While watching the Rangers play like crap tonight I read the article in my Texas Monthly that came today.  Pretty good read.  Wash and his managing style are of course discussed.  Players talking about how he can get to the heart of an issue without hurting anyone's feelings.  Which I took to mean he can criticize without it coming off as criticism. 

Nolan is a topic as well.  Made him out to be far more emotional, in the sensitive sense, than I would have guessed.  The author pointed out how Nolan came out of the MY fiasco with Mike "utterly at peace" with Ryan while pissed at JD.  Nothing you didn't already know of course but some interesting quotes.  

Hamilton is a major topic as you'd expect.  The article discussed the amount of time he commits to telling his story and that the time he's giving might be too much. 

None of that is what prompted me to make a fanpost though.  I mean it's a kind of interesting article with mostly stuff you already knew but just enough new information that you'll learn something.  Although the premise that the 90's Rangers weren't worthy of following kind of pissed me off.  Anyway, what jumped out at me was this:

In 2008 it was Wilson who told ESPN.com that no one in the Rangers locker room was talking about the historic election.  When a teammate challenged him, Wilson defended his comment by writing on a message board that the average major leaguer "is a relative douchbag."  Another former Ranger - Wilson won't identify him - recognized the description and posted paper copies of the quote in each players locker.

"The reality is that at the time I wrote it there was a guy on our team that was gambling on sports,' Wilson says ' This guy, I just didn't have any respect for him.  I was thinking, if this guy needed money, maybe he would be on baseball.  I didn't see anything in his moral fiber that would stop him from doing that."

Interesting, I was on here that fateful night when we lost BGL as a member forever, and  I sure don't remember it having to do with anyone gambling.

I recently moved back to Houston and close on a house in two weeks.  I have lived in cities outside of the blackout area for the last 6 years so I've always just gotten extra innings with my cable provider (Comcast).

I know that won't work here.  So I am exploring the best options for good HD cable/dish that also allow me to watch the Rangers on a regular basis.  The rental I'm in right now has comcast and I only get Ranger games when the Astros are off.

I'm pretty sure that Adam is a Directv guy, but are there other services like Dish Network or Att Uverse that offer the same amount of Ranger games and provide either cheaper or better (or both) service than Directv?

The Basics of what I'm looking for in order:

Ranger games (as many as possible)

HD content

DVR service

Cost

Internet - how do you folks using satellite manage internet?

Any help is greatly appreciated from those that actually have the service from these companies.  Honestly their websites aren't exactly helping me get the exact information I'm looking for and calling them is no better than me digging around on the net. 

Thanks.

http://blog.nj.com/netsblast/2008/02/play_ball_or_hardball_falk_spe.html

I find this whole ordeal very funny.  I've never seen a trade with this many moving pieces in any sport.  Crazy.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Here is my question for you lawyer types.

How could the league stop Stackhouse from negotiating with anyone once the 30 days is up?  If the collective bargaining agreement states that once the 30 day window is up Stack is allowed to sign with anyone how can the league stop him from negotiating?  That would seem to be a violation of the CBA and his right to work.  Would the league not be open to testing it's anti-trust exemption at that point?

How does the potential oral agreement between the nets, mavs, and stack play into a violation of the CBA?  Like the Boozer issue neither side could be held to that "promise".  

Interesting article that is generating plenty of responses over at Foxsports.com.  Thought some on here might like to read.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7343980

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New article, at least to me, about the potential for Arod to opt out at the end of the season.

Also at the bottom of the article he discusses Arod's hot streak.  One thing that struck me is that he HAS to cool off.  When he goes through the inevitable cool period those same yankee fans will be hammering him.  Now I'm not one to buy into the media hype but that could get very interesting.  Anyhoo.....the article....

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2849474&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1

Just heard on ESPN radio that Danks has been named the 5th starter for the White Sox to begin the season.  Guess we'll get a good measure of that trade right away.

Just got back from Spring Training.  I haven't had a chance to read many of the diaries or comments to the blog but wanted to post my comments on what I saw from Wilkerson.

I went to two of the big club games (Friday and Sunday) and watched him work with Rudy for a good hour on Friday morning on the AAA field.  0'fer in the games I watched and put on the worst display in BP I've ever seen.  Now maybe he was working on something specific in BP but it was completely unimpressive.  Two bad games I would have dismissed as no big deal but the BP put me over the top.  I'd be shocked if he were worth a 4th OF spot this year.

Anyone see the pics from the Newberg night yet?  Well....John Danks has a pretty hot mom.  Holy cow!  Those that were there in person....just a good pic or accurate?  HA!

Oh....and some dude named Adam is pictured as well.

To get to 300.....uh.....Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Enjoy Kwanzaa.                                                                                                                                        

What happened to it?  Man....now I wish I had hung around.  Must have missed some good stuff.  HA!  I can only imagine how that one degenerated.  

My Washington take to fill up the 300 min.

