Texas Rangers Final Recap: Is it April Yet?

After back-to-back trips to the World Series, saying Texas Rangers fans were hooked wouldn’t do justice. Ranger fans set records this season, ranking 3rd in baseball in total attendance, just behind the Yankees and Phillies, two of the bigger names in the game. The Ballpark averaged 42,719 per game this season, blowing the previous record out of the water. No wonder many continue to grieve as the fall classic heads towards another World Series, one without our beloved Texas Rangers.  If you followed baseball this year, this news may come as a surprise to you. The Rangers did in fact lead the American League for the majority of the season, and the division until that disaster filled final day in Oakland. The Rangers didn’t just lose the division during an epic meltdown down the stretch, they lost their entire post season when the bats stayed inside, and the Baltimore Orioles celebrated a one game Wild Card finale. All of this negative energy is very common in the DFW area; because our beloved Dallas Cowboys have been breaking hearts since their last Super Bowl win in the 90’s. Now the Rangers hold the title as letdown of the decade, and many of the new fans may look elsewhere for comfort. They won’t be missed, because what Ron Washington, Nolan Ryan, and John Daniels are doing isn’t a one and done system, but a style that will make our Texas Rangers contenders for many years to come.  I am as guilty as any, and spent the last couple weeks not watching the MLB playoffs, rather checking scores and complaining about no Rangers playoff baseball. The grieving period is over, and now it’s time to get back to work. In my short era of following DFW sports, I have had the privilege of watching the Cowboys be non-contenders for nearly two decades, and a Mavericks team that broke our hearts yearly until Dirk Nowitzki caught fire and defeated the Miami Heat and LeBron James in 2010. Coping is learned over the years, rather than taught, but this blog today will definitely give you some hope. I have learned that convincing myself that next season will in fact be different, and next season we will be back in the mix, is the only way to recover from these devastating losses. The 2012 season started better than any could expect. Our first loss came during a ninth inning blown save by Joe Nathan, and besides that the team seemed to dominate the first two weeks of the season. The season was then completely underway; the Rangers had a solid cushion, and big plans heading into the brutal hot summer in Texas. Most of the country watched the Rangers thinking it was the same team that had been to back-to-back World Series, but they couldn’t have been more wrong. This was a new Rangers team, a team that was made to not get to another World Series, but win the damn thing. The 2012 Rangers pitching staff was nothing like the previous years, tossing things around and bringing in some much needed leadership. After losing top notch pitchers to free agency the previous two years, it was time to get creative. That’s when Ryan and Daniels decided to take a big risk, and boy did it work out. Every few years Japan has a dominant player, and during those years owners across the League break the bank trying to bring in the foreign star. This year the Rangers decided to take a big chance, throw some big money out there and hope for the best. Yu Darvish, a hard throwing giant from Japan that supposedly had 7 pitches was on the market and the Texas Rangers wanted him. $108 million later he was ours. The second major offseason move was acquiring veteran closer Joe Nathan. The 2011 World Series was lost by closers, and this year that was not going to be the case. The Rangers signed Nathan for his many years on the job, moving young prodigy Neftali Feliz to the starting rotation. The previous year Feliz blew a two run lead in the 9th to win the World Series. He was so shaken he couldn’t return in the 10th, and that was all Ron Washington needed to see and it was time to make a change. Nathan did just that, setting a franchise record of consecutive saves, setting the bar over thirty. All these new additions and changes seemed to be exactly what the Rangers needed to finally grasp that Championship trophy, but an injury bug decided to take matters into its own hands. Colby Lewis was maybe the turning point of the season, sustaining an injury that kept him out for the remainder of the year. It didn’t seem quite so detrimental with a big division lead, but in the dog days of late summer and fall, when a young staff was starting to struggle and bats were getting cold, his steady and consistent starts were missed. Lewis was the anchor of the staff in the 2011 