So, hope you can make it. And if you can or think you can, please let me know here or via email because, you know, I just want to plan for it.

Hope you can make it.

Pappasitos has a 64-inch big screen TV with sound in an air-conditioned room for us to watch the game – and you can even watch the hard work that goes into The Depot every night live. At about 7, this guy I know named Thurman Clyde Greer – I call him Rusty – is going to show up. Other former Rangers such as Ticket producer/host Mike Bacsik, and 1970s-era guys Ken Suarez and Rich Hand will also stop by over the course of the game. And you never know, another guy or two might pop in.

Also, Pappasitos has Half-Price Fajitas for Two from 5 p.m. to close on Wednesday. So, bring a date or a pal or, if you are like me, just eat for two. Think about it: You can watch the Rangers, eat cheap, meet Rusty Greer and hang out with me. Well, three out of four ain’t bad. Hope to see you on Wednesday. If you can, either let me know here if you plan to attend or email me if you are a little bit shy about the whole comment thing.

Right now, it appears as if we are just shy of 100 tickets sold for the blessed, big event. But there is still time to cross the century mark and let the Rangers know just how big and loud the Corner can be. Also, if you are in attendance, you might just hear about a special oppotunity I’ve got for you for the night of August 10th when the Rangers are off but Double-A Frisco is playing.

There are still seats available in sections 247 and 248 for tonight. I’ll probably get out to the Home Run Porch between 6-6:30. I’ll be bringing my appetite along with me and you know how big that is. If you haven’t bought tickets, all you need to do is go here and then use “inside” as the promotion code. Tickets are $25. Now, I’m told because this is an internet special, there won’t be walk-up seats available. I suppose if you don’t want to buy internet tickets, you could always pay the regular price of $39 and ask for seats in section 247 or 248, but why pay more? You can buy online until an hour before the game and print the tix at home.

There is no real agenda set. Jeff Miller will be manning the depot tonight so if you can’t make the game or if you’ve got your phone with you, there will still be place to make your voice heard. If I come up with a trick or two before the game, I’ll be sure and pass it along. Look forward to seeing you.

• Addresses to the crowd (please, please be a crowd) from GM Jon Daniels and manager Ron Washington at about 6:3o ish.
• Appearances/autograph signings by Kevin Millwood, David Murphy, Eddie Guardado and Tommy Hunter.
• Home Run Derby for kids and adults featuring the great Chuck Morgan announcing your name over the microphone and with real prizes, too. We’ve got an Ian Kinsler jersey, a Rusty Greer autographed ball among the highlights. Prizes handed out to kids. Adults, you know you’ve always wanted to get in the kids whiffle ball park at Rangers Ballpark, so giving you this opportunity ought to be prize enough. Derby should run from about 5-6.
• Celebrity pitchers for Home Run Derby include former Rangers Jeff Russell and Curtis Wilkerson. I will be tossing, too, until I pass out from heat exhaustion or my arm falls off.
• On-site raffle prize of four tickets to InsideCorner Night at the Ballpark next Tuesday against Boston. Second prize: Eight tickets. (kidding). But, if you haven’t bought tickets yet for our night of fun in Arlington, they are $25 and you can order them online using the password INSIDE. The tickets are in the All You Can Eat section of the Home Run Porch. Ticket reps will also be on site should you choose to purchase tickets there.
• A chance to purchase the Rangers cookbook, register for the Charity Golf Tournament and find out more information about the good work the Texas Rangers Foundation does.
• Special appearance by birthday girl “Becca.”

Manager Ron Washington and GM Jon Daniels will both address the masses – and please, we really would like to see masses out there – around 6:30 (a lot is dependent on just how quickly the Rangers wrap up their post-All-Star break workout, so it could be anywhere from 6:15 to 6:30).

Also, we’re hoping to have a couple of former Rangers act as celebrity whiffle ball hurlers for our kids home run derby. And maybe if enough adults want to get in on the action and we’ve got time, we’ll let you take a few hacks, too. I know Mike Simms, member of the 1998 AL West championship team will be there. I’m still fishing for guys. If you’ve ever wanted to hear your name called by the great Chuck Morgan, who will emcee the derby, now is the chance. Oh, and I believe the kid’s winner will take home a full-on Ian Kinsler jersey.

