Ron Washington doesn’t mind doing Coke

Great way to start a season: Have your manager admit he used cocaine last year.

As if the Texas Rangers don’t have enough problems.

Yeah, yeah, the Rangers organization say they will stand behind Washington, but the truth is new owners Nolan Ryan and company must be scrambling to right the ship after this news.

Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington admitted on Wednesday that he used an illegal drug in the first-half of last season and tested positive for a random drug test.

Washington did not reveal the type of drug, saying the circumstances aren’t important. Sources, though, said he took cocaine.

He completed a major-league mandated treatment program — which included counseling and giving submitting to urine tests three times a week — only two weeks ago.

The Rangers are satisfied that this was a one-time incident because of the honesty he displayed after the drug use, and that Washington did not have a drug habit.

“I fully understand that I disappointed a lot of people — my family, my players, coaches — as well as the team’s leadership, especially Nolan Ryan and Jon Daniels, as well as young people who may have looked up to me,” Washington said.

Oh boy, this ought to be a doozy of a year. It just puts even more pressure on the Rangers to perform. Let’s hope they don’t BLOW it. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

Texas Rangers’ Ron Washington used cocaine last season (DMN)

Rangers Set For Historic Season – Just Ask Them

From Deadspin.com

Hope springs eternal at Spring Training. But in Rangers camp, someone appears to have spiked the Gatorade with Prozac. Because players are throwing out pie-in-the-sky predictions like no one’s business.

Just so we’re clear, this is a team that probably overperformed last year, and still missed out on the playoffs. So last week when Josh Hamilton predicted 96 wins, it turned a few heads. Really, adding Rich Harden and Chris Ray is going to give you a shot at homefield advantage through the playoffs?

But now that individual players have begun to weigh in with their own predictions, it starts to make sense. Hambone says to expect a full season from him, rather than the 89 games he played in last year. Add to that a 30-30 year from Nelson Cruz:

Asked if he was capable of having a 30-homer, 30-steal season, Cruz wholeheartedly said he was. Then, when asked if he cared to guarantee it, he thought for a moment before saying he would, in fact, become the second Ranger in as many years to join the 30-30 club.

That sounds like a lot to ask, but then you consider the fact that Cruz won’t even lead the team in stolen bases, not by a long shot.

Earlier in camp, I asked [Gary] Pettis what he thought was a realistic range of steals for [Julio] Borbon to reach in his first full season in the majors.

Pettis said he’d be disappointed if Borbon failed to reach 30.

“He ought to be disappointed if I don’t get to 50,” Borbon said.

Other things the Rangers will accomplish in 2010:

•Become the first team to send all 25 players to the All-Star Game.
•Go 161-1, but only out of humility.
•Start a home run conga line, like in that Bugs Bunny cartoon.
•Cure cancer.
•Make C.J. Wilson’s Twitter more entertaining than Ozzie Guillen’s.
•Fit Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s name comfortably on a uniform.

Hamilton ‘ready,’ expects 96 wins [MLB.com]
Morning briefing: Nelson Cruz’s bold guarantee, the Tao of “B” games and, um, Lady Antebellum [Dallas Morning News]
Could Julio Borbon break Texas Rangers’ steal record? [Dallas Morning News]

Deal reached for sale of Texas Rangers

There is joy in Arlingtonville tonight.

  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.

Deal reached for sale of Rangers to Greenberg-Ryan group (DMN)

The Weekend Wrap-up 1/10/2010

There was so much to keep up this weekend, what with the Cowboys beatdown of the dirty birds yesterday.

I wanted to sort of wrap-up a truly large weekend and maybe spur some interest in getting some comments going here.

Did you know the Rangers actually signed Vladimir Guerrero?

The Rangers have reached an agreement with free-agent outfielder Vladimir Guerrero on a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2011, according to club sources.

The deal and an official announcement are pending a physical and Texas is hoping that will be completed on Monday. The salary is expected to be between $5.5 and $6 million with a $1 million buyout if the Rangers don’t exercise their option. Guerrero can opt out of the second year, but does not get the buyout.

Texas went into the offseason looking for a right-handed bat that could be a presence in the middle of its lineup. Guerrero was at the top of its list and the deal was finally completed this weekend.

This is going to be an awesome signing. Of course, even if he doesn’t do squat on offense, at least he won’t be part of the Angels killing the Rangers as he has always done in the past.

And I guess you heard what happened in Lubbock?  Tommy Tuberville is the new coach at Texas Tech. Good luck trying to repair a split Red Raider Nation.

And don’t look now, but the Dallas Cowboys are probably the hottest team in the league right now. I’m watching the Packers get burned in their game so yeah, I’m liking the Cowboys’ chances for a Super Bowl run. 

Dallas hasn’t trailed during its four-game surge and hasn’t been tied other than 0-0. The Cowboys are doing it with the basic formula for playoff success: a solid quarterback and a stingy defense.

