Daily Ticket: The Blog

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. San Francisco Giants 9, Texas Rangers 0: Matt Cain pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings for the Giants, and a 2-0 game turned into a rout with San Francisco's seven-run ninth. The Rangers are down 2-0 and headed home for Game 3 on Saturday.

2. Randy Galloway: The Rangers have dug themselves a mighty deep hole in the way they have lost the first two games.

3. Gil LeBreton: Another meltdown of an inning has the Rangers' World Series credentials being questioned.

4. Now, the Dallas Cowboys' statistics are beginning to reflect their record.

5. Cowboys notes: Jerry Jones said the Cowboys' disappointing season does not have a negative impact on the significance of hosting the Super Bowl.

6. Los Angeles Kings 5, Dallas Stars 2: For the third consecutive game, the Stars outshot an opponent by a wide margin and left American Airlines Center a loser.

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. San Francisco Giants 11, Texas Rangers 7: The Giants got to Cliff Lee for seven runs (six earned) in 4 2/3 innings as San Francisco won Game 1 of the World Series. Game 2 is tonight in San Francisco, although there is a 50 percent chance of rain (6:57 p.m., KDFW/Channel 4).

2. Randy Galloway: Completely embarrassed, the Rangers looked nothing like the team that reached the World Series.

3. Gil LeBreton: In Game 1, we saw a Lee that none of us expected to see. As a result, the Rangers are a game down.

4. Dallas Mavericks 101, Charlotte Bobcats 86: Dirk Nowitzki had 28 points and 13 rebounds as the Mavs won their season opener.

5. There will not be many changes to the Dallas Cowboys' offense with Jon Kitna at quarterback.

6. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Four lessons the Cowboys could learn from the Rangers.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Considered underdogs to even reach the World Series, the Texas Rangers now are the favorite to win the championship. But the players say their approach hasn't changed -- and can't change. Game 1 is tonight in San Francisco (6:57 p.m., KDFW/4).

2. Gil LeBreton: Giants baseball history is noted for its torture on its fans. But in the Rangers, San Francisco shares the World Series spotlight with a franchise whose fans truly know what torture is.

3. Rangers notes: The World Series roster has not been set, and the final spot to be determined likely will involve the bullpen.

4. Jon Kitna, a 14-year veteran, takes the reins of the Dallas Cowboys' offense from Tony Romo.

5. Randy Galloway: With a 1-5 record, there is no reason to keep Wade Phillips around. So fire him and let us see what Jason Garrett can do as a head coach.

6. About half an hour after first pitch in San Francisco, the Dallas Mavericks open their regular season with a home game against the Charlotte Bobcats (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. New York Giants 41, Dallas Cowboys 35: The Cowboys dropped to 1-5 and Tony Romo suffered a broken clavicle. Romo's broken collarbone might be a season-ender for him. The loss was a season-ender for the Cowboys, as no 1-5 team has ever bounced back to make the playoffs.

2. Randy Galloway: Sure, the Cowboys lost Romo, but his injury had nothing to do with a defense that quit.

3. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Romo's injury is not an excuse for the Cowboys. They are a bad team, and they have been a bad team.

4. With the first two games of the World Series being played in San Francisco and under National League rules, Texas Rangers pitchers will have opportunities to help themselves on offense.

5. Rangers notes: C.J. Wilson will most likely start Game 2 with Colby Lewis following him, although Ron Washington did leave himself just enough wiggle room to change that if need be. Tommy Hunter will start Game 4.

6. Texas coach Mack Brown lays it on the line for both his players and his assistant coaches in the wake of Saturday's home loss to Iowa State.

-- David Thomas

Monday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Randy Galloway: Another New York team arrives in Arlington to find odd conditions in which it's the Dallas Cowboys that are not the local team everyone is talking about. The Cowboys host the Giants tonight on Monday Night Football (7:30 p.m., ESPN, KTXA/21).

2. Tony Romo has posted some large numbers this season, but there is still only a "1" in the win column.

3. A look at the building of these Texas Rangers, which began in 2007.

4. Gil LeBreton: Rangers manager Ron Washington has never doubted who he was, and that has been the foundation for his team's resolve.

5. Rangers notes: The rotation for the World Series is still being looked at, including what order C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis take behind Cliff Lee, and whether Derek Holland will take Tommy Hunter's spot in Game 4.

6. TCU moved up one spot to No. 4 in the latest BCS rankings, and coach Gary Patterson likes the way his team has remained focused throughout the season.

