NL East

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 >>

Action Bronson - Dada - 9/23/12

Action Bronson Dada Sunday, September 23 In an industry where opulence is the modus operandi, Action Bronson favors a blue-collar sensibility. He prefers Carhatt over Cartier, New Balance over Neiman Marcus, "Giambi Lenses" over Gucci frames. His beard, which looks like an orange Christmas wreath, ... More >>

Why (and How) the Rangers Should Go All In as the Trade Deadline Looms

What a week for Your Texas Rangers. Nolan Ryan and Ron Washington took turns publicly ripping Josh Hamilton for the alarming lack of discipline he's displayed at the plate, increasing the likelihood that he'll be headed elsewhere this offseason. Fans booed the slumping slugger at home for the firs ... More >>

Best Part About the Rangers Inking Roy Oswalt? Low Expectations and a Big Upside.

Heading into Tuesday night's 10-3 ass-kicking by the Seattle Mariners, the Rangers and their fans had very little to complain about the 2012 season. Name an offensive stat -- batting average, runs scored, hits, home runs, total bases, on-base-plus-slugging percentage (my personal fave) -- and the Ra ... More >>

Happy Opening Day. Let's Predict Some Stuff.

Oh, it's a Good Friday alright. Maybe the best Friday, if you happen to have a job that allows you escape the cubical farm and head to the nearest TV-and-frosty-beer-equipped bar with your fellow farmers. (For bar suggestions, mosey here.) Going to the game? Well, then, it's an Even Better Friday. ... More >>

How Resource Center Dallas Played a Part In Getting MLB to Add Sexual Orientation to CBA

​Yesterday Major League Baseball sent word that it has a new labor agreement in place with the Major League Baseball Players Association -- this one, good for five years. It hasn't been signed yet; Tuesday's announcement, which follows, details the memorandum of understanding that will formally re ... More >>

Final Gut Check: Rangers-Cardinals World Series Game 7 Preview and Open Thread

St. Louis CardinalsTrying to forget this happened won't be easy for Texas, but they have to find a way if they want to salvage the championship.​As I've written before, I fell in love with the game of baseball in 1986 -- the first year I watched every inning of the World Series. Although I ha ... 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 >>

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 >>

Moneyball: The Formulas Work

Baseball story blends stats with heart.

Time For Y'all to Admit It: C.J. Wilson is a Bona Fide Ace

​No doubt Kenny Rogers is the Rangers' best all-time left-handed pitcher. But is C.J. Wilson already No. 2? He further helped his cause Tuesday night in Tampa, somehow resisting his stupid, "instinctive" urge to bare-hand comebackers long enough to shut out the Rays in a complete-game, 8-0 v ... More >>

Texas Rangers and Josh Hamilton Are Fighting the Summer Blues

​Alexi Ogando has suddenly produced three consecutive outings of five innings or less. Fourth outfielder David Murphy just went 1 of 9 to drop his average to .233. And the Rangers have lost 12 of their last 19 -- including 3-3 on a homestand against the Astros and Mets -- in clinging to&n ... 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.

Someone Explain to Me What I'm Missing in Mark Lowe

​I know, technically, he's all the Texas Rangers have to show for the Cliff Lee trade -- assuming the $2 million in cash has long since been spent -- but what the what am I supposed to be seeing in reliever Mark Lowe? Because I think know I see a guy who gets behind the count, throws 97 ... More >>

A Rangers Repeat? History Suggests Odds Are Long.

One Hit Wonders

"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 >>

Mavericks Getting a Teeny Tiny Bit of Help for Stretch Run with Corey Brewer

Corey Brewer​Don't get too giddy if and when the Dallas Mavericks sign free-agent forward Corey Brewer today. Decent player at both ends of the court, but it's basically one more attempt to fill in the gaps left by the absence of Caron Butler. Maybe with the additions of Peja Stojakov ... More >>

Texas Rangers' Pitching Staff: No. 3 in the AL West

​I fully admit it, at the end of last season I was calling for C.J. Wilson to pitch Game 1 of the American League Division Series. Considering the way he'd pitched all year and the way Cliff Lee had struggled at times it made sense. Turns out both pretty pitched damn skippy in the playof ... More >>

The Texas Rangers Are Better, But Who's Gonna Talk About 'Em?

​So now that the Texas Rangers have a hitter (Adrian Beltre) and a pitcher (Brandon Webb), they've got one more important hole to fill this off-season: Television play-by-play voice. Remember just before Game 5 of the ALDS, the Rangers announced they weren't bringing back nine-year veter ... More >>

Yo, Adrian! Rangers Officially Ink Beltre to Six-Year, $96 Million Contract

Photos by Sam MertenJon Daniels, Adrian Beltre, Ron Washington and Scott Boras celebrate Beltre's new contract. Nolan Ryan, Chuck Greenberg and Thad Levine were also on hand for the occasion.​As we speculated on the night Cliff Lee agreed to his contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Tex ... More >>

Ten Items Worth a Look-See: Mavs, Stars, Cowboys, Rangers and Fox News Pundit Says Michael Vick "Should Have Been Executed"

The fans gave him a break, and even President Obama applauded Vick's return to the NFL. Tucker Carlson of Fox News? Not so much.​10. Mark Teixeira says teammate Andy Pettitte's "probably leaning toward retirement," which is good news for the Texas Rangers and everyone else aiming to win the AL pen ... More >>

Ten Sports Items From Yesterday That, In My Humble Opinion, Are Worth a Look-See

What's Favre's legacy? You tell me.​10. Christmas came early for Mavs fans, as Dallas ended the Heat's 12-game winning streak with an entertaining 98-96 victory last night in Miami. My wrap-up is forthcoming, but until then, Wilonsky over at Unfair Park showed us the team's official Christmas gift ... 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 >>

Sad to See Eric Nadel Not Win ... and Leave

​On a professional note, too bad Texas Rangers' iconic voice Eric Nadel didn't win the Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting this morning at baseball's winter meetings. He was edged out by Dave Van Horne, who's been calling games (for Expos and now the Marlins) for 42 years. ... 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 >>

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 >>

Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington makes the most unlikely of journeys from cocaine to Champagne.

