Daily Ticket: The Blog

Monday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Former Masters champion Zach Johnson shot a tournament-record 21-under par to win the 64th Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

2. Gil LeBreton: Colonial runner-up Brian Davis is still seeking his first win on the PGA Tour to go with the many other victories he has celebrated in life.

3. Minnesota Twins 6, Texas Rangers 3: Derek Holland didn't make it out of the second inning and could be headed to the disabled list. The three-game sweep in Minnesota left the Rangers half a game out of first place. They end the road trip with a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox that begins Tuesday.

4. Rangers notes: Nelson Cruz has made a second trip to the disabled list with a hamstring injury. Outfielder Craig Gentry takes his place.

5. TCU will host a NCAA baseball regional for the second consecutive year. The entire field, and whether the Horned Frogs (46-11) earned one of the eight national seeds, will be announced today (11:30 a.m., ESPN).

6. Dario Franchitti had just enough fuel to win the Indianapolis 500 for the second time in four years.

-- David Thomas

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Jason Bohn, Blake Adams and Jeff Overton each shot 7-under-par 63 to share the first-round lead at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

2. Gil LeBreton: Former TCU golfer J.J. Henry is four shots off the lead as he again seeks to add his name to Colonial's historic Wall of Champions.

3. Texas Rangers notes: Nelson Cruz will have a strained hamstring checked out today to see whether he'll have to return to the disabled list. The Rangers begin a three-game series in Minnesota tonight (7:10 p.m., KTXA/Channel 21).

4. Randy Galloway: A lack of major league-ready players -- not money -- would be the Rangers' biggest obstacle in acquiring Roy Oswalt from the Houston Astros.

5. TCU 5, UNLV 2: Kyle Winkler struck out a career-high 12 batters as the Horned Frogs advanced to tonight's championship game of the Mountain West Conference baseball tournament.

6. Dallas Cowboys safety Gerald Sensabaugh has signed his restricted free-agent tender in hopes of working out a contract extension.

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. The Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial tees off today with Phil Mickelson taking aim at the No. 1 spot in the world golf rankings.

2. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Mickelson is back at Colonial after missing last year's tournament, and both he and the tournament have a sense of appreciation for how the other has helped overcome difficult times.

3. Kansas City Royals 5, Texas Rangers 2: Opening Day starter Scott Feldman's record dropped to 2-5 as he allowed at least four runs for the fifth consecutive start. The Rangers are off today before beginning a three-game series in Minnesota.

4. MLB had a judge's ruling go its way in the Rangers' Chapter 11 bankruptcy hearing, but the door remains open for additional bidders to pursue purchasing the franchise. 

5. Dallas Cowboys notes: Patrick Crayton, who is not attending the team's voluntary workouts, said all he wants is a fair shot at making the team.

6. Randy Galloway: The awards are piling up for Jerry Jones and Cowboys Stadium, but Arlington mayor Robert Cluck deserves an award, too.

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 8, Kansas City Royals 7: Vladimir Guerrero homered twice and drove in five runs, and the Rangers pushed their lead over the Oakland Athletics back to three games. The Rangers' quick trip to K.C. ends with a day game (1:10 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Mitchell Schnurman: Despite the Texas Rangers' filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Tom Hicks figures to walk away with $75 million from the team's sale.

3. Gil LeBreton: As far as playoff pursuits are concerned, the Rangers need this sale to go through quickly.

4. Former Azle High golfer Jerod Turner was an in old spot but with a new role Monday at Colonial. The PGA Tour rookie played as a touring pro in the Pro-Am almost two decades since he caddied during pro-ams.

5. Dallas Cowboys notes: Dez Bryant missed Tuesday's practice with a stomach ailment but is expected back today.

6. Break out the parkas: New York-New Jersey won the right to host Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014. It will be the first Super Bowl played in a cold-weather city.

-- David Thomas

Monday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Jimmy Burch: Winning the HP Byron Nelson Championship provided an emotional sense of relief for Fort Worth resident Jason Day, a 22-year-old from Australia.

2. Sixteen-year-old high school junior Jordan Spieth fell out of contention with a double bogey on 15, but his gutsy tee shot on the par-3 17th served as a symbol of his big week.

3. Chicago Cubs 5, Texas Rangers 4: The Cubs scored four runs in the first inning off C.J. Wilson to take two of three in Arlington. The Rangers were 5-2 on their homestand and, after a day off today, start an eight-game road trip.

4. Rangers notes: When Matt Harrison returns from the disabled list Friday, if all goes as planned, he'll join the bullpen as the second left-handed reliever.

5. In his fourth season with the Dallas Cowboys, Alan Ball is being given a chance to start at free safety.

6. Q&A with Martina Navratilova: The 53-year-old Navratilova plans to be busy at the French Open, playing doubles and providing commentary for The Tennis Chapel despite recently being treated for breast cancer.

