Zito Meets With Rangers

Guess what the wind blew in? Two good things came to Dallas yesterday, cold weather and All-Star pitcher Barry Zito.

A source said Zito and his agent Scott Boras came in to meet with Rangers owner Tom Hicks and general manager Jon Daniels. Zito has a strong relationship with new Rangers manager Ron Washington, who spent the last 11 years as a coach with the Athletics. After Washington was hired by the Rangers the two spoke and Zito told him that he was strongly interested in playing for the Rangers.

Scott Boras has worked out many deals in the past with owner Tom Hicks. This is a very encouraging sign for the Rangers who need an advantage over the other eight teams pursuing Zito. Zito was 16-10 with a 3.83 ERA in 34 starts and 221 innings with the Athletics last year. All I can say is Zito doesn’t like the Texas heat, but maybe a visit today in the frigid Dallas metroplex may have him thinking twice.

"Tic Tac Toe The Mavs Win 11 in a Row" -T. Wood

The Mavericks destroyed the Toronto Raptors 117-98 for their 11th straight win Wednesday night. Another win is just the usual for the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs win streak is the 3rd longest in team history and all of this has come after their 0-4 start. It’s almost like the terrible start has helped ignite the team to get things in gear. Its not easy winning games when every team is giving it their all to beat the “Western Conference Champs” day in and day out. You can see it in their eyes, the Mavericks want to be back in the NBA Finals THIS year.

Speaking of eyes, Dirk left the game with blurry vision and did not return. It was reported he was not poked in the eye and his condition in unclear. This could be anything from a scary situation to a minor condition. The Mavericks can’t afford to lose Dirk for a couple of games.

Last night though, other players stepped up to finish the win. Josh Howard added 26 point, Jerry Stackhouse chipped in with 23 points, and Jason Terry scored in 14.

You know who else stepped it up? My new favorite player, Erick Dampier. After years of hating on him, I am now loving his tough physical play. He has had numerous rim-rattling dunks and the Mavericks’ 11 game-winning streak would be nothing without Big Damp. Hearing all this “Tony Romo for MVP” and “Tony Romo for President,” how about “Erick Dampier for MVP.” (haha not really MVP but maybe all-star?)

Has the Offensive Line Improved?

It sure looks like the pass protection has improved, but has it really? I think they are still average and here's why:

When Drew Bledsoe was in at QB during the dark days at the beggining of the season, he was pounded by the blitz. In the Philidelphia game he took a pounding, 7 sacks and he still was in one piece! During the New York Giants game he was sacked 4 times. In his 5 1/2 games this season he was sacked 16 times for an average of about 3 sacks per game. The fingers were pointed at the offensive line, but it really wasn't their fault for all the sacks. It actually was Bledsoe's fault because he holds on to the ball for a REALLY LONG time, and he is not able to escape the pocket to make a play.

The opposite of Bledsoe is Romo. He makes his offensive line look like pro-bowlers. Romo releases the ball very quickly and even if he needs time he can evade the pocket to make the play. In his 5 games started, he has only been sacked six times. In contrast to Bledsoe, sack and turnovers have been the story of the season. The reason why the Cowboys lost early in the season was because of illadvised turnovers. Bledsoe was pressured and he forced way too many passes for interceptions. Romo is quick in his decision making and has time to make the play.

So has the offensive line improved as the season has progressed? In the statbook its says so, but in reality it is hard to tell. I think they are still average, but I may be wrong. With the play of Romo, he has eliminated the need for heavy pass protection.

Can the Mavericks Make it 10 in a-row.......

YES THEY CAN! Josh Howard, Dirk Nowitzki, and Erick Dampier all led the team in scoring with 15 points apiece. Erick Dampier continues to impress me. He had 11 rebounds and a HUGE blocked shot of a potential game tying layup by Ricky Davis with about 15 seconds left.

The Mavericks let a 20 point lead dwindle away but their defense made critical stops when it counted. They recovered in time to remain perfect since an 0-4 start, with the 10-game streak matching the fourth-longest in club history.

Kevin Garnett led Minnesota with 19 points and 12 rebounds and also exchanged shoves with Josh Howard, which resulted in double technicals in the final half-minute. It was a heated game but the better team prevailed.

The Rangers Have Big Shoes To Fill

In the past couple of weeks the Rangers have lost a an all-star center fielder, an all-star left fielder, a solid starting pitcher, and one of the best utility men in the league.

