State of the Rangers' Farm

- After watching spare after spare make their major league debuts on the mound for the Rangers, I was calmed down and excited at the same time after reading this report from Newberg.

- I'm getting sick of watching soft-tossing, pitch to contact pitchers come up and spare us to death. Read this Top 20 and you immediately regain hope that yes, the Rangers do have strikeout pitchers who can touch 95+. And all of them are starters.

- A great team is built up the middle. Pitching, catching, center field, and middle infield. And the Rangers are stacked to the gills with all of this.

- This farm system makes my pants go crazy.



Farm Crop: Rangers' Top 20 Prospects

By Jamey Newberg / Special to MLB.com

Not long ago, a list of the legitimate frontline prospects in the Texas Rangers' farm system only went about four or five deep.
Not so these days.

Few teams are as flush in minor league talent as the Rangers are today. The combination of improved drafting (including a willingness to pay above slot to get the right player), a huge resurgence in the international market, and a Herschel Walker-esque flurry of trades in the last week of July 2007 has produced a massive influx of talent into the club's farm system the last couple years. The player development program has executed as well, providing a franchise-record-tying 16 rookies to the big leagues in 2008, and there's more on the way. Lots more.

Each week in this space I'll rank the top 20 prospects in the Rangers system, with two criteria: (1) only players who still have rookie eligibility (fewer than 130 big league at-bats or 50 innings pitched) are candidates for the list, and (2) in order to go as deep into the system as possible, I'll leave off players currently with the big league club. So while Warner Madrigal isn't eligible for this list, for instance, Max Ramirez is.

One other thought before launching into this initial Top 20 list, which I'll adjust each week as players assert themselves even further: I could make a case that there are farm systems in baseball right now whose Top 10 lists aren't as strong as the number 11-20 entries on the list that follows.

1. NEFTALI FELIZ, RHP, AA Frisco

The jump to AA may be the toughest in the minor leagues, but it hasn't tripped up the 20-year-old Feliz, who skipped High A altogether. He continues to strike out more than 10 batters per nine innings, has yet to allow a home run in eight AA starts, and punches up triple digits on the radar gun from time to time. Feliz threw five no-hit innings Tuesday night, improving his opponents' batting average for the year to .198.

2. DEREK HOLLAND, LHP, AA Frisco

The greatest breakthrough in the system this year, without question. In his first full season out of Wallace State Community College, Holland has lost one game in 24 starts between Low A, High A, and AA, sporting a 12-1, 2.40 record with 145 strikeouts and 36 walks in 138.2 innings. His power arsenal (featuring a fastball that sits 91-97) is playing up: Clinton opponents hit .228 off Holland, Bakersfield opponents hit .185, and Frisco opponents are hitting .156.

3. ELVIS ANDRUS, SS, AA Frisco

The youngest position player in the Texas League, Andrus hit .260 / .302 / .310 in April, .278/.343/.22 in May, .309/.385/.397 in June, and .330/.382/.423 in July. He's stolen 49 bases and makes every play defensively. Special player.

4. MICHAEL MAIN, RHP, Low A Clinton

Sidelined with a ribcage injury for the first half of the season, the 19-year-old Main has been dominant since returning, striking out more than a batter per inning and walking only a third as many. The Midwest League is hitting just .217 off the athletic righthander, who works in the mid-90s.

5. TAYLOR TEAGARDEN, C, AAA Oklahoma

Teagarden's year at the plate (.217/.331/.378 in the minors) has been less productive than his 2007 season, but he's a brilliant defender and one of the top catcher prospects in baseball, as evidenced by his selection to the Futures Game in July and Team USA as it competes in Beijing.

6. MAX RAMIREZ, C, AAA Oklahoma

If Justin Smoak hits .315/.415/.520 as a minor leaguer, he'll be on every publication's list of the best prospects in baseball. That's what Ramirez has done offensively in his five pro seasons, and he has shown this year that he's a better catcher than his reputation suggested. Great future.

7. JUSTIN SMOAK, 1B, Clinton

Power from both sides of the plate, good size, outstanding defender at first base. He'll be higher on this list in the spring. Signed minutes before last week's deadline, Smoak should never have fallen to Texas at number 11 in the draft. Perceived signability issues didn't scare the Rangers off.

8. ENGEL BELTRE, CF, Low A Clinton

The youngest position player in the Midwest League, Beltre is built like a middle infielder but throws like Josh Hamilton. Some view him as a leadoff hitter with game-changing speed (though he has alarmingly low walk rates), others think he will hit with middle-of-the-order power. A .208 hitter when Texas insisted that Boston include him with David Murphy and Kason Gabbard in the Eric Gagné trade, Beltre has hit .286 since joining the Rangers.

9. BLAKE BEAVAN, RHP, Low A Clinton

Pitching at age 19 in a league full of hitters three years older, Beaven is 9-6, 2.50 in 21 starts, walking only 1.5 batters per nine innings. Outstanding pro debut for the Irving product, whose ERA in his last nine starts is a sparkling 1.47.

10. KASEY KIKER, LHP, High A Bakersfield

Kiker, still just 20, is unfairly overlooked because of the massive influx of new talent since he arrived in 2006. Pitching against older competition in the hitter-friendly California League, the southpaw is 5-4, 4.18 with a 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, posting a 2.39 ERA in the second half.

11. WILMER FONT, RHP, Rookie-Level Arizona League

The Rangers are exercising understandable caution with the 18-year-old, who stands a sturdy 6'4" and touches 98 on the radar gun. The club held him back in extended spring training with shoulder fatigue, and then a knee issue delayed his season until this week, when he showed up in the AZL. Font debuted in that league last year, racking up 61 strikeouts in 45.2 innings.

12. JULIO BORBON, CF, AA Frisco

A plus defender in center field, the Rangers envision Borbon as a leadoff hitter with gap power. So far, so good: one year into his pro career, he's hit over .300 and reached base at a .350 clip between High A and AA, stealing 49 bases in 65 tries.

13. MARTIN PEREZ, LHP, Short-Season A Spokane

Huge upside for the 17-year-old from Venezuela, whom Texas signed for nearly $600,000 last summer. Pitching against competition four to five years older this season, Perez has held his own in the Northwest League, striking out seven batters per nine innings and posting a 4.26 ERA.

14. NEIL RAMIREZ, RHP, Short-Season A Spokane

The 19-year-old, taken by Texas in the supplemental first round last summer, has 37 strikeouts in 32 innings this season, holding the Northwest League to a .164 batting average. Ramirez has electric stuff, featuring a mid-90s fastball-power curve combination that has elicited John Smoltz and A.J. Burnett comparisons.

15. WILFREDO BOSCAN, RHP, Short-Season A Spokane

Phenomenal season for the 18-year-old Venezuelan, who is 8-0, 3.02 with 59 strikeouts and an unfathomable eight walks in 56.2 innings, not to mention one of the best groundball rates of any starter in the system.

16. JOSE VALLEJO, 2B, AA Frisco

A standout defender with eye-opening range, good hands, and a strong arm, the 21-year-old is having his best year at the plate. A .253 hitter with five career home runs in four seasons coming into 2008, he's hitting .293 with 11 homers this year between High A and AA, to go along with 37 steals in 41 tries.

17. TOMMY HUNTER, RHP, AAA Oklahoma

His big league debut was shaky, but in what would otherwise be his junior season in college, Hunter has had a phenomenal year, going 12-8, 3.68 at the High A, AA, and AAA levels, getting into the seventh inning on average, issuing fewer than two walks per nine innings, and flashing a solid breaking ball.

18. GERMAN DURAN, IF, AAA Oklahoma

Don't be discouraged by the .225/.279/.363 line he put up in sporadic work for the Rangers this spring. The 24-year-old was impressive defensively and showed some pop at the plate. Suffering a season-ending thumb injury in July, he's a candidate for a big league utility role going into 2009.

19. CRISTIAN SANTANA, LF, Low A Clinton

The former catcher has had a difficult season, striking out more than a third of the time and hitting just .223/.288/.392. There's still plenty of time for the 19-year-old, who has 15 home runs in 422 pro at-bats, but he'll be expected to take a step forward in 2009.

20. ROBBIE ROSS, LHP, Unassigned

Signed for mid-first-round money last week, the 2008 second-rounder won't make his pro debut until 2009. A short but athletic fastball-slider-change pitcher, Ross will report to the Rangers' fall instructional league program next month and give Texas its first chance to work with the newest member of its growing stable of promising lefthanders.




- Same cast of characters back for another mediocre season. The sudden decline into an average team is painful to watch.



