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Don't you love spring training time?
Each team is a contender when their pitchers and catchers report. Do you remember Rick Vaughn, Willie Mays Hayes and Jake Taylor? Those misfits pulled it together to win the pennant for the Cleveland "Hollywood" Indians in Major League.

Here’s a real life example, the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays were one of those long shot teams that came into the ’08 spring season and had few fans, but those fans would have said their Rays were contenders before the season started. Who would’ve thought that they would’ve played in a World Series before our Texas Rangers?

Our beloved Texas Rangers, the little team that can't quite get it done! As a life long Rangers fan, I've watched and cussed at more games than any one man should have. From Pete O’Brien, to Will Clark, to Rafael Palmeiro, Dean Palmer, Scott Fletcher, Larry Parrish, Geno Petralli, Pudge and Juando - I've been there! As a Rangers fan, you get used to disappointment year after year! You know the pattern, the Rangers will look good until the All Star Break in July, then it's all down hill from there. One of my friend’s favorite sayings is: "Well, the Rangers got us to football season again."

In the past, I’ve always been a pessimist when in comes to the Rangers. I’ve been disappointed too many times to have my dreams crushed by them again. It's like a bad relationship, only there’s no chance of this one ending in a murder suicide. This year is going to be different! There’s something special going on at that little ballpark in Arlington! Can you feel it? There is one thing I can guarantee you that you will not hear in 2010, and that is “this guy” in a sports bar saying “Texas Rangers, No Chance!”

It's no secret that the Rangers main problem has always been pitching. Well, I can't think of a deeper group of pitchers in the history of this club. I do hate the fact that they traded Kevin Millwood for a bag of used baseballs; however, this will open up a spot for one of our young kids to step up and prove that they have what it takes. Let's pray that the newly acquired Rich Harden stays healthy and that Scott Feldman can return to his early ‘09 form.
The signing of Vladimir "Ranger Killer" Guerrero will be huge for the upcoming season. I know he's 80; however, when you can hit like he does, your age doesn't matter! He has a career.440 batting average at The Ball Park in Arlington. Bottom line- he adds more power to an already loaded line up!

The Rangers need Ian Kinsler and Josh Hamilton to stay healthy this season. Josh never really got it together last year. He went down early in the season with an injury and returned only to injure his shoulder again. No bueno Hamilton! Josh, stay off the sauce and remember the walls in the outfield don't give!
I'm going to beat Josh Lewin and Tom Grieve to it. I’m making "the call" right here and right now: The 2010 World Series will be your Texas Rangers vs. the Philadelphia Phillies.
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larry@bigbadsportsdaddy.com
Chin-Chin and Happy Baseball
Larry Stanley