Daily Ticket: The Blog

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Dallas Mavericks 106, Los Angeles Clippers 100: Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points and J.J. Barea scored 22, setting up the Mavs' showdown tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Mavs need a win to maintain a realistic shot at the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference (9:30 p.m., TNT).

2. Randy Galloway: Another baseball season is upon us, but the biggest question concerning the Texas Rangers is the one we seem to bring up before every Opening Day: Do the Rangers have enough pitching?

3. Nolan Ryan believes the Rangers are positioned better this year than last year to win the AL West. Ryan also expects C.J. Wilson to improve this season and Michael Young to remain with the team throughout the season.

4. Chris Davis doesn't think he belongs in the minor leagues, but despite hitting .362 in spring training, that's where he'll start the season.

5. Dez Bryant's adviser said the Dallas Cowboys receiver has a plan to pay off the money owed to people who have filed lawsuits against him, but also said that Bryant is in "a dark place."

6. Jennifer Floyd Engel: There's always going to be something swirling around Bryant, and that's why the Cowboys shouldn't have drafted him.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Phoenix Coyotes 2, Dallas Stars 1 (SO): The Stars lost a game of inches, but did manage to pick up one point.

2. Texas A&M 58, Baylor 46: The No. 2-seeded Aggies defeated top-seeded Baylor for the first time in four tries this season, earning a spot in the NCAA Women's Tournament Final Four.

3. Texas Rangers notes: Final roster decisions have been made, including Mason Tobin earning a spot in the bullpen and Alexi Ogando officially taking a spot in the starting rotation. For now.

4. Former Rangers CEO and general partner Chuck Greenberg hosted the Rangers' game against Coastal Carolina on Wednesday and reflected on his short time with the franchise.

5. Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant faces two lawsuits for loans he took out to buy jewelry and tickets to sporting events.

6. Gil LeBreton: The jury hasn't been sent into deliberations yet in the Barry Bonds trial, but public opinion has already declared its verdict on Bonds and this trial won't change anything in that regard.

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Questions? You have questions about the Texas Rangers? Get in line.

2. The Rangers traded backup catcher Matt Treanor to the Kansas City Royals, freeing up a roster spot that figures to go to an extra relief pitcher.

3. Rangers notes: Matt Harrison's last start of spring training was a good one.

4. Baylor has defeated Texas A&M three times this season, and the winner of their fourth meeting will advance to the Final Four of the NCAA Women's Tournament (8 p.m., ESPN).

5. Mac Engel: Virginia Commonwealth and Butler are continuing the college sports trend of little guys making big waves.

6. High School Baseball Insider: The district-leading Southlake Carroll Dragons are deep and have proved capable of putting together nice winning streaks.

-- David Thomas

Monday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Dallas Mavericks 91, Phoenix Suns 83: The Mavs' toughening defense led the way to a fifth consecutive victory.

2. The off-season addition to Texas Ranger left Matt Harrison's repertoire: mental toughness.

3. Gil LeBreton: Spring training statistics receive too much attention. Should we remind you that the Rangers had a 10-19 record last spring training?

4. Rangers notes: Dave Bush has been designated the long reliever, and Alexi Ogando appears headed from the bullpen to the starting rotation.

5. A look at the teams headed to the Final Four.

6. Kevin Harvick led one lap at NASCAR's Auto Club 400, but it was the best one to lead.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Portland Trail Blazers 104, Dallas Mavericks 101: The Mavs have dropped below the Los Angeles Lakers and into third in the Western Conference. The Mavs visit the Golden State Warriors tonight (9:30 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. San Jose Sharks 6, Dallas Stars 3: The Stars wasted a 2-0 lead and lost a chance to gain ground in the playoff race in a game that left both teams upset over hits to the heads of players.

3. Gil LeBreton: One question for the Texas Rangers: If Neftali Feliz becomes a starter, who becomes the closer?

4. The competition to fill out the starting rotation remains a wide-open affair, with seven pitchers in the mix for two spots.

