Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

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November 6

MLB.com

"Catcher Ivan Rodriguez was one of five Rangers who filed for free agency on Thursday, the first day eligible players could file. Also filing were outfielders Hank Blalock and Marlon Byrd and pitchers Eddie Guardado and Joaquin Benoit. Guardado has talked about retiring. Rodriguez, who turns 38 on Nov. 30, has not. He has made it clear that he still wants to play for two or three more years. He has expressed an interest in returning to the Rangers but so far negotiations have been slow. "Pudge had a good return to our organization but we're still evaluating other options," general manager Jon Daniels said."

Hurdle hired as Rangers" hitting coach

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November 6

Denver Post

"With a passion for teaching baseball still in his blood, former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle will become the Texas Rangers" new hitting coach. Hurdle confirmed the move this morning. The Rangers will make an official announcement later today. Hurdle, who was fired by the Rockies on May 29 after the team started out a sluggish 18-28, beat out three other finalists for the job. The Rangers also interviewed Thad Bosley, Gerald Perry and Rusty Greer. Earlier this week, Hurdle talked about why he wanted to continue coaching baseball. "You still want to be a part of a team, to be a part of that process of building something," he said. "That's still something I want to do.""

Rangers' new hitting coach plans to listen

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November 6

Dallas Morning News

"The Rangers hired a hitting coach Thursday who definitely brings a creative approach to improving the offense. This is what Clint Hurdle plans to tell the players he knows about hitting: Nothing. Know what? It might just be the right first step for the man replacing the only major league hitting instructor almost every player on the team has ever known. Hurdle plans to go to the players and ask them to unload upon him what they know and what they think they know. "I want them to come clean with what they've learned," he said. "I want them to tell me where they are. What did they know when they came into the organization, and what do they know now. And from there we build a ..."

Rangers hire Hurdle as hitting coach

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November 6

Dallas Morning News

"Clint Hurdle might have been a man without a job, but he wasn't a man without options only six months removed from his job as manager of the Colorado Rockies. But he didn't want just any job. He wanted a challenge and a chance to win a world championship. Hurdle believes he has found that with the Texas Rangers. He was hired Thursday as their hitting coach, replacing longtime instructor Rudy Jaramillo. Hurdle, who signed a one-year deal with a club option, is eager to start building trust. "Change can bring controversy," said Hurdle, who was the Rockies' manager from 2002 until he was fired in May. "I'm going to try to make this as seamless a transition as can be." Team officials have ..."

Hurdle Joins Texas

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November 5

InsideTheRockies.com

"Clint Hurdle had ties in Texas. General manager John Daniels and his chief aid, Thad Levine, both worked in the Rockies front office before going to Texas, and Scott Servais, the director of player development, was a catcher in Colorado. The official release from the Rangers: Arlington, Texas – Texas Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels formally announced today that the club has named Clint Hurdle as the team's new hitting coach. The hiring fills the only vacancy on the Rangers' 2010 coaching staff. "Clint adds another experienced, successful coach to our major league staff," said Daniels. "He's demonstrated an ability to communicate, motivate, and emphasize a team-first offensive ..."

Sources have Clint Hurdle as next hitting coach for Texas Rangers

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November 4

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"A day of off-the-record confirmations and one for-the-record denial about who will become the Texas Rangers' hitting coach came to an end Tuesday with the club expected to add Clint Hurdle to the coaching staff later this week. Three sources said that Hurdle, the former Colorado Rockies manager, has emerged from a group of four finalists that included Thad Bosley, Gerald Perry and Rusty Greer. Each candidate interviewed Monday at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. But Hurdle declined comment Tuesday night, and general manager Jon Daniels said the Rangers haven't settled on who will replace longtime hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo. The Rangers have not told any of the candidates that they have ..."

