Part-time Left Fielder for sale

Sunday, April 8, 2007

Posted by Monte Walker at 11:54 PM

I desperately need to trade my part-time left handed left fielder Brad Wilkerson.  I’ve only been able to use him sparingly due to his inability to be fully healthy last summer.  I did have him repaired this past winter, however.  I’m looking for only a top-dollar offer since I got him by trading the best hitting 2nd baseman in baseball for him.  I got him to be a leadoff hitter who could play centerfield.  He doesn’t show signs of ever being able to do either.  You must know going in that his teams usually finish near the bottom of the league.  He strikes out way too much and his power numbers aren’t nearly what I had anticipated.  I’m willing to work with you since I have a young power-hitter named Nelson Cruz that needs valuable playing time.  I also have a steady left-handed hitting left fielder named Catalanatto that hits .300 like clockwork that needs to play everyday.  Don’t let this steal pass you by.  By the way, he can’t steal much either.

Send all bids to J.D.

There’s nothing like Opening Day at The Temple

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Posted by Monte Walker at 4:30 PM

2007 Opening Day at The Ballpark will be the first that I’ve missed in nearly 20 years.  Don’t confuse that with my devout approach to any other year.  Yes, I have been sold and now am predicting the Rangers to win the west.  However, I think I’ve done that for about the past 20 years in a row mind you...I’ve been right 3 times...so my odds are as about as good as Brad Wilkerson getting a base-hit in April. 
Back to Ameriquest, er, The Ballpark, er, Rangers Ballpark or whatever their calling it now.  It will always be The Temple to me.  The first time I set foot inside the awesome structure was in January of ’93 before it puts it’s giant boxer/briefs on.  Just the concrete was up with a bunch of dirt in the field.   It was beautiful even then.  The first time I was actually there in a game setting was during an exhibition game vs. the Mets the weekend before it opened officially.  I’ll never forget walking in the 3rd base gate and approaching the seats and staring at me through the wide opening was the home run porch and while “Centerfield” by John Fogerty was playing, I remember thinking...this maybe the a moment I’ll never forget.  It was!  A couple of days later I watched the first game ever there and saw Dave Nielson drive a into the lower home run porch for the first HR.  I was hoping it would be the new Ranger Will Clark, but getting to witness that was special. 
I was even on TV in the ’96 opener when I nearly caught Craig Worthington’s HR off Roger Clemens to win the game.  ’97 was a memorable home opener only in retrospect because it would be my hero Mark Holtz’ last.  The most memorable home opener for me was probably in 2001.  I was in the locker room with the press pass and it was A-Rod’s first game with the Rangers at the ballpark.  It was an absolute madhouse...and by the way, Troy Aikman was throwing out the first pitch due to his recent retirement from the Cowboys.  The Rangers had an eagle fly in from centerfield that day and land on a man’s hand standing at the pitchers mound.  Later, in the press box I came face-to-face with that eagle and it was the most intimidated I’ve ever been.  That’s a mean looking bird that seems to stare deep into your soul. 
There’s just nothing like the first game at The Temple.  A full-house crowd, the first sounds of the cracking bat, the smells of hot dogs, sounds of the screaming vendors amongst Chuck Morgan’s voice coming down from the heavens announcing the starting lineups.  Even the Rangers are yet from being cellar-dwellers.  For one day a year, in a three-hour window everything is right with the world.  And if this year could have a similar ending to the ’96, ’98, and ’99 seasons, we’ll all be happy at the Temple on closing day!

