Back in the 80's when I was a kid I absolutely loved listening to Mark Holtz and Eric Nadel calling Ranger games on WBAP.  I especially loved the post game scoring recaps and hearing the big moments from the game once again.  For some reason I decided to tape these post game recaps as well as some other big moments.  I've just converted these cassette tapes to MP3's so others can now listen to them.

In these files you can hear Mark and Eric calling some of the biggest plays from mostly the '87 season but also from the '88 and '89 seasons.  There are also a few other goodies mixed in.  Follow the link and you can download these files or choose "view" listen to them directly off the website.  The files will only remain for 30 days before being automatically erased.  If you need them after the 30 days let me know and I can repost them.  When I originally recorded them I did not intend to keep them for 25 years but the quality is decent.

Link: http://ge.tt/80AkHp5?c 

These files will allow you to join Mark Holtz, Eric Nadel, and engineer/producer Poncho Small in a trip to the past.  Listen to the late, great Mark Holtz with the original "Baseball Time in Arlington", "Hello, Win Column", and even a "peck-away".  You can hear a young Eric Nadel and listen to the exploits of Larry Parrish, Pete Incaviglia, Pete O'Brien, Scooter Fletcher, Steve Buechele, Jerry "The Governor" Browne, Bob Brower, Charlie Hough, Mitch Willimas, Dale Mohorcic, etc.  

File 1: Opening Day Plus 88 and 87 games

This file has a lot of the pregame show from the 1988 season opener, a few post game scoring recaps from a couple of games from 1988, and then several post game scoring recaps from April 16, 1987 thru May 10, 1987. 

File 2: 87 May thru June

Various post game scoring recaps from May 11, 1987 thru June 3, 1987

File 3: 87 June thru July

Various post game scoring recaps from June 5, 1987 thru July 19, 1987.  This last game is a 20-3 win over NYY which was the highest scoring game in Ranger history up to that point.  It also clinched the first series win over NYY in team history.

File 4: 87 July thru Aug

Various post game scoring recaps from July 21, 1987 thru August 14th.  Also includes an interview with Bob Brower after a big comeback win over the Red Sox.

File 5: 87 Aug thru Sept Plus LP and Sidekicks

This file begins with a radio interview of Larry Parrish on the day i n1988 when he was released by the Rangers. A very sad day for me.  It then has the post game show after the Dallas Sidekicks won the MISL champship after beating Tacoma 4-3 in Game 7.  It then has several post game scoring recaps from Aug 18, 1987 thru September 29, 1987. 

File 6: Ryan 5K game and last week of 87

This file begins with the post game scoring recap of Nolan Ryan's 5K strikeout game on Aug 22, 1989.  Then we have the play by play of the final three outs of Bobby Witt's first complete game on Sept 30, 1987.  Then we have  a few post game scoring recaps from the final week of the season.

John Hollinger, an ESPN basketball analyst, had the following quote about last night's Mavs-Heat game that all baseball fans can appreciate: 

Obviously, things went from bad to worse late in the fourth quarter, when Miami inexplicably became 3-point giddy. Again, I think the fool's gold was a big reason. Up til that point, James and Wade were a combined 10-of-17 on 3-pointers and had to be feeling good about their strokes.

And then the Sample Size Gods smacked them down.

Former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke has been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney on Sunday morning.

In the deal, the Brewers are reportedly acquiring Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain, shortstop Alcides Escobar and pitching prospects Jake Odorizzi and Jeremy Jeffress for the 27-year-old Greinke, 10-14 with a 4.17 ERA in 2010 after winning the 2009 Cy Young.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore had been actively shopping for major-league-ready, up-the-middle position players for Greinke.

The Brewers were expected to receive another major leaguer in the deal. Jim Breem of the blog "Bernie's Crew" reported that player to be shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt.

The Texas Rangers made what they considered to be an aggressive offer for Greinke during the winter meetings earlier this month, only to learn that they were far short of Kansas City's expectations.

Julio Borbon?  No.  Christian Guzman?  Nope.  Jorge Cantu?  Negative.

