Daily Ticket: The Blog

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 2, Tampa Bay Rays 0: Making a spot start to give Matt Harrison a rest, Scott Feldman allowed two hits over six innings, and Josh Hamilton hit a monster home run as the Rangers kept their three-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels. Alexi Ogando is on the mound for the Rangers tonight against Tampa Bay (7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Cuban defector Leonys Martin has been called up to make his major-league debut with Nelson Cruz on the disabled list.

3. The Big 12 is not just sitting back and waiting for Texas A&M to leave. A special committee has been formed to consider expansion possibilities.

4. Gary Patterson has taken a "We'll find out Friday" approach to TCU's season opener at Baylor.

5. Gil LeBreton: Patterson makes sure that what happened last season stays in last season, as he has taken his Horned Frogs all the way back down to the bottom of the pyramid.

6. A look at five former draft picks or former starters whose jobs are on the line with the Dallas Cowboys.

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas A&M has received a letter from the Big 12 detailing what would need to happen for the Aggies to leave the Big 12, and sources say A&M could announce its exit this week.

2. Texas Rangers notes: Nelson Cruz has a hamstring strain and is expected to miss three weeks. The Rangers begin a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays tonight in Arlington (7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

3. The Dallas Cowboys cut center Andre Gurode, a five-time Pro Bowler.

4. Cowboys notes: Rob Ryan said the statistics don't show it, but the Cowboys' defense is improving.

5. TCU announced that renovations to Amon G. Carter Stadium now will include the east side stands.

6. Jimmy Burch: Texas named Garrett Gilbert as its starting quarterback, but he'll have little margin for error.

-- David Thomas

 

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 9, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 5: The Rangers trailed 4-1 against Angels ace Jered Weaver but came back to win the three-game series and increase their lead over LA to three games. The Rangers are off today.

2. Gil LeBreton: It wasn't the pennant race heat but the Texas heat that appeared to get to Weaver.

3. Rangers notes: Adrian Beltre and Andres Blanco ran the bases Sunday and are set to go out on minor-league rehab assignments.

4. The Dallas Cowboys could go with three rookie starters on the offensive line.

5. TCU's three biggest games of the season -- including Friday's opener at TCU -- all come on the road.

6. Although Texas A&M's road to the SEC hasn't been completely cleared, those involved indicate that could be the case by the end of this week.

-- David Thomas

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas A&M has given the Big 12 a formal letter stating that it is looking at other options for a conference home.

2. Gil LeBreton: Without specifically saying as much, the Aggies on Thursday began their march to the Southeastern Conference.

3. Boston Red Sox 6, Texas Rangers 0: The Red Sox defeated the Rangers for the third consecutive night, reducing the Rangers' lead over the Los Angeles Angels to two games. The Rangers and Angels begin a three-game series tonight in Arlington (7:05 p.m., KTXA/Channel 21).

4. Randy Galloway: C.J. Wilson says he wants to keep pitching in Texas after this season, and the next couple of weeks will show just how much of a money pitcher Wilson truly is.

5. Rangers notes: Ron Washington has expressed concerns about starting pitchers' workloads, but Matt Harrison and Derek Holland say they feel fine.

6. Dallas Cowboys notes: Phil Costa, who was competing for the starting center job, will miss up to a month because of a knee injury.

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Boston Red Sox 13, Texas Rangers 2: It was Matt Harrison's turn to get beat up as the Rangers allowed double-digit runs for the third time in four games. The teams' four-game series concludes tonight in Arlington (7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Although their lead in the West is down to 3 1/2 games, Rangers players say they are looking at what is on their schedule, not who is behind them (and gaining) in the standings.

3. Rangers notes: Adrian Beltre is nearing a rehab assignment, but Ron Washington doesn't expect it to happen this week.

4. Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Sean Lissimore is drawing reviews that are higher than usual for a seventh-round draft pick.

5. Cowboys notes: Cornerback Orlando Scandrick has agreed to a five-year, $26.2 million contract extension.

6. TCU notes: Gary Patterson says his players are "tired" and "ready to play somebody else."

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Boston Red Sox 11, Texas Rangers 5: Colby Lewis struggled at home again, and the Rangers' lead is down to 3 1/2 games. The teams play again tonight (7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Gil LeBreton: Tuesday's Red Sox-Rangers game was missing something -- fans. Why?

