Not sure if this deserves an entire Fan Post or not, but I was just wondering if anyone else made it out to Josh's book signing tonight at Barnes & Noble in south Arlington. It was really quite a sight, the store was absolutely jam packed. I stood in line for over 3 hours and there were still a lot more people in line behind me.  I don't know if they expected that many to people show up, but Josh stayed and signed copies of his book for at least 4 hours. It was a great turnout and a very classy move by Josh. Good stuff.... the end.

I know it's only Tuesday (Wednesday Morning), but it's about time to start the thread. Both teams look very good early in the season against weak competition. Colt McCoy looks like Major Applewhite reincarnate, and OU looks unstoppable on offense. It's a battle of top 5 teams with Mizzou looming for Texas. What I want is not only predictions, but explanations as to why your prediction will come true.

I say Texas 27-17

McCoy is playing out of his head right now, and Muschamp has the defense rolling. The biggest question is UT's running game, but I think that they can get it done by committee (Yes, I'm a Homer). Thoughts?

It would really help if the 'Horns can pull the upset since I'll be in Austin for UT/Mizzou on the 18th.

I didn't see this anywhere else, so I thought I'd start a diary.

OKC and Doug Mathis got pounded. Mathis allowed 6R in 2 IP, but 0ER.

Frisco loses a close one to the Hooks.

Smoak with his first professional Home Run in a 1-4 evening, driving in 2.

Hamburger with the save for Clinton. Very shaky allowing a H and 2 BBs, but gets out of it unscathed.

Rookie Rangers up big in the 6th with a very strong outing from Wieland. 5IP, 2 H, 0ER, 1 BB, and 8K... very nice...

I didn't see a discussion thread up yet for today's games so....

Davis is 0-0, 2BB

Cruz is 2-2, 2B

Max Ram is 2-2, 2B

Beavan has given up 1 ER through 3 IP, with 2BBs though.

Bakersfield and Spokane both going later tonight.

Man, I can't even believe how much more excited I am about following the minor league teams this year than I have been in the past. Pure greatness!

Discuss......

Per Jamey:

"MLB has just named Josh Hamilton the American League Player of the Month for May.  He is the first American League player in the 35-year history of the monthly honors to win the award in both April and May in a given season.  Eric Davis (1987), Bobby Bonilla (1988), and Mark McGwire (1998) achieved the feat in the National League."

Wow, just wow!

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Kam Loe recalled, per the DMN. This is really kind of an odd move. German had not been pitching poorly, other than a few control issues. And, to the best of my knowledge Kam hasn't exactly been lighting things up at triple A OKC. The team obviously needs a fresh arm in the pen for the rest of this sreies, but this move is a touch baffling to say the least. We have 10 days to trade or release German.

Maybe not worthy of an entire Fan Post, but it didn't really fit anywhere else. I have a random question for those of you out there who know more about the way the system works regarding minor leaguers and when they have to be protected by being added to the 40-man etc.

At what point does it become somewhat counter productive to keep trading veterans for prospects? Right now our system is presumed to be loaded with talent, and we already have a 40-man crunch (somewhat). I know these players will have to be added to the 40 at different times, but is it possible to have too much talent at the minor league level that you simply cannot protect them all? I guess what I'm getting at is when does trading someone like Bradley for prospects begin to have diminishing returns due to the number crunch and it becomes time to trade 2 or 3 highly regarded prospects for 1 core type ML player who the team can control for a few years (ie Hamilton)?

Per the DMN Blog:

"The Rangers signed Sidney Ponson to a minor league deal. He will be in major league camp on Monday. GM Jon Daniels said Ponson is in good shape and should be ready to pitch in games fairly soon.
Ponson gives the Rangers some more depth."

I know that this board in general has been against the signing of Ponson in the past, but that was when Hart wanted to pay a lot for him and hand him a spot in the rotation. I see no problem with giving him a minor league deal as insurance for McCarthy, Jennings, and Millwood. Supposedly he has been throwing 93-94 in his workouts and has dropped about 20 lbs. Not a bad insurance policy all things considered, it will keep the team from having to rush Hurley et al in case someone from the rotation misses an extended amount of time.

This is an artists rendering of the proposed $450M stadium which would be built in St. Petersburg for the Rays. Looks pretty cool, on the edge of the water like the Giants stadium, but appears to have a better view from the water. I don't know how to just post the picture, so I'll post the link. Thoughts?

