Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - August 11, 2013

It is time for the SUNDAY REQUEST on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

@sullybaseball @JustBaseball25 2 more no one EVER questions are RYAN & RIPKEN! Both proved to be superhuman while playing. I question all.
— BiggsDaddyCool (@biggsdaddycool) August 10, 2013

It is a fair point. Who is off limits? And how healthy is being skeptical? Also a lot of hypocrites are in Yankee Stadium today.

Wilmer Flores, Jacoby Ellsbury, Nathan Eovaldi and Anibal Sanchez all owned baseball on August 10, 2013.


To see the up to date tally of "Who Owns Baseball?," click HERE. Subscribe on iTunes HERE.

Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - August 11, 2013

Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - May 14, 2013

It is my birthday!  

On The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast 
today I talk about I missed seeing a pair of no hitters in my life. Then I also warn against Nolan Ryan potentially getting too much credit for the eventual turn around of the Houston Astros.

Justin Masterson, Travis Wood, Aaron Hicks and Justin Upton owned baseball on May 12, 2013.

To see the up to date tally of "Who Owns Baseball?," click HERE.

Subscribe on iTunes HERE.

Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - May 14, 2013

 

Nolan Ryan = George Harrison... bear with me. It makes sense.

Nolan Ryan and George Harrison had very similar careers.
That statement may seem like a stretch.

One was a Texas born fireballer who now hangs out with former President Bush.
The other was a native of Liverpool who jammed with Ravi Shankar.

Not much in common on the surface.

But trust me, The Ryan Express and The Quiet Beatle had many parallels.

1. As young men, they were overshadowed by their more famous teammates/bandmates

The pitching talent on the 1969 Mets was fantastic. And 22 year old Nolan Ryan could not take the spotlight away from Tom Seaver, the best pitcher in the league.

With a staff that included Seaver, Jerry Koosman and Gary Gentry in the rotation and Ron Taylor and Tug McGraw in the bullpen, it was tough for Ryan to leave his mark. The talent was there (92 strikeouts in 89 1/3 innings) but the chances to display the talent were limited.

George Harrison was brought into the Beatles to be the lead guitarist. The group already had a pair of alpha dogs who did the lionshare of the composing and handling the lead vocals. As great as George was, he only got one or two tracks per album.

John Lennon and Paul McCartney were like a pair of Tom Seavers.

2. Both had great moments of glory at Shea Stadium in the 1960's

On August 15, 1965, the same year the Mets drafted Nolan Ryan out of Alvin High School, George and his Beatle mates played a little concert at Shea Stadium.

55,000 people showed up to see them play, which at the time was the largest venue they had ever performed in.

It was considered to be the high watermark of their live performing in terms of their legacy. It was also the biggest event Shea Stadium had ever seen up until that point. (That same day the Mets and Al Jackson shut out the Houston Astros 3-0 in the Astrodome. The Mets were in last place, 32 1/2 games behind the Dodgers.)

The next great moment in Shea Stadium history took place on October 6, 1969. The Mets defeated the Atlanta Braves, 7-4, and clinched the National League pennant. The pitcher on the mound when they clinched? Nolan Ryan.

8 days later, Shea Stadium hosted its first World Series game as the Mets beat the Orioles 5-0 in Game 3 of the 1969 World Series. The pitcher on the mound at the end of the game? Nolan Ryan.

3. Both gave previews of their future greatness

George's contributions to the Beatles became more and more significant, even if his allotment of songs did not increase.

His songs evolved from Taxman and If I Needed Someone to the iconic While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

By the time Abbey Road and Let It Be came about, some of the best songs were from George Harrison. Something, Here Comes The Sun and I Me Mine were among those album's highlights.

Meanwhile the Mets of the early 1970's were still Tom Seaver's team. But Nolan Ryan was showing flashes of his future dominance. He struck out 15 batters in one game on April 18, 1970, setting a Mets record that Seaver would break just a few days later. The spotlight was never far from Seaver, but the Texas kid clearly had ability that could not be contained.

4. Both took to a great change by achieving beyond people's expectations

The Mets gave up on Nolan Ryan after the 1971 season, shipping him off to the California Angels in exchange for Jim Fregosi.

