According to this link on the ESPN site, NYY has filled its catching vacancy by adding Former Ranger Great Pudge Rodriguez. Pudge waived his no trade with the motivation of escaping Detroit, a crappy city with a mediocre baseball team.

For his services, Detroit acquired the Ever-Desirable Kyle Farnsworth.

I don't think there's much question that Cashman and Co. would have preferred Laird to Pudge; but recall, the packages we were unsure if we would TAKE involved players significantly more valuable than Farnsworth. I don't like the Tigers in this deal unless there's a PTBNL involved.

Additionally, BP reports that Florida is on the verge of acquiring Manny.

Per the DMN.....

Supposedly, the cheapest seats in the new stadium will go for $59. The most expensive seats will be priced at $125.

Obviously, there won't be many individual tickets to be sold, as one will have to purchase a season ticket plan which includes preseason games as well as regular contests.

The seat licenses remain exorbitant, but evidently they are not obligatory for all seats.

You know what? That's not as outrageous as I thought it would be. I'm sure Jerry could squeeze more money than that out of the masses much like the Steinbrenner family is going to do with Yankees Stadium 2.0, but he didn't want to alienate his fanbase. Demand will be incredible, but the blue-collar Cowboys fan will get to see the occasional game.

Howdy, y'all. Unfortunately, God has planned the Jewish holidays in a manner which will kill my draft experience this year. The 7th and 8th days of passover will forbid me from following it in any way, so I'm somehow missing both draft days. I will be more anxious than Brady Quinn a year ago and more pissed off than Mark Cuban during the same general timeline on sunday night. Gah!

Anyway, I saw Grizz's post about people posting their predictions tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, that's not really an option for me. So here it is; I'm sure you've all been pining for my always-reserved opinions.

Firstly, random predictions. Possible sliders: DRC,Mendenhall, James Hardy. I think a lot of teams are going to be worried by the lack of footage available on Cromartie, as intrigued as they are by his physical abilities. There's virtually no good film of him in college, andpeople are drawing their entire assessment based on a senior bowl tape. Mendenhall's stock actually seems to be lower than Stewart's for the first time since the combine. I don't know why, but people are bagging on him. I'd be shocked if it was Peter King's wonderment about his inability to win a starting job prior to this year, but that's what the opinion dropoff seems to have coincided with.  Hardy's a tremendous red zone threat who lacks polish and has significant character issues. He's a top 15 talent who will likely end up in round 2.

2. St. Louis Rams: Chris Long

3. Atlanta Falcons: Glenn Dorsey

4. Oakland Raiders: Darren McFadden

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Vernon Gholston

6. New York Jets: Matt Ryan

 7. New England Patriots: Derrick Harvey

8. Baltimore Ravens: Branden Albert

9. Cincinnati Bengals: Sedrick Ellis

10. New Orleans Saints: Keith Rivers

11. Buffalo Bills: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

 12. Denver Broncos: Chris Williams

13. Carolina Panthers:Ryan Clady

14. Chicago Bears: Jeff Otah

15. Detroit Lions: Leodis McKelvin

16. Arizona Cardinals: Jerod Mayo

17. Kansas City Chiefs: Gosder Cherilus

18. Houston Texans: Jonathan Stewart

19. Philadelphia Eagles: Devin Thomas

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rashard Mendenhall

21. Washington Redskins: Phillip Merling

22. Dallas Cowboys: Mike Jenkins

If this scenario comes to pass, the Cowboys will be beyond elated. Jenkins is the best player left on the board and adds to what is becoming an incredible secondary. Jenkins has some character issues, but is as good a cover corner as is availabe on the entire board. In addition to providing security for an Adam Jones meltdown, this addition will completely wipe out the possibility of any team desiring to go 4-wide against us.            23. Pittsburgh Steelers: Calais Campbell

24. Tennessee Titans: Limas Sweed

25. Seattle Seahawks: Kenny Phillips

26. Jacksonville Jaguars: Desean Jackson

27. San Diego Chargers: Felix Jones

28. Dallas Cowboys: Jamaal Charles

I realize that I'm defying convention by going with Charles, and it may seem like homerism toward a Longhorn. Charles, however, is a legitimate first round talent who complements MB as well as any running back left on the board. I am of the mind that this team is not searching for additional young wideouts, and besides the only three worth taking at this juncture are gone. If Charles can get over his fumbling problems as many talented runners have done in the past (Think Tiki Barber) he could be an immensely productive player.

