How To Fix The Rangers

I am a huge Texas Rangers fan. I know the Rangers suck. They are probably the worst franchise in all of sports with only one playoff win in their 45 years of existence, but for some reason I still love them. The Texas Rangers had another average year after finishing 3rd with a 80-82 record in the weak American League West. It was the same old story of a dominating offence and a pathetic starting rotation. To change the face of this organization it will take a lot of off-season moves to mold the Rangers into a playoff team. Here are my thoughts on what the Rangers should do.

1. Get an Ace
The Rangers need to pick up a number #1 starter this off-season. Pitching is the key to winning. Look at the $2 million New York Yankees, they had the most dynamic offence in the history of baseball, but there starting pitching was worse than the freaking Arizona D-Backs. You cannot rely on your offence to win the game every night. Pitching can keep you in the game and is the most valuable assets in today's league. This said the Rangers need to look at Barry Zito, Daisuke Matsuzaka (premier Japanese pitcher), or Jason Schmidt. Even taking a risk on Andy Pettitte or Mark Mulder is something the Rangers need to do. Anyone of these pitchers can win 15 games for a team in the season and push the Rangers into the playoffs. The Rangers need to make this investment even if the price is blotted. These pitchers can change the face of a team.

2. Re-signings
Adam Eaton, Rod Barajas, Mark DeRosa, Eric Young, Vicente Padilla, Kip Wells, Jerry Hairston Jr, Gary Matthews Jr, and Carlos Lee are all going to be free agents this winter. I believe that the Rangers should re-sign Gary Matthews Jr, DeRosa, and Vicente Padilla. If the Rangers don't re-sign my boi GMJ I will be very sad. He hit .313 with 79 RBI, and cruised the outfield like non-other. Playing at Ameriquest Field in Arlington, it is essential to have a gold-glove centerfielder with the deep alleys. I have to say Mark DeRosa was amazing for the Rangers last season. He hit .296 and had 74 RBI, and showed signs that he could become an elite play. Vicente Padilla was at times crazy good. He showed he could pitch in Texas and has some of the nastiest stuff in the league. With ace like stuff he could come at a reasonable price and polish out the Rangers rotation.

3. Trade Hank Blalock
Blalock hit .266 with 16 home runs and 89 RBIs last season. I personally think Blalock sucks. Defensively, he had the 10th-best fielding percentage and was average at best. I don't think Blalock will come close to another .276 with 32 home runs and 110 RBI season, like he had in 2004. If the Rangers re-sign DeRosa, they need to ship Blalock out of Texas. The Rangers could receive beneficial starting pitching in return. The Brewers need a third baseman and owe Ben Sheets $21 million over the next two seasons. He has won just 16 games over the past two seasons. This could be a great risk to take. Sheets can be one of the top tier pitchers in the league. This is a scenario to take a risk on. Starting pitching is hard to come by.

Dallas Mavericks Season Preview

The Dallas Mavericks still have a bad taste in their mouth's after a NBA final's let down against the Miami Heat last year. The Mavericks have retooled for another finals run. They signed veteran swingman Devean George, who has three championship rings with the Lakers, and they traded my favorite player (Marquis Daniels) for Austin Croshere, another veteran forward who can stretch defenses. Dallas' first-round draft pick, Maurice Ager of Michigan State, has looked outstanding in the pre-season and has some mad hops. The Mavericks have revamped their team while keeping the same great core of players consisting of Dirk, JET, Howard, Diop, Harris, and Stackhouse. But it is not going to be an easy ticket to the finals again. The Spurs are ready to dethrone the Mavericks and the Suns look unstoppable. With the addition of Amare Stoudemire the Suns could run away with the western conference. The Mavericks have the makings of a championship team, but the truth will be told as they open against San Antonio on Thursday November 2nd at the AAC.

The Move To Tony Romo Pays Off

Last night after a 35-14 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night, the Dallas Cowboys looked more like that playoff team that everyone was predicting at the beginning of the season. The move to Tony Romo looked like a move that may propel the Cowboys into the playoffs. Romo rallied the Cowboys from a 14-point first-quarter deficit, throwing for 270 yards and a touchdown. Tony Romo's ability to be more mobile in the pocket made the difference in the game against a fast Carolina defense. From the start Tony Romo looked confident and poised in the pocket. His quick release kept him being ratted by Julius Pepper, and allowed the Cowboy offence to move explode in this game. A little T.RO. to T.O. looks like it could carry the Cowboys to the playoffs.