theCarr Hall of Fame - Texas Rangers baseball

This year - 12-18 (.400) Worst in the AL. This is after a three game winning streak

Overall - 3,503-3,994 (.467)

Bad enough to always stink, but never good enough to do anything else.

Facts:

The Rangers (when combined with the Senators (1961-1971) are the oldest franchise that has yet to appear in a World Series; in fact, they have yet to win any playoff series (0-3).

They are the oldest franchise in the 4 major pro sports to never win a championship.

In their history, the team has only one playoff victory (1-9, .100); Nine straight playoff losses; they have never won a home playoff game. By comparison, the Yankees are 202-137 (.596) in the playoffs with 26 world championships, 44-21 in playoff series.

The Rangers have had 16 winning seasons in 36 years finishing in last place 14 times and next to last eight more times.

Ranger "great" Rafael Palmeiro played 2,831 games in his career never going to a World Series (MLB record).

Ranger great Bubby Bell played 2,405 games while never reaching the postseason.

0 Cy Young awards

2007 ERA leader: Kevin Millwood (5.16). He was the only starter to qualify because he was the only pitcher to pitch more than 162 innings that year (172 2/3 IP)

Baseball reference has a list of the most popular teams of all time (according to site views). The 2001 Rangers are 132 out of 200 on the list. That's it. That team was loaded with talent. IRod, ARod, Palmeiro, Michael Young, Ruben Sierra. But there pitching was Rick Helling, Doug Davis and Darren Oliver (Team ERA - 5.71). They finished last.

Boy do you guys suck.

Ron Washington is a fraud

Ron is a teacher and winner who brings a great deal of integrity to our organization," said Daniels. "He is a straight-forward, energetic baseball man who we're excited to have lead the Rangers." - Jon Daniels, Texas Rangers GM

During his time with the A's, he helped Oakland lead the league in the fielding percentage in 2004 and 2005. Over the last five seasons Oakland posted the third-best fielding percentage in the league. - Texas Rangers press release, October 2006

Washington was supposed to bring the "Moneyball" philosophy to the Rangers, working pitch counts, moving runners over, strong defense, all of the small things that make a small market team competitive. Forget the fact that the Rangers are in the 5th largest market.

The Rangers lead the league in errors. Worst in the league in fielding percentage. Worst in the league with runners in scoring position. You get the idea.

The guy never once managed in the Major League, which is fine, except that he admits to learning the job on the fly. As did our 27-year-old GM. The franchise is a joke and will always be a joke. The greatest Ranger (Nolan) played for the team for five years, at the tail end of his career, which is 2 years less than two other teams. His fourth team he won a World Series with.

The Rangers are once again in last place, no direction, 21st highest payroll. Great to be a fan.

Why must my teams disappoint?

So on top of the Cowboys losing the last two years in their first playoff game, the Mavericks losing horribly in their last two playoffs, the Rangers constantly stinking, I now have the SFA Lumberjacks to be disappointed in.

After finishing 25-4 and in first place in the Southland Conference, they were poised to go to the NCAA tournament for the first itme ever. After Lamar, the #2 seed, was knocked out, it seemed enevitable. Well, I forgot it was a team that I rooted for, so they promptly went out and lost to the fifth seeded team, 15-18 Northwestern State. The Jacks were up by 17 in the first half, but managed to throw it away. And of course, the final would have been SFA vs. the seventh seed, UT-Arlington, who they would have killed and gone to the tournament. Instead, UT-Arlington beat NW State.

P.S. The Jacks do have an automatic bid to the NIT Tournament because they won the regular season. Whoopee!

Worst trades in history

With the idea that the Mavs will end up getting Jason Kidd for the entire franchise, $3 million cash and two 1st Round draft picks, I thought I would remind you that the Rangers corner the market on bad trades. Thanks Jon Daniels!

1989 - Sammy Sosa, Wilson Alvarez and Scott Fletcher for Harold Baines and Fred Manrique
We all know about Sosa, but Wilson Alvarez pitched a no hitter for the Sox and went 15-8, 2.55 ERA

1992 - Ruben Sierra, Bobby Witt and Jeff Russell for Jose Canseco
Canseco missed most of 1993 after blowing out his elbow pitching (!) and knocking a HR off his head, but he did introduce steroids to the Rangers, allowing them to win 3 divisional titles.