-- David Thomas

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 13, Baltimore Orioles 7: Nelson Cruz's career-high four hits were part of the Rangers' 20 hits. The Rangers are a season-best six games over .500 and have a four-game lead in the West. The Chicago Cubs are in town to start a three-game series tonight (7:05 p.m., KTXA/Channel 21).

2. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Ron Washington keeps making mistakes, but his team keeps winning.

3. Randy Galloway: Rudy Jaramillo is back at The Ballpark with the Cubs and early numbers -- with emphasis on "early" -- show the Rangers offense misses him.

4. Jimmy Burch: Fort Worth resident Jason Day felt poorly enough Thursday morning that he consider withdrawing from the HP Byron Nelson Championship, but he stuck around and took a share of the first-round lead by shooting four-under 66.

5. Dallas Mavericks notes: The NBA is reviewing remarks Mark Cuban made on CNN about LeBron James to determine whether he violated tampering rules.

6. Dallas Cowboys notes: Instead of playing in the first round of the Nelson, Tony Romo took part in local qualifier for the U.S. Open. He shot 2-under 69, made a playoff, then advanced to the next qualifying round.

-- David Thomas

Just CHILL: Tony Romo moves a step closer to US Open

Clarence Hill 

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo got a lot of praise for skipping a chance to qualify for the Byron Nelson Golf Tournament because it conflicted with the team's organized team activity workouts.

But Romo was not out of the off season golfing game. He competed in a qualifying tournament for the U.S. Open on Thursday and moved one step closer to making the big tournament.

Romo shot a 69 during the qualifying round, putting him a playoff with four golfers for three spots for the sectional tournament in Houston June 7.

Romo survived the playoff to reach the 36-hole sectional. The good news for Cowboys fans is that it doesn't conflict with OTA workouts that week, which begin on June 8.

Good news for Romo is that if he qualifies for the US Open at Pebble Beach June 14-20 it won't conflict with the Cowboys final mini camp, which is set for June 11-13.

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 4, Baltimore Orioles 3: Rich Harden turned in a solid start and the Rangers overcame a missed home run call to start 3-0 on this seven-game homestand. The Rangers and O's are right back at it again tonight (7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Rangers notes: Despite his .174 batting average, Justin Smoak is still getting on base with walks and has improved his defense.

3. Randy Galloway: Tony Romo made the right decision in skipping qualifying for the HP Byron Nelson Championships, but tournament officials did not make the right decision by not extending Romo a sponsor's exemption.

4. Jimmy Burch: On the eve of the commitment deadline for next week's Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, tournament officials are looking forward to having one of the best fields in tournament history.

5. Dallas Mavericks notes: With LeBron James' situation up in the air, don't expect much rumors-wise during the NBA's pre-draft camp in Chicago.

6. Cyclist Floyd Landis admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs and claimed Lance Armstrong, among others, was involved in doping, too.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 8, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 7: So much for that pitching matchup. C.J. Wilson allowed seven runs over 4 1/3 innings, and Angels ace Jared Weaver allowed seven runs over 4 2/3 innings. But the Rangers' bullpen threw 4 2/3 shutout innings, and the Rangers won both games of the two-game series. The Rangers host the Baltimore Orioles for two games starting tonight (7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Randy Galloway: There are a lot of reasons why the Rangers shouldn't be in first place, but somehow they are.

3. Rangers notes: Elvis Andrus' diving stop on a Torrii Hunter grounder Tuesday night drew major thumbs-up around the locker room. ... Tonight is an important start for Rich Harden.

4. Dallas Cowboys notes: Secondary coach Dave Campo likes what he is seeing from a couple of undrafted free agents.

5. Q&A with J.J. Henry: The former TCU golfer, who donated $100,000 to the Fort Worth First Tee program, says winning at Colonial would be the next-best thing to winning a major.

6. Mansfield High graduate Martin Flores, who lives in Dallas, "can't wait" to play in front of family and friends at this week's HP Byron Nelson Championship.

-- David Thomas

Campo impressed with free agent safeties

 

Secondary coach Dave Campo

said the Cowboys have plenty of candidates for safety depth and that even undrafted free agents Barry Church and Danny McCray impressed him Monday.

"You watch 42 run around, as big as he is, the way he runs around, who knows what’s going to happen once this thing gets going," he said of Church, 6-1, 222, out of Toledo. "And 40 can run, too."

Another undrafted free agent, cornerback Bryan McCann, made a good impression with his footwork.

"I’ve got to see him play before I can put a stamp on him, but from what I’ve seen, he’s a good athlete to work with," Campo said. "And if I’m not mistaken, he was a safety originally at SMU and then moved, so he probably will hit you."

Carlos Mendez