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An Indirect Rangers-Series Scenario to Ponder

The Yankees are there. The Phillies are there. Not New York’s other team, the other alleged contender in the N.L. East, which was Sports Illustrated‘s pre-season pick. And maybe the sorry state of the New York Mets is worth keeping an eye on for Rangers fans.

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Chris Davis Returning to Rangers Lineup

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The progression of manager Ron Washington’s comments over the weekend, combined with three pickoff throws to first that ended up in the right field corner apparently means 1B Chris Davis will be returning to the Rangers lineup when they face the Yankees in New York Tuesday.

Washington was asked each day during the Tampa Bay series about an impending Davis return. On Friday, he said the Rangers had discussed it, but had not yet found the right way to bring him back before Sept. 1 when rosters can be expanded. By Sunday afternoon, Washington was smiling in response to the question.

“Maybe,” Washington said. “Maybe not.”

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You Can Go Home Again: Ivan Rodriguez Speaks on Trade That Returns Him to Texas Rangers

ARLINGTON - Pudge Rodriguez, 37, plans to learn from 25-year-old Taylor Teagarden, who idolized him while growing up in Carrollton.

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No Purke for Texas Rangers; Jon Daniels Responds

ARLINGTON - The Rangers didn’t sign their first-round draft choice, LHP Matt Purke from Klein HS near Houston. They will get pick 14A in next year’s draft in addition to the pick that they earn with their 2009 finish. Purke is enrolled at TCU.

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Deadline Passes: Rangers Stand Pat

Just received official confirmation from Rangers front office: “All clear. No trades.”

Some Rangers Notes To Nosh On

ARLINGTON – Rangers GM Jon Daniels addressed the media about the club’s pursuits Wednesday afternoon. This is how he summed it up:

“Just take everything I said yesterday and reprint it,” Daniels said. “We’re in the same spot we were yesterday and a week ago. We will see what the next two days bring.”

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Rangers Notes: GM Jon Daniels Concerned About Offense, But Still Wants To Make Best Pitch

ARLINGTON - With less than 10 days to go before the trading deadline, Rangers GM Jon Daniels still doesn’t know if he could take on any additional payroll in a trade and has been growing more concerned about his offense, but still believes the club’s top target in the trade market should be a starting pitcher.

Daniels, however, declined to discuss any details relating to specific deals.

According to a source, however, the Rangers remain at the very least on the fringes of Roy Halladay talks, where the biggest development over the last 24 hours was a July 28 self-imposed deadline by Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi to either make a deal for his ace or call off talks. The Blue Jays have apparently not told the Rangers that Halladay would veto a deal to Texas.

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The Godfather: Newberg On Rebuilding The Rangers

It’s sort of an oddity that the MLB club with probably the least glorious history has spawned one of the deepest, best and most passionate cyber communities and so many quality websites, but the reason is that the whole concept of thoughtful, well-written, analytical MLB fansites was developed by a Rangers fan.

When Jamey Newberg started sending out e-mails to a few of his friends (including me) back in May of 1998, he invented the genre’ of analytical fan site / blog. And pretty much every one of us who started writing about the Rangers as a hobby can trace our roots back to Jamey in some way shape or form. That’s why he’s The Godfather of baseball blogging, especially in Texas.

So as a guy who owes Jamey a lot, counts him among his closest friends and who has read virtually every one of his reports over these past 11 years, I can say with some confidence that he’s just unleashed his greatest report ever.

In the unlikely event you are not already on Jamey’s e-mail list, you must click here to read his massive report on how Jon Daniels and his deputy Thad Levine went about creating a blueprint to change the course of the Rangers franchise. It’s the must-read piece of the year.

Viral Video: Rangers GM Jon Daniels Returns

Apparently not permanently scarred by his first appearance on the VV channel, Rangers GM Jon Daniels stopped by our coach – I think it was from the Merv Griffin set – at Frisco’s Dr Pepper Ballpark on Tuesday. Of course, like all Rangers officials, he cracks wise on me, but also offers insights on the first-place Rangers, the team defense, chemistry and whether he’s already searching for a pitcher on the trade market.