That would be the one Vladimir Guerrero ... our DH and cleanup hitter.  The guy has been awful since July.  I'm tired of watching him stink at the plate and make dumb decisions on the base paths.  If he wants to play next year he needs to find a new home*.  Hamilton is showing that he should be at least a part time DH next season.

*I reserve the right to change my opinion if Vlad gets hot and leads us to a World Championship.  Come on, Vlad.  Prove me wrong!

When I look up a players stats I always ignore the batting average stat and instead look straight to OBP and SLG.  I have no idea what the batting average is for any MLB player.  When a news article or a blog mentions a players BA I gloss over it. 

When I see a player's BA flashed on a TV when they come up to bat I pay no attention to it.  In fact, sometimes I'm shocked because I know a player is having a good year with OBP but their BA is awful. 

Batting Average just seems to be a wasted stat that shouldn't be taking up space in print, on a scoreboard, or on a TV screen.  It also shouldn't be use by writers **coughRichardDurrettcough** to show how a player is performing. 

Has anyone else lost faith in CJ?  I didn't have much coming into the season and I've lost that.  He looks like the same guy as last year ... and that's a bad thing.  He's talented but doesn't seem to have a clue out there.

He doesn't need to see the 8th inning anytime soon.  I'd recommend sending him to AAA if there was somebody ... anybody ... ready to take his spot on the roster. 

This is a great story of who Josh is having pitch to him in the home run derby.

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/story/1139201.html

Here's an excerpt to reach the 75 limit.  Check the link for the full story.

HAMILTON DELIVERS ON PROMISE

ARLINGTON, Texas - Years ago, Josh Hamilton made a promise to Clay Council. They never shook hands or signed a contract. It was just the word of one baseball player to another.

Hamilton, an Athens Drive student at the time, told Council, an American Legion volunteer coach who tossed batting practice, that if he ever reached Major League Baseball's Home Run Derby he would take him along to pitch.

Three weeks ago, Council's phone rang in his Cary home. On the other end was Hamilton, the former Athens Drive High School phenom and now major league All-Star for the Texas Rangers.

"That's the first guy I thought about," Hamilton said on Thursday after batting practice before a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Rangers Ballpark.

Hamilton added, "He's done so much for so many kids and probably hasn't got a lot of thank yous for it. This is a big thank you."

PLANO, TX — David Jacobs – a Plano man convicted of distributing steroids – told the Dallas Morning News late last month that he supplied steroids and masking agents to members of the Dallas Cowboys. Now, Jacobs is making claims against other famous names in the sports world.

In an SSNN exclusive interview, Jacobs claimed he supplied steroids and human growth hormones to ESPN employees John Clayton and Tim Kurkjian. Clayton is a Hall of Fame reporter who covers the National Football League, while Kurkjian follows Major League Baseball. Jacobs claims that both men approached him on separate occasions about the illegal substances.

“Clayton came to me first,” Jacobs told SSNN. “He said he was tired of getting trampled by [ESPN NFL analyst Sean] Salisbury in those on-camera debates. Plus, off-camera, he said Salisbury regularly took his lunch money and gave him swirlies. He wanted to bulk up so he could fight back.”

According to Jacobs, Clayton became a regular customer in 2006. “I sent him the best stuff. I used [ESPN reporter Ed] Werder as a mule.”

Werder typically spends the entire NFL season reporting on wide receiver Terrell Owens‘ every move, from in front of the Dallas Cowboys’ complex in Irving, Texas. Jacobs went on to say that although he supplied Clayton with the illegal substances, he has his doubts over whether the reporter actually took them.

“I mean, have you seen the guy? I only met him a few times, but I see him on TV everyday. He made absolutely no progress,” Jacobs said. “I kept asking him, ‘Are you taking them like I told you to?’ He kept saying he did, but look at him – he’s still a 150-pound weakling. And Salisbury still buries him. He’s probably afraid of needles or something.”

Jacobs tells a similar story about Kurkjian. “Kurk basically got tired of looking like a little boy. Plus, he’s got that little squeaky voice. So I loaded him up with testosterone.”

Like Clayton, the substances Jacobs supplied appeared to have little effect on Kurkjian. Perhaps bolstered by their still-unimpressive physical statures, both Kurkjian and Clayton vehemently denied the allegations through their lawyers – but Jacobs stands by his story.