New to the Rangers? Here’s a Quick History Lesson of Heartache

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Posted by Monte Walker at 7:29 PM

What’s that you say?  New to the area?  Love baseball?  Love heartaches?  If you follow this team closely, I hope you have your doctor on speed-dial (and I hope his name isn’t Medich or McLemore).
The Texas Rangers are far from feared or respected as the famed lawmen they were named for.  The Rangers were new to DFW by way of Washington D.C.  The Senators were terrible...and that has carried over for 35 years since (minus 3 great seasons).  The Ranger’s first major blunder came in 1973 when the owner tried to turn David Clyde, a young high school kid phenom into a sideshow and ruined him.  While Clyde didn’t have much of a career for the Rangers, the Rangers are probably still here because of him.  They never had a sellout or anything like it until he arrived.  He financially allowed the Rangers to stay in Arlington.  In 1974 the Rangers hired Billy Martin and he immediately changed these scrubs into winners...for one year anyway.  A trade that landed Ferguson Jenkins who won 25 games almost was enough to win the pennant that year.  After that things went south until about 1986 when Bobby Valentine took a bunch of kids and a rocking-chair knuckelballer into late September and danced with greatness.  Again that greatness lasted one year. 
In 1989 things changed for a bit.  George W. Bush gained majority ownership and Nolan Ryan was signed on December 8, 1988 and he put the Rangers officially on the U.S. map.  That year they also traded for a slap-hitting outfielder named Rafael Palmeiro and All-Star second baseman Juiio Franco.  Kevin Brown and Ruben Sierra were on the rise as a superstars and the farm system was setup for years to come with the likes of Juan Gonzalez, Ivan Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa (not to mention Dean Palmer and Kenny Rogers).  This was a team that could compete for many many years.  How do you ruin this?  Insert General Manager Tom Grieve and let him trade away Sammy Sosa that year for Harold Baines.  Just after the ’94 season, Palmeiro was gone via free agency...Sierra had been traded with Bobby Witt and Jeff Russell for Jose Canseco while Kevin Brown left for greener pastures and Nolan Ryan was retired.  Finally after 1994, the Rangers fired Tom Grieve. 
The Rangers would have to start over in ’95 with the few good young player they had left:  Gonzalez, Rodriguez, and Palmer.  Owners George W. Bush, and Rusty Rose let President Tom Sheiffer run the team for a moment after 1994.  He hired Doug Melvin as GM and Johnny Oates was brought in as manager.  Their first move was to trade Jose Canseco for Otis Nixon.  At the time, we were terribly upset for the return we received for such a superstar slugger.  Well, after that 1995 season all Otis Nixon did was hit .290 and steal over 50 bases and had the Rangers in contention until late season injuries folded them.  The very next season the Rangers won the pennant for the first time in franchise history.  They won it again in 1998 and ’99.  Hicks takes over during the middle of the last run and decides to stay out of the way of Doug Melvin who had been incredibly successful as the G.M.  In walks A-Rod and Hick’s immediately has a man crush.  He was prepared to sign him no matter what it cost.  As we all know it cost him $252 million, but more importantly it cost him his GM Doug Melvin.  Melvin had just drained the team and was preparing for a youth movement by trading Juan Gonzalez for a bunch of your promising kids.  Needless to say, Melvin was not on board with the A-Rod signing and he was shown the door.  Since that day, the franchise has never recovered.  The Rangers tanked in 2001 and Oates "resigned" in May of that year. John Hart was brought in as the GM and basically was a puppet for Hicks who let A-Rod run the show.  A-Rod demanded to bring back former stars such as Juan Gonzalez and Rafael Palmeiro.  While that was great...they lacked two major facets of the game in which you must have to succeed....pitching and defense.  They blamed the downfall on Jerry Narron (who replaced Oates) and fired him in favor of Buck Showalter.  Nothing changed under Showalter except puffy ERA’s and loss columns. 
The first step in Tom Hicks finally grasping this game came last year when he hired the kid John Daniels as GM.  After one year at the helm, Daniels now has his manager and pitching and defense are now appropriately placed atop the chart of importance.  Now, I’m not saying that the Rangers are going to win the west or even be major competitors this year (while I really think they can be).  It is refreshing to know that they are finally under the correct direction of a winning mindset of baseball philosophy.
If you’re new to McKinney from another state and you’re a die-hard baseball fan like myself, chances are you have another team that you’re faithful to.  That’s perfectly normal - but if you desire to have a stroke by the time you’re 50, please - by all means, hop on this roller-coaster parked right next to Six Flags in Arlington.  I’ll be seated right next to you.