playoffs, and who better to stop a slump than a veteran of that style. Instead the Rangers were forced to pitch youth, something that later showed to hurt our playoff chances. Feliz shocked many when he started off pitching lights out, but an injury knocking him out until summer 2013 set the team back even further, and put a little doubt in the eyes of some Ranger faithful. With all the injuries and setbacks, some of the season was actually a very big positive. Matt Harrison took over as leader of the pitching staff, winning 18 games, sporting a strong 3.29 ERA. Darvish too had great success, striking out an astonishing 221 batters, while winning 16 games. These two strong seasons give great hope heading into a season with much to prove in 2013. There were some letdowns this season, mainly by Derek Holland, who was also bothered with injuries. Holland held a 4.67 ERA, much higher than anyone expected heading into the season. Holland is a huge talent, and an offseason to work and improve will hopefully put this big lefty in position to turn some heads next season. Hitting has always been strong in Texas, and this year was no different. Josh Hamilton was the team leader in RBI and Home Runs, but a two month drought mid-summer knocked him out of the MVP talk, and possibly out of a Texas Rangers uniform. Hamilton is a free agent this season, and the Rangers show no sign of offering anything thus far. Adrian Beltre was very strong this season, but also missed time due to injuries. Even with the missed time, Beltre still hit 36 home runs with 102 RBI's. A .321 batting average also led all starters, and this power will be needed next season if Hamilton is not in the lineup. Two other players that shared time in the outfield were David Murphy and Craig Gentry. Both players batted over .300, leaving no doubt they need extensive playing time next season. The other big upgrade this year was Elvis Andrus. After a few years of watching this flashy shortstop make plays on the diamond, his bat finally became a threat, hitting just under .300 most of the year, using speed to make outs that much harder. As hurt as many of you are right now, this is when you need to tune in and get ready for a great run in the future. The Rangers have many great starters, with many expecting big contract offers from other teams as soon as theirs run out. The positive is the farm system Daniels and Ryan have created. The Rangers have built a dynasty in the lower levels over the past few seasons, with Mike Olt and Jurickson Profar catching the eye of every scout in baseball. These two future stars have the making to build a franchise, and adding them to an already talented team will most likely be our recipe for success. On the pitching side Martin Perez shows much promise, and could possibly contend to make the rotation next season. If Perez works out as expected, the Rangers could possibly have four pitchers in their mid-twenties competing to be the ace of the rotation. Before I go I must take this time to play the role of John Daniels, something no person can adequately do in my eyes, but what the hell. The Rangers pitching staff could use just a little more support, and that’s why I think it’s time for a couple trades. Nelson Cruz has been a fan favorite for years, but many can’t let go of his misplay of a fly ball that allowed the Cardinals to win the 2011 World Series. This isn’t why I want to trade him, his sub .250 batting average is. Cruz has a high profile and even bigger swing, so teams needing power would give up a lot to bring him in. Mike Olt would make a fine replacement in right field, giving this young up and comer the chance to show his talent. I also would trade David Murphy. This trade hurts the most just because the kind of player Murphy is, but a talent like that needs to be utilized every game, and there just isn’t room in Texas. I would then move Ian Kinsler to the outfield, giving second base to Profar. Mitch Moreland becomes my full-time first baseman, leaving an infield that may hold the title as best in baseball. Mike Napoli is more than a catcher; he is a leader with these young pitchers. Because of this, I would sign him to a contract, hoping he can get back to “the year of the Napoli”. As wild as all this seams, the Rangers could do all these things, and if it happens, I will be the first to say I told you so. This may all seem very over whelming, and many of you probably think I am crazy and still can’t think about Rangers baseball. For me it’s time to move on. The grieving stage is over and we must start to prepare for next season. The Rangers will bounce back, and we will be on top again. My boldest prediction yet, Texas Rangers, 2013 World Series Champs!