3. Rangers notes: Ron Washington is concerned about the number of innings his starting rotation is piling up and is working on a plan to keep his pitchers from tiring out.

4. DeMarco Murray made his first appearance in a Dallas Cowboys practice, bringing a little competition to the running back spot in the process.

5. Cowboys notes: Shayne Graham has been brought in as a fourth kicker on the roster.

6. TCU notes: Gary Patterson is keeping track of everything said, written and photographed in Waco in advance of the Horned Frogs' season opener against Baylor.

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 4, Boston Red Sox 0: Four pitchers, led by C.J. Wilson, shut out the Red Sox as the Rangers increased their lead in the West to 4 1/2 games. Game 2 of the Rangers-Red Sox series is tonight in Arlington (7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Rangers notes: The Baltimore Orioles do not believe that the Rangers knew of Chris Davis' shoulder injury before the teams' trade.

3. Are you for the wave or against it? That question is being asked around Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

4. Fixing communication breakdowns is the focus of the Dallas Cowboys defense halfway through the preseason schedule.

5. Cowboys notes: Receiver Dez Bryant caught only two passes in Sunday's preseason game, but he's more upset about the one pass he didn't catch.

6. Football is on an uptick in the Fort Worth school district, which has produced a first-round victory each of the past two seasons.

-- David Thomas

Monday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Chicago White Sox 10, Texas Rangers 0: The Rangers' successful road trip ended on a big downer. They start a four-game series tonight against the Boston Red Sox in Arlington (7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Rangers notes: Ian Kinsler -- a 20/20 man for the third time -- gives the Rangers a unique look in the leadoff spot.

3. San Diego Chargers 20, Dallas Cowboys 7: It was a mixed bag of results in the second preseason game for the Cowboys, who were hurt by three turnovers.

4. Randy Galloway: The Cowboys' first-team defense gave up 10 points in three possessions, but considering the mess he inherited, it's too early to start judging new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

5. Cowboys notes: A "more explosive" and "quicker" Felix Jones has impressed Tony Romo.

6. A look at three unsettled issues regarding Texas A&M and its potential move to the Southeastern Conference.

-- David Thomas

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 2, Texas Rangers 1: Mark Trumbo's two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth helped the Angels avoid being swept and pulled them back to within six games of the Rangers. Texas is in Chicago tonight to face the White Sox (7:10 p.m., KTXA/Channel 21).

2. Randy Galloway: The Rangers are reaping the benefits of an angry Michael Young. Now, how to make him mad next season, too?

3. Gil LeBreton: TCU has been told it would not be a part of any potential Big 12 expansion considerations, and the Horned Frogs are just fine, thank you, heading to the Big East.

4. Texas Tech President Guy Bailey said the Big 12 needs a "real enforceable commitment" from each member and that one to three additional football teams need to be added that can be "a major national player."

5. Dallas Cowboys notes: Rookie offensive lineman Bill Nagy is progressing toward a starting spot, and it's still not known if center Andre Gurode will be able to start in Sunday's preseason game against the San Diego Chargers.

6. A survey of area coaches' salaries reflects the popularity of high school football.

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 4, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 3: Ian Kinsler delivered a two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning to break a 2-2 tie and the Rangers won their sixth consecutive game to push their lead over the Angels to seven games. The series concludes tonight in Anaheim (9:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Randy Galloway: The Rangers' plan to honor the late Shannon Stone and son Cooper with a statue is the right thing to do, and only an idiot would disagree. And there are idiots among us.

3. Heading into the Dallas Cowboys' second preseason game Sunday, the jobs of defensive end Igor Olshansky and kicker David Buehler are on the line.

4. TCU coach Gary Patterson said results of quarterback Casey Pachall's MRI on his throwing shoulder showed "nothing serious."

5. Former Texas Gov. Mark White warned that Texas A&M could be making a "permanent mistake" by leaving the Big 12 to join the SEC.

6. A look at who is a lock and who is on the bubble in NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup.

-- David Thomas