Texas Sports Fan Blog

There were plenty of fond memories from Monday’s home opener, but in the end, it was a day to forget for the Indians and the sellout crowd at Progressive Field.

Fausto Carmona offered up another positive performance, and rising star Shin-Soo Choo enjoyed a highlight-filled game, but Cleveland still lost, drop-ping a 4-2 decision to the Rangers in front of 42,061 fans.

Nelson Cruz’s two-run home run off reliever Jamey Wright with one out in the 10th inning broke a 2-all tie and sent the Indians to their fourth straight defeat.

It was the second straight day that Cleveland’s bull-pen, a suspect group even before losing closer Kerry Wood to injury, had a hand in torching a potential vic-tory.

“It’s nothing to be happy about, but we’re not the only team that’s had struggles at the back end (of the bullpen),” said Indians manager Manny Acta. “It’s going to get better as the season goes on.”

Cleveland’s bullpen actually staved off the defeat for an inning after Wood’s replacement, right-hander Chris Perez, struggled again in the ninth inning.

Click here to read the full article – By Chris Assenheimer of http://medinagazette.northcoastnow.com

Texas Rangers T-Shirts
and other Rangers Apparel

Texas Rangers MLB Property Of T-shirt

Texas Rangers AC Road Property Sleeveless Tee

Texas Rangers My First Tee for Infants

The Texas Rangers acquired right-handed pitcher Edwar Ramirez on Tuesday from the New York Yankees for cash considerations. Ramirez, who turns 29 later this month, was designated for assignment by the Yankees on Feb. 28. He takes up the Rangers’ final spot on the 40-man roster.

Ramirez had a 5.73 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 22 innings of work (20 relief appearances) with New York in 2009. He had two stints with the Yankees last season, pitching the rest of the time at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, where he went 1-5 with a 3.19 ERA in 29 games.

Ramirez was a regular in the Yankees’ bullpen in 2008 with a 5-1 record and a 3.55 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings. Opposing batters hit .215 against him.

Click here to read the full article – By Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com

Five days ago, Rangers manager Ron Washington decided to put Hank Blalock back in the lineup.


Blalock, reduced to a reserve role since Chris Davis was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Aug. 25, was asked to breathe some life into the Rangers’ slumbering offense with Josh Hamilton and Michael Young still unable to play.

Blalock has done that.

He had two doubles, a home run, two runs scored and four RBIs to lead the Rangers to a 9-8 victory over the Athletics at the Coliseum on Wednesday. The win, combined with the Angels’ loss to the Yankees, moved Texas to within 6 1/2 games of first place in the American League West.


Click here to read the full article – By T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com

Texas Rangers Sports Memorabilia
and other Texas Rangers Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Hank Blalock.

Josh Hamilton could find out on Tuesday how soon he will be ready to return to the Rangers lineup. It could be a big day for him.


Hamilton, who has been sidelined since Sept. 2 with a pinched nerve in his lower back, resumed workouts on Monday after backing off for four days. He took some swings off a tee and off soft-toss pitching in the batting cage, and did some running in the outfield.

All went well. He will try to increase his baseball activities on Tuesday to include on-field batting practice against live pitching.


Click here to read the full article – By T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com

Texas Rangers Sports Memorabilia
and other Texas Rangers Autographs
Below are links to memorabilia available for Josh Hamilton.

Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s season will end on Monday when he undergoes surgery on his right shoulder. Saltalamacchia has Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, a condition where a rib bone pushes on a nerve and causes pain and numbness in the arm and fingers.

Saltalamacchia has played in just one game since Aug. 14 and that was as a designated hitter on Sept. 5 in Baltimore. He was trying to hang on as a pinch-hitter and DH but decided to get the surgery done and get ready for next season.

The surgery usually requires 10-12 weeks of recovery time. Saltalamacchia is expected to be ready for Spring Training.


Click here to read the full article – By T.R. Sullivan of MLBlogs.com

Texas Rangers Sports Memorabilia
and other Texas Rangers Autographs
Below are links to memorabilia available for Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

In the past week, Texas has seen one prospect (Julio Borbon) loudly make his mark in the big leagues, another (Mitch Moreland) see his season end early due to injury, two mid-level types — one whose value was rising (Matt Nevarez) and one whose stock had dropped (Jose Vallejo) — shipped to Houston for Ivan Rodriguez, and the club’s first-round pick (Matt Purke) opt for two years at TCU rather than $4 million and an opportunity to begin his pro career.

I saw a note yesterday that Kansas City, a club with every reason to evaluate its young players and how they might factor in going forward, has not had one player make his big league debut in 2009. That’s stunning. Meanwhile, Texas, unquestionably playing to win now, has broken Borbon, Elvis Andrus, Derek Holland, Neftali Feliz, Guillermo Moscoso, and Kevin Richardson into the Major Leagues this season, with several playing key roles.

Click here to read the full article – By Jamey Newberg of MLB.com

Texas Rangers Jerseys
and other Rangers Apparel

Texas Rangers Authentic Home Jersey

Rangers outfielder David Murphy didn’t give it a second thought. He wore No. 7 in Little League, high school and again with the Rangers. But no more. He will gladly give it up for Ivan Rodriguez.

“I’m not big on superstitions,” Murphy said. “I’m definitely not going to keep it. He wore it here and for most of his career. I respect that.” Rodriguez wore No. 7 when he was a 10-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner while with the Rangers from 1991-2002. He was wearing it again in a Texas uniform after he was acquired from the Astros on Tuesday.

Click here to read the full article – By T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com

Texas Rangers T-Shirts
and other Rangers Apparel

Texas Rangers MLB Majestic ProStyle T-Shirt

Texas Rangers MLB Property Of T-shirt

Texas Rangers Official On-Field Youth Dedication T-Shirt

Ivan Rodriguez is returning to the Rangers to be a backup catcher.


The Rangers completed a trade with the Houston Astros on Tuesday to reacquire the 14-time All-Star catcher for two players, according to multiple sources. The Astros will receive a Minor League player and a player to be named later.

Rodriguez, 37, a 13-time Gold Glove winner, has been told that Taylor Teagarden will remain the Rangers’ No. 1 catcher. The Rangers had been looking for a catcher after Jarrod Saltalamacchia went on the disabled list with a sore right arm. Saltalamacchia could be out for the remainder of the season.

Click here to read the full article – By T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com

Texas Rangers Hats
and other Rangers Apparel

Texas Rangers Team Insider Cap

The Rangers could be without second baseman Ian Kinsler for a couple of games after he suffered a strained left hamstring in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s game against the Tigers.

Kinsler, who has played in 96 out of 98 games, came up limping after grounding out in the sixth inning. “A cramp in his leg just came up,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “We didn’t want to take a chance and then send him back out there.” Omar Vizquel took over for Kinsler, who was 1-for-3 with a triple before leaving the game.

Click here to read the full article – By T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com

Texas Rangers Sports Memorabilia
and other Texas Rangers Autographs
Below are links to memorabilia available for Ian Kinsler.

Rangers designated hitter Andruw Jones went deep in his first three at-bats in Wednesday’s 8-1 victory over the Angels, making a case to be the club’s everyday designated hitter.

Jones became the 12th player in Rangers history to hit three home runs in a game. It’s been done 15 times total, including three times by Juan Gonzalez and twice by Al Oliver. Brad Wilkerson was the last to do it on July 3, 2007, against the Angels in Arlington.

Click here to read the full article – By T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com

Atlanta Braves Sports Memorabilia
and other Atlanta Braves Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Andruw Jones.