Son of a Bum! The Cowboys Have a New Coach

Thursday, February 8, 2007

Posted by Monte Walker at 07:57 AM

Afer all of that-it’s Wade Phillips?  That’s what most people will cry around here.  I personally think that Phillips will be great for this defense.  Brady James might even be able to learn how to cover a fullback out of the backfield under Phillips.  However, what happens with the offense?  Is Jason Garrett ready after being a coach in this league for two years?  That scares me.  And most of you reading this will at some point in the fall say, "Norv Turner should have gotten the job."  The San Francisco 49ers are the happiest organization in the league right now.  Frank Gore might have just torn his hamstring doing a backflip because his offensive coordinator is apparently headed back to the bay.
I’m happy on one side of the ball, but a little worried how Terrell Owens gets along with a rookie O.C.  I think it can work, but I hope Garrett can learn quickly on the job or this will be a complete failure.  It sure would be tough losing 14-10 eight times.  Tony Romo will now have to step up and be the face of the offense and the leader on the field.  No longer will he be given the luxury of a free pass since he’s a rookie quarterback.  Dallas fans expect big offensive numbers and more importantly wins.  We’re continually looking for the next Roger and Troy (I’d settle for a replica of Danny White though).
One thing is for sure.  Jerry Jones has learned some valuable lessons and it’s is VERY apparent now.  The old Jerry would have hired Norv Turner immediately and went looking for Dave Wandstedt, Butch Davis, Dave Campo and the famous Coach Joe.  Jones no longer is a pack-rat sentimental owner.  Today shows that he wants to take advantage of all of the defensive players that he’s drafted and spent so much money on in the past few years.
The good:  48-39 as head coach in the NFL,
The bad:  0-3 in the playoffs.
The ’Boys may or may not have made the right choice on the new head coach, but one thing’s for sure...his dear ol’ dad will make Cowboy hats and boots popular again at Texas Stadium

Starkist Tuna off the Shelf

Friday, January 26, 2007

Posted by Monte Walker at 01:29 AM

Look out!  Jerry’s in charge again!  Hide the college draft prep films and cut off his Cingular connection to the sidelines.  Jerry is his own worst enemy.  Although the last four years of the Tuna administration has not been as successful in the win column that we had hoped, time will tell whether or not it did some good for the hands-on owner.  WIth Monday’s announcement of Parcells resignation, the jocks and socks once again were in a pouty mood because they know who’s looming back to the equipment room.  It is a good sign that Parcells was around for the Jason Garrett interview and that speaks volumes about Jones’ maturity as an owner.  Before, he would have washed his hands of that era and have taken complete reign.  That’s good news for Cowboys fans as it seems he has learned lessons over the past four years.
With the hire of Jason Garrett (with the blessing of Parcells) means that Jerry can’t disattach himself from the past.  That can be a good thing, however.  Garrett has been groomed to be a coach in this league even while wearing the #17.  It would be a major risk to have him as the head coach, however.  I think Garrett as the offensive coordinator is a step in the right direction.
The head coaching options remaign with Wade Phillips, Norv Turner, and Garry Gibbs (and if all else fails, Garrett).  While Phillips has had success at almost every stop, he seems to be the outsider in my opinion only because Jerry likes dealing with the people he is comfortable with and trusts.
Phillips is not the sexy pick by any means, but he is no doubt the right person for the job if you’re looking to improve Roy Williams, Brady James and ignite other young players on the defense.  With Garrett in place it makes perfect sense because you have a plan on both sides of the ball.  I think he’s a good  fit, but I also think others are a better fit.  He’s 60 and Jerry would have to go through this same situation in a few years.
Turner IS Dallas’ sexy pick.  Like Jones, fans are sentimental and long for the glory days.  I’m a little skeptical because people give credit to Turner for turning Troy Aikman into a Hall of Fame quarterback.  I, however, say that Aikman was pretty good before he ever met Norv Turner.  Whatever happened to Heath Shuler?  I don’t think Turner would be a bad choice as head coach, but I’d tap the brakes on a quick return to the Super Bowl that people will be expecting in 2007.  Plus, what happens on defense?  I like this move if:  Dave Campo can come back as defensive coordinator.
Garry Gibbs is the public’s longshot but I personally think this is your pick.  Gibbs is a winner.  PERIOD.  He was an oustanding linebacker at Oklahoma who lost only once while he was there.  He took over for Barry Switzer at OU and went 44-23-2 including three bowl games.  He was LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2001 under Nick Sabin and the Cowboys linebackers coach from ’02-’04.  While the Cowboys didn’t have great success in the win column during those years, you can’t blame to defense.  And the latest accomplishment from Gibbs was the outbreak season of the New Orleans Saints who marched to the NFC Championship game with spare parts on defense while he was the defensive coordinator.  With Garrett in place, this is your move Jerry.  You have a relationship with him.  You trust him.  You didn’t want him to leave last year.  And you have a chance for Brady James to be the player he was while Gibbs was here.
Garrett is your man if all else fails.  I personally don’t think that you can’t land one of the other three.  But this is the Cowboys and I’ve seen stranger.  If Garrett is your man, he’s your man for a long long long time.  He’s an inteligent individual who has a family relationship with the Cowboys and he’s young enough to embrace the youth of this league.  The national media will call him a puppet for Jerry (and there may be some truth to that), but I believe he could get the job done.