Devean George agrees to two-year deal with Dallas Mavericks

07:56 PM CDT on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
By BRANDON GEORGE / The Dallas Morning News
bgeorge@dallasnews.com

Devean George is staying in Dallas, after all.

George and the Mavericks reached an agreement Wednesday on a new, two-year contract worth about $4 million, according to George's agent, Mark Bartelstein. Bartelstein said the deal includes an option for George to return to free agency after next season.

"He's excited about returning to the Mavericks," Bartelstein said. "He's excited about playing for [new coach] Rick Carlisle. Rick made a great impression on him and came to visit him a couple of times."

The signing of George, who turns 31 on Aug. 29, leaves the Mavs with one open roster spot. The 6-8 guard/forward was on the roster last season, earning roughly $2.3 million.

George averaged 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 53 games last season. He has averaged 5.8 points and 3.3 rebounds over nine NBA seasons, the first seven with the Los Angeles Lakers.

At least six other teams showed interest in George in free agency.

For a while, it appeared George would be headed elsewhere. The Mavs' roster was filling up, and George had controversially refused in February to be included in a trade with New Jersey for Jason Kidd.

Fans booed George during a Feb. 13 game at American Airlines Center for his refusal to be included in the trade. The Mavs wound up acquiring Kidd in another deal, but it cost team owner Mark Cuban in excess of $11 million more than the proposed trade involving George would have.

Mavericks president Donnie Nelson said earlier this month that fans shouldn't "hold out a lot of hope" of the team resigning George because the two sides were so far apart on the numbers.

However, Bartelstein said "there was an interest on both sides all along to keep him in Dallas.

"'DG' has done a good job as a defensive specialist for us," Cuban said. "We think he can be even better under Coach Carlisle."




- McLovin


- A total bad ass

Deadline Day

- Deadline day is here. After robbing the bank last year, Jon Daniels seems to be (and should be) content on just standing pat, unless someone blows him away with offers of young pitching.

- After stealing David Murphy (for Gagne) and Max Ramirez (for Lofton), along with the Teixeira steal, JD has earned the right to be selective and not have the pressure to make a deal.

- ESPN looks at the most interesting 9 deals of the past 10 years, and the Rangers have 3 of the top 4.


The Boston Red Sox acquire reliever Eric Gagne from Texas for outfielders David Murphy and Engel Beltre and pitcher Kason Gabbard -- July 31, 2007

The quote: "We actually love our bullpen," says Boston manager Terry Francona. "We think it just got a lot better."

Red Sox fans rejoice over the addition of Gagne, who has 16 saves and a 2.16 ERA for the Rangers, to complement Jonathan Papelbon and Hideki Okajima at the back end of the bullpen.

Boston's glee is magnified because the Yankees were also pursuing Gagne but failed to land him because GM Brian Cashman refused to part with Ian Kennedy or Melky Cabrera to clinch the deal.

The postscript: The Red Sox went on to win their second World Series in four years, so it's tough to knock GM Theo Epstein for the trade. But Gagne was so bad in Boston, the Red Sox were scared to use him in big spots down the stretch. He now serves as a cautionary tale for executives who are wary of paying extortion prices for high-profile bullpen arms.

Texas, meanwhile, loves its end of the deal. Murphy has 14 homers and 66 RBIs this season, and he has played better than expected from a guy who was considered a fourth outfielder. Beltre, a mere 18, is hitting .282 with 20 stolen bases for Clinton in the Class A Midwest League.


Atlanta acquires first baseman Mark Teixeira and reliever Ron Mahay from Texas for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, shortstop Elvis Andrus and minor league pitchers Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison and Beau Jones -- July 31, 2007

The headline: "Brave Heart -- By Nabbing Teixeira, Schuerholz Proves He's the Alpha GM" (New York Post)

Braves GM John Schuerholz, the proverbial lion in winter, earns widespread praise for landing the big stick on the market. The consensus is that Teixeira will combine with Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones -- who's driven by a potentially huge free-agent payday -- to make Atlanta the front-runner in the division.

It's a heck of a coup for the Braves, considering that: (a) Julio Franco had been playing first base before Teixeira's arrival; and (b) Schuerholz also acquired Octavio Dotel for the underachieving Kyle Davies to upgrade Atlanta's bullpen for the stretch run.

The postscript: Teixeira drove in 56 runs in 54 games with Atlanta. But the Braves, 4½ games out at the time of the trade, finished five behind Philadelphia in the division. And now Schuerholz's successor, Frank Wren, has responded to a lost season by trading Teixeira to the Angels before this year's deadline.

Texas' haul from Atlanta looks good even though Saltalamacchia has yet to hit as advertised. Andrus, only 19 years old, is hitting .291 for Frisco in the Double-A Texas League. And Feliz, who recently turned 20, throws a fastball that has been clocked at triple digits. He has 127 strikeouts in 102 minor league innings this season.

Along with the Gagne deal, the Teixeira trade helped GM Jon Daniels rebuild the Texas farm system and regain some of the goodwill he lost with that Adrian Gonzalez-Chris Young San Diego fiasco.


- Texas acquires outfielders Carlos Lee and Nelson Cruz from Milwaukee for reliever Francisco Cordero, outfielders Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix, and minor league pitcher Julian Cordero -- July 29, 2006

The quote: "I was so excited I couldn't sleep," said Texas owner Tom Hicks after receiving a 1:30 a.m. call telling him the team had acquired Lee.

Two days after the Rangers are swept by the Yankees, Daniels makes it clear he hasn't quit on the season. He adds a premier middle-of-the-order bat in Lee, who became available after spurning a four-year, $48 million contract offer from Milwaukee.

Daniels' bold move sends the desired jolt of energy through the Texas clubhouse. "I'm real excited this club is really going for it right now," says shortstop Michael Young.

The postscript: In hindsight, Hicks should have rolled over and gone back to sleep. Lee hit .322 with a .525 slugging percentage as a Ranger. But the pitching staff ranked 29th in the majors in ERA, Texas finished 80-82, and manager Buck Showalter paid for it by getting fired. In November 2006, Lee signed a six-year, $100 million contract with Houston.

The Brewers regarded Mench as a linchpin to the deal. But after hitting 51 homers during the 2004 and 2005 seasons, Mench arrived in Milwaukee wielding a Nerf bat. He hit nine homers in 414 at-bats to play his way out of town, and he's been little more than an afterthought in Toronto.

Cordero might have been the biggest beneficiary of the trade. He parlayed a strong finish with Milwaukee into a four-year, $46 million free-agent contract with Cincinnati.





- Rangers only looking for pitching if they're going to deal one of their veterans or young catchers.



Texas Rangers only want to get their mitts on pitching

02:32 AM CDT on Thursday, July 31, 2008
By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News
egrant@dallasnews.com

ARLINGTON – A year ago, the Texas Rangers baseball operations staff spent the final hours of the non-waiver trading period formulating, constructing and tweaking complicated multiplayer deals designed to restock the farm system.

General manager Jon Daniels' plan for this year's deadline is much simpler.

Either the Rangers will get quality young pitching or they'll keep their wealth of catchers at least until the off-season. Though Daniels continues to hold conversations, particularly with Cincinnati, Boston and Kansas City, the chances of completing a deal are slim.

The trading period expires today at 3 p.m. Central time. To make a deal after the deadline, players must clear waivers.

"It's not a well-kept secret that we've placed a priority on quality young pitching," Daniels said Wednesday. "If we do something, we want it to be somebody that can help us now and in the future.

"[Catching] is probably the area about which we've had the most conversation. I haven't initiated any of them. And I don't plan to. We have depth there and good players. We are not motivated to make a deal unless it is something that makes us a better club going forward."

The Rangers have catchers to satisfy the needs of just about any team, and that's why they've been such a popular destination. For clubs seeking a veteran, Gerald Laird has four years of experience and an inexpensive contract. Cincinnati has expressed the most interest in him but probably would have to give up top pitching prospect Homer Bailey of LaGrange, Texas, to get a deal done.

For building clubs, there is 23-year-old Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who could mature into an everyday player. Kansas City is looking to improve its stock of position players and might be willing to consider trading its top starter, Zack Greinke, if it received a package of players.

And for teams seeking a catcher of the future, there is Taylor Teagarden, on loan to Team USA for the Olympics.

Boston is looking for a potential replacement for Jason Varitek, a free agent at the end of the year. The Red Sox, who have a deep minor league system, and Rangers cut a deadline deal last year that sent Eric Gagne to Boston. Minor league right-hander Michael Bowden, who reportedly was among the names discussed in last year's deal, could be of interest again.

