Colonial goes low

Not unlike your little league baseball photo

A former Major winner took home the Colonial's plaid jacket.

It just wasn't who we thought it'd be.

Two-time winner Phil Mickelson missed the stinking cut with one of the worst scores of the week despite all but six players through Sunday being even or below par.

The winner, Zach Johnson, posted a -21. Why Phil couldn't get beyond a -1 is ridiculous. The course was playing easy and it helped that the wind took a weekend off.

What's worse is that Ian Poulter -- the second- or third-best player in the tournament -- did make the cut and somehow came up with a +7.

With a win, Mickelson's the best player in the world. Poulter talked shit about three years ago about him being the No. 1 or 2 guy. Both showed their ass this weekend.

That doesn't make them bad players. It just shows you that both guys and everyone else are still a step beyond the philandering Tiger Woods. Neither have that fourth gear. And that's why they will always be a second fiddle.

Not to take anything away from Johnson. He killed with his putting. He he had five birdies in his final nine holes. He had just one bogey in the final 36.

This was a very interesting tournament. With the scores going the way they were, you could not afford the very idea of an ordinary day. And when I mean "ordinary," I mean a 67, 68 or 69.

Blake Adams had a 63 on Thursday and stood at or below par the rest of the week. He ended up tied for 27th.

John "The Elephant Man" Merrick had three straight 66s to start the tournament. He netted a 72 on Sunday (-10 overall) and finished tied for 27th.

It might have been a tournament with high scores, but like a super-tough course, there was no room for any mistake because others were gliding along at a killer pace.

It was a fun Colonial. Despite Mickelson's choke job.

Swept

Scott Baker's dozen

I tears me up for the Texas Rangers to get swept.

I know we'd like to tear the pitching up for letting Sunday and Saturday get a tad out of hand, but no team is going to win a game when you total seven runs in three games.

This offense will collect 10 hits, but it will literally be spread over nine innings. Hardly any of them were in the same inning. Thus, you'd get a couple on base only to get three straight to be unable to move any across.

More and more, runs are being scored on outs like sac flies and fielders' choices. Sometimes its the back end of the line-up. More and more, it's been the middle of the line-up.

I don't know if I've seen a Rangers team be able to get two men on or the bases loaded and still come out with no runs.

The Rangers need a bat. Badly. Nellie Cruz needs to stay healthy. They need someone at catcher to swing a bat. They need Michael Young to get clutch. And they probably need a trade to add someone.

Notes about the Minnesota Twins:
I hate the Rangers getting swept. However, if they have to get swept, I prefer it be the against the Twins.

1. I think the Twins are really good. Well, good. They play like I always wish the Rangers would play. Super efficient "pitching" (not just throwing). A line-up that produces from 1-9. Clutch, puck-moving hits.

2. Tom Grieve said that Joe Mauer was the best player in the league. It's hard to argue. He plays the second-hardest position. He's a superb hitter. Patient and professional beyond his years. If he only hit without batting gloves and wore stirrups, he'd be perfect.

3. Mauer and Just Morneau in the heart of that line-up is unfair.

4. Love, love, love the new stadium.

5. Orlando Hudson says the league racist and that's why a talent such as his has sat in free agency until the very end of the winter. Maybe so. I also think he's done something at some point to -- no pun intended -- blackball himself. Either way, why any team would pass up a talent such as his is mind blowing. He was a pest the entire weekend.

6. I'd like to think the Ranger offense could score more than two runs on Friday. I'd also hope that Colby Lewis could not walk and hit No. 9 hitter Nick Punto with a pitch. Punto is a career .328 hitter against the Rangers with a .423 OBP. By far his career bests against any team.

7. I love Kevin Slowey. He's one of my favs in that rotation. Any guy that is all about throwing strikes, not walking anyone and still getting guys guessing on ordinary stuff pitched correctly is an interesting find.

8. Somehow, the Twins have not missed Joe Nathan.

Paul Lo Duca anyone?

Put up your Ducas

The Colorado Rockies released veteran catcher Paul Lo Duca outright and you have to assume that perked the Texas Rangers' ears a little.

Lo Duca is a victim of age. He's 38, and the Rockies have a collection of guys in the Majors and Triple A already taking those spots.

Of course, it doesn't help that he was hitting .233. Maybe the Rockies reconsider if he was hitting .400.

Lo Duca's had a solid career. He didn't become a full-time catcher in the Majors until he was 29. He hit 25 homers and 90 RBI in 2001, smack in the middle of the steroid era. He'd never approach those numbers again.

Lo Duca spent all of 2009 out of baseball. Still, in 2006 he hit .318 for the New York Mets. It's entirely possible that the game's passed him or by or maybe he has another half of a season left in him.

Needless to say, I don't think the Rangers can keep with Matt Treanor full time. He was a solid fill-in, but his lack of ability at the plate is evident and killing the Rangers.

Two bullet points: Lo Duca was cited in the Mitchell Report. And he was married to a Playboy playmate.

Twinkies

The bad news: The Minnesota Twins are 15-9 in their new digs.

The good news: The Texas Rangers are 11-5 against the AL Central.

Need two out of three this weekend.

Relief for the relievers

Big Game's guns

The Texas Rangers relievers have pitched 154 innings this season, the most in the American League.

The bright spots are that the Rangers also have the fifth lowest ERA for a bullpen (3.74) and if you consider the seemingly large number of extra-inning games. There's been seven extra-inning affairs, one of which Colby Lewis went nine innings against the Mariners only to have the relievers go an extra three.

There's been 20 extra innings. That matters.

However, there's viable options for the Rangers. No longer would need to depend on an old, untrustworthy, free agent arm or rush a kid up from the minors.

Matt Harrison
You heard it hear first: Matt Harrison's eventual arrival in the bullpen will propel the Rangers through the middle part of the season. Quite the revelation, right? As the Rangers dropped two of three from the Chicago Cubs a week ago, someone interviewed the Cubs' manager asking about the Rangers. He said they were a good team. They're only weakness was a second lefty in the bullpen. The Cubs won a 5-4, 10-inning game by pinch hitting two lefties. Righty Darren O'Day faced three straight southpaws and allowed the winning run. Darren Oliver, of course, had already been used. Harrison could probably serve in long relief and/or working an inning. Plus, it might keep the wear and tear off his oft-injured arm.

Tommy Hunter
Big Game got injured in Spring Training and hadn't seen the light of day up until three weeks ago. In five starts for Oklahoma City, he's sported a 2.91 ERA and a .231 BAA. Granted, he hasn't been sharp, but he's been effective. Remember, Hunter started in the bullpen having been the closer for Alabama in college.

Alexi Ogando
The 6-4 26-year-old righty had an outside shot of making the 25-man roster out of Spring Training, but fell victim to the deep pitching stable in the organization. Since, he's held Double and Triple A hitters to a .120 BAA and a 1.52 ERA. He's struck out 12, walked none in eight Triple A innings. Worth noting that Ogando was one of the guys held up due to visa problems over the past two years in correlation with a fraud case.

Tanner Scheppers
If need be, I think Ogando gets the call before Scheppers. But I think the guy is in Arlington by September, if not before. He's been as advertised. A sparkling 1.13 ERA between Double and Triple A. A sweet 41-7 K/BB ratio. A .131 BAA. Yikes. Other than stewing in the minors, there's little else for the guy to do.

Pedro Strop
A lot of promise. Still just 25, he's putting forth his best season with a 1.93 ERA, 20 strikeouts and five walks in 18.2 innings.

Clay Rapada
Rapada's interesting because he's had three years of varying results in the Majors before this season. "Varying" meaning bad. However, he pitches very well in the minors and he could be a guy that just needs to figure it out. GM Jon Daniels hopes it's as a Ranger. Also valuable because a lefty.

Zach Phillips
Outside shot to see the Majors. He's been the best bullpen arm in the system over the last year and a half. From 2009-2010, he's pitched 99 innings, striking out 101 and walking 37. He's also a lefty should the need arise.

