Subject: Texas Rangers

• Are They Real or Fake?

  When it comes to your Texas Rangers, we're about to find out. Starting tonight at Yankee Stadium, the Rangers play their next 13 games against baseball's best teams - New York, the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers. Each of those teams is at least five games above .500. Against similar opponents this season, Texas is 2-10. In other words, come June 15th the Rangers will either still be in first place in the AL West, or the countdown to Cowboys' tr

  June 2, 2009

• Yankees 35, Spankees 13

  Trust him at your own peril.Guaranteed your Tuesday was better than the Texas Rangers. Josh Hamilton back on the disabled list. Another reminder why they can never ever trust Vicente Padilla. Allowed a 7-run inning to the Yankees, biggest against them all season. Even TV analyst Tom Grieve suffered a hamstring cramp during the telecast. Oh yeah, and Yankees 12, Rangers 3. Not a good start a tell-tale 13-game stretch against the best teams in baseball. After four games so fa

  June 3, 2009

• The Texas Strangers

  Seriously, who are these guys? With generally the same cast of characters that has face-planted out of the gate the last two seasons, the Texas Rangers are off to a dream start. Granted 2-0 gets only a subtle nod in Boston or New York or Anaheim, but in Arlington it's cause to get Laura Miller on the horn and dust off the Mavericks' old parade route. At least in September we won't have to hear the same old status woe from manager Ron Washington: Sept. 26, 2007: "We made it real tough

  April 9, 2009

• After a Dynamic Season Opener, Rangers Fans are Seeing Red

  The Rangers' debut was shockingly accessorized by pitching, defense and, don't look now, relevance.

  April 9, 2009

• Texas Rangers Have Given Their Fans Something to Cheer About, Entering June With The Second Best Record in Baseball.

  June 4, 2009

• One Kosher Statistic About Ian Kinsler's Hitting for the Cycle We'd Hate to Pass Over

  Now, Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler doesn't necessarily identify himself as Jewish -- his dad is, his mom ain't, and the guy was never bar mitzvahed. Though, as he told ESPN.com last August, he knows he's beloved in the Jewish community: "If you have any kind of Jewish ancestry attached to your name, people are going to notice it. Whenever we're in New York, Boston or Chicago, I always get some kind of question about it."Which is why last night, shortly after the Rangers pounded the Or

  April 16, 2009

• The Rangers Are Losing Games, but Not Tom Hicks. So Sorry.

  I can think of where Tom Hicks wasted $65 million.Just when some of you - okay, and most of me - blamed the Texas Rangers' weekend sweep in Detroit on the lack of a certain rosy-hued sartorial splendor, we've got a new scapegoat. The Rangers wore red again last night. But they also handed the ball to a left-handed reliever. After C.J. Wilson upchucked a 4-0 lead Sunday against the Tigers, Tuesday it was Eddie Guardado who tragically transformed a 3-3 tie into a 10-inning, 7-5 loss to

  April 15, 2009

• Did Mike Jacobs Save Ron Washington's Job?

  Because the Kansas City Royals couldn't catch the ball, the Texas Rangers hung on to their manager. For now. After a 3-0 start that feels like months ago, the Rangers are 5-7. Not good, especially considering nine of those 12 have been at home and half against the lowly Orioles and Royals. But as they tonight begin a seven-game road trip against the Toronto Blue Jays and the best pitcher in baseball (Roy Halladay), they have some momentum, and their manager. Barely. Rangers' management

  April 21, 2009

• 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 not had any players succumb to the international flu epigdemic - click here to see if you 'fraidy cats been infected - it will make it out of the season's first month with its best record since 2006. An

  April 30, 2009

• Whitt's End: 5.15.09

  Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Of the Texas Rangers' hot start - they are 20-14 compared to 14-20 last year - the most amazing feat is pitcher Matt Harrison's back-to-back complete games. If you're looking for Nolan Ryan's stamp on this team, there it is. The Rangers had only five complete games last year and none in '07. Ryan, who had six complete games for the Rangers as a 42-year-old and once threw 239 pitches in a gam