1. Center Field:
I feel like the Rangers should have made a better effort in re-signing Gary Matthews Jr. before he was signed by the Angels. 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. It will be hard to find someone who could replace Matthews. Brad Wilkerson may be the only answer for the time being. Coming to Texas in the blockbuster deal for Alfonso Soriano, Brad has been a huge disappointment. He hit .222 but was bothered by a nagging shoulder injury that plagued him the entire season. I actually have this feeling that he may have a big season next year because of its his last year in the contract. He played in center when he was with the Nationals and it looks like he will now rome the deep alleys at Ameriquest Field in Arlington.

Prediction: the Rangers get Jay Payton. Would be a perfect fit with newly hired Ron Washington as manager. He is a great defensive player with the ability to chase balls in center field. Batter .296 and had 59 rbi and is a solid bat at the end of the order.

2. Mr. Do it All:
Mark DeRosa was by far the biggest loss for the Rangers. It makes me mad that the Rangers let him go. The fact that he went to Chicago for pocket change puzzles me. His contract was almost the same as Frank Catalanotto and he is by far a greater player. The only benefit of Frank Catalanotto is that he is a proven lead-off hitter and will fill the spot left by Matthews. The Rangers should have kept DeRosa and should have traded 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 did re-sign DeRosa, they could to ship Blalock out of Texas. The Rangers could have received 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 have been a great risk that could have been taken. Sheets can be one of the top tier pitchers in the league. Starting pitching is hard to come by.

Prediction: They use minor leaguers to fill spots

3. Left Field:
I expected that left fielder Carlos Lee would leave due to the fact that the Rangers needed to spend money on pitching instead of a big bat. The Houston Astros, the NL's worst-hitting team, signed outfielder Carlos Lee and made a big splash that will undoubtedly help their team.

Perdiction: As far as it looks, Nelson Cruz and newly signed Frank Catalanotto will have to fill the void in left field.

4. Starting Rotation:
Adam Eaton was just signed by the Phillies, but never impacted the Rangers. Eaton underwent surgery in last April to repair the tendon in the middle finger of his right hand, and returned to post a 7-4 record with a 5.12 ERA in 13 starts for Texas. Eaton will not be missed.

One pitcher that SHOULDN”T be re-signed by the Rangers is Vicente Padilla. He had a very solid year last year and did prove he could pitch in the Texas heat. But all of this came under his contract year. I am sure if the Rangers re-sign him he will return to his terrible form. The year that Padilla was an all-star with the Phillies was also his contract year. He has the ability to be a great pitcher, but he lacks the will.

The Rangers still have a long winter ahead and they have many spots to fill. All I can say is GET BARRY ZITO!

Cowboys Release Vanderjagt

Wow, I never saw this coming. Maybe when the Cowboys were struggling at the beginning of the season but not right now when everything is rolling for Dem Boys. Vanderjagt had had a terrible season with a career low of 70% field goal completions , but has been untalked about due to the media surrounding T.O. and T.RO (Tony Romo). The Cowboys signed Martin Gramatica, “Mr. Automatica” to replace Mike Vaderjagt.

Ever since the season started, the most accurate kicker in NFL history never found a home in Dallas. He was injured during almost all of training camp and refused to take kickoff duties. All of this never settled well with the big Tuna. Bill Parcells never warmed up to Mike Vanderjagt and has constantly looked fuming mad on the sidelines when Vanderjagt whould miss one of his many failed field goal attempts. This year Vanderjagt went 13-18 and missed some critical kicks that could have won games for the Cowboys. Remember the Redskins game where all he had to do was angle the kick over the defenders from 30 yards out? Come on, it was an easy kick with little pressure, but he ended up costing the Cowboys the game. Actually that was the game when the whole team played terrible, but Vanderjagt could have saved the day. In the Indianapolis game he went 0-2 and could have easily lost the game for the Cowboys because it was such a close contest. I’m actually happy to see Vanderjagt and his $5.4 million contract leave the team.

The Cowboys recant;y haven’t needed a great kicker with the play of Romo and Marion Barber. Both of these players are able to finish out the drive and are able to keep the kicking team on the sidelines. Barber has helped the Cowboys in many 3rd down conversions and is a far better back than Julius Jones in shorts yard gains. Barber has a special ability to wiggle his was through the defenses. Romo’s ability to escape the pocket had too turned into many 3rd down conversions and long touchdown drives.

