Daily Ticket: The Blog

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. According to sources, TCU has met with Big East Conference officials to discuss the Horned Frogs joining the conference.

2. Randy Galloway: The thought of TCU joining the Big East is nothing to laugh at.

3. Texas Rangers notes: Josh Hamilton hopes to play Friday, but Frank Francisco will not be able to pitch in the ALDS.

4. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Dear Commissioner Selig, thank you for saving the Rangers.

5. Roy Williams producing like he did against the Houston Texans would make a big difference in the Dallas Cowboys' offense.

6. Cowboys Insider: Wade Phillips is looking for ways to give veteran linebackers Keith Brooking and Bradie James a few plays off.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler ...

1. Gil LeBreton: Reports of the Texas Rangers and Fox Sports Net agreeing to a $3 billion TV contract would make for a golden deal for the Rangers.

2. Rangers brass met to discuss the postseason roster, which must be submitted next Tuesday. Frank Francisco doesn't appear he'll be able to pitch, but Mark Lowe might land a spot in the bullpen.

3. Making two field goals against the Houston Texans has put a smile on Dallas Cowboys kicker David Buehler's face -- not to mention those around him.

4. Cowboys notes: The price for not carrying Roy Williams' shoulder pads: $54,986. That was the tab Dez Bryant had to pick up at a local steak restaurant.

5. TCU's "Make It Happen" theme is appropriate for Saturday's conference opener against 1-3 Colorado State.

6. Shawn Marion doesn't know yet whether he'll be starting or coming off the bench for the Dallas Mavericks, but he's ready for whatever his role is.

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Josh Hamilton has increased the intensity of his workouts in hopes of being ready to start the first game of the ALDS.

2. Ray Buck: Picking the postseason roster creates a difficult set of decisions for the Texas Rangers, and starting pitching and first base will be the two most difficult spots.

3. The Dallas Cowboys' defense made a statement in Sunday's defeat of the Houston Texans.

4. Cowboys Insider: The bye week comes early this season, but also at a good time for injured players such as Jason Witten and Kyle Kosier.

5. Dallas Mavericks notes: Caron Butler is thinner and in better shape, and that is raising expectations for the swingman.

6. The Dallas Stars' desire to sign Brad Richards to a contract extension is complicated by the sale process involving the franchise.

-- David Thomas

Monday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Dallas Cowboys 27, Houston Texans 13: The Cowboys took out the frustrations from their 0-2 start on the Texans, with Tony Romo throwing for 284 yards and Roy Williams catching five passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

2. Randy Galloway: The unbeaten Texans were the best team coming into this game, but the Cowboys were the best team in this game.

3. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis' pregame speech leads to an emotional day and victory.

4. The Texas Rangers have set Cliff Lee, C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis in their starting rotation for the playoffs, then possibly having Lee come back on three days rest.

5. Gil LeBreton: The Rangers certainly deserved this celebration.

6. Gary Patterson wasn't surprised that TCU dropped one spot below Oregon in The Associated Press poll.

-- David Thomas

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. TCU has defeated SMU in nine of the teams' past 10 meetings. It's that one loss that still bothers Gary Patterson as his fourth-ranked Frogs visit SMU tonight (7 p.m., ESPN).

2. Oakland Athletics 5, Texas Rangers 0: The magic number remained at four as Dallas Braden allowed one hit over eight innings and Cliff Lee gave up four runs in his five innings. The teams meet again tonight in Oakland (9:05 p.m., KTXA/Channel 21).

3. Gil LeBreton: The Rangers are chasing their dream, but they're not gaining much ground on this road trip.

4. The Dallas Cowboys are focusing this week on making adjustments to an offense that has sputtered during an 0-2 start.

5. Randy Galloway: With the Cowboys, there is so much blame to go around. So here's the long list of names.

6. Cowboys Insider: The Cowboys have two sacks this season, but DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer say they're not feeling pressure to produce more sacks.

