Tom Strange

Wuttup Beaches?

Great... Padilla has tested positive for H1N1 (swine flu)...

man... I've been "away" too long... at first I wondered if I was in the right place (from the looks of things) but then I saw you guys and knew it was OK... IMO BoSox don't need to waste all their young talent on Halliday... I don't really know of anyone who should. The Sox have all of the pitching they're going to need. If the Jays want to move him they should just take some cash... the fans around here (for the most part) don't want to do a deal that would cost that many youngsters, especially if there's little chance of him staying after next year... and we've got all of the "spare" parts that they want... Starman... I know you can't be feeling too great right now (last out just happened) but do you see what I'm talking about with the stRangers? Even when they forgot how to hit in June they're a real pleasure to watch... fun even! And if you were expecting the same looking team as last year... weren't you pleasantly surprised? Last night was probably the best game, in all facets, they've played all year... and they sure picked the right time to do it... even with everyone having the flu... How do you get to the next page here? very neat stuff about Strasburg hiway... very cool... I like to learn about stuff like that...

welcome tagalong! (he says wondering if he's in the right place... did someone paint the joint?) what's happened to my stRangers? ...ever since they won that series in Boston they've forgotten how to hit ...we're keeping our fingers crossed hoping that getting Josh back in the lineup will help them snap out of it ...but people all over are starting to wonder if

Eck must be a gas to listen to... they played a little of the BoSox audio when the stRangers were there... we have Tom Grieve as our color guy and he's so laid back and insightful.. everyone loves him... he brings several levels of knowledge to the booth, he was a player here when they moved from D.C. and then he went on to be the GM as well... I gotta tell you (this may sound sappy) but last year's team comraderie has carried over... I know they're not the Sox or the Angels or the Yankees but I can't help but love this team and cheer for them... they are so happy for each other, they seem to genuinely care so much about each other... the older guys always playing the big brother and helping the younger guys... there's no jealousy among them... they only care for each other. At least it seems that way... Tonight Pudge set the record by passing the original Pudge for games caught and he did it here, Visquel tied the record for most MLB hits by a Dominican... Visquel has been great... he's always working with Kinsler and Andrus on little things... Of course they were very happy tonight winning in the bottom of the 10th... their happiness for each other is contagious. It's June and we're still not out of it... life's good.

great pic Chas... don't forget to take them to the Minor League games this year as much as possible! Starman! Guess who has homered in four straight games for the Rays??? ...that's right ...GABE!!!

Starman, what did you think of this year's stRangers? Lester pitched a heck of a game... didn't get to see Sunday's game but it's the first series we've won there in 12 freakin' years... bad news today though... Josh is gonna have to have surgery and will miss 6 to 8 weeks... but the kids have been doing pretty good this year... we're still happy... heck, it's June and we're not out of it!

yeah... Torii good... berry berry good...

very cool hiway... very cool...

I think we saw a bright part of our future tonigh (fingers crossed), a 19 year old lefty named Derrick Holland. He went 5 2/3 tonight which gives him (I think) 13 big league innings... it was his first start and he took a shutout into the 6th, got two quick outs and then a couple of singles and he got a slider up to Berkman and you know what that means... all in all though very promising young kid... I know we have our running commentaries about Kinsler and Pedroia and how good they each are but I'm telling you this Elvis Andrus kid does not disappoint... three highlight reel plays tonight at short, something he's doing with regularity... and he's carrying a pretty good bat as well (4 hit night)... you can see some of his plays here enjoy some good glove work (including a triple play)... yep... we're still hopeful here... in spite of the freakin' Tigers!

Yes... hope springs eternal every Spring in Arlington and this year is no different except the attitude from the top of the organization has changed. Hicks is still despised but seems to have stepped back and turned everything over to El Presidente Ryan and his conqueror mentality... and it's been aimed directly at the pitching staff. They have a whole new mentality. It's been said often around here that the stRangers key off season acquisition was not a player but pitching coach Mike Maddox... so far he (and the Ryan mindset) have shown their influence and things are going well. I think they lead MLB (for May) in BA, ERA and fielding percentage (or at least are among the leaders)... and now Josh is back. I know there's a difference between warm up pitches and live game hiway, but Lackey's a seasoned pro... the whole thing doesn't make sense but is an umpire supposed to ignore that the first pitch was behind Kinsler and the second hit him in the ribs? Who misses Manny more? the Dodgers or Ortiz?

