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Question of the Day: Should Inside Corner “Adopt” an Area High School Football Team to Cover?

Here’s your chance to help dictate the direction of Inside Corner’s fall coverage. While we will be covering all things baseball (and in depth, I might add), we want to provide something of interest during the other seasons, too. Obviously, Bob Sturm will offer tons of Cowboys analysis and I’ll chime in there occasionally and also offer some college morsels. But, what about high school football? Since the season is upon us – I completely zeroed out over Zero Week – I offer up this question:

Should the Corner “adopt” a local team to offer up some weekly coverage this season? So, respond to these queries:

1. Yes or no?

2. If yes, please nominate a school and a compelling reason why multiple stories about said school might be interesting to a wider audience than just alums and students.

Rangers Jarrod Saltalamacchia Still Feeling Numbness in Shoulder, Return Uncertain

Updated, 5:11 pm: Richardson to be added to roster Tuesday.

ARLINGTON - The possibility that C Jarrod Saltalamacchia has played his last game this season grows. Saltalamacchia  has cut short his rehab assignment after two days because of recurring symptoms  of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in his shoulder. He played two games for Double-A Frisco over the weekend, but exited both games early.

Saltalamacchia said he started feeling numbness in the shoulder in the fifth inning Sunday and, by the seventh, he had a hard time with feeling in his hands. He plans to speak with Rangers doctors this afternoon and will seek a second opinion to determine if there is any other treatment besides surgery. Surgery to remove a rib and improve blood flow to his arm would knock him out for the season.

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Blogging on the Rangers from 33,000 Feet Just Because I Can: Couple of Quick Nuggets

SOMEWHERE ABOVE SOUTH CAROLINA – Good afternoon from another American Airlines flight equipped with the greatest invention since the Cuban Sandwich press – in-flight wireless service. I’m wingin’ my way to New York City to catch up with the Chris Davis-infused Rangers. Hoping to use my off night in NYC to see Inglorious Basterds.  And maybe hit one of the great delis the city has to offer.

Anyway, if you are going to use the in-flight wireless and if you are going to bill said usage to the company, you better at least use it for work. So here I am, blogging from the sky.

Heard two things last night on ESPN that really stuck with me and wanted your thoughts and input:

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Rangers Question of the Day

We all love to play manager, don’t we?

OK, here is your chance. Let’s assume the Rangers don’t do the seemingly unthinkable; in other words OF Julio Borbon remains on the roster even if RHP Jason Grilli is activated today. It gives you these outfield/DH options for the three-game series against Tampa Bay:

Marlon Byrd
Julio Borbon (left-handed hitter)
Nelson Cruz
Josh Hamilton (left-handed hitter)
Andruw Jones
David Murphy (left-handed hitter)

You face a left-hander Friday and another lefty on Sunday. You are playing on artificial turf. You have to have a cleanup hitter from this group. So, what’s your outfield/DH alignment for the weekend and why? And in what spots in the lineup do you hit these fellas?

Oh, and you better have an explanation why. Us Inglorious Basterds from the media are going to want to know why you are doing what you are doing for each particular game.

Countdown To The Trade Deadline: Take A Shot At Making The Best Possible Rangers Deal

Just under five days to go before the trade deadline, so let’s engage in a little exercise: Make believe trades. You may have already read the armchair GM’s roundtable in which MJH, Jamey Newberg, Joey Matschulat and I wasted your time. Now it’s your turn:

We’ve got a simple question, doctors (with Spanish subtitles, too!): Propose your best, most realistic trade the Rangers could make between now and the deadline. Be specific. Who knows if the club makes a trade and your proposal is dead-on, we might even send you a prize. Or Jon Daniels might hire you as an assistant. Time’s a wasting. Go.

Afternoon Announcements, Questions

First, a question: Do you want a Depot for tonight? Are enough people going to watch the game and want to comment on it for us to Depot live? If you want it, convince me. And be prepared for occasional grumpiness regarding the broadcast.

Now on to daily duties:

We’ve got another commitment for the Pennant Race Pep Rally at Pappasito’s in Arlington on Thursday afternoon. David Murphy, the hottest hitter in the Rangers lineup over the last six weeks, will be joining us from 6:30-7:30. I’m still crossing my fingers over one last mystery guest, but for now the final lineup is: Murphy, Kevin Millwood, Tommy Hunter and Eddie Guardado will represent the players. Ron Washington and Jon Daniels will represent management. It is also Becca’s birthday, so she will represent herself.