Roy Williams' shtick is wearing thin

Nightmare

I typically don't get too up in arms about the Dallas Cowboys.

I follow them. I don't root for them.

So when they sign Terrell Owens, Pacman Jones, Tank Johnson and the laundry list of other "troublemakers," I lean back and enjoy the show.

I honestly feel the negative attitudes surrounding these type of players are completely overstated considering this town's habitual suffering of fools like Roy Williams (the safety), Greg Ellis, Patrick Crayton and Roy Williams (the receiver).

It's those guys that tweak me the most. Whiners. Bitchers. What's worse is that the media and fans typically paint them as misunderstood, frustrated good guys just trying to make a living.

In fact, they are spoiled, rich children, who only want to get paid as much as possible for as long as possible.

Roy Williams (the receiver) is bugging me to no end.

The other day, he stated that his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys has been a "nightmare." He appropriately explains that it's due to his own performance. He goes out of his way to not blame the quarterback or team.

It's on him.

Except when its not. Williams may or may not throw a teammate under the bus, but he does bitch about the media ... while being interviewed by the media.

It's a complex relationship. Bitching about the people you're talking to in order to let the world know how those people are mistreating you.

Williams is a passive-aggressive kind of guy. While he'll not blame Tony Romo or the offense. He is kind of still putting some blame on them.

If not, why say anything? Why not go out on an off day and have someone throw balls at you? Why not stay after practice and run extra routes? Why go to the media and say all the things he says if he wasn't really placing blame on everyone but himself?

This works. How do I know? The leaders of this team aren't saying anything and they play well most weeks. Romo. Jason Witten. DeMarcus Ware.

Consider Miles Austin and Kevin Ogletree. Two undrafted receivers who both could have quit football and worked at Home Depot as much of a shot as they had making a team and having a career. Instead, they shut their mouths, put their heads down, worked their asses off and are two of the most-anticipated and talked-about guys on the offense.

Williams and Crayton could take a cue.

Laying low

Our Daly bread

Professional golfers must be loving the Colonial.

Most of the guys playing in Fort Worth this week are either even or below par to start the Colonial today.

There's a three-way tie atop the leader board at -7, which is only going to get lower as the week progresses. A good way to put forth a good golf tournament is to hope to low scores and big names.

Well, the Colonial has one out of two so far.

The leaderboard:

Jeff Overton -- -7
Jason Bohn -- -7
Blake Adams -- -7
It's Thursday, but Overton was mentioned several times as a legit contender to win this tournament. He has two second-place finishes in his last four tourneys including last week at the Byron Nelson. Overton was actually just -1 in the front nine before nailing six birdies in the final nine holes. Adams birdied five of the final nine holes and also finished second at the Nelson.

John Daly -- -4
The Colonial could only dream of having Daly playing important golf on Sunday.

John Merrick -- -4
The Elephant Man?

Jason Day -- -4
Nelson winner shows up on the first day of the Colonial. With the big dogs falling back, Day could make a big splash. Friday will be interesting.

Tim Clark -- -3
One of the bigger names. Sticking around. However, considering the low scores, he can't allow those above him to get any further ahead.

Steve Stricker -- -2
Ian Poulter -- -1
Phil Mickelson -- +1
Jim Furyk -- +2
Yikes. Colonial officials are praying these four get back on track and at least make the cut, if not pole vault themselves back near the top of the leaderboard. Mickelson may eventually overtake Tiger Woods as the world's top-ranked golfer, but it's days like these when we all realize he's not the best.

Rangers Draft Profile: Kaleb Cowart

The MLB Draft is June 7, and in preparation we're looking at mocks and the players being mocked to our Texas Rangers.

MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo has the Rangers taking high schooler Kaleb Cowart with their 15th pick. It's worth noting that Cowart appears to be on the Rangers radar ... or placed their by speculating media members as he's shown up on several other mock drafts, often at the 22nd pick.

In fact, if you consider mock drafts as a sort of barometer of a player's value, taking him at No. 15 may be overpaying since many drafts have Cowart going in the 20s.

Cowart is from Cook County, Ga. where he's a right-handed pitcher and infielder, who can apparently bash. Although he's listed as both a pitcher or infielder, he prefers to hit and play the infield, projected for third base, actually a spot of some weakness in the Rangers farm system despite taking John Whittleman, Matt West and Tommy Mendonca in recent years.

Cowart, as a pitcher, has a fastball that peaks at about 95 with a "developing" change-up, which means he doesn't have a change-up. He apparently has an OK curveball and slider. He actually pitches with ease. Like he's playing catch with his dad. But I doubt Cowart pitches as a professional.

As a hitter, he's a switch hitter with power on both sides of the plate. He's long and lean. At 6-3, he's a big guy and kinda looks awkward fielding grounders. Nonetheless, he could probably go into a system as either a pitcher, outfielder or third baseman and succeed.

There are indications that Cowart might be a tough sign. I'm sure colleges are courting him. The Rangers aren't in a position to throw big money at a draft pick, and the No. 15 pick is compensation for losing out on Matt Purke, so if they don't sign this pick, they don't get any more compensation. I would only assume they'd go for safer pick at No. 15 and if Cowart is hanging out at No. 22, they'll snatch him up.

The genius of Space Ghost

There was nothing better than "Space Ghost: Coast to Coast" in college.

Love the comeback, Nashcar, Brak and the V-Water.

Ranger Draft Profile: Brandon Workman

The MLB Draft is a week away and the Texas Rangers have the opportunity to bolster their already good farm system with two early picks, Nos. 15 and 22.

It's an exciting time.

Franke Piliere of MLB Fanhouse has the Rangers taking Brandon Workman and Kaleb Cowart with their first two picks.

Workman is a 6-5, 220-pound junior out of The University of Texas.

He's projected to go pretty early in the first round. The 22-year-old has put up a solid year going 11-1 for the Longhorns sporting a 3.67 ERA, an 87-19 K/BB ratio and a .248 BAA. In 2009, he threw a no-hitter for the Longhorns.

Those stats tell me he's a bit more on the mature side with good control (although this was an issue in the past) and good enough stuff for a high strikeout rate.

Seems like his strong pitches are a 90-95 mph two- and four-seam fastball plus a good 12-6 curveball that he looks like he keeps down in the zone, according to online video.

According to reports, he has a good cutter and a so-so change up.

The righty was drafted initially by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2007, but opted for the confines of Austin instead of Scranton or Albany, wherever the Phillies have minor league teams.

Just looking at him, the biggest concern I have initially is his gawky delivery. He almost looks like pitching machine how the arm kind of goes under and comes back up. A ton of moving parts. Not that it's a big deal, but it's something to consider especially with already "fixing" Brandon McCarthy and Scott Feldman's delivery.

Colonialism

Poor Byron Nelson.

It'd be easier to swallow the reality of the lean years for our little golf tournament in Irving if not for the fact that the Colonial, played miles away in Fort Worth, weren't flourishing.

It's all about scheduling. If the Nelson were this week, it'd have a better field and the Colonial would struggle more.

Alas ...

The Colonial is hosting

6
Of the top 10 players in the FedEx Cup rankings. Whatever that is.

6
Of the top 10 money guys on tour.

5
Of the top 10 players in the world.

21
Majors winners.

That, friends, does wonders for coverage and, thus, sponsorships and advertisers. It's not about getting people to the event, but getting people outside of the 817 to care about the tournament.

With the names comes ESPN and national media outlets and that makes advertisers happy. Add in the course and the Colonial's preemo spot just before the U.S. Open, and you have a recipe for success.

The playas:

Phil Mickelson
A win probably makes him the No. 1 player in the world. If you don't think he wants to rub Tiger Woods' nose in it, think again. He's won here twice (2000, 2008). Prompting him to state, "Why are you yelling? You're a foot from me."

Steve Stricker
Stricker could walk up and punch me in the face, and I still wouldn't know his face. He's ninth in the FedEx thing, 10 in money and the fourth best player in the world. He also won the Colonial in 2009.