I 29. San Francisco 49ers: Quentin Groves

30. Green Bay Packers: Aqib Talib

31. New York Giants: Dan Connor

Cowboys (61):DaJuan Morgan. Why Morgan? He's a talented player who projects as both a free and strong safety. While raw and injury prone, he should become a regular contributor if given some time to learn the craft. That makes him a great fit here; Ken Hamlin will likely become a free agent after this season, and Roy Williams' future is just as unsure as our knowledge of how many times he will be burned by a tight end. Cowboys (92): Jeremy Zuttah. Zuttah's strengths are his versatility and athletic ability. (Starting to see a pattern?) As SI announcer guy will inform you in the video below, Zuttah is a workout warrior, finishing amongst the top OL performers in four different events. He is probably a developmental prospect, but there's no need to rush with our line. It will be good to rest easy, however, knowing that an injury to Andre Gurode will no longer knock out any semblance of an offense. Plus,I'm pining to get a replacement for Kyle Kosier. ;) Cowboys (163) Frank Okam. Without a question my favorite semi-obscure player in this draft. Okam transcends the adjective 'massive'; he's the largest defensive player in this draft pool. This man is a powerful run stopper and demands multiple blockers; the definition of a nose tackle to me. When I brought his name up to Norm Hitzges a few weeks ago, he dismissed Okam as being too tall to play the nose. Bullocks! I've never understood how that was considered a slight. His flaws? He's an underachiever who takes plays off. He won't be asked to start here, so there's no reason to think he won't be productive during his limited snaps. In addition, he hails from my favored university, and-best of all- he scored a 39 on the Wonderlic score, which (very) roughly translates to an IQ of 138. This is a football player who plans to go to law school. Please, Jerry, make this happen! Cowboys (167): Peyton Hillis. There aren't many needs on this team, but fullback's one of them. Deon Andersen showed some promise while on the field, but sustained a major injury that may persist in plaguing his career. The biggest thing I look for in a fullback is the Moose factor; I want to see him block. Unfortunately, reports on all of the top fullbacks in this class have been very inconclusive on that front. The consensus, however, appears to be that Hillis is the most capable in that respect. Also a capable receiver who ran well out of the backfield, he could conceivably take over as the team's third running back. Cowboys (235) Matt Flynn. There's nothing wrong with grooming a young backup QB, and this draft should have some fine options available in the later rounds. Flynn hails from the national champion and displays a lot of the traits you want from your backup QB. He takes care of the ball, displays good accuracy, and shows a never-say-die attitude. Adept at eluding pass-rushers and blessed with enough speed to cut between blockers and parley the situation into a sizable gain. Flynn lacks arm strength and isn't quite as proven as you'd expect an LSU senior to be, but is a solid young prospect nonetheless.

According to ESPN, It's 6 years at 69, 31 guranteed. Holy bovine mother of god.
Quoted from the article:

The deal is expected to be announced at an 11 a.m. ET press conference on Tuesday and was primarily negotiated on Romo's behalf by agents Ken Kramer and Tom Condon.
None of the principals could be reached for comment.
By signing him to a new deal before Nov. 5, the Cowboys will be able to apply some of this money toward their 2007 salary cap. -Oops, go ahead and delete. I looked at Miles' diary and my reactions made me ignore it in disgust upon seeing Britney's name.-

Reportedly at 11:30. You can send in questions to  chat@dallasnews.com, or just show up at the chat and submit them. In lieu of Adam, I'll remind everyone to get some good questions in there. We don't need more queries about bringing back Rick Helling and Jaun Gonzalez.
JD wears sunglasses because it makes him look cool. Aaaaand that should be 300 characters.