Home Run Derby for the kiddos – with an Ian Kinsler jersey as a prize – and possibly adults (time permitting) kicks off at 5 p.m. The great Chuck Morgan will announce. I will hurl … whiffleballs (at least for a while). And we will party right up until the break of 8 p.m.

There is still time to sign up for your free appetizer (with the purchase of a beverage) simply by dropping me a line here.

Ticket agents will be standing by in case you haven’t purchased your InsideCorner night seats for July 21 against Boston. They are $25 for the all you can eat seats. No, the seats are not edible. You can eat all you want from a wide array of gourmet treats that include hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, popcorn and other really healthy foods. It’s worth the price of admission just to see what kind of damage I can do.

Finally, here’s a reason NOT to set your alarm tomorrow morning unless you want to be serenaded by the shrill sound of my voice. But I will be joining my pal, Norm Hitzges, to talk about SPORTS! Well, to talk about baseball at 7:55 a.m., but if Norm wants to discuss Tony Romo’s potential next celebrity girlfriend, hey, I’m up for that, too.

Question Of The Day: Got Issues?

With the exception of Josh Hamilton, Michael Young and Nelson Cruz, the Rangers players have the next four days off. Well, three and a half. They return for a workout Thursday afternoon. And after that, Kevin Millwood, Eddie Guardado and Tommy Hunter have a date with you at Pappasito’s in Arlington. But you get the point, they’ve got some time off.

Media and management? Not so much.

We’re working right through the break. Here’s your chance to help us both out. I need a column idea and management can always use a little help from the fans, right? So, if you were sitting in the Rangers’ front office this week, what issues pertaining to the second half would be on your agenda to discuss? And in what order?

Texas Rangers Hitting Woes: Should Ian Kinsler Move To A Supporting Role?

There are – and have been – plenty of issues with the Rangers lineup.

The bottom of the order strikes out way too much. The middle is lacking Josh Hamilton, which is kind of like a Krispy Kreme donut lacking its glaze. Those are mostly season-long problems, though. The bottom third of the order hasn’t hit all year. Hamilton has missed more time than he’s played.

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Texas Rangers Trade Talk: Let’s Make A Deal

Before we identify some potential deals, let’s first figure the parameters we’ve got to work with. First, assume that you’ve basically got one major deal you can make. You can fix one trouble spot on the roster ahead of the trade deadline. Second, assume that adding payroll is going to be difficult, so we can’t attempt to add $10 or $12 million to the roster. It simply won’t happen. Finally, assume you are going to have to pay a fair price for the trade target. We’re not going to propose dealing Ian Gac and Adam Fox for Roy Halladay.

That in mind, before we go to any proposals, let’s start narrowing our focus:

Step one: Identify the need you are most willing to address if you can only address one.

• A starting pitcher.
• A big bat for the lineup.
• A reliable, durable late-inning reliever.
• There are either too many holes or none at all; no deals.

Answer away.

Rangers Hitting Woes: Not What You Think It Is?

What if I told you that everything you think about the Rangers’ hitting problems is not as it seems? What if I told you that the problem is not the short at-bats; it’s the long ones?

Would that blow your mind?

It blew mine, but the statistics I looked at clearly indicate the Rangers are most dangerous early in at-bats and that the problems mount when pitches pile up in plate appearances. And the biggest problem is that there are far more longish at-bats than there are short ones.

Consider these stats (through Saturday):

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Ask Sports Sturm: Bethpage, August, and Cleveland

Before we get into some of the other items we have for today, I do want to offer you a picture and a thought about the rare Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 tonight in Detroit.

First, I am a big fan of the man with the beard on the left. Bill Guerin is one of the classiest humans I have ever met in pro sports. I want success to find him, and to get his name on the holy grail (again) would make me very happy.

Also, I am not a big fan of the Detroit Red Wings. They are my life-long hockey nemesis. I wish failure upon them and even more failure on their fans. It is very similar to my feeling about the Spurs, so before you email me and tell me how jealous I am – let me cut you off at the pass and admit it. I am. It doesn’t mean you have to be smug about it, and it sure doesn’t mean you have to win all of the time.

Anyway, now that I have declared my love for Guerin and my hate for the Wings, let’s figure out what the Penguins are up against tonight as they try to win a Game 7 on the road in the Stanley Cup Finals.

