Game Book: Mavericks vs. Wizards

The Mavs got a break from the schedule tonight, welcoming the Washington Wizards (the second-worst team in the league) before taking off on a grueling West Coast swing that takes the team to Phoenix, Portland, Golden State, and finally to the Staples Center to face off against the Lakers. That will either give them some breathing room in the standings or seriously kick their playoff hopes in the jeans. A few notes from the 119-103 W:

(more…)

T.O.: “I’m Leaving America’s Team For North America’s Team”

Terrell Owens signs with the Buffalo Bills. I wonder who at ESPN will draw the short straw and be forced into buying a new winter wardrobe.

Building Bridges: Only Real Competition in Rangers Camp is for Middle of the Bullpen

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Rangers general manager Jon Daniels has in his office a dry-erase board with names of possible Opening Day roster combinations scribbled upon it. In the past, it’s often looked something like a physics equation, with question marks, crossed out names, alternative options and the like.

This year, he’s barely touched the thing. Barring injury, the roster is that close to being firm with more than three weeks to go before the season opener against Cleveland on April 6.

(more…)

Our Leader

The Cover Boy……..

Good times.

Game Report: Rangers 2, Chicago White Sox 1

RHP Vicente Padilla needed just 38 pitches to work through four scoreless innings to set the tone for the Rangers’ crisp win over the White Sox. It was the Rangers’ fourth win in the last five games. The win included sharp defensive plays by several infielders. 3B Michael Young lunged to his left to steal a hit from Jermain Dye; SS Omar Vizquel also went to his left to stab a line drive by Chris Getz just one batter after he made an error; 1B Hank Blalock started a first-to-short-to-first double play.

(more…)

The “Stalking Horse” at Lone Star

My post earlier this week about the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy filing by Magna Entertainment Corp., owner of the rights to conduct racing at Lone Star Park, was met with a rapid response from the LSP brass who advise that:

“It is important to note that Lone Star Park is not among the parties filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and will not be included in the bankruptcy proceeding.

“As a result, none of Lone Star Park’s accounts or assets will be frozen or negatively affected by this filing. Accordingly, there should be no immediate implications for Lone Star Park, our employees, horsemen, vendors, or customers.”

Great news for racing fans, including your’s truly. The meet will go on and tickets go on sale beginning this Monday.

But while there “should be no immediate implications for Lone Star Park” (and I’m not sure how that’s any different than my statement that the bankruptcy “could” threaten the meet, but whatever…) and it’s techically true that LSP isn’t a part of the bankruptcy, it doesn’t look like Lone Star will be completely immune from the fallout of it’s parent company’s bankruptcy according to Dallas bankruptcy and corporate attorney Darrell Cook.

Lone Star will proceed with business-as-usual subject to a so-called “stalking horse” arrangement with it’s largest secured creditor, MI Developments (which also happens to be MEC’s controlling shareholder), but ownership of Lone Star could change hands in the coming months.

(more…)

Ticket Sales Update

The latest from Rangers spokesman/ticket hawker/webcaster John Blake on single game ticket sales, which began this morning in Arlington:

“There are less than 500 seats still left for opening day, April 6 vs. Cleveland. Fans should not delay as the Rangers expect opening day to be down to singles, obstructed and standing room in a few hours.”

I should also mention that this is the man who said he went to look for the InsideCorner on the web and “I found a linoleum store.”

Saturday Morning Rangers Update

If you read my story on the two pitchers from the Dominican Republic, who haven’t been allowed into the United States since 2005 because of  immigration fraud charges, here’s a quick update: The Rangers have been contacted by another immigration law group that has some hopes of being able to get RHPs Alexi Ogando and Omar Beltre into the U.S. . The Rangers held on to the pitchers last year, hoping that the upcoming change in presidential administrations might mean a change in policy. The club has yet to meet with this new group of immigration law specialists, so there isn’t much more to report. But, with as much time and energy as the club has invested in trying to get these two pitchers into the U.S., I think they will investigate. … OF Andruw Jones will DH today after taking 10 at-bats yesterday. He could have a very busy weekend with an intrasquad game on Sunday and an exhibition against the Cubs at Mesa Sunday. The Rangers are trying to get him as many at-bats as possible, as quickly as possible. … The Rangers will use RHPs Thomas Diamond, Doug Mathis and Willie Eyre in the intrasquad game Sunday morning. … LHP C.J. Wilson was scheduled to throw in the bullpen this morning to test his sore left index finger. Club physician Dr. Keith Meister will examine him this afternoon to try and rule out a hairline fracture . …  Neither LHP Kason Gabbard nor RHP Brandon McCarthy ha any residual soreness after pitching in Friday’s “B” game. Gabbard may make his “A” game debut as early as Tuesday.

Ice-D

If you ask Evan about hockey, he’ll wax on about the glory days of the Atlanta Flames and Boom Boom Geoffrion. So he has asked me for a little InsideCorner help in this area.

I saw my first NHL game in 1970. Much of my recent time at The Dallas Morning News was spent overseeing coverage of hockey as well as baseball. That included the Stars’ maiden season in Dallas and the Cup year. I covered the 2006 Turin Games and became the unofficial American press liaison to Team Finland since I was on a first-name basis with Jere, Jussi, Niko and the underrated Niklas Hagman.

(more…)

Farm Futures (3/7/09)

For you normal people who don’t habitually begin your day scouring the box scores of the Midwest and California Leagues, you may have been a bit confused by many of the names — Whittleman, Beltre, Vallejo, maybe even Feliz — that popped up in yesterday’s box score.

As Inside Corner’s alleged minor league “expert,” I’m obliged to tell you a little bit about these kids who are part of what the baseball world has come to regard as the game’s best farm system.

Third baseman Johnny Whittleman (pictured), the Rangers second round pick in the 2005 draft, saw his first action of the spring and announced his presence with a two-run homer. The 22-year old Whittleman reached Double-A last August after a bumpy trip through the lower minors during which his production rarely matched expectations given his raw talent.

(more…)

Today’s Watch List

1.The game vs. the White Sox. It’s on FSN Southwest at 2:05 p.m.  with Josh Lewin and Tom Grieve. I got Josh warmed up for Seinfeld references yesterday with some talk about his favorite Seinfeld lines. I’m relatively certain Josh will share his with you.  Mine: “Bad chicken, man. Mess you up.”  In second: “I’ve got the Kavorka.” Oh, by the way, this was for your watch list. I’ll actually be at the game.

2. Always entertaining when White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and Rangers starter Vicente Padilla match up. Guillen basically thinks Padilla is an insane mound assassin. This all stems from Padilla hitting three batters in a pair of starts against the White Sox in 2006.

(more…)