Let's allow bygones to be bygones. There's a reason that I hadn't addressed the home run debacle until it was absolutely necessary- other than fervently praying that Barry Bonds would blow out his knee playing a game of pickup street hockey. The situation's just too complicated. The extenuating circumstances involved in this whole scenario are too numerous to list, and I'm sure you've heard them all reiterated ad naueseum.
What's done is done. Henry Aaron can no longer be officially associated with the home run crown, and It's a damn shame.
But all of the flaxseed oil in the world, all the brilliant chemists in San Fransisco, and every strength trainer lodging in Federal Correctional Facilities is insufficient to bring Barry Bonds a title just as respectable, just as admirable, and even more impactful than the one he now holds.
2297.Get used to seeing this number at the top of the list, folks. Henry Aaron played 23 major league seasons, and was the very embodiment of integrity, of passion, of perseverance.
And a tremendous hitter in every sense of the word. And that collection of numerals is his career RBI total, a number which Bonds cannot hope to approach.
A home run is a wonderful thing. With one swing of the bat a player can completely change the current of a game. The inherent greatness, of course, of the mightiest of blasts is the fact that not only the hitter but everyone who may have occupied the basepaths at the time of the shot comes around on the play.
But how is one to gauge the player's run production as a whole?
OK, that was a rhetorical. We all know the answer. But I'll repeat it anyway, just in case Alfonso Soriano is wondering what it is that's missing from his stat sheet. We call them 'Runs Batted In'.
See, this is the thing. Certain players, like the aforementioned once-reluctant Left Fielder, put up very gaudy longball numbers but manage to steer their teams mysteriously clear of the win column. Why? They launch what we like to call meaningless home runs. Solo shots, Drives when the game's outcome is preordained. And they fail to bring runners in any other way. Michael Young, for instance, has had two guys named Clarence from the guitar store hitting in front of him all season long. In addition, he's hit only five home runs throughout the entirety of this year. How many RBI is he on pace for? 90. Because the man knows when he needs to hit, when is team truly needs him to punch out another liner to left field. And he comes through in those desperate situations.
Barry Bonds, in contrast has 22 home runs and a league-leading on-base+slugging percentage (OPS, for baseball geeks like me) of 1.064. And how many runs is the famed slugger on pace to drive in?
Try 75.
There's a reason that people like to perpetually launch insults at Barry, while simply oozing with respect and adulation for Hank Aaron. And it has nothing to do with hat size or media receptivity.Aaron was simply a better player.
If you're not convinced by the plain RBI numbers, compare playoff statistics. Henry Aaron has a world series ring. He has a .363 postseason average, with 6 home runs, 16 RBI, and a .705 slugging percentage in 17 games.
One need only look at one stat to gauge our chemically augmented friend's struggles in prime time. Batting average in 48 postseason matches: .245.
The man of cream is hitting below .250 in that most crucial of situations. So for all my kin, all ye like minded, all who look beyond the abstract and waste hours a day on baseballreference.com, Pay heed. For we no longer need to resort to the overused steroid arguement.
2296, people. A record that will stand a little while longer.
And the elusive world series ring? True champions only, Barry. End of the line.

Jon Daniels has done his utmost to deviate from the mistakes of his predecessor. He's been accessible almost to a fault, personable, friendly. His hire heralded change, and as stated in past posts, change as a concept was the important value at that time, not necessarily the specifics of the change itself. JD's held true to expectations in that regard- although all required to be different from Hart was an occasional interview with a local sports show and being seen outside of one's basement or the local golf course without a security detail.

Alas, Daniels has encountered the difficulties that most young GMs do. His most significant moves have backfired horribly, and he's failed in his attempts make any full-blown successes when it comes to player swaps. The biggest victory is probably the swap that brought in Vicente Padilla for Ricardo Rodriguez, and seeing as Padilla is now collecting a monstrous paycheck to pitch in AAA, it may have been subtraction by addition.

But when Daniels is critiqued, most fail to mention one facet of the three-cornered job. The 3 major parts of a GM's job are, obviously, Trades, Contracts, and Drafts. It is far too early to gauge JD's evaluation of amateur talent, but what of his decisions as they pertained to players on the free agent market?

Let's begin with the current staff 'ace'. Kevin Milwood was the best in a limited crop of pitchers willing to come to Texas, coming off a year during which he led the American League in ERA with the Indians. Milwood was in his prime, wanted to come here, and carried a general reputation of consistency. In his first year with the Rangers, Milwood posted a mediocre ERA of 4.52, but won 16 games and ate up 215 innings. The first stat is obviously unimpressive, but one must consider that Milwood was pitching half of his games in the hitter's altar that is TBIA.What he did was give the team a chance to win nearly every time he stepped on the hill, as well as represent that necessary Rock of Gibraltar that could pitch 7 innings and give the bullpen necessary time off. During this season Milwood's been somewhat rocky, although a lot of that can be attributed to early injury problems. All in all, quite reasonable these days for 12 million dollars a year.

