Nelson Cruz

Rangers Announce Doritos Topped Nachos And Boomstick Eating Conest

If you've having trouble selling a menu item, your best bet may be to put Doritos on it. The Texas Rangers just announced the latest snack to follow the much lauded boomstick. Totally ROSSome Nachos will boast tortilla chips covered in white queso, pico de gallo and a choice of shredded meat heaped ... More >>

Tigers by the Tail

Breaking Down the Texas Rangers Offseason Plans in the Wake of Coming So Close

Photos courtesy Texas RangersNo need to place all of the blame on Nellie. There are plenty of other folks at fault for losing the World Series.​No matter how hard you try to find a scapegoat, the story of the 2011 World Series doesn't have a chapter about its version of Bill Buckner, nor shoul ... More >>

Guts, Not Gaffes Give Texas an Opportunity for the Kill Shot: Rangers-St. Louis Cardinals World Series Game 6 Preview and Open Thread

Texas RangersMike Napoli celebrates his game-winning double in the eighth inning of Game 5.​The intellect of one of the best managers and greatest players in baseball history short-circuited at the worst possible times for the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5 of the World Series, but Monday night ... 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 >>

Shark-Infested Waters: Texas Rangers-Detroit Tigers ALCS Game 3 Preview and Open Thread

via​Wow. What an amazing start to the American League Championship Series for Your Texas Rangers. Two close games. Two incredible wins. Now Detroit has to win four of the next five games to get back to the World Series for the first time since they fell to St. Louis in 2006. Ain't gonna hap ... More >>

Rangers 7, A's 2: My Top 10 Observer-ations

​10. Only thing funnier than Oakland trusting Rich Harden is Comedy Central's Tosh.0. 9. Michael Young countdown to 3,000 hits is at 953 ... 952 ... 951. 25 3-hit games most ever by a Ranger in a single season and the guy most of us thought wouldn't be a Ranger this year now has a career-hi ... More >>

Rangers 8, Angels 4: My Top 10 Observer-ations

​10. Eerie. On July 19 the red-hot Rangers went into Anaheim with a 4-game lead and -- with Alexi Ogando on the mound -- got back-to-back homers (from Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre) in a series-opening rout. And on August 15 the red-hot Rangers went into Anaheim with a 4-game lead and -- wi ... More >>

The Rangers Keep Walking Off to Hold Off the Angels

​Driving back from San Antonio last night I was re-introduced to the Rangers. Hello, drama! After overcoming deficits of 7-2 and 3-0 in the 8th inning in wins over the Indians last weekend, the Rangers -- thanks to a bad, postpartum outing by Alexi Ogando -- spotted the lowly Mariners a 6-3 l ... More >>

Mike Adams Flops in His Rangers Debut. Even Worse Than Cliff Lee Flopped.

Welcome to Texas?​The Titanic. Waterworld. Joey Galloway as a Cowboy. The Dallas Wave. And now, finding his sheepish spot among the worst debuts in the history of ever: Mike Adams, Texas Ranger. Ugliest opening act on our baseball team since waaay back, well, actually, since Cliff Lee stunk ... More >>

Just When You Think He's Alright, Neftali Feliz Blows One to the ... Lastros

'Twasn't as good last night​Was gonna construct a list of the Rangers' worst losses this season, then I realized after last night's 5-3 self-Heimlich to the Houston Astros ... there is no No. 2.Two-run lead in the 9th. All-Star closer Neftali Feliz on the mound. At home. Against the wo ... More >>

Meanwhile, Your Texas Rangers are Suddenly Back Where They Started

​Been a little concerned obsessed with the Mavs. But I did catch some Rangers' baseball Saturday afternoon. Saw enough of Derek Holland to say "Wow!" And apparently he isn't alone. After swooning without Josh Hamilton, the Rangers tumbled from their 9-1 start into mediocrity. Don't look now, ... More >>

Hamilton and Cruz in Frisco Tonight? Might Be a Good Time To Take in a RoughRiders Game.

​John Blake just sent word: Josh Hamilton will return to the world of the baseball living tonight in Frisco, when he begins a rehab stint with the RoughRiders as Steve Buechele's second-place squad takes on the Midland Rockhounds. Hamilton, benched with a non-displaced hairline fracture of his rig ... More >>

Texas Rangers Win a Series. But Is John Rhadigan Winning?

​As I've said before, new Rangers' TV play-by-play voice John Rhadigan is one of the nicest people I've ever met. Love him as a friend. Be honored to have him as a neighbor. Or a role model. Whatever. Great dude. But as the voice of my baseball? Um, let's see how he's doing 1/4th into his fir ... More >>

Whitt's End: 5.6.11

Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End:*Mavericks-Lakers and Rangers-Yankees in our town in the same weekend. Delicious. If you had a front-row ticket to just one, which would it be? Are there really semi-sane humans who'd choose ... More >>

Say, Matthew McConaughey, You Got a Rangers Jersey? It'd Be a Lot Cooler If You Did.