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Why Would The Stars Fire Dave Tippett?

Sometimes you are left to make grand assumptions about a given story. For instance, we are still operating under the assumption that there really was major division and tension in the Cowboys locker-room in December – because if there was not (as certain guys who wear #81 tell us) then why would the Dallas Cowboys have sent their most explosive offensive player to Buffalo for nothing?

So, It seems that we are left to make our assumptions and draw our conclusions right now in the wake of the 2009 Dallas Stars mystery. Because otherwise, did the Stars need to do this?

Yesterday, word broke that they fired their long-time head coach Dave Tippett. Tippett had served the team since 2002, and in 6 seasons and 7 years with the team, he made the playoffs and finished with more than 97 points every year except this year.

This year, Tippett and the Stars missed the playoffs, but many of us who watched every second of every game certainly felt the season could be explained away rather simply – injuries and bad fortune.

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Ask Sports Sturm: All-Or-Nothing

After Chris Davis’ Tuesday performance of the 2-HR, 2-K variety, I was sent this email by Tim in Bedford:

Sturm-

Is Chris Davis the biggest All-or-Nothing guy in Major League Baseball? It seems like it either a HR or a strikeout with this guy, and while I enjoy the good…I do wonder about that bad.

Tim

Thanks, Tim. This is a topic I have become interested in with the plight of Chris Davis this season. He is someone I certainly root for, because I enjoy watching him play.

But, the amazing All-or-Nothing discussion is one worth looking at.

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Questions And Answers About Tom Hicks Willingness To Sell Majority Stake In The Rangers

After two months of trying to find only a minority partner for the Rangers and Dallas Stars, Tom Hicks acknowledged to the Star-Telegram Wednesday evening his willingness to seek out a majority owner.

“I am selling part of the Rangers,” Hicks told Galloway in a column written much in the style of a news story. ” I don’t know how big of a part. Yes, I’d be open to selling more than a minority share, but it depends on who the partners are.”

This morning, Hicks has yet to comment. A week ago, via email, he declined to discuss the state of his search for investors. He did not discuss the topic with reporters when he briefly visited the field on Monday before the first-place Rangers began a series with the New York Yankees. We’ve heard plenty of whispers about the state of his financial troubles, but were hoping that Hicks would discuss those rather than attribute provocative statements to unnamed sources.

This, however, is a huge story. As we wait for principals involved to speak let’s try to answer a couple of questions:

Q: How much would it take to buy the team?
A: The San Diego Padres sold for $500 million just before the start of the season and Forbes annual team valuation list ranked the Rangers a bit ahead of San Diego before the sale was announced. I’ve been told $600 million would be a realistic asking price, but if Hicks’ financial situation is deteriorating, it could become a buyers’ market for the club. In theory, it could drive the price for the team and its various assets down closer to the $500 million range.
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Big Weekend: A Closer Look At Rangers-Angels Series

Once you finished up the round of asking the Rangers about their second consecutive walkoff win, there was only one other Jenny-the-Elephant sized topic left to tackle Thursday afternoon: What about the weekend series with the Angels? What is the significance of the first meeting between the Rangers and the team that has ruled the AL West for four of the last five years?

“These are just baseball games, that’s how we have to look at it,” said OF Marlon Byrd. “We’re not going to look ahead. But we area aware of the opportunity to create some separation in the standings. And when you are in first place, you want to create separation as quickly as possible.  We’ve got the right guy on the mound to start a series in Kevin Millwood. Now, we just go and play baseball.”

Although the Rangers have gone 6-2 since they seized first place nine days ago, they have not been able to create much separation. Almost as soon as they knocked Seattle out of first place, the Angels got hot, too. The Rangers have not led the division by more than 1.5 games since taking over the top spot.

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Thursday A.M. Housecleaning: More Questions For You

I’m sorry, sorry, sorry that we weren’t at the most interesting game of the year last night, but with a somewhat limited travel budget, we’ve had to pick and choose a little. When I made April’s travel plans,  I certainly didn’t think an umpire would go down, Derek Holland would make his major league debut, the Rangers would install a revolving door in the bullpen or that a new reliever would meet his teammates for the first time on the mound as he was entering a game. Lesson learned.