While not free agents per se, Gary Matthews and Mark Derosa could have been let go by the Rangers with very few batting an eye. While JD can't fully take credit for bringing them back, then, he certainly contributed to the decision. And seeing as these two signed for barely above the minimum and posted years worthy of compensatory picks in this past draft, I'd have to assign a solid A for both contracts.

Now let us move on to this past offseason. JD let a significant portion of the team, but brought on some worthy replacements. The grading will represent not only the players brought in, but those let go. Let's therefore begin with:

Carlos Lee to Houston. We all knew when the trade was made that the chances of bringing Lee back were very slim. He got a ridiculous deal worth 10 digits from Houston, and while he's been good the Rangers certainly can't be faulted for taking their two picks and parting ways. I'd give him more points here, but it wasn't really a difficult decision to make.

Derosa to the Infant Animals: Personally, I was all for bringing the super-utilityman back. But if he wasn't going to contend for a starting job here, letting him go was the right decision. He got 3 years and 13 million from the Cubbies, and I don't fault them for the decision. I can't fault JD for his, though.

Gary Matthews Jr. to the Halos: One of the most trigger-happy moves I've seen in some time, from an unlikely source. Bill Stoneman has a hard-earned reputation as a methodical, obstinate, traditional Gm unwilling to make controversial decisions. But he gave 50 million dollars to the former ranger centerfielder; the career journeyman coming off of one all-star caliber year. Matching Anaheim's offer would have been asinine. GMJ is a good player, but not worth anywhere near 10 mil a year.

Adam Eaton to the Phillies: I never understood any of the hype around Eaton. He's got good-not-great stuff when healthy, and we've seen a firsthand glimpse of how often that comes along. He's also hot-tempered and displayed control problems during his time here. The Phillies drastically overpaid for intermittent decency in Eaton, It's only a shame that Texas didn't get a draftpick out of the centerpiece of the Young/Gonzalez debacle.

All in all, I'd give JD a B+ overall for his decisions to let people walk. The only guy I would have considered bringing back at such rates would be Mark Derosa-and even that would be iffy to pull off, seeing as he seemed quite content with Chicago as his destination.

Signees

Frankie the Cat. Catallanatto embodied the underrated, tool-less outfielder who usually put up good stats nonetheless. The move made sense for the Rangers, especially seeing as he played with the team in the past. His utter failure throughout this season is worrisome, but the real irritant is the fact that the Rangers had to give up their first rounder (#16 in the draft) to get him. I don't blame JD for the signing, it certainly seemed to make loads of sense. But there's no way around the fact that in retrospect, it was a mistake. Grade: D- Jamey Wright. He's always had the alleged and elusive 'stuff'. But he's also never delivered for anyone on a consistent basis. Wright has been decent throughout his intermittent 35 innings, but intermittent is the key word. He can't stay off the DL, and that certainly hurts his value. Wright blocked Kameron Loe throughout the first month of the season, but that only barred Kam from one or two starts, so not a significant deterrent to the extent of Sammy blocking Jason Botts. Grade: C Kenny Lofton. Coming off of a solid year in LA that many labeled an aberration, Lofton's signing prompted a lot of criticism-a 40 year old career mercenary who had always relied on speed. But Lofton's been nothing if not the consummate professional. He's hitting around .310, displaying a bit more power than he showed at previous stops, and stolen more than his fair share of bases. Big props to JD on this one, and It's a shame that the season didn't pan out as planned. I'd be very content with Kenny Lofton as my leadoff hitter and centerfielder in a stretch run.
Grade: B+

Sammy Sosa. Nobody expected anything. The prose is clunky, but it sums up people's sentiments to a tee. Samuel Peralta Sosa had last been productive 3 years prior, and was shipped from his team (Chicago, all ye absentminded) on bad terms. Sosa Isn't on pace for 40 home runs, and he likely won't post an on-base percentage over .300. But what he's managed to do is fill a spot in the middle of the order better than almost anyone. I hate to point at a singular stat in order to identify a player's worth, but the man has 69 RBi-and that's no laughing matter. I reiterate, he hasn't been great. He may not even be good. But he's done far, far better than anyone expected him to. And at the MLB minimum, he's been a bargain.
Grade: A-