Photos by Patrick MichelsTurns out, Matthew McConaughey's got a pretty good arm.If you'd been in one particular basement in Arlington a little more than an hour ago, you would've stood square in the middle of a fairly strange scene: Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa standing around, cheerfu ... More >>

While the Bullpen Further Implodes and the Losses Mount, There is Good Texas Rangers News

​Watched Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler totally half-ass and boot a grounder Sunday afternoon in Oakland. On Monday Elvis Andrus made his seventh error of the season. Thought to myself, This team is getting lazy. Suddenly the laziness is compounded by the losing. Last night the beleaguer ... More >>

Which Of Your Texas Rangers Has The Coolest Intro Music?

​Last week, the Morning News' Rangers beat writer/columnist Evan Grant shared the music being used at the start of this baseball season by most of your Texas Rangers players -- either at-bat music or welcome-to-the-mound stuff, naturally.The best news that wasn't? Grant reported that catcher Mike ... More >>

A Rangers Repeat? History Suggests Odds Are Long.

One Hit Wonders

Whitt's End: 2.25.11

Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *I still don't fully understand Michael Young leaving Rangers spring training for two days. The team announced it was a "family matter." Manager Ron Washington said Young "has a family thin ... 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 >>

Thumbs Up: Adrian Beltre Makes the Texas Rangers Better

​The race is on today. Which big announcement/press conference will arrive first: The Dallas Cowboys hiring Jason Garrett or the Texas Rangers signing Adrian Beltre? Let's go with Beltre, as the free-agent third baseman and agent Scott Boras arrived in town last night and agreed to a fiv ... 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 >>

Do the Rangers' New Owners Have the Money and Will to Build on a Winning Formula?

2010 World Series - Rangers vs. Giants: Game 2 Preview

Given my druthers, I'd rather get blown out than lose a heart-breaker. We could digest and regurgitate and over-analyze the Texas Rangers' 11-7 World Series Game 1 loss to the San Francisco Giants here Wednesday night, or we could simply say that - for the first time in his ... 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 >>

The Texas Rangers' Magic Number: ZERO!!!

​Usually by the time we start feeling fall, your Texas Rangers have long since raised the white flag. But I'll be damned, tonight in Arlington they're going to raise a championship banner. Cue Prince, it is indeed time to party like it's 1999. When Nelson Cruz nabbed a lazy fly ball to s ... 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 >>

One of the Best Days in Texas Rangers' History

​When you've won only one playoff game in 39 years of baseball, there have been plenty of dark days. But Friday night at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington was one of those sparkling nights. On the first official game day of the new Chuck Greenberg ownership era, he lowered prices on beer and park ... More >>

Josh Hamilton Partying Like It's ... 2008

​Back in March at Texas Rangers spring training out in Surprise, Arizona I asked team president Nolan Ryan his expectations this season for Josh Hamilton. Is the real Josh the player who had 54 RBI by June 1 in 2008 or the player who hit only 10 homers between numerous injuries in 2009? "Some ... 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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

The Texas Rangers, With A New Owner And A New Season, Prompt A New Emotion: Hope

Your Texas Rangers Have Money! And Vladimir Guerrero!!

​If you can't beat 'em, sign 'em? For years Vladimir Guerrero tormented the Texas Rangers. Now, in a sign that new owner Chuck Greenberg has money and moxy and motivation, the Rangers will this week sign the free-agent slugger to a one-year contract. While Tom Hicks, Jr. has some fun wit ... More >>

Texas Rangers: The Hits Keep a Comin'

Neftali Feliz likes him. So should you.​I have no idea who or what Omega El Fuerte is. But if it's good enough for Texas Rangers' fireballin' phenom Neftali Feliz, it's good enough for me. When the ridiculous rookie enters a game over the weekend in a crucial series against the Seattle Mari ... More >>

Paging Mr. Jaramillo ... Mr. Rudy Jaramillo.

Let me guess ... strike three?This is a cruel joke. Texas Rangers fans who for decades have yearned for pitching are finally getting it, only to see their woody go limp when they finally need it. Something I thought I'd never type: The Rangers can't pitch hit. Spent Father's Day plo ... More >>

So, Which Are They: Real or Fake?

Two weeks ago I said that on June 15 - hello! - we'd know if the 2009 Texas Rangers were authentic or artificial. A pinch here. A jiggle there. Couple of healthy squeezes. And, of course, the taste test of a 5-7 stretch against some of of baseball's best teams and the verdict is ... R ... More >>

Dwarfed by the Cowboys' New Stadium, the Rangers Spiffy Up Their Park

A Christmas List for Jon Daniels

Here in The Sportatorium, every now and then we like to talk baseball. I mean hard-core, balls-and-strikes baseball. By "every now and then" I mean this morning. And by "we", of course, I mean seamhead colleague Sam Merten. Sam, the floor is yours: For those of you distracted by Sean Avery's ... More >>

10 Steps to Fixing Your Texas Rangers

Seriously, Tom Hicks, Just Sell the Texas Rangers and Stop Pretending Like You Give a Damn

Tom Hicks: Wait Till Next Year … Or The Next ... Or The Next ...

This is The Last Time We'll Let Richie Explain Why the Mavs Were Bounced, Swear.

Play It Again, Sammy

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

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

Washington Monument

New Rangers manager injects hope and, yep, even optimism in Arlington

Wake Me Up, Before You Zi-to