Game Report: Rangers 7, Mariners 7 (10 innings)

In Peoria, Ariz., the AL West foes exhausted their pitching Tuesday before calling it an afternoon. After trailing all afternoon, the Rangers rallied to tie the score with four runs over the seventh and eighth innings. INF Joaquin Arias singled through the left side to score C Taylor Teagarden with the tying run in the eighth. RHP Brandon McCarthy had his first sluggish outing of the spring, allowing eight hits, three walks and six runs in 4.2 innings. (more…)

Hockey Night: Stars-Canucks

Appears to be the usual late arriving crowd for a 7:30 puck drop. Get out the calculator: all the teams in the West from fifth place through 13th are in action tonight.

I’ll be back between periods or if anything really jolts me during play. Please chime in.

If I heard correctly in here about an hour ago, I think we’re going to have a cellist play the two anthems. (more…)

Eric’s “Jerk Store” Debate on Rick Carlisle

I didn’t get a chance to read the discussion Eric began about Rick Carlisle’s recent petulant attitude until just a few moments ago.  Gotta say, I’ve got a couple of thoughts. Started to post them as an update to that post, but thought that would be too much of an interruption over there.

As a guy who has interviewed my fair share of managers/coaches, let me just say this: They have every right to be as cocky, arrogant, dismissive and condescending as they want to be (and they often are). Fans don’t care how reporters/media are treated. As long as you win. But when you don’t, a dismissive attitude towards the media becomes a dismissive attitude towards the fans. I’ve never gotten why so many coaches/managers take post-game questions as second-guesses when its an opportunity to clearly explain what they were thinking and why what they did was the right move for the moment. They know more about their sport than us or most fans. All they have do is educate people, but too often they think we are just a nuisance (and many times, but not all, they are right).

And to take that kind of approach with team broadcasters such as Chuck Cooperstein, Eric Nadel and Brad Sham (and it’s happened to every one of them in recent years) or a pretty forgiving talk show host like Norm Hitzges is just bad strategy. At the end of the day, I want my coach/manager to be a decent strategist and a good communicator. Doesn’t matter if we are talking about doing so with an underachieving 7-footer or a pack of poorly-dressed, portly sports journalists.

Brandon McCarthy’s Peoria No-Hit Bid Ends

Seattle’s No. 8 hitter Reegie Corona reached on a bloop single to start the third inning – the Rangers argued that Josh Hamilton caught the ball – broke up RHP Brandon McCarthy’s bid for a composite spring no-hitter at Peoria Stadium. McCarthy had gone seven innings over three starts in Peoria without allowing a hit. The last hit he had allowed in Peoria came in the third inning of his March 12 start against Seattle.

A throwing error by McCarthy and a double by Ken Griffey Jr.  helped two runs score  to end his shutout string at 10 innings.

Michael Young’s Return Is Brief

The Rangers third baseman, who had not played since Friday, re-aggravated the strained left quadriceps muscle in his first at-bat and left the game for the bottom of the second inning.

Play Sports Editor, Please

Question: How would you rank these issues to monitor today:

1. Brandon McCarthy’s outing

2. Andruw Jones in the cleanup spot vs. a lefty.

3. Possibility of reliever Jimmy Gobble facing lefties.

4. Josh Rupe and Derrick Turnbow making critical outings.

5.  Michael Young returning to lineup after a quad muscle issue.

More Video: Jamey Newberg-Evan Grant Discuss Rangers Catching

It’s good stuff. I promise. If you don’t like this, take Nancy the Puck Bunny’s suggestion and check this out.

Casting The Rangers Movie: Tom Hicks

So, I’m going to write a book/movie script about the Rangers (yeah, I say that every year; but maybe one year it will come true). But I’m already working on casting the movie. I’ve already gotten myself taken care of. I figure Jason Alexander, Hector Elizondo or Vern Troyer. Of course my love interest will be played by none other than Dallas’ own Molly Erdman of Sonic fame. And if she’s not available, here’s my alternate choice.

Now on to the tough parts, casting the Rangers characters. That’s where you come in. Help me out here, will you. For the first role, we’ll start right at the top: owner Tom Hicks.

For the part, I need somebody with the ability speak in a baritone Texas drawl, a thinning but distinguished hairline and a powerful presence.