Cowboys Fans: Don’t Worry - There’s a Better Team in Town

Thursday, January 4, 2007

Posted by Monte Walker at 1:09 PM

As much fun as this Cowboys’ season has been, I’m glad it’s over...well, almost over.  Yeah, yeah, the Seahawks backed into the playoffs too.  Yeah yeah, they’re cornerbacks are injured.  I don’t see how my beloved Cowboys can pull this one out.  Of course, nothing this year has been predictable though.  When the season started, this team has Super Bowl on it’s mind.  Drew Bledsoe was going to take them there with the young stud-laden defense.  Whoops!  Okay, the Bledsoe change was for the better, but the defense stinks!  And don’t blame Roy Williams for every TD that he’s chasing down.  The inside linebackers are complete disasters at pass coverage.  As good as Ayodele and James are at stopping the run...they’re just as good at turning mediocre tight ends into Tony Gonzalez and fullbacks into Jerry Rice.  

My prediction for Saturday night:  Seahawks 39, Cowboys 21.  I hope I’m wrong!  I’m just glad we’re not playing the Giants at home...we might not have even scored.

Enough of the Cowboys (which is exactly what Sunday brings) and on with the Mavs!  They are probably the best team in the metroplex since the 1993 Cowboys (excluding that sport with ice and branches).  The Mavericks did such a great job last year of extending their season, that many so-called Rangers fans didn’t have to suffer without a contender but for 6 weeks until Cowboys training camp.  I was a monster Mavs fan in the 80’s.  I loved watching Harper, Blackmon, Aguirre, Donaldson and Tarpley.  I’ll also admit that somewhere after Jason, Jimmy, and Jamal...they lost me.  I’m usually good at staying a big fan through thick and thin because my first team IS the Rangers after all.  But even the Rangers have been competitive nearly every year for 20 years now.  The 90’s were a complete disaster for the Mavs but those days are gone.  Dallas is a winners town.  Simply put...if you win...you’re in (the wallets that is).  If the Cowboys are serious Super Bowl contenders in this playoff run, Dallas’ economy will thrive because of it.  If the Mavs start a Cowboy-like tradition of playoff runs every year, then they can have even more of an impact economically.  If the Rangers win enough games.........well, that’s enough of that.  

So on Sunday morning when you wake up and wipe those Cowboys tears away, just remember.  There’s is a better local team on the back page.