Good Morning America is hosting a "Best BBQ Challenge" this weekend and Cousin's Bar-B-Q in Fort Worth has been nominated. The restaurant is one of four nominated for the award and the only one from Texas (the others hail from Iowa, Alabama and New York).

If anyone of you have eaten at Cousin's, you know that they make Texas proud. They're Bar-B-Q is amazing!  You can vote by going to Cousin's Bar-B-Q website and clicking on the link at the top.  Voting ends late tonight and the winner will be announced tomorrow morning.

Make Texas Bar-B-Q #1!!

This game day thread got a little activity yesterday, so why not repeat the concept for Day 2 of the postseason.

First up - CWS v TB

Vasquez v. Shields

MIL v PHI

Sabathia v Myers

LAD v CHI

Billingsley v Zambrano

Prediction:

Rays over White Sox 6-4

Brewers over Phillies 3-1

Dodgers over Cubs 5-3

Any one have thoughts on this or predictions of your own?

Go Rangers.

"Kettle corn. Fresh popped. Kettle corn. Fresh popped!"

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2004156612_webwilkerson31.html?syndication=rss

Looks like we'll still have to deal with him - but maybe in a limited capacity.

I like how the team describes him as a "hard-nosed competitor" and a "solid left-handed bat" How well did Whiffy hit against the M's last year for them to think he'll add to the team?

If the Bedard deal doesn't go through, he could wind up as in a 4th outfeilder/bench role. Update [2008-1-31 21:22:54 by mtex]: - One year deal for $3 million

San Francisco Chronicle reports 5-year deal. No figures yet.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/12/SP4ETSURO.DTL

What an old team, now. And, a little 'screw you' to the Blue Jays, who thought they might get Linecum for Alex Rios.

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.

The minimum is 300 characters.

Didn't know we had interest. It apparently hinged on being able to get an extension worked out, but the team wasn't allowed to speak with Cabrera's agent. Glad to see we were involved with other things, though.

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071206&content_id=2320747&vkey=news_fl a&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla

Suggestions:

Which do you care more about this Christmas season:
 - Obtaining a CF via trade/free agency
 - Trading Gerald Laird (no matter what the return)
 - Making sure that Brad Wilkerson is not re-signed
 - The television writer's strike
 - The Broadway labor union strike
 - Vicente Padilla's strike zone
 - Skip Christmas - bring on American Idol!

What's the worst acquisition by any team so far this Hot Stove?
 - Torii Hunter to the Angels (5 years/90 million)
 - ARod to Yankees (10 years/$275 million)
 - Scott Linebrink to White Sox (4 years/19 million)
 - Jason Kendall to the Brewers (1 year/3 million?)
 - Doug Brocail to the Astros (1 year/2.5 million)
 - Kerry Wood to Cubs (1 year/4.2 million)

My wife and I share the hobby of baseball (thankfully). And, while I enjoy the stats, percentages, over/unders, and trivia of America's greatest pastime, my wife gets more attached to the actual player; she wants to know if they're a nice person or not. While most of the time I could care less if they're personable or not, there are always those players that seemingly irk you the wrong way.

So, by putting this interesting thought into my head, I propose putting together an All-Jerk team of Active players. Who are the biggest jerks at their particular position? Who makes the cut?

To get us started:

C: A. Pierzynski
1B: K. Youkilis
2B:
3B: D. Wright
SS:
OF: B. Bonds
OF: G. Anderson
OF:
OF:
DH: G. Sheffield
SP: D. Wells
RP: K-Rod
Manager: O. Guillen

Let me know what you think. Please try and refrain from saying you hate a whole team...

per TR

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070324&content_id=1857731&vkey=spt2007ne ws&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex

Loe will either be in AAA or in the bullpen. Chen finishes in 3rd place and is probably trade bait before April 1st. He's preformed well enough that we may get something back for him, but I think his non-guaranteed contract will convince teams to wait on him.

Ugh.

Over at http://www.MLBTradeRumors.com they're looking for a blogger to represent the Rangers. It probably pays little if anything at all...just someone to give up-to-the-minute updates on the team.

If you've ever read the site, the Rangers' opinions are never very highly regarded ("Sign more pitchers." "Why are the Rangers thinking of dealing relief pitcher?" "Why didn't they re-sign Carlos Lee?"). Someone from here probably could expand the public opinion.

Evan Grant is reporting that the Rangers have offered Michael Young a contract extension. No words on the numbers of it, yet.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/baseball/rangers/stories/022107dnsporangdate.13a930a .html

Hopefully, this all gets resolved before the end of the week, right about the time that Sosa gets there, so we have something else to talk about.

Weirdest trade so far.

MLB.com is reporting that the Nationals have traded Jose Vidro to the Mariners for Chris Snelling and Emiliano Fruto. The Mariners have also agreed to pay $12 million of the remaining $16 million on his contract.