With a clean slate, Ryan put together numbers that had never been seen before. The Ryan Express led the league in strikeouts in the first three seasons in Anaheim. His 383 strikeouts in 1973 remain the most in a single season for the modern era.

He started compiling strikeouts and no hitters at a record clip. His pitches were the fastest ever recorded. He led the league in strikeouts for seven of his eight years in California. The talent that was hinted at in New York exploded in California and would continue as he moved on to Houston after the 1979 playoffs.

As Nolan Ryan was transforming into the American League's most intimidating pitcher, George Harrison's talents exploded after the Beatles disbanded.

No longer confined to a few songs an album, George released "All Things Must Pass", the musical equivalent of Nolan Ryan's 383 strikeouts.

The double album was filled with tracks that never made it onto Beatles albums. (A version of the title track was featured in the Beatles Anthology.)

My Sweet Lord, What is Life, Wah Wah, Isn't it a Pity, All Things Must Pass, Behind that Locked Door, I Dig Love, Let it Down... there were more great tracks on the album than anyone could have guessed from "The Quiet Beatle."

George continued to write and sing great songs in the 1970s. Living in the Material World had many great songs. His Concert for Bangladesh was one of the great live albums and a precursor to Live Aid.

5. Both had a resurgence in the mid to late 1980s

Nolan Ryan never went away. He kept striking out batters and throwing no hitters. But in 1987 at age 40, he led the National League in strikeouts and earned run average. At age 41, he led the National League in strikeouts again.

In 1989, he moved from the Astros to the Rangers. Not only did he not miss a beat at age 42, he got better.

He struck out 301 batters in his first year with the Rangers, the highest total in the majors.

He would lead the league with 232 k's at age 43 with the 1990 Rangers. He compiled two more no hitters, giving him a record seven. And as a Ranger he passed the 5,000 strikeouts mark. His final total, 5,714, remains nearly 1,000 more than the runner up (Randy Johnson's 4,875.)

A new generation appreciated Ryan's brilliance. Older men looked at Ryan's longevity as an inspiration and the endorsement money poured in.

And the last image of Ryan's career might have been his fight with Robin Ventura, a sign that the old guy had some spark in him against the young up and coming players.

Meanwhile George Harrison emerged from a few years out of the spotlight (especially after John Lennon's murder) with the release of the album Cloud Nine.

His 1987 collaboration with producer Jeff Lynne became one of his biggest successes. He covered an obscure 1960's Rudy Clark song "Got My Mind Set On You" and turned it into a number one hit.

He composed his own songs including the title track, "This is Love" and his Beatles inspired "When We Was Fab."

In 1988, as Ryan was finishing his time in Houston, Harrison was involved in another unexpected success. The Traveling Wilbury's released their first album. The group that featured Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne. They had several hits including "Handle with Care" and "End of the Line".

The Quiet Beatle made all new fans, many of whom discovered his previous tracks for the first time.

6. Both had success behind the scenes

In the late 1970's through the 1980's when George Harrison's musical output was minimal, he was still contributing to the entertainment world.

Along with a business partner, he set up Handmade Films and proceeded to produce some of the most profitable and some of the best British films of the era.

Monty Python's Life of Brian was their maiden voyage. Not a bad first film out of the gate. Handmade Films also produced Time Bandits, Mona Lisa and Withnail and I.

Meanwhile Nolan Ryan took over as principal owner of the Texas Rangers. The result was a turnaround of a moribund franchise. The team became a regular contender, winning the 2010 and 2011 American League pennant. They got to within one strike in two different innings of winning the 2011 World Series.

7. Both appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in the 1960's

Granted, the Beatles multiple performances on The Ed Sullivan Show (no relation to me) were just a little more celebrated than Ryan's.

In fact the Beatles arrival on the Ed Sullivan stage was considered to be one of the great significant moments in pop culture history.

Maybe it wasn't as well known as the Fab Four's debut. But Nolan Ryan sang along with several of his 1969 Met teammates on the Sullivan stage not long after their World Series clincher.

They sang the song "You've Gotta Have Heart" from Damn Yankees.

The screaming for the Mets was not as constant as it was for the Beatles.



So there you have it.
On first glance, they might not look similar.

