Random Thursday Questions: How Many Wins?

Posted on March 19th, 2009 9:46am by Evan Grant
Filed under Burning Questions, Celebrity crushes, Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Hockey, Texas Rangers

I’m hopped up on Sweet Tea (man can’t live on Dr Pepper alone) this a.m. and I’m full of questions, even before I get into the Rangers clubhouse. So, here goes:

1. In exactly two weeks, the Rangers leave Arizona and they should have a pretty good idea of what kind of team they have on their hands. I’m trying to put together my own list of plusses and minuses to come up with some kind of prediction for the year. It would be great if I could be a little more accurate than I was in 2007 when I went 90-72 and they went 75-87. But I want input from the masses. Give me your mid-March pick.

2.  March Madness question: Sorry if you didn’t get in the D March Madness pool (but thanks to the 500 of you who did, thus maxing out Yahoo’s technology), but please tell me the one tournament team that is a #9 seed or lower likely to go deepest into the tournament.

3.  Guys, who is your celebrity crush of the week? I’m going with Jill Wagner. Girls, feel free to come up with your own, but I ain’t weighing in.

4. Stars in the playoffs: Yes or No?

5. Mavs out in the first round: Yes or No?

6. Would you do Tony Romo for Jay Cutler? JJT of the DMN says no, based on the fact that Cutler has never taken a team to the playoffs. But I’d also add Cutler and Romo have the same number of playoff wins.

7. What candy do you eat that nobody should know about (unless you are still in fourth grade)? I’ve got too many to count, but I’ll admit to these.

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28 Comments to “Random Thursday Questions: How Many Wins?”
  • cody @ March 19th, 2009 at 9:50 am

    1. Rangers go 86-78 and finish second in the west 2 games back of the Angels and third in the wild card behind Tampa Bay and Chicago

    2. Western Kentucky

    3. Elisha Cuthbert

    4. No

    5. Yes

    6. No

    7. Sour Patch Straws

  • dwc @ March 19th, 2009 at 9:53 am

    You stopped one question short: Should Pete Rose be in the Hall of Fame.

    Guy Sportts, out.

  • Adam @ March 19th, 2009 at 9:56 am

    1. Rangers go 81-81.
    2. North Dakota State and their pack of 23 year olds
    3. Taylor Swift
    4. Yes, and I hope we get San Jose in the first round
    5. Yes
    6. No, no, no, never, never, never… don’t you damn call here again.
    7. rice krispie treats

  • blalockag @ March 19th, 2009 at 9:58 am

    83-79
    North Dakota State
    Rachel Bilson
    NO
    YES
    NO
    Sour Patch Kids

  • Stephen R @ March 19th, 2009 at 10:15 am

    1. 87. I am very bullish this year. I think the Rangers lineup will be just as good as it was last year. Cruz and Davis will be in the lineup from the beginning and I think Saltalamacchia will be a well above average catcher offensively.

    I also think that CJ, Madrigal, and Francisco will be a reasonably strong set-up/closer combination.

    Most importantly, I think the Rangers defense is substantially better with Young and 3B, Andrus at SS, Davis at 1B, and Cruz in RF. Last season Bradley was a black hole in his limited time in RF, and we were below average defensively at 1B, SS and 3B. I think every player in the field with the possible exception of Saltalamacchia has the ability to be a plus defender.

    I also think that the rotation is a lot better. A healthy McCarthy and full years from Feldman and Harrison will be an improvement over Jennings/Mendoza. I doubt we’ll have two starters combine for an ERA of over 8.50 over 90.2 IP, as we did last season with Jennings and Mendoza.

    I think if our rotation can stay reasonably healthy [particularly McCarthy], the Rangers will contend. I think the early returns are positive and I think the Rangers are going to surprise people. Personally, I find it amazing that Oakland is the trendy pick when Duchscherer is hurt and their projected opening day rotation is Eveland, Gallagher, Braden, Gonzalez, and Simmons.

  • ebennett @ March 19th, 2009 at 10:18 am

    1. I like your last year’s prediction of 90 wins. I think the starters are good for 70 with some good second half reinforcements available in Holland, Feliz and Hunter.
    2. NDS
    3. Who cares?
    4. No
    5. No
    6. NO!
    7. Cherry Mash

  • Jeffrey @ March 19th, 2009 at 10:21 am

    1.) YOUR Texas Rangers will go 85-77 (I think that adds up to 162)
    2.) Maryland or Mississippi State
    3.) Carrie Underwood
    4.) Not this year
    5.) If they’re the 8th seed, yes. If they’re the 6th or 7th seed, no.
    6.) No
    7.) Peanut Butter M&Ms

  • Jimbo @ March 19th, 2009 at 10:24 am

    1. 85-77; win the West.
    2. Temple (you heard it here first)
    4. No; too many injuries, too little left in the tank.
    5. Yes
    6. Absolutely not
    7. Swedish fish!

  • Little O @ March 19th, 2009 at 10:24 am

    1. 85-77
    2. Maryland to the Sweet Sixteen
    3. Scarlett Johansson (this and every week until the end of time)
    4. No
    5. Don’t care but Yes
    6. Plus side – no more Jessica Simpson
    Minus side – Jay Cutler
    I choose not to decide
    7. Never was a candy person – I prefer salty treats

  • Thirdold @ March 19th, 2009 at 10:45 am

    Stephen R. I couldn’t have expressed it any better. I share pretty much every sentiment you posted.