Dallas has given up only 31 points the last 16 quarters, just four touchdowns in four games. And three of those games were against New Orleans and Philadelphia, the teams that scored the most and fifth-most points in the NFL this season. The Eagles had just 18 snaps in the decisive first half Saturday night, and they finished 2 of 11 on third downs.

So now it’s on to Minnesota. Meanwhile, enjoy some moves from LT. I think the term is Bustin a move. Thanks for reading the blog.

Big News. Hicks accepts Greenberg’s bid to buy Rangers

Not so fast!

Nolan Ryan isn’t going anywhere.

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.

Sources: Hicks accepts Greenberg’s bid to buy Rangers (Star Telegram)

Hicks picks Greenberg-Ryan bid for control of Texas Rangers (DMN)

The Dallas sports scene is in shambles

Never before has the sports scene in Dallas been so much in shambles. Believe me when I say, there are plenty of sports fans in north Texas, and other various points around the world, disappointed in some way with the various Dallas teams, none the least of which are the Dallas Cowboys. Let me try and explain why. The Cowboys are in a week of adjustment. They lost another game to the NY Giants. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m tired of the over-blown yankees beating the Cowboys when in fact, they can’t beat anyone else. Seriously, what does that say about the Cowboys?

MLB needs to repo the Rangers

It’s no secret Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks is trying to sell the Rangers. I understand times are tough for everyone in this economy. But Hicks’ exit strategy is becoming insane and I believe it’s time for Major League Baseball to step in and take control here. The team has no money. Players are leaving the Rangers as if the entire city of Arlington has the plague.

Marlon Byrd is gone. So is Pudge Rodriguez, Omar Visquel, and they are shopping Kevin Millwood. The 2010 Rangers won’t be quite the same as the 2009 version that did pretty well with the exception of perhaps one more solid pitcher and hitter.

Wow, what a week it was for sports

It’s Sunday evening, and most everyone is reflecting on the weekend and thinking about the work week coming up. But I am so dissatisfied with this week’s sports results, I’m dwelling on some heavy thoughts. Like what you ask? Well, let’s run through the list shall we?

For my friend Willie at work who is a big De Soto high school fan.

You would think if your team is leading 28-7 with 3:00 left in the 1st quarter, that you would pretty much think you had that game right? Nooo, not in this series. Cedar Hill has made miraculous come backs before and this game would be no exception. It was sickening to see Cedar Hill come back and tie the score, and I knew then that Cedar Hill was going to win, like most everyone else in North America, that was watching the game on ESPN.

The unlikely hero for Cedar Hill was senior Mason Hayes, who rushed 20 times for 140 yards in place of star running back Ben Malena, a Texas A&M commitment who injured his ankle in the first quarter. Malena said after the game that it was only a sprain and he would be back in a week or two.

DeSoto quarterback Ryan Polite also broke off several long runs early, and his receivers got wide open against a shaky Cedar Hill secondary. But the second quarter belonged to Cedar Hill. Hayes scored on a 29-yard run to cut DeSoto’s lead to 28-14, and when Cedar Hill scored on its opening possession of the second half, its 27 straight points had given the Longhorns their first lead at 34-28. It was just sickening. If you are a De Soto fan.

 

Post-Game Show: Red Sox 8, Rangers 4

From D Magazine

 

Story Of The Game
A strike away from taking the lead in the AL Wild Card race, the Rangers watched as RHP Frank Francisco suffered a meltdown that had been unprecedented in his tenure as the club’s closer. Francisco, who resumed closing only last week, was handed a 4-2 lead going to the ninth. It was the first time he’s been asked to convert saves on consecutive days since April 27-28. Francisco, who has spent three stints on the DL this season with arm and respiratory issues, simply wasn’t up to the task.

Pitching mostly in the 90-92 mph range, Francisco allowed a leadoff double to David Ortiz. Slow-footed Jason Varitek was able to beat out a slow ground ball for an infield single. Jacoby Ellsbury lined a single up the middle to draw Boston within a run. After Francisco struck out Chris Woodward, the game got really intense. Dustin Pedroia drove a ball off the left field wall that a leaping LF David Murphy couldn’t quite reach. But he somehow fielded the ball on one bounce off the wall and fired towards home. 3B Michael Young cut it off and threw home to nail pinch runner Clay Buchholz for the second out. But with two on and two-out, 1B Victor Martinez fought off one two-strike pitch after another before doubling home the go-ahead runs with a double to right. Francisco also allowed a run-scoring single to Jason Bay and a two-run homer to J.D. Drew before being removed. It’s the first time in his career he had ever allowed more than four hits in an inning.

Rangers’ Neftali Feliz, Latest Prize From Teixeira Trade, Arrives to the Show

From FanHouse

OAKLAND — To the Rangers, the Mark Teixeira trade is the gift that keeps on giving. They unwrapped another of their presents on Monday night, while most of the country was sleeping.

All Neftali Feliz did was strike out the first four batters he faced in the majors, the first pitcher to do that since 1962, on his way to two perfect innings.

Before the A’s and Rangers played the second game of the series on Tuesday night, they were still shaking their heads in the Oakland clubhouse about the 21-year-old with the 100 mph fastball.