Official Apology

Sorry Kenny. Didn't know it was going to turn out to be a blood clot. I honestly do feel bad. Get healthy soon.

As for Los Rangers, I'm taking this terrible rain as a bad omen. First game back in town, and I'm ready to get in the bath tub and cover up with a matress. Hopefully things will be better tomorrow.

With opening day this weekend, I hae heard some crazy talk on the radio but the nuttiest may have come from our own Newberg. On an interview with The Ticket's Ben and Skin, I heard Newberg compare Blalock to George Brett. Are you kidding me? Some nonsense about getting back to what got him to the majors and hitting the other way. Sorry. Hank never has been able to go opposite field, and I've never been a fan of his because of that very reason. Sorry about that George. People get a little insane this time of year.

Poor, Tired Kenny

Not enough sitcky stuff in the world to wake up that tired arm. Funny how when it comes time to pitch again and everyone is going to be looking at his palm, Rogers is going on the DL and needs a specialist. We could have used his numbers last year, but we don't need him, especially if it meant a multi-year deal.

Time to Panic?

The White Sox are 9-21 this spring. This is Danks' line from yesterday:
J Danks (L,2-1) 4 2-3 8 6 6 6 4 1

That's right. Six walks. Seen similar lines this week. Too day it's from out number one and two pitchers. I just keep telling myself, "It's Spring."

Man I'm still pissed about the ball girls. Just say that hotties put butts in the seats and grab a few gals from Hooters. I'm sure they can handle foul territory.

So True?

I rarely use the word "hate," but I hate when people lie to me; and I think the Rangers are not telling the TRUTH about hiring ball girls. This from VP Alicia Nevins:
We're trying to provide an equal opportunity for females and males," Ms. Nevins said. "There really has not been a way for females to actually participate on the field of play in Major League Baseball."
OK. So I bought that until I saw that the girls will be wearing uniforms sponsored by True.com. Seen the ads for this dating site? Stereotypical and offensive to women. This bothers me more than anything the Rangers have done in years.

I've been a fan of the team for my entire life, not because they win (obviously), but becuase I've liked the team. The unforms. The players. And unlike the other sports teams in Dallas, I'm more willing to deal with losing if we do it the right way with the right people. This advertising ploy isn't what this team is about. Or at least what it use to be about.

24?

But this wasn't Fox's thriller starring Keifer Sutherland. This as the real time debacle of a floundering Ranger's pitching staff against an up and coming Padre team. Yesterday's game starred Millwood, Wilson, and Gagne all getting knocked around. Are there three pitchers we're going to count on more?

On a side note. Terrmel Sledge and Adrain Gonzalex went a combined 6 for 8 with 5 rbi's. I'd love to have Sledge instead of Wilkerson and Gonzalez would give us a Tex replacement (or a current dh) if he decides to leave. Sigh.

TR's Notes

Sullivan has a few tid bits in his latest "Notes" section. Apparently Wright is solid at the 5 spot despite giving up 5 runs in 5 innings and making an error. I'm not sure I buy the idea that a long reliever may be more important during the first month, so that's a better fit for Loe. If that's the case, maybe we should put Loe in someone else's spot who is going to be pulled for long relief.

So long, Bauer. Disappointed with this one. Our bullpen needs to be strong this year and losing the Bauer of last year is going to hurt. Benoit looked awesome last night, but Wilson must have something wrong (sore fingers from blogging or too much focus on making movies?).

Last is back up catcher. The broadcasters last night made it seem like Ojeda had the job but Sullivan makes it sound like Stewart will be behind Laird. That might be a more important decision that has been given attention, at least by us, the huddled masses. Link.

Sammy on Page 2

Jeff Pearlmen has an article on ESPN's page two that makes fun of Sammy Sosa. Well, at least his non-answering of steroid allegations in front of Congress and sudden lack of English. Link.

Hey Pearlmen, it's a tired bit, go back to diggin up trouble for Barry Bonds. Seems like you've done enough to get him busted. Oh, you haven't. Well the next time you come to Dallas, I've got a new shovel for you, and before you start digging, make sure there isn't anything buried in your past that you'd hate for people to find out.

Beat This, Sammy

I hope Sammy is coming up with some tricked up celebration for his first home run after being out a year. He should check out Zuleta's dance for some inspiration.

Danks Officially 5th Starter

South Side Sox blog has a quote by Ozzie Guillen naming Danks starter number five and sounding a lot like Washington. "The way he throws, Danks should be on the club," Guillen said. "He throws strikes and attacks the [strike] zone. What I see, I like and I think [general manager] Kenny Williams will agree with what I say." Link.

Sounds exactly like what's being preached around here, so why did we get rid of him? Masset has shown some flashes also. Ho hum.

Ranger Pitching Flamebroiled?

WGN announcers said John Danks is "a toe ahead of his competition" right now. Anyone checked out Chris Young and Adrian Gonzalez lately. Hot as a spicy Tendrcrisp and it looks like we're short on starters again. McCarthy's ERA is over 10! Chen struggled last time. Padilla is all over the place. Loe is spastic. Wright, not so much.

Good thing we have all that depth in the pen with Littleton, Bauer, Wilson, ...ooops.

As long as Sosa keeps jacking homers we'll be ok.

Chen Music

I see that people are singing Chen's praises after his great spring start, but check this out. He stunk last year because he threw 197 innings in 2005 with the Orioles. That is 50 more than 2002, 2003, and 2004 COMBINED! No wonder he went 0 and 7 with an ERA of nearly 7 with the O's.

In 2001 he threw about 150 innings in 27 starts and only started 6 games for three teams the next year. If he stays hot the early part of the season and can give us a month or two in the fifth spot, ride him and then ship him out quickly. Link to his stats.