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/mlb_experts/post/Tampa-takes-quantum-leap-in-ballpark-design?urn=ml b%2C67665

"Sources" are reporting that Major Applewhite could be headed to UT to join Mack Brown's staff. I had a couple of classes with Applewhite when I was at UT. He is a very smart guy, and obviously knows football. I have been saying for a couple years (as have many others) that he will be Brown's replacement when Mack decides to retire. If this rumor is true, it would seem to be a precursor to such a move.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/011508dnspoutmajor.21e1cbc8.html

I'm not sure how many people care about the SMU coaching search, but I thought I'd share anyway since a large percentage of posters on this board live in the DFW Metroplex. ESPNews is reporting that June Jones will be leaving the University of Hawaii even though UH made an offer that would have made him the highest paid coach in the WAC. If that's truly the case then all signs point towards a Jones/SMU deal. I think the offense that Jones runs could be exciting and put SMU back on the map for the first time since the "death penalty".

Thoughts?

Anyone care? Update: http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;_ylt=Ape8.ByvjVKy4uEK3uRELwgcvrYF?slug=ap-hawaii-jones&prov=ap&type=lgns

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=ArHD9E.W9zjdMCiPbvN7POpDWtAF?slug=jp-rangershotstove113007& ;prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Nothing really Earthshattering there, but I figured I'd post it anyway. Passan apparently is not one of JD's biggest fans.                                                                                                                                                                      

Not sure if any of you have been paying attention, or if anyone cares, but Sampreas and Federer just finished up a 3 match exhibition. Sampras lost the first two matches, although he played tough and kept it close. In the third match, Sampras beat Federer in straight sets. It has been hotly debated as of late whether or not Federer is the best mens player of all time. The fact that Pete was able to stay close and ultimately defeat Roger at age 36 after not having played at that level for several years has me leaning towards Sampras as the best of all time. Anyone have thoughts? Sampras or Federer?

Very disappointing that we are fielding a lineup tonight with none of our newly acquired players in it. Gonna be ugly against Carmona tonight!

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore;_ylt=ApNs3i5e.MY1q7TzF6Xyu6MRvLYF?gid=270731105

While I'd like to believe there is something to this, the only place that is reporting this is Yahoo rumors. I would love to pair KG with Dirk, but I just don't see the Mavs and Wolves matching up well as trade partners. Has anyone else seen or heard anything about this?

"Trade talks for Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett shifted from a possible Phoenix destination, with the Dallas Mavericks seriously entering the discussions for the first time, according to a league source. The teams talked extensively Thursday but could not reach an agreement on specifics, according to another source.

Source: McClatchy News Service"

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors;_ylt=Ahhm8LpwhMOohmpnXw5ZwkU5nYcB

After a 67 win season, it is likely that the Mavs won't do much wheeling and dealing at tomorrow night's draft. However, I have seen a few rumors out there with them trying to package their 2nd rounders to move up into the 1st round, and even a rumor of the Mavs trading Harris to Milwaukee for the #6 pick. Any thoughts on the draft?

Who would you take #1 if you were the Blazers Durant or Oden?

From Yahoo.

Harvey and Kyle Russell. I guess I could live with that, but I'd rather take LaPorta at 24 and get Russell at 33.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AjT9fe9yPQsqdlhDTTkNCLkRvLYF?slug=jp-mockdraft060607&prov= yhoo&type=lgns

One-line diaries are prohibited on Lone Star Ball. Give your diary a bit more thought, then give it another shot. If you have nothing to add to your proposed diary, then it probably belongs as a comment under another appropriate thread.

It appears to be fitting that tonight is season finale night for a lot of tv shows, because it may be season finale night for the Rangers as well. That said, now that we are just a few weeks away from the draft, who would you like to see the Rangers nab at 17 and 24? I don't have a subscription to BA, so I know some of the names, but not much about the players, although Beavan is interesting.

If the Rangers are indeed going to "Blow it up" (which I doubt), and you are JD, what would you want in return for Tex (realistically, specific players from teams with the need for a 1B to put them over the top, and ability to take Tex's salary)?

Lets say the trade would go down June 15 (So 2006 draftees are eligible)

Ready......Go!

Millwood and Mahay to the DL.

Per Jamey's newsflash.

Murray's first trip to the bigs, good to see him up. He looked pretty impressive in Spring Training.

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Anyone interested?

If so, just post a message with the next teams pick (no trades please). Since there might be multiple posts for the same pick, the first post entered gets priority.

I'll go first....