But in return for any of their catchers, the Rangers want – and need – more starting pitching. Though Daniels said there have been proposals with clubs that revolved around position players, most deals have centered on getting pitching in return. Prying away young pitching has been hard to do in this trading season.

"It's a limited market," said Daniels, who declined to comment on specifics of any deals.

Although the Rangers would like to upgrade a pitching staff that began the day with a 5.26 ERA, he said the club isn't likely to add a free agent-to-be "rental" player. The Rangers will, however, watch free agent Freddy Garcia, who is coming back from shoulder surgery, work out next week, Daniels said.

If the trade market does not produce the kind of pitching the Rangers want, the club could wait until the winter when more teams may be in the market for catching.

"We do put a high value on our guys," Daniels said. "The interest we've received only serves as affirmation of that."






- Rangers win again, close to within 4.5 games of the wild card.....



Young comes through in a pinch in Texas Rangers' 4-3 win

01:47 AM CDT on Thursday, July 31, 2008
By RICHARD DURRETT / The Dallas Morning News
rdurrett@dallasnews.com

ARLINGTON – Even a stiff, fractured right ring finger wasn't enough to keep Michael Young from making an impact in Wednesday's 4-3 win over Seattle.


He couldn't start because of the finger and didn't even put on his uniform until the seventh inning. He'd been watching the game on TV with his finger in an ice bucket. But when manager Ron Washington needed his leader to step in and deliver in his first pinch-hit appearance in nearly six years, Young was ready.

He needed just one swing, sending a fly ball to center off reliever Arthur Rhodes that scored David Murphy from third in the eighth to break a tie score. It was Young's first pinch-hit RBI in seven career appearances.

"I was pretty jacked up," said Young, who helped his team move 4 ½ games behind in the wild-card race. "I hadn't ever pinch hit in that kind of situation. I had to take some deep breaths."

Young's heroics, which reminded him of his winning hit in the All-Star Game in 2006, wouldn't have happened without starter Vicente Padilla and a patient Rangers offense.

The deliberate Padilla managed to get through the seventh inning despite loading the bases with no outs (two infield singles and a hit batsman). Murphy caught Raul Ibanez's fly ball and threw out Willie Bloomquist trying to score. Padilla then struck out Adrian Beltre.

It was just the 20th time a Rangers starter went at least seven innings this season. Padilla has done it eight times.

That helped set the stage for the eighth. The Rangers, who were tied for second in the AL in pitches per plate appearance (3.86) coming into the game, were patient against Rhodes, a left-hander. Murphy, Josh Hamilton and Marlon Byrd each walked on 3-2 pitches before Young drove in the winning run. Rhodes was yelling at plate umpire Paul Nauert and was ejected.

The Nomadic Punk moves on

- Mark Teixeira moves on to his 3rd team in 1 year, and will be expected to suit up for his 4th team by Spring Training 2009.

- As has been written here many times, this guy is a poison pill to the highest degree.

- He cares nothing about his team, his city, his teammates, fans, and anyone else outside of himself. He plays not for team championships, not for passion, not for pride, etc. He plays for the highest bidder and develops absolutely no connection with his surroundings.

- He's basically a younger A-Rod.

- What's sad is, the guy is a legit hitting/fielding superstar. Gold Glove ability, and a 40 HR/150 RBI machine. But no one seems to want him, and are happy to ship him away.

- What will be fun to watch will be his side-stepping of contract questions by the LA media. The spin control stays the same, even when the cities change.

- Bash Jon Daniels all you want, but last year's trade could have been his best move of his entire career. If the 5 minor leaguers keep progressing like they are, he will never make another move this in his career. We're talking a potential baseball version of the Herschel Walker trade, the trade that laid the groundwork for the Cowboy's Championship run of the 90's.

- Buster Olney's analysis. Notice the final statement in the write-up.

Braves' '07 deal for Teixeira now a bust

Wednesday, July 30, 2008 | Feedback | Print Entry

It was a year ago that the Atlanta Braves traded five pieces of their farm system to the Texas Rangers for Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay. The hope then was that Teixeira would return to the city where he went to college and thrive and hoist Atlanta to October glory.
And Teixeira did hammer the ball in August and September, driving in 56 runs after he joined the Braves. But Atlanta's starting pitching crumbled and didn't make it to October. The Braves slogged through more injuries at the beginning of this season, when Teixeira didn't hit. And he balked at signing a multi-year deal to stay in Atlanta.

With the trade deadline looming and Teixeira only a couple of months away from achieving free agency, first-year Braves GM Frank Wren, who took over for John Schuerholz last fall, was left to make the best of a bad situation. Yes, the Braves checked in with a number of teams on Teixeira, but that's a long way from serious and aggressive interest, and in the end Wren had to choose between a couple of flawed offers. He wanted Conor Jackson from the Diamondbacks, but Arizona offered Chad Tracy instead.

So Wren took the Casey Kotchman proposal from the Angels, which was made possible only because Kotchman has generally failed to reach expectations.
If Kotchman -- the younger, cheaper player -- had been generating more than his .327 on-base percentage and his .448 slugging percentage, the Angels would not have considered making this deal. But the Angels' first basemen are 22nd in OPS and 22nd in RBIs this season, so they were willing to ship three years of Kotchman, who won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2011 season, for two months of Teixeira.

Maybe Kotchman will take a major step forward in Atlanta, or maybe not. Either way, we are one step closer to tabulating the Braves' final bill on Teixeira. In his one year with the team, the Braves went 77-83, and ranked 13th in runs per game in the big leagues. Meanwhile, the five players they shipped to Texas are making their own journeys:

• Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the switch-hitting catcher, is hitting .232, and increasingly, there are questions about how much he's going to hit in the big leagues.
• Left-hander Matt Harrison is 2-1 with a 7.32 ERA with the Rangers.
• Elvis Andrus, a slick-fielding shortstop, is hitting .291 with 43 stolen bases in Double-A.
• Lefty Beau Jones has a 2.93 ERA in Class A.
• Right-handed pitcher Neftali Feliz is 8-3 with a 2.46 ERA this season and has reached Double-A, and has racked up 127 strikeouts in 102 1/3 innings.

Feliz may turn out to have the biggest impact in the majors, and Andrus and Saltalamacchia are poised to have long careers in the big leagues. Time will tell on Harrison and Jones, but as a group, there is the great potential for low-price quality service in the majors, for years to come.

So there is no way that the Teixeira deal could be looked at as anything but an enormous bust for the Braves, and an enormous success for the Rangers and general manager Jon Daniels. The Braves made an aggressive, bold move in an effort to win, and the effort backfired. You can bet that other general managers will remember this when they are similarly tempted in the months and years to come, as they consider similar deals for stars marching toward free agency, like a Matt Holliday or a Prince Fielder.

The trade of Teixeira had to be done, writes Mark Bradley. Kotchman considers the trade a blessing, because it probably means he'll get to play more regularly.
Meanwhile, a couple of the Atlanta pitchers are going to get checked out by Dr. James Andrews. Atlanta got wrecked on Tuesday, fielding a depleted lineup. Within this Carroll Rogers piece, there is word of an odd scene in the Atlanta clubhouse:

(Inside the clubhouse, it was awkward. An hour before the game, with teammates in earshot, Teixeira gushed to reporters that the Angels were "the best team in baseball." While also being complimentary of his former teammates, it had a strange ring. Braves coaches recognized the situation and ushered Braves players into other areas of the clubhouse.)




- What started out as a promising career in 2004, will more than likely end in disappoint this Winter when the Rangers decline Hank Blalock's option.



Hank Blalock's time with the Texas Rangers may be done

By GIL LeBRETONglebreton@star-telegram.com

ARLINGTON — They ran out of time, ran out of hope and ran out of imaginary excuses to protect Hank Blalock’s Texas Rangers career Tuesday night.

When Blalock revealed before the game that his throwing shoulder has been bothering him since Friday, when the third baseman expressed surprise that it had been announced that he missed Monday’s game because of a stomach ache, and when Blalock had to be placed — again — on the disabled list Tuesday, the implications became ominous.

No, the veteran won’t be getting traded this week in exchange for somebody’s hot young pitching prospect.

No, carpal tunnel syndrome apparently wasn’t the last of Blalock’s boundless physical issues.

And, yes, most ominously, his career with the Rangers, a seven-year run that included two All-Star games, could well be over.

He was trade bait. And what team is going to be in the market now for a third baseman who can’t throw?

By the time Blalock will be eligible to return from the disabled list, Thursday’s major league non-waivers trading deadline will have passed.

