New T.R. Sullivan mailbag up

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 15, 2009 9:33 AM CST

A question about why the Rangers would give up a reliable starter like Kevin Millwood for two guys who are always hurt, a question about Ben Sheets (who is apparently the new "red uniforms" as far as mailbags go), and a question about what the Rangers have to do to become a "model franchise" like the Cowboys (which I thought was pretty unintentionally hilarious), among other things...

Check it out...

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Personally, I don't consider the Cowboys a "model franchise"..

The marketing of the Cowboys is great but on the field they are closer to being Oakland or Washington than Indy, N.O. or N.E.

I reject your reality and substitute my own.

by GhostofSteveFoucault on Dec 15, 2009 10:03 AM CST reply actions

ughh, no

They really aren’t anywhere close to being those two horrible franchises that see their team have losing seasons every year.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.

"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Dec 15, 2009 10:36 AM CST up reply actions

They aren't a "model franchise" either, though

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 15, 2009 10:36 AM CST up reply actions

Pittsburgh is the model franchise

by octoberty on Dec 15, 2009 10:39 AM CST up reply actions

So

There really is no reason to compare them with a team like Oakland now. Dallas is competing for the NFC East title while Oakland is once again going to have a top draft pick become a big bust for them.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.

"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Dec 15, 2009 10:57 AM CST up reply actions

The Cowboys are to football what the Mets are to baseball. Good enough to give hope, but bad enough to make you want to cry by the end of the season.

I didn't know what a mancrush was. Derek Holland showed me.

by DerekSTheRed on Dec 15, 2009 11:01 AM CST up reply actions

Good comparison

although the mets probably have had a little more recent success than the Cowboys. They actually got in the World Series at the beginning of the ’00s.

"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland

by DJCahill on Dec 15, 2009 11:11 AM CST up reply actions

eh

the Cowboys are the Yankees. They’re always going to be contenders, and when they go on a relative cold spell it gets hyped up far more than if any other team in the league had comparable issues. The only difference is that the Cowboys are not as far into the egomaniacal owner cycle as the Yankees are.

The Yankees were very good in the ‘70s when Steinbrenner took over, poured his money into them, and brought in a fiery coach (Billy Martin) who was good for the team but clashed with him sometimes. That correlates well with the Jimmy Johnson era. Once the ’80s hit, a couple of championships sent Steinbrenner’s ego through the roof, he got in trouble and tinkered with the team too much. The Yankees were a disaster through most of the ’80s and early ’90s. That is the phase the Cowboys and Jones are in now.

And then Steinbrenner got older, mellowed out a bit, and just gave money and power to Torre and Cashman. And we know what happened then. So you Cowboys fans just need to hope for Jones to get tired of running the team into the ground himself and let someone else take over. The resources at their disposal will always let them be competitive.

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Dec 15, 2009 11:47 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

The Cowboys can't be the Yankees until the Cap is gone

Which is looking more and more likely, starting next year

by octoberty on Dec 15, 2009 12:02 PM CST up reply actions

Is it really?

I don’t follow the NFL closely enough to know that.

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Dec 15, 2009 12:04 PM CST up reply actions

I really don't know either

But from everything I read, it sounds like it could really happen.

by octoberty on Dec 15, 2009 1:22 PM CST up reply actions

From what I understand...

The current CBA is up after this season. If a new one isn’t reached by the time the current one expires, 2010 will be uncapped. Past 2010 I don’t know.

Jimmy Johnson for GM.

by TXHC on Dec 15, 2009 4:21 PM CST up reply actions

The Yankees

They haven’t gone the past 13 years without winning a playoff series.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 15, 2009 2:03 PM CST up reply actions

I guess you missed my point

the Yankees went 13 years, between 1982 and 1994, without winning anything at all.

However, in the 6 years before that, they won 2 world series, lost 2, and lost the ALCS once.

I’m making the following comparison:

Cowboys ‘91-’96 = Yankees ‘76-’81
Cowboys ‘97-’09+ = Yankees ‘82-’94
Cowboys - = Yankees ’95-now

The point was that Steinbrenner was crazy but focused in the first phase; and he went off the rails in the second phase. Jones was focused in the first phase, but went off the rails in the second phase. The question is whether the Cowboys can recover like the Yankees did.

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Dec 15, 2009 4:00 PM CST up reply actions

You mean

Jones had Jimmy in the early phase, and then ran him off due to his megalomania.

by DJCahill on Dec 15, 2009 4:10 PM CST up reply actions

yep

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Dec 15, 2009 4:12 PM CST up reply actions

really

the timing is not identical, but you really can’t say that the parallels between Jones and Steinbrenner aren’t there. The Steelers don’t have nearly the drama that the Cowboys or Yankees do – they go out and win and have rabid fans, but there isn’t a double-edged sword of a maniacal obsessive owner. Any news is just magnified if Dallas or the Yankees are involved.

Maybe you can just say the Cowboys are a less successful version of the Yankees. That’d annoy Jerry, so it’s probably a good thing to say.

And really, the Mets are the Redskins. Investing tons of money in weird ways and acting shocked when nothing develops the way they would like.

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Dec 15, 2009 4:16 PM CST up reply actions

No,

if any team is the Yankees, it’s the Steelers, the team with the most super Bowls.