Marlon Byrd. Another whose signing was given barely a cursory glance. Byrd was a well thought of prospect a while ago. This odd duck wasn't drafted until the age of 22, but vaulted through the Phillies system and into prominence in the early portion of this decade. He had played well for one year: 2003. All other indications had him pegged as a talented but mechanically flawed fourth outfielder. Jon Daniels brought him in to spring training, sent him down to Oklahoma. He was called up to compensate for injuries to Frank Catalanatto, and has wowed players, coaches, and spectators ever since. The Byrdman (to borrow the nickname granted to Marlon by Adam J. Morris) is hitting .352, has become a veritable triples machine, and has shown the versatility necessary to play all three outfield slots. I know It's Marlon Byrd, and It's very likely that he's going to regress into his standard level of play sometime soon. But I'd like to remain in Neverland a little while longer.
Grade: A

Eric Gagne: Injuries. Uncertainty. A history of dominance. All three trail Eric Gagne like badges worn on one's chest-irremovable, displayed prominently where one cannot bother noticing. JD knew the risks of bringing in the dynamic Canadian. Gagne has done nothing but save 16 games in seventeen opportunities, gradually eliminate any lingering doubts about his short-term health, and bring himself back to respectability. There's no doubt in my mind that he is the top reliever available to other teams during this stretch run-but I don't think he'll be dealt. Here's something nobody saw coming- Gagne seems content here. Not only content, but genuinely pleased. If the man is truthful and really does want to pitch here for the long haul, I sincerely hope that our dear GM is working on a deal to secure his services for many years to come. And if he goes? We're in great shape there, too... Gagne's numbers make him likely to be a type-A this offseason.
Grade: B+.

I realize that Daniels has erred-and erred significantly-on several occasions when presented with a trade. But one must realize that there is more to the job that straight up swaps, and JD has done that job with success that is absolutely shocking when put in contrast with the past mistakes of guys like Hart or-call me a heretic if you must- the Great Melvin.

One of the best leadoff men in recent history: Make me an offer.

Top 5 all time home run hitter: You'll take him? You really will?

Heroes of days long ago being shipped to facilitate rebuilding: Priceless.

And smart.

Sammy Sosa and Kenny Lofton have many things in common. They were both offensive stalwarts during significant portions of the 90s, both obviously advanced in their career.
Both have played far better than par for their personal courses for the Rangers this year. But only a delusional fool would think of their continued presence as part of the long-term solution.
It's been great having Sammy around, just for old time's sake. It was fun watching him hit number six hundred against the club everyone associates him with. But the man's got an on-base percentage under .300. He's hitting a miserable .213 against right handers. He can't even pretend to play defense. Dismiss the RBI numbers and he's one of the most undesirable everyday starters I've seen in some time.

The fondness I feel for Lofton is more comparable to the one I reserve for the Great Gagne. Why? He's produced. Lofton's given the Rangers a true threat on the bases, something they hadn't been able to boast of since the days of Goodwin. It also helps that he's been absolutely lights-out since his first month or two here, rebounding from early struggles that had him hitting at the Mendoza line to raise his average all the way up to .309. He's made his share of impressive grabs in center field, and done his share as far as working pitchers and taking walks. In other words: He's been the absolute epitome of a leadoff man.
Doh! He's 40!

I don't think the Rangers will get anything for Sosa. It will likely turn into a regrettable situation in which Jon Daniels needs to release his (sabremetrically) top run-producer in order to give deserving young players a shot at the top level.
Lofton's a diferent story, though. Teams have expressed interest in the career mercenary's services, and I sincerely hope that JD makes the right decision-pulls the trigger at the first sign of value coming his way. I don't think Lofton should necessarily be given away, but there's no point in holding out. He'll be worth a decent package, don't delay your rebuilding process by clinging to the sentimentality of keeping him around.

It'll be nice to get some fringe prospects in return for these two bygone stars. But priority one remains as such:
Make sure they're on another team before July 31st.

Sorry, no musical prelude to this one :(

Happy Monday loyal readers! Unfortunately, I must hold by my promise from yesterday- I simply cannot uphold the euphoria of Ranger optimism any longer than I must. Because as badly as I want them to be good, I am a realist at heart. And the truth points at a half-empty glass best served with several jagged pieces.

So as much as I hate to do it, today's presentation will be an analysis of the unmitigated failures that have graced this franchise with their collective presences. And what better (or worse?) place to begin than with the biggest 180 I've ever seen as a Rangers fan. And my peers, you know very well how much that means.

