The Newberg Report Book Release Party - 2008

Just a few thoughts from last night's absolutely tremendous event at Sherlock's in Arlington:

It's a good sign from the organization that they have players who do care about the fans - this was not a Ranger "sanctioned" event - all of the players who came out last night did so because they wanted to - no other reason, including alumni Jeff Zimmerman who must have a soft spot in heart for the NMLR because he flew in from Canada to attend last night – Jeff is still one of the nicest, most humble and gracious players I’ve ever met. Taylor Teagarden is always a class act. Last night was the first time I met Derek Holland – he’s quite a character – and I mean that in good way. Chris Davis is the new mainstay of the Newberg events, great with the fans and always provides a highlight worthy answer during the Q&A. By the way – if the baseball thing doesn’t work out- Holland and Davis might be able to carve out a career as a comedy team. What can I say about Michael and Cristina Young? I get very frustrated reading Ranger bloggers and national pundits who only look at age and stats when talking about Michael Young. If baseball were just a game of numbers it would be played on a computer – but thank God it isn’t, it’s played by terrific guys like Michael Young – who add so much more on and off the field that it can’t be counted by any stat head’s numbers.

And speaking of those fans - I hope Ranger management is aware that they have a very loyal and appreciative fan base in spite of the rough road we've traveled since 1999. I know those of us who work with Jamey on the Newberg report truly appreciate all of your support and we are humbled by it. We are very glad that we're able to host events like this for Ranger fans.

A special personal thanks to Baseball Mom and Mrs. Schmenge who helped out the book table with me (I’ll have Mrs. Schmenge’s pictures online – soon!) and to Mike and Grant Schiller who also helped out at the book table – they are truly team players . As always - thanks to Jamey for letting me ride along - it's been a great 10 years!

The book release party is always a good finish to the season - and this was one of better finishes to an encouraging season across the entire organization. Let me close with one of those tired cliche's, after last night I keep thinking: "the future's so bright I gotta wear shades"

116 days until Opening Day -- Marla Hooch

Finally! Something To Write About

Since the end of the World Series there’s been nothing “hot stove” about this Rangers off-season, it’s been the “big snore” off-season. Sorry, but I just can’t get excited about coaching changes – as I wrote on the Monday Morning Manager – a pitching coach is only as good as the pitchers he’s given to work with. It will be interesting to see if Mike Maddux is a miracle worker or if coaching one of the worst pitching staffs in baseball will simply tarnish his reputation. As a Ranger fan I’m sad to see both Rick Adair and John Wetteland leave the organization – I wish them well in the Pacific Northwest (in spite of the Mariners, Seattle is one of my favorite cities).

I didn’t read about the Gerald Laird trade until this morning. My immediate thought is: there’s a fine line between trading to build for the future and dumping salary for younger cheaper minor league players. I can’t comment on Moscoso’s potential. I am simply reminded that all of Jon Daniel’s off season trades for pitching, so far, have been unmitigated disasters – let’s hope this one turns that around.

Other Matters:

Penny wise, pound foolish: It seems that Rangers ownership has become enamored of the Tampa Bay economic model – the difference is that Tampa Bay drafted and traded for talent players who succeeded not the Drew Myer and Brandon McCarthy types. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t subscribe to the Galloway/Colinshaw theory of throwing money at free agents. However, there is a difference between spending wisely and turning into a miserly Calvin Griffith/Ebenezer Scrooge type organization. It looks like Mr. Hicks is tending towards the latter, which is not good news if fans hope to see players like Josh Hamilton on this team past their arbitration eligible years. We’ll see….

Where is Lee Iacocca when you need him? I grew up just south of Detroit – the joke in my hometown was when Detroit sneezes Toledo catches cold. I am appalled at the arrogance of both the executives and UAW approach to the auto industry’s plight, and frankly I have little sympathy for either. I’m just glad that the auto executives took Scott Simon’s advice on how they should approach Congress the second time they went to Washington to ask for a handout.

Circle Me Bert: It is encouraging to know that baseball fans are so passionate about their Hall of Fame – judging from the responses TR Sullivan received on his excellent HOF blog entry on Postcards From Elysian fields – he’d better be careful walking the streets of Minneapolis this season

Finally: from Frank Deford on the fans of the World Series champions: “If Red Sox fans are a nation and Cubs fans a support group, then Phillies fans are a pandemic”

See you Wednesday at the Newberg Report Book Release Party at Sherlock’s in Arlington – Marla Hooch

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Thanks to Philo Farnsworth I Have Something To Do In The Offseason

"I hopped into town for a sattelite dish

I tied it to the top of my Japanese car
I came home and I pointed it out into the stars
A message came back from the great beyond
There's fifty-seven channels and nothin' on”