Rain Fears a Cliff Lee Delay and Other Assorted Facts Before Game One of the World Series

If you do too, and you do, then go here and spend $12. Could come in handy two more times before the World Series is over.​This morning's headline is brought to you by C.J. Wilson's favorite website, Jorge Parrales and Jacob Herrera's Cliff Lee Facts. Here's another fact, courtesy Jeff Francoeur, ... 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 >>

Can the Texas Rangers Win National League-Style Baseball?

Hey, maybe Nolan Ryan can give the Rangers' pitchers some hints. ​Baseball has its problems: A reluctance to use instant replay. Arrogant umpires and their customized strike zones. An All-Star exhibition game that actually affects the World Series champion. But of all our national past ... 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 >>

The Nodding Donkey Plays Long Ball

Photos by Jose Ralat Maldanado​A week-long soft opening is the way to go when you want to draw in the crowds, at least that's what State & Allen Lounge owners Jonathan Calabrese and Anthony Winkler bet on -- and won -- with their the new Texas-themed sports bar, The Nodding Donkey. At the corn ... More >>

2010 ALCS - Rangers-Yankees: Game 3 Preview

​Look at it this way, if Cliff Lee beats the Yankees here tonight in Game 3 of the ALCS they'll have to beat the Texas Rangers in three consecutive games or else face him again in Game 7 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Saturday. Advantage: Rangers? Of course to take a 2-1 series lead the ... More >>

Whitt's End: 10.15.10

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *There's probably some heart-over-head at work here, but I'm picking Rangers in 7. If Neftali Feliz doesn't blow a save and if the Rangers can avoid letting the Yankees' mystique force a mis ... More >>

On An Unprecedented Sports Sunday in Arlington, It's Not Just The Rangers Who Go Down Swinging.

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 >>

The Rangers In The Playoffs: What In The Wild World Of Sports Is Going On?

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

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 >>

Whitt's End: 8.27.10

Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *By no means am I an alarmist, but we need to see something positive from the Cowboys' first-team offense Saturday night in Houston. One long drive that ends in a touchdown. That's all. Give me that ... More >>

Rays 24, Rangers 11: My Top 10 Observations

​10. Gawd, that was ugly. A three-game sweep - including an 8-6 loss Wednesday - at one of the best teams in baseball isn't that big of a deal when your injury-riddled lineup looks like the JV, but still ... that looked like the same ol' Rangers of shitty years gone by. I realize it will ... More >>

Taco King: Our First Stop on The Taco Trail

​Welcome to the Taco Trail, dedicated to one of the favorite fixations of Dallasites, tacos in all their glorious variations. Although preference will be given to those taquerias accessible by  public transportation, be it DART rail or bus or a combination of the two, The Taco Trail will navi ... More >>

Okay Cliff Lee, Show Us Your Stuff

​The Texas Rangers have a five-game lead in the American League West. Tonight they begin a four-game series with the second-place Anaheim Angels in Arlington. (And over the next 11 days they'll face the Angels seven times. How the West was won, anyone?) In other words, time for new pitching a ... More >>

Whitt's End (Fish's Tales?) 7.16.10

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End (Fish's Tales?): *A note from Rangers Ballpark: LeBron James fell out of the upper deck while reaching for more attention. *If police have this right, the mayor of Coppell leaves notes scattered a ... More >>

The Texas Rangers Are Putting Together a Winning, Weird Season

Where would the Rangers be without Colby Lewis? And others.​I was at Texas Rangers' spring training out in Surprise, Arizona the day they signed journeyman catcher Matt Treanor. Honestly, it registered a .5 on my 1-10 scale. The Rangers had their catchers of the future in Jarrod Saltalamacc ... More >>

The Top 10 Greatest Players in the History of Your Texas Rangers

​If you watched Sunday's 7-2 win in Milwaukee, you'd think Texas Rangers pitcher Colby Lewis (two hits, including a key two-run single) is a better hitter than first baseman Justin Smoak (0-5 with five strikeouts). If you've been watching forever, you're convinced it's time to ... More >>

KTCK's Mike Bacsik Learns the Hard Way Not to Tweet While Under the Influence

​This just in from KTCK-AM -- you know, The Ticket: Mike Bacsik, the former footnote in baseball history who became Norm Hitzges's producer-slash-co-host and weekend show host, has been suspended by the station. Why come? Well, for tweeting nine little words last night that the former Washington N ... More >>

Lore Bader of the Dallas Giants, Known to Put "Quite Some Vapor on the Baseball"

Lore Bader of the Dallas Giants​Thanks to Friend of Unfair Park PeterK, I spent a good hour this morning boning up on the professional (and personal) life of Lore Verne Bader -- or "King" Bader or "Two Pairs" Bader, as the right-handed pitcher was known during a stint in the majors and minors that ... More >>