And because Pappasito’s and myself are in such a giving mood. If you email me that you are going to attend the event, I’ll make sure you can get a free appetizer at the event (with the purchase of any type of beverage). Let’s limit this to the first 50 emails I get, providing I get 50 of them.

First, for our next get together, we’re putting together a little party, er, fiesta we are calling a “Pennant Race Pep Rally” at Pappasitos in Arlington in advance of the second half of the season. All plans are still being finalized, but the current plan is for a get together on Thursday, July 16 at Pappasitos Cantina in Arlington. We’ll be there from 5 p.m. until who knows when. GM Jon Daniels and Ron Washington are tentatively planning to join the crowd and address what’s ahead for the Rangers. We will have a whiffle ball home run derby for the kids – emceed by none other than the great Chuck Morgan – early in the festivities. The lineup of players who will share some fajitas with us is still being ironed out. But make plans to join us. We hope to bring together the spirit of Cinco de Mayo and Pennant Race Fever.

Second, and we’re sooper-dooper excited about this: You asked for the opportuntiy to get together at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Well, we’re making it happen. And for a premium game, no less. Join us on Tuesday July 21 when the Rangers face the Boston Red Sox. As expected, I’ve requested the All You Can Eat Seats in the Home Run Porch. The Rangers have made tickets prices extremely affordable: $25 apiece and the food will be abundant. The Rangers have even put together a link for you to buy tickets directly. Password: inside. We’ll have more festivities, including possible Q&A sessions, available for you at the game, but those are all still being put together. Join me as I try to eat a whole cow’s worth of hamburgers. Even if you want nothing to do with me, the tickets are a good price and it should be a great matchup

Fans lined up for autographs. (Photo by R.P. Washburne)

What if you threw a happy hour party and everybody came? Last night Evan pulled off a great show over at Pappadeaux on Oak Lawn—over 350 folks turned up to meet and greet Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Marlon Byrd, Scott Feldman, Taylor Teagarden, and Chris Davis. Long-time Rangers radio guy Eric Nadel stopped in for a surprise visit. InsideCorner’s ace photographer R.P. Washburne was there and sends a few pictures. You might as well jump.

Evan Grant was the host with the most. (Photo by R.P. Washburne)

Kids are still kids when it comes to baseball. (photo by R.P. Washburne)

Players sign autographs. People are happy. (photo by R.P. Washburne)

Young girl shows off camera Scott Feldman how to throw a curve ball. (Photo by R.P.Washburne)

Marlon Byrd promises his diamond watch to a young fan. Kidding. (Photo by R.P. Washburne)

You can read the full release and get the schedule after the jump.

WHAT:   On Saturday, March 21, college lacrosse will return to Dallas for the third annual Patriot Cup.  Four Division I teams will take the field at SMU’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium to face-off in two all-star match ups.  Patriot Cup event host schools ─ St. Mark’s School of Texas, Episcopal School of Dallas and Highland Park High School ─ will also compete in match-ups against top national and Texas high school teams. And, Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association teams from SMU and Texas A&M University are also slated to play on March 21.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, a non-profit organization which seeks to assist men and women of our armed forces who have been severely injured during conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations around the world.

The schedule:

FRIDAY

High schools: Woodlands (Houston) vs. Austin High (Austin) from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m; ESD (Dallas) vs. St Mary’s (Maryland) from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m; Westlake (Austin) vs. Air Force Academy (Colorado) from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

High school: St. Mark’s (Dallas) vs. St Mary’s (Maryland) from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Division I college: Notre Dame vs. University of Vermont from noon to 2 p.m; U.S. Air Force Academy vs. Bucknell from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Division III college: Western New England vs. Nazareth from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (Club Lacrosse):  SMU vs. Texas A&M University from 7 p.m. to 9 pm

Important note: Volunteer PR Man Jason Genthner tells us that servicemen in uniform get in free. And there is a Family Four Pack promotion available. That’s 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs and 4 sodas for $40! (Jason included the exclamation point). He also says to remember to take those cameras and snap some photos for the Dr Pepper SportsSnaps Promo. Well, he didn’t actually say it, but I know that’s what he’s thinking.

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