Jim Furyk
One of my favorite golfers. A real "slow-and-steady" guy, who has to almost play perfect to win. Fifth best player in the world. Only man in the field to have won two tournaments this season.

Ian Poulter
We're much, much closer today of Poulter and Tiger Woods being the best players in the world ... then everyone else. All this for a guy that hasn't won a damn thing.

Tim Clark
Fifth in the FedEx doohickey. In his eight cuts, he has one win, two top-two finishes and four top-10 finishes.

Dustin Johnson
Seventh in the FedEx. One win and five other top-10 finishes including going six-under at the Nelson last week and finishing seventh.

Jason Day
Stiffer competition than his weekend at the Nelson last week. Won't be able to shoot a +2 on Sunday and win.

The rise in newspaper columns about Patrick Crayton

He's apparently a good, misunderstood guy

Apparently, the Dallas Cowboys were supposed to pass on the best talent in the NFL Draft and take an offensive lineman.

Three weeks after Dez Bryant was brought into the fold, Patrick Crayton has proceeded to whine like a titty baby, arms folded, snarling and pouting because he's not the best wide receiver on the team.

Jen Floyd-Engel says Crayton should get the chance to compete for his spot on the team. All the while, Crayton's been at home and not at Cowboys OTAs over the past week.

Crayton has had a chance to compete for the last two weeks. Unfortunately, Kevin Ogletree, Roy Williams and Bryant are getting those spots.

Jean-Jacques Taylor thinks it'd be stupid to cut Crayton because he makes "tough" catches across the middle and returns punts.

I'd like a YouTube medley of these so-called "tough" catches and when he refers to "returning punts" he actually means calling a fair catch.

Nick Eatman says Crayton is likable. I argue there's not a more unlikable guy on the roster.

Crayton's a nice piece and he was a genius draft pick to take a chance on the guy late. Crayton's over-served his purpose and made a lot of money for a guy that most didn't even consider out of college.

However, Crayton's proceeded to be lapped by an under-achieving headcase (Roy Williams), two undrafted guys (Miles Austin, Kevin Ogletree) and the hotshot rookie, who hasn't played the game in a year (Bryant).

I understand why Bryant and Williams are better. But Austin and Ogletree? Those guys have simply worked harder to get better and not spent a ton of time yapping their gums to Brandon Jacobs or dropped big passes in big playoff games. Unlike Crayton.

The fact is, Austin, Ogletree, Bryant and Williams are your top four receivers. You can find punt returners. You can find guys who will go balls out to catch a pass in between the numbers.

Crayton's allowed lesser talented guys to overtake him and that's his fault, not the Dallas Cowboys. I wouldn't cut him, but I'm not cutting him any slack. He's made his bed and now he's pitching a fit in it.

The Rangers are a Ken Harvey away from a Lee Harvey Oswalt trade scenario

Lee

A day after everyone said the Rangers can't afford Roy Oswalt and when the Astros were not shopping Roy Oswalt, Nolan Ryan called the Drayton McLane Jr. hotline and asked about Roy Oswalt.

Again, Oswalt is under contract through 2011 with a team option in 2012. He'll make a shitload of money that the Rangers don't have in between.

Will MLB give them a loan? Advance on the allowance? Get the Astros to eat that salary? Get bought by Chuck Greenberg in time?

Anyway, it's refreshing.

ESPN's Buster Olney allegedly blogged about the Rangers interest in Cliff Lee.

He's a free agent after the season and making a manageable $8 million. Olney thinks the Rangers could float Rich Harden and prospects out there. Harden's due $6.5 million this year with an $11 million mutual option next season.

Would the Mariners up the price when trading within the division? Would the Rangers attempt to extend Lee?

Lee's 2-2 with an unfortunate 3.44 ERA. Most notably, he's struck out 32 and walked one (1!). Yikes.

Lee's cheaper and has a minimal commitment. Chances are, he'd require less in a trade. Both would help. Both sit at the top of the rotation.

Hope there's more juicy rumors like this.

The problem with Vlad is that many people pissed Vlad off

Angry

Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels has had some goofs. But he's damn near made up for every one of them with the signing of Vladimir Guerrero over the winter.

And Vlad is pissed. Really angry.

Guerrero is angry at the California Angels for giving up on him.

Guerrero is angry at all the Rangers critics that poopooed the free agent signing thinking Vlad had seen better days.

Guerrero is angry at Gil Meche for trying to throw that lazy, hanging curve and that 90 mph fastball by him last night. Don't bring Kool-Aid to the gin party.

Big Bad Vlad's come in and hit and hit and hit. He's never stopped hitting and maybe never will. He's a monster. I don't miss a number of things when it comes to the Rangers: When the Rangers are pitching and there's an opportunity to see Elvis Andrus; when Neftali Feliz comes in; and, now, when Vlad is at the plate.

Vlad took Meche deep twice for two-run homers -- one on an awful curveball in the middle of the zone and another on a so-so fastball with no movement or zip. Down the middle of the plate. His RBI double looked like it literally hit Vlad on the knuckles it was so far inside.

The man is a monster. And I'm happy he's my monster.

Notes:
1. Finally, a road win. Breaks a five-game slide on the road. Sets up possibility for two-game sweep this afternoon.

2. Two weeks ago, the Rangers were near the bottom in the league in slugging. Another four homers and two doubles last night. They're 13th in the league at .413.

3. A popular sports talk radio personality offered up the unsubstantiated opinion that Rich Harden cares nothing for the Rangers, just the look of his baseball pants and his career. Maybe so. But if Harden wins 25 games, how does that necessarily hurt the Rangers. The fact is, Harden may only be interested in his own glory, but he helps neither himself or the Rangers by throwing 100 pitches in five innings. If need be, I don't know who is sent to the bullpen at this point between him and Scooter Feldman, but it's close.

4. Why can't Meche understand that throwing mediocre stuff over the plate is bad?

5. Another Royals game, another Yuniesky Betancourt error.

6. Good thing Jose Guillen sucks. Four strikeouts, seemingly every one with a man on base.

7. Speaking of errors, the Rangers have had some doozies of late. Not just goofball errors that prolong an inning. Awful errors that lead to runs. Either the fielders need to straighten up or the pitchers need to chill the fuck out.

Oswalt acted alone

After an abysmal 15-30 start, the rats are jumping ship from the Houston Astros.

Most recently, Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. announced that starting pitcher Roy Oswalt had requested a trade.

I think the Texas Rangers are an extremely viable trading partner for several reasons:

1. Nolan Ryan's relationship with the Houston franchise, including his tenure there and association with the Double A affiliate in Round Rock.

2. Oswalt would probably be open to staying in Texas (despite his so-so record at the Ballpark ... 3.94 ERA, 2-4).

3. The Rangers are in deep contention in the AL West.

4. The Rangers have the farm system to easily pull this off.

The problems are that the Rangers aren't necessarily in need of starting pitching right now, but if Scott Feldman and Rich Harden continue to struggle, this could change very easily in the next four weeks.

The other problem ... well, not to sound like a broken record, is money.

Oswalt is due $15 million this year, $16 million in 2011 and $16 million in 2012 (with a $2 million buyout). When his contract ends, Oswalt will be 35.

Even for this trade to even be a remote possibility, the sale of the Rangers will need to go into hyperspace in order for Chuck Greenberg and Co. to spend money on a guy like Oswalt because there isn't no way the Astros will pay him to play somewhere else.

Oswalt's effectiveness is a point of debate. He's no spring chicken. He had by far his most ineffective year last season going 181 innings and finishing 8-6 with a 4.12 ERA.

For what it's worth, Oswalt is back to his dominant ways sporting a 2.66 ERA and striking out a batter per inning. Still, with the Astros offense, he's 2-6.

Imagining Oswalt in the Rangers rotation, he goes to the very top followed by C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis, Derek Holland and either Harden and Feldman going to the bullpen.

Oswalt, Wilson, Lewis, Holland and Feldmam? Not bad.

What would the Rangers need to give up for the likes of Oswalt?