The Cowboys are much more the Mets.

by DJCahill on Dec 15, 2009 2:24 PM CST up reply actions

Take a closer look...

Owners who overestimate their ability to evaluate talent…owners who are too involved in on the field decisions…weak, lap-dog head coaches…players who are not held accountable for poor performance (a symptom of the weak head coach)…teams who have a lack of a “killer instinct”…

I reject your reality and substitute my own.

by GhostofSteveFoucault on Dec 15, 2009 10:58 AM CST up reply actions

Blah.

It’s like all the reason and logic applied to baseball goes right out the window. The Cowboys are on pace for their 5th winning season in a row, including one 13-win season. Just because they aren’t one of the elite teams of the decade, doesn’t mean they rank with the worst teams of the decade either.

If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.

by GhettoBear04 on Dec 15, 2009 11:27 AM CST up reply actions

Owners who overestimate the ability

Yeah, that’s true. You know, like when Al Davis hired a 12 year old to be the head coach of the team. That’s exactly like Jerry Jones hiring a good D-Coordinator to be the head coach of the Cowboys (30-13 since taking over).

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.

"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Dec 15, 2009 12:37 PM CST up reply actions

Lane Kiffin

He was a pretty well respected offensive coordinator when he was hired.

Or was your reference to a “12 year old” in regards to Jon Gruden, who was 31 or something like that when he was hired?

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 15, 2009 2:04 PM CST up reply actions

Referring to Lane

And how many college offensive coordinators can go out and turn a team around like the Raiders in their first head coaching job and how many can do it that are under 35. There was no way that Lane Kiffin was going to do anything other than make some headlines at first and go on to coach a losing team

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.

"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Dec 15, 2009 5:37 PM CST up reply actions

Cowboys

at least if the Rangers emulate them they’ll win in October and no one will care when they lose every game in December

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Dec 15, 2009 10:53 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

New Orleans are having a good season.

I don’t know that I would call them a model franchise though. They’ve never even won a championship.

Jimmy Johnson for GM.

by TXHC on Dec 15, 2009 4:15 PM CST up reply actions

New Orleans IS having a good season.

Jimmy Johnson for GM.

by TXHC on Dec 15, 2009 4:16 PM CST up reply actions

Hilarious comment below the mailbag:

“The OPS is based on slugging percentage and he hit 33 home runs. But if you look at career statistics Nelson Cruz 255 – 321 – 473 David Murphy 278-336-465 There is not a lot of difference but Murphys are higher than cruz. As for fielding Murphy has a lot fewer errors and nearly as many assuists and double plays”

"More than likely JW never played sports above the youth level. It amazes me that he seems to have no concept on the common reactions of an adult athlete or their normal interactions between each other." - laxonto

by Michael Cave on Dec 15, 2009 10:20 AM CST reply actions

Between that and MLBTR, the internet is filled with some bright bulbs.

Lisa, if the Bible has taught us nothing else - and it hasn't - it's that girls should stick to girls' sports, such as hot-oil wrestling, foxy boxing, and such-and-such.

Rock Flag & Eagle Radio: Thursdays, 10 PM - 1 AM, on FM 88.7 The Choice, or online @ ktcu.net!

by Maximilian on Dec 15, 2009 2:08 PM CST up reply actions

The good folks at the DMN blog say, "don't forget about us!"

"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217

Internet greatness http://www.lonestarball.com/2009/11/10/1125340/will-carroll-calls-out-josey-wales

by WestTxAg06 on Dec 15, 2009 5:07 PM CST up reply actions

Lest we forget those rocket scientists.

Lisa, if the Bible has taught us nothing else - and it hasn't - it's that girls should stick to girls' sports, such as hot-oil wrestling, foxy boxing, and such-and-such.

Rock Flag & Eagle Radio: Thursdays, 10 PM - 1 AM, on FM 88.7 The Choice, or online @ ktcu.net!

by Maximilian on Dec 15, 2009 10:05 PM CST up reply actions

What are your thoughts on maybe using Cruz as the DH and moving Josh Hamilton to right field?
— Juan C., Wichita Falls, Texas

According to STATS Inc., Cruz was the highest-rated defensive right fielder in the American League last year. Right now, it appears it will be Hamilton in left and Cruz in right, with Julio Borbon in center field and David Murphy as the DH. By the way, Murphy will get plenty of at-bats and see a sufficient amount of time in the outfield.

HOLY SHIT YOU GUYS.

Did TR Just reference UZR?

I failed my LSB ethics test.

"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle

by LSJ on Dec 15, 2009 6:27 PM CST reply actions

It's apparent, his interns are trying to change his image

"BIg whoop, wanna fight about it?"

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

by lost in space on Dec 15, 2009 7:08 PM CST up reply actions

What's next, OPS over RBI?

T.R., THIS IS HIGHLY IRREGULAR! – rabble rabble -

Lisa, if the Bible has taught us nothing else - and it hasn't - it's that girls should stick to girls' sports, such as hot-oil wrestling, foxy boxing, and such-and-such.

Rock Flag & Eagle Radio: Thursdays, 10 PM - 1 AM, on FM 88.7 The Choice, or online @ ktcu.net!

by Maximilian on Dec 15, 2009 10:07 PM CST up reply actions