Big Al

What CD(s) is that?

I'm always amazed that when a team plays badly - especially in the playoffs - that the coach gets the blame. Coaching may have something to do with it - making adjustments against a team seen every second or third night in a series - but the players are the ones who are on the court, and the ones who have to do it. If Wallace and McDyess play badly, they should bear the brunt of the responsibility, not the coach. Unfortunately, that's the way it is. Avery Johnson is on the hot seat right now because the Mavs are pulling yet another gutless collapse (except Dirk, who is playing his heart out). Is it fair? Maybe, maybe not; depends on who you believe wanted the Kidd trade more: Avery or Cuban? Personally, I think Avery wants out anyway. I think he's tired of Cuban trying to coach the team.

Dirk is playing like a man possessed. That ankle injury seems to have been a blessing. Jet's not doing too bad either, but everyone else needs to follow their lead.

The Waltz That Carried Us Away and Then a Mosquito Came and Ate Up My Sweetheart - John Fahey

Thanks for mentioning this album. I'd never heard it and am listening to it on Rhapsody right now. "Jesus Maria" makes me want to buy the CD right now. Wow, what a beautiful song!

Happy birthday JG! 80 years and approximately 80 million notes, not a one of 'em wasted!

Wish I had something constructive to add, but I'm only familiar with his music through the way it/he moved others. That's worth a lot more than any song that I know of. RIP

The only team worse than the Rangers is the Washington Nationals. That irony is not lost on me one bit. And so goes yet another wonderful baseball season here in Loserville, TX. But Al - I just read that Baseball America says Texas has the fourth best farm system in baseball. If they are big sellers in June, they should have an even better group of prospects in hand - and that usually means that better times are near. Well, you know what you usually find out on the farm...... Actually, since Nolan Ryan's an old cowboy himself, maybe he'll know how to whip the youngsters into shape. This will only happen if he stands up to Hicks and tells Hicks that Ryan himself should be in charge of the farm system. One can only hope.

The only team worse than the Rangers is the Washington Nationals. That irony is not lost on me one bit. And so goes yet another wonderful baseball season here in Loserville, TX.

Hey, that's how the Mavs lost to the Warriors last April. What is it with teams that do this? I'll never understand. Yeah, it's a bummer that the W's didn't get in; they certainly deserved it more than the Mavs, not to mention over half the playoff teams in the East. THAT'S got to be frustrating!

Try NO in 4. The Mavs got schooled tonight. Looks like yet another first-round exit for the gutless wonders.

Boy, you know your team sucks when one of your best pitchers gives up seven runs in three innings, and they still can't come back against the team with the second worst record in the league and ultimately lose 10-2. And talk about the kids - no, I'd rather not. And the future is frightening.

Could y'all please stop resurrecting this thread? My wallet can't take much more of this. Sheesh!

If you do put together such a list, may I have a copy PM'd to me as well?

Is that no OFF-ence or no o-FFENCE? That's "once again, we have no offense!" Like I said before, it's the sense of a team that feels helpless in the face of management that either doesn't care or has no clue. Or both.

Big Al, Do you think Wash may not be tough enough or have the right skills to be a manager? Hard to blame the manager when you don't have the pitching or position players to succeed but was wondering what the thoughts on him were in your neck of the woods. I think it's just a general malaise around the whole Rangers (dis)organization that is trickling down (or in this case cascading down) to the coaching staff and the players. Everyone that isn't in (mis)management knows that the folks running the show (Tom Hicks and his man in the shadows, John Hart) haven't got a fucking clue. How clueless is Tom Hicks? He's so fucking clueless he thinks he knows more about running a Liverpool football team than actual Liverpudlians, based on his track record of "owning successful sports franchises." No, I am not making that up. I can't write shit that fantastical. So, it's no wonder that the managers and players just show up to cash a paycheck. I also don't think Wash has good enough managerial skills, but given what he has to deal with, I'm not even sure Joe Torre could handle this circus. At least Steinbrenner has a clue. Hey Dan, happy sweep. No offense!

I'm in!

And did it help my guys at all? Y'all still won because we have a defense that couldn't beat a Little League team. It's like the guy on the radio said today: the Red Sox find ways to win, the Rangers find ways to lose. The Rangers have had worse teams than this, but none of those teams lacked any kind of desire to win. These guys don't care, and it's because they have an owner who can't see the connection between a winning team and butts in the seats; a GM who is still a puppet for the real GM in the shadows; and a manager who tows the company line. Oh yeah, and let's not forget the legendary pitcher who is frittering away whatever goodwill he has by publicly towing the company line. Shit like this is gonna make people around here forget that Nolan Ryan was ever a decent pitcher to begin with. My money's on a four-game sweep. It's already being a looooooooooong fucking season.

And who'da thunk it? Jennings has an outstanding performance against your guys, only to be given away by the bullpen. {{{{{{{{{{{{{SIGH}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Congratulations and God bless the child! So glad to hear that mommy and baby (and she is a doll!) are doing well! I agree with rostasi: Miranda Alfredson has a nice ring to it! Egad, I hope not!!! That is not a fun name to walk around with, Icantellyou!!!

Happy Birthday, Agg, and HOOK 'EM HORNS!!!! :party: See you this summer, I hope!

See that, Dan? Nothing to worry about! What'd I tellya?

There are three certainties in life: 1. Death 2. Taxes 3. Whenever the Rangers play the Red Sox, Dan starts off a post to me with the words, "No offense." All this time I thought he was merely commenting on my team's current lack of run production; turns out he just doesn't want to hurt my feelings! I think? Man, I've been a Ranger fan for close to my whole life. If I'm not used to losing now, there's no hope left! I wouldn't be surprised if the Sox run roughshod over my guys, but then I certainly didn't expect them to take two in a row from Toronto after having been swept by that same team back here in Texas last weekend. Anything's possible, but the only thing that would surprise me anymore is a World Series title for the Rangers. That won't happen as long as Tom Hicks owns the team.

Rangers win two in a row. As Duke Pearson would say, "Wahoo!"