An announcement was made during Tuesday’s win over the Seattle Mariners that Blalock has been given an injection and will be re-evaluated in 10 to 14 days. With little to show for his work at third base over the past two seasons, except for X-rays and rehab assignments, Blalock’s career at that position appears to be done.

"I think it’s too early to say that," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels countered Tuesday. "It’s concerning. We’ll just see how it plays out."

If Blalock does return to capable health — a long shot, based on his recent medical history — his prospects of rejoining the starting lineup would seem to be in jeopardy.

Rookie Chris Davis already has a two-fisted grip on the Rangers’ first base job. Davis could be moved temporarily to third base, but why would the Rangers do that, unless they plan to exercise a club option that would pay Blalock $6.2 million in 2009?

And on what wishful grounds would they base that decision? Blalock has played only 89 games in two seasons.

The Rangers are trying to turn the page to a brighter tomorrow. Hank hasn’t shown yet that he can be a dependable part of that.

His best bet was to get a fresh new start — somewhere over the rainbow, in, like, Minnesota.

That apparently was the motivation behind Monday night’s ham-handed decision to announce that Blalock’s last-minute scratch from the starting lineup was because of an "upset stomach."

"I erred in judgment in trying to protect one of my players," manager Ron Washington said before Tuesday’s game, "and I take the blame for that. I was just trying to protect one of my guys."

In a pregame meeting Tuesday with Washington, however, Blalock reportedly vividly expressed his displeasure that the club had concocted the stomach excuse.

"I can take responsibility for that," Washington said. "I didn’t want to put it out there that he had shoulder trouble, because I thought maybe that it would be well today. I didn’t want to put that out there, with him coming off the DL and everything.

"Sometimes, it’s not good to protect [someone]. I had to learn that the hard way."

Daniels, however, wouldn’t let Washington take the full blame for the deception.

"We had a call to make whether to protect a player or not," Daniels said. "No, he was not solely to blame."

Whatever. The Rangers aren’t the first local sports team to disguise the full details of a player’s injury. Daniels asserted that the club had no intentions of trading an injured player "without full disclosure."

Instead, the whole Stomach-Gate incident illustrates how earnestly the Rangers wanted to deal Blalock. It also sheds a brighter light on Blalock’s own sudden decision last month to shift to first base.

Too late now, of course. The clock is ticking on the trading deadline. And Hank Blalock is hurt — once again.

When he returns — if he returns — there is no place for him on these new Rangers, especially at $6.2 million next season and with nowhere to play him.

The finality of that, a popular player seeing his Rangers career at a likely final crossroads, cast an awkward and somber pall on Tuesday’s proceedings.

The fact that it was handled awkwardly didn’t help things.




- Unbelievablely awesome time-killer here....

http://watchthesimpsonsonline.com/

CJ the set-up man

- CJ has lived on the edge all year. Sometimes it works out and he gets the save, and sometimes it explodes in his face. The rollercoaster continued last night.

- Why CJ is not a closer, and what a closer needs as compared to what CJ has.......

NEEDS -

1) Needs a cannon and the ability to strike people out with 2 pitches - Fastball must be 95+ and you must have an off speed killer pitch, either a change-up (it looks like the fastball, just slower, kills hitters), or a good curveball.

2) Needs the mentality - Nerves of steel, not rattled easily. Closers blow saves, even the good ones. But the great ones shake them off and come back to the mound the next night.

3) Needs quirkiness - Good closers are weird and nuts. Have to be.

4) Needs to be right handed - Unless you're throwing 99 mph and can blow people away, you have to be right handed. Most hitters in baseball are right handed, and most right handed batters hit lefty pitchers better than they do righty pitchers.

5) Needs to limit pitches - You have to get up there and go right at hitters and try to blow them away. The mentality is - here's my stuff, try to hit it. You cant try to dance around and outsmart a hitter. You'll throw too many pitches, and closers arent built to throw tons of pitches. The more they throw, the less effective they are.


WHAT CJ HAS -

- CJ has half of #1. He has a good fastball (95 mph), but he has no great secondary pitch to keep hitters off-balance.

- He has #2.

- He has #3.

- He doesn't have #4. He doesn't blow people away, so most right handed hitters can have success off him. This ties with #1. If he had a great 2nd pitch, he could get away with being a lefty closer who tops out at 95-96 mph with his fastball.

- He sure doesnt have #5. He tries to outthink hitters and nibble the corners. He's been the most effective this year when he's just gone right at guys. When he attacks the strike zone instead of dancing around trying to outsmart a hitter, he's pretty good.

The problem is, he doesn't do it enough. He's a former starting pitcher, and that's their mentality, to nibble and dance around the strike zone and outsmart hitters. You cant do it as a closer.

- Another reason- A hitter's mentality changes in the 9th inning when his team's down a few runs. His team needs base runners, so they are patient and don’t bite on pitches dancing around the strike zone. Earlier in the game, hitters take chances on those pitches and they swing more freely. But late in the game, they lay off those borderline pitches.

If CJ would just attack the strike zone right away and come at hitters, he'd be more effective (See his consecutive strike-outs of Jim Thome and Paul Konerko a few weeks ago). Instead, he walks a ton of batters and has baserunners on the majority of the time he’s pitching.


Summary -

Unless he develops a good 2nd pitch, he needs to be a set-up guy on a winning team. On the Rangers, he's the closer because it's all they have and they're not contenders. But if he's a corner-nibbling, lefty who throws 95 mph with no off-speed pitch, he's going to be just an average closer.


- Rangers lose a chance to win a series on the road against a 1st place team.

Karma, Quentin crush Texas Rangers, 10-8

12:29 AM CDT on Thursday, July 24, 2008
By RICHARD DURRETT / The Dallas Morning News
rdurrett@dallasnews.com

CHICAGO – If you listen to White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, it was those pesky baseball gods who doomed the Texas Rangers and closer C.J. Wilson in a 10-8 loss Wednesday.

Wilson entered with two outs and two on in the eighth after the usually reliable Eddie Guardado had given up two runs and couldn't find his command. Wilson's first pitch – he called it a "meat ball" – was blasted by Carlos Quentin over the left-field wall to give the White Sox the lead for good.

Guillen wasn't yelling at Wilson from the dugout this time. He was ejected a few innings earlier for arguing balls and strikes. Maybe he was cheering in front of the television in his office.

He was asked if winning the game against Wilson meant more to him.

"Not to me," Guillen said. "But I think for the team, yes. They might not say it, but they should.

"... Always out there is the baseball gods. Be careful what you do and what you say in this game because he's going to get you back."

Guillen yelled at Wilson during the last series in Arlington after Wilson showed emotion in getting out of a jam in the ninth to win a game. Guillen felt it was unprofessional and showed disrespect to his players.

Wilson said Wednesday's loss wasn't any tougher because it was to the White Sox.

But it was tough in general. Kevin Millwood, as has become a pattern, left the game early. His right groin tightened up in the second inning and he was taken out after giving up three runs in 12/3 innings.

"It got bad enough to where I couldn't push off, and I wasn't going to do us any good that way," Millwood said. "It's annoying. It's frustrating. I want to get it taken care of and be able to pitch without worrying about it."

It was the 11th time this season a Rangers starter hasn't completed the third inning. The Rangers are 4-7 in those games. For Millwood, it was the fifth time an injury has forced him to leave a start – twice because of a bruised shin and three times with groin issues.

The injury led to overtime innings for the most-used bullpen in baseball. Josh Rupe, Warner Madrigal and Jamey Wright came through, but Guardado couldn't hold the three-run lead. He put the blame on himself, not any baseball gods.

"I didn't get the job done, plain and simple," Guardado said. "It's frustrating when that happens. I could not find the zone, and when I did, I was behind and they hit the ball."

The Rangers, for their part, hit the ball, too. An offense that was struggling to hit consistently, scored six two-out runs and was aggressive on the bases with four steals. It wasn't enough, though, to overcome the White Sox heroics. Or the baseball gods.





- Dillwood hurt again, there goes his trade-ability.....



Texas Rangers' Millwood ends start early


08:46 PM CDT on Wednesday, July 23, 2008
By RICHARD DURRETT / The Dallas Morning News
rdurrett@dallasnews.com

CHICAGO – It didn't take pitching coach Mark Connor long to figure out something was bothering starter Kevin Millwood. After Millwood walked two consecutive batters with two outs in the second inning, Connor made a visit and immediately signaled to manager Ron Washington and assistant trainer Kevin Harmon to come out to the mound.