Good pick up for the Nationals. I'll miss Tom Grieve and Josh Lewin having fun saying, "Emiliano Fruto!" Update [2006-12-14 0:37:16 by mtex]: The M's also gave Vidro an option for 2009, so he'd waive his no-trade clause with the Nationals.

Good story up by T.R.

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061211&content_id=1759358&vke y=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex

Thought it was also interesting to note that the Rangers have made their offer on Barry Zito.

No mention of Fast Freddy playing centerfield next season.

Big day for the Dodgers. mlbtraderumors.com is reporting that Luis Gonzalez has just been signed by the Dodgers for one year 7 million.

Knew the Rangers were interested in him at the beginning of the offseason. Glad we backed off and didn't sign him for that much.

Since it's been the trend of the day, go ahead and roast me for the short posting.

This information might be on here somewhere. With all the recent posts, I tried my best to see if it was here and couldn't find it.

The News: I heard on ESPN radio today that Vernon Wells had been taken off the Blue Jays season ticket mailers and advertisements to fans and subscribers.

Why would the Jays take their best player off of advertising and promotions? Unless, their seriously taking offers on him this offseason, or are honestly wanting to move him by the trade deadline in 07.

I knew the Rangers interest in Wells was genuine, but I didn't think the Jays were THAT willing to sacrifice his face on the team already.

So we take Tejeda and Padilla away from them..whose next?

A number of reports, some posted here on LSB indicate that a trade for Pat Burrell might be possible for the Rangers if they want to give up some bullpen talent. It's also been rumored that Aaron Rowand has been shopped around, too.

Rowand would seem to be the cheaper option, and is actually a CF, has AL experience and would seem to cover ground farily well at TBIA.

Burrell also seems like he would benefit here, but would be more money and would be an addition to our growing list of corner outfielders.

So, the first questions is, who do you get? Second, what do you have to give up to get him? The Phillies, with the departure of Dellucci, are also looking for a left-handed bat, right-fielder. Is a Wilkerson for Rowand swap straight-up out of the question? Probably so. For Burrell, could you package a pitching prospect with one of the current bullpen arms to get him?

Your thoughts on an icy-cold Thursday morning.

This makes me extremely happy. They've made their hole, now they've got to vomit in it too.                                  

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/11/28/bc.bba.redsox.matsuzaka.ap/index.html

For anyone that cares, it looks like Wells has signed with the Cardinals to be at the back end of their rotation. Not sure for how much. They also signed Adam Kennedy and a backup catcher.

Does anyone know if we even considered Wells? I thought the Rangers went into the offseason wanting to at least offer each free agent a contract to come back. Doesn't seem to be the case.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/112806dnsporanglede.2deade5f.html

Makes me wonder if the Rangers ever were officially notified of the transaction at any point or really cared. Whatever the communication, $3 million would have been too much for his back-up services.

The Rangers are really racking up the draft picks.

I know voting was yesterday...for government positions.

I'm talking about the TYIB awards over at MLB.com. Go and vote for the play of the year today. My vote was for GMJ, of course, with Tad Iguchi and Gruddy coming in 2nd and 3rd. Help GMJ win this one, despite not winning the Golden Glove.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/awards/y2006/tyib/index.jsp

I wanted to get everyone's thoughts not just on the two new coaching staff positions, but what it means. With the history of Washington and Howe with the Athletics from 99-02, does anyone think that this helps the Rangers cause of signing or trading for some better players from those Athletic teams?

Players include: Barry Zito, Mark Mulder, Ted Lilly, Tim Hudson, Eric Byrnes, Mark Bellhorn, Terrence Long. Okay, I didn't say that they were all good options, but all were significant factors while both Howe and Washington were there.

Has anyone heard any other players that love the combo of Washington/Howe? I know Torii Hunter has praised it already. Does this combo attract Bonds? Tejada?

Anyone hear of any plans for our beloved ex-manager for next year's season? Anyone find it disconcerting that of all the managerial openings, he hasn't been mentioned? (unless I'm missing something somewhere) Ah well, quality family time, some cushy, part-time job with Peter Gammons doesn't sound that bad.

The Rangers apparently are a possible destination for Sheffield. I've heard the Rangers and the Indians. Does anyone here actually think he would be a good fit in Arlington? His bat might be nice at Ameriquest, but I don't see him getting along very well with the team and especially not with the media.

Also, how much of his $13 mil. salary would the Rangers have to take on? to add that the Yankees would want some player or players in return. Any chance he'd move to 3B if we traded Blalock?

Anyone hear about Mota's suspension? Anyone care?

I've heard lots of rumors, lots of options, but which pitcher do you think WILL end up a Ranger next season? If pitching really is the answer to more wins for the Rangers, then how much do they spend on a free agent? Should the Rangers try for one blockbuster signing? or a couple of #3 and #4 guys that have been around a while? These are just free agent options, but what might be other options via a trade?