When Texas Rangers make new hire, don't expect an instant hit

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November 4

Dallas Morning News

columnist Kevin Sherrington

"In the summer of 1988, Bobby Witt threw nine consecutive complete games after a brief exile to the minor leagues, prompting speculation as to what brand of exorcism took place in Oklahoma City and whether the rest of the staff should be on the next bus up I-35. Ferguson Jenkins, Hall of Famer, earned most of the credit for Witt's revival. So much so, in fact, that it irritated Bobby Valentine. "What exactly did Fergie tell him," the Rangers' manager asked, "that we didn't?" Maybe it wasn't what Jenkins told Witt, I remember thinking, as much as who he was and how he said it. The vignette comes to mind as the Rangers prepare to hire a hitting coach for the first time in 15 years. ..."

Clint Hurdle a finalist for Rangers' hitting job

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October 30

Denver Post

columnist Troy E. Renck

"Watching words spill out of Ozzie Guillen's mouth on the Fox TV set down the left-field line brought back memories. Former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle was a lot of things to a lot of people - nobody was more charitable or gracious with his time in the community. Back to Thursday night, Hurdle, like Guillen, is a talker. Sometimes charming. Sometimes angry. Always offering an opinion. At his baseball core, however, Hurdle is a teacher. So it wasn't a surprise to learn that he's one of four finalists for the Texas Rangers' hitting instructor job. Hurdle has told people close to him that he wants back into coaching. And this could be an ideal landing spot. Fired after the Rockies stumbled ..."

Texas Rangers' search for hitting coach down to four

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October 30

Dallas Morning News

"Four candidates have been selected as finalists to replace Rudy Jaramillo as the Rangers' hitting coach, and one was his pupil for nine seasons. Rusty Greer, a Rangers Hall of Famer who worked with Jaramillo for nine seasons, made the final cut along with former big league hitting coaches Thad Bosley, Gerald Perry and Clint Hurdle. The Rangers will conduct interviews Monday and make a decision later in the week. They started the process of trimming from a longer list of names earlier this week. "We've had a chance to talk to a lot of good baseball people this week and heard a lot of good ideas," general manager Jon Daniels said. "I look at this as a rare chance to continue and, at the ..."

Texas Rangers put priority on search for hitting coach

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October 29

Dallas Morning News

"The Rangers are hoping to have a new hitting coach on the payroll by the end of next week, if their timetable for the interview process isn't disrupted. Team officials started calling potential candidates Monday, with the goal of trimming the list to four or five by Friday. Finalists would come to town early next week. General manager Jon Daniels and manager Ron Washington have been meeting this week at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, and both will interview candidates next week. "There hasn't been a decision," Washington said. "Next week, we'll have it down to a workable group, and hopefully by the end of next week, we have a guy." The Rangers have contacted most of the candidates on ..."

Rangers talk to Greer about hitting instructor position

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October 28

Dallas Morning News

"If the Rangers are seeking advice on improving their approach at the plate, they certainly went to the right place to talk on the first day of casual interviews for a hitting instructor. They called Rusty Greer. Greer, who had a .301 career batting average in a decade with the Rangers, has the second-highest career on-base percentage as a Ranger at .388. Greer, who has spent the last two years working with hitters in the Texas Collegiate League and giving private hitting instruction, acknowledged talking with the Rangers about the job Tuesday, but declined to comment on the discussions. General manager Jon Daniels declined to comment on the interview process. The Rangers were expected ..."

Phillies would be good role models for Texas Rangers

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October 28

Dallas Morning News

"For much of the last decade, it's been kind of a tradition for Rangers officials to look at the surprising team in the playoffs and pronounce said club a model to follow. The reason: The model team had gone to the playoffs despite a low payroll. Oakland and Minnesota each did it five times during the decade. Colorado, Tampa Bay and Detroit, with surprising advances to the World Series, were prime examples. Those teams offered hope that despite a payroll in the bottom third of the league for the last half of the decade, the Rangers could reach the playoffs by hoarding homegrown talent and reducing expenses. Yes, you can reach the playoffs with a low payroll, but if the Rangers really ..."