To replace Vanderjagt, the Cowboys signed the Argentinean kicker, Martin Gramatica. He is a seven year veteren with a career 76.7 % field goal percentage, but has been riding the pine in Indianapolis this season behind Adam Vinatieri. He had a great career in Tampa Bay, but since then he has declined. Hopefully he can add another element to the Cowboys offense, because Vangerjagt sure didn’t.

Romo Overrated?

I’m not saying that Tony Romo isn’t good, but I believe all the hype is a bit overblown. He has only started five games and people are already titling him as the greatest Cowboys QB ever. Sure the stats look good, but look at the receivers he is throwing to. He has Terrell Owens on his right, Terry Glenn on left, and Jason Witten as TE. That is a very good receiving core. I bet if Vinny Testiverde was the Cowboys quarterback now he would also be named the Cowboys’ savior.

Come on, he had four touchdowns against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from only a few yards from the goal line. Any of those plays could have been running plays and at the end of the day Romo could have had only one TD in the stat book. Two of those touchdowns passes were so easy that even an old blind man could have thrown those passes. OK, Romo is far better than Bledsoe but he is no Peyton Manning.

Ok, Romo has been incredible these past five games. He's #1 in ratings, #1 yards per attempt, #1 in TD%, #2 in Pct, and he's already #10 in TD's. He has played extremly well but it has only been 5 GAMES. He has great vision and very quick reflexes. So far he has been playing like an elite QB, but it has only been a brief span of games. Who knows if this is the hottest he will ever be?

Romo is getting all the credit for the emergence of the Cowboys, when it is the team in whole that should be getting the credit. The defensive if SO underrated and could be one of the best in the league. They shut down Peyton Manning and the Colts. Isn’t that enough to gain the spotlight for having one of the greatest defenses in the league. The Cowboys rank #3 in the league with only 279 yard against. The 3-4 defensive scheme has caused problems for many teams including the Colts. The secondary is pretty strong with Terrance Newman at CB and Roy Williams at safety. Everyone has trouble running the ball against the Cowboys. They rank #4 in the NFL against the rush and have giving the opposing running backs little day light.

Because of the upset of the Titians over the Giants 24-21 in a thriller, the Cowboys have a slim one game lead over the Giants in the standing. Next week against the Giants is a big week for Romo to prove to me that he is an elite QB.

The Mavs Are Back

The Dallas Mavericks are HOT. The Mavericks are scary good, right now. It is a 82 game season, but this 9 game winning streak is a sign of another championship caliber team.

When the Mavs lost a key player in Josh Howard they had fallen to 0-3. Since then the Mavericks have gone 9-1. The Mavericks were able to adjust and many players stepped up in Howard’s absence.

Erick Dampier is just one of those names. Erick Dampier has added a new element to an already dynamic Mavericks team. His post presence is something new to Dallas. The Mavericks have never had a big man contribute to the offence in there 27 years of existence. Let me just read to you some of “Big Damp’s” stats. Against Chicago and Ben Wallace (Mr. All-Defensive Player of the Year) Damp had 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Against the Grizzlies Damp had 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Against the Spurs and the Hornets he had 11 points and 9 rebounds for each game. WOW! Is this REALLY Erick Dampier? Why didn’t you do this the past two years? Because of his play less double teams are placed on Dirk and what does that spell. That equals more points for Dirk and more wins for the Mavs.

Another intriguing fact is the amounts of 3-pointers the mavericks have hoisted this year. They are now averaging 19 3-point attempts this year compared to 13 3-point attempts last year. The threes are falling but this could be a trouble some note. What happens when the shooting goes cold? The Mavericks cannot rely on the 3-ball all year. The only way to consistently win in the NBA is with points in the paint and shots at the free-throw line. The Mavericks are closing in on the team record of 14 straight wins, set in 2002, but the Mavericks must keep up the pace to reach the milestone.

In Tony We Trust

With Tony Romo as the Cowboys new QB the Cowboys have been rolling. In his five starts with the Cowboys he has a 4-1 record against some tough teams. He has eliminated the Indianapolis Colt's perfect season and has brought hope to Cowboys fans.

The Cowboys have charged to the top of the NFC EAST and face a big game against the New York Giants next week. This could be regarded as the biggest game of the season. The New York Giants haven't played well after Tiki Barber distracted the team with is ill-timed plans of retiring at the end of the season. Eli Manning is playing like crap and is not helping his team in anyway. The Cowboys must be prepared because this New York team could just wake up because their rivals are coming to town. Whoever wins this game will have a huge advantage in the NFC East Standings.