The New York Post's Joel Sherman noted that he thinks the California Angels are frontrunners in the Oswalt race. This makes sense. He also notes that it would probably take a top prospect plus someone who hasn't fulfilled big-league promise.

Chris Davis or Justin Smoak. Matched with either Kasey Kiker, Julio Borbon, Wilmer Font or Tanner Scheppers?

I think that's selling the Astros extremely short. You're getting Oswalt for at least two seasons with a team option for a third. That's a long time despite Oswalt's age. He's by far the best starting pitching on the trade block. I think it takes three prospects of varying hype to land Oswalt. But I could be wrong. The Astros are looking to get good and young. Oswalt's still the best trade chip next season. Why should they sell low?

Last minute

After all these years, I can still spell "Gubicza" correctly ... like riding a bike

Rangers take on the Kansas City Royals in a two-game set at Kauffman Stadium.

The Rangers are 7-11 on the road and a trip against the Royals whilst missing ol' Greinke is a good way to steal a couple before a weekend set at Minnesota.

'I didn't say it. I declared it'

The Texas Rangers -- with a swift kick to the backside -- declared bankruptcy today.

This move puts the Rangers one step closer to being purchased by the Chuck Greenberg-Nolan Ryan group from Tom Hicks.

It's also one step closer to the 40-odd creditors from getting their money.

Ideally, the deal should be done by late-June or mid-July, just in time to sign some newly-minted draft picks and maybe in pursuit of a division-clinching trade piece before the July 31 deadline.

From what I understand -- which is actually very little -- the creditors could take Hicks and Co. to court to battle the bankruptcy and sale, but that apparently doesn't seem to be an issue, for some unknown reason. Or, unknown to me. Which is probably best.

One interesting tidbit is this document which shows those companies and individuals that the Rangers owe money, but don't have an actual lien on the organization.

Believe it or not, the Rangers owe Mickey Tettleton $1.4 million and Mark McLemore $970K.

Furthermore, in an unprecedented move in Rangers history, president Nolan Ryan wrote an open letter to all 220 Rangers fans updating them on the sale and function of the team.

Ryan and Rangers don't owe the fans any explanation. But it shows how much more classier management is than ownership.

Half-Nelson

Later, Jordan Spieth would finish his geometry homework

The Byron Nelson Championship is broken. Someone needs to fix it.

The Nelson was once a nice mid-level tournament, which would attract a handful of top 15 players and another dozen of the top 30.

It was a good tournament.

Today, it's a disaster.

Jason Day won with a -10 despite a +2 on Sunday. And he won by two strokes.

Luckily, Jesuit junior Jordan Spieth saved the day finishing six shots out despite barely being able to drive.

Otherwise, it was a group of hacks on the leaderboard, some bigger names (Scott Verplank, -7; Dustin Johnson, -6) near the top, some mid-level names further down (Kenny Perry, -4), and some bigger names in disappointing straits (Y.E. Yank, -1; Rory Sabbatini, +1; Hunter Mahan, +4).

I don't know how to fix it. Without forcing the big names to play a tournament, they don't want to play a shitty course in the 90 degree Texas heat, even in May. There are bigger tournaments before and after.

If anything, moving the tournament earlier would probably help a lot. I don't know if that's actually doable. Are these tournaments stuck in their spot?

Or, better yet, finding a new course to play at would be an improvement. It's one thing to skip an ill-timed tournament, but I don't think these guys are sad about missing out playing that course in Las Colinas.

At least the Colonial is still halfways popular. Maybe someone we know will win it.

Opt out

Someone needs to party

It broke over the weekend that the greatest Dallas Maverick of all time, Dirk Nowitzki, was going to opt out of his contract, from which he's due $21.5 million next season.

Now, there's two ways to look at this.

The spin has it that Nowitzki wants a new four-year deal of which he'll play out of the rest of his days. It'll allow the Mavericks to save some money allowing them to get another player and also lessen the luxury tax burden on Mark Cuban.

The opt out is just a formality for him to, technically, opt back in.

Bottomline, Dirk Nowitzki isn't going anywhere.

Of course, that's the spin. The other option could have him entering the free-agent market with Lebron James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade and taking the highest bidder.

We'd like to think that Nowitzki is the guy in the upper half of this post: The guy that wants to retire a Maverick and work toward a championship in this city.

I don't think we should underestimate the very real possibility that Nowitzki has a itch and that it can't be scratched in Dallas for whatever reason.

I honestly don't think that Nowitzki wants to leave. But I don't think he wants to necessarily stay either. His eyes have to wandering elsewhere. It's natural. He has to be dreaming about playing with Wade instead of Jason Terry. Hell, I dream of Nowitzki playing with Wade over Jason Terry.

Nowitzki has a lot more options. I know he's thinking about them. Whether he acts on any of them is a question mark.

Cubby hole

Rudy in the blue

It was good to see Marlon Byrd 0-3 and Alfonso Soriano go 1-4 in the 2-1 Texas Rangers win over the interleaguing Chicago Cubs.

It was especially good to see Rudy Jaramillo's offense eke out eight hits, strike out eight times, walk three times and leave 16 runners on base.

I feel like I've seen that before. About 162 times each year for the last decade.

I hold no real ill will for Jaramillo, Byrd or Soriano.

Soriano was manager Buck Showalter's and GM Jon Daniels' fault. They should've forced him to play the outfield like Frank Robinson did in Washington and like Lou Piniella is doing in Chicago.

Byrd was a luxury. And expensive luxury. I loved watching him play and I'm glad he could use Texas as a venue to retrench his career and get healthy.

But he's about to be 33, he had his career year (20 homers, 89 RBI) in a contract year. He had a history of injury and he was not going to get a lot of time in the outfield with Nellie Cruz and Josh Hamilton around and Julio Borbon projected to be the future at centerfield.

If we'd known that Borbon would stumble out of the gates, saying we'd missed on Byrd sounds logical. But no one thought Borbon would do this and no one was dying to bring Byrd back.

Notes:
1. I'd like to not see Ted Lilly for a while. He's mesmerizing to watch. He doesn't pitch that hard, but that long, slow wind-up was lulling me to sleep just watching it. He's got that good cutter that sweeps over the corner of the plate and that looping curve that sticks square in the strike zone. He's a good pitcher.

2. Colby Lewis, however, was equally as good. Took two innings to get his hold on the game and then never let up for another four uneventful innings. Started throwing strikes. Pitch total still too entirely high. Still, he's one of two starters consistently eating innings and pitching well.

3. Announced crowd: 38,943. Seemed to be very Rangers-centric. That's good.

4. Elvis Andrus has 17 stolen bases and its not even June.

Interleagued

"Did Jody Davis shoot Raffy up with steroids in the ass?"

Are we prepared for the 20,000 WGN Chicago Cubs fans at the Ballpark all this weekend?

Could they break 45,000?

The Rangers have a 68 percent chance of making the playoffs. I like it.

Over the Hurdle

All on the count of our Clint Obstacles

Is Clint Hurdle's influence as hitting coach helping the Texas Rangers?

Or are already good hitters beating awful pitchers on awful teams?

Does it matter?

The Rangers knocked the shit out of the Baltimore Orioles for a two-game sweep (two straight), 13-7, with 20 hits (two doubles, three home runs).

Here are the Rangers' ranks leaguewide, offensively:

5th -- batting average
9th -- runs
10th -- on-base percentage
16th -- slugging
21st -- walks
16th -- strikeouts

That's salty, even without Salty. The average is a huge bump from past seasons.

The slugging looks weak, but if you consider they were probably the fifth worst in this category a week and a half ago, you'd understand they've been going well.

The walks still look low, but it should be noted that they finished 26th in walks in 2009.

And strikeouts. Consider the Rangers had the third most strikeouts last season.

The offense is better and if we're going to pile blame on the guy when they struggle, then Hurdler deserves kudos for the obvious job he's doing, especially with the likes of Ian Kinsler (rarely swinging for the fences), Josh Hamilton (patient, professional) and Elvis Andrus (hitting like a 10-year vet).

