Kansas City Royals

Major League Baseball's Screwball Economics

As another season begins, MLB faces an unsustainable future -- and you’re picking up the tab.

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 >>

Dave Barnett to Replace John Rhadigan As Texas Rangers' TV Play-by-Play Man

Dave Barnett​About half an hour ago, Richie posted an item on the Sportatorium: John Rhadigan, hired in January to replace Josh Lewin as the Texas Rangers' TV, play-by-play announcer, is already out. Moments ago, the team confirmed with an Official Statement that follows in full. But long story sh ... More >>

Well, That Didn't Take Long: Welcome Back, Josh and Nelson

​Yesterday I surmised that the Rangers' offense would suddenly improve with the returns of sluggers Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz. But not me -- nor even Texas -- thought it would happen that fast. Or that far. Fresh off the disabled list, Hamilton homered in his first at-bat and Cruz ad ... 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 >>

With Josh Hamilton and Cliff Lee Looming, the Rangers are Somehow Surviving

​Adrian Beltre got the big hit. Ian Kinsler made the defensive play. And, in a first, Mark Lowe salvaged what Neftali Feliz ruined. The Rangers beat the Royals in extras last night and -- pending a weekend visit through Cliff Lee and the formidable Phillies' pitching staff -- might avoid ... 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 >>

Rangers 26, Red Sox 11: My Top 10 Observer-ations

​10. That, my friends, was about as thorough a three-game sweep as you can produce. The Rangers out-scored Boston by 15 runs and slugged 11 homers. And that wasn't the Royals, remember -- it came against the team most experts predict will represent the AL in the 2011 World Series. 9. Mos ... More >>

BREAKING NEWS: 105.3 The Fan to Talk Sports in the Morning Beginning April 11

​Yes, 105.3 The Fan is tweaking again. But this time it's not merely another shuffling of the deck, but more so a commitment to talk sports in the morning. Out at The Fan as of April 8 are long-time radio veterans Jagger and Gregg Henson, to be replaced Monday, April 11, by "New School ... More >>

Whitt's Merten's End 3.11.11

Photo by Sam MertenChuck Greenberg and Texas Rangers co-chair Bob Simpson celebrate after outbidding Mark Cuban in an auction to own the club​Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's Merten's End: *Well, that was quick. Chuck Greenberg formed ... More >>

Texas Rangers' momentum comes to a screeching holiday halt by the Phils Who Stole Cliffmas

My (Fausto) Carmona: Plan B Now That Cliff Lee and Zack Greinke Are Headed Elsewhere

Trading for Fausto Carmona would help ease the pain of losing out on Lee and Greinke.​Since we can all feel OK about losing out on the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, it's fair to evaluate Jon Daniels' Plan B, especially with the trade of Zack Greinke -- easily the best pitcher to be had on the marke ... More >>

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 >>

Let's Get Cliff Lee ... AND Zack Greinke

​Is that doable? Seems like it. Although the Kansas City Royals are reportedly getting impatient with the Texas Rangers' low-ball offers. I understand the odds are against the Rangers getting Lee, who is now also talking to the Boston Red Sox. But - dream with me here a little - how would a 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 >>

Why Your Texas Rangers Must Sign Cliff Lee

​I know he was miserable in Game 1 of the World Series and mediocre in Game 5, but the Texas Rangers wouldn't have been to the Fall Classic in the first place without pitcher Cliff Lee. As baseball's winter meetings start today at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, lots of talk a ... 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 >>

Reflections of a sportswriter on being a Texas Ranger fan... pretty much since birth.

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 >>

Can the Texas Rangers Catch Fire? Or, for That Matter, Anything?

​We're at a rare, almost unprecedented and admittedly awkward spot in Texas Rangers' history. The Rangers will win the American League West, but they're still so far away with so much time left in the season that it makes for - honestly - some uninteresting and practically meaningless ba ... More >>

Rangers' Pains Now Will Bear Gains Later

​Cliff Lee received a trigger-point injection for the knot in his back. Josh Hamilton got a shot of jelly in his knee. And to this, Texas Rangers fans, I say "rejoice." Better now than later. The Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals, 4-3, to extend their lead in the AL West to 9 ... More >>

Cliff Lee, Where Have You Gone?

​More importantly, you ever coming back? I said yesterday I'd give the playoff ball to C.J. Wilson over Cliff Lee. Saw nothing in last night's 10-9 loss to Kansas City Royals that changed my mind. You? Thought I'd never write this: The Texas Rangers lost a game started by Clif ... More >>

Game 1 of the Texas Rangers Playoffs I'm Handing the Ball To ...

​Nope, not our Lord and Southpaw Savior Cliff Lee. C.J. Wilson. Why? Because at this point I trust him more. Because at this point he's the best pitcher on the staff. No? Amazing for a pitcher who a couple years ago drew our ire when he disgustingly flipped the ball to manager Ron Washin ... 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 >>

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 >>

With a 22-Game Taste, Let's Circle the Bases: Last-Place Rangers Have First-Place Potential

Ian Kinsler makes his season debut tonight against the Mariners and lefthander Cliff Lee, who's also making his first appearance of the year. ​While Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has cryptically blamed the refs yet again for his team's fourth first-round exit from the playoffs in the last seven y ... More >>

Everything Old is New Again in Arlington, On the Brink of a New Rangers Season

Patrick MichelsMichael Young takes a few cuts before Friday night's exhibition.​For the first time since fall, the smell of hot dogs on the grills overtook the Ballpark in Arlington Friday afternoon, as the stadium came rumbled back to life for an evening exhibition against the Royals -- ... 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 >>

So ... Will the Sheets Hit The Fan?

With the New York Mets signing Oliver Perez, the Texas Rangers' chances of landing free-agent pitcher Ben Sheets just got stronger. Likewise, their radio signal for 2009 is also beefed up. The announcement that Rangers' weekday games will be broadcast on 105.3 The Fan means that 110 of Texas' 1 ... 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 >>

Wrapping Up Jon Daniels' Third Year As Rangers GM

Armando Galaragga was the only thing of value Jon Daniels was able to get from the Alfonso Soriano trade. Then he gave him away for a player the Rangers released. Whoops. You want more hot-stove baseball talk from Sam? Merry Christmas ... As mentioned yesterday, Jon Daniels is entering his fourt ... More >>

Mark Teixeira: Grade the Trade.

The Rangers' Milton Bradley, the Hot-Head with a Hot Bat, Has Gotta Go

Crack of the Bat

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.

Land of Good and Plenty

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

Double Time

Matisse's bronze age spreads across two museums

Juan Gone...to Long Island

Hart Attack

Everybody loves a winner? Tell it to Rangers GM John Hart.

Ranger Danger

Booing A-Rod was fun, but don't get carried away with the "kids"

Rained Out

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

The Buck Starts Here

New Texas Rangers manager Buck Showalter makes the team much better. Problem is, he can’t hit leadoff, play center field or pitch.

Do over

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

Safe at third

When Fernando Tatis' game struggled, he kept his head down and his mouth shut

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?

Stopped short

Kevin Elster was through with baseball once, but it was not finished with him