“I know it sounds unlikely, based on the obvious physical evidence, but this really happened,” a plaintive Jacobs insisted. “What would I gain by making this up? It just makes me look bad. My stuff obviously failed these guys badly.”

Jacobs says the influence of professional athletes is to blame for reporters like Kurkjian and Clayton turning to illegal performance enhancers. “These are obviously nice little men who were negatively influenced by the hulking, manly athletes they cover and work with. Who wouldn’t feel like an insecure little wimp in an environment like that?”

http://www.serioussportsnewsnetwork.com/2008/05/convicted-steroids-dealer-admits-supplying-kurkjian-clayton.html

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Greatness!  lol

Just when I thought ESPN was useless they write something like this: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=tonyharris

A very well written story about a basketball player falling into the depths of mental sickness.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Lynn Swann just said that someone (Hines Ward) is carrying on the tradition of "great" receivers in Pittsburgh.  

So just who are these "great" receivers of Pittsburgh past?  Lynn Swann is in the Hall of Fame but I don't know any knowledgeable football fans who consider him "great".  Heck, most people consider John Stallworth to be the better of the two.  Hines Ward?  Solid receiver, great blocker (I guess) but is he "great"?  Um ... no.  Are there any other receivers in Pittsburgh history who could be considered "great"?

I guess Lynn could have meant "great" for a Pittsburgh receiver ... kinda like Charlie Hough would be considered a "great" pitcher for the Texas Rangers.

With less than a week to go before the trading deadline, the Rangers are heavily involved in talks with Atlanta on a deal that could send Mark Teixeira to the Braves, major league sources confirmed Wednesday.

The deal, however, could also expand into a blockbuster. Both Atlanta and the Los Angeles Dodgers, sources said, would like to get Teixeira and a reliever from the Rangers. Eric Gagne and Ron Mahay are of interest to Atlanta; the Dodgers are more interested in Gagne and Joaquin Benoit. Further complicating the scenario is the Rangers' interest in keeping Gagne on a long-term deal. The club and Gagne remain conversant about such a possibility.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said he would not discuss any trade scenarios.

The foundation for a deal that would send Teixeira to Atlanta would be 22-year-old catcher-first baseman Jarrod Saltalamacchia, considered the Braves' top prospect. It would likely also include a young pitcher, potentially either 23-year-old right-hander Kyle Davies or 21-year-old left-hander Matt Harrison, and infielder Elvis Andrus. The Braves, however, are not likely to part with lefty Jo-Jo Reyes.

The Dodgers also remain interested in a Teixeira-centric package, the source said. The Dodgers would likely have to part with first baseman James Loney, an outfielder such as Andre Ethier and a minor league pitcher to pull of such a deal. The Rangers love Highland Park lefty Clayton Kershaw, but it's not certain the Dodgers would include a prospect of his caliber as a third player.

Also, the Los Angeles Angels, according to a major league source, have upped an original offer of first baseman Casey Kotchman and a minor league outfielder (either Terry Evans or Nathan Haynes) for Teixeira alone.

That Atlanta and the two Los Angeles clubs are significantly interested could strengthen the Rangers' bargaining position in the final days leading up to Tuesday's 3 p.m. trading deadline. The Dodgers and Braves could end up in a head-to-head fight for the NL wild card, so keeping the other from upgrading its team could be a strong secondary motivator.

Likewise, the two Los Angeles teams are competing for the Southern California fan base. Neither can afford to watch Teixeira end up with the other and potentially in the World Series while the other is at home.

Can a pitcher earn a save without recording an out?

Situation: A relief pitcher comes into a game with the following situation:  9th inning, team ahead 1-0, bases loaded, two outs, 2-0 count on the batter.  He then proceeds to strike out the batter on three pitches.

Point of debate: Since the pitcher entered the game with a 2-0 count on the batter, is the at bat charged to the previous pitcher even if it's a positive outcome (postive for the pitcher)?  If so, then the relief pitcher could be on the mound when the game ended with a one run win but not have an out credited to him.

Anyone know how one would score this situation correctly?