Testing 123

Is this Thing still working? If it is, then watch this space- I'm going to start writing again.

February 16, 2011: New Year's (Season) Day

Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today!
We're born again, there's new grass on the field." -- John Fogerty

Happy Pitchers and Catchers Day everyone!



Look at me I could be Centerfield -- Marla Hooch
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Like It Or Not....

In order to sign and keep free agents you have to overpay them and keep them longer than the stat heads at BP and BBTIA pronounce is necessary. Like it or not: that’s the way it works.

If you treat players like baseball cards, as seems to be the mentality of the loudest shrieks we are reading on the ‘net today, instead of human beings – your team significantly decreases their opportunities to sign (or keep potential) free agents. Like it or not: that’s the way it works.

With the precedent the Rangers are setting with Michael Young, then they might as well change their name to the Arlington A’s since they are adopting the same mentality of the Oakland A’s – (watch out Adrian Beltre, Josh Hamilton, and CJ). Except that the Rangers farm system just isn’t that strong anymore, and their track record of developing starting pitching is spotty - on a good day- and average to poor most of the time. Like it or not: that's the way it looks like the Rangers are headed.

What should have been an off-season and Spring Training basking in the glory of 2010 has turned in a mess and revealed the Rangers to be stuck in the same treadmill of stupidity and futility I thought they’d abandoned. Like it or not: that’s the way it is.

Like or not: you've pretty much lost me this time JD and Nolan -- Marla Hooch

First Blog Entry Of The New Year

Trust me, any other year a free agent pitcher signing with another team, and a trade not involving the Rangers is not a big story. 

The thought that keeps popping up in my mind is: this is (basically) the same team the Rangers started out with last season and were already winning the division when they acquired Cliff Lee.  That's a pretty good team already in place (although I'm one of those who is not in favor of bringing back Vlad).  Are the other teams in the AL West better?  Well, the verdict is out on the Angels (if they get Beltre - maybe).  The Mariners aren't,  the A's - that's the team I worry about the most - their pitching is very good, their offense has been the question - is Matsui going to be a difference maker?

It's the last day of the Holiday Season in my book, the "Boring Season" (that long stretch before Spring Training starts) begins tomorrow - there will be plenty of time to ruminate about the 2011 season, that's something I plan on doing. 

But for now, I have that same feeling I did in grade school on that last day of Christmas vacation - I've got to make the most of it - because the real world I live in 330 days out of the year rises with the sun tomorrow morning.

Happy New Year to all - and let's start worrying about the Rangers....tomorrow -- Marla Hooch

To All My Baseball Friends....

May Peace and Plenty be the first to lift the latch on your door.

And Happiness be guided to your home

By the candle of Christmas

-- an Irish Christmas toast

-- Marla Hooch

In The Words of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards....

"You can't always get what you want

But sometimes you find

You get what you need"

Good luck in Philly Cliff,  thanks for taking the Rangers to Series and so glad you didn't sign with the Yankees.

Now it's time to move on.

I hope Plan B is better than Garza or Greinke - definitely not interested in Matt Garza and not so much in  Zach Grienke either.

-- Marla Hooch

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanks to my small but loyal audience for reading this blog, thanks to my baseball friends who make my day every day, thanks to my family for... everything and thanks to the Rangers for the best year of my baseball life.

-- Marla Hooch

P.S. I'll be back in December (which is only few days away) with more baseball ramblings.  Meanwhile - here is one of my favorite Thanksgiving memories: