Expect a lot of bench clearing brawls this year. New pitching coach Doug Brocail’s first order of business with his pitching staff is going to be to throw inside, challenge the hitters in, back them off the plate. Or, as Brocail was quoted in The Dallas Morning News, they are going […]
It’s the dead of the winter. Everyone is getting punch drunk for baseball. But here is an article from ESPN.com yesterday about something most people would never want to see in the game but I would welcome with open arms. A computer calling balls and strikes. It took a while […]
Happy MLK day, everyone. If you want to be inspired to dream of this country being the best it can be, watch King’s “I Have A Dream” speech. Concise, moving, and very powerful. Now, for the opposite of that: Here is a reprint from July 31 when the Rangers were starting their […]
Seven Rangers have filed for salary arbitration: Robinson Chirinos Jake Diekman Mitch Moreland Jurickson Profar Tanner Scheppers Shawn Tolleson Tom Wilhemslen A player is eligible for arbitration in their fourth, fifth, and sixth years of their careers. After six years, they are eligible for free agency. Arbitration is a screwed up […]
Pennant races are a lot more fun than talking baseball it the winter. So here is one from the archives, back on September 27, when the Rangers were trying to wrap up the division, but trying to give it away at the same time. These were the games when fans’ […]
The popular rationale for the Rangers not making any significant moves to upgrade their team this winter is that they made their huge moves in July rather than January. They got Cole Hamels and a new bullpen before the off-season. They did their Christmas shopping early. That’s one way to […]
I was lucky enough to see two of the greatest catchers of all time play in their primes. Pudge Rodriguez for the Texas Rangers and Johnny Bench for the Cincinnati Reds. There was really nothing either of these catchers couldn’t do behind the plate. Both came up as nineteen year […]
Talking yesterday about Justin Ruggiano and whether he is platooning, being called on to give certain players a breather against left-handers, or whatever, here is one from the archives about platooning. *** PLATOONING IS JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR MEDIOCRITY. I grew up watching baseball in the 70s. Specifically, I followed the Cincinnati […]
Last month the Rangers signed Justin Ruggiano to be the right-handed bat this team needed now that Mike Napoli defected to the Indians. According to reports, he will play mostly left field, being the right-handed tandem to lefty Josh Hamilton. And he will occasionally play some at first base to be […]
Every day we come together here over baseball, over a love for the Rangers, and quite often over our disappointment in them. But we come together. Because it’s about more than baseball, really. While baseball may be the bonding agent, the heart and soul of this site are the friendships and camaraderies we develop, […]