2002 - Travis Hafner and Aaron Mayette for Einar Diaz and Ryan Drese
Who is the one player you've heard of?

2005 - Alfonso Soriano for Brad Wilkerson, Armando Galarraga and Terrmel Sledge
Soriano had 40 HR, 40 steals and 40 doubles and led the league in outfield assists in 2006 while Brad Wilkerson hit .222 and .234.

2006 - Chris Young, Adrian Gonzalez and Terrmel for Adam Eaton, Akinora Otsuka and Billy Killian
So basically, Jon Daniels traded Soriano, Young and Gonzalez (three all-Stars) for Otsuka

The Mavericks get a one-time pass for the Nowitzki for Tractor Traylor deal.

The Cowboys get an all-time pass for the Hershel Walker deal.

Baseball

I sure wish I could get excited about baseball season starting. The Rangers officially opened spring training today in very fitting Surprise, AZ. Although, there is no surprise where the Rangers will finish this year, last place. Surprise, the biggest issue is pitching. For 37 years its been pitching. What was done in the off-season to address this? The most significant signing in the off season just turned 61. 2nd biggest news this offseason was John Rocker admitting he used roids as a Ranger. He joined Canseco, Pudge, Juan Gone, Palmeiro as the cream (and the clear) of our crop.

Here are some Rangers highlights:


1972-1993 - Nolan Ryan beats up Robin Ventura

1994 - Rangers win first division title. They were 52-62 that year. . So embarrassed MLB, they cancelled the World Series.

1996-1999 - Rangers win three division titles in four years. Postseason record: 1-9, with a nine game losing streak to the Yankees.

2000-2007 - Rangers finish (in a division of four) 4th, 4th, 4th, 4th, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th

The Rangers are the oldest franchise that has yet to appear in a World Series; in fact, they have yet to win any playoff series. They are the oldest franchise in the 4 major pro sports to never win a championship. They have never won a home playoff game.

The Rangers list five Hall of Famers:

Ted Williams - Really? What did he contribute as a Ranger? He managed the '72 team that went 54-100
Ferguson Jenkins - In a 19-year career he pitched six years for the Rangers
Gaylord Perry - 22-year career, three years for the Rangers
Nolan Ryan - 27-year career, five years for the Rangers
Rich Gossage - 22-year career, one year for the Rangers

One Ranger hat in the Hall, Nolan. Mets: 5 years, Angels: 8 years, Astros: 9 years, Texas: 5 years. He wears the T because he worked for the Rangers at the time. It should be an Astros cap.

Let's look at retired numbers:

42 - Jackie Robinson
34 - Nolan Ryan, franchise savior
26 - Johnny Oates, dead manager

So, I know your thinking, Bill, there's always next year. OK, lets look at the Strangers starting lineup:

C: Gerald Laird - 2007 average: .224
1B: Ben Broussard - typically the power corner, 2007 HR: 7
2B: Ian Kinsler - Baseball Reference compares him closest to Bill Salkeld
SS: Michael Young - Centerpiece of franchise. Actually, decent so he'll be traded midseason
3B: Hank Blalock - Power corner, 2007 HR: 10
LF: Marlon Byrd - Percentage owned in ESPN fantasy league: 2.3%
CF: Josh Hamilton - He's owned in 6.1% Congrats! You're the star in the outfield!
RF: Milton Bradley - He's got some game
DH: Frank Catalanotsupposedtostarto: 2007 - 44 RBI

Rotation:
"Ace"(hole) - Kevin Millwood: 10-14, 5.16 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, .301 BAA, 172 IP, 123 K
Salary: 9.8 million
Vincente Padilla: 6-10, 5.76, 1.63, .299, 120 IP, 71 K - Salary: 9 million
Jason Jennings: 2-9, 6.45, 1.55, .301, 99 IP, 71 K - Salary: 5.5 million (This was the Rangers signing to bolster the staff)
Brandon McCarthy: 5-10, 4.87(congrats for being the only Ranger under 5.00), 1.56, .278, 101 IP, 59K
Kason Gabbard:
Stats with Boston: 4-0, 3.73 ERA
Stats with Texas: 2-1, 5.58 ERA

In the fantasy world, most drafts run 25 rounds, 10-12 teams. That is 250-300 players. ESPN projects the Rangers will have 1 pitcher that would be drafted, C.J. Wilson, in the 25th round. And only because he collects saves.

As the great Ron Jackson says: GO RANGERS!