Here is an interesting look at the MLB viewing market.  Looking at the interest the Washington Nationals are drawing, I think baseball will fail there a third time, it seems.  Rangers show a modest gain.

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Here is an interesting look at the MLB viewing market.  Looking at the interest the Washington Nationals are drawing, I think baseball will fail there a third time, it seems.  Rangers show a modest gain.

I'd never really paid them any attention before, because I tend to ignore things that I hate and think the world would be better off without, but in the bottom of the fourth I was forced into an encounter with Red Ruff from which there was no passive escape.

The Padres have a couple mascots. They of course have the one Big Gay Friar, who tries way too hard to make friends (possibly for big gay reasons), but they also have Red Ruff and Blue Mews, the anthropomorphic Petco mascots pictured below:

I found this on Lookout Landing, seemed of interest to you all.

According to Fraley:

Though current Rangers GM Jon Daniels traded Danks, Volquez, Galaragga and Young, Hart was involved in those decisions in his current role as senior advisor to the general manager. Hart also takes the blame for dubious free-agent pitching signings such as Chan Ho Park, Jay Powell and Todd Van Poppel that figured in the Rangers losing their second- through fifth-round picks in the 2002 draft. That created a yawning talent gap in the system.

Tonight, the former Washington Senators team now known as the Texas Rangers will make its first appearance back in the nation's capital since leaving for Arlington after the 1971 season.

A trip down memory lane, first time the Rats came back to the ship.  Bob Short seemed like a used car salesman, and Tom Vandergriff still is a used car salesman.  That's a funny story how Vandergriff was hiding in Bob Short's closet.  Anybody know where Short is buried?  They seem to want to keep that a secret.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/baseball/rangers/stories/062008dnsposenators.3774df7.html

If management stays with Ricciardi-Gibbons, the Jays are done for this season and beyond. If management recognizes the obvious, do not be surprised if Buck Showalter again leaves television to get what he always has craved -- complete control of an organization.

 

Mr. Fraley is advocating for a Buck take-over.  He is suggesting that a Showalter is what is needed in Toronto.  Look at all the Ranger spares they picked up:  Wilkerson, Barajas, and Mench.  I wonder who they might be selling soon?

Kevin Millwood/Vicente Padilla: The Rangers can only dream of moving Padilla, who is erratic and earning $23 million in 2008 and '09. Millwood, too, is expensive, but he could be perfect for a team such as the Yankees, who would value his stable presence in their rotation.

The Yankees remain deep in young pitching, and they've got two promising outfielders, Austin Jackson and Jose Tabata, at Class AA. As crazy as it might sound, the Rangers should include significant cash in a Millwood deal with the Yankees or another high-revenue team, enabling them to effectively buy prospects.

Millwood is earning $8.5 million this season, $11 million next season and $12 million in 2010, but his deal could be voided before '10 if he fails to meet certain innings thresholds.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20080307-9999-1s7padres.html

Why do Japanese Players want to come to San Diego?  Maybe, cause it's heaven on earth?   Or cause they can get any kind of seafood?  The nice sea breeze vs. the crappy smell of Fort Worth?  

Why would any Californian root for a team like the Rangers when you can choose between winning teams like the Padres, Angels and Dodgers within a stones throw of each other?

I know how you all loved this guy: Pittsburgh Pirates signed Matt Kata to a minor league contract. He is with their Triple A team. He has such good face and all. KATAKATAKATAKATAKATAKATAKATAKATAKATAKATAKATAKATA Here is the offical Kata fan club: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/themattkatafanclub/?tab=s

Dayn Perry  says

"Although this one's not nearly as bad as some of the pre-Winter Meetings signings that took place (e.g., Gary Matthews Jr., Juan Pierre, Adam Eaton), the Rangers' decision to go long with Vicente Padilla is highly dubious, despite his solid campaign in 2006. Padilla has a history of arm trouble, and he was very fortunate last season, considering he's a fly-ball pitcher toiling in hitter-friendly Ameriquest Field. In all likelihood, he won't repeat his modest successes of '06. The Rangers, by re-signing Padilla and hotly pursuing Barry Zito, have yet to learn that a park such as theirs demands a groundball staff."

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6249290