Oakland Athletics

A Rangers-A's Open Thread, Because You Guys Aren't Getting Any Work Done Anyway

The good news: Meaningful day-time baseball. The bad news: It comes about a week too soon. The Rangers have one more crack at Oakland's swinging (and walking) A's this afternoon. It's win-and-they're-in, lose-and-they're-kind-of-in. Since workplace productivity will be in the tank anyway, we figu ... More >>

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 >>

Hope You Brought Your Glove to Work, Because We're Giving Away Some Bad-Ass Tix to Today's Rangers Game (Updated)

Update: We wussed out and used a random-number generator to choose a winner from the most creative responses. Your winner? Sarah: My boss is crazy. My husband is crazy. My home is regularly festooned with dog diarrhea. I recently broke my iPhone and my pinkie toe. Unrelated, I fell down last week a ... More >>

An Excuse For Hotdogs

Stealing the Mojo: Rangers-Cardinals World Series Game 3 Preview and Open Thread

Texas RangersIan Kinsler completes the best defensive play I've seen in my 25 years watching the Fall Classic -- a diving stop by Elvis Andrus and flip to Kinsler with his glove to end the fifth inning of Game 2. Just spectacular athleticism displayed by Andrus.​If you've read my piece about S ... 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 >>

Whitt's End: 9.23.11

​Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Doomsday scenario for Monday Night Football: Quarterback Jon Kitna. Running back DeMarco Murray. Receivers Kevin Ogletree, Jesse Holley and Dwayne Harris. Center Kevin Kowalski. Left guard ... More >>

Moneyball: The Formulas Work

Baseball story blends stats with heart.

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 >>

Moneyball's Jonah Hill Is Looking Forward to Finally Meeting the Real Ron Washington

​What you see here, courtesy his Twitter account, is Jonah Hill throwing out the first pitch at yesterday's Chicago White Sox game at US Cellular Field. When we spoke a little while ago at his Uptown hotel, he insisted: The stands were empty because it was a day game, and because it was raining. " ... More >>

Moneyball My Ass. The Oakland A's are Flat-Out Embarrassing.

​The much-anticipated movie Moneyball opens in theaters next week. Perhaps the Oakland A's should insert Brad Pitt into their give-a-shit lineup, because he can't be any worse than what they're currently trotting out there. Didn't see a lot of Texas 8, Oakland 1 Sunday because I was fixated ... More >>

Whitt's End: 9.9.11

​Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *When Jerry Jones admits his team has to "walk before we can run," that's code for "rebuilding." 8-8. *The Jets may well kill the Cowboys Sunday, but aren't we glad Dallas isn't opening up ... More >>

Last Chance to Get in Line for Rangers Playoff Tickets, Fingers Crossed, and Other Game Notes

It's Colby v. McCarthy tonight. Hang on.​Nice to see our sports columnist thinks the race for the AL West is "over." Still, though, coulda sworn the Rangers have 18 games left on the schedule, including three against the Angels at season's end; the magic number remains a far-from-over 17. Guess th ... More >>

Rangers-Angels: Weren't We Just Here?

​We know the Rangers are better than the crappy Mariners and A's. Now can they put away the AL West's second-best team, the Angels? Fresh off a sweep in Oakland that improved them to 19-7 against the division's two cellar-dwellers, the Rangers tonight can begin winning the West. But, c ... More >>

Of Baseball's Litany of Dumb Rules, the Wet Dream Tops the List. Right Mitch Moreland?

​Going to Frisco tonight for the debut of Cuban defector/Texas Rangers' stud prospect Leonys Martin. Or am I? Maybe I'll go and sit in traffic and have a hot dog and two cold ones and Martin will dazzle with a two hits and a stolen base and ... then it will rain and I'll drive home like i ... More >>

C.J. Wilson and Supermodel Chanel Iman Will Get Your Rangers Panties in a Twist

​Meant to get to this two days ago, when Texas Rangers Executive Vice President of Communications John Blake sent out the announcement, but it's not too late to make it to NorthPark Center by 1 p.m. That's when C.J. Wilson and Chanel Iman (well, hello) are scheduled to stop by Victoria's Secret to ... More >>

Give Ron Washington Credit for His Desperation Flip-Flop

​Rangers' manager Ron Washington loves status quo. Likes the same ol' routine of it all. When something extraordinary happens in the game he delivers his pet philosophical phrase: "That's the way baseball go." But in the midst of watching his team lose seven of nine games and seven of eight ... More >>

The Rangers Aren't Winning, and Now C.J. Wilson is ... Whining?

​Hello, win column! third place.The Rangers started 9-1. But since Josh Hamilton broke his arm on that daring/dumb dash for home plate in Detroit on April 12, they're 9-17.That equals 18-18. That equals -- for the first time since April 30, 2010 -- third place in the AL West behind the Angels ... 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 >>

A Rangers Repeat? History Suggests Odds Are Long.

One Hit Wonders

Dear Santa: Please Put a World Series MVP Under the Tree. Pretty Please?