It is important for the Cowboys to win the division and take home field advantage and possibly gain a bye week in the playoffs. The NFC is a very weak conference. The Cowboys could be regarded as the favorites. The Bears have the defensive but there offence is a problem. The Seattle Seahawks do not have the explosion on both sides of the ball, but might have the intangibles to win in the playoffs. The Cowboys have a underrated defense and a dangerous offense thanks to Tony Romo.

Romo has given new life to the offense. He shares the ball with all receivers and never predictable. He has a good relationship with T.O. and has taken advantage of TE Jason Witten's great hands. Tony Romo has been the Cowboys savior, but first the Cowboys need to take care of New York this Sunday before we even think about the future.

The Cowboys Walk It Out

No longer are the Indianapolis Colts undefeated. The Dallas Cowboys won 21-14 over a very VERY good Colts team. The secondary play was the key for the win for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys showed that Indianapolis' offense sometimes has problems against a 3-4 front. The only two loses that the Colts suffered against last season were against the Pittsburg Steelers and the San Diego Chargers, both 3-4 defensive teams.

Taking nothing from Romo or any of the other players who starred offensively for the Cowboys, but this was a victory earned on defense. Tony Romo basically outplayed the best quarterback in the league with 19 of 23 passes for 226 yards. Julius Jones basically had a big game. Marion Barber basically killed the Colts with 2 TDs and he was big time ballin. Basically the whole team had a monster game and they are starting to play with a swagger.

The Cowboys will now face a average Tampa Bay Buccaneers team and let’s hope they make a thanksgiving feast out of them.

Zito?

The Texas Rangers NEED my home-boi Barry Zito. Hey, Barry Zito is my favorite pitcher ever and nothing would make me happier then seeing him in a Rangers uniform This past week the Rangers bid $27 million for Matsuzaka's rights and offered Thomas $18 million in guaranteed money.

While those efforts came up empty, the Rangers justifiably put themselves in the running for free agent Barry Zito. Texas, the New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels all want for Zito. After Matsuzaka's contract is completed, Zito could wind up with more than $75 million for five or six years. Zito is someone who can change the pitching staff dramatically. Having a one-two punch of Barry Zito and Kevin Millwood is pretty filthy. Zito is perfect. He is a lefty. Lefty pitchers in Ameriquest Field in Arlington eliminate the HR Porch and jet stream in a lot of cases. He has had a lot of success in Arlington. He will eat innings. That is the most valuable part about him. He keeps the bullpen rested and will be out there every fifth day.

Another intriguing possibility is signing Zito and then going after Mark Mulder. Mulder is a risk because of his rotator culf injury, but having two out of the three of the “big three” from Oakland would be pretty dirty.

Big Night for Damp

Only if Eric Dampier could play this well all the time. After a 111-99 win against a very good Chicago Bulls team, Big Damp looked like the $73 million center that the Mavericks invested in a two summers ago. Going against defensive player of the year Ben Wallace, Dampier set season highs for points and rebounds. He made 7-of-8 shots, with five thunderous dunks, and swatted three shots. Dampier made Ben Wallece work all night and outplayed him. Wallace, coming off an 18-rebound game, had only eight rebounds and six points.

But Dampier wasn't the only center with a big night, DeSagana Diop blocked five shots in 11 minutes. The Mavericks have never had one good center, but this year the Mavs have a powerful rotation of Dampier and Diop. Now a 3-4 team on the rise, the Dallas Mavericks are starting to tear it up again.

Dem Boys

How 'bout dem cowboys? After a disappointing loss to the Washington Redskins in a thrilling game, the Cowboys rebounded against the Arizona Cardinals 27-10. Romo had a monster game with 308 yards passing including a little T.RO. (Tony Romo) to T.O. connection that went for a 51 yard TD. Romo didn't have any interceptions and played a flawless game. The offensive line held up well allowing no sacks.

Marion Barber is someone we should be looking at. In my opinion he is a far better running back than Julius Jones. Barber just doesn't get as many opportunities, but he cashes in when he has the chance. So far he compiled 7 touchdowns and is averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Tell me he shouldn’t be starting!

After Terry Glenn missed the game due to injury, it is official Greg Ellis is done for the season. The ninth-year veteran pass rusher fears that his career is in jeopardy after a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in the game against the Cardinals. It is expected that first-round draft choice Bobby Carpenter of Ohio State will step into the lineup for the rest of the season.