  May 15, 2009

• Mowed Down in Motown

  I Millwould've yanked Kevin in the 8th. You? Well, you were warned. Actually, the Texas Rangers played decent baseball in Detroit this week despite a three-game sweep. Just not so sure they played smart baseball. Especially in this afternoon's 4-3 loss to the Tigers, their franchise-record 11th consecutive defeat in Detroit. Nursing a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the 8th, Kevin Millwood allowed a two-out RBI single to Miguel Cabrera on his 119th pitch. The good news is that for the first

  May 21, 2009

• 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 ... Real. I think. I mean, the Rangers are still in first place by 2.5 games. But those ominous sounds in the distance are the Angels charging and Rangers optimism melting. Didn't see a lot of Rangers' gam

  June 15, 2009

• The Top 10 All-Time Texas Rangers in the History of Ever

  Very cool moment last night: The greatest player in Texas Rangers history - now a Houston Astro - smacks a 5th-inning homer and receives a standing ovation. Stay classy, Arlington. On a day when Toby Harrah and Ruben Sierra were elected into the Rangers' Hall of Fame, Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez reminded us that he is the best player to ever wear a Texas uniform. Right? During his short stint as the franchise's best thrower - I said thrower, not pitcher - Nolan Ryan may have been a smidge m

  June 17, 2009

• George W. Bush's Fancy Box

  As Tom Hicks is looking to sell his majority stake in the Texas Rangers, this MLB.com item concerning tonight's invite-only doings at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington will no doubt prompt reckless speculation:The Rangers are renaming the owner's suite at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington after President George W. Bush. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, was the Rangers' managing general partner from 1989-94 before becoming Governor of Texas. The suite, located directly behind home plate

  June 18, 2009

• 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 plopped on the couch not believing my eyes. Ricky Barnes leading the U.S. Open in a train conductor's cap. And the Rangers - long the best boppers in the American League - going 34 at-bats without a hit

  June 22, 2009

• Lights Out!

  Welcome to the dark side.Over on The Ticket, Mike Rhyner (aka "Baseball Jesus", the cockiest nickname in the history of sports, by the way) is quick to identify the "catastrophic moment." The play/incident/injury/whatever that signals the beginning of the end each Texas Rangers' season. Over the past 37 years it's usually been multiple choice. But what about this one? Though the Rangers are still above .500 and still tied for the lead in the American League West, we have a candidate. June

  June 24, 2009

• Will Your Texas Rangers Ever See First Place Again?

  Maybe we starting celebrating singles?Notable deaths in the last week: Ed McMahon. Farrah Fawcett. Michael Jackson. Billy Mays. The Texas Rangers? After getting 1-hit last night by someone named Chad Gaudin and losing two of three to a San Diego Padres outfit that hadn't won a series since Memorial Day, a Rangers' team that led the American League West by 4 1/2 games on June 13 enters this week's three-game series against Anaheim suddenly trailing the Angels by 1 1/2. The Ranger

  June 29, 2009

• Angels 5, Faders 2

  Time to switch sagas?The good news: The Texas Rangers got seven more hits and two more runs last night than they did on Sunday. The bad news: They suck. With a 5-2 loss to the Angels, the Rangers - who held a 5 1/2-game lead to start the month - are now 2 1/2 games in arrears as we stumble into July. Again, pitcher Vicente Padilla wasn't horrible, but Texas managed only two runs on back-to-back solo homers by David Murphy and Marlon Byrd. The Rangers are 10-15 in June and flirting with th

  June 30, 2009

• Hank Blalock Saves Frankie Francisco's Ass/Texas Rangers' Season

  Bacon saved. Barely.The Rangers tip-toed perilously close to a lost season last night. Instead, they wound up jumping all over a won game. I know we're only two days into July, but coughing up a 7-1 lead and losing to the AL West division leaders last night might have been a kick to the crotch the Rangers never recovered from. It came thiiiiiiiis close to happening. Closer Frankie Francisco - maybe it's time for C.J. Wilson to get the role? - walked two Angels and surrendered a

  July 2, 2009

• Rangers Win Again; Chris Davis Finally Loses

  Who will we see in Arlington next: Him or Justin Smoak?Let's play three strikes with your Texas Rangers. Your first-place Texas Rangers. Yes, I am surprised. And impressed. Steeeriiiike One - Chris Davis demoted. Davis is a good guy with a great glove, but the Rangers could afford to be patient with him no longer. You can swallow a .200-hitting Gold Glove catcher, but not a first baseman. When the Rangers headed for Anaheim last night for a fun three-game series with the Angels,

  July 6, 2009

• Glass Halfway Full? Or Empty?