So, here’s the thing I want to put up for a vote: How do you want me to cover road games that I don’t attend. Do you want me to do a Depot live blog during the game and a Post-Game show exactly as we’ve done for home games? Do you want me to post thoughtful columns the next morning? Do you have other ideas? Here’s one thing to keep in mind: Most of the games we won’t attend will be weekend games and Saturday nights would seem to be a good night for me to take off (because I’m such a party animal). We’ll still be open for business on Saturday, but I would imagine that would be the one day every two weeks or so that I’d take off. So give me your thoughts.

Also, I want to remind you about the unique opportunity we’re presenting as we try and create a really interactive community and social network for Rangers fans. We will be at Pappadeaux on Oak Lawn in Dallas on May 11, starting at 5:30. Michael Young, Ian Kinsler and Marlon Byrd will join us for the first two hours. I’m trying to round up a few other special guests. It’s a low-key happy hour, mix and mingle session. There is no admission charge. Nobody will be prosecuted for autograph-seeking (though we’d like to limit it to one request per player). We’d only like you to participate and maybe even stick around and have some dinner, or at least an appetizer or two. Let me know if you are interested in this. We really want to make it the first of some very special outings that will only get better with more and more participation. Let us know if you are thinking about attending this event. Again, we want to make it special for you.

And finally, our latest visit to the Viral Video Vault has us sitting down with Michael Shlact to talk about his place in the Rangers organization. Not sure if Shlact will ever be a major league pitcher, but he’s got some really interesting things to say about working with Mark Connor this spring on a Roy Halladay type delivery. And he’s a Georgia fan.

Also, here’s the other stuff that’s still kinda fresh in the vault: Rangers RHP Brandon McCarthy, Frisco SS Marcus Lemon and RHP Tommy Hunter.

Linkin Park: What Was Royals Manager Trey Hillman Thinking?

Got to admit, I wondered myself why Royals closer Joakim Soria never appeared in the weekend series, particularly in the eighth inning Sunday when the Royals still had a lead, but got into trouble and needed six outs. It’s not like Soria hasn’t pitched two innings before. He had a pair of those appearances late last year and has 11 such games in his two-plus season career. I’m not alone. Our friend, Adam Morris, at Lone Star Ball has built a Blog Cabin out of Linkin Blogs (see what I did there?) on the subject. Oh, and here, too.  It was some weird decision-making this weekend.

Norm Hitzges Nearly Made Me Drive Off The Road

Came into the office this morning and on the way in, I tuned in, as I always do to The Ticket. Caught a segment of Norm Hitzges dissecting last night’s Rangers loss. Norm, as always, had some very interesting observations about strategy in the 7-5 loss to Baltimore last night. Now, let me say this that Norm Hitzges and Bob Sturm (whom we share custody of with The Ticket) are the two most thorough, well-informed talk show hosts in this town. Norm researches EVERYTHING.

He made three points about strategy. One had to do with Hank Blalock facing George Sherrill in the 10th inning last night. Another had to do with the Rangers holding a runner at first base with two outs and a full count in the ninth. And the final point was about Ian Kinsler’s attempted steal of second in the first inning. The arguments were well-researched, well-constructed and agreed to by producer Mike Bascik, the best former big league left-handed reliever producing a talk show in any city.

And by the end of the discussion, I nearly steered right off Lemmon Avenue into Buzz Brews. Here’s why:

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The Depot: Texas Rangers News, Notes, Live Blog And Assorted Other Fun Stuff (4/13 vs. Orioles)

Vicente Padilla allowed 11 hits and seven runs in 3.1 innings. (Photo: R.P. Washburne)

Welcome to The Depot. We’re about to embark on a journey through the seventh game of the Rangers season. Remember to refresh frequently and drink plenty of water (though that’s not necessary to read the blog). But before we pull out of the station, we should go back and give you an explanation about the eighth inning of Sunday’s 6-4 loss to Detroit.  If you haven’t been around much today, you can get the gist from the game story and the aftermath from the Post-Game Show. In short, there were a lot of questions about bringing in RHP Warner Madrigal in the first place and then the wisdom of having Madrigal walk Marcus Thames intentionally.

So here’s a little explanation from the manager’s office:

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Comment Review: Come Monday, It Will Be Alright

Couple of things you should know:

This is Buffett week, so get ready for many, many plays on song titles and lyrics in postings throughout the week. I’m sorry. I simply can’t help myself. At the end of this post, I’ll add my dream set list for the Saturday show at Frisco’s Pizza Hut Park. Yo, Pizza Hut Park folks, can you get this to Jimmy?