Holland pitches in on recruiting trip

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October 21

Dallas Morning News

"The Rangers intensified their courtship of a young Japanese left-handed pitcher by sending one of their own young left-handers on a weekend recruiting trip across the Pacific Ocean. Derek Holland touched down at D/FW Airport on Tuesday morning after accompanying team personnel to Japan to sell Yusei Kikuchi on the Rangers organization. Holland, with front-office members Jim Colborn and A.J. Preller, made the Rangers' case to Kikuchi on Sunday. Kikuchi, 18, who has met with several other major league clubs, is contemplating whether to bypass the Nippon Professional Baseball draft for a chance to play in the major leagues. As for the Rangers' sales pitch: "Just how he would fit ..."

Cubs look to talk with ex-Texas Rangers coach Jaramillo

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October 17

Dallas Morning News

"The Chicago Cubs have asked for permission to speak to Rudy Jaramillo, the Rangers' hitting coach for the last 15 seasons. On Wednesday, Jaramillo declined the Rangers' one-year, $545,000 offer for next season."

Texas Rangers to begin meetings on sale

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October 16

Dallas Morning News

"Three sets of suitors will begin meetings with Texas Rangers front-office personnel next week to discuss the sale of the team, a source close to negotiations said Thursday. Reuters news service quoted unidentified sources as saying the goal is to have a winning bidder identified by late November. The site of the meetings was not disclosed, but they could be held in Arlington or Dallas. One source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said neither team owner Tom Hicks nor president Nolan Ryan would meet with the bidders. Instead, the three groups apparently would receive a presentation on Rangers operations from general manager Jon Daniels, team attorneys, accountants and other ..."

Rangers, Jaramillo part ways

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October 15

Dallas Morning News

"Rudy Jaramillo, the Rangers' hitting coach since 1995, told the club Wednesday that he wouldn't accept its one-year contract offer and plans to pursue an opportunity with another team. Jaramillo said the decision to leave wasn't about money, the length of the offer or changes the front office wants to see from the offense. He said that he simply wants to see what else the game has to offer. "I was hopeful and expecting that he would accept our offer," general manager Jon Daniels said. "But I understand that he has put himself ina position that everyone in the game hopes to achieve, where you've got options. "He's if not the best, certainly one of the best in the field." Jaramillo ..."

Cash-strapped Texas Rangers moving further from date with destiny

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October 15

Dallas Morning News

"Give the Texas Rangers credit. They possess the ability to make news during the playoffs even without participating in them. On Wednesday we learned that the organization is getting rid of Rudy Jaramillo but hanging onto some of your money. As for Jaramillo, the hitting instructor of the last 15 years chose not to accept a one-year deal. He will be scooped up long before Tom Hicks finds a true buyer that this franchise so desperately needs. I bring that up because I found out Wednesday that those who had enough faith in the team to buy playoff tickets have been told via e-mail that those refunds won't be coming until sometime in November, possibly not even early November because "the ..."

Hitting coach Jaramillo won't return to Rangers

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October 14

Dallas Morning News

"Dallas-raised Rudy Jaramillo, the Rangers hitting instructor for the last 15 seasons, has turned down the club's one-year contract offer and is preparing to explore the free agent market after his contract expires October 31. Jaramillo, who turned 59 on September 20, has been a player, coach or manager in the Rangers' organization for 26 of his 31 years in baseball. Rangers officials met with Jaramillo shortly after the season to extend the one-year offer but to also stipulate that the offense needed to improve. The Rangers ranked seventh in runs scored in the AL in 2009, but ranked 11th of 14 teams in batting average (.260) and 12th in on-base percentage (.320). There were concerns about ..."

Texas Rangers cut at least four veteran staffers

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October 14

Dallas Morning News

"Longtime clubhouse manager Zack Minasian and two top scouts are among the Rangers personnel who won't be returning next season. Minasian spent 22 seasons with the club, the final 16 as equipment manager and manager of the home clubhouse. His son, Calvin, a clubhouse assistant, also won't return. The club did not renew the contracts of Mel Didier and Jay Robertson. Didier, 83, spent seven seasons as a special adviser based in Arizona. Robertson was a special assistant to GM Jon Daniels."

