Mariano Rivera

If Signing Yu Darvish and Prince Fielder Are Mutually Exclusive, The Texas Rangers Might Be Better Off If Darvish Returns to Japan

As Wednesday's 4 p.m. deadline nears in the negotiations between the Texas Rangers and Yu Darvish, the most significant hang-up is reportedly the 25-year-old's request for a five-year contract and the team's preference for a six-year deal, according to Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan. Understandably, Dar ... More >>

Exploring Texas Rangers' Options as Wheelin' and Dealin' Begins at Hilton Anatole

Photo by Sam MertenThe scene yesterday afternoon in the lobby of the Hilton Anatole.​Likely bracing for the departure of free-agent hurler C.J. Wilson, the Texas Rangers have already inked former Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan to a two-year, $14.5 million contract and announced Neftali Feli ... More >>

Why We Love Sports in America: 2011

​Since I'm out on vacation next week let me get to this Fourth of July tradition a little early: Happy Birthday, America. Our country turns the ripe old age of 235 on Monday. Between burgers and beers and bikinis, I'll make time this weekend remembering how friggin' fortunate we are to have a ... 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 >>

Check That, Neftali Feliz Now Wants To Be a Starting Pitcher

​After watching Neftali Feliz hurl an impressive first four innings of Monday's 5-4 exhibition win over the Los Angeles Dodgers here in Surprise, Arizona, I sat down with general manager Jon Daniels to find out exactly where the 22-year-old fireballer fits in this season. Closer? Or starter? ... More >>

Don't Mess With Success: Rangers Should Resist Moving Neftali Feliz Into Rotation

Mark GrahamNeftali Feliz in early 2009​In the comments of yesterday's blog, commenter "sporty" posed the question of whether Neftali Feliz should be moved into the rotation since we both agree the Texas Rangers rotation needs help desperately. He said the "transition makes a lot of sense." I d ... 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 >>

Whitt's End: 11.19.10

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Next Tuesday Josh Hamilton wins AL MVP. Right? *The good news: Greggo's "pus pockets" are gone. The bad: He's been told not to talk for 10 days. Ten! Means a couple things. 1. Summon RoboGreggo fr ... 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 - Rangers-Yankees: Game 6 Preview

Is tonight THE night? ​The lights are on. Clouds are circling but so far nothing but sprinkles. The wind is howling in from the south/right field, which means -- as evidenced by Josh Hamilton's extra-hitting session right now -- the jet stream out to right-center is in full effect an ... More >>

Damned Yankees

​Groans Erik Boland of Newsday: "All the elements that put the Yankees in a three-games-to-one series hole materialized Friday night, ensuring they wouldn't be able to completely climb out of that hole. It was another night of ragged starting pitching, ineffective relief pitching and next to nothi ... More >>

For Now, At Least, a Fairytale of New York

​Sums up George A. King III in this morning's New York Post: "The Yankees arrived last night deep in the heart of Texas with a pulse. Faint, for sure, but enough of a beat that the ALCS stethoscope detected it. Can the pump tick long enough to get the Yankees to the World Series? That's not the wa ... 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 >>

2010 ALCS: Yankees v. Rangers Position-by-Position Breakdown

​Gleefully, I was wrong about Rays in 5. In accordance, take this synopsis with a pinch of salt, a hint of lime, a chug of a six pack, then wake up Friday night and watch for yourselves. ALCS rosters won't be set until Friday at 10 a.m. so there could be some tweaks to the Rangers- Yankees b ... More >>

Texas Rangers Fans: Let's Go Yankees! Clap ... Clap ... ClapClapClap!!

​I've seen Mavericks' forward Popeye Jones inadvertently tip a jump ball into his own basket, giving the Cleveland Cavaliers two points. I've seen Cowboys' defensive lineman Leon Lett inexplicably attempt to recover a blocked field goal on an icy Thanksgiving field at Texas Stadium, handing 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 >>

Best Win of the Year, Meet Worst Loss of the Year

​A 6-1 lead. Cliff Lee on the mound. Sellout crowd. Only 12 outs to go. Brooms poised. And then ... The worst loss of the Texas Rangers' season. Temporarily derailing a potentially magical season, another late-inning meltdown bit the Rangers last night in a gut-punch, 7-6 loss to the New ... More >>

Rangers 4, Yankees 3: My Top 10 Observations

Yeah, but the Rangers' left fielder has reversed the curse. ​10. It's rare that Yankees' Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera surrenders three hits in an inning. And you usually don't win when you commit three errors against the best team in baseball. But each happened last night during the ... More >>

Why We Love Sports in America

​Happy Birthday, America.   Like tonight's July 5th fireworks show in Dallas, it's better late than never. Right?   Our country turned the ripe old age of 234 on Sunday. Between burgers and beers and bikinis, I tried to spend some time remembering how friggin' fortunate we are to ha ... More >>

Why, Ron Washington? Why?!?!

​I like Ron Washington. Really do. It's just that I ... Hey, if this feels/sounds like deja vu all over again it's because it is. Bottom line: I honestly don't think the Texas Rangers' manager is good enough to go with his gut instincts. I'm a quirky, color-outside-the-lines guy, b ... More >>

Dallas Cowboys' Draft: 'Tis Better to Receive?

​Jason Witten? Check. Miles Austin? Check. Patrick Crayton? Yeah, okay, check. Roy Williams? Hmm. Dez Bryant? Interesting. Entering next month's NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys have needs. At safety. At kicker. At offensive tackle. And, yes, at receiver. But are the concerns there enough to take ... More >>

Neftali Feliz is a fireballin’ pitching phenom who has brought the surprising Texas Rangers Christmas in September.

The Hapless Texas Rangers Turn to their Farm System

God Bless America. And Sports.

Out of Luck

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