  Well, that sucked.With one All-Star back in the lineup and another shoulda-been All-Star on the mound, the Texas Rangers began their crucial three-game series in Anaheim last night by promptly taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The next time there was good news for Josh Hamilton, Kevin Millwood and the Rangers - courtesy of an Ian Kinsler homer in the 7th - they trailed 9-2. Sometimes an All-Star snub motivates a player to a spectacular performance in his next game. So

  July 7, 2009

• Rangers Win Game, Lose Potential Owner?

  Getting cold feet?Talked yesterday afternoon to David McDavid , he of the best odds to buy the Texas Rangers from Tom Hicks. Nothing definitive, but the auto tycoon has cooled slightly on the idea of owning our baseball team to the point where he said he is - for now - "leaning against it." McDavid also echoed team president Nolan Ryan's stance from last week: That any change-of-ownership won't happen until after this season. So plenty time - fingers crossed - for him to change his m

  July 8, 2009

• The Texas Strangers No More

  Chicks dig the long ball. We all love the fireworks. But nobody is connected to home runs like your Texas Rangers. I know they have 20 sacrifice bunts, 78 stolen bases and a committment to try and manufacture runs this season, but in the end - same as it ever was - seems the Rangers' offense is predicated on one big swing. Or, as was the case in last night's 6-3 win over the Red Sox, lots of them. On the heels of snapping a four-game losing streak thanks to Ian Kinsler's bookend h

  July 21, 2009

• Jon Daniels: "Go For it" or "Stick To It"?

  ​Two years after sitting down with Texas Rangers' general manager Jon Daniels for this positive story with the negative headline, I had a long chat with him last week. Daniels deserves tons of credit for Texas' No. 1 farm system, for strokes of genius like Andruw Jones and Darren O'Day and Elvis Andrus, and for, let's face it, shoving the Rangers into a pennant race a year ahead of schedule. But as Friday's trading deadline approaches, Daniels has a dilemma. Pitchers like Ian Snell a

  July 30, 2009

• Rangers’ GM Jon Daniels Has Matured Into One of Baseball’s Best Brains

  August 6, 2009

• Rangers 2, Angels 1

  ​How you get shut down by Gio Gonzalez and then light up John Lackey I'll never know, but your Texas Rangers deflected the dirt from their coffin in Anaheim this weekend. I still don't think they'll catch the Angels or make the playoffs, but taking two of three in California keeps baseball relevant past mid-August. For the year before the year, it's an amazing season. Derek Holland was devastating in yesterday's complete-game, 7-0 shutout win. His fastba

  August 10, 2009

• Texas Rangers: Soar, Then Stoop

  Some days the Rangers seem legit; others full of saline.​Got this "friend" named Newy Scruggs. He has his theory that the Texas Rangers "play well against the big boys." Hogwash I'd tell him, until the Rangers took two of three against the Angels last weekend. Then I watch Texas last night and - yep - I'm starting to embrace all sides of Newy's thesis. Including the flip-side which mandates that while the Rangers play up to their competition, they also stoop down to it. Evidence: Indian

  August 12, 2009

• Balls Deep

  August 13, 2009

• The Resilient Rangers

  Now that's more like it.​Okay, I'm impressed. Friday night's kick-to-the-crotch loss to the Boston Red Sox felt like that moment. Big game. Big crowd. Gigantic implosion. Frankie Francisco's blown save - six runs - felt like the big-bang instant in which a demoralized, gutted bunch of Texas Rangers' youngsters starts sinking in the standings, inexorably chained to the weight of an emotional defeat. I likened it to a guy going to a club, catching the eye of an extremely hot, outta-his-le

  August 17, 2009

• 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 Washington credit. The guy is an unflappable optimist. At times to a fault, he trusts his players. "Frankie's never been quite right since an early-season visit to the DL." "He can't pit

  August 18, 2009

• BREAKING NEWS: Pudge a Ranger, Again!

  ​Wow. The greatest all-time Texas Ranger is coming home. Despite Kevin Richardson's two-hit debut in last night's win, the Texas Rangers are this close to trading for catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez. The deal, according to a team source I just got off the phone with, would send two "mid-level" prospects to the Houston Astros. This, of course, is a five-star sign that management is in full-throttle, go-for-it mode.

