Daily Ticket: The Blog

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. The Texas Rangers traded for the Florida Marlins' Jorge Cantu, who will be playing first base along with Mitch Moreland. Chris Davis is being returned to the minors.

2. Texas Rangers 7, Oakland Athletics 4: The Rangers finished off the homestand by taking two of three from the A's, giving them an 8 1/2-game lead. Next up: a nine-game West Coast trip to play the Angels, Mariners and A's, beginning tonight in Anaheim (9:05 p.m., KTXA/Channel 21).

3. The Cowboys are remaining true to their philosophy of going with younger, more talented players over proven but aging veterans.

4. Cowboys notes: Free agent signee Teddy Williams hasn't played football since high school in 2006, but the world-class sprinter is getting a look in the defensive secondary.

5. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Jerry Jones said he does not have the time to own both the Cowboys and the Rangers, although he did say that Mark Cuban is the type of person who could successfully run two teams.

6. Ray Buck: Former Cowboy Nate Newton has lost 133 pounds in a little more than three months after having a "gastric sleeve" procedure.

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Oakland Athletics 3, Texas Rangers 1: Trevor Cahill shut down the Rangers, holding them scoreless on two hits through eight innings. Colby Lewis allowed one run in seven innings, but the Rangers committed three errors. The three-game series ends tonight (7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. The Dallas Cowboys are excited about what a healthy Felix Jones could do and are looking at getting him more involved in the passing game.

3. Cowboys notes: Dez Bryant is expected to provide a boost to the Cowboys' return teams.

4. Jennifer Floyd Engel: There's a lesson to be learned from Cliff Lee: Tony Romo can't be expected to win games by himself.

5. The five biggest names available as the MLB's Saturday trade deadline, with where those players are most likely to end up.

6. Texas sophomore quarterback Garrett Gilbert said he won't try to replace or be like Colt McCoy because that can't be done. How Gilbert will play for the Longhorns is one of the biggest questions heading into  the Big 12 season.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 3, Oakland Athletics 1 (10): Cliff Lee struck out a career-high 13 batters over nine innings, but the Rangers still needed Nelson Cruz's two-run homer with one run in the bottom of the 10th to beat the A's. The Los Angeles Angels lost on the West Coast, so the Rangers' lead now is at 8 1/2 games. Game 2 of the A's-Rangers series is tonight (7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Gil LeBreton: The Rangers keep winning, but once again they have trouble scoring runs for Lee. They have scored 10 runs in his four starts.

3. Dallas Cowboys notes: Dez Bryant said he was unaware of the ritual of rookies carrying equipment for veteran players, then blamed the media for blowing the story out of proportion.

4. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware quietly and humbly goes about his quest to be the best ever.

5. Mountain West Conference notes: TCU is a unanimous pick to defend its conference championships, and the Horned Frogs claimed all three individual preseason player of the year picks.

6. Mark Cuban has been involved in long talks with those involved in the Rangers bankruptcy proceedings but is unsure whether he will join the bidding.

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. The Texas Rangers want to add a right-handed-hitting corner infielder before Saturday's non-waiver trade deadline, but their financial situation is making that difficult. The Rangers open a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics tonight at home (7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban should make known today whether he plans to pursue acquiring the Rangers.

3. The Cowboys have made it clear to David Buehler that the place-kicker's job is his to lose during training camp and preseason games.

4. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Recent Dallas Cowboys training camps have been too comfortable, so perhaps Dez Bryant's message is just what the team needed.

5. Cowboys notes: Wade Phillips called the should pad story concerning Bryant and Roy Williams a "non-issue."

6. Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman said the Big 12 conference needs a strong A&M team, and that's what he expects to have this season.

-- David Thomas

Monday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 6, Los Angeles Angels 4: The Rangers' lead is at seven games after they took three of four from the Angels. Tommy Hunter pitched 6 1/3 innings to improve to 8-0 with a 2.31 ERA. The Rangers are off today before hosting the Oakland Athletics for three games.

2. Gil LeBreton: Even after trading for pitcher Dan Haren, the Angels are a different team from the ones that have reigned supreme in the A.L. West. And the Rangers have taken their place.

3. Rangers notes: Neftali Feliz, who leads the American League with 28 saves, says he is enjoying being the closer. But a move to the starting rotation for future seasons hasn't been ruled out.

4. Dallas Cowboys notes: Dez Bryant refused to take part in the hazing tradition of carrying teammates' shoulder pads.

5. Miles Austin's name has found its way into the off-season spotlight, but he says his work ethic remains unchanged.

6. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is still a genius, and he should still be considered the Cowboys' future coach.

-- David Thomas

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 3, Los Angeles Angels 2: Cliff Lee allowed five hits over 8 1/3 innings, then Neftali Feliz retired the two hitters he faced as the Rangers started the four-game series with a win. Their lead over the Angels now is six games.