Red River Rivalry

Producing maybe the biggest split in the Deep South since the Texas and Mexican War, the Red River Rivalry gets fans and players alike fired up for the game of the season. Things start to get fans in the mood with the beginning of the annual State Fair, held at Fair Park in Dallas, which peaks the day these two football powerhouses meet each year. Many fans can’t convince themselves what would possess someone to support the opposing team, adding more drama and intensity to an already heated rivalry. In 2005 the Dallas Morning News asked 119 D-1 coaches who played in the biggest rivalry in college football. Their answer was the Red River Rivalry. This year will feel a little different than in years past, with neither team cracking the top 10 at this point in the season. Oklahoma began the season ranked in the top 5, but a heartbreaking loss to Kansas State bumped them out of national championship talk and into a debate on Big 12 supremacy. Texas on the other hand was rolling strong until a gut wrenching loss to West Virginia last week ending their undefeated season, just before their big matchup with the hated Sooners. Before I can make any predictions or speculations about the game, I decided to take a moment and appreciate past games and the overall history of this great matchup. Beginning in 1900 when neither team even had nicknames, Texas was called the “varsity” team, and won 28-2. That game 112 years ago started a rivalry that will hopefully last for many years to come. So far, it has lived up to expectations. The game began being played in Dallas in 1912, with a few occasions played at other sites. This is another great tradition that the game entails. No team has a home field advantage, and with a split stadium the walls of burnt orange and crimson red light up a stadium like no other. Many consider the “post war” era, or since 1945, the most relevant time to count statistics, therefore we will too. Since 1945 one or both of the two teams have been ranked in the top twenty-five 61 out of 66 games. That number alone speaks volumes for the kind of tradition and dominance these two great programs possess. Also, since that time the Longhorns lead the overall series 33-31-3, showing how incredibly competitive and well-matched the two teams have been. Sure this is a bunch of mindless information, but you must know the history to appreciate the games being played currently. When discussing the game as of late, “even” would not describe the two teams. Since 2000, Oklahoma is 8-4, outscoring Texas 370 to 246, a very unbalanced number compared to the previous years. Another number that really jumps off the page is the fact that six of the last ten winners of this game played for the BCS national championship afterwards. That shows alone how powerful these two teams have been during that span. As much as it may seem, this rivalry doesn’t begin to sum up these two teams success. Each has won multiple national championships, with Oklahoma leading with 7 and Texas having 4. They have also dominated their conference, leaving Oklahoma the leader again with 7, and Texas second overall with 3. Much of the other teams in the Big 12 have strived to make up the gap these two teams hold, and this year it seems to have finally happened. That will not take anything away from the great game we expect to see this weekend in Dallas, knowing anything can happen in a game filled with teenagers and a stadium full of emotion. Both coaches have had much success in their careers, with Stoops leading Brown in most categories. This was the deciding factor when my colleagues and I sat down to pick this game, because Vegas has set the line favoring Oklahoma by 3. A margin that small leaves me feeling no confidence in either side to win for sure, making predictions even more difficult. As fans we can simply hope for a great game, leaving one of the teams still in contention for not only a conference championship, but a national title as well. My two good friends and Editors will assist me by offering predictions for this game, making things just a little more interesting. Dustin Hughes predicts Oklahoma 34, Texas 42. Keith Walterscheid says Oklahoma 24, Texas 31. My prediction is Oklahoma 34, Texas 27! Follow me on Twitter @DFWsportscreed Edited by Dustin Hughes and Keith Walterscheid

TCU Coach Gary Patterson Sets the Curve

After a 4-0 start in a season where TCU joined the Big 12, things were looking up for this new BCS contender. That’s when things started to go terribly wrong for the Horned Frog faithful. Last week, starting quarterback Casey Pachall was pulled over by police for running a stop sign. He was then arrested for suspicion of driving while intoxicated, followed by an indefinite suspension by head coach Gary Patterson. Only later did Coach Patterson come out saying a decision would be made after the weekend, leading to a press conference today addressing the issue. Today, Patterson addressed the media and college football world in a way that many should take note of. He didn’t kick Pachall off the team for good, or let him off much easier than deserved because as we all saw this Saturday; the Frogs aren’t near the team without him. Rather, Patterson sat down with Pachall and his parents and found a solution that would help everyone, especially the 21 year-old quarterback. Patterson announced that Pachall would not be enrolled in school for the remainder of the season, and would be checking into rehab for treatment. Patterson was quoted saying, “If he gets clean he can come back.” This decision came after the Frogs ended a 12-game winning streak, which to-date was leading the country. “For those of you that think it’s about wins and losses you’re wrong.”, Patterson stated when discussing a very difficult decision. “I’ve got a young football team and a person who obviously needs help,” Patterson explained when discussing the future of his quarterback and previously undefeated football team. This situation was a great time for me to get on my soap box and discuss something I feel has been handled completely the wrong way in the past. For the record, I am in no way condoning athletes that abuse the superiority and power they have, but when dealing with young college athletes, I think sometimes we are much too hard on them. These kids range from the ages of 18-22, many living away from home for the first time. They are being bombarded with media, fellow students, teachers, and above all, boosters. Most of you adults can remember your younger days or college times, and most of them consist of a few stories your husbands, wives, and kids will never hear. Being in the spotlight like major college sports are today leaves no room for error for these athletes, making mistakes that are made daily by others seem much larger by those in the sports world. Patterson took a different route than coaches and schools have in the past, he took a route that, in his eyes, was the best for the young man and the team. Hopefully this will set a precedent for other coaches and schools dealing with troubled athletes. The whole purpose of coaching as Patterson stated is, “You try to change people’s lives, that’s what this is about.” This philosophy should be taught in any and every coaching clinic around the world, because it truly is the sole purpose of coaches and teachers. Let’s stop forgetting about kids because they won’t be able to help us win the next game, but instead help them win in the remainder of their lives, outside of sports. Follow me @DFWsportscreed Edited by Dustin Hughes