But Nolan Ryan and George Harrison had their share of similarities. Both were legends. Both exceeded expectations.

If Nolan Ryan's wife left him for Eric Clapton, then it would have been even more apt.

Let's let George play us out.




 

10 Reasons why the Texas Rangers winning the 2011 World Series would be good for baseball

The fall of the Red Sox made me kind of in a daze at the end of the season. I was going to have the Sox be the LAST of the Why Each Team's Potential World Championship Would Be Good For The Game series.

Not sure if you heard... the Sox aren't winning the 2011 World Series.
Probably won't win the 2012 nor 2013 either.

So in that post collapse confusion, I realized that I NEVER did one for the Rangers.
That would the BACK TO BACK AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPION RANGERS whom I gave virtually no respect to.

I didn't pick them to win the Division... I picked the Angels.
I didn't pick them in the Division Series... I picked the Rays.
I didn't pick them in the ALCS... I picked the Tigers.

So maybe I have learned my lesson.

They are back in the World Series.
Would seeing them WIN the World Series be good for the game?

Let me count the ways...

10 Reasons why the
Texas Rangers
winning the 2011 World Series
would be good for baseball

1. The celebration of Ron Washington would be complete

Washington has had a remarkable 2 seasons. He overcame the drug problem to become the first AL manager since Joe Torre to win back to back pennants. And he did it with a fun likable, running in place in the dugout, windmilling style.

Oh yeah, he was portraying in Moneyball by the great "that guy" Brent Jennings. (He played Harrison Ford's ill fated partner in Witness.) The difference between Washington's Rangers and Beane's A's? The Rangers actually went to the World Series. But how cool would it be to win a World Series and be a character in what will certainly be an Oscar nominated movie?



2. Nolan Ryan and his influence could finally put an end to pitch count nonsense.

The Rangers lost Cliff Lee and somehow their pitching staff got DEEPER.

C. J. Wilson, Colby Lewis, Derek Holland, Matt Harrison, Alexi Ogando, Neftali Feliz, Scott Feldman and Mike Adams might not be as sexy as the Phillies staff. But Texas has played in the last 2 World Series and not Philadelphia. You weren't supposed to be able to put a strong staff together in Texas. But magically that went out the window when Nolan Ryan took over the team.

Pitch counts were flushed down the toilet. Pitchers were allowed to get out of their jams. And guess what? As the Joba rules and babying of pitchers have left a wake of broken down pitchers, Nolan Ryan's method has made the Rangers a pitcher team.

Gee whiz, I wonder which school of thought should be adopted by more teams!




3. Josh Hamilton... An American Bad Ass needs to be a Champion.

The ultimate Roy Hobbs story needs its grand climax. He's already battled his demons. He's already reemerged in Cincinnati and then in Texas. He already beat drugs to become the MVP and slay the Yankees. He's already asked the Rays for forgiveness.

He's a great American story of wasted and found abilities. Put a ring on that finger and roll credits!

4. The final haunting of Nelson Cruz

Cruz is on a home run tear. Tonight he became the first person ever to hit 6 homers in a single post season series. I may have calculated his career ALCS OPS wrong, but my math has it coming out to 5 bazillion.

If this run goes into the World Series, this slugger will shine on the biggest stage and torment the Mets, A's and Brewers... all teams that had him and dealt him away.


5. It would be a celebration of the Rangers star studded but pennantless past.

When the Wild Card era began and media attention was placed solely on the Yankees and Red Sox, how many MVPs played in the Bronx?

Alex Rodriguez who won the award twice.
How many in Boston? That would be 2, Mo Vaughn and Dustin Pedroia.

How many in Texas? Juan Gonzalez won it twice. Pudge Rodriguez won it once. A-Rod picked up one in Arlington as did Josh Hamilton. That's more than Boston and New York combined in that same stretch.

Jeff Burroughs won it before. Ruben Sierra and Rafael Palmeiro could have won it. Hall of Famers Fergie Jenkins, Bert Blyleven and of course Nolan Ryan logged great years in Arlington. As did the Richie Zisks, Oddibe McDowells, Julio Francos and all the other players in the Rangers colorful past.

For all the Geno Petrallis out there, a Rangers title will be for you!