2. Ray Buck: Lee has quickly proved his value to the Rangers -- with emphasis on quickly.

3. In bankruptcy court, Rangers manager Ron Washington was told by the judge not to worry about the team not having the money it needs down the stretch. Meanwhile, the judge also held firm on the Aug. 4 auction date, which means Mark Cuban might not be able to make a solo bid for the team. Instead, he might have to join an existing group's bid.

4. Dallas Cowboys notes: Dez Bryant became the NFL's first first-round draft choice to agree to a contract, coming to an agreement with the Cowboys on a five-year, $11.8 million contract that will have him in training camp when it begins Saturday in San Antonio.

5. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Following the advice of a pastor, there will no cynicism concerning the Cowboys. For one month, anyway.

6. Dallas Stars notes: Former Stars Kevin and Derian Hatcher, along with Jeremy Roenick, were selected to join the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Detroit Tigers 4, Texas Rangers 1: Former Fort Worth Cat Max Scherzer didn't allow a run although the Rangers had a leadoff triple in the fourth inning and wound up pitching seven shutout innings. The Rangers ended their seven-game road trip to Boston and Detroit with a 5-2 record. Up next: a seven-game homestand that begins with four games against the Los Angeles Angels (7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. The Rangers start the Angels series with Cliff Lee on the mound. It's a fitting assignment for their hired gun.

3. Rangers notes: The Rangers did not sign prospects from Latin America in order to shift that money toward helping the team's playoff chase.

4. In bankruptcy court, Nolan Ryan asked the court to keep the Aug. 4 auction date because financial issues are making things difficult for the club. But the judge informed Ryan that MLB can be told to increased funding to the Rangers.

5. Jennifer Floyd Engel: The time is now for Rangers fans to unite and take a stab at saving their team. Here's how.

6. Dallas Cowboys notes: Jimmy Johnson reportedly is a contestant on CBS' Survivor: Nicaragua.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 8, Detroit Tigers 0: Tommy Hunter became the first Rangers starter to start a season 7-0, and Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler combined for five hits and five RBI. The three-game series ends tonight in Detroit (6:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Rangers notes: Dustin Nippert has had nothing more than the typical side-effects of a blow to the head, but was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

3. Over at the Rangers bankruptcy proceedings, Mark Cuban has been identified as a serious bidder.

4. Dallas Cowboys notes: The Cowboys and the agent for Dez Bryant didn't begin negotiations until Monday and although Bryant isn't expected to be suited up for the first practice, it's hoped that he'll be signed soon.

5. Mike Modano said he'll begin skating Aug. 5, and he should know shortly after that if he'll return to the NHL for another season. The Detroit Red Wings remain the team most likely to sign him.

6. Fort Worth officials are expected to announce today that ESPN will set up shop in Sundance Square as its broadcast home during Super Bowl week. With ESPN having more than 80 hours of Super Bowl coverage that week, that would bring unprecedented television exposure for Sundance Square.

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 8, Detroit Tigers 6 (14): Nelson Cruz hit a two-run home run in the top of the 14th as the Rangers snapped an 11-game losing streak at Comerica Park. Rangers reliever Dustin Nippert was hit in the head by a line drive, but a CT scan came back negative and Nippert is considered day-to-day. The teams play again tonight (6:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Rangers notes: The Rangers are moving Tanner Scheppers to the bullpen in Triple A in anticipation of using him to add depth to the bullpen later this season.

3. In the latest in the Rangers bankruptcy case, judge D. Michael Lynn could announce today whether the Aug. 4 date set for the auction will remain unchanged.

4. Preparing for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Emmitt Smith won't say his NFL career rushing record will never be broken, but he does say it won't be easy to topple.

5. The University Interscholastic League is giving serious consideration to adding a Class 6A, possibly as soon as the next realignment period in 2012.

6. Bob Ledbetter, who built the tradition that is Southlake Carroll football, enters the Texas High School Coaches Association's Hall of Honor this week.

-- David Thomas

Monday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 4, Boston Red Sox 2: C.J. Wilson struck out 10 batters in 6 2/3 innings, and the Rangers' aggressiveness on the bases paid off as they took three of four in Boston. They move on to Detroit for a three-game series that begins tonight (6:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Rangers notes: Cliff Lee will start every fifth day, regardless of off days. That would mean 15 more starts for Lee.

3. Dallas Mavericks fans despised Tyson Chandler when he and the New Orleans Hornets eliminated the Mavs in the first round of the 2008 playoffs. A few dunks off Jason Kidd passes, however, would quickly place him in good graces with Mavs fans.

4. Ray Buck: Mickey McCarty, perhaps the greatest athlete in TCU history, is a medical miracle. But he's in the middle of a difficult bout with pancreatic cancer.

5. Gary West: Lone Star Park's thoroughbred season ended Sunday, and unless things change quickly, there won't be many more racing seasons anywhere in Texas.

6. South African Louis Oosthuizen cruised to a seven-shot win over Lee Westwood in the British Open.

-- David Thomas