Texas Rangers need to keep hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo

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October 10

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Every day, before every game, Rudy Jaramillo takes his perch behind the batting cage at The Ballpark in Arlington, stepping up on the trailer tongue to get a better view. From there, as batter after batter steps into the cage, Jaramillo reels off potential game situations for them to react to accordingly: "Runner at first, nobody out ..." Whack! "Runners at second and third, one out ..." Whack! "Runners at the corners, nobody out ..." Whack! Depending on the situation, the hitter will try to hit behind the runner at first, or drive a fly ball to the outfield to score the runner from third, or hit to right field, hoping to advance the runners from first and second. This is called ..."

Three finalists have money to make deal to buy Texas Rangers

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October 10

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"The biggest story of the off-season involving the Texas Rangers isn't whether Marlon Byrd will be re-signed or if Rudy Jaramillo will return as hitting coach. Topping the list is who will buy the franchise from Hicks Sports Group, and the number of bidders has been pared in half to three: Chuck Greenberg, Dennis Gilbert and Jim Crane. They have pulled together enough money — some say it will take $500 million to complete a deal — and are continuing their due diligence to see what exactly they would be getting into. Each saw the Rangers during the season and became familiar with the on-field product. Even though there is no timetable for the sale to be completed, here's a quick snapshot to ..."

Offense an off-season focus for Texas

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October 7

Dallas Morning News

"The identity of the Texas Rangers has changed, general manager Jon Daniels said at the team's annual season-ending news conference Tuesday, and the franchise once known for its big bats won in 2009 because of pitching and defense. The focus for the off-season will be shoring up an offense that was expected to produce at levels similar to the group that led baseball in runs and average in 2008. But the Rangers haven't decided who will oversee the improvements. Just as adding the right pitching coach proved to be the key off-season decision entering 2009, what to do with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo could shape 2010. Major changes to the coaching staff aren't expected, but neither Daniels, ..."

Playoff hopes drained away in stormy September

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October 5

Dallas Morning News

"Those conspiracy theorists out there who believe the Texas Rangers are a cursed franchise might actually be onto something. Because if you are looking for a reason to explain why 2009 became the 10th consecutive season devoid of playoff baseball in Arlington, looking toward the heavens might be a good place to start. And we're not talking about the Angels. How else to explain how one of the most durable players in baseball over the previous eight years could essentially tear his hamstring at the precise moment - Sept. 1 - the pennant race was to begin its final sprint? How else to explain how, just as the most important homestand in a decade was to open, a slew of biblical-style storms ..."

Four off-season issues facing the Texas Rangers

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October 5

Dallas Morning News

"In hitting and contract negotiations, timing is everything. And for the first time in his 15-year tenure as the club's hitting instructor, Rudy Jaramillo's timing, just like his hitters, is off. As a three-year contract that was negotiated directly with owner Tom Hicks is about to expire, Jaramillo's future is cloudier than at any time in the last decade. The offense was a liability, posting its lowest batting average in the Rangers Ballpark Era (since 1994) and its lowest on-base percentage and fewest runs for a 162-game season in 20 years. Hicks may not have the same ability - or willingness - to step directly into negotiations. As the final week of the season dawned, GM Jon Daniels said ..."

Texas Rangers' Rodriguez looking to 2010

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October 5

Dallas Morning News

"Ivan Rodriguez, who was acquired in an August trade, said he'd like to end his career with the Texas Rangers. The 37-year-old is already making off-season plans to work with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo. The Rangers haven't decided what their plans are behind the plate in 2010, but Rodriguez knows the chances of being an everyday catcher with Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden on the roster are slim. He's OK with that. "I feel like I can play a few more years and my body can hold on a few more years," said Rodriguez, who has hit .245 with two homers and 13 RBIs since the trade. "This is a great group of guys to stay together.""