6. A pro like Darren Oliver deserves a ring.

Did you know Darren Oliver was part of the first ever Rangers playoff team in 1996? In fact as a starter he pitched with a lead into the 9th inning of Game 3 of the Division Series against the Yankees. New York came back to win that game, but if Oliver and the pen held on, they might have won the Series.

That was a long time ago. Jeter was a rookie then.

Did you know that Darren Oliver has appeared in every post season since 2006? This is his 6th October in a row. He's logged in 17+ years in the big leagues and has no World Series ring to show for his troubles.

That should change.



7. Endy Chavez deserved a ring when he made that catch in 2006!

Endy Chavez's place in baseball history was ruined by events he had no control over. If Carlos Beltran clears the bases in the bottom of the 9th in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS, Chavez's catch, robbing Scott Rolen over a tie breaking homer, would be remembered as one of the great moments in recent baseball history.

He would be a New York icon, along the lines of Dave Roberts in Boston.

Instead his catch is remembered fondly and included in highlight reels, but not an all time moment. How could it be? The Mets didn't win the game.

An overdue World Series ring would be a nice consolation prize for not becoming an immortal.


8. Michael Young would be rewarded for staying.

Michael Young was good as gone this past off season. There was no room for him in the crowded infield and a deal with a team like Colorado looked inevitable. In March, I made the case for the Rangers to keep him. He responded with 213 hits, best in the AL, a .338 average, 106 RBI and 299 total bases. And after 11 full seasons in Texas (after being dealt as a minor league for Esteban Loaiza) he has played more games for the Rangers than anyone else in history, had the most at bats, scored the most runs, compiled the most hits, doubles and triples.

With 2061 hits and a few 200 hit seasons left in him, is 3,000 out of reach? He's an all time Ranger. People who are so great for one team for so long should win a title with that team.

How much would he HATE being in Denver now?


9. The Cowboys would have the longest title drought in Dallas!

The Mavericks won this year... the Stars won the Stanley Cup in 1999. The Cowboys haven't won the Super Bowl since January of 1996 when they beat the Steelers in Super Bowl XXX. Between December 1996 and now, they've won one playoff GAME.

For fans in Dallas, they have had time to embrace more than football. And for the rest of the country who hates the Cowboys, there must be some delicious joy in knowing that the Cowboys are 4 Rangers wins away from being the symbol of Dallas sports futility.

(I wonder if Dallas fans would trade the Stanley Cup, NBA title and World Series ring for a few more Cowboy playoff wins.)



10. Could Texas become the next superpower franchise?

I keep hearing about how the Northeastern franchises have a stranglehold on big name players and media attention.

Well isn't everything bigger in Texas? At least the World Series has been going through Texas more often than New York, Philadelphia and Boston these days. (Or Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta for that matter.)

But why talk about the Rangers like they are some small market team? Dallas is the 4th biggest metropolitan area in the country. You are a big market, Texas. Start acting Texan!

Spend big and intelligently and the Rangers could be in the playoffs every year and make a few more trips to the World Series. And if the Red Sox are in flux and the Cubs, Dodgers and Mets are a mess and the Phillies get older, then guess what? There could be a period where Texas embraces the Rangers and they can become a national brand like never before.

A title will give them substance. Why not have them be an answer to big Northeast baseball. Have it become a regional rival. Hell, if Dallas and Pittsburgh could become football rivals, why can't Texas and New York in baseball?

Superpowers spread throughout the country is how baseball will improve its popularity. Might as well do it in the heart of football country!

Now Atlanta fans don't have the best reputation in the country. They seemed to be jaded by the 14 consecutive post seasons as good seats were available for playoff games!





So there you have it. The Rangers are in and just ask the Tigers, they mean to win.
The National League champ should be put on notice. There could be a NEW America's team in the Dallas area.

And that might not be so bad.



If you liked this then go ahead and read the entries for the other teams.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
CHICAGO WHITE SOX

CLEVELAND INDIANS
DETROIT TIGERS
LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
NEW YORK YANKEES
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
TAMPA BAY RAYS

The Tom House 1979 Topps Card is worth a salute

Today the staff at Sully Baseball salute Tom House and specifically his wonderful 1979 Topps Card.

The card is a work of beauty as only Topps could do.