-- Bruce Springsteen

Planning my nights by the TV Guide: You can’t get away from “Law and Order ". I am firmly convinced that some channel some where is showing one of the many branches of the "Law and Order" shows at every hour of every day of every week. Speaking of that franchise: Did anyone see the final episode of this season’s "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"? I wasn’t a big CI fan at first– but it grew on me – like a fungus. Vincent D’Onofrio as Detective Robert Goren is one of the more mesmerizing characters on television – sometimes he makes me very uncomfortable – but it’s like a train wreck, you can’t help yourself, you just keep looking. Adding Jeff Goldblum (starting Nov 7th) is a good choice. I loved his short-lived “Raines” series… Two of my favorite shows have returned in fine form: “Chuck” on NBC – I’m glad they’ve added more of the subplots with off-beat supporting characters at the “Buy More” … and of course "Friday Night Lights” is already playing on channel 101 on Direct TV – with no commercials (there is a satellite tv god!) This show has excellent writing and acting as always – however, they’ve handled the departures of a couple of the main characters in two different and rather jarring ways. Brian "Smash" Williams(played by Gauis Charles who I believe is doing a Broadway play) is still on the show. It is obvious he is going to be leaving by the 3rd or 4th episode. While Scott Porter as the paralyzed quarterback Jason Street is nowhere to be found and barely mentioned by any of the other characters. Strange - since his storyline was the most compelling of the first season…I’ve tried out several of the new shows this season – and didn’t like any of them, save one – and it’s a good one: “Life On Mars” on ABC. I know, I know - I’m stuck in the ‘70’s (that decade was very, very good to me) no doubt that is part of the appeal. However, any show featuring Harvey Keitel as a hard living New York Policeman and Mike Imperioli with an outrageous mustache is worth watching (and yes kids, I knew plenty of young men with those sideburns and ‘stache at the fraternities at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland).

Back to baseball: As I wrote on the barren Postcards From Elysian Fields – when considering pitching coaches let us keep in mind that Rick Peterson was a genius in Oakland (with Zito, Hudson, Mulder and Haren on his staff) while in New York (with an aging and injured Glavine, Hernandez and Martinez) – not nearly so smart. Managers and coaches are only as good as the players they are given to work with - nobody should dare to put McCarthy, Hurley and Gabbard in the same stratosphere as the staff Peterson worked with in Oakland… By the way, does anyone miss the Monday Morning Manager as much as I do?...I was wrong about the Dodgers – that has not even nicked my self-esteem. I’m really glad I was wrong about the Rays - I’m pulling for them to win it all. I’ve always liked Carlos Pena. I talked to him a couple of times while he was in OKC – nice kid – I’m wishing him all the best...Looking forward to reading Mike Hindman's Prospect Previews on the DMN Blog. He started this week with RHP-Starters - here is the link to the first entry and here is the link to the second entry... I'm very jealous of Evan Grant - Italy is one of the two trips I am determined to make before my time is up (the other is Poland - it's a "roots" thing).

Old #39 on the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters: (that’s Jason Botts to you) is somewhere none of his former ’08 Rangers teammates are this October: he’s on a playoff team. Jason hit an important 2-run homer in a game that put the Fighters in the second round of the playoffs. Just so you know: Jason has hit .348 since September 1st

Finally: As much as I love baseball, I actually do have a life beyond reading boxscores and worrying about A Ball pitcher’s ERAs. One of the benefits of moving off MLBlogs is that I'm not obligated to only write about baseball – especially in the off-season. I probably won’t be blogging every week, and sometimes I might not even mention baseball!

“If you read a lot of books you are considered well read. But if you watch a lot of TV, you're not considered well viewed.” – Lily Tomlin

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Oh Look - She's Actually Written Something

Yesterday upon the stair
I saw a man who wasn't there
He wasn't there again today
I wish to heck he'd go away

-- Unknown (traditional)


Last week I was sick, a valid excuse for not writing. This week, unfortunately, I've just run out ideas - of course that's never stopped me in the past.

Go West Young Man: It appears that everyone, except me, has made an appearance at the Fall Instructional League in Arizona - Jamey Newberg, DMN's Evan Grant and the Startlegram's Jeff Wilson. I really liked Jason Parks' write up on the MVN site about his trip to Surprise.

Pick 'em: The ALCS - while I'd absolutely love it if the Rays won (just to prove that big payrolls aren't the only way into the WS) . I think the Red Sox are the AL team in the World Series and I hope the Rays make them work hard for it. Meanwhile, the Dodgers are this year's "Cinderella/Rockies" - they weren't that good of a team during majority of the season, but they are on a roll now - that will take them to the World Series.

Anything Else?: Hmmmm, let me think about it.... saw "Ghost Town" - will recommend it for one reason only - Ricky Gervais - and I was not a fan of the British version of "The Office"... forget Sarah Palin - if you want to read about some women who really made a difference in American political history please read "Founding Mothers" and "Ladies of Liberty" by Cokie Roberts, the venerable NPR and ABC News congressional correspondent...speaking of Palin- Conan O'Brien had the best line of the week about her: "In a recent speech, Sarah Palin referred to Afghanistan as `our neighboring country.' Then she promised to find Osama bin Laden in the mountains of Toronto"... did anyone cringe like I did when I read about these two birthdays being celebrated this week: Jackson Browne turned 60 and Chevy Chase is 65 and you're not (a joke only people of a certain era will understand).