Playoff hopes drained away in stormy September

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October 5

Dallas Morning News

columnist Evan Grant

"Those conspiracy theorists out there who believe the Texas Rangers are a cursed franchise might actually be onto something. Because if you are looking for a reason to explain why 2009 became the 10th consecutive season devoid of playoff baseball in Arlington, looking toward the heavens might be a good place to start. And we're not talking about the Angels. How else to explain how one of the most durable players in baseball over the previous eight years could essentially tear his hamstring at the precise moment - Sept. 1 - the pennant race was to begin its final sprint? How else to explain how, just as the most important homestand in a decade was to open, a slew of biblical-style storms ..."

Texas Rangers' Borbon starts in center

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October 3

Dallas Morning News

"The test drive period for the Texas Rangers' Julio Borbon in center field began Friday night against Seattle. Borbon made his first start of the season in center, and the plan is for the rookie to start the entire series in center against the Mariners. "It's good to be back in my comfort zone," said Borbon, who responded to the start with an RBI single to center in the second inning Friday night. "I knew it would be a matter of time before I could get out there and do what I do." Borbon had made 14 starts in left field and 21 at designated hitter before Friday. But he's a natural center fielder. He played in 80 games in center field for Oklahoma City this season and spent the entire 2008 ..."

Texas Rangers clinch second place with win over Mariners, 7-3

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October 3

Dallas Morning News

"There are no playoffs for second place in the American League West, but the Texas Rangers will finish in that spot for a second consecutive season. Texas secured second by beating the Seattle Mariners, 7-4, Friday night. It did so by showing a glimpse of what could be on the horizon in 2010. Catcher Taylor Teagarden, who was mired in an early-season slump, broke a 4-4 tie with the winning single to right field with two outs in the ninth. Teagarden's hit capped a 2-for-5 night. He's hitting .341 over the last 12 games. Rookie of the Year candidate Elvis Andrus then broke the game open, following Teagarden's single with a two-run triple to left. Julio Borbon, making his first start in ..."

Second helping: Texas Rangers rock Angels, 11-3

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October 2

Dallas Morning News

"The only things missing Thursday afternoon were pitchers running in the outfield during the game and Arizona sunshine. Other than that, it could have been any spring training game. Fortunately, Kevin Millwood didn't pitch like it, and the Rangers, snapping out of a four-game losing streak, finally played like it meant something. And it did. Depending on the outcome of the Seattle-Oakland game later in the evening, the Rangers' 11-3 victory over the Angels might have clinched second place in the AL West for the Rangers. At the least, it assured them of no worse than a tie for second. Exactly how much does finishing second mean, Ron Washington? "Everything." Take his word for it. In a ..."

Palmer, bullpen help Angels blank Rangers

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October 1

L.A. Daily News

"Two days after the Angels flooded the clubhouse with champagne and beer, and Erick Aybar turned a hose on fans in a wild celebration, things were nearly back to normal. The only signs at the outset Wednesday that there was any difference were that Matt Palmer was the starting pitcher and Gary Matthews Jr. was in right field for Bobby Abreu. On the field, it looked exactly the same. The Angels were taking it to the Texas Rangers just like they did when they clinched the division title Monday, and again Tuesday with a makeshift lineup. Five pitchers combined on a one-hit shutout for a 5-0 victory as the Rangers appear to have nothing left in the tank after giving the Angels a run for their ..."

Angels hold Rangers to hit in shutout

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October 1

Orange County Register

"The only thing needed to complete the spring-training atmosphere was a pitcher or two running on the warning track and a postgame reservation at Don and Charlie's. With both teams playing out different ends of the string, five Angels pitchers combined on a one-hitter as they shut out the Rangers for the second time in three nights, 5-0, on Wednesday at Angel Stadium. The one-hitter was the Angels' lowest-hit game since Jered Weaver and Jose Arredondo combined on a no-hitter - and lost to the Dodgers on June 28, 2008. It came on the 25th anniversary of Mike Witt's season-ending perfect game against the Rangers. In fitting fashion with neither team roused to play for anything meaningful at ..."

