I wish I could just embed these videos, but you know, they belong to Major League Baseball and they don’t like to embed their videos, but if you will hit the links you can clearly see the difference on about the same kind of play to end the ball game in each game last night. First, here is the spectacular grab by the Giants Right Fielder Nate Schierholtz :
So you go to bed at night thinking the world will at least stay on its axis until you can wake up the next day. I couldn’t sleep for some reason and got on my computer at 3:30 AM and the news came all the way in from left field. (Pardon the pun)
Rangers’ part owner Chuck Greenberg could resign as early as today? What the Hades??
Have you ever heard of a Major League Baseball team being auctioned off? I haven’t either. The sale of the Texas Rangers becomes more bizarre as the days wear on in the Texas heat. Like my friend Willie Martin and I were discussing yesterday, baseball is a large game with many smaller games inside that game. So is the sale of the Texas Rangers.
The judge in this case could decide tomorrow on whether the team’s auction will be held as scheduled on Aug. 4 despite objections from major lenders and the ballclub’s court-appointed chief restructuring officer.
J.P. Morgan Chase, the lead bank for the top lenders, filed a separate lawsuit Friday saying it holds the right to block the transfer of the $2 million a year lease on Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. That move has a chance to stall any sale of the team.
If that weren’t complicated enough, then there’s Mark Cuban throwing his hat in the ring as a possible investor. Why would he do that? Which side is he on? The Greenberg-Ryan side, or is he really wanting to be the owner of the baseball team himself? Interesting.
Major League Baseball wants Greenberg-Ryan as the owners, and the lenders want the chance for other potential investors to be allowed time to raise the ante so their losses won’t be as great. It’s all very confusing. Stay tuned.
The Grand Prairie AirHogs losing streak reaches 13 games – As some of you may know or not know, I have been spending most of the summer going to AirHogs game in Grand Prairie. I’ve been amazed how after it’s all said and done, it’s all a business. Forget trying to know who’s on first because they will probably be gone the next day. It’s just business. And you think it’s easy on the players?
To me, it seems very difficult to know how to cope with a 13 game losing streak, and then I take a step back and watch and listen.
Kids. They don’t care what the record is….Kids can come to Quick Trip park and get autographs! Kids can have fun no matter what the record is.
So there ya have it. From the 1st place Texas Rangers, to the last place Grand Prairie AirHogs, baseball always stands the test of time. We may get older, but baseball stays the same.
When I was a kid in Sweetwater Texas, I could fly like the wind. Center field was my home. It’s where opposing fly balls went to die.
I think back about center field every time I attend a game now. Baseball is the same. It’s me that has changed.
Here we go again. The on again, off again sale of the Texas Rangers. You might remember back in December that I thought that Major League Baseball needed to repo the Rangers away from Tom Hicks.
It seems that there have been rumblings about that is about to indeed happen this week , as MLB has quarterly owners meetings this week. MLB needs to do something before the potential owners Greenberg and Nolan Ryan blow the whole thing off.
MLB could seize control of the club, which has been speculated for three weeks now, especially in light of the sources who have told a few national outlets that Tom Hicks’ lenders have rejected the proposed sale. MLB isn’t commenting, nor is Rangers Baseball Express (Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan). Hicks hasn’t been heard from since MLB told him to be quiet April 22. Such silence from involved parties on a sticky subject usually is an indicator that something is about to happen. Commissioner Bud Selig will have something to say this week at the meetings, to the owners and publically.
Someone please rescue the Rangers so some common sense can prevail.
UPDATE: Here is a more detailed look at the proceedings so far.
Tom Hicks has agreed to sell the Texas Rangers to a group that includes Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan.
The sides announced Saturday night that they had finally reached an agreement, eight days after a 30-day exclusive negotiating window expired. The group is headed by Pittsburgh sports attorney Chuck Greenberg.
“Together, we have worked exhaustively since last month to attain this agreement,” Hicks said in a statement. “It’s a complex business deal that positions the franchise positively for the future.”
I for one have been anxiously awaiting this good news. I hadn’t reported on it much for fear of jinxing the deal, but i can tell you now this is great news for the Ranger team and fans.
In a separate transaction, Ballpark Real Estate, L.P., an independent investment vehicle controlled by Hicks, will sell or transfer to the Greenberg-Ryan group approximately 153 of 195 acres around Rangers Ballpark and Cowboys Stadium that is owned or controlled by Hicks. In return, Hicks will receive cash, notes, and an ownership position in the team.
Baseball sources have confirmed that Tom Hicks has accepted the bid of Chuck Greenberg, who is partnered with Ryan, to purchase the Texas Rangers.
Tom Hicks announced Tuesday that he will ask Major League Baseball to approve his decision to grant exclusive negotiating rights to Ryan and Pittsburgh lawyer Chuck Greenberg to purchase the financially troubled team.
Hicks’ decision ensures that Ryan will remain as club president and get an ownership stake in the franchise currently owned by Hicks Sports Group.
“Our family has chosen to negotiate with the group we believe will be best to protect and ensure the long-term positive future of this franchise,” Hicks said in a prepared statement.
“I am most appreciative of the fans’ patience and support for the last year. I know it’s been difficult, but this new generation of ownership is 100 percent resolved to excellence and a superior fan experience for the long term.”
That is great news for the Rangers fans. Having this thing move along finaly puts a good position for the Rangers so that there may be some money in the coffers by the trade deadline next summer. New ownership and Nolan staying made this a great day in Rangers history.