Finally: I grew up in home with, shall we say, diverse muscial influences. Everything from polka music, to rock 'n roll and yes, even some folk music. I read that Nick Reynolds - an original member of the Kingston Trio passed away last week - and yes, I immediately remembered a few of their songs from my childhood. I don't know how my buddy Lisa feels about folk music, but this week's list is:

The Lisa Winston Music List:

Kingston Trio Songs That Marla Remembers and Still Knows All The Lyrics

1. En El Agua

2. MTA

3. Tom Dooley

4. Oh Sail Away

5. The Bay of Mexico

6. A Worried Man

7. With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm

8. The Gypsy Rover

Yes, I know the opening ryhme has nothing to do with baseball - I had to think of something to write! -- Marla Hooch

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Baseball Fever: I Caught It...Literally

On the DL: I have a headache, chills, a swollen left ankle and temperature of 102. The doctor says it is an infection and a sprained ankle. I say it's Ranger baseball withdrawl. Either way, I feel terrible, no blog this week - when we can agree on diagnosis - I'll be back - probably next week.

If you haven't been reading... T.R. Sullivan's 50 Most Memorable Plays in Rangers History - you really should - he finished up today with the top 2 plays - Ryan vs Ventura and Rusty Greer's catch that saved Kenny Rogers perfect game. Go back and read them all on Postcards From Elysian Fields

Prognostication: Hope the Twins win tonight. I'm picking the Red Sox and Rays for the ALCS - the Cubs and Phillies for the NLCS.

Still trying to figure this one out: Ron Washington and Matt Wallbeck didin't "gell"so JD is letting Ron pick his own third base coach. Of course Ron Washington insisted on obtaining Ben Broussard and then hitting him against lefties - said he was the secret weapon in the lineup - uh-huh. Additionally, Washington made the Rangers jump through some hoops to get Art Howe (since he'd already signed on as coach for an NL team) - and now he's been let go? Kind of makes me wonder about Ron's choices.

Praise the Lord and pass the anti-biotics and ginger ale -- Marla Hooch

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The Last 2008 Game Report: There’s No Place Like Home

Do you remember one of the last scenes in "Bull Durham" after Nuke’s been called up and Crash has been released: it’s rainy, Annie Savoy walks slowly back to her home. I felt like Annie looked on Wednesday afternoon as I walked by myself to the car after going to the last Ranger home game - except that the sun was shining, it was 90 degrees, it’s Texas, I don’t look even remotely as fabulous as Susan Sarandon and the only thing waiting for me at home was a porch full of leaves and an ornery cat – but you get the idea – it’s that melancholy mixture being tired after a long season, yet being frustrated because you know you won’t be seeing another baseball game at the Ballpark until April.

The game: There’s no need for me to recap the game (it was a good one). Here are the game reports from the Startlegram, DMN and Rangers website for the full description of the baseball side of the day.


The highlights away from the game: My Wednesday Rangers experience meant wishing some baseball pals a nice off-season: hugging my parking attendant – and reserving my spot for next year’s opener. I’ve parked in the same place (not a Ranger lot) for several years. Our parking attendant is a wonderful lady who always saves me a “good” spot when she knows I’m coming out to the game. Stopping by to talk with the lovely Anna – the attendant who is the keeper of the gate by the stairs, and Vic the usher by the Gold Club (who is retiring from the usher business and is going to be a regular fan in the stands like rest of us). Finally taking my seat in Section 13 where Scott has been the usher in that section forever, or at least since the Ballpark opened. I enjoyed a dollar hot dog, the dot race, and loved it when Ron Washington had Marlon Byrd, Gerald Laird, Hank Blalock, Michael Young and Josh Hamilton leave the field to appreciative applause from the crowd.


Feeling All Warm and Fuzzy: There will be plenty of time this off season to analyze, debate and pontificate on what went right, what went wrong, and what we all think Nolan and JD need to do for this team. But tonight I’d rather think about the things that made me feel good about this Rangers season and give me hope for next year too: I like what I saw from Matt Harrison and Dustin Nippert – I’d like to see them have more opportunities to learn and get better. Vincente Padilla is always an enigma but he does win games. I liked the way Kameron Loe was pitching before he got dinged, and there’s no doubt in my mind that Chris Davis and Taylor Teagarden belong in the major leagues. I was sorry David Murphy got hurt, I’ve almost changed my mind about him – disappointed that Ian Kinsler’s amazing season was cut short too. Can’t help but admire how Michael Young played through injuries, Marlon Byrd proved to me that he’s not just a one year wonder and loved the way that Frankie Francisco stepped and took control of the closer position. Where would this team be without Josh Hamilton’s amazing season?

Wait till next year?: I like what Evan Grant wrote in response to one of the questions on his newsletter this week:

Q: Give us something positive to think about for next year. (I know this may take you awhile.)
Doug, Uncertain, Texas

GRANT: Easy. I'll give you a half dozen (in alphabetical order): Marlon Byrd, Chris Davis, Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler, Taylor Teagarden, Michael Young. And, as a bonus, here's a seventh item: The promise that the farm system is only going to produce more of the kind of players listed above.

Only 193 days until the home opener at the Ballpark on April 6, 2009 – Marla Hooch

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