Choir of Angels pitchers one-hits Texas

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October 1

Los Angeles Times

"There will be few relievers in the playoffs with as impressive credentials as a starter as Matt Palmer's. The Angels right-hander capped an improbable regular season with his final and perhaps most memorable start Wednesday night at Angel Stadium, uniting with four relievers for a combined one-hitter during a 5-0 victory over Texas. Julio Borbon led off the game with a single to right-center, and the only other Rangers to reach base did so via five walks. Palmer, Darren Oliver, Jose Arredondo, Kevin Jepsen and Rafael Rodriguez gave the Angels their first combined one-hitter since July 27, 2004, against Texas. Palmer (11-2) improved to 9-1 as a starter with a 4.66 earned-run average, after ..."

Texas Rangers' Washington has wish list for 2010

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October 1

Dallas Morning News

"Just in case general manager Jon Daniels asks him anytime soon, Rangers manager Ron Washington has his off-season wish list already written out and handy. It's not excessive, as such things go, but Washington's not kidding himself; he understands that he probably won't get everything he'd like to have. "I think we can use another starter," Washington said. "I'd like to get a right-handed bat. We definitely need to find a left-handed specialist for the bullpen." Just like that, 1, 2, 3. The toughest wish to fill may be the starting pitcher, what with a bevy of youngsters ready to compete for rotation slots behind Kevin Millwood and Scott Feldman next spring. Brandon McCarthy, Tommy ..."

Rangers shut down Hamilton for season

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September 30

MLB.com

"The Rangers have shut down Josh Hamilton for the final six games of the season. Hamilton has been dealing with a pinched nerve in his lower back for four weeks and has played in just two games since Sept. 2. He will continue treatment on his back for three or four weeks and then begin his offseason workouts to get ready for next year. "He's shut down," Rangers manager Ron Washington said before Tuesday's game with the Angels. "It just won't go away, so we just decided to let him get his treatment and let it get well." The decision was made after Hamilton met with Washington and trainer Jamie Reed on Tuesday afternoon. "I think it's smart," Hamilton said. "The best I can do is pinch-hit and ..."

Over & Out: 5-2 loss ends Texas Rangers' playoff hopes

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September 30

Dallas Morning News

"Like a gassed six-round prelim fighter stepping into the 10-round main event class for the first time, the Rangers find themselves running on empty. Even old reliable Scott Feldman seems to have nothing left but fumes. Feldman, the one young starter manager Ron Washington has been most able to depend on this season, had his second straight disappointing start Tuesday night and the Los Angeles Angels racked the Rangers 5-2 at Angels Stadium, snuffing out Texas' faint hope for post-season baseball. The Red Sox lost again to Toronto, 8-7, earlier in the day, but the Rangers' lackluster loss clinched the wild-card berth for Boston anyway. And while the Rangers were going belly up against ..."

Borbon in center of Texas Rangers' plans

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September 30

Dallas Morning News

"For the record, the Rangers' center fielder of the future is apparently still the Rangers' center fielder of the future, despite what the evidence - mostly manager Ron Washington's lineups - has to say to the contrary. Once again, even though the Rangers have been eliminated from the AL West race, rookie Julio Borbon was at DH on Tuesday night and not in center field against the Angels. "We're still fighting for something," Washington said. "We're trying to [finish in] second place. Once we realize there's no way Seattle can catch us, I'll start getting him out there so we can get a look at him." The Rangers still believe Borbon can play center field, even if he has only played a single ..."

AL West title is sweet, and bittersweet, for Angels

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September 29

Los Angeles Times

"The champagne-and-beer showers, the ear-thumping hip-hop music and dancing, the victory cigars -- all the trappings of a traditional division-winning celebration would have to wait. Before the revelry came a remembrance. The Angels clinched their fifth American League West title in six years with an 11-0 romp over the Texas Rangers in Angel Stadium on Monday night, and after a huge group hug in the middle of the infield, players and coaches quickly retreated to the clubhouse. But before any corks were popped, Manager Mike Scioscia spoke for several minutes about the fallen Angel, Nick Adenhart, the 22-year-old pitcher who was killed along with two friends in a car crash on April 9, just ..."