His acquisition was the biggest triumph the JD proponents had to point to. He was a sign of hope, a beacon declaring competency within Ranger talent evaluation. Vicente Padilla went through the majority of last season as the best pitcher in the rotation. He was a legitimate #2 for a large part of the year, and even a second half slump could not hold him back from adequacy. However, as is the case with many of these success stories, Vicente had an agenda. He was going into a contract year, and certainly capitalized. Padilla turned an ERA in the 4.5 area into a deal worth over 10 million a season over three whole revolutions of the 12-month cycle. The mysterious and shady Venezuelan has been a complete and utter unmitigated DEBACLE from the beginning of the season. It has truly been painful to watch Vinny this season, especially when recalling the RANGER pitcher who was so solid in the previous season. I can't think of a single major league player, including Jeff Weaver, who has underperformed to this extent. I shun you, Vicente. Oh wait, that doesn't matter! Because you refuse to talk to the dirty Americans in the first place!

One doesn't have to stray too far to find contestant #2 for the "Juan Gonzalez Ranger Stint #2 Award". Although there is nobody who even approaches Padilla's vast stature in this area, Robby Tejeda gives him a run for his money. Similarities run amok between the two. Both are of Central American birth, both credited as possessing stuff clearly above the average. And both shimmered with promise for a time, but then left us staring stupidly at the rusting piece of scrap metal that had once been so precious. Robinson absolutely wowed fans during the start of the year. If I recall correctly, his first four starts were all sparkling-highlighted by a shutout against the immensely dangerous Bosox of Beantown. Since then however, Tejeda has been... worse than Padilla, if such a thing were possible. An ERA topping seven over a period of several months is a precarious thing to hold. The only thing keeping him from placement in the Padilla category of 'Simply Disgraceful' is the fact that Tejeda did show promise in the aforementioned early portion of the year.

Clearing out the limited list I have due to... time restraints is not a player who has sat out significant portions of the season. I won't deny that Hank Blalock's rib removal didn't disappoint me, but that's not really a performance failure he could have any semblance of control over. And looking at pure statistics, many will advise me to pass on grass after seeing the third entry.

Ian Kinsler, what happened? Your nuclear lumber throughout the first few weeks taunted not only the fans, but apparently yourself. News Flash: You're no Babe, and I certainly hope for the sake of your public profile that you're not Barry Bonds. What happened here seems to be a massive change in strategy, as the already undercutting Kinsler altered his swing to a point where he could dislodge the branches of a California Redwood. Ian, you're a wonderful player. But you're not going to pace the rest of the contestants in a single season homer contest. I was mislead, Ron Washington was misled, but more importanly, Ian, and most lamentably, YOU were misled by your early success. I know, It's easy to fall into the trap. But nobody knows Ian Kinsler better than than.. surprise surprise, Ian Kinsler. And subsequently, adjusting a fine plate approach to facilitate a newfound power at the dish was a mistake. The numbers following the initial burst of lightning are telling; we were treated to little other than mere sparks. Ian, go back to Rudy. Get your swing redone, revert to what you had been doing in all the years prior-the same stance, swing, and discipline that led to so much success throughout your ascent in the minors as well as your fine rookie season.
And not to overdo the cold blanket routine, but I think I Rangers Captain could be just as bad in the field, whilst annoying the other team into submission.
That's all for today. Next to come: Mid-Season Leaguewide Awards!