Love the hire so far.  I don't think I would have been as excited with any of the other hires.  I have yet to hear something bad about this guy...other than Reeves column the other day.  Even Reeves admitted he'll like Washington once he'd gotten his "Hicks Sucks" comments in.

Haven't seen this posted so sorry if it's a duplicate.....

Rangers | GM wants to bring back all free agents
Wed, 13 Sep 2006 10:15:46 -0700

T.R. Sullivan, of Texas.Rangers.MLB.com, reports Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said he wants to bring back all 10 of the Rangers free agents this offseason, and he has already begun speaking to their representatives about contracts. "If you told me I could bring the entire clubhouse back intact, with Carlos Lee and Nelson Cruz, with Adam Eaton healthy, with Robinson Tejeda pitching at his level and the bullpen with a year under its belt, I'd do it," said Daniels. "I believe in what this club can do." Starting pitchers Vicente Padilla, Kip Wells and Adam Eaton, catcher Rod Barajas, outfielders Carlos Lee, Mark DeRosa, Gary Matthews Jr., Jerry Hairston Jr. and Eric Young, and designated hitter Matt Stairs are all free agents at the end of this season.

Geez......If this guy has it right I'm actually scared.  

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/jon_heyman/09/07/scoop.thursday/index.html

Any chance of me still being on the fence with Buck just flew out the friggin' window.  He has to go and NOW!

If you ever read this site Jon Daniels know that a guy that has never been a basher of Buck has fully committed himself to the fact that Buck has to go.  I've read reports on Buck with a wary eye for a long time now.  The evidence has become too overwhelming for me to look the other way anymore.  

http://proxy.espn.go.com/mlb/sportsnation/ratings

Not bad for the "Fire Buck" crowd.

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Yesterday I was caught up in the fantastic start he had.  I was already looking forward to his next start before the game was even over.

Well....I'm still excited, but this morning without the fog of some beer and a rangers win against a very good team I'm a good bit less excited.  I had to temper my expectations for the next one because he was throwing against the Tigers.  Not a team exactly known for patience at the plate.  Walks have been the kids problem and he faced a team that hates to walk.  His next start will be telling.  I hope he's got the goods.  Either way...he was great yesterday and with anyone else on the mound I'm sure we lose that game.  

Let's take game 4!

Rangers trade for Ojeda a catcher with the Rockies.

Prelude to what?  Rod gone?  Laird?  Oh geez if it's Laird this board will blow up.                                                                                                                                                                  

Carlos Lee and Nelson Cruz to Rangers for Mench, Coco, and Nix.

Anyone know anything about Cruz?                                            

Prior pulled after 5.2 with a no no intact.  He'd thrown over 100 pitches so there was no way he was going to see it through.

He walked 5 and k'd 3.
                                                                                                                                                             

You all remember the AB where Hairston hit with 2 on 2 out down 6-2 in the bottom of the 8th with Farnsworth on the mound?

I exchanged some IM's with TR and he spoke to Wakamatsu about it last night.  

From my exchange.....and TR was telling me what Wakamatsu was using as his reasoning NOT TR's opinion...

**The Yankees have LHP Myers in the bullpen....If he brings up Blalock, they bring in Myers....Blalock is struggling against LHP.....also he is not the tying run....they are hoping Hairston can find a way to get on against Farnsworth with his speed and just putting the ball in play and get Matthews Jr. up to the plate....Better chance of Blalock batting in the 9th vs. Rivera with tying run on...they don't like Blalock vs. Myers at all**

So there you go...don't shoot the messenger.

ESPN has a SOS on it's RPI page.  It doesn't say how they come up with this number but I assume it's the average winning percentage of each teams opponents.  If you check it out the Rangers have played the toughest schedule in baseball thus far.  That has to make you feel a bit better as a Ranger fan.  Of course Oakland is right behind them.  

Does BP or anyone else keep any other SOS stats?

To any mom's out there...Happy Mother's Day!!!

To all the baseball dorks on here....call your mom and get your kids out of the house so your wives can have a day to themselves.                                                                                                                                                

ESPN and MLB.com both show the game as already postponed.  Odd since it's 6 hours away.  Feild must have been soaked last night and this morning.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

What will Adam do?  What will he do once Barajas either loses his job or gets hurt?  How will he vent all that anger?  

I love this website.  I really do.  I get so frustrated with the Barajas haters club that hangs out here though.  Adam and his minions if you will.  One bad month and lets string Rod up.  

Don't get me wrong....Laird is a talent.  Difference between me and the rest of the "club" is that I see having two very solid catchers on our roster as a great thing.  The club spews hate.  I hear about the leadership that Rod brings.  The club spews hate.  I see the pitchers with a lower ERA with Rod behind the plate.  The club spews hate.  I see Rod outperforming Laird over their last 6 starts.  The club.....well you know by this point.  

First place rangers, two good catchers, one young while ones been around the block a bit more, it's a good place to be.  Let's enjoy it a bit.

Fire away.....

Sorry Texans fans....no bush for you.                                              Espn reporting Williams has agreed to a contract.