Notes:
1. A criticism of Nellie Cruz last season was his high home run totals (33) compared to his low RBI totals (76). That's changed. He's hit eight home runs, but has 30 RBI. Well on his way to 100+.

2. At times, Scott Feldman had it. Other times, he didn't. It was an improvement and maybe he started to turn a corner. It was good that he battled through six to take some pressure off the bullpen.

3. Speaking of, I tend to give Willie Moscoso the benefit of the doubt (having not pitched in a week), but he needs to be better or else he'll be on the midnight train to Oklahoma City. He was awful.

4. I criticize Matt Treanor's bat, he swats a three-run homer. Screw me.

5. On April 22, Mike Young's average dipped to .234. It's now to .312. And he's hitting everything hard.

6. Neftali Feliz needed two pitches to get out No. 27.

7. At 24-18, the Rangers are the only AL West team over .500. A nice four-game lead.

Your Byron Nelson leaderboard

I did not go to high school with Jarrod Lyle, but I was probably a junior the last time he did a sit-up

OK, here's a test. Here's 10 names. You have to determine which ones are pro golfers currently under par at the Byron Nelson Championship and which ones are dudes I graduated high school with:

1. Blake Adams

2. Nathan Green

3. Chris Godwin

4. Mark Mulvaney

5. Chris Smith

6. Garth Mulroy

7. Kenny Putman

8. Clint Thurman

9. Jarrod Lyle

10. Dustin Dudley

Nos. 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10 are guys I graduated with. The rest are currently under par, in contention at the Nelson.


This is a sad, sad tournament. It simply doesn't matter. As the Hardline noted, they might as well let the the players drink and the crowd walk down the green with the players. Turn it into Animal House.



Notables:

Jason Day

-4

The 22-year-old holed four birdies in the back nine to anchor his day. His best finish this year is 22nd at Quail Hollow.

Hunter Mahan
-4
Clearly, the best player in the field. Didn't get to finish his round. I fully expect him to be involved in things on Sunday.


Dustin Johnson
-3
Eagled No. 5 to be near the leaders. With Mahan, one of the top three or four guys in the field.


Rory Sabbatini
-2
Last year's winner puttered around all day playing things safe and not pushing anything.

The anti-big hit

No doubt ... or was it a ground-rule single

I wonder what these close games are doing for the Rangers.

Surely, it's wearing out the bullpen. I'm sure they'd love a 10-0 game where they could throw out Willie Moscoso for two innings.

However, it's probably not hurting overall morale. Watching those guys jump like a bunch of three year olds has to be building a pretty good vibe in the clubhouse.

The Baltimore Orioles -- or the umpires -- didn't make it easy in a 4-3 win last night.

It took a Nellie Cruz sac fly to win it after taking the lead in the seventh and having Chris Ray blow that in the eighth. With Darren Oliver and Neftali Feliz probably not available, he was their choice. If he avoids the mid-inning walk, he's fine.

Of course, it didn't help when the second base umpire ruled a Josh Hamilton home run as a double. To compound that, the Rangers -- with no outs -- were unable to push Hamilton across the hard way.

The Rangers were 1-14 with runners in scoring position. Guys were getting on. They had 11 hits and four base on balls. But this was not the night for the big hit.

The Rangers left runners in scoring position in the second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth innings. Three times with one out or less. Only twice were the Rangers sent down in order (first and sixth).

What's worse, when the Rangers did score, it wasn't exactly the 1927 Yankees. Vlad Guerrero's RBI single hit Miguel Tejeda's glove, bounced into the air making it unplayable. Mike Young's double in the ninth inning went off Cesar Izturis' glove and if not for Adam Jones playing deep and Young's smart baserunning, he's on first base.

Then the game ended on a sac fly. Nothing was easy. But you've got to win those games too.

Notes:
1. Mike Young is absolutely smashing every pitch. He's hitting .750 over the last two games, he's got a six-game hit streak and his slugging has gone from .377 to .424 in four games.

2. My disgust with the Dallas Morning News sports columnists is well known. Two weeks ago, Jean-Jacques Taylor was raving about Matt Treanor's steady hand on the catcher's position. Yesterday, he put Josh Hamilton in the spotlight for not hitting home runs at every at-bat. Despite the fact that Hamilton carried the offense for about four series earlier in the year, he's hitting in the .280s with double-digit homers and doubles, whilst Treanor is a gigantic, unavoidable black hole in the line-up.

3. With that said, maybe JJT should keep running his mouth: Hambone had a two home runs ... err, a double and a home run.

4. About 22,321 enjoyed the win. Including the G-Unit and his unpatented arm hats.

5. The Rangers are now 3-10 against the AL East. Yikes.

6. The Rangers lead the league in wins at home. It helps being at home a lot. But no one else has more than 14. The Rangers have 16.

7. If I'm Ron Washington, I got apeshit about that blown home run call. Completely apeshit. Going out there like it's a Algonquin roundtable is the wrong move. That's a game-tying hit. If you're Washington, you don't calmly discuss world politics as a run is taken off.

Fixing the Nelson

Lord Byron

The PGA has a very serious problem on its hands.

The organization is hosting a golf tournament this weekend in a top five market in and the highest ranked golfer playing in it is Hunter Mahan (No. 17).

That tournament is the Byron Nelson Championship in Dallas. It starts today. And the field couldn't be any less underwhelming. Well, I guess Mahan could've skipped it.

Supporting the mid- to lower-level tournaments is an issue for the PGA. People will show up to the Nelson no matter what. Enough rich people want to get together and drink.

However, these are the same people that will always show up and, chances are, they're not paying for any kind of ticket. The marginal golf fan or the kid maybe getting interested in the game is less likely to show up to the marquee golf tournament in the city if no one in the top 10 is going to show up.

Byron Nelson dies and all these hand-kissing golfers are suddenly unable to attend.

It's a shame that the PGA can't instill some kind of rule somewhat forcing the players' hands to attend these type of events. I know it's a drag, but, on the other hand, you play golf for a living. A good living at that.

And it's not like this is Alabama or Oklahoma. It's Dallas. In Texas. Why wouldn't you want to make this event one of the biggest and baddest mid-level tourneys on your schedule? We don't need Tiger Woods. We don't need a Master's field. But we couldn't get the hotshot Japanese kid or the Irish kid? No Adam Scott or Camilo Villegas? This sucks.

But when Vijay Singh is the most recognizable name on the list of participants, you have a problem.

Three Guys Who Might Take The Nelson
Hunter Mahan
The best player in the field.

Vance Veazey
Just kidding.

Rory Sabbatini
Won it last year. A local guy. Kinda.

Y.E. Yang
Always crops up on leaderboards every weekend.

For the fans

Take me out

I give a ton of grief to the Dallas-Fort Worth sports fan.

I think they're lazy, underzealous, spoiled front runners. They could give a shit about a team until that team starts to win. Over time, if a team is winning, it becomes chic to show up to the American Airlines Center. The coke and boob job crowd show up with their Affliction T-shirts, piercings, sunglasses (worn inside) and overly stylized hair (men).

Dallas is a weird town. Not a bad town. I love it. But it's still weird.

The best way to describe it is by saying its a town that loves the Dallas Cowboys.

A barbaric, violent sport where the good guys often turn out to be white.

The Dallas fan, I didn't think, wasn't patient enough for the nuances and beauty of baseball. It's like a neanderthal in the Louvre.

I was wrong.

The Rangers have been drawing really well. And the fans have gotten a good show. The Rangesr are 15-7 at the Ballpark, where, most nights, they're getting about 20K fans.

I think it's a family/kids thing. Sure, there are sports fans that love to see good baseball being played. But the Rangers have kept prices relatively affordable. There's not a bad seat in the house. It's really nice weather.

Also, I think it has a lot to do with the inherent likability of the team. This goes back to GM Jon Daniels building from the farm system up, developing our own guys. The 11-year-old baseball fan has been rooting for Mike Young, C.J. Wilson and Ian Kinsler their entire baseball lives. They've adopted the likes of Neftali Feliz, Derek Holland, Josh Hamilton and Elvis Andrus along the way.