Matt Garza's widely considered to be the best starter available, but could a better pitcher be had for the right price?​It's almost Christmas, and the Texas Rangers haven't done anything to address the hole in the rotation left behind when Cliff Lee signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and th ... More >>

Rangers-Rays Game 1: This is Why Texas Traded for Cliff Lee

​Though they didn't pop the champagne in Oakland until Sept. 25, the Rangers clinched the AL West on July 9. That day changed a season. Changed a franchise's credibility. Changed October plans. That day, of course, brought Cliff Lee. The Texas Rangers now have a post-season polished pitching ... More >>

Should Josh Hamilton Have Celebrated With His Rangers' Teammates?

​I appreciate Josh Hamilton. Admire him. Think he should be this year's American League MVP. Really I do. But I would feel even better about him had he participated in last Saturday's locker-room celebration in Oakland with his alcohol-drenched Rangers' teammates. It's great news that yeste ... More >>

Without Hamilton the Texas Rangers are Just Joshin'

​Rangers lose. A's win. Rangers win. A's lose. Magic number this and first-round playoff match-up that. It's all about as meaningless as David Buehler's too-little-too-late 47-yard field goal if the Texas Rangers have to play October baseball without Josh Hamilton. Right? Hamilton is th ... More >>

How - and When - the West Was Won

​"It's Time", meet "It's Over." With an 11-4 thumping of the Detroit Tigers last night - combined with the Oakland A's loss in Kansas City - the Texas Rangers won their first American League West division championship since 1999. I know the magic number is 10 and there are still 18 games rema ... More >>

Rangers Reeling, But We're Not Worried. Yet. Right?

​The Texas Rangers haven't won a game since last Wednesday. They've dropped four in a row - including a 7-2 Labor Day thrashing at the hands of the Blue Jays in Toronto and one of the wildest, worst endings to a game you ever did see on Sunday in Minnesota - and seven of their last nine. Pitc ... More >>

Whitt's End: 9.3.10

​ Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *The Texas Rangers' slogan this season: "It's Time". The Texas Rangers' situation on September 3: "It's Over." With 29 games remaining, the Rangers could go 14-15 and the A's would have to go 24- ... More >>

Hey Rangers Fans, Cheer Up!

Not him. Not now.​Last time I was out at Rangers Ballpark - which was Wednesday - it was a warm-n-fuzzy joint. Texas was winning three in a row from the Twins, fans were drinking "Blue Light Special" $4 beer. The Rangers were comfortably in first place. All seemed well. But now? Booing. Are ... 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 >>

Cowboys/Rangers: Doozy of a Doubleheader

Both houses - big and little - will be jumping tonight.​To keep your life fresh and stimulated ask yourself this question: When's the last time I did something for the first time? My answer: Today. Can't recall ever going to a day/night football/baseball doubleheader where I could literally ... More >>

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 >>

Cliff Lee, The Texas Rangers New Pitching Ace, May Have A Sweet Stay In Arlington, But Also A Short One.

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 >>

Thanks to Dave Letterman: Dallas in Arlington!

Your First-Place Texas Rangers take on the one-game-back Oakland Athletics tonight at the Ballpark in Arlington -- first pitch in, oh, 15 minutes. After the game, you can switch it on over to CBS for the Late Show with David Letterman, where perfect-gamer Dallas Braden's throwing out the Top 10 list ... More >>

This is the Problem I Have With Rangers' Manager Ron Washington

​I like Ron Washington. Really do. I don't necessarily trust his relentless optimism about everything and I lost a lot of respect for him for using cocaine in the middle of last season, but I like him. There is a part of him, however, that I don't like. His in-game decisions as a basebal ... 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 >>

Moves by Rangers at Winter Meetings Has Our Baseball Weenie Harden-ing

Meet the Rangers' new ace: Rich Harden​Despite the financial restraints stemming from the team's unresolved ownership situation, Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels skillfully inked the most dominant free-agent starter at this week's Winter Meetings in Indianapolis without adding payroll ... More >>

Rangers Survive April, and The Aporkalypse

Dude is touching 57 on the gun today. Wow.Regardless the outcome of this afternoon's pitching duel between Vicente Padilla and Bobby Bragan, it's already - I'm sorry, I'm being told the Oakland pitcher is actually Dallas Braden - a successful April for the Texas Rangers. Not only has Texas no ... More >>

Like A Baseball Movie, Minus the Sap: Half Nelson Filmmakers Pour Out Some Sugar

Sugar follows Miguel "Sugar" Santos through a Major League Baseball recruiting operation, from his home in the Dominican Republic to a minor-league season in an IowaRyan Fleck and Anna Boden's debut Half Nelson was one of the highlights of 2006, a nuanced look at a young teacher in an inner-city sch ... More >>

Batters' Uppers

DTC goes out on a juice run

Status Woe

Insane Rangers again take similar path to identical destination

Balls of Fury

Hardball

Will the Rangers strike out against Jennie Bueno?

Washington Monument

Root, Root, Root for the Home Team

Blame Game

The Buck passes as Rangers go riches to rags

Best Chair Throw

Frank Francisco, Texas Rangers

Play Bargain

Lots of ball for less bling

Best Public Sculpture

Oakland Cemetery

Do over

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