First of all, Tom’s look is working big time. The glasses show he is a smart guy (who later really did earn a PhD in psychology) but the porn stache shows it is the 1970s all the way. (The Larry Wilcox blond hair helps too.)

Clearly shot at spring training, he is styling in the Mariners double knit pull over pajama like uniforms.

And you’ve GOT to love the trident hat. I’ve always been a fan of the classic trident logo without the star. I like the current “S” logo, so I am not saying they should go back to the trident. I’m just saying it is a shame that we never saw a post season game with the trident hat.

And the best part of all… he’s not releasing the ball. I know this was a posed, staged shot… but did they have to use the one where he is clearly not going to let go of it? It’s not like he is showing us the logo. It’s a pitching pose… and as forced and awkward as you will ever see.

This bothered me at age seven. “Why isn’t he releasing the ball?” I kept thinking.

Tom House himself had a career that was more fascinating than the numbers on the back of his card would suggest.

He had a few good years as a left handed reliever for the Braves in the mid 1970s, but his big league playing career was over after the 1978 season with the Mariners. In fact the stats on this Topps card are the final tally of his 8 seasons.

As a member of the 1974 Braves, he caught Hank Aaron’s 715th homer on the fly. He saved 11 games and pitched to a 1.93 ERA over 102 2/3 innings, all in relief that year, his best in the bigs.

He also admitted to experimenting with steroids back in the 1970s, but stopped because his fastball didn’t improve. He’s been one of the most honest people NOT named Jose Canseco on the topic.

House has been an influential coach for many pitchers and was singled out by Nolan Ryan in his Hall of Fame acceptance speech as a great influence.

The “Father of Modern Pitching Mechanics” coaches for USC and has written many book and made several videos about pitching mechanics.

I wonder if he teaches to release the ball in those videos.

The Texas Rangers - A film by Clint Eastwood

The Texas Rangers story this season has unfolded like a movie... but not just any kind of movie.

Specifically it has been a Clint Eastwood film.
I'm not talking about the Spaghetti Westerns, the Dirty Harry films or even the Clyde the Orangutan movies.

I'm talking about the respected Clint Eastwood films of the 1990s and 2000s.
You know, the ones he churns out about once every 8 months. The ones where, even if you didn't like them, you'd think, "Well, at least it was well made."

Bear with me, but the story of the 2010 Texas Rangers would be an ideal film for Clint not only to produce and direct but also to star in.

It is a story like Unforgiven or Million Dollar Baby where Clint is the grizzled old timer brought in to do what he was born to do... and paired up with a partner his age and a young whipper snapper.

Think about it!
You have Nolan Ryan leaving his ranch to save the Rangers.
You have Ron Washington and Josh Hamilton overcoming their drug past.
You have a Rangers team that is filled with cast offs from other teams giving each other antler signs.

And they beat the Yankees! It seems that every baseball movie, with the exception of Pride of the Yankees and The Scout, has the Yankees as the bad guys. Even the Bad News Bears had the evil little league team called the Yankees.

It adds juice to seeing them win the pennant at the end.

Rent your tuxedo for the Oscars, Clint... the movie is tailor made. The script would practically be a Mad Lib.

And let this blog post be one of two things:

1) My pitch, in case anyone at Clint's Malpaso Productions reads my blog.

or

2) A way for people to see I predicted this movie before they even rolled cameras.


The film stars...

CLINT EASTWOOD as NOLAN RYAN

Yeah, he doesn't look like Ryan (as Ryan has clearly discovered the Rawlings All American Grill). But Clint has Ryan's imposing presence. He's the legendary cowboy whose background makes everyone stand at attention. He's the old school hero who wants nothing to do with these crazy new ideas. You can imagine him responding to the concept of pitch counts with a quiet, "Say what?"

MORGAN FREEMAN as RON WASHINGTON

Sure he's older than the real Washington, but this is Hollywood. Stockard Channing played a teenager in Grease for Christ's sake! Besides he can play the instant respect card when he arrives in the dugout. And he can play the troubled side when his cocaine use comes out. Plus let's face it, he could narrate the hell out of the film. Give it the ole Shawshank Redemption - Million Dollar Baby treatment.

