2010 ALCS GAME 6 - Rangers 6, Yankees 1: My Top 10 Observer-ations

​10. In retrospect, a great call by Rangers' manager Ron Washington taking Nelson Cruz out of Game 5 early with a tight hamstring. Cruz hit the biggest homer in Rangers' history in the four-run 5th tonight, shoving Texas to a commanding 5-1 lead. 9. Claw > Antlers? Very cool surprise when ... More >>

Clearly, Tom Hicks and Family Having a Hard Time Saying Goodbye to the Texas Rangers

​About this time one week ago today, we received what I thought had to be The Last Word from Tom Hicks. Not so much: Moments ago yet another tear-stained adios arrived in the Unfair Park in-box, as Hicks chimes in to commemorate the for-real end of his 12-year tenure as owner of the Texas Rangers, ... More >>

Cliff Lee, The Texas Rangers New Pitching Ace, May Have A Sweet Stay In Arlington, But Also A Short One.

Fab 50: Half A Hundred Power Brokers Who Shape Our Local Sports Scene.

Mark Cuban is MLB-Approved! And Other Notes From Today's Texas Rangers Hearing.

Hal SamplesTexas Rangers manager Ron Washington, GM Jon Daniels and their attorneys enter a Fort Worth courtroom this morning.​As promised, Sam just phoned in from outside the Fort Worth federal courthouse where, moments ago, Judge Michael Lynn sneak-peeked at where he's leaning concerning the pro ... More >>

Rangers Win Again on Field, Stumble Again in Court

​Tweak it. Or trash it. That's the charge from the bankruptcy judge in the Texas Rangers' proposed sale from Tom Hicks to Chuck Greenberg. When the judge decries that the Rangers have to modify their current plan - but not add more money to the deal - it seems like a win for the creditors, ri ... 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 Fans Can Again Dream Of A Merry Baseball, With The Departure Of Owner Tom Hicks

Rangers, Hicks Continue to Speed Date Would-Be Buyers. This Week: Dennis Gilbert.

Dennis Gilbert​Last month, the Startlegram outed former Barry Bonds and Jose Canseco agent Dennis Gilbert as a would-be buyer of Your Texas Rangers, which the Beverly Hills-based Gilbert wouldn't confirm at the time. That made sense: He's still in pro ball (he reviews contracts for the Chicago Whi ... More >>

Would-Be Owners of Your Texas Rangers Have Been Parading Through Arlington This Week

​Reuters was right: Last week, the news service reported that the three parties interested in taking the Texas Rangers off Tom Hicks's hands would be in Arlington this week to meet and greet with team bigwigs. And, so far, so good: According to Official Statements from the LeMaster Group, which ha ... More >>

Whitt's End: 7.31.09

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Been buried in Camp Cowboys all week, but looks like 103.3 FM ESPN needs a new drive-time sidekick alongside Randy Galloway. Brian Estridge is leaving to co-host mornings on WBAP 820 AM with the l ... More >>

Dallas Stars Downsize, Upgrade?

On second thought, two heads aren't better than one.Since two girlfriends = one problem, the Dallas Stars have abruptly ended their dual general managers experiement. Out: Brett Hull/Les Jackson. In: Joe Nieuwendyk. Strange as it is to be talking hockey in June - unless, of course, you l ... More >>

Texas Rangers Opening Day: Pre-Game Observations

  Your new third baseman, taking Opening Day BPFirst pitch in T-minus two hours ... *When I stepped on the field at 9 a.m. it was 39 degrees. Factoring in the northern howl of about 30 mph and it felt, ya know, about 0. *You know it's a different, bigger day when you get on the press ele ... More >>

Bad Rangers' Pitching News and it's Only Friggin' January

From the same team that lost Adam Eaton in spring training 2006 just hours after general manager Jon Daniels announced his starting rotation comes news that top pitching prospect Eric Hurley has undergone rotator cuff surgery and is out for the 2009 season. In news that will surprise no one: Range ... More >>

Status Woe

Insane Rangers again take similar path to identical destination

Another Rangers’ Trade that Completely Sucks Ass

Your Rangers Officially Don’t Suck

Mark Teixeira: Grade the Trade.

Just How Did Josh Hamilton Wind Up the Texas Rangers' Savior, Anyway?

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

Play Ball! Notes from Texas Rangers Spring Training, Thus Far.

Nolan Ryan's Premium Meat

Are You World Serious?

The Texas Rangers Provided Us With Yet Another Season in Hell

Forever Young

You Know Who Could Use Some Baseball? The Stinkin' Texas Rangers.

Play It Again, Sammy

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

Sounds Like Richie Could Use Some Baseball

Danks For Nuthin'

Washington Monument

Root, Root, Root for the Home Team

Oscar Overhaul

The Academy--y-a-w-n--Awards desperately need a shot of sports