It seems like the rollercoaster season might behind them after a solid win but............guess who the Cowboys are playing next week? The 9-0 Indianapolis Colts, that who they’re playing! Dang, the Cowboys are screwed. The only way to beat them is offensively. The Cowboy’s defense has no chance of laying a boom on Peyton Manning (as much as I want them to) because of his godly offensive line. The next game will ultimately prove if the Cowboys are a championship (or even playoff) caliber team. It’s going to be interesting, and for my boi T.O. out there, I’ve got my popcorn ready.

Are the Mavs Falling?

With a disappointing loss to a hot Golden State Warriors team, the Dallas Mavericks are in a deep 0-3 hole to start the season. They are playing in the hardest division in all of sports and this poor start is not a helping cause. The Mavericks just aren't getting the job done. After watching the game last night it looked like the Mavericks were finally going to turn it around. They didn't get blown out; they just lost a close well-fought game. The Warriors played extremely well and looked incredible because of hot shooting. I am not concerned about the Mavericks at all. They have basically the same team as last year. Not one of the core players is missing. On paper this team looks like the most complete team in the league. I guaranty the Mavs will turn this around quickly. When you have Avery Johnson and Mark Cuban breathing down your throat, things are bound to turn around. The Mavericks are just in a little slump. It just so happens this slump is at the beginning of the season. In a couple of weeks the Mavericks will be the mammoth of a team that they are.

Love Him or Hate Him?

Terrell Owens will always be cocky and self-centered, but he always produces on the field. I actually am a big T.O. fan. He has his ups and downs, but he helps a team win. Where would the Cowboys be with out Terrell Owens? Probably 3-5 at best. He helps the team as a whole by gaining the attention of the opposition's secondary. Sure he has dropped some critical passes, but has he helped the team? Most definitely. When he scored that touchdown and acted like he was sleeping on the field yesterday, tell me that was not the coolest thing ever. At that second he probably gained respect from all the doubters who love to hate on him. Later when Terrell dropped the pass that could have single-handed won the game for the Cowboys, people criticize him and think he is a selfish player who can't back up his smack. Stop hating on Terrell Owens. He has helped a pathetic Cowboys team. Now all he needs to do to win the respect of the fans is to carry the Cowboys to the playoffs. Can it be done? T.O. is freak of nature, and I have no doubt in my mind he could carry the Cowboys to the playoffs.

The Roller Coaster Continues

The Cowboys lost 19-22 against a terrible Washington Redskins team. It will go down as one of the worst Cowboys game in the history of the franchise. You can always make excuses and say "they should have won" or "they could have won." This is a time THEY SOULD HAVE WON. Sloppy play killed the Cowboys. Terrell Owen should have caught a TD pass in the third quarter, but he dropped it. There were so many wasted opportunities. The biggest mistake was the decision to go for two at the end of the second quarter. The Cowboys gambled, and lost. They should have had a one-point advantage, had they opted for the extra-point that could have changed the flow of the game. Near the end of the game the score was tied 19-19. The Redskins had a chance to win the game with a 49-yard field goal from Novak with 35 seconds left. That was missed and it lead to a Cowboys field goal to seal the deal with 6 seconds to go. That field goal from Vanderjagt was blocked by T.Vincent and ran back by S.Taylor to the Dallas 44 yard line. Because of a face-mask penalty, the Redskins had the chance to win the game with a 47-yard kick from Novak with no time on the clock. It split the uprights and it split the Cowboys hopes in half. After a brilliant win in Carolina the week before, the Cowboys look now like a very average team that will miss the playoffs for the third straight year.

A Bad Texas Two Step

The Dallas Mavericks have started the season on the wrong foot against both of their Texas Rivals. After a loss against San Antonio on Thursday night, the Mavericks got whipped by the Houston Rockets. The Mavericks owned the Rockets last season when they won all four games against them. They shot poorly this time and never found a way to shut down Yao, who sank 12 of 16 shots and went 12-for-12 from the stripe. The Mavs couldn't recover from the Rockets' opening 12-0 run. The Mavs' sloppy play basically dug the Mavericks into an early hole. In a strong Western Conference, these two loses could determine the playoff positions at the end of the season. The Mavericks better wake up before they are left behind. Dallas is 0-2 for the first time since the 1993-94 season.