Millwood felt his right groin tighten – a recurring problem the last few months – and he left. Washington said Millwood will be examined today. If Millwood can't pitch in his regular slot Monday, the club could turn to Scott Feldman or Luis Mendoza, who pitched four innings Tuesday.

Feldman is supposed to pitch out of the bullpen but made a spot start for RHP Eric Hurley on Monday. He gave up one run in six innings in a win over the White Sox.

Hurley expected to start Sunday: Hurley, who is on the disabled list with a hamstring strain but was scratched from his last start because of a sore arm and stiff shoulder, appears on track to start Sunday in Oakland. Hurley said he has felt good throwing off flat ground from various distances the last few days.

Davis showing power: 1B Chris Davis has eight home runs since he was called up June 26, the most in the AL since that date. "His power is legit," Washington said. "It's not just BP [batting practice] power." Davis is pleased with his power production but said he still has "a lot of work to do."

He pointed to Tuesday's second inning as an example. He grounded out to pitcher Mark Buehrle on an 0-1 count with a runner at third and one out.

"I got a little impatient," Davis said. "That was the first time I faced Buehrle, and I should have taken some more pitches there. I was pretty disappointed I didn't get that run in."

But he did homer off Buehrle in the eighth, his third homer off a left-hander this season.

Briefly: OF Milton Bradley was hit in the left forearm in the seventh and didn't hit in the ninth. He's listed as day-to-day. ... The Rangers agreed to terms with 2008 fifth-round draft pick OF Clark Murphy from Fallbrook (Calif.) High School and seventh-round selection RHP Matt Thompson, who lives in Burleson and attended Grace Prep Academy. ... ESPN has picked up the Rangers' home game against the Yankees on Wednesday, Aug. 5. FSNSW also will broadcast the game.




- Trade deadline talk from Master Newberg.....

Last year at this time, the likelihood of the Rangers being central figures in the trade market was much greater than it is today, not just because the club isn’t hopelessly out of the hunt this time around but also because Texas has fewer obvious trade pieces right now. On the one hand, it seems unlikely that the Rangers would part with blue-chip prospects for a veteran unless it were an impact player who would be under control for multiple years (not many of those available), and on the other hand, given where the team is right now, there may not be an active effort to trade a veteran who is a key part of the lineup or staff unless the offer is overwhelming.

But seeing national writers report, for instance, that the Yankees are calling about Gerald Laird, that the Dodgers have joined a couple other teams showing interest in Hank Blalock, and that there are any number of contenders that could use Eddie Guardado, and figuring that another gem out of Vicente Padilla tomorrow night could make him as valuable as any starting pitcher on the market, I find myself fired up that A.J. Preller and Don Welke work for my team.

The thing I love about the Yankees, as an example, showing interest in something we have is that I’m comfortable that Preller and Welke probably know New York’s international kids as well as anyone in the Yankees’ own front office. Slight exaggeration.

When the 2007 season began, 18-year-old righthander Neftali Feliz was ranked by Baseball America as Atlanta’s number 18 prospect (lower than Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, Matt Harrison, and Beau Jones, by the way), having only 29 stateside innings under his belt.

When the 2007 season began, 17-year-old outfielder Engel Beltre was ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s number 20 prospect. He had yet to play a pro inning.

Less than four months into the season, they were Rangers property, Feliz after another 27.1 short-season innings, Beltre after a pedestrian 125-at-bat run (.208/.310/.400) in short-season ball.

But it’s not all about what your pro scouts can envision when watching other organization’s kids play Gulf Coast League and Appy League games. Preller and Welke knew all about Feliz and Beltre well before they signed with the Braves and Red Sox.

Now, that’s not to suggest that those teams didn’t know what they had in Feliz and Beltre (or that other teams weren’t aware of them). Recall this note from Peter Gammons after the Gagné trade:

“The biggest holdup in the Gagné deal, other than working out his negotiated rights to refuse a deal to Boston, was 17-year-old outfielder Engel Beltre. When Epstein went to bed at 2 a.m. Tuesday morning, he had refused to include Beltre in the trade, so on Tuesday morning, the Rangers still were down to the Brewers ― who were on Gagné’s list of teams to which he could be traded ― and the Red Sox. But Epstein decided a 17-year-old kid a half-dozen years from the big leagues probably was worth including for a shot to win the World Series. ‘When Theo called and said he would put Beltre in the deal, it was down to the no-trade language and the paperwork,’ Daniels said. That paperwork was so complicated that it almost was not completed by the 4 p.m. deadline.”

Let me put this another way.

Even if Texas doesn’t make a major trade in the next seven days, and does nothing except maybe find a new home for Frank Catalanotto, we won’t be getting someone’s Chad Reineke back.

And if Preller and Welke worked for the Padres, they wouldn’t have, either.

If only for 1 night

- Wow. If that's the last home game of the Star's season, I'll take that and ride off. What an atmosphere. Tons of intensity. Tons of standing in the crowd. Tons of chanting. You never would have guessed that the Stars were down 0-3 in the series.

- This playoff run has re-ignited a fan base and re-introduced a city to the Stars. Although it shouldn't be hard for people to like this team and these guys. No prima-donnas who create public or private rifts in the team. No huge salaries with huge egos. (Outside of Brad Richards, but he's about as non-controversial as they get). Just a blue collar team in every sense of the word. How can people not enjoy and get behind this team?

- Mike Modano played probably his best game of the postseason. A game after getting beat up pretty good on a hit against the boards, there he was, at 37 years old, knocking in a vintage 1-timer for the game winner. Putting in 18 minutes of ice time. Making cross-ice passes that only he can do. He's simply amazing. And if this was his final game at the AAC, what a way to go out.

- The Stars finally got a clutch, shut down game from a rookie defenseman. Nik Grossman played out of his mind last night. He was physical, knocked Holmstrom around and out of the crease all night, won loose puck battles in his own zone, and just was a prototypical shut-down defenseman. The Stars may have found their new Derian Hatcher.

- Mike Ribeiro. 11 faceoffs. 10 wins. Phenomenal.

- Marty. I'm pretty sure you could chalk up some of those saves as nothing but pure luck. But superior skill breeds superior luck. He made great saves, and got lucky with some pucks just floating in and around the goal-line. In a series where he has gotten no breaks, it was great to watch things finally go his way. He's definitely talented enough to get luck like that. So I say, it's about time.

- Morrow - the captain further adds to his legend. A game after looking he should have a bone sticking out of his forearm, he's out there banging away, leading the team, and scoring goals. Simply amazing.

- Henrik Zetterberg is scary to watch. I put him on the same level as Crosby, Ovechkin, and the like. You hold your breath when he has the puck. Because there's a 75% chance something bad is about to happen to your team. He's unreal.

- What I loved is that when Detroit flipped the switch into motivated, crank it up mode in the 3rd period, the Stars were able to weather it and survive it. And score 2 goals and ice the game. Very impressive.

- The crease violation by Holmstrom seemed to be BS. But I look at it as make-up for Game 1 in which Holmstrom committed a clear violation that went uncalled and pretty much sealed the loss for Dallas. He's still a punk.

- All in all, I just wanted 1 more game. At this point, I'm so far up in casino winnings, that Game 5 on Saturday is like that prime steak dinner the pit boss just gave me at the Horseshoe Casino.

- I wanted to see fight, passion, and intensity. I wanted to see the Stars give the home crowd even more reason to love this team. I wanted a fitting end to a great season, which was a stirring home victory. Go let the handshake happen up north. I wanted one more watching party on Saturday. I don't want this season to end. But if it ends Saturday, what a ride it's been.

- Seeing a local Dallas team overachieve is a beautiful thing to watch.



Still a prayer vs. Wings: Dallas Stars win Game 4, 3-1

02:30 AM CDT on Thursday, May 15, 2008
By MIKE HEIKA / The Dallas Morning News

Marty Turco has been a lot like his team this season – embattled.

The Stars goalie has fought ups and downs, playoff demons, and critics who want more – and he has overcome most challenges.

But the one poltergeist that has chased him throughout his career comes dressed in red, so it was particularly sweet for Turco and his teammates when they beat the Detroit Red Wings, 3-1, Wednesday night in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals at American Airlines Center.

Turco pushed his career record against Detroit to 3-13-5 and became the first goalie since Ed Belfour in 1998 to beat the Red Wings when they had the chance to eliminate an opponent (a run of 12 consecutive wins).

"He's played phenomenal hockey against every team in the league, but for some reason, Detroit hasn't been on his list," center Steve Ott said.

"And tonight, he proved to himself and he proved to us boys in here that it doesn't matter who he faces. He's the same guy and the same goalie, and he's just a great, great competitor."