Add in Vlad Guerrero and you've got the most likable sports team in the city.

Game	Attendance
5/6	15,132
5/7	29,065
5/8	36,349
5/9	25,476
5/11	15,474
5/12	26,625
5/13	27,507
5/14	16,020
5/15	15,945
5/16	25,581
5/17	20,210
5/18	22,358
	22,978

Note: These are games against the Kansas City Royals, Oakland A's, California Angels and Toronto Blue Jays.

That's solid. If their average can bump up to 25,000+ against the teams not named the Red Sox, Cubs and Yankees. The Rangers must be pleased.

Minor Threat I

Hard to beat Lindsay Lohan in her prime

I'd like to start off the first edition of Minor Threat by addressing Jarrod Saltalamacchia's throwing issue.

It finally went national that Salty can't get throws back to the pitcher whereas throws to second base are accurate. Frustratingly, Salty's hitting .329 in Oklahoma City and would probably be with the Rangers if not for the throwing issue.

It's a weird mix of the mental and physical. When one is there, the other isn't. I'm a Salty fan. I hope he finally gets it together.

Oklahoma City RedHawks
After a blazing start, Chad Tracy's average has dropped to .245 as the RedHawk offense has sputtered.

Mitch Moreland hasn't quite figured out Triple A. Still hitting .237 and a unMorelandlike .390 slugging.

Zach Phillips and Alexi Ogando both were recently promoted to OKC. They both follow Tanner Scheppers with the promotion.

Tommy Hunter hasn't allowed a run in 12 innings and three starts as he works his way back. Although he has only struck out three and walked four.

Frisco RoughRiders
Matt Lawson's turned into the Rangers highest-ranking middle infielder in the farm system. He's continued his success from 2009. Hitting .312 with 10 doubles and a .396 OBP.

Beau Jones, Cody Eppley and Warner Madrigal made their respective debuts in Frisco -- Mad Dog and Jones for the first time this season.

Blake Beavan's been at his best this year as he's ever been in his pro career. He's won three straight allowing just five runs in 19 innings. He hasn't allowed a home run in a month (37.1 innings).

Martin Perez hasn't been at his sharpest. Then again, he's 20. Despite all the baserunners, his ERA is 3.34 and he's allowed one home run in 29.2 innings.

Awkwardly, when you demote two catchers, one is sent to Double-A. Taylor Teagarden's hitting .316 with a .500 OBP in Frisco.

Bakersfield Blaze
As quietly as one can in High-A, Davis Stoneburner is hitting .299 with 10 doubles, five homers and a .384 OBP.

In about 10 less games, Mike Bianucci almost has the team lead in home runs.

The best part about Engel Beltre's year: His nine walks and 21 strikeouts (compared to 17 and 82 last season).

Tim Murphy's walked 14 and struck out 13. But he's allowed just 11 hits and opponents are hitting .193 against him. If he every finds the strike zone, he'll be unstoppable.

The Bakersfield bullpen has allowed just six home runs (115 innings).

Michael Main's allowed eight home runs in 45 innings. Wilfredo Boscan, six in 45 innings.

Wilmer Font was promoted to Bakersfield.

Hickory Crawdads
Edward Koncel had 14 doubles and seven home runs all of last season. He has 10 doubles and six home runs so far this season.

Miguel Velazquez, right now, is the best hitter in the franchise. He's knocked seven homers and 12 doubles. His OPS is .917, and he's hitting the ball everyday.

Josh Lueke's struck out 33 in 17.2 innings.

Trevor Hurley, Braden Tullis, Josh Lueke and Robert Erlin: 114 strikeouts and 20 walks.

Despite his lofty ERA, Neil Ramirez has a 32-13 K/BB ratio in 32 innings.

Matt Thompson's struck out 44 in 36 innings.

Damn offensive

Major League pitchers do not go an entire season not allowing any runs.

Between inning No. 1 and No. 200, they face entirely too many good batters, get tired or serve up enough beach balls over the course of a 162-game season not to allow some runs.

C.J. Wilson threw up his first stinker of the season. After seven straight quality starts, the Rangers best pitcher (so far) went just 4.1 innings tonight against the California Angels allowing seven hits (two homers) and seven runs.

All is not lost. The offense picked up their good buddy by scoring eight runs in a come-from-behind affair, winning and sweeping the two-game series, 8-7.


Good teams don't have infallable pitching. They also don't have infallable hitting. But they have both that know when they need to take their game up a notch on a certain night.


With the sweep, the Rangers are 4.5 games up on the California Angels (not nearly enough) and 10-4 against the AL West.


Notes:
1. Rangers bullpen: 4.2 IP, two hits, one walk, eight strikeouts.


2. Neftali Feliz with two straight perfect saves. Although tonight's was entirely more dominate.

3. Frank Francisco in last two appearances: 2.1 IP - six strikeouts - zero baserunners.

4. One team struck out 13 times and walked twice. And it wasn't the Rangers (four walks, two strikeouts).

5. The moment I comment on Mike Young's slugging percentage, he nails a double and homer.

6. Vlad Guerrero against his old team: 4-8 - one double - one home run - two runs - one RBI.

7. Guerrero also hit a milestone. With his home run, he has now hit a dinger against 30 MLB teams. Not exactly the most select of company. Thirty-two others have done it.

8. Speaking of his home run, it was ridiculous. It was about three inches above the ground and Vlad swooped down and golfed it like a nine-iron. Ridiculous. Go find it online.

9. Has anyone else noticed that everyone with the Rangers has gone opposite field the last two games? Young's homer. Nellie's RBI double. All of the doubles from Monday night.

Rethinking Scott Kazmir

Pass the Dutchy

More than a year ago, the California Angels traded for Tampa Bay lefty Scott Kazmir as a means of fortifying their starting rotation last year and for years to come.

Fans and media of the Texas Rangers were angry. Not that they didn't get Kazmir. But that the Rangers just sat idly by and let it happen.

Maybe it was a money thing: The Rangers are infamously broke and players like Kazmir not only cost prospects, but money.

Less than a year later, we might be rethinking things.

The Rangers beat the Kazmir-led Angels, 4-3, behind our own hot-shot left, Derek Holland.

Since becoming an Angel, Kazmir:

4-6 - 73.2 IP - 72 hits - 34 ER - 30 BB - 54 K.

A lot of that damage has come this season. He's amassed a 6.51 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP.

I like Kazmir, but never did I think he was a No. 1 or 2 starter. At his best, he's a middle-of-the-rotation guy if not a back-of-the-rotation guy. Solid, sometimes great, sometimes good, but rarely is he always something. At this point, Kazmir's a real problem for the Angels rotation.

Notes:
1. Oddly, Ron Washington bench Josh Hamilton. Wash cites the awful Toronto series. Not an awful reason, but I don't think you should sit a guy like Hamilton on a Monday night to start a homestand. Hamilton, by the way, was not pleased.

2. Going to be honest, it was nice to see Darren Oliver and Vlad Guerrero dominate their old team. My, how the tables have turned!

3. Neftali Feliz has issued four walks this entire season, 20 innings.

4. It's as if the Rangers took Derek Holland's body and put some mature fireballer in his place. Looks like a total different guy from a year ago, even if he sputtered in the fifth and sixth innings. Through four, he was hitless and looked it. Kept the good-hitting Angels off balance the entire time with an array of pitches in a variety of spots. Is the Dutch Oven going to be the difference in this division?

5. Despite his average going up (four multi-hit games in his last 10), Julio Borbon will need to become a more patient hitter. Two walks in 113 at-bats is unacceptable.

6. I've noticed an inordinate amount of double plays hit into by ... gulp! ... Michael Young. I'm not crazy. He's hit into six double plays. That's tied for eighth in the American League. There's not another Ranger in the top 50. He hit into a career-high double plays in 2006 (27).

7. The other troubling stat from Young is the .376 slugging.

8. Very quietly, Elvis Andrus is hitting .321 and an out-of-this-world .426 OBP.

9. If America is smart, Andrus is your starting shortstop at the All-Star Game.

Rangers could get a bit more assholey real soon

He probably deserved it

The Texas Rangers are already in the buying spirit. And it's only May.