    1.89-73 (Hell, one of these years my enthusiasm has to be well founded, right?)
    2. Dayton
    3. Megan Fox
    4. No
    5. Yes
    6. Pop Rocks…that is assuming I’m not drinking a beloved Dr. Pepper at the same time (http://www.snopes.com/horrors/freakish/poprocks.asp)

  • red3biggs @ March 19th, 2009 at 10:48 am

    1. 82-80
    2. ….
    3. Jennifer Aniston … I’ll be there for you baby
    4. No
    5. Yes
    6. No Only becuase f the risk that he doesnt work out in our system
    7. Those sour patch candies are a nice treat …

  • SB @ March 19th, 2009 at 10:54 am

    You left off this question: Is this the most boring and useless sports blog in all of DFW?

    In a town where the Cowboys are first, second and third, with the Mavs coming in fourth, our city magazine gives us a blog dedicated almost solely to stat-geeks in baseball and hockey. Way to know your audience!

  • rangers #1 @ March 19th, 2009 at 10:58 am

    1. 85-77
    2. dayton
    3. Jordana Brewster
    4. no
    5. yes
    6. Doesn’t really matter as they are basically the same quarterback
    7. big dippers

  • Habib @ March 19th, 2009 at 11:07 am

    1.70-75 wins.
    This pitching is even worse than last year and no sir sidney ponson to save them.
    I do have hope in kids the like Holland and Neftali but this team’s management is scary.
    2.USC
    3.Erin Burnett of CNBC- I like smart girls to have conversation with.
    4.NO
    5.YES
    6.YES-I think Tony has maxed out.
    This is who he is.
    He thinks he can win a game by himself and we have seen the results.
    Go with Jay and Shanny.
    7.Hersheys almonds.

  • Evan Grant @ March 19th, 2009 at 11:15 am

    @SB: Right now, we know our strengths, hockey and baseball. But we intend to get stronger and better and more diversified. But there are lots of destinations for Cows and Mavs fans to visit right now, not so much for Rangers and Stars fans. We want to make this a fun, cool, informational, analytical and opinionated sports site. We hope you’ll hang out, even if you want to bust our chops. We always need a dissenting voice or two.

  • jcAustin @ March 19th, 2009 at 12:11 pm

    1. 92-70, go ahead, laugh
    2. Utah St.
    3. Tina Fey
    4. ?
    5. yes
    6. no
    7. Peanut M&M’s

  • SSHorn @ March 19th, 2009 at 12:32 pm

    1. 87 wins and in contention

    2. NDS

    3. Carrie Underwood AND Elisha Cuthbert. Yes, I’m greedy!

    4. No

    5. Yes

    6. Not a chance in h. e. double hockey sticks.

    7. Chewy Sweettarts! I’m addicted.

  • Scottus @ March 19th, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    1. 82-80 will be a very successful year.
    2. Utah St
    3. I’ll take Jill Wagner too.
    4. No
    5. Yes
    6. No
    7. Baby Ruth is a classic go to…

  • Mario @ March 19th, 2009 at 12:37 pm

    Evan,

    Were the other person besides myself that actually watched ‘Blade’ the tv show?

    That’s where I discovered the greatness of Ms. Wagner before the car commercials.

  • BillyW @ March 19th, 2009 at 12:45 pm

    85 wins. Dont care about the rest of the stuff

  • GhettoBear04 @ March 19th, 2009 at 1:44 pm

    @SB: Man, if only stat-geeks and baseball lovers spent too much time on the internet following their teams all the way down to the minor-league level…oh wait…

  • Matt S. @ March 19th, 2009 at 1:51 pm

    1. 90-72
    2. Wisconsin
    3. Erin Andrews
    4. No
    5. Yes
    6. No
    7. Twizzlers

  • Sriram @ March 19th, 2009 at 3:30 pm

    1. 80-82
    2. USC
    3. Here’s a second on Carrie Underwood.
    4. No
    5. No
    6. No
    7. Everlasting Gobstoppers (do they even make those anymore???)

  • Jolly @ March 19th, 2009 at 6:19 pm

    SB….this is the best site for Rangers fans….who cares about the Cowboys after Jimmy Johnson left………get with the program….the Rangers might not win it this year but they sure as hell are headed in the right direction and that in itself is a lot more exciting than the Cowboys……

  • scooper @ March 19th, 2009 at 8:43 pm

    1. 89 wins
    2. USC and Wisconsin – Sweet 16
    3. Evan Grant! This is a great site and I’d rather have you at D Mag. than DMN
    4. Yes
    5. No
    6. No
    7. Gobstoppers

  • Jon @ March 19th, 2009 at 9:22 pm

    1. 81-81. .500 might make us respectable again.

    2. Pass – don’t know a thing about basketball.

    3. This week? Sprague Grayden, who is playing the president’s daughter on “24″ this season. Striking blue eyes.

    4. Pass.

    5. Pass.

    6. I guess it’s probably obvious at this point I don’t know anything about any sports outside of baseball, isn’t it?

    7. I love Milky Way bars. Especially those “midnight” ones.

  • dude in Afghanistan @ March 20th, 2009 at 2:49 am

    1. 85-78; might win the West, but I doubt it
    2. NO Cinderellies this yr
    3. I have too many to list only one, but I get really weak in the knees for a mega-watt smile like Elisabeth Banks’
    4. Hate the NHL
    5. Hate the NBA
    6. Romo is better, but the Cowboys’ list of problems go way beyond the roster make-up
    7. Anytime I can, I’ll gladly have a Milky Way, Mounds, Almond Joy, Hershey’s Bar (with or without almonds)

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