The Stars said they proved a lot to themselves with the victory. Yes, they are still facing a daunting task of coming back against the Red Wings with a 3-1 series deficit. Yes, they head up to Joe Louis Arena on Saturday – a place where Turco has never won in the NHL. Yes, they grabbed a huge break when officials disallowed a Pavel Datsyuk goal in the second period.

But the Stars say they were put in a tough situation and responded. Loui Eriksson scored with 22.7 seconds left in the second period on a drive to the net to give Dallas its first lead of the series. But that lead lasted only 49 seconds into the third period, when Henrik Zetterberg whipped a shot past Turco's glove to tie the score.

In past games, that would have been enough to break the Stars' back. In this one, it strengthened their resolve.

"We just weren't going to give up, that's all there was to it," defenseman Stephane Robidas said. "We didn't know if we would win or lose, but we weren't going to give up."

Dallas, applying the desperate pressure of a team backed to the elimination wall, drew a tripping penalty on Brian Rafalski and scored on the ensuing power play.

Mike Modano scored from the slot to give the Stars and their fans life.

"When you're in the situation we are, where there's no tomorrow, you might as well keep playing," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "It's that little extra desire in the third period. You just love to see that ... the character of the group."

This time, the Stars kept the lead and even expanded upon it. Brenden Morrow added his ninth goal of the playoffs with a wrister from the slot, and the Stars had their fans – and themselves – believing.

Still, there was one more challenge to bat away, and that fell in Turco's lap. Morrow and Modano each took penalties in the final three minutes, and Dallas had to kill a 6-on-3 after Detroit pulled its goalie.

Turco ran his save total up to 33 as he shut the door.

"You lose, you go home ... it's going to be like that for a while," Turco said. "Going back to Detroit ... it's nothing short of an exciting challenge for all of us, and for me personally."

Just unfair

- It just seems unfair to play these guys. How can a salary cap-era team be this good?

- It was like they were just toying with the Stars all night. Letting them tie the game twice, and then promptly slamming the door shut on them.

- Case in point - Modano whips a bad ass back hand pass across Osgood right to Grossman who slams it in for a 1-1 tie. The Stars worked hard as hell for almost a minute in Detroit's end, working hard, working the puck, holding it for as long as they have all postseason, and got rewarded with a goal. It was a satisfying sequence. And the crowd was electric.

- The towels hadn't stopped waving in the crowd and Detroit goes right down the ice (after winning the face off of course) and scores 37 seconds later. Air out of the building, and from then on, the same intensity they had been seen to open the game was gone.

- The Stars played with passion, with aggression, and had awesome puck control. And put a ton of pressure on Detroit for 2 periods. They looked like a team that was playing as good as it had all postseason. But it didn't matter, Detroit was that much better.

- It's just depressing to watch. The Stars are working their asses off to score a goal, and to make this thing a game/series. And it just seems like Detroit can roll out any one of 4 lines out there and score at will. They are never worried.

- What's also depressing is, in the past 2 games, the Stars have played with energy and passion, they just aren't scoring on golden chances, and are learning that they're just not good enough to win these games.

- Nik Hagman is writing his own Dallas obituary. He's making it very easy for management to let him go this off season. He's had more chances than any player on the ice in these 3 games, and has nothing to show for it. Add a dumb penalty last night, and it's safe to say that the Stars will let him walk.

- The difference between these 2 teams? Detroit slams home their golden chances because they have 4 lines of ridiculously talented 2-way players. And Dallas has only 1 or 2 lines of talented players. (Who are still a level below Detroit).

- What's sad is, the Stars really do have good offensive and defensive talent. They were better than a division winner, and a defending Cup Champion. But Detroit is just that much better, and is making Dallas look like an expansion team. They're that good.

- Detroit has 4 or 5 legit lines that threaten you non-stop. You can't defend that. You just can't.

- The rookie defenseman are just having a miserable series. You can get away things against San Jose and Anaheim, but Detroit will eat your lunch. Game 1 it was Mark Fistric making mistakes that lead to 3 goals. And last night it was Matt Niskanen who allowed the backbreaking goal on a premature exit from the ice before the puck was cleared out of the zone.

- I said before the series that the rookies were likely to get exposed. That Detroit's stars eat rookie defenseman alive. Well there you go.

- Another thing that makes Detroit what they are. Jiri Hudler, a no-name, scores on a shot that I'm not sure anyone outside of maybe Ribeiro, Richards, or Modano can make. A breakaway backhanded shot over Turco's shoulder. The thing is, if that spare (relative to the other Detroit players) can make that shot, the WHOLE team can as well.

- All in all, a great season, a great postseason, expectations were met and exceeded 10-fold, and I will be grateful for the good times provided this year. No way I thought when I became a ticket holder back in August 2007 that I would be attending a Western Conference Final game at the AAC in May 2008. I got more out of this year than I could have ever imagined. I'm just going to enjoy it one last time tomorrow night, take it all in, and thank the Stars for a wonderful 9 month joyride.


Dallas Stars' Turco has a Game 3 to forget

04:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, May 13, 2008

The Dallas Stars got nearly everything they were seeking when the Western Conference finals shifted back to Dallas on Monday.

The fact that Detroit won, 5-2, suggests that maybe the Stars are looking for something that isn't out there.

They got the better scoring chances early, outshooting the Red Wings, 5-0, in the first few minutes. They got the Red Wings to take penalties, giving Dallas a seven-minute edge in power-play time.

They won 43 percent of the faceoffs, which may sound awful given that they were at home, but after winning 38 and 29 percent in Games 1 and 2, at least the Stars got to play with the puck a little more frequently.

And they limited the team that gets the most shots on goal to 21 shots, their fewest in the postseason by five.

But they lost, 5-2, because they didn't get one thing they have lacked in this series.

They didn't get stand-on-his-head goaltending from Marty Turco.

It was strange to see him looking so 2005 playoffs vulnerable in net here, the first game back at American Airlines Center since he delivered one of the best goaltending nights in Stars history. Turco stopped 61 of 62 shots against San Jose last week, allowing the Stars to advance to the conference finals with that four-overtime victory.

Turco stopped 16 of 21 shots Monday.

It was nothing like the Turco who outplayed Anaheim's Jean-Sebastien Giguere and San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov. Nothing at all.

That's not to say the Red Wings aren't the better team. Their skill players perform at a level that the Stars are unable to get to.

Or defend.

Pavel Datsyuk's hat trick, Henrik Zetterberg's short-handed goal and two assists – this is a two-man wrecking crew that apparently doesn't even need Johan Franzen, who was leading the team in goals before missing Games 2 and 3 with a concussion.

"They put Datsyuk and Zetterberg and [Tomas] Holmstrom out there with [Nicklas] Lidstrom and [Brian] Rafalski – that's probably the five best guys I've seen or played against in a long time," center Mike Modano said.

And when that group creates chances, they bury them in the net, not in Turco's pads.

"I'm not sure what's going on other than the obvious of just getting outscored and not doing enough," Turco said. "My perspective is pretty simple. I'm out there just worrying about what I need to do.

"And it just hasn't been good enough for me. We're 0-3, so obviously I haven't been giving the team their best chance to win."

The Red Wings have had five multiple-goal periods against Turco out of nine tries. We saw nothing like that from the Ducks and Sharks, but then the Red Wings are a heck of a lot better than the Ducks and Sharks.

There's a reason this team wins the Presidents' Trophy more often of late than Tiger Woods wins majors. They're better than everyone else, and after frustrating playoff losses to Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton and the Ducks again the last four years, the Wings are determined to prove it when it counts.

If the Stars have any hope – and I'm talking about getting to see Detroit again, not winning a seven-game series – it has to start with Turco on Wednesday.

Forget scoring chances, winning faceoffs, getting power plays.

To energize this team and the fans who will surely carry considerable doubt into the building for Game 4, Turco needs big, big stops when he's facing Zetterberg and Datsyuk firing at him from the slot, from point blank range.

Get this crowd chanting "Marty, Marty" again instead of offering derisive applause when he stops a shot from center ice.

Then and only then we can talk about what might or might not happen in Game 5 at Joe Louis Arena.




- Top 10 moments in Dallas Stars history.



Controversy in the crease headlines Stars' all-time playoff moments

What is it about the Dallas Stars and incredibly long playoff games? Amazingly, Dallas has been involved in five of the 20 longest playoff games in league history. This season's quadruple-overtime thriller against the Sharks should have been expected. We dig into the history books and go all the way back to the franchise's roots in Minnesota to examine the most memorable playoff games in Stars/North Stars history.

10. April 29, 1997: Game 7, Western Conference quarterfinals vs. Edmonton (4-3 loss in OT)
In what was one of the fastest and most entertaining playoff series of the decade, it was only fitting a Game 7 was needed to determine a winner. The No. 2 seed Stars, arguably the best team in the NHL, had fought tooth-and-nail in Game 6 to eek out a 3-2 win and force a Game 7 on home ice. Dallas carried the play throughout Game 7, but Curtis Joseph was unbelievable, making one save after another. Cujo had already shut out the Stars twice in the series but saved his best for the final game. In overtime, swarming Joe Nieuwendyk had a wide open net off a rebound, but Joseph dove across and made an all-time great glove save to continue the game and the series. Off the next faceoff Todd Marchant turned on the jets at center ice, raced past Grant Ledyard, who had slipped and then beat Andy Moog for the game and series winner. At the time, this was arguably the most unexpected and disappointing loss in Stars franchise history.

9. April 16, 1968: Game 7, Quarterfinals vs. Los Angeles (4-3 series win)
In the first year of the expansion era, the Minnesota North Stars were one of six new teams to join the Original Six and form a 12-team NHL. That spring, the North Stars played in their first playoff series against another expansion cousin -- the Los Angeles Kings. The North Stars lost the first two games in L.A. before winning the next two on home ice. After losing Game 5 in L.A. and facing elimination, Minnesota needed an overtime goal by Milan Marcetta in Game 6 to force a Game 7. The North Stars were the clear underdogs, returning to Los Angeles where they had already lost three times, scoring just three goals total. But the North Stars would light up the scoreboard, beating Kings goalies Terry Sawchuk and Wayne Rutledge nine times for a 9-4 win. The North Stars won their first playoff series in dramatic fashion.

8. April 11, 2007: Game 1, Western Conference quarterfinals vs. Vancouver (5-4 loss in 4th OT)
The sixth longest game in NHL playoff history had a bitter finish for the Dallas Stars. Much like a decade earlier, when a young Curtis Joseph gave Dallas shooters fits, Roberto Luongo -- making his playoff debut -- couldn't be beaten in overtime. Luongo made an incredible 72 saves, including many spectacular ones during overtime. Marty Turco was equally solid for the Stars until the Sedin twins got to him. Henrik scored the game winner on a pass from his brother Daniel 18 minutes into the fourth overtime. Another heartbreaking overtime loss for Dallas. The Stars lost the series in seven games.

T-7. May 27, 2000: Game 7, Western Conference finals vs. Colorado (3-2 win)
For the second straight year the Stars and Avalanche met in the Western Conference finals and for the second straight year a seventh and deciding game was needed to determine a winner. Once again, in the final game, the Stars suffocating defense kept the likes of Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg in check. Eddie Belfour made 31 saves and got some help from the Stars special teams. Sergei Zubov and Mike Modano both scored power-play goals as Dallas took a 3-0 lead midway through the third period. The Avalanche scored twice on the attack to make it a 3-2 game and then in the final minute Ray Bourque (still in search of that elusive Stanley Cup) rang a shot past Belfour but off the post as the Stars advanced to the Stanley Cup finals for a second straight year.

T-7. April 22, 1984: Game 7, Norris Division finals vs. St. Louis (4-3 win in OT)
One of the greatest playoff wins in Stars history came in 1984 in a seventh game of the second round. A team led by young stars Neal Broten, Brian Bellows and Dino Ciccerelli had already eliminated the Blackhawks 3-2 in a best-of-five series. Against the Blues, the Stars were counting on their depth and the importance of home ice to get by. By Game 7, St. Louis was focused on shutting down Bellows and Broten, so when the game went to overtime it was Steve Payne who stepped up to be the hero just six minutes in. Payne's third career overtime goal made a winner out of Stars goalie Don Beaupre, who was brilliant throughout the playoffs. The win sent the Stars to the Conference finals where they were swept by Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers.

6. April 27, 1980: Quarterfinals vs. Montreal (4-3 series win)
This North Stars team was one of the youngest in the NHL with only one player older than 30 (Paul Shmyr, 33). Led by Al MacAdam, Steve Payne and Bobby Smith, Minnesota finished the season above .500 for the first time in seven years. After eliminating the Maple Leafs in a three-game sweep in the first round, the Montreal Canadiens -- winners of four straight Stanley Cups -- were next up. Montreal finished third overall in the NHL standings and boasted a lineup that included two 50-goal scorers in Guy Lafleur and Pierre Larouche, along with future hall of famers Steve Shutt, Larry Robinson and Bob Gainey -- all still in their 20s. Undaunted, the Stars won the first two games in Montreal. The Habs stormed back winning the next three games, outscoring a shell-shocked Minnesota 16-3. In Game 6 at home, the Stars would win 5-2 to force a Game 7. Montreal was the heavy favorite. Everything pointed to a Canadiens win -- they were the higher seed, at home and were far more experienced having won 13 straight playoff series. But the Stars would not be denied: Goalie Gilles Meloche withstood incredible pressure and the Stars pulled off the shocking upset, beating Montreal 3-2 to win the series and end the Canadiens' dynasty.

T-5. June 1, 1999: Game 6, Western Conference finals vs. Colorado (4-1 win)
With their season on the line and facing Patrick Roy on the road, the Dallas Stars put together one of the best playoff games in franchise history. Claude Lemieux opened the scoring for Colorado, beating Eddie Belfour in the final minute of the first period. From that point on Dallas dominated. Jere Lehtinen tied it up early in the second period, then in the third, Jamie Langenbrunner scored twice to seal the 4-1 win. Ed Belfour made 26 saves in the win as the Stars exercised their previous playoff demons. In Game 7 at home, Dallas again dominated, winning by the same 4-1 score, advancing to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 1991.

T-5. June 10, 2000: Game 6, Stanley Cup finals vs. New Jersey (2-1 loss in 2nd OT)
In 1999, Dallas won a Stanley Cup in an overtime thriller. One year later, the Stars found themselves on the wrong end of an overtime Cup-winning goal. Eight minutes into the second overtime period, Jason Arnott driving to the net, beat a sprawling Ed Belfour to give the Devils their second Stanley Cup. Arnott becomes the 15th and last player to score a Cup-winning overtime goal. The loss came less than 48 hours after Mike Modano had scored in triple overtime to give the Stars a 1-0 win in Game 5 and send the series back to Dallas.

4. April 24, 2003: Game 1 Western Conference semifinals vs. Anaheim (4-3 loss in 5th OT)
In one of the NHL's all-time epic playoff battles, the Stars and Ducks battled at the American Airlines Arena into the wee hours of the morning, until Peter Sykora finally ended the game less than a minute into the fifth overtime by beating Marty Turco stick side on a pass from Adam Oates. The game lasted nearly six hours, finishing as the fourth longest game in NHL playoff history, 11 minutes longer than this year's thriller against San Jose. The Stars dodged a bullet, temporarily, in the third overtime when an apparent goal by the Ducks' Steve Thomas was disallowed because the Stars net was loose. J.S Giguere, eventual playoff MVP, was amazing in this game making 60 saves, 40 in overtime. Turco was equally good finishing with 50 saves, including an acrobatic highlight-reel stop in the second overtime off a Paul Kariya shot. Stars defenseman Sergei Zubov logged a game high 63:51 seconds of ice time. Reportedly, he lost eight pounds during the eight-period marathon.

3. April 22, 1984 Game 7, Norris Division finals vs. St. Louis (4-3 win in OT)
One of the greatest playoff wins in Stars history came in 1984 in a seventh game of the second round. A team led by young stars Neal Broten, Brian Bellows and Dino Ciccerelli had already eliminated the Blackhawks 3-2 in a best-of-five series. Against the Blues, the Stars were counting on their team depth and the importance of home ice. By Game 7, St. Louis was focused on shutting down Bellows and Broten, so when the game went to overtime, it was Steve Payne who stepped up to be the hero just six minutes in. Payne's third career overtime goal made a winner out of Stars goalie Don Beaupre, who was brilliant throughout the playoffs in net. The win sent the Stars to the Conference finals where they were swept by Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers.

2. May 4, 2008: Game 6 Western Conference semifinals vs. San Jose (2-1 Win in 4th OT)
After leading the series three games to none, the Dallas Stars -- in overtime of Game 6 -- were facing what could have been a historical Game 7 back in San Jose. Luckily, Dallas made its own history by winning the sixth longest overtime game ever. Conn Smyth candidate Brendan Morrow scored the game winner on the power play, beating Evgeni Nabokov nine minutes into the fourth overtime. Marty Turco, who had been unfairly characterized as a "weak" playoff goalie by some, answered his detractors by making a franchise-record 61 saves for the victory. Nabokov, despite the loss, made one of the all-time great playoff saves, stopping Brad Richards on a one-timer with his glove less than two minutes into the first overtime period. The win thrust the Stars into the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2000.