5. Rangers notes: Chris Davis, who is hitting .353, has not asked for a trade but he realizes he will most likely have to go to another team to have a chance to play in the majors.

6. UTA 3, TCU 2: The Mavericks defeated TCU for the first time since 2004.

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading tot he water cooler:

1. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers raised the question of whether there truly is anything different about these Dallas Mavericks.

2. The addition of an effective cut fastball has the Texas Rangers' Neftali Feliz now eager to become a starter.

3. Rangers notes: Nelson Cruz is off to a slow spring start with a .133 batting average.

4. How close are we to the first NCAA Tournament upset by a No. 16 seed?

5. Baylor's women are the No. 1 seed in the Dallas Region, with Texas A&M seeded second.

6. TCU's women will host Oral Roberts on Thursday in the first round of the WNIT.

-- David Thomas

Monday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Mike Jones: Texas and Texas A&M probably deserved better seeds, but they enter the NCAA Tournament confident teams based on their season results.

2. Five Big 12 teams made their way into the bracket: Kansas, Texas, Kansas State, Texas A&M and Missouri.

3. Drew Davison takes a look at the tournament field.

4. Los Angeles Kings 3, Dallas Stars 2: The Stars tied the score with 53 seconds remaining in regulation, but the Kings answered with the game-winner with 21 seconds left.

5. Texas Rangers catcher Taylor Teagarden, a University of Texas product, appears to be headed to the Austin area to start the season with Round Rock.

6. Rangers notes: Brandon Webb felt improvement in his second live batting practice session.

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. New Orleans Hornets 93, Dallas Mavericks 92: The Hornets -- playing without Chris Paul -- overcame a seven-point deficit in the final 53 seconds. The Mavs host the New York Knicks tonight (8:30 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest & TNT).

2. Calgary Flames 4, Dallas Stars 3 (SO): The Stars trailed 3-0 in the first period before coming back to tie the score, then lost in the third round of the shootout.

3. Jennifer Floyd Engel: The one-word question for Brandon Webb: "When?" The two-word answer: "Don't know."

4. Meet C.J. Wilson, motorsports owner.

5. Gil LeBreton: No. 2 pitcher Kyle Winkler, motivated by short outings in his two starts at last year's College World Series, is pitching with confidence and purpose in hopes of a second chance in Omaha.

6. TCU 70, Wyoming 61: The Horned Frogs ended a 13-game losing streak at the Mountain West Conference tournament and advance to play eighth-ranked BYU today (2 p.m., The Mtn.)

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Alexi Ogando and David Murphy are the Texas Rangers' best bets to have C.J. Wilson-like years this season.

2. Chris Davis' name tops the list of Rangers' players' picks for who has had the best spring training thus far.

3. Gil LeBreton: The Knights Era is ending at Texas Tech. Where do the Red Raiders go from here?

4. For the balanced Dallas Mavericks, MVP might just stand for Many Valuable Players.

5. Fort Worth golfer Roy Sabbatini's victory at the Honda Classic carried special meaning in light of health issues he and family members have endured.

6. Mike Jones: The Big 12 men's basketball tournament might be lacking for Big Dance impact, but it certainly carries its own load of dramatic story lines.

-- David Thomas

 

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Dallas Mavericks 108, Minnesota Timberwolves 105: It wasn't as easy as it should have been, but the Mavs put the T-wolves away thanks to Dirk Nowitzki's clutch free-throw shooting.

2. Dallas Stars 4, Los Angeles Kings 3 (OT): The Stars wrapped up a four-game road trip with a 3-0-1 record and are 5-0-1 over their past six games.

3. Neftali Feliz said he feels more comfortable as the closer but will start if that is what the team wants.

4. Jennifer Floyd Engel: The Rangers should get Feliz out of his comfort zone and try him as a starter.

5. Texas Tech fired basketball coach Pat Knight, who will coach the Red Raiders through the Big 12 tournament.

6. TCU football notes: Josh Boyce, the leading receiver last season as a redshirt freshman, has bulked up in order to be more physical on the outside.

-- David Thomas