MATT DAMON as JOSH HAMILTON

Clint has used Matt in his last few films, and why not? He's awesome. He doesn't really look like Josh Hamilton, but who cares? He can play the many layers of Hamilton. Ryan will inevitably get Hamilton pumped up, reminding him not to throw away his gifts and chance to be a great player. The Rangers are his third team and best shot at redemption. And Clint is big on redemption. Plus, when Washington has the cocaine problem, it can be Hamilton, the young player, who reaches out and helps him. When he stands by his manager, it will bring a lump to the throat like Jimmy standing by Coach Dale in Hoosiers.

HILARY SWANK as CLIFF LEE

Let's face it. Hilary is dying for a third Oscar... and Clint loves her. She's already won an Academy Award playing a woman pretending to be a man. Why not push it all the way? She'll just play a guy! And just treat it as if it is normal. By the end people will be saying, "I completely forgot it was a woman playing Cliff Lee" and BAM! She'll have a third golden guy for her collection.

And there are the supporting roles.

ADAM ARKIN as CHUCK GREENBERG

He's the investor who lures Ryan out of retirement to save the team. He has to visit Ryan at his cattle ranch and no doubt steps his expensive shoes in some cow pies. He has to deliver the inevitable "We need you to come back" speech and tell him he can run the team HIS way. Then later in the film they'll cut to him a lot clapping.

JESSICA LANGE as RUTH RYAN

It's a shame Sondra Locke can't play this role, which will inevitably be thankless. Ruth, Nolan's wife, initially is skeptical about Ryan's going back to the Rangers. She realizes how it will be his last bit of youth sparked again and agrees. Then later in the film they'll cut to her a lot clapping.

GIOVANNI RIBISI as JON DANIELS
Ribisi would be spot on as the super young GM who works well (and shows respect) to Nolan Ryan. And along the way teaches Ryan that the young kids may have a few good ideas in their head. He looks concerned during a lot of the ball game scenes and gives Nolan Ryan someone to growl to.

NATHAN FILLION as C. J. WILSON

The left hander has a great season pitching the Nolan Ryan way... and let's face it. He looks like the star of Castle. And why would Fillion turn down a role in a Clint Eastwood film?

MICHAEL PENA as BENGIE MOLINA

The actor from Crash worked with Clint in Million Dollar Baby. He comes over to the team in mid season and gives the pitching staff a boost... plus when he hits for the cycle and later steals a base in the playoffs, it can be a comical moment.

RYAN KWANTEN as MICHAEL YOUNG

The Aussie does a nice job with an American accent on True Blood, and he's in shape enough to play the versatile Young in the film. Plus he's a nice looking man.

JAIMZ WOOLVETT as MIKE MADDUX

OK, he looks NOTHING like Mike Maddux. But damn it, Woolvett was GREAT as the Schofield Kid in Unforgiven and proved he could handle himself in a scene with the likes of Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman. He should be in the cast, damn it!

TIMOTHY BOTTOMS as GEORGE W. BUSH

The former owner of the Rangers who dabbled in politics will show up from time to time. No, you can't put Will Farrell in this movie. Besides, Bottoms played serious Bush in a 9/11 TV movie and silly Bush in "That's My Bush." He can handle the cameo.

So, come on! You can picture it! Even the poster can say

ACADEMY AWARD WINNER CLINT EASTWOOD

ACADEMY AWARD WINNER MATT DAMON

ACADEMY AWARD WINNER MORGAN FREEMAN

ACADEMY AWARD WINNER HILARY SWANK

ACADEMY AWARD WINNER JESSICA LANGE

IN A FILM BY CLINT EASTWOOD

(WHO HAS 3 MORE OSCARS NOT COUNTING THE FIRST ONE WE MENTIONED WHEN WE LISTED CLINT IN THE CAST!)

It smells like Oscar bait.

I demand a producer credit.

Should Felix Hernandez win the Cy Young even with a losing record?

King Felix Hernandez won against the Yankees last night in dominating fashion.

He threw 8 innings of shutout ball, striking out 11.
He is second in the league with a 2.51 ERA. He had thrown more innings than anyone in the American League.

He has one of the lowest WHIPs, is second in strikeouts, and according to Baseball Reference is among the league leaders in a bunch of categories I don't understand.