-- David Thomas

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. By winning two of three games in New York, the Texas Rangers got what they wanted. Now they need to win just one of two possible games at home to reach the World Series. As far as Rangers players are concerned, tonight's Game 6 is the best time to do so (7:07 p.m., TBS).

2. Gil LeBreton: The "Road Warrior" Rangers have the opportunity to make their dream -- and their fans' dreams -- come true at home.

3. Rangers notes: Nelson Cruz said his hamstring is good and he'll be in the lineup tonight.

4. Dallas Stars 4, Florida Panthers 1: Unplanned lineup shuffling helped the Stars improve to 5-1.

5. Dallas Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins is tied for the league lead in pass interference penalties, with four. That's the downside to the aggressiveness that earned him a Pro Bowl spot last year.

6. Cowboys notes: Jerry Jones gave his players a message described as stern and pointed, yet mostly positive.

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. New York Yankees 7, Texas Rangers 2: The Yankees scored six runs off of C.J. Wilson, who walked four batters in his five innings, and the Rangers missed repeated opportunities to get to Yankees ace CC Sabathia as New York stayed alive in the series. The Rangers return home with their 3-2 series lead for Game 6 Friday night.

2. Randy Galloway: The Yankees are still alive, but the Rangers still have the series lead.

3. Gil LeBreton: New York's victory changed little in this series other than how the Yankees feel about themselves.

4. Dallas Cowboys notes: Marion Barber's carries are down, but the Cowboys still consider his role on this team important.

5. Jennifer Floyd Engel: It's official: The Cowboys are cupcakes because they refuse to see what being 1-4 really says about the team.

6. A report says that TCU coach Gary Patterson berated the team physician over whether a player had suffered a concussion during the SMU game.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 10, New York Yankees 3: Bengie Molina's two-out, three-run homer in the sixth gave the Rangers a 5-3 lead, and the bullpen pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings as the Rangers took a 3-1 lead in the ALCS. The Rangers can win the series today in New York (3:07 p.m., TBS).

2. Randy Galloway: The Yankees are collapsing under the pressure of the Rangers. Did you think we would ever see this?

3. Gil LeBreton: Molina brings attributes to the Rangers that money can't but -- not even the Yankees' pile of money.

4. Dallas Cowboys notes: Jerry Jones said his team can still make the playoffs despite its 1-4 start.

5. TCU football notes: Gary Patterson is calling on his defense to prove itself against Air Force, which has the nation's best rushing attack.

6. Dallas Mavericks notes: Rookie Dominique Jones has impressed the Mavs. Tonight's preseason game in Orlando will give him the opportunity to impress family friends from his nearby hometown.

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 8, New York Yankees 0: Josh Hamilton's home run gave Cliff Lee a 2-0 lead in the first inning, and Lee held that lead until the Rangers scored six runs in the top of the ninth to put the game out of reach. Lee struck out 13 and allowed two hits in eight innings. The Rangers lead the ALCS 2-1, with Game 4 tonight in New York (7:07 p.m., TNT).

2. Randy Galloway: Lee's masterful performance reminded the Yankees why they wanted him pitching in their stadium in October -- except not in a Rangers uniform.

3. Gil LeBreton: Andy Pettitte was brilliant for the Yankees, but it wasn't enough to top Lee and the Rangers. Now the Yankees must hand the Game 4 ball to the struggling A.J. Burnett.

4. Dallas Cowboys Insider: Dez Bryant takes responsibility for his key dropped pass Sunday.

5. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Cowboys players have learned to offer apologies, but what good is that doing now?

6. Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Dallas Stars 4: The Stars allowed four power-play goals and lost for the first time this season.

-- David Thomas

Monday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Minnesota Vikings 24, Dallas Cowboys 21: Once again, penalties, poor special teams play and turnovers in key spots doomed the Cowboys, who now are 1-4.

2. Randy Galloway: The Cowboys are a dumb team, and their season is done.

3. The Texas Rangers are confident they can beat any team, anywhere and in any fashion. Game 3 of the ALCS with the New York Yankees is tonight in New York, with Cliff Lee taking on Andy Pettitte (7:07 p.m., TBS).

4. Rangers notes: Josh Hamilton will take the walks the Yankees are giving him and let the batters behind him in the order clean up from there.

5. Gil LeBreton: The New York media doesn't understand why Rangers fans boo Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira? Here's why.

6. TCU is No. 5 in the first BCS rankings, with Oklahoma No. 1.

-- David Thomas