Minnesota Twins

Trophy Club's Proposed New Logo a Bit Too Marxist for Some

The logo for the town of Trophy Club is consists of a star-studded, presidential-looking seal framing the town's signature clock tower. A pair of crossed flags, one for the U.S., one for Texas, jut in either direction. A black-and-gray ribbon unfurls underneath emblazoned at the center with a blue D ... More >>

Major League Baseball's Screwball Economics

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

Big Thanks To Minnesota

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 >>

In the World Series Match-Up Between the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals, Don't Dismiss the Impact of Tony La Russa

St. Louis CardinalsTony La Russa on the field at Busch Stadium yesterday afternoon.​For whatever reason, my relationship with baseball went from casual to deeply committed bordering on obsessive during the 1986 baseball season. Like most kids growing up in North Texas, my father taught me to l ... More >>

The Power of Plan B: Texas Rangers-Detroit Tigers ALCS Game 6 Preview and Open Thread

​Not so long ago, Minnesota Twins backstop Joe Mauer was the consensus pick as baseball's best catcher. But the 2009 American League MVP, four-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner and .323 career hitter had another injury-plagued season in 2011 (missing significant time for "leg weaknes ... More >>

Moneyball: The Formulas Work

Baseball story blends stats with heart.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Schizophrenic Rangers

The record. Still intact.​And you thought trying to figure out the post-lockout, new NFL was tricky. Try getting a handle on your Rangers. Good news: In their last five games they've out-scored opponents a whopping 37-16. Bad news: In those games they're only a mediocre 3-2. That's wh ... More >>

Rangers to Honor Blyleven On ... Wait. What's This? Foxy Brown's Throwing a First Pitch?

​While we await some return phone calls and sift through some rather nutty legal docs, let's take a closer look at this release the Texas Rangers' John Blake sent out announcing some highlights from the upcoming homestand that begins tomorrow with games against the Jays. Because there are some int ... More >>

Making the Best of a Bad Situation: What Texas Should Do to Resolve Michael Young Mess

Photos by Sam Merten​Even before Michael Young demanded to be traded, the likelihood that he'd swap uniforms before the expiration of his contract in 2013 seemed like a long shot at best. Despite a résumé that includes six All-Star nods, a batting title, an (undeserving) Gold Glove and five cons ... More >>

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 >>

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 >>

Stop it. Ron Washington Did Not Get Hosed.

​Texas Rangers' manager Ron Washington deserves credit. But not a trophy. I was neither surprised nor disappointed yesterday when Minnesota Twins' skipper Ron Gardenhire was named American League Manager of the Year. While he led his team to 94 wins and a division championship despi ... 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 >>

Major League Baseball Players All Agree: Josh Hamilton Is the 2010 Player of the Year

Sam Merten​This just in: Sporting News has named its 2010 Major League Player of the Year -- and it's a certain Anchorman-quoting center-fielder for Your Texas Rangers. And as SN is quick to point out, that's the consensus among 326 major leaguers -- this isn't no sportswriters' award, keep in min ... More >>

You Look Like You Could Use Some Baseball: The Story of an Original Texas Ranger

​Before we go any further, click here. You'll find a picture taken on May 29, 1972, in Arlington, during a Texas Rangers-Oakland Athletics game at what had only months before been Turnpike Stadium. The photo features then-Rangers skipper Ted Williams arguing with home-plate ump Jim Odom over a str ... More >>

Today In Music News: Wilson/Crowe Call It Quits, The Hold Steady Support The Twins And Toby Keith Gets Social

Your daily dose of national music news for Monday, September 27, 2010...Divorce news that sucks as bad as your parents calling it quits: Nancy Wilson and Cameron Crowe are getting divorced. Members of The Hold Steady lend their support for the Minnesota Twins with a new song.Toby Keith may play up ... More >>

Who You Want: Yankees or Rays?

​I spoke too soon. Maybe you thought it too. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that if and/or when the Texas Rangers made the playoffs they'd face the New York Yankees. NY would win the American League East, the Tampa Bay Rays would win the Wild Card and the Minnesota Twins the Central. A ... More >>

Texas Rangers Outfielder Josh Hamilton, "The Baddest Dude In The League," Is Producing An MVP Season.