Second, there was a lot of vitriol spilled after yesterday’s loss. I understand that a sweep can be frustrating. And I certainly can understand that a blown four-run lead in the eighth inning can add to that frustration, but let’s just take a minute and catch our breath and think all this through.

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Finalizing The Rangers Roster: The Madness Of MJH

Earlier today, my attorney pal, the Mighty MJH detailed the Rangers’ 40-man roster conundrum and how he’d clear roster spots for all the non-roster invitees who are expected to make the team. If the Rangers need to expose two players to waivers, he’s willing to put 3B Travis Metcalf and RHP Luis Mendoza out there. If the Rangers can’t slide RHP Tommy Hunter to the 60-day DL and he’s got to go with a third guy, it’s LHP Kason Gabbard.

Mike’s a brilliant baseball analyst, but I think in this situation he’s overlooking a very simple governing tenet to roster management: Don’t create holes in your system when you can avoid them.

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Finalizing The Rangers Roster: 40 -2 + 6 – 4 = 40

The time has come for Rangers GM Jon Daniels to make some tough roster decisions. With one variable, it appears that we now know who will be on the Rangers 25-man roster. The problem is that at least five of them — and possibly six — are not currently on the Rangers’ already full 40-man roster.

This is where the pressure really hits and the mistakes can be embarassing. A year ago, the Rangers lost RHP Armando Galarraga during this process as they attempted to get him through waivers in order to add Jason Jennings to the roster. That didn’t work out so well. Galarraga logged 178 innings for Detroit, posted a 3.73 ERA and finished fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting. Jennings — who had been penciled into the Rangers rotation, lasted just 27 innings and posted an 8.56 ERA.

Now, Daniels has to find a way to squeeze Kris Benson, Omar Vizquel, Elvis Andrus, Eddie Guardado and, once again, Jennings on to the 40-man roster. If the Rangers decide to keep Andruw Jones as an extra outfielder and right-handed bat, six will have to move.

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Settling Feeling: Rangers Appear To Have Pitching Staff

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – There is still a staff evaluation meeting on Tuesday and the Rangers have until Sunday to set their roster, but it appears the pieces of the pitching staff have fallen into place.

Put Kris Benson in your (tentative) starting rotation, Josh Rupe in your bullpen and, by process of elimination, Jason Jennings in the bullpen as well.

Manager Ron Washington admitted he wants Benson and Rupe Monday after the duo combined for seven solid innings in a 7-5 10-inning win over San Francisco.

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Locked In? Looks Like Kris Benson, Josh Rupe and Jason Jennings Win Spots On Rangers Pitching Staff

While saying it was only his opinion and does not speak of anything final, manager Ron Washington said after today’s 7-5 win over San Francisco that RHP Kris Benson is one of his top five starting pitchers and that RHP Josh Rupe should be in his bullpen. It means that RHP Scott Feldman will probably have to move to the bullpen to accomodate Benson. But Washington said the Rangers have not even discussed addressing the situation with Feldman. He stressed that Feldman remains a candidate.

Washington didn’t say anything about Jennings, but with injuries to key bullpen contenders piling up, Jennings seems to be the only healthy and effective option. RHP Derrick Turnbow (knee) became the most recent player to come down with an injury. RHPs Dustin Nippert (back) and Willie Eyre (groin) both seem destined for the DL. Eyre couldn’t throw a bullpen session on Monday and Nippert isn’t throwing batting practice until Tuesday.

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Burning Question: How Good Has Dirk Nowitzki Been This Season?

Was just perusing John Hollinger’s must-read Insider Gems, a supplement of quick hits to his daily PER Diem column for ESPN.com, and came across something that got me thinking about the above question. He was wondering what would happen when it came time to vote for the All-NBA teams since three guards (Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade) are clearly among the best five players, and the vote is by position. He figured one of them, probably Chris Paul, would be bumped to the second team, causing a trickle-down effect. The whole thing is behind the pay wall, so I’ll just reprint the relevant section:

If Paul is bumped to second team, that means Tony Parker and Brandon Roy would be duking it out for the other guard slot, while a pair of forwards who have had lesser seasons (Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki, I’m guessing) ease into second-team spots at those positions.

I don’t really care about the All-NBA team, since it doesn’t affect any bonus clauses in my contract. What I do care about is this: is it fair to say Dirk is having a lesser season? Let’s jump.

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