First in Adjusted Pitching Runs and Adjusted Pitching Wins.
Second in Base Outs Runs Saved and Base Out Wins Saved.

I don't know what the hell those mean, but they sound impressive.

One thing stuck out at me looking at his line score:
His record in 9-10.

This brilliant season and he is still sporting a losing record. I know it isn't his FAULT. He plays for a lousy Mariners team that is on pace to go 65-97. Frankly going double digit wins for a team like that is impressive.

I think he should be a Cy Young front runner. Is he the hands down winner?
No... Cliff Lee, who LEADS a lot of those categories I didn't understand and a few others that I do, needs some consideration. (Good for him for getting out of his Mariners exile.)

David Price has had a great year. So Has C.C. Sabathia and Clay Buchholz.
Jon Lester looked lke a great candidate before the Blue Jays thumped him last night.

But King Felix should be mentioned as certainly a top 3 candidate.
And only his record might keep him from consideration.

It is similar to when Nolan Ryan led the National League in ERA and strikeouts as well as a bunch of those categories I mentioned before... but played on an Astros team with a woeful lineup.

He finished 8-16 and a distant 5th in the Cy Young voting. Steve Bedrosian won the Cy Young... but Ryan should have won it.

Look beyond the wins and losses for King Felix, Cy Young voters. Maybe learn a few new stat templates.

Even if you don't understand them, they should be impressive.

Hey Texas! You want to win dressed like THAT?

I wrote back on June 21st that I am not buying the Texas Rangers.

I've seen too many Rangers teams over the years look damn good until Arlington Texas turns into a kiln and suddenly the pitching staff turns into Shrinky Dinks.

And they finished the first half of the season on a 4 game slide including a sweep by the lowly Orioles.

However, they are making short work of my Red Sox since the All Star break.

They are up by 6 games in the loss column over the Angels.
They picked up Cliff Lee who should give the team a boost (not to mention the bullpen a rest).

They COULD win this Division.

And let's say Cliff Lee wins a pair of games in the Division Series and Colby Lewis or someone steals another game. (As of now the Rangers would play the Rays in the Division Series and have home field advantage.)

And what if they make it to the ALCS for the first time and their powerhouse line up propels them past the Yankees and into the World Series.

And then let's say the 2010 Texas Rangers does the unthinkable and takes out their National League counterparts.

Let's say they do it... and win the World Series.

Do they REALLY want to be crowned champions in these dull uniforms?

Look at them!

Just "TEXAS" on each uni? Really? OK, fine if you want to wear the road grays or dark blue top with Texas, that's fine.

But the HOME jersey with just a boring "TEXAS" across the chest? No "RANGERS"?

That's the most dull uniform decision since the Oakland A's just printing "OAKLAND" in block letters across their jerseys in the mid 1980s.

Now the Rangers have had a checkered past in their uniforms. They have a few entries in my "Most Forgettable Uniforms of the past 30 Years" entry.

And their two main uniform designs before this one are not my favorite.

This uniform with the wild west "Home on the Range" font never did anything for me...

Even someone as bad ass as Al Oliver couldn't make this uniform look good.

Plus, name one memorable moment that happened in these unis that call for nostalgia.

Can't do it, can you?

Nolan Ryan looked awesome in the 80s and 90s throwing no hitters in his Rangers uniform...

Unfortunately he also looked like a Dodger! Those threads are just a little too much like the L.A. home unis for my taste.

So I am clearly not advocating going back to THOSE styles.




This alternate uniform worn by Mark Teixeira in 2006 is cool.

The "T" to the side reminds me of the old English D for the Tigers but it isn't the same font or color scheme.

Plus I am a sucker for the sleeveless jerseys.



But the best home uniforms they ever had were from their only Division Title years, 1996, 1998 and 1999.

The red hats. The red piping. The cool wild west font.

Sure it feels a little like the Red Sox uniforms, but the all red motif sets it apart.

Plus they WON in those uniforms. They had 3 MVPs. And they fit the incredibly juiced up bodies of those Rangers clubs.

Bring those back for the second half of the season. Tell Selig it will help sell more jerseys. There's no way he could say no to THAT!

So come, Rangers. If you want to BE a champion, it helps to LOOK like one.