Posts Tagged ‘Whataburger’

All Star Break: Back and Forth Posted by Ken Jones in Texas Rangers, The Bullpen July 20th, 2008

While Back-and-Forth would certainly be an accurate description of the Rangers to this point, a team written off for dead before April was over (at least twice…check our columns…) that has clawed its way back to the fringe of the playoff picture without sweeping an opponent yet.  But this column is Back and Forth as Cary and I take turns looking at Texas topics for the second half.  Cary’s answers will be in bold.  Mine will be intelligent.

KEN:  So, I’ll start this by tossing you a softball.  (Just don’t hit it back at me….we both know I can’t field it…)  Who is the Rangers’ MVP so far?  The two-time player of the month, or are you going to avoid the obvious answer? Read more

Scouting The Draft Picks Posted by Ken Jones in Texas Rangers, The Bullpen June 7th, 2008

I’m not one of those people who lives and dies with the draft in professional sports. Unless you have a really, really high pick, they probably won’t step in and change the fortunes of your franchise. And in baseball, guessing how a high school player is going to fill out and become a professional is better left to the talented scouts, especially those in the Mariners system. Having said all that, here is the quick take on the first five picks by the Rangers:

In the 1st Round, the Rangers took 1B Justin Smoak from South Carolina, although it would have been better if he was a pitcher for two reasons: (A) the Rangers are again playing a game they like to call “Batting Practice” with the Indians tonight, and (B) it would be super cool to have a pitcher named Just Smoak. The 6′4″-220 lb Smoak is already being compared to Mark Teixiera, meaning he will sign with Scott Boras, hold out, start slowly every season so that his team gets buried, and then question the team’s direction. Afterward he will declare that he wants to be part of the solution while he shops for a house in suburban Atlanta. Read more