Littleton...Little Right

What's the deal with Wes Littleton? That guy couldn't put out a candle right now. Not sure we have the bullpen depth we thought we had, and we're going to need plenty of arms out of the pen. Link to last years numbers.

Edinson is No Skywalker

Little bothers me more than crap about how coaches or fans or teammates have hurt a player's confidence. So Buck and Hart may have derailed Volquez because of rushing his development. No! Their problem was believing in a man who doesn't believe in himself. A player that can't overcome adversity will be no more than mediocre at the plate or throwing to it.

All teams that win championships are fueled by a confidence that they are the best. Not lip service, but an inspiration, many times fueled by a superstar, that elevates everyone's consciousness to a premier level. No matter the profession, the best at what they do have been considered outstanding for most of their existence, but each of these people reaches a point when he has to work for it, maybe the first time in his life (think Luke with Yoda) and those that are tough enough become the pinnacle (Jedi's).

Anyone that weak needs to be cut so that his insecurities do not infect others. Adios.

Best BaseBrawls

We all know which one is the best, but Chan Ho's crazy kick is outrageous.

Robot DH

I say we trade Botts or Sosa for this sweet hitting robot.

Bat Making 101

Great video about how baseball bats are made. I found it first at Stumble Video. Wonder if Sosa used this when crafting his exploding bat a few years back.

The Art of Catching Foul Balls

I bet a bunch of you have heard of Zack Hample, but I just came across his interview with CBS news where he describes how to snag a foul ball. Just one of those video that makes you smile and remember your first.
I think we all know someone like Zack.

Francico...Francisco...Coco

OK, I get it now. Never quite got why Cordero went by "Coco." Sure, it could have been because of the last two letters of his first name and first two letters of his last, but based on the observations of The Card Critic, I'm not sure Cordero knows how to spell his own name. The blog also has a shot of the back of the card which seems poorly desinged. I might go out and buy a pack today.

Get to Know Kenny

Dave Sessions of the FWST offers insight into Kenny Lofton, Texas' new one year rental for lead-off and center. I've always been a Lofton fan, but there's no doubt in my mind that if he has the season I hope he has, he will not be back next year, and we'll start back over. Link.

Delucci Ready for Big Year

Anthony Castrovince has a good article up about Delucci's potential in the prolific Indian's line-up. I'm sure he'll do well. Funny how he's back with Buck now after his departure seemed to have such a negative effect on the clubhouse last season. Link.

Good, Bad, and the Ugly from 3/5

Most impressive from today's game:
1. Miguel Ojeda. Follows a great sac. bunt with a huge jack over the mini monster in center field. Threw out a runner stealing second and settled down Francisco when he needed it (no thanks to Hairston...he'll show up later)

2. Baserunning. Stole a few bases. Great call for the double steal after Affeldt was hit by the liner.

3. AJ Murray and Scott Rice. If you didn't hang in there for the entire game. These lefties pitvhed the 8th and 9th. Both kept the ball down and challenged hitters with strikes. Can't say the same about all our pitchers today.

4. Bott's triple was nice as well, but letting that liner fall in front of him out in left shows how he's not even close to ready to play outfield.

Bad:
1. Wilkerson did have a gapper, but he just can't keep striking out like he does.

2. Tex hardly played, but he looked lost in while striking out. Almost seems like he's thinking too much. Just hit the ball. Maybe it's those ugly batting gloves.

3. Fielding up the middle. Hairston did make a couple good flips, but botching the easy double play ball really hurt Francisco. Franky was struggling but has just gotten the last hitter to fly out and induced the inning ender, but Hairston's error led to a long inning. Same for Kinsler's stumble on Kaz's hit. How did he beat out a grounder to second. Cruz also misplayed a ball hit to center. We can't afford to give up extra outs, especially early in games. More pitches for our starters = trouble.

4. Benoit needs to get the ball down. Littleton didn't impress me either.

The Ugly:
1. Chris Stewart. Stewart looked like a man that got to play because he had the highest bid in a charity auction. His passed ball on a Littleton pitch was ridiculous. Almost as bad as his at bat. He watched two pitches go by and then gave a Greg Maddux courtesy wave at the third strike.

2. Todd Donovan, when put in to run for Ojeda, put on his batting gloves when he got to first base. I've seen guys take them off and squeeze them to protect their fingers when they slide, but putting on the gloves when you get to first base? Silly.

Super Athlete

Daniel Coyle of the NY Times has written an article exploring the development of the "Super Athlete." Being a tennis coach, his observation of the Spartak Little Group is interesting, but it made me think about how the best in baseball have come to reach their peak. In baseball, professionals seem to emerge from the most varied paths of all professional sports, and they seem the hardest to predict.

Anyway. The article is great and worth the read, even if you have no interest in tennis. For shame. Link.

CJ Wilson Blog

CJ's blog is great. Funny and informative. The Rangers are playing a great preseason game today. Pitching has been great. Arias is smacking balls. Sosa homered. So far so good. Shhh. I know it's the Royals. Link.

Reeves Scattershoots

Jim Reeves of the FWST has a few Ranger's notes in a recent article. Mainly the same stuff about Young's contract meaning Tex's departure and an interesting note about how the No. 2 spot should be swinging away with Lofton on base. So much for manufacturing runs. Link.

The Tex news bothers me though. If signing both would cost too much, why the heck did we get rid of Adrian Gonzalez? He's going to be one of the best bargains in the National League. By 2009, most of the rest of the other position guys will be gone as well. Anyone counting on Lofton, Wilkerson, Cat, Byrd, Sosa, etc. still being here then. Laird may bolt if he turns out to really produce, and if Hank becomes the player we need him to be, how are we going to sign him?

Baseball 2K7

What's the best baseball video game?