Oakland - Oakland's choices appear to come down to two players. Calvin Johnson WR, the consensus best player in the draft, or JaMarcus Russell considered the best QB in th draft. While Oakland is in desperate need of a young QB, with the flameout rate with 1st round QBs, I think Al Davis will surprise and go with the game changing wideout, and either take a QB in rd 2 or trade for someone like Josh MCCown.

The Pick: Calvin Johnson - WR - Georgia Tech

Detroit is on the Clock...

The Draft Order:
1 Oakland - Calvin Johnson  
2 Detroit - Brady Quinn  
3 Cleveland - Jamarcus Russell  
4 Tampa Bay - Gaines Adams  
5 Arizona - Joe Thomas  
6 Washington - Adrian Peterson  
7 Minnesota - LaRon Landry  
8 Atlanta - Amobi Okoye  
9 Miami - Leon Hall  
10 Houston -Levi Brown  
11 San Francisco - Adam Carriker 
12 Buffalo - Patrick Willis 
13 St. Louis - Alan Branch  
14 Carolina - Jamal Anderson  
15 Pittsburgh - Darelle Revis  
16 Green Bay - Greg Olson  
17 Jacksonville - Reggie Nelson 
18 Cincinnati - Aaron Ross  
19 Tennessee - Marshawn Lynch  
20 NY Giants - Brian Leonard  
21 Denver - Joe Staley  
22 Dallas - Robert Meachum 
23 Kansas City - Ted Ginn, Jr.  
24 New England - Paul Pozluszny  
25 NY Jets - Lawrence Timmons  
26 Philadelphia - Jarvis Moss  
27 New Orleans - David harris  
28 New England - Michael Griffin  
29 Baltimore - Chris Houston  
30 San Diego - Dwayne Jarrett  
31 Chicago - Dwayne Bowe  
32 Indianapolis- Justin Harrell

I know that this has probably been discussed in other game day threads quite a bit, but Washington's handling of the staff is really beginning to confuse and concern me. On several occasions this year, while watching a game, I have thought "what the heck is he thinking". For example, Washington doesn't pitch Otsuka Thursday night in the 8th inning of a tie game with the Sox, which we go on to lose, but he does pitch him last night in a 16-3 game. After being hired, he did say that he didn't have experience handling a pitching staff, and it's starting to show. Anyone else concerned?

Well, it was fun while it lasted. I suppose his stock will never be higher than it is right now, and the NBA, Nike, and Gatorade beckon. Can't really blame the guy, I'd probably take the millions too. Looking at Rick Barnes recruiting class for next year, it could be a down year for the 'Horns.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2007/news/story?id=2831655

DFW is now the 4th largest metro-area in the country, surpassing Philadelphia over the past year. Also, the second fastest growing market next to only Atlanta. Now, the Rangers payroll is really out of whack compared to market considerations ;)

http://www.nbc5i.com/news/11533704/detail.html?rss=dfw&psp=news

Masset had a rough first outing with the Sox, getting hit around a little bit in long relief of Contreras. He gave up 3ER on 5H in 3IP. I would really like to see him and Danks do well in Chicago. Let's hope McCarthy and Danks have better season debuts.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore;_ylt=Ag_mtcuQy3iJUmfIK8QP6q4RvLYF?gid=270402104
 

Not a surprise at all. He received 70 of 72 votes, with Alando Tucker getting the other two. Pretty cool that he is the first Freshman to ever win the award though. The article also says that he is the first Longhorn to win the AP POY award, but I could have sworn T.J. Ford won it when he was there.

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/news?slug=ap-applayeroftheyear&prov=ap&type=lgns

3 year deal. Not huge news, but there's your new backup QB. They wanted a veteran presence, and I guess he is as good as anyone else available. Although, he is 38 years old. Here's hoping that Romo can stay healthy, or the 'Boys are in trouble.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2788983

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According to the DMN. I know we have been hearing this for over a week, but apparently it is very close to being a done deal. 5/$80M extension, it may be a little pricey, but it is something the Rangers really need to get done in my opinion.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/030207dnsporanglede.b2765f5.html

Well, today's the day. at 6:30 pm tonight, I shall relinquish my bachelorhood. Then, it's off to Maui for fun in the Sun (and out of the Sun). Perfectly planned to coincide with the best weekend of the year... Pitchers and Catchers report (the four most beautiful words in the English Language). See you guys in 2 weeks. Go Rangers!

Tonight at 8pm on ESPN. I'm pretty stoked about this game. A&M has been playing well, but Kevin Durant is a Man amongst boys. Should be an exciting game to watch.

Go 'Horns!!

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