1. June 19, 1999: Game 6, Stanley Cup finals vs. Buffalo (2-1 win in 3rd OT)
This game will always be remembered for its controversial finish, and the fact it brought Dallas its first and only Stanley Cup championship. The second-longest game in Stanley Cup Final history and the 18th longest playoff game ever, ended nearly 15 minutes into the third overtime period when Brett Hull, on a rebound, beat Dominik Hasek for the Cup clincher. Hull scored the winner with his left skate in the crease, but the league ruled Hull had possession of the puck and was entitled to be in the crease on the play. An incensed Sabres team was in disbelief that the goal counted and waited for 20 minutes in their dressing room expecting the goal to be overturned. An exhausted Stars team celebrated the championship while the fans in Buffalo protested the loss.

The controversial ending overshadowed what was a dramatic back-and-forth game featuring two future hall of fame goaltenders Eddie Belfour and Dominik Hasek, who combined to make 101 saves. The two goalies allowed just 22 goals in the series -- the lowest scoring six-game total in NHL finals history. For Hull, who played much of the series with both a knee and groin injury, the win was especially sweet as he joined his father Bobby as a Stanley Cup winner. Mike Modano led the Stars with 23 points in the postseason, while Joe Nieuwendyk was named playoff MVP.

As advertised

- Wow.

- Not sure if it was the mystique. Not sure if it was the dead legs from the 4 OT game on Sunday night (which I don't believe - 4 days rest is good enough). Not sure what it was last night. But good gosh that team is good.

- The Stars looked flat. They looked tight. They looked slow. They lacked intensity that was shown in their lack of hitting and standing up to Detroit punks standing in Marty's crease.

- I haven't watched Chris Osgood very much, I know he's very good, and I know he's been good for a while. But if he plays like he did last night for the rest of the playoffs, he might be the greatest friggin' goaltender ever.

- I'm curious to see if last night was a fluke, or if he really is that good. His blind save on the Zubov shot from the blue line, where he was screened by 3 guys, it even went through Morrow's legs, and he snagged it. That summed everything up. Also his saves on 2 different breakaways. I want clarity tomorrow night if this joker is really as good as he showed last night.

- From the get-go, it just felt like a matter of time before Detroit got on the board. And then when they called that bullshit roughing penalty on Mark Fistric, you just knew it was going to be 1-0. And it was.

- Marty couldn't do anything about any of those shots last night. He had guys up his ass in his crease on every power play. And he had a breakaway scored on him after another mistake by Fistric, a turnover in his own zone that Fillpula quickly put in on the far post. Last night was not Marty's fault.

- The Stars HAVE to do something about Holmstrom crowding Marty's crease. They HAVE to. If not, this series is going to be over quick, in 4 games maybe. In what summarized the whole night with less than stellar physical play, the Stars just let him hang in the crease, ass in Marty's face, and screen him the whole game.

- In the old days, Derian Hatcher, Richard Matvichuck, Craig Ludwig, or Daryl Sydor would have that guy on his ass bleeding from the mouth. No way would he have free roam in Eddie Belfour's face. And if those guys didn't put Holmstrom on the ice, Belfour would rack Holmstrom's nuts right off of his body.

- This picture says it all.


- But it just summed up the whole night for Dallas. They didn't hit. They didn't show any agression. Detroit is a finesse, skilled team. Dallas hits and plays physical. They should eat up soft teams like Detroit. I'm not sure if they didn't have their legs back from the San Jose series. I'm not sure they were scared of the Red sweaters. But they HAVE to hit these guys in the mouth Saturday night and get them thinking about getting hit. They HAVE to.

- Watching Detroit play keep away with the puck could be the most demoralizing thing I've seen in a while. It just about makes the game unbearable to watch. Dallas's offensive chances were few and far between. They just couldn't get any flow on offense or any scoring chances because they never had the puck.

- The 3 keys to the series that I detailed before Game 1 -

1) Marty/Detroit curse - It sure wasn't Marty's fault. And I'm not sure if the team as a whole was overwhelmed by the mystique. I think it was more of a lack of agression and energy. So this wasn't a factor.

2) Blue line rookies - Mark Fistric played horribly. A penalty to put Detroit on a 5 on 3 (although it was a crap call) and leads to the 1st goal. A turnover in his own zone that turns into the game ender. 2 mistakes turn into 2 goals. Not good.

3) Money players - Non-existent. Only 1 line showed any offensive pressure, the Richards-Erikson-Lundquist line. Other than that, Ribeiro's and Modano's lines were non-existent. That can't happen again.

- So they lose 2 of the 3 keys and get hammered. Only way they win is if they win all 3 keys. 2 out of 3 won't do it. 1 out of 3 surely won't do it. 3 for 3 is a must.

- All in all, I'm keeping hope. I'm hoping Game 1 was a dead legs, get the Detroit mystique/awe out of our system kind of game. I'm banking on Dallas coming back with stronger physical play. I'm banking on Osgood not being as good/lucky as he was in Game 1. And I'm banking on more scoring chances and better puck possession by the Star's top lines.

- They don't show up tomorrow night? This thing is over in 4 or 5 games.


Dallas Stars better rise quickly, or say goodnight

10:46 AM CDT on Friday, May 9, 2008

DETROIT – If the Stars, the team that played with bravado and arrogance in the first two rounds of the playoffs don't show up in a hurry, the Western Conference finals will end in four games.

No doubt.

You know it. I know it. Even the players know it, though they certainly aren't going to admit it.

The Stars played Game 1 as though they were afraid of the moment. Perhaps they spent too much time reading press clippings about Detroit's omnipotence. Maybe they're still emotionally hung over after their draining four-overtime win against San Jose on Sunday that propelled them into this series.

Whatever the reason, Dallas had better correct its issues quickly because the Red Wings have no concept of mercy.

Detroit 4, Dallas 1.

And the score could've been much worse.

Please, spare me all of the whiny e-mails about the officiating. Yes, the officials should've waved off Tomas Holmstrom's goal, which made it 3-0, since he was clearly in the crease.

But let's be real, would it have really mattered? Nope. The Stars still would've been smoked.

Besides, good teams overcome bad calls. Detroit finished with three power-plays goals. Guess what? They earned each of them.

The more aggressive team always gets the benefit of the doubt from the officials. It has been that way, no matter the sport, since the beginning of time – and it's never, ever going to change.

Even when the teams were at even strength, Detroit dominated much of the play with a puck-possession style that forced the Stars to chase the Red Wings. Actually, the Stars spent so much time in their own zone during the first two periods, no one should've been surprised they were popped for five penalties.

"You can't stand around and watch the puck," Brenden Morrow said.

Now, Dave Tippett must spend the next 48 hours making sure all of the confidence the Stars established in beating Anaheim and San Jose doesn't fade just because the Red Wings spanked the Stars.

He better start with Marty Turco.

The Stars goalie will spend much of the next two days answering a whole new set of questions about why he can't win at Joe Louis Arena, his personal house of horrors.

"Really, it doesn't matter," he said.

But it does.

So much of succeeding in pro sports is about having confidence and the proper mental approach, so we can't ignore Turco's raggedy record in Detroit.

Turco's regular-season career record against the Red Wings is 2-10-5. His NHL record at Joe Louis Arena is 0-8-2.

Sorry, we can't disregard that. Until he wins here, it's an issue.

The Red Wings faithful are well aware of his struggles in Joe Louis, and they serenaded him with rhythmic chants of Tur-co, Tur-co throughout the game. Turco was OK, but the Stars need him to be phenomenal to beat Detroit.

"A lot had to do with the team in front of him," Tippett said. "Not so much Marty."

With Mattias Norstrom already in the penalty box for hooking less than five minutes into the game, Mark Fistric took a stupid roughing penalty, giving Detroit a 5-on-3 power play for 1:26.

Nine seconds later, the Red Wings led 1-0 on Brian Rafalski's wrist shot.

The Red Wings made it 2-0 when Johan Franzen outmaneuvered Trevor Daley in front of the goal and deflected a shot into the net for his league-leading 12th goal of the postseason.

"If you lose after playing your best game, then you worry," Stars center Brad Richards said. "But we didn't play our best game. Once we do that, then we can start worrying about the Red Wings."