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Viral Video: Michael Young on Return

Great timing that video impresario Ted Price was on the scene today. We were able to put together our first breaking news version of viral video. We spent some time with Michael Young discussing his surprise return to the Rangers lineup for Tuesday’s game against Oakland.

Viral Video: A Little Something Salty To Help Kill The Time While Waiting For Trade Deadline News

As always, we owe a great deal of thanks to Ted Price, the creative genius behind producing Viral Video. He’s a regular techno-whiz. And you can always catch him at Rangers Podcast in Arlington. In this episode, we talk with Jarrod Saltalamacchia about the defensive improvement he’s made over the past year and wrap up with a little catching fashion accessory talk at the end.

Viral Video: Rangers Outfielder Nelson Cruz

I’m still not quite up to speed on the whole taped-in-advance thing, so this video, shot late last week, mentions Cruz’s fractured finger (which didn’t seem to bother him too much last night) and his Home Run Derby performance.

Viral Video: Nolan Ryan On Rangers Bullpen

We cornered Nolan Ryan this week to get him to talk about that most surprising of Rangers strengths: The Bullpen. Hope I’m not spoiling the plot, but best line was when I asked him about his confidence in the bullpen and he says: “Well, it’s a lot higher than it was last year, I can tell you that.”

Viral Video: Rangers Starter Tommy Hunter

Tommy Hunter makes his second appearance on Viral Video this week, but his first one was as a member of the Frisco RoughRiders. Besides talking about the changes he’s made since his last big league stint, Hunter also reminds me that I owe him lunch. I thought maybe the great Ted Price would have edited that out. We’ve got more on Hunter coming up in the next few days, too. And we shot a bunch of great video yesterday, so look for upcoming interviews with Nolan Ryan, Ron Washington, Nelson Cruz and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Viral Video: Texas Rangers Outfielder David Murphy

Ted Price was cleaning out the viral video vault the other day and came across a David Murphy interview that had not yet been posted. What better time to post it than on the eve of his big appearance at the Arlington location of Pappasito’s - along with Kevin Millwood, Tommy Hunter and Eddie Guardado – tomorrow from 6:30-7:30.

Manager Ron Washington and GM Jon Daniels will address the crowd – and we are hoping for a crowd – about the club’s prospects for the second half of the season. And what the Greater Rangers Nation can do to help the club earn its first playoff berth in a decade. The whole thing will be one hot event. And we aren’t talking about the temperatures.

Viral Video: Rangers Starter Scott Feldman

Consider this a preview for tonight’s start by RHP Scott Feldman at Arizona. On the last homestand, he sat down with me and my belly to discuss his journey to the center of the starting rotation. As always, the direction, editing, lighting, cinematography and catering was provided by the multi-talented Ted Price.

Viral Video: Josh Hamilton On His Recovery

On Tuesday, Josh Hamilton took some time away from his rehab work following abdominal surgery to visit with InsideCorner, my belly, and director of video and graphics Ted Price.

Rangers Clubhouse Is No Longer CandyLand

[NOTE: I wrote the following entry for the Rangers June program. I am fascinated by the trend throughout baseball to healthify clubhouse food service. It wasn't so long ago that a clubhouse spread consisted of loaves of bread and green sandwich meat and then the trend shifted towards restaurant-catered meal. Now, it's all about being organic and being healthy. You won't find a Snickers bar in the Rangers clubhouse, unless you dig through the pockets of a sportswriter.]

UPDATE: The jump now includes a video interview with strength and conditioning coach Jose Vazquez.

ARLINGTON - Major League clubs have declared war on some of the most dangerous substances known to the human body.

Junk food.

In an attempt to enhance performance and improve durability in the legal, organic (and might we add, tasty) way, clubs are adding a whole new set of staffers to their payrolls.

They are bringing aboard nutritionists and chefs. Yes, chefs. But don’t look for a guy like Eric Tonips, the star of the Rangers’ clubhouse kitchen, to be on the Food Network anytime soon. His mission is to make it healthy first and to taste delicious second.

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Viral Video: Beau Jones

You know about Elvis Andrus, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Matt Harrison. Maybe you’ve heard of Neftali Feliz. But what do you know about “The Other Guy” the Rangers got from Atlanta in the Mark Teixeira deal? Meet Beau Jones, left-handed reliever for Double-A Frisco.

As always, many thanks to Ted Price, producer, director and star of Rangers Podcast in Arlington for the video work. The latest Rangers Podcast in Arlington features the usual co-stars of Jamey Newberg of the Newberg Report and Adam Morris of Lone Star Ball

Saturday Morning Fun: Justin Smoak Returns To Viral Video

We talk adjusting to Double-A and about his love of pie.

Great work by the invaluable Ted Price of Rangers Podcast in Arlington. Should be noted: This is one of the downsides of saving up video. We shot about a week ago after Chris Davis started to emerge from a slump and before this most recent one started.

The Depot: Texas Rangers Live Game Blog, News And Notes

The homer pool is just waiting for you. Also, if you’ve got some time to spare, I think my column on the importance of conviction, particularly as it applies to Brandon McCarthy’s recent ascent is worth a read.

Over the course of the day today – um, in between pre- and post-game duties on Fox Sports Southwest (nice self promo plug there, huh?) – I’m going to ramble on about things I think about the Rangers. As of right now, I’ve weighed in on the “Who goes to the bullpen when Vicente Padilla returns?” issue.

11:34: Eddie Guardado makes an appearance on Viral Video. We discuss his early season struggle, team chemistry and his shaving cream pie velocity. Lots of yuks and good stuff on what makes a championship team.

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It’s Happy Hour At Viral Video: Rangers Pitcher Matt Harrison

We had Jon Daniels this morning and tonight’s starter Matt Harrison this afternoon. Where else can you get a double dose of Rangers video in one business day?

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.

Viral Video: Texas Rangers CF Josh Hamilton

A few minutes with Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton, who stopped by to discuss his swing and the team’s upswing. For a limited time, we still have video in the vault of Nolan Ryan discussing my eating habits and the reasons for the improved performance of the Rangers pitching staff.