Angels 11, Rangers 0

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September 29

Dallas Morning News

"The ball soared in majestic flight from home plate, halfway up the right-field seats at Angels Stadium on Monday night, caroming down one of the portals there with half a dozen fans in hot pursuit. Josh Hamilton stood at home plate for a moment, then cocked the bat again and flexed his knees, rocking up and down in his familiar stance before launching another monster shot towards the seats.Therein lies the problem for the Rangers.This was batting practice. When the Angels' Ervin Santana uncorked the first official pitch of the night an hour later in a game the Rangers had to win to remain mathematically alive in the American League West, Hamilton was nowhere to be seen in the lineup.The ..."

Young returns to Texas Rangers' lineup

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September 29

Dallas Morning News

"Trick or treating in about a month won't be a problem, Michael Young said Monday. Playing baseball for the next week is another proposition altogether. Nevertheless, Young pronounced himself as fit as he's going to be this season and was back in the lineup at third base for Monday night's series opener against the Angels. "I won't be 100 percent this season. I'll be 100 percent by Halloween," Young said. "For the next week I'll just have to put up with a little discomfort and hope that [his hamstring] holds up." Young has essentially been out since straining his left hamstring in the third inning of the second game against Toronto on Sept. 1. He tried to come back too soon, on Sept. 15 ..."

Vizquel plans to play again in 2010

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September 28

MLB.com

"Omar Vizquel, the oldest position player in the Major Leagues and the career record holder for games played at shortstop, wants to continue his career next season. "I'm going to play. I'm going to try to give it another shot," the 42-year-old Vizquel said Sunday, according to The Associated Press. "I still feel physically pretty good. When my body feels like that, I better take advantage of it." Vizquel is finishing his first season with the Texas Rangers and his 21st in the Majors. The 11-time Gold Glove winner, who has played in 2,680 games at shortstop, has been in 59 games this season and is batting .266 in 169 at-bats. He was batting .305 at the start of September, but has two hits in ..."

Tampa Bay Rays catch Texas Rangers by surprise with winning squeeze bunt

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September 28

St. Petersburg Times

"OF Fernando Perez said he wasn't surprised at all when he was given the sign for a squeeze bunt in the ninth inning Sunday. But it caught the Rangers off guard and resulted in the Rays scoring the go-ahead run in their 7-6 come-from-behind victory. With runners on first and third and one out, Perez - hitting from the left side - dragged a first-pitch fastball from Rangers RHP Neftali Feliz down the first-base line. "It was absolutely perfect," manager Joe Maddon said. 1B Hank Blalock fielded it and tagged out Perez, but Evan Longoria scored. "It was a perfect situation," Perez said. "It's Joe Maddon baseball, works every time. It was brilliant." It was the second squeeze bunt of the game ..."

Tampa Bay Rays rally to beat Texas Rangers

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September 28

St. Petersburg Times

"There were a lot of reasons to believe the Rays wouldn't be able to fight their way back Sunday afternoon. They were down 5-0 in the eighth to Texas, which was battling for its playoff life and had dominated Tampa Bay all series. The Rays were four outs away from leaving the 90-plus degree heat for their getaway flight home to finish up a season with no playoffs to look forward to. But the Rays showed more mettle than they had in a while, mounting an improbable rally in a 7-6 come-from-behind victory at Rangers Ballpark. "That was just everything in reverse that's happened to us for the past month," manager Joe Maddon said. "We finally got back at somebody." The Rays (79-76) had watched ..."

Rays rally for improbable victory in Texas

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September 28

Tampa Tribune

"For the first seven innings Sunday afternoon, the Rays were simply atrocious. Playing as if there was nothing in the world they wanted more than to get on the plane back home and sweep their final road game of the season under the rug, they trailed by five heading to the eighth inning and appeared minutes away from being swept at Rangers Ballpark for the second time this season. But after an error by Texas third baseman Chris Davis with two outs and the bases empty in the eighth opened the door, the Rays snapped out of their stupor. They made it a game with three runs in that frame, then scored four times in the ninth and held on for an unlikely 7-6 victory. "It was everything in reverse ..."