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 >>

Rangers 4, Twins 3: My Top 10 Observations

​Live from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington ... 10. News of Vladimir Guerrero's imminent demise were, in retrospect, premature. His sixth-inning homer to left gave the Rangers their fourth consecutive win - another playoff-esque, 4-3 triumph over the Minnesota Twins - and dwindled thei ... More >>

The Texas Rangers Are a Great Team. Or Just a Good Team with Great Timing?

​With a little help from Andres Blanco, your Texas Rangers beat the Minnesota Twins, 4-3, Tuesday night. They are now 71-54, their lead in the American League West is 8.5 games and their magic number to clinch their first division title this millennium dwindled to 27 over the Anahei ... More >>

No-Hitter = No Biggy

​I always TiVo the Texas Rangers. But last night when I got home my roommate already had the game on and when I got home I heard TV voice Josh Lewin exclaim:    "Hit record on your DVRs, you're about to witness history!" Whoa, I exclaimed back, the possibilities running through my m ... More >>

Hot Doggin' Home Runs

Texas Rangers: Meandering Toward the AL West or Charging Toward AL Home-Field Advantage?

​How you looking at your Texas Rangers these days? A) Despite Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Oakland A's they're playing well enough to maintain a comfy cushion in the American League West, holding a 7.5 games lead with only 51 games remaining. B) They were held to two or fewer runs five times on a ... 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 >>

October Baseball: Commence Daydreaming

​All this hubbub over those feisty Minnesota Twins and those dramatic Detroit Tigers and the dawn of the baseball playoffs slapped me sober this morning. Ponder this, Rangers fans: Texas' 87 wins would've been enough to win the American League Central Division. As I detail ... More >>

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

What's Your Hicks Hiccup?

When did you write off Tom Hicks: Before, after or perhaps during this photo op?​Unless you consider the Dallas Stars' 1999 Stanley Cup a lifetime pardon, we've all got one. That is, that moment when Tom Hicks did/said something so outrageously inane that you WTF'd him onto your permament s ... More >>

The Closer

For the first time in a long time, your Rangers have a better option than Kyra Sedgwick​After Friday's monumental, six-run implosion in a gut-wrenching loss to the Boston Red Sox, I heard lots of calls for Frankie Francisco's job - if not his head. But give Texas Rangers' manager Ron W ... More >>

Neftali Feliz: Deal or No Deal?

Mark GrahamShould Feliz and his 100 mph-plus heater be headed to Arlington or Toronto?While Ian Kinsler's bat - the first player with both a lead-off and walk-off homer in the same game - last night gave the Texas Rangers a momentary pulse, let's talk about the future of a dominant arm down on the ... 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 >>

Danks for Nothing, Rangers

Pitch Perfect

The Grand Prairie AirHogs are willing to do whatever it takes to make you a fan. And that includes win.

Plan See

With blueprints A and B trashed, the Rangers have stumbled onto a visually stimulating development

Josh Hamilton, Wonderboy

The Great Hambino

Rangers GM Jon Daniels is the Future of Baseball. The Rangers, Less So.

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

Josh Hamilton Starring in His Own Threesome

Boy Blunder

Is baseball's youngest general manager man enough to rebuild the Rangers?

"A Night at the Improv," By Which Uncle Barky Means WFAA-Channel 8

Blame Game

The Buck passes as Rangers go riches to rags

Life's a Pitch

David Clyde was supposed to save the Texas Rangers. Thirty years later, he just wants 27 days of his old life back.

Yankees, go home

Hate is such a strong, strong word

Juan for all

Gonzalez's RBI record doesn't mean a thing unless the Rangers win the West

Night & Day

May 21 - 27, 1998

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

Damned Rangers

The Texas Rangers better win the pennant this year, if only to atone for subjecting fans to two decades of baseball hell. Mike Shropshire chronicles the team's cursed early years in an exclusive Observer excerpt.