The Rangers have apparently called on A.J. Pierzynski, the attitudinal and cantankerous backstop for the Chicago White Sox.

He's due $6.7 million. The Rangers unsettled ownership situation have stalled talks, which will probably be the case for the rest of the summer. It's entirely possible the Rangers stand still due to the ownership issue.

Still, Pierzynski, 33, is solid with the bat and a good defensive catcher. More so, I think the Rangers are tired of their eight-hole being a blackhole in the line-up.

Pierzynski will hit around .300 with about 15 home runs and 20-odd doubles. He doesn't strike out a lot. Not great, but not someone you have to mark down as an out every time he bats.

Or can you? Pierzynkski along with the rest of the Chicago Pale Hose franchise is off to an awful start torpedoing the White Sox season. He's hitting .200.

Procter and gamble

Chances are, Cory Procter fucked up on this play

The Dallas Cowboys made a move today, releasing back-up offensive lineman Cory Procter.

He had just signed a $1.7 million restricted free agent tender. It was not guaranteed.

It's a little shocking as he's the only proven back-up center and considering the huge chances they're taking on Doug Free being any good and Kyle Kosier and Marc Columbo being healthy for 16 games, the Cowboys are showing supreme trust in their young offensive linemen.

That leaves Montrae Holland and Travis Bright as the only guys that could fill the back-up center role.

No word on who will replace Procter on drums in Marc Columbo's metal band.

In sadder news, Duke Preston retired. He's chasing a higher calling in divinity school.

No word if he'll enter the Ring of Honor this year or next.

Jocks always get the girls

Alert: Hot girl dates athlete, gets in Playboy

Playboy announced that Hope Dworaczyk is their Playmate of the Year.

Dworaczyk is also the ex-main squeeze of Dallas Maverick Jason Kidd, who has amassed a murderer's row of trim during his NBA career. That we know of.

As usual, Playboy doesn't feature ugly, misshapen girls.

Blow Jays

Colby Lewis apparently can lose

In sports, the strangest things happen.

In every season for every team, there's an opponent that they can not beat no matter what. The other team might be really bad. Or just ordinary. Still, they end up playing that one team in a season and they'll win.

This happens to everyone.

At least we know who the Texas Rangers' foil is. The Toronto Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep of the Rangers with a 5-2 loss Sunday. The Blue Jays have won five of six this season.

It's inexplicable. The Blue Jays aren't bad. But they aren't great either. I would expect a team like the Rangers to at least avoid the sweep. The Blue Jays have their number. No other way to look at it.

I do want to make the note that when the Rangers rest guys, it's like raising a white flag. Ron Washington doesn't rest a guy sporadically. He'll rest two or three guys on any given day.

Two or three regulars out of this line-up is a huge deal. You're typically hoping that Andres Blanco to knock in a couple of guys and score two runs himself. Isn't happen.

Typically, the Rangers get behind and Washington winds up playing the guys he sat in the first place. The Rangers lose and the guys don't get the rest they were benched for.

20/20

I ain't one of the Cosbies/I didn't go to Trey Hillman

Three years ago, a decision was made that probably altered the futures of fivefour sports franchises and five men.

October 4, 2006
Buck Showalter is fired by the Texas Rangers as manager.

November 6, 2006
The Texas Rangers replace Showalter with Oakland A's third-base coach Ron Washington.

Other candidates were former Rangers catcher John Russell, bench coach Don Wakamatsu, New York Mets third-base coach Manny Acta and Nippon Ham Fighters manager Trey Hillman.

Washington's hire is a bit of a letdown. Many were clamoring for Hillman, a alum of The University of Texas at Arlington, who had cut his teeth on baseball with the Rangers. I think Russell was the second choice, being a former player.

November 14, 2006
The Washington Nationals hire Acta as manager.

October 19, 2007
The Kansas City Royals hire Hillman as manager.

November 5, 2007
The Pittsburgh Pirates hire former Major Leaguer John Russell as manager.

November 19, 2008
The Seattle Mariners name Wakamatsu manager.

July 13, 2009
The Nationals fire Acta.

October 25, 2009
The Cleveland Indians name Acta manager.

May 13, 2010
The Kansas City Royals fire Hillman as manager.

In their respective tenures as Major-League managers, here's how the records have turned out:

	Managing Records
Washington	261-260
Wakamatsu	98-98
Hillman	142-207
Russell	143-214
Acta	171-271

Now, it is impossible to project how good these five guys are as managers or baseball men.

Before they were hired, only one had managing experience, and that was Hillman in Japan.

I'd like to think that if the Rangers hired Hillman or Russell, their records as managers would be over .500 like Washington's.

Of the franchises discussed (Washington, Texas, Seattle, Cleveland, Kansas City), the Rangers may be the best. Meaning, in the past, they've had some money to work with. They've had the luxury of having a good front office that has helped build a really good farm system perpetually providing young players of high quality to the big-league team.

I can not attest this is the same for those other franchises.

Seattle may be the exception. They've spent a lot of money to get good and despite an 85-win season last year, their anemic offense is sinking them this season.

Otherwise, we could expect Washington to have gone to Kansas City and had as much success as Hillman did.

But we'll never know. Maybe only Washington could have helped get this team to play harder for 162 games.

Hillman deserved the ax. Maybe. Kansas City doesn't exactly put the best product on the field. But there's still talent there. Other managers have won with less.

Jeff Passan wrote an article at Yahoo! about the epiphany for Royals management as the Rangers swept the Royals in four games.

There was Hillman docking Yuniesky Betancourt money for dropping a pop fly. There was another moment of Josh Hamilton taking second base without tagging up ... and no one, including the managers, not noticing.

Wash wouldn't dock a player money for dropping a pop fly. He'd, instead, go out the next day four hours before the game and work on technique, concentration, footwork and positioning with that player.

Wash may screw up the bullpen. But I don't think he'd miss an opponent not tagging up.

A team managed by Ron Washington wouldn't allow a four-game sweep.

Hillman will land on his feet in a better situation. As will all these guys until franchises discontinue putting faith in them. For the time being, these guys are all kind of tied together.

We can go ahead and escort the Athletics out of town

Hug it out

I'd like to give the Oakland Athletics credit.

I don't think they're very good. That line-up is Quadruple-A. The pitching staff is good, but very young and maybe not ready to really compete every fifth day like the franchise would like.

The Rangers capping off a series win today, 2-1, was refreshing only because it takes those bastards out of town.

The A's aren't very good, but they battle and don't give an inch. They're work a count, couple some hits and wind up scoring some runs. It's not been easy for the Rangers.

Thankfully, we don't see the Athletics again until late July.

The oddest thing is that the Rangers starters (Colby Lewis, Derek Holland, C.J. Wilson) pitched a combined 20 innings in the three games. That leaves seven innings for the bullpen, right?

Instead, two extra-inning games drove the bullpen to the limit. They completed 14 innings in the three games using everyone entirely too much.

The A's have a lot to overcome. As gassed as the Rangers bullpen is, the A's have to be seriously licking their wounds. Their bullpen's even more tired. They've got to travel back home having lost two of three. It's a team that offense doesn't come easily to.

By late July, the A's could be exhausted.

Notes:
1. Watching Vlad Guerrero play baseball is as close to watching a kid play the game as we've seen in this town. Like he's still in the Dominican. Furthermore, I've never seen a guy hit the baseball with as much impact and ferocity. As Brandon Bass was the "angry dunker" (the dude had zero flourish, all power), Guerrero's the same with the bat. Even is ground outs and fly balls are impressive.

2. Seven starts in and C.J. Wilson is a no-brain All-Star. Who knew?

3. How did the winning-run score? Mike Young, walk.

4. Dumb Ron Washington move: Bottom of ninth. 1-1. One out. David Murphy singles. Justin Smoak singles, Murphy to third. At corners. One out. Washington pinch runs Craig Gentry for Smoak. Bottom of ninth. If the next hitter (Max Ramirez) gets a hit or a long flyball, the game's over no matter who's on first. The Rangers didn't score. Ryan Garko played first and the Rangers missed Smoak's bat for the rest of the game. Made zero sense unless Smoak's hurt.