Sunday's Texas Rangers spotlight: Home season

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September 28

Dallas Morning News

"The Rangers didn't exactly wind up their 2009 home campaign the way they wanted, but Sunday's loss won't take away from a successful season at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The Rangers finished 48-33 in Arlington - despite losing eight of their final 12 games at home. "To be a playoff team, you have to win everywhere," second baseman Ian Kinsler said. "But at the same time, teams have to know when they come in here it's going to be difficult to win a series. We played really well at home." Last year, the Rangers were 40-41 at home. Manager Ron Washington said winning at home is one of two essential tasks if a team hopes to reach the postseason. "You have to play well at home and you ..."

Ninth a nightmare for Texas Rangers in 7-6 loss

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September 28

Dallas Morning News

"Four outs separated the Texas Rangers from a series sweep that would have sent them on the final road trip of the season with a case of late-season pennant fever. But by the time Sunday's game had ended, and they had boarded a pair of buses for their charter flight to Southern California, the Rangers were simply just feeling sick. An error with two outs in the eighth inning opened the door to three Tampa Bay runs, and the Rays scored four more in the ninth to stun the Rangers, 7-6, in the home finale at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The Rangers were up 5-0 with two outs in the eighth inning, but 15 Rays would bat before the Rangers could get the four outs they needed. The loss, coupled ..."

Michael Young confident of return to Texas Rangers' lineup

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September 28

Dallas Morning News

"When the Rangers take on the Los Angeles Angels tonight in a bid to keep their faint playoff hopes alive, they will probably do so with their best hitter in the lineup. Third baseman Michael Young expects to be in the starting lineup and playing third. His left hamstring has cost him 20 of the team's last 21 games. He had one at-bat Sept. 15 but left after aggravating the injury. "For the last two days I've followed the rules," Young said. "I told myself that when I feel like I'm ready, I'm going to wait a few more days. Last time I didn't, and it cost me. I feel like I've been ready for a couple of more days." With Young starting at third, Chris Davis will shift back to first base. The ..."

Texas Rangers score 11 in fifth, rout Tampa Bay Rays

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September 27

St. Petersburg Times

"The "Ring of Fire" likely took on a whole new meaning for the Rays on Saturday night in a 15-3 loss to the Rangers. The same Johnny Cash song lightheartedly used as a theme for one of the team's road trips this season was played at Tampa Bay's expense at Rangers Ballpark a couple of times in the fifth inning, and it served as a befitting description of the Rangers' 11-run, two-out rally in a frame that ranked among the worst in Rays history. Right-hander Matt Garza actually took a 3-1 lead into that inning and nearly got out of a bases-loaded jam, but after he served up a two-out grand slam to Marlon Byrd and put on two more baserunners, reliever Jeff Bennett came in and gave up five runs ..."

Texas Rangers' Borbon to get look in CF

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September 27

Dallas Morning News

"Those who have been clamoring to see what Julio Borbon can do in center field probably will get their wish. Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington said the rookie would see some time in center field when and if the Rangers are eliminated from playoff contention. Borbon, who played 80 games in center field for Triple-A Oklahoma City, has made 12 starts with the Rangers in left field but none in center. "We, at some point, have to put him out there and see what he looks like before the season is over," Washington said. Washington said it's too early to tell if Borbon is the team's center fielder of the future. He'll play winter ball in the Dominican Republic, and Washington wants coach Gary ..."

Byrd hits grand slam for Texas Rangers in 15-3 win

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September 27

Dallas Morning News

"The assumption for much of the year has been that the Rangers and outfielder Marlon Byrd would part ways after the season. The team believes it has a future leadoff hitter and center fielder in Julio Borbon. It also thinks that Byrd, a free agent after the season, would prefer a multiyear contract that the cash-strapped Rangers don't know if they can afford.Somebody may need to pass the hat today after Byrd delivered again Saturday night.Byrd hit two home runs, including a grand slam that sparked an 11-run, two-out rally in the fifth inning of a 15-3 victory over Tampa Bay.The victory ensured that the Rangers will not be eliminated from the AL West race for the start of a four-game series ..."

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