Notes from Frisco: Rangers 7, Royals 2

FRISCO — A capacity crowd filled Dr Pepper Ballpark as baseball returned to the Metroplex for the start of a new baseball season — filled with promise as they all are — and what they witnessed was another reason to believe in a ballclub clearly on the rise.

On display was a new, rangy defense and much crisper execution than Rangers fans have seen in a couple of Aprils. Fans were also treated to pitchers who attacked the strike zone with confidence that plays would be made behind them. Brandon McCarthy showed off his snappy new slurvy slider, which appears to be a well above-average offering, and old-school fans had to be pleased with the way that Elvis Andrus makes things happen, even though he doesn’t bring the traditional Rangers big-bopper bat to the party.

Sure, there was one minor scare as this nearly fright-free spring comes to an end, but Vicente Padilla’s forearm tightness was nothing to get too worried about. His early exit after two innings — the second of which was supremely efficient (8 pitches) — was precautionary more than anything and he fully expects to make his scheduled start in the season’s second game on Wednesday night against Cleveland.

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Stoppin’ Down For A Little Action With The Hardline

We’ll visit with Mike, Corby and Danny on The Ticket (KTCK-1310 AM) about 5:30ish (give or take a few minutes) this afternoon to talk a little about the Tom Hicks situation and maybe a little old-fashioned baseball. May I can get on Team Hardline for the big charity game in May.

Exhibition Weekend Fun: Come Up With A Rangers Slogan And Win Tickets To Opening Day

The Rangers ad campaign “Built for Fun!” is certainly more fun than last year’s “You Could Use Some Baseball!” but we need the growing nation of The Corner denizens to come up with something even more intriguing. Might even be worth your while if you do it between now and Sunday at 9 a.m. (CDT).

Turco Sidelined With Injury; Stars Sign 19-Year-Old Winger

The Stars just announced Marty Turco is day-to-day with a lower body injury. They’ve recalled goalie Matt Climie from the Idaho Steelheads, presumably to back up Tobias Stephan tomorrow night when the St. Louis Blues visit. And, late Friday afternoon, they added a tough young forward to the fold.

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Rangers/Stars Owner Tom Hicks: “We Want The Banks To Be Reasonable”

Rangers/Stars owner Tom Hicks said he is asking bank lenders “to be reasonable” regarding the interest payment on more than $500 million in loans relating to the two clubs and the assets of Hicks Sports Group.

Before we go any further, we should probably explain to our British friends that Liverpool Football Club is not among the HSG holdings and neither are any of Hicks’ other business interests.

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The Jason Kidd Imbroglio

There is a decision that is quickly approaching that I would like for you to consider this morning:

What do we do with the future of Jason Kidd?

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In Honor Of The Just-Concluded G-20 In London, Another Chapter Of T.O.M. With England’s PL-20

That’s Tom’s Other Money, as in Hicks.

His Liverpool team is only a point behind Manchester United but has played one more game as the Premier League season has less than two months to go. The Reds have a realistic chance to keep gaining ground this weekend. And their Champions League play will resume next week.

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