  August 18, 2009

• Dallas' Fantasy Roster

  No. 12 in your football program ... No. 12 on our fantasy roster.​When I say No. 22, who comes to mind? Do you immediately think of the Dallas Cowboys' all-time best runner? Or their all-time best rusher? Or perhaps instead the second-leading all-time scorer in the history of the Dallas Mavericks? The quest is to attach a Dallas/Fort Worth player to every sports uniform 0-99. A fantasy roster, if you will. The criterion for determining which local athlete "owns" a specific number is as

  August 25, 2009

• Rangers 10, Yankees 9. Frank(ie)ly, That Was Too Close For Comfort.

  ​Random thoughts after a roller-coaster, thrilling, frustrating, sweat-stained best game of the Rangers' season: *From 0-4 to 2-4 to 7-4 to 7-5 to 10-5 to 10-9, seriously, what a damn entertaining baseball game. *Elvis Andrus turns 21 today. His baseball IQ turns 219. *I watched the game at a bar, so maybe it was just me. But that game wasn't in HD wasn't it? *Something's not right with Kevin Millwood. Of course without him allowing a 4-spot in the 1st the Rangers wouldn't have been

  August 26, 2009

• Whitt's End: 8.28.09

  ​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Okay, let me snap off this Olive branch and extend it to the Christians this week. Peace? *Props to 103.3 FM ESPN Radio's Randy Galloway for landing the first in-depth interview with Texas Rangers' outfielder Josh Hamilton since you know what. And props to Josh for sticking with his faith. "The Lord's been glorified a lot more," Hamilton told Galloway on Wednesday. "Jesus' name has been in the

  August 28, 2009

• Some Random, Frustrated Thoughts on Your Texas Rangers

  Yeah, he had some help. But he blew it.​*Catching and throwing the ball has rarely been a problem this season, but yesterday's 5-3 loss was hideously reminiscent of years gone by. First off, I blame C.J. Wilson. The worst thing you can do when protecting a 1-run lead is walk the leadoff man. Nelson Cruz made an error and Hank Blalock made a high throw and - considering they got only eight hits and scored only eight runs in three games at the Metrodome - the tiny margin fo

  August 31, 2009

• Rangers 5-5, Blue Jays 2-2. My Top 10 Observations.

  'Twas a sweep. Get it?​10. I'm impressed. Your Texas Rangers bounced back from Monday's gut-wrenching 18-10 loss with typical, testosteroned resiliency. Granted, the Blue Jays suck - 18 runs one night; last night only 12 hits in 18 innings - but the Rangers could've caved. They didn't. 9. I was reminded last night that there's something really special about meaningful September baseball. The crowd was only 17,203 - I swear there weren't more than 500 people in the park for the day'

  September 2, 2009

• Texas Rangers Win Again, Issue a Press Release That'll Blow Your Mind

  Not sure why I had a Christmas ham under my cap. But at least I can prove I'm a Rangers' lifer.​They've lost Michael Young (two weeks with a hammy) and now maybe even Josh Hamilton (left last night's game with back ouchie). But, give them credit, your Texas Rangers haven't lost hope. And why should they? Allow me to quickly clarify my position: I don't think the Rangers will make the playoffs, but I sure as hell hope they do. I've been a fan since watching Frank Howard whistle a homer o

  September 3, 2009

• The Texas Rangers and Their Holland Tunnel

  Now isn't the time for potential. It's the time for production. Right?​The Rangers' past is sucky and their future is murky. There are frightening skeletons in the closet and financial potholes down the road. The present, however, smells delicious. That's why Derek Holland should be taken out of the starting rotation and replaced by Dustin Nippert. Love Holland. He's 23 with tremendous potential. But with the Rangers throwing meaningful pitches in September for only the fifth time

  September 8, 2009

• The Resilient Rangers: Episode XLV

  This Rangers' playoff run has had more twists and turns than a ... well, you know.​At this point don't fear the valleys, just enjoy the roller-coaster. Just when - yet again - it seemed your Texas Rangers were going to fall out of playoff contention by not scoring a single run in their last 15 innings in Baltimore, this happens. The resilient Rangers, playing without big bats Michael Young and Josh Hamilton, last night scored 21 runs on 31 hits (Marlon Byrd had seven) in sweep

