Per Jamey:

According to another local report, Texas is working on a deal with Boston that would send catcher Max Ramirez to the Red Sox for Mike Lowell (and presumably a meaningful amount of cash), giving the Rangers the right-handed bat they've been seeking this off-season.

What do you guys think?  Personally, I'm not a big Lowell fan, but if it gives us a better lineup, I guess...  But for Max?  I dunno...

Another question: How much cash would Boston have to kick in for this trade to become viable for the Rangers?

This Texas team is not the 2005 version of the National Champion Texas Longhorns.

Plain and simple, this team is not the one that defied all odds and won the National Title with the greatest college QB of all time (opinion injected, obviously).

Let's look at the 2009 Texas Longhorns for what they are: the 2009 Texas Longhorns.  The '09 version doesn't have the explosive offensive capabilities that came with having Vince Young, Jamaal Charles, Ramonce Taylor, Limas Sweed and Co.  This year does, however, have arguably the best defense Texas has ever seen.  Perhaps a better overall special teams.  And a better overall coaching staff.

But here's the problem: It seems that we as a collective group of Texas fans seem to think that because we're going back to the Rose Bowl that we're automatically going to repeat and overcome the same underdog mentality that the '05 team overcame against a tough opponent.  Just because they did it doesn't mean that Colt, Shipley & Co. will.

So let's be objective here.  Let's look at this season, this team, this year's opponent, and not the 2005 versions.  Let's focus on the 2010 National Championship Game on January 7, 2010.  Not January 4, 2006.

Here's to rolling the Tide and bringing another Crystal Ball back to Austin with a new group of champions.  Hook 'Em.

Okay, so it's getting close to the date when playoff tickets will go on sale (Sept. 12th at 9:00 AM for the general public, Sept. 10th at 9:00 AM for Inside Pitch subscribers), and I have no idea how this process works.  Do the Rangers sell tickets for games 1/3 and 2/4, or do they only offer 1, 2, 3, and 4 separately and we have to choose?  Just wondering if any of you can provide insight on how this works and maybe help some of us, like myself, who don't really know what to do here.

Some links to check out if you're considering buying tickets and aren't a season ticket or mini-plan holder:

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps.jsp?y=09&c_id=tex

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090902&content_id=6755022&vkey=pr_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex

Prices for seats are as follows:

Lexus Club Infield; Lower Infield; Lexus Club Box......$100.00

Lower Box; Corner Box......$75.00

Lexus Club Terrace; Lower Reserved......$60.00

All You Can Eat Porch......$45.00

Upper Box; Upper Reserved; Bleachers; Grandstand Reserved......$30.00

Standing Room......$25.00

One other thing: I talked to the ticket office, and they said if you do make any sort of purchase for single-game playoff tickets and the Rangers happen to not make the postseason, you can send in a refund request, or you can apply them to future seats (I assume for next season).

Now here's to hoping we make it into the playoffs and this is a worthwhile discussion.

I'm moving to Colorado for the summer for an internship, and will thus be out of the Metroplex until mid-August, and consequently without Rangers game feeds until said time.  I've thought about getting MLB.TV to be able to watch Rangers games while in Colorado, and was wondering what suggestions or opinions y'all might have of its use and functionality.  Would you recommend the basic or the premium?  Would you recommend it at all?  What things do I need to know about it going in before using it?  Any help or advice that can be offered would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

Just saw this today since the All-Star game ballots were released earlier this afternoon (http://vote.mlb.com/), but the Rangers are offering the same deals they did last summer.

Per www.texasrangers.com:

Vote online and select the Texas Rangers as a "favorite" or "other favorite" Club the maximum 25 times between Wed., April 22 and Thu., July 2 and receive two (2) free tickets to one (1) select Texas Rangers home game of your choice in sections regularly priced up to $25.

Vote online and select the Texas Rangers as a "favorite" or "other favorite" Club anytime between Wed., April 22 and Thu., July 2 and receive a 50% OFF discount offer for tickets in locations valued up to $33 to one (1) Sunday - Thursday Rangers home game in August and September (excluding Aug. 16 & Sept. 27 and in Grandstand Reserved locations).

Online voting ends July 2, 2009 at 10:59 p.m. CT, so get your ballots in today! Look for your discount ticket offer via e-mail the week of July 20, 2009. See Terms and Conditions for rules and restrictions. Offer subject to availability.

The only change from last year's offer to this year's is that there are only seven games that you can choose to attend with the free tickets.  Those are:

Twins vs. Rangers - Mon., Aug. 17 - 7:05 p.m., Tue., Aug. 18 - 7:05 p.m., Thur., Aug. 20 - 7:05 p.m.

Blue Jays vs. Rangers - Tue., Sept. 1 - 7:05 p.m., Wed., Sept. 2 - 7:05 p.m.

A's vs. Rangers - Mon., Sept. 14 - 7:05 p.m., Tue., Sept. 15 - 7:05 p.m.

So, it's finally Opening Day boys and girls.  I, for one, am headed out to the ballpark shortly.  However, I figured this might be a good place for some chatter this morning before the game for everyone who would like to join in.  Think of it as a Pre-Gameday Thread, if you will.  I'm absolutely psyched about the game today, and there is nowhere to talk, so here ya go!

I know the lineups were posted last night, but I'll link them again for those who missed seeing them:

Opening Day Lineups

Happy Opening Day Rangers fans!  And for those of you who are going out to the ballpark, two things: (1) Take a jacket, it is cold.  (2) Do NOT boo the former President.  That's just mean.  (And plus he used to own part of the team, kinda makes it a double whammy if we boo.  No booing.)

Ok, so I was just kinda wondering... where is everyone sitting on Opening Day?  For those of you who are going anyway... maybe some of us are sitting next to each other and can hang out and talk baseball or something.  I know baseballifmyboyfriend and several of you are sitting together in some pretty good seats, and I was just kinda wondering where everyone else had gotten tickets for.  Look forward to maybe meeting some of you at the game!