well... Lackey got tossed after two pitches today. The first on was behind Kinsler, the second got him in the ribs. The ump almost tore a rotater cuff throwing him out. I think it was really just a case of Lackey just coming off the DL but another part of me wonders... he didn't have any trouble in warm ups... both of the umps behind home plate this series have really been squeezing the pitchers (of both teams), it's like they want to see the ball being hit... so we're up to six in a row and something like 12 out of the last 14... El Presidente's influence is showing, the starters are going deeper into the game, the bullpen is not so taxed, pitchers are pitching with purpose... it's like a fantasy dream and we're all hoping we don't wake up... The move of Young to third has worked out quite well... Andrus and Kinsler up the middle have amazing range and provide ridiculous plays at least once or twice a game. Of course, it's still early but I know that you all understand that stRanger fans must rejoice while they still have a chance!

good for you Robin... did he respond?

happening day starman!

Pretty nice steal of home... he stole it on the catcher! It's on Youtube somewhere I'm sure if you haven't seen it... Can anyone tell that Padilla is in a contract year?

breaking news: the kids are alright (for now) sorry to be away for so long... just busy with stuff I think a lot of folks around here are 'waiting' to see what's up with these guys this year... there's been so much invested emotionally over the years only to be let down again, but things (and by that I mean 'pitching') are looking up this year... so far... hoping to see if el Presidente's off season plan and approach to the game pay off... we're on a good streak right now... the new kid at SS, Andrus, has been very nice but we miss Josh's bat... they are a TEAM though and they act and play like it. As for the NYY and their salaried group... well, if they've got the money go for it... but personally, from what I saw here, with A-Rod and Tex in 'the room' I don't think they'll ever be a TEAM... I could be wrong and it sounds like right field at the new yankee stadium was made for Tex. As for this place sounding like 'the nation's' home page... nah... not to me anyway, I've always seen this as a place where we can all talk BB and it just happens that starman and Bol are pretty active... (although I hardly think that the Jays being on top, when they were, is upside down!) Anyway, for now they can answer the phone in Arlington with "first place Texas Rangers" (and they do!) ...gotta enjoy it while you can! As for Manny... heard Canseco on the radio last night and he said Manny was taking it because his balls were shrinking from roids... of course, you wonder "how would he know?" ...but then I ask you "has Canseco been wrong yet?" ...sadly, not often. I'll try to check in more often... take care... go see a game, any game...

...still in first place! ...we're all excited that we're still in the race at this stage of the season! BTW... a local Honda dealer did a promo from March 1-15 that if the stRangers started 4-0 and the NYY started 0-4 your car was free! ...some folks are halfway there!

why yes they are! ...a fine debut for Young at third and (starman?) a solo shot for Salty... a 9-1 win!

well... hope springs eternal here in stRangerville! we're in first place! this year everyone is more psyched than usual especially after their "most successful spring ever"... who knows what correlation there really is but we'll take what we can get. we've talked ourselves into thinking that if we can avoid another slow start then we can contend for the alwest... Oakland too young, Angels lost K-rod, Tex and a pitcher... who knows? time begins today here!! one thing most of the pundits agree on though is (for us to have a chance of contending) that we'll finish the season with one less catcher than we started (duh!).. that we're probably in as good a shape as anyone with the farm talent we can throw with it... we'll see, most are still stoked because El Presidente has been pushing the right buttons (at least it seems that way)... starman: besides Salty and Teagarden, Ramirez is pretty much ready as well Probably wrote the same thing last year, the year before, etc didn't I? ...oh well, I'd settle for them not being out of it by the end of the month! :) There are three minor league teams here now and I live pretty much equi-distant to all of them! bonus! good luck to all! (except when you play us!)

hey WG... my sainted mother gave me an old box of photos the other day and guess who I saw in there? ...there were a bunch of pics of your old WOW branch.

mah peeple! tis less than a week away! in the meantime, Frankie Catalonato and Andruw Jones battle it out for the last roster spot on the stRangers... :( ...but we still believe in El Presidente's plan! ...and we're still in FIRST PLACE!

I see it on the news here of course... but have never really had anything other than good experiences when traveling south of the border... when I see the reports on TV I almost always think "gee... they're a lot like us over here on this side of the border..." ...but I still won't get into a green beetle taxi!

oops! I'm late! happening day!

a belated "happening day" to you!

The second airing of MLB Network’s “Josh Hamilton: Resurrecting the Dream” documentary will be at noon (Central) this Wednesday. Go set your DVR, then watch and enjoy. I know I am.