  September 9, 2009

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

  September 10, 2009

• 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 Mariners, he'll be serenaded by cheers from frenzied fans and by the pulsating sounds of Omega - a hot Latin artist from his Dominican Republic - courtesy of Rangers' in-game entertainmant guru

  September 10, 2009

• Sorry Rangers Fans, You Don't Deserve the Playoffs

  ​I raised the white flag a while back. Apparently you guys finally gave up, um, last night. With the Texas Rangers in the middle of a pennant race for only the fourth time in their 37-year history and Cy Young candidate Scott Feldman pitching against a very beatable opponent, an announced crowd of 13,669 showed up Monday night at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. I watched some of this on TV and it didn't look like more than 9,000. At one point I heard Ian Kinsler calling

  September 15, 2009

• What's Next, Kevin Millwood on Waivers?

  ​Buddy of mine took his 9-year-old to the Rangers game Monday night in Arlington. Kid, not surprisingly, wanted some ice cream. In one of those cool, plastic Rangers helmet cups. One problem: "They didn't have any Rangers helmet cups," my buddy tells me. "They had run out. They told us they only had Dodgers and Astros. I asked if they were getting Texas cups in and it was like 'Uh, not until next season.' They just shrugged. It was like a going-out-of-business sale and all the good stuff

  September 16, 2009

• Whitt's End: 10.2.09

  ​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Former Carter High School star Michael Crabtree may not be a bad guy, but he's following some horrible advice. Friend of a friend of Crabtree tells me that he and the 49ers remain $10 million apart in contract negotiations and that the former Red Raiders receiver is indeed prepared to sit out the season. He's living in Florida, by the way, working out daily with a personal trainer and cat

  October 2, 2009

• The Rangers May Be Out But They Are Not Down--Not Come Next April

  October 8, 2009

• BREAKING NEWS: Rudy Jaramillo is Going, Going ... Gone!

  ​The Rangers season is over. The Rangers' hitting coach career is also kaput. Not saying it he's a bad coach. Just saying it's time. The official release ...

  October 14, 2009

• Report from Reuters: Just Maybe, the Texas Rangers Will Be Sold By the End of the Year

  ​I see the Texas Rangers can't afford to refund True Believers' playoff-ticket money till November at best -- klassy! But good news, Rangers fans: Reuters reports today that the three parties interested in taking the team off Tom Hicks's debt-heavy hands are due to meet with management as soon as next week in the hopes of getting a new owner installed sooner than later. As in:The goal is to have a winner identified by late November and a sale completed by year end, said the sources, who asked

  October 15, 2009

• Whitt's End: 10.16.09

  ​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *According to my very unscientific research conducted on this very blog over the last two years, the most sensitive, whiny, irrational folks on Earth are: 1. Ticket P1s; 2. Right-wing Republicans; 3. Oklahoma fans. So if you wore your OU T-shirt while turning off 1310 AM just long enough to vote for George Dubya, my apologies sympathies. *Biggest disappointment through five Cowboys ga

  October 16, 2009

• Would-Be Owners of Your Texas Rangers Have Been Parading Through Arlington This Week

  ​Reuters was right: Last week, the news service reported that the three parties interested in taking the Texas Rangers off Tom Hicks's hands would be in Arlington this week to meet and greet with team bigwigs. And, so far, so good: According to Official Statements from the LeMaster Group, which handles Hicks's PR, Houston's freight-train Jim Crane "and his advisors" paid Rangers Ballpark a visit on Tuesday; and, yesterday, the team has a visitor from Pittsburgh. Says the release we received la

  October 22, 2009

• This Year's Dallas Video Festival to Pay Tribute to Chuck Morgan. About Damned Time.

  Texas Rangers​During its 22 years of existence, the Dallas Video Festival has paid tribute to a great many pioneers and visionaries, among them Monty Python's Terry Gilliam, Robert Smigel, Paul Reubens, Martin Mull, Mike Judge, Mystery Science Theater 3000's Joel Hodgson and Slam Bang Theater creator Bill Camfield. To that list, add another great: Chuck Morgan, otherwise known as The Voice of the Texas Rangers."He's the auteur of stadium video," DVF founder Bart Weiss tells Unfair Park. "What

  October 29, 2009