5. Hadn't seen Frank Francisco that dominate since 2009. At least. Four hitters, four strikeouts.

6. Rangers went 6-1 on the homestand. Have gone 9-3 in May so far.

Stay classy, Dallas

I don't even know what this means.

Roy Williams does what he does best, which doesn't necessarily include catching footballs

Roy

Dallas Cowboys receiver Roy Williams exercised the only body part he's able to "control" at a function yesterday.

He bluntly stated that sitting on the bench really isn't his thing. All of this in reference to the Cowboys taking hotshot receiver Dez Bryant in the first round in the NFL Draft.

It's literally as if Williams is existing in a different dimension.

I don't understand it. I'll never understand it. How is it that Williams isn't able to ascertain that the Cowboys are sick and tired of his bellyaching, dropped passes and half-assed effort?

Why can't he just say something to the effect that he realizes that he needs to perform better, work harder and that any issues are all on him?

Is it about "keepin' it real"? Is it ego? Is it smoking entirely too much weed at UT?

Williams is the 50-year-old woman who's gained weight and all kinds of veins, flab, wrinkles or bumps and still expects to fit into the dress she wore at 20.

The difference is that we know why the woman aged. We don't know why Williams suddenly can't catch a pass.

Williams thinks it's his weight. The Cowboys had him at 210. He thinks he can be better at 215. I'm no physiology expert, but what kind of difference does losing five pounds make on being able to catch a football?

I'd take Terrell Owens, Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson over Williams at this point.

Power up

Going Dutch

Something happened tonight that went a long way in preserving the Texas Rangers bullpen.

Yes, Derek Holland's six innings of flawless pitching went a long way. But there were still nine outs to get.

It was the offense that bailed the beleaguered 'pen after Tuesday's 13-inning ordeal.

The line-up pounded 17 hits, 10 runs and shook up every pitcher the Athletics threw out there for long innings in the 10-1 win to take back sole possession of the AL West.

The long innings probably helped Holland catch his breath between frames. More importantly, for the bullpen, it allowed Darren O'Day and Doug Mathis to pitch a little loose and pound the strike zone over and over. Knowing that a home run wasn't going to really matter. It prevented the long inning that has gassed Rangers pitchers all season. Accordingly, well more than half of their pitches were strikes. And O'Day and Mathis "escaped" with 16- and 32-pitch evenings, respectively.

It was just what the bullpen needed. And, for that matter, Ron Washington, who didn't need a close game to screw up for a second straight night.

Notes:
1. Holland was terrific. Seems to have a much better grasp of things and also appears to have polished some pitches over the winter and during his tenure in Oklahoma City.

2. With three hits, Mike Young's average has crept to .290 on the season.

3. One thing Max Ramirez can do is hit. He can hit with ferocity. He did some of that tonight notching three hits. Sooner or later, he's going to fully catch up to Major-League pitching.

4. Speaking of, Justin Smoak has caught up. He'll soon lead the team in home runs at the current pace.

5. Ian Kinsler has 16 hits in 12 games. Oh, and not one of them is a home run.

Prepare the Dutch Oven

Not Derek Holland's coolest moment

Derek Holland will make his Major-League debut tonight for the Texas Rangers.

He comes in having ripped the Pacific Coast League a new one:

38 IP - 4-1 - 0.93 ERA - 37 K - 7 BB - 1.07 WHIP

Holland will have his work cut out for him, but the Rangers probably like the match-up against the light-hitting Oakland A's.

He'll need to eat up some innings and give the bullpen a little help.

I think Holland will get at least two starts. Those two starts will be auditions.

Should he show any semblance of being able to pitch effectively in the Majors, and he doesn't get his doors blown off, I suspect Holland will be here to stay, come hell or high water.

That means that Matt Harrison is the odd man out. He'd be a useful guy out of the bullpen, especially if Dustin Nippert keeps sucking.

He also might turn into a useful trade piece to sweeten the pot should the Rangers be in a position to make a move.

Big Mac gets 'Lost'

Dan McDowell gets sweet on the blonde girl from "Good Morning, Texas."

A minor stat line

Braden Tullis: Skagit Valley College, reprazent

Last week, I noted Richard Bleier's beautiful 88-pitch complete game shutout in Frisco.

Texas Rangers minor leaguers put forth another interesting effort last night. This time, in Hickory where the Crawdads beat the Greenville Drive, 3-0.

Here's the pitching line for starter Robbie Ross and relievers Robert Erlin and Braden Tullis (all three pretty highly-touted arms in the system):

9 IP - 4 hits - 0 runs - 0 walks - 10 strikeouts - 13 groundball outs - 3 flyball outs

Ross, one of my favs, has been fantastic of late.

After a bumpy start, he's not allowed an earned run in his last three starts (18 innings) and walked just one while striking out 13. His ERA is at 2.45.

Erlin and Tullis are both below 2.00.

Never underestimate an asshole's ability to get a job

Allen Academy, a prep school located in Bryan, Texas, announced the hiring of Dave Bliss as their athletic director, boy's basketball coach and dean of students.

Yikes.

Bliss, as we all probably remember, was the head basketball coach at Baylor University when Patrick Dennehy was murdered by former player Carlton Dotson and in an attempt to cover up Bliss own indiscretions, he framed Dennehy as a drug dealer.

Bliss is a giant turd.

Bliss' hiring proves once and for all that anything short of murder can be forgiven and forgotten with time. O.J. Simpson will probably never rehab his image. And if Bliss can, then anyone can.

Think about Bliss when you see Tiger Woods or a steroid user in the news. With time, all of the scrutiny goes away.

Hopefully, some eighth grade at the Allen Academy won't drop dead forcing him to confide to police that the rich, white kid was a notorious drug dealer.

Decisions

Justin Smoak: Walk this way

The other day, I preached the good word of "the small things" in regards to the Texas Rangers nailing down a sweep of the Kansas City Royals.

I applauded Jon Daniels and Ron Washington for putting the fundamentals first as they built and developed this team.

Just as easy, I'm ready now to tear it all down. Particularly Washington.

I've said this a half dozen times: If Washington should get the can, it shouldn't be for snorting some cocaine. It should be for butchering in-game coaching decisions.

He is awful. It's his biggest coaching deficiency and it costs the Rangers games in the long run.

Why Neftali Feliz wasn't starting the ninth inning is beyond me!

When you're dealing with a closer, you don't mess with lefty-lefty match-ups. You simply throw him in knowing he'll get three outs. Instead, he kept Darren Oliver in to face Eric Chavez and Andre Rosales.

First, Elvis Andrus' error lets Chavez on and Washington admitted to not communicating to pitching coach Mike Maddux to have Feliz ready.

Rosales singled. Enter Feliz, off-kilter and underprepared to enter a game with no outs and the tying run at third base and the go-ahead run at first.

I don't quite know how many more of these miscues the skipper can take.

Compound all of this with shotty relief and third-base coach Dave Anderson ignorantly sending Andres Blanco (I wouldn't consider him the fleetest of feet) home despite being out by a country mile, sent this team to a bad loss.

The truth is, the Rangers didn't deserve to win and the hitters continually bailing out the pitchers was going to end sooner or later.

Notes:
1. The time for Elvis Andrus to stop sacrificing runners over is done. Andrus is arguably this team's best hitter. He needs to swing the bat to be successful.

2. Small things: How did the Rangers take the lead on Andrus' ninth-inning single? A Justin Smoak walk. Smoak's got 11 walks, 11 hits and 10 strikeouts.

3. Yeah. Josh Hamilton sucks. We ought to trade him for some real talent.

4. Despite last night's effort, I've lost no confidence in any Rangers reliever, except Dustin Nippert. He has the potential to be better.

5. No problem with what Colby Lewis was doing. He's been great, so far.