Daily Ticket: The Blog

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 20, Minnesota Twins 6: Now that's the way to start a four-game series. Game 2 is tonight (7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Clarence E. Hill Jr.: The NFL lockout is over and we know who the losers will be: the fans.

3. Five things for Dallas Cowboys fans to think about with the lockout ended.

4. Cowboys players are excited to be returning to work.

5. Big 12 Media Days: Texas A&M players believe they have the talent to knock off Oklahoma and win the conference championship.

6. Mountain West Media Days: TCU coaches and players are ready for the questions about their final season in the conference.

-- David Thomas

Monday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Toronto Blue Jays 3, Texas Rangers 0: Brett Cecil held the Rangers to four singles as the Blue Jays avoided the three-game sweep. The Minnesota Twins are in town for a four-game series that begins tonight (7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Sunday is MLB's non-waiver trade deadline, and the Rangers' primary focus seems to be on landing a right-handed relief pitcher.

3. Rangers notes: Chris Davis' call-up with Adrian Beltre injured isn't so the Rangers can see what he can do. They called Davis up to help win the division.

4. According to sources, both sides in the NFL lockout have agreed to a deal.

5. Charean Williams: Ranking the NFL teams 1-32.

6. Five story lines to watch as the Big 12 football season nears.

-- David Thomas

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Los Angeles Angels 1, Texas Rangers 0: C.J. Wilson threw a complete game two-hitter, but lost when the Angels scored the only run on center fielder Endy Chavez's dropped fly ball. The Rangers are back home and host the Toronto Blue Jays tonight (7:05 p.m., KTXA/Channel 21).

2. Gil LeBreton: The Rangers' hot streak of the past two-plus weeks supports general manager Jon Daniels' belief that his team does not need to make a big move before the trade deadline.

3. Rangers notes: As expected, Michael Young's hamstring is not an issue and he was able to keep his spot in the lineup Thursday.

4. NFL owners have ratified a new 10-year labor agreement. Now the deal moves to the players for a vote.

5. Andy Arlens, a recent graduate of Mansfield High, shot a 1-under 69 at Colonial Country Club to win the 75th annual Fort Worth Junior Boys Golf Championship.

6. Texas high school coaches are in Fort Worth for annual coaches conventions and all-star games.

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Los Angeles Angels 9, Texas Rangers 8: The Rangers led 8-3 in the sixth, but Derek Holland and Tommy Hunter couldn't hold the lead and the Rangers' win streak ended at 12 games. The three-game series concludes today (2:35 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Rangers notes: Nelson Cruz received an unwanted day off Wednesday because Ron Washington thought Cruz could use a rest while mired in a slump.

3. Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre is nearing some milestone numbers, but he's not much of a numbers guy.

4. Charean Williams: Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten and tight ends coach John Garrett share charity work off the field, but that has been put on hold because of the NFL lockout.

5. Former TCU players now in the NFL get to renew acquaintances while working out at their old school.

6. Michael Walton of Fort Worth leads the Fort Worth Junior Boys Gold Championship going into today's final round.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 7, Los Angeles Angels 0: Alexi Ogando pitched eight innings and the Rangers hit three home runs over the final two innings. The win streak is at 12 with another game in Anaheim tonight (9:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. The Rangers will raise railings all around Rangers Ballpark in an effort to improve fan safety.

3. Rangers notes: Ron Washington likes getting catcher Mike Napoli in the lineup against the Angels, his former team.

4. Gil LeBreton: Bobby Valentine should be managing in the majors again.

5. Jason Witten was scheduled to fly to Washington, D.C., Wednesday in anticipation of voting on a new labor contract. Also, Dallas Cowboys coaches have been called back to work.

6. If there is an NBA schedule, the Dallas Mavericks will make the maximum 30 national television appearances, including hosting the Miami Heat on Christmas Day.

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. The Texas Rangers have a four-game lead as they begin a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels tonight. The division race is down to these two teams, and they play 10 times in Anaheim the rest of the way (9:25 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Rangers notes: Nolan Ryan was hospitalized Sunday morning for recurrence of a heart condition. He is expected to be released today or Wednesday.

3. Mac Engel: It's time for Tony Romo to go Dirk Nowitzki. The first step in making that happen is for Romo and the Dallas Cowboys to get close.

4. Turner MacLean, 14, tops a tight leader board after the first day of the Fort Worth Junior Boys Golf Championship.

5. Both sides of the NFL lockout are preparing for a new labor contract that could be ready to go on Thursday.

6. Japan's women's soccer team returned home with the World Cup championship to a heroes' welcome.

-- David Thomas

 

Monday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 3, Seattle Mariners 1: The Rangers won their 11th game in a row and have a four-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels. The Rangers are off today.

2. Rangers notes: Mitch Moreland shaved his beard to change his luck and hit a three-run homer in Sunday's win.

3. Gil LeBreton: The U.S. soccer team didn't win the World Cup final because it didn't finish its scoring chances, but the Americans didn't miss out on a chance to win over the home nation.

4. The Americans' problems against Japan were the same ones that had plagued them leading up to World Cup.

5. Darren Clarke, at 42, won the British Open for his first major championship. Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson of the United States tied for second.

6. The Fort Worth Boys Junior Golf Championship, celebrating its 75th anniversary, still is structured for players of all economic groups and gives them an equal chance to compete on the city's best courses.

-- David Thomas

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 5, Seattle Mariners 0: Derek Holland pitched his second consecutive shutout in the Rangers' eighth consecutive win. The same two teams are back at it tonight (9:10 p.m., KTXA/Channel 21).

2. Rangers notes: Left-hander Martin Perez, the Rangers' top prospect, has been promoted to Triple A, bringing him one step closer to Arlington.

3. Scott Feldman refused the Rangers' attempt to send him to Triple A as a starter and instead will pitch out of the Rangers' bullpen.

4. UT Arlington is joining the Western Athletic Conference effective July 1, 2012.

5. Gil LeBreton: UTA has grown its way into becoming a nice addition for the WAC.

6. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Jon Kitna helped Grapevine Faith Christian quarterback Peter Ashton land a scholarship at Oregon State.

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. The Texas Rangers enter the second half the season on a seven-game winning streak. They're in Seattle to face the Mariners tonight (9:10 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Rangers notes: Pitcher Scott Feldman was placed on outright waivers, but they want to keep him in the organization.

3. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Michael Irvin has every right to take his public stance of supporting gay rights.

4. United States 3, France 1: Abby Wambach's header snapped a 1-1 tie and the United States advanced to face Japan in the Women's World Cup finals on Sunday.

5. Motorsports Report: David Ragan has positioned himself for a spot in NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup.

6. Tony Romo's wedding video has hit the Internet, and the quarterback also talked a little football a celebrity golf tournament.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. National League 5, American League 1: Prince Fielder's three-run homer off C.J. Wilson gave the NL home-field advantage in the World Series.

2. All-Star Game notes: Commissioner Bud Selig said teams are reviewing their ballparks after the Texas Rangers fan died from a fall, but he doesn't expect big changes.

3. Gil LeBreton: MLB needs to make a few tweaks to the All-Star Game to make sure it holds its spot as the best in professional sports.

4. Fans' Insider: Offering up a few suggestions on how to keep players from Jeter-ing out of the All-Star Game.

5. The state 7-on-7 high school football tournament begins today with 128 teams. Coaches' opinions differ on how much summer passing games help a team in the fall.

6. Texas Motor Speedway once again is doing its part to keep drag racing off the streets with its Friday Night Drags.

-- David Thomas