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 2, Los Angeles Angels 1 (12): The Rangers avoided a three-game sweep and in the process cut their magic number to four. Texas begins a four-game series tonight in Oakland, and all the Rangers need to do to win the division is win two games against the Athletics (9:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Josh Hamilton is targeting a return for the final three games of the regular season.

3. Randy Galloway: Jimmy Johnson weighs in on what's wrong with the Dallas Cowboys.

4. The Cowboys have not been able to get their running game going, averaging 69.5 yards in their first two games.

5. Cowboys Insider: Keith Brooking isn't typically a fan of players-only meeting, but he said the Cowboys' meeting gave the players the opportunity to "get some things off our chests."

6. Dallas Stars notes: A hungry team is looking to return to the postseason after a two-year absence.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Los Angeles Angels 2, Texas Rangers 0: Ervin Santana spun a five-hit shutout, outdueling Colby Lewis (two runs and four hits over seven innings). The three-game series ends tonight (9:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Gil LeBreton: Josh Hamilton is "hoping and praying" about his return from broken ribs. The Rangers should be, too.

3. Rangers notes: Chris Davis, back up as a backup first baseman, is hoping to earn a roster spot for the postseason.

4. A look at three key plays that led to the Dallas Cowboys' loss to the Chicago Bears.

5. Dallas Mavericks notes: Rick Carlisle once again is looking for a way to reduce Dirk Nowitzki's minutes during the regular season.

6. Dallas Stars notes: The Stars have time to develop 27-year-old Swiss prospect Severin Blindenbacher.

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. With an 0-2 record and a game at the Houston Texans next on the schedule, the Dallas Cowboys are looking within themselves to take care of the things necessary to come up with their first victory.

2. Jennifer Floyd Engel: The Cowboys are mis-general-managed. Jerry Jones can solve the problem, but will he?

3. Cowboys Insider: Tight end Jason Witten believes he was well enough to return to Sunday's game, but he also understands that with his slight concussion, team doctors were thinking of his well-being first.

4. Los Angeles Angels 7, Texas Rangers 4: Derek Holland was cruising early, but couldn't get out of the fourth inning. David Murphy went 5-for-5. The Rangers' magic number remained at six. The Rangers and Angels play again tonight (9:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

5. Josh Hamilton visited a big-time back specialist in California to see if he can get help in overcoming the bruised ribs that have caused him to miss 14 games.

6. Dallas Stars notes: One of the most wide open and perhaps most important position battles in Stars camp will be at backup goalie.

-- David Thomas

Monday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Chicago Bears 27, Dallas Cowboys 20: The Cowboys had three turnovers, missed a field goal and got roughed up by Jay Cutler in dropping to 0-2 for the first time since 2001.

2. Randy Galloway: There are so many things to criticize about the Cowboys right now, and they deserve it all.

3. Gil LeBreton: If anything, we thought we could count on the defense to carry the Cowboys. In this game, the defense was merely part of the problem.

4. Seattle Mariners 2, Texas Rangers 1: The Rangers got 10 hits, but their aggressiveness on the bases bit them in this one and limited them to one run. The magic number is at six as they move down the West Coast to start a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (9:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

5. TCU notes: The lack of enthusiasm Gary Patterson saw in last week's practices didn't turn out to be a problem when the Horned frogs routed Baylor.

6. Jimmy Burch: The Texas Longhorns displayed a national championship-caliber defense against Texas Tech.

-- David Thomas

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Jerry Jones said last week's loss to the Washington Redskins has not cut into the optimism he has for his team this season.

2. Randy Galloway: A big Ron Washington fan admits Wash has been passed in the race for Manger of the Year.

3. "A true grassroots idea," as Texas Rangers CEO Chuck Greenberg calls it, has spread to the fans as they join players in displaying "The Antlers" and "The Claw."

4. Rangers notes: Presale of playoff tickets has been extended because of problems with the web site for tickets.

5. Poor practices this week remind TCU's Gary Patterson of the week in 2005 when the Horned Frogs followed an upset win at Oklahoma with a loss to SMU.

6. The Dallas Stars have signed James Neal and Matt Niskanen to two-year contracts, ensuring they will be able to be there for the start of training camp.

-- David Thomas