I am not going to be update until the Rangers hit the road again after the 13th as I’m going out of town on vacation. I’m gonna see the new PNC Park in Pittsburgh. See ya in a week!

I have some news to the idiots who run the pre-game show at KDFI.. When there is something important like the farewell ceremony with Cal Ripken, you don’t talk over it with lame brain announcers.. That guy they have who stands in the camera pit while talking… Yeesh, we could do without this guy (what do you mean “If” Cal gets voted in in the first year for HOF eligibility?). And, the roving reporter in the stands – he needs to go too. This guy has no personality. Bring back John Rhadigan. As for the Cal thing – you need to dump your mostly lame pre-game banter, and show the FULL Cal ceremony. If these guys were covering the team when Nolan Ryan’s number was retired, they’d probably jabber over that too with some inane junk that we all knew already.

The Dallas Morning News has had something on their Rangers page ever since the Rangers started tanking good this season. “NUmber of days left until end of Rangers season”. That really pisses me off. It’s so much the Dallas Cowboy fan mentality (which I hate too) – guys, there’s a lot to play for this season. A countdown to the end of the season is NOT necessary. The folks who put that on the DMN site should be banned from covering baseball anymore, and forced to cover the Cryboys.

Did anyone get an extra copy of the Rangers comic book that was given out at Wed night’s game? If so, please drop me an email – I’d like to hear from you.

As I write this, John Burkett has the best ERA of any qualifying starting pitcher in the NL. John Burkett?!? – I’m happy for him, I never disliked him here, but JOHN BURKETT? – Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for him. It’s just a surprise.

• I realize I haven’t updated, but I’m headed
  out of town on a business trip until Sunday the 20th.  At that point,
  I’ll catch up on the games I’ve not covered.  I’ve been busy doing prep
  work for the trip, and haven’t had the time to update here.  I will
  return.  :)

We’re dangerously close to having the worst record in baseball.  We’re tied with the Royals for second worst, and only the Devil Rays are actually worse, but only by two games, so we’re not far away from that.

As much as I don’t like Chuck Knoblauch, I dislike even more what the Twins fans did to him in the Metrodome this week. I don’t care who you are, you don’t throw things at players on the field. As much as I hate things like the wave at the Ballpark, throwing things at players should be an immediate ejection, and season long ban from all ballparks around the country – that’s disgraceful. I doubt anyone who did that in Minnesota will read this, but quite frankly, you’re a disgrace to the name “baseball fan”, and should never attend another game. Ever.

• A-Rod goes 1-5 in his return to Seattle, and
  the Rangers lose 9-7.  Glad to see that not all of the fans out there
  booed him.  I’ve also picked up 4 additional stories about this game,
  including two written by writers in Seattle.  Lots of reading on this
  one. Game
  coverage & discussion here.

I was interviewed by the Christian Science Monitor regarding my views on Arod & his contract.  While a lot of what I said wasn’t used, they did use a few quotes of mine.  Check it out.