In keeping with the intermittent tradition of using song lyrics in the title, I've also found a very suitable topic of discussion for today's entry. As most of you know, the all star break festivities are imminently approaching in all of their splendorous glory, and we would be remiss to display our nonconformist attitude in this case. So as we continue to refer to single entities in the plural third person, the staff at PSTR brings you... a list of reasons for the formerly red-shoed Rangers to maintain a glass half full attitude. Do not fear, good readers, we will revert to our usual forms within a few days, ripping the Rangers just as passionately as before. But let's be happy and cheerful! The world is a happy place when Kenny Lofton hits home runs, right? Or maybe It's those Brownies I had... those Brownies, with all the weird filings... hmm.
First and foremost is a player most regarded with well-placed skepticism. This is a player who had pitched only on rare occasions throughout his previous two seasons, was taking the place of a well-liked, proven veteran, and was getting a fairly large contract with no stipulations to detract from it. A month or so into the year, I wrote Eric Gagne off as a bad signing. 12 pristine save opportunities later, I've changed my tune. Gagne hasn't received as many opportunities as most would have liked, but his mettle has been proven intact whenever he got the call. I realize that he's most valuable to this team in the form of a prospect or two, but I really do love seeing him pitch for Texas. If a long term deal can be worked out, JD, get to work.
Following close behind is a man who barely registered on the radars of most. Much like Gagne, he hasn't given us a large enough sample size to be truly awestruck. But when on the field, Marlon Byrd has been peerless in his ability to simply hit.
Yes, I said Marlon Byrd.
The same Marlon Byrd who acquired a well-deserved reputation as a journeyman; a spare part best taken in very limited quantities. The guy labeled as possessing every physical tool necessary, but never having the skill to utilize his ability. Well, Rudy Jaramillo's talents manifested themselves in yet another willing pupil. Byrd is hitting-double check this if you like- .378. That's enough to win a batting title in 90% of the seasons I can recall.
I do realize this is the part when people point out to me that he only has 143 at bats-and believe me, I'm not oblivious to that fact. But I can't disregard a man who's hitting damn close to .400 since obtaining the starting job in right field. If he can keep a pace remotely SIMILAR to this up, he'll be a type A free agent this offseason. Much like with the previous addressed subject: JD, get a pen and lawyer-authorized paper and force said utensils into your player's hands.
It's a sign of how lacking this category is when the third player mentioned has an ERA over 5. But Kameron Loe has exhibited consistent excellence since returning from his short stint as an Okie. If you're desperately seeking a glimmer of hope in the otherwise bleak figurative tunnel, Kameron will leave the light on for you. As I stated in my latest Rangers entry, he could very well be going through Ryan Drese syndrome. But in my wild, grasping desire to accept even the smallest tidbits of happiness as three-course tons of pleasure, I will stand by Kameron Loe and his contributions to the bleakness that this squad has become.
I feel there is only one player I can really put on the list. I know many will point to Brad Wilkerson and his outstanding HR/AB ratio as well as his tendency to look at more pitches during his at bats than most fans see all game long (take it as you will, personally I don't have that much of a problem with it as long as the walks pile up). But I can't put him on this list with a .228 batting average. It simply feels wrong. So instead I'm going to reference another guy who started slow but has worked his way up. I am speaking of the career journeyman who has maintained near-star status despite his city-hopping tendencies, Kenny Lofton. I was pleased when he was brought in, and my suspicions were proven correct. Kenny is simply a baseball player; he will hit, cover center field like a champ, and record steals like a pauper who's managed to disable the security cameras. I don't think he'll be traded, because most teams will see him as the guy they could have had for free this offseason. But from a purely statistical standpoint, there aren't many CFs I'd rather have for a stretch run than Kenny. He's hitting over .300, putting up an OBP 80 points higher, and he's stolen 20 bases. I can't remember a Ranger as active on the basepaths since... Tom Goodwin? Good lord, it seems to have been an eternity. Good times... but I digress. Kenny has done nothing but perform. And while a 40-year old may not be what your team should build around, It's a damn nice sight to see someone competent roaming the vast expanses.

 Message to Rangers Brass: Stick to the Plan.

Rangers fans are finally feeling good about their team.
The Rangers from Arlington just completed [gasp] a winning month of June. They trounced the national league, to the dismissal of the critics, and proceeded to hold their own against such sizable opposition as the Scarlet Sox and Felines from Motown.
All without Mark Teixeira and Hank Blalock.
It's fairly mystifying. Some attribute it to the dark-cloud philosophy, the same one that was applicable for the turnaround following the A-Rod departure. However, I don't know if this is the case. I don't know the man well, neither do I know anyone who does. But he does not seem like a person who is distinctly unpleasant to be around. A bit high strung, perhaps, but not someone you can't handle having on your team. Looking back, however, isn't that what we all said about A-Rod?
But my message to the Rangers is this. I love the fact that Kam Loe has caught fire. I am giddy every time Eric Gagne comes slowly jogging out of the bullpen. And Marlon Byrd, of all people, has caused me to have confidence in a member of the Ranger outfield. But don't buy into it. The Rangers are not contenders. Fact, truth, end of story. They're going through a solid stretch of the year just as we all knew they would. It's inevitable for all teams, as is the inevitable knee jerking that occurs whenever a streak occurs. But the Rangers need to stay the course. You were planning to be sellers this season? Adhere to that. If you can get Felix Pie for Eric Gagne, pull the trigger. If you're offered James Loney and 2 mid-level young pitchers for Tex, do it. This team needs to build for the future. We all talked about how pivotal this draft will become, and if that is the case ALLOW IT TO HAVE AN IMPACT. Don't allocate all of your resources toward quick contention when you know your next big influx of talent might be three years away.

Quick Notes: As I stated earlier, I love me some Kameron Loe. The fact that he's finally pitching like many thought he could warms my heart. But the realistic cynic in me tells me that he might just be going through Ryan Drese syndrome: A sinkerballer without overwhelming stuff does great for a little while, then his production begins to decline as the league catches on to the fact that an 88 mph four-seamer with no movement Isn't difficult to bash.
Of course, I'm chided by my better half, who states the all-applicable proverb: "You could use some baseball."

During the last segment of his show today, Norm was discussing the Rangers minor leagues. His primary topic was a 15th round starter turned Frisco reliever whose name I have already forgotten, but in passing he mentioned Hurley's promotion.
Apparently Norm thinks the plan is to get Hurls several months at AAA, and then bring him up to the big leagues in September. This scares me a bit. Regardless of the way he's dominated hitters this year, I'm not sure if I'd bring him up this early.

Anyone else see the influx of movement on the basepaths so far as a breath of fresh air? I love the fact that we're finally aggressive and fully utilizing our player's abilities. If a guy's got speed and gets on base, let him use it. Kinsler, Cat, Laird, and Wilkerson could all become rather dangerous on the basepaths with this new approach.Another big plus of having Wash here.

Oo Happy April 1st!
April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day, though not a holiday in its own right, is a notable day celebrated in many countries on April 1. The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends and neighbors, or sending them on fools' errands, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible. In some countries, April Fools' jokes (also called "April Fools") are only made before noon on April 1st.[1] It is also widely celebrated on the Internet.

As I flicked on the Ticket this afternoon, I happened to catch Mike and Gregg talking baseball. Not one to allow the opportunity of baseball talk to  go by the wayside, I hung around for a while as they made their NL and AL predictions for division standings and various awards. But what especially caught my attention was not the fact that Mike had the Angels finishing 4th in the ALW, nor the belief from the both of them that Wash
would win the manager of the year award. It was the fact that they agreed on the AL MVP, and it wasn't a big east coast slugger. It was our very own newly-inked shortstop.

Now, what reasons do we have for believing Mike can be awarded this meaningless but brag-worthy honor? The first reason they presented, which I can see is a valid one, is that of recognition. We all know that the man has suffered from a horrible case of underpublicity (yay for theoretical word composition!) during the entirety of his career. That 80 million dollar deal may cause a few people to know his name and perhaps gloss over his accomplishments with more regularity.
Secondly, the fact that his ability to in critical situations, when runners are in scoring position, is almost unmatched.
Third, he'll be hitting third in the lineup. And if we get Lofton and Cat ahead of him most nights, those are two guys who can very well get on base (not to mention we have something virtually unbeknownst to this franchise-a leadoff man who can steal a base!)That, coupled with the security of having Big Tex hitting behind him as always, should boost his RBI numbers hugely.
Fourth. We know he's capable of huge things. When a year like the one he registered last is considered an off year, there must be something he's doing right. It's perfectly reasonable to believe he could hit .335 with 25 or even 30 home runs. I know many doubt the second stat, but remember he wasn't too far off from those numbers a few years ago.

Is it probable? Not at all. Even if he hits like that, knocking in 120 runs with a .400 OBP and playing great defense, he still won't get enough of the vote unless some people really regress-Ortiz comes to mind, defending champ Morneau who could have an even better year without his early season struggles. But It's a possibility.

Jon Daniels was on Norm this morning, and one of the topics that came up was Nelson Cruz. Our GM seems to have a hetero mancrush on the guy... Amongst his praise was:
He has more power than anyone on the team, INCLUDING TEX
He is one of the elite fielding outfielders in baseball
He's up there with Ichiro in terms of his arm.
I may agree on the subject of his cannon, but everything else... Is there something I'm missing? I regard Cruz as a very promising young outfielder, but it seems like Daniels is expecting the second coming of Ken Griffey Jr.

Reported on the ticker. Signed through 2013. They pick up his 5 million option, and give him an additional 80. We all knew it was coming, but nice to see the deal finished. I like this move personally, although you're overpaying this is the right guy to overpay for, if there is ever a 'right guy'.
Now, to get what we can for Tex, seeing as the likelihood of keeping him has just plummeted :(