Why the Texas Rangers WILL WIN Friday Night

Find the nearest chair, take a seat, get comfortable, and take a nice deep breath. The Texas Rangers will beat the Baltimore Orioles Friday night to win the first ever one game wild-card playoff. This won’t do much the nervous energy many Rangers fans feel today after such a devastating final series just days ago. After reading this, you too will understand why the Rangers will win tonight, and tomorrow morning the first cold front this year will lead us right into the Fall Classic as we baseball fans love to call the MLB playoffs. Sure, I am a life-long Texas Rangers fan with an immeasurable amount of bias when discussing my favorite baseball team, but throwing opinions out and looking at the facts is sometimes the best way to figure things out, and possibly lower your blood pressure. Something I consider the bible when predicting sports are what Vegas thinks will happen. The people that set the betting lines typically have a better idea of who will win, how many runs will be scored, and just an overall better understanding of the teams and game. The Rangers head into the game tonight favored by almost 2-1 odds, something very surprising since both teams hold identical 93-69 records. The game is being played in Arlington, which I will label as our first clear advantage. If many of you haven’t been to a big-time game at the Ballpark in Arlington, you don’t know what you’re missing. Crowds over fifty thousand give the atmosphere of a college football stadium, with a venue that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck during the national anthem. I, myself, have attended countless regular season games, but also attended game 5 of the 2010 World Series, and game 1 of the 2011 ALCS. These games will be memories I talk about for years to come, and tonight will be no different for the Ranger faithful that make their way to the stadium for this all or nothing showdown. Emotions go a long way in sports, but the facts don’t lie. After 162 games, the Rangers finished 3rd in overall batting average (.273), while the Orioles finished at an unimpressive 20th place (.243). The Orioles did hit 14 more home runs this season than the Rangers, placing second in baseball, while the Rangers finished up 5th. Texas did take the MLB RBI crown with 780, which blows Baltimore out of the water with their 677 RBI’s. Runs scored also showed a major difference in favor of the Rangers, leading baseball again with 808 runs. The Orioles finished 15th scoring 712. Looking at these numbers give Texas a clear advantage on the offensive side, but everyone knows great pitching typically wins in the post season. Both teams finished in the middle of the pack on team ERA, with Baltimore leading by merely .09 earned runs per game. This modest difference also occurs in opposing batting average, where Texas leads by only .02. Pitching looks to be almost identical, but the starters tonight may have a different opinion. Darvish has been very hot as of late for the Rangers, but Saunders has had his issues. In six starts at the Ballpark in Arlington, Sauders is 0-6 with a 9.38 ERA. Yes, you read that correctly, Sauders has been SHELLED every time he has pitched in Texas, almost as badly as Romney shelled President Obama Wednesday night. He has pitched against the Rangers eleven times, holding a 3-7 record with 6.48 ERA. No matter how you look at it, Sauders struggles against the Texas Rangers, and tonight will be no different. The final tipping point that made me realize the Rangers would win tonight was a look at our past. The last two years have been filled with much excitement, while each ended with major disappointment. This bad taste in the mouth of Texas Ranger players and fans is something no one seems to want again, so a poor performance by our guys is not an option. Ron Washington, as I have said before, is possibly the best manager in the game, which trickles down to all 25 players on the roster. Tonight is a night where we enjoy the spotlight for evening. Tonight is a night where we take care of a simple formality. Tonight is the night the Texas Rangers get on the track to being the 2012 World Series Champions. Follow me on Twitter @DFWsportscreed Edited by Dustin Hughes