So what do you think? Flip the page for your options. (more…)

Stars’ Middle Management

The planned return of Tom Wandell tonight against Vancouver could help out the Stars in the face-off circle. Dallas has won the face-off battle only once in the last 12 games. Wandell is a left-handed shooter who spent all season at center playing for Timra IK in Sweden’s elite league. He should be centering between Krys Barch and countryman Fabian Brunnstrom against the Canucks.

“I’ve been playing in the middle all season,” said Wandell, who first practiced with the Stars on Monday. “I feel comfortable there. I can make some play if I get the opportunity.”

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Andruw Jones Update: Texas Rangers Now Considering Him A Cleanup Option

NOTICE: THIS POST IS, AS WE SAY, “DEVELOPING.” IT MAY BE UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

SURPRISE, Ariz. – The latest twist in the strange spring saga of Andruw Jones:

The Rangers, who a week ago were considering releasing him from his minor league contract, are now looking at him as a cleanup option against left-handed pitching. Jones is hitting fourth today against Seattle lefty Jarrod Washburn. Nelson Cruz, who was expected to be the team’s cleanup hitter against lefties, is hitting fifth.

“This is what I’m considering for today in Peoria,” manager Ron Washington said. “Andruw has hit fourth many times in his career. There are going to be plenty of times that Nelson plays and Andruw isn’t in there that I’ll probably put Cruz in there. Nelson has done a great job in the clanup spot, but I also feel like Andruw can hit there and Nelson can protect him, too.”

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Does It Matter That Rick Carlisle Acts Like A Jerk?

Like Sports Sturm, I’m doing some Internet research tonight on the Mavs. (Unlike him, I’m doing it to avoid work, specifically the feature I’m writing for the May issue.) And I just came across a couple of things that reminded me about how caustic and thin-skinned Mavs coach Rick Carlisle can be. My question is, as a sports fan, should I care? Does the coach of the team of which I’m a fan need to be likable? The answer is, of course, yes and no. Jump ball:

Update: Big Byron has the audio, and a hot sports opinion. Listen to it, be amazed, then return and read.

Double update: Both Fish and MavsMoneyball take up this topic today, and they are in disagreement with my take. Read ‘em hard, read ‘em strong.

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Blake Griffin: NBA Superstar?

I must make a confession: I did not fill out a bracket. Honest. I do watch the NCAA tournament, but I do it more in this decade of my life as a primer for the NBA Draft in June – so that I am properly familiar with all of the lottery picks who are from the USA. Then, from naturally camping out on the couch, a story line or 3 will jump out at me during the tournament, and by the Final 4, I am going crazy over the tournament. I just don’t need my brackets or to hear about your brackets (no offense) to fall in love with the annual March tradition.

Anyway, when watching it every year, I try to see who the experts like for the draft, and then see if I see what they see. According to about 50 mock drafts , it would appear that there is NO question who the #1 pick in the draft is going to be:

OU’s big, strong Blake Griffin. (more…)

Morning Stars topic: Skating Backwards

The hallmark of Stars teams since the franchise was transplanted here has been defense. In 10 of the last 11 seasons, the Stars have finished in the top six in goals against.

Going into tonight’s game, the Stars are tied for 23rd, having allowed 222. With 10 games remaining, they already have given up more goals than in any full season since the dreadful 1995-96 campaign during which Bob Gainey handed the bench to Ken Hitchcock.

Sergei Zubov’s season was limited to 10 games. He walks with a severe limp and will turn 39 in July. Philippe Boucher was gone after 16 games. Marty Turco is tied for 28th in goals against, 37th in save percentage.

Have the blue liners and Turco partially paid for an attack that has lacked Brenden Morrow for much of the season and Brad Richards recently? Is this to be expected with kids like Matt Niskanen, Marc Fistric and Niklas Grossman playing significant roles? Is this an anomaly for Turco following the ’08 playoff run during which he finally solved the mystery of Joe Louis but now has difficulty beating St. Louis?

Do you think their goals against can be turned around next season?

Texas Rangers Bullpen: Your Answers, My Thoughts

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Nice going InsideCorner denizens. You basically decided NOTHING!!!

Yeah, that’s right I used multiple exclamation points.

In our 14-vote survey results (um, we’re looking for more participation, people), you gave jobs to Frank Francisco (14 votes), C.J. Wilson (14), Warner Madrigal (11) and Eddie Guardado (10). But we pretty much already knew they had jobs. Josh Rupe and Willie Eyre each received nine votes, giving them the inside track with two weeks to go.

For the final spot: Complete indecision.

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