ARLINGTON, Texas -- At the start of this three-game series, there was a thought this would have been a good test for the up and coming Rangers, who lead the AL West.
It turned out to be a nice test -- and confirmation -- for the Dodgers, who own the best record in the game.
After three humid days and nights at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Los Angeles took two of three games here and will head back to Southern California happy.
From the Windup is Matt Snyder's extended look at some aspect of America's pastime each Thursday.
I think we can all agree that it's far too early to start voting upon who the best 2009 players are when it's only the middle of May. That being said, there are certainly some shining stars at this point who deserve some props. Plus, Major League Baseball recently released their All-Star ballots for our voting pleasure -- we vote on who will start the All-Star Game. If that's not important, I don't know what is. Let's take a gander.
The Tigers' 2006 AL Rookie of the Year and 18-game winner in 2007 slumped to 11-17 last year and begain this season 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA. But now he seems to be straightened out.
Verlander on Friday shut out the Indians on two hits, his second straight start with 11 strikeouts. Over his past three outings, Verlander is 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA, allowing 11 hits and striking out 31 in 23 innings.
Although it looks like Josh Hamilton isn't totally ready to stake his future in the Texas Rangers, that doesn't mean team owner Tom Hicks is going to stop his search for somebody to take some of the team off of his hands. While Hicks, who also owns the NHL's Dallas Stars and 50 percent of the English Premier League's Liverpool FC, isn't exactly bleeding money at the moment, he does see selling some of his share during these times to be prudent.
Hicks says that during times like these you want to "reduce your debt and diversify your investments" and there's no better way to do that than by finding somebody who is looking to take on debt while diversifying their investments during times like these.
FanHouse continues its 2009 MLB Preview with a look at the Texas Rangers.
Hey, Ron Washington, here's your team: A third baseman who'd rather be at shortstop, your No. 2 home-run hitter gone and a pitching staff that had a 5.37 ERA last year pretty much intact.
Did I mention that this is the last year of your contract?
Washington, manager of the Texas Rangers, might find it hard to put up enough wins to convince team president Nolan Ryan to keep him around.
Fantasy baseball draft season is coming, so you best be prepared by delving through every major player on each team. Fantasy FanHouse is here to help with a quick once-over.
Meet the... Best offense in the league. The Rangers are going to score more runs than any other team, and they don't have an over-abundance of star-power. This means their position players are a veritable fantasy goldmine. On the flip-side, though, their pitching staff is atrocious, especially the starters. Needless to say, if you are picking a Texas Ranger on draft day, he'd probably better be on the offensive side of the board.
That's right, MLB Power Rankings. You do know that that means, right? It means we're only a few short weeks/months (depends on you how you want to look at it, you pessimistic jerk) from starting the 2009 baseball season. Spring is nearly here, everyone has a bounce in their step and there's not an illegal, injectable steroid in sight!
So without further ado, let's get down to business and rank every single Major League Baseball team right freaking now. Because baseball can't wait any longer to get going.
Most of the time when it comes to drama and sports in and around the city of Dallas, it has something to do with the Cowboys. Maybe the Rangers noticed how popular the Cowboys have gotten because of it, because they've been creating their own drama this winter in their own infield. You all know the story by now. Team tells shortstop to change positions, shortstop tells team where they can stick their position change, shortstop then tells team he was drunk and didn't mean it, and just wants to move on -- or over as the case may be -- and that he loves them.
Tears are shed, hugs are exchanged, and life goes back to normal. Boring, routine, normal. Then the team sees that ratings are starting to drop and they realize they need to inject some "star power" into the equation, so they find that older player who has fallen on hard times and can't get the bigger roles to do some guest spots. All of which is an extremely long-winded and unnecessary way to tell you the Rangers are going to sign Omar Vizquel. DUN. DUN. DUNNNNN.
Well that stand didn't last very long now, did it?
After telling the Texas Rangers that he didn't want to move to third base to make room for Elvis Andrus at shortstop, and then demanding a trade because he was so adamant about not playing third base, I'll bet you'll never guess what Michael Young told the Rangers he'd do Thursday.
That's right, Mr. Young has now completely changed his tune and, not only does he want to stay in Arlington, but he's willing to move to third base as well.
From the Windup is FanHouse's extended look at a particular portion of America's pastime.
Michael Young's time with the Texas Rangers has been punctuated by him making personal sacrifices to help better the team. After years as a good second baseman for the team with both the stick and the glove, he didn't have a problem when he was asked to move to shortstop in the wake of the Alex Rodriguez trade and the subsequent arrival of Alfonso Soriano. Sure, Young's offensive numbers didn't quite stand out at short quite like they did at second base, but it was about the team, not Michael Young
Since his move he's won a Gold Glove and has been named to the AL All-Star team five times. Well, now the Rangers would like him to make another sacrifice and move from shortstop to third base so they can make room for prospect Elvis Andrus. Only this time Young isn't down, and he's told the Rangers he's stood all he can stand and that he can't stand no more. He wants to be traded.
ARLINGTON, Texas -- At the start of this three-game series, there was a thought this would have been a good test for the up and coming Rangers, who lead the AL West.
Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.
Although it looks like Josh Hamilton isn't totally ready to stake his future in the Texas Rangers, that doesn't mean team owner Tom Hicks is going to stop his search for somebody to take some of the team off of his hands. While Hicks, who also owns the NHL's Dallas Stars and 50 percent of the English Premier League's Liverpool FC, isn't exactly bleeding money at the moment, he does see selling some of his share during these times to be prudent.
Fantasy baseball draft season is coming, so you best be prepared by delving through every major player on each team. Fantasy FanHouse is here to help with a quick once-over. 
Most of the time when it comes to drama and sports in and around the city of Dallas, it has something to do with the Cowboys. Maybe the Rangers noticed how popular the Cowboys have gotten because of it, because they've been creating their own drama this winter in their own infield. You all know the story by now. Team tells shortstop to change positions, shortstop tells team where they can stick their position change, shortstop then tells team he was drunk and didn't mean it, and just wants to move on -- or over as the case may be -- and that he loves them.
Well that stand didn't last very long now, did it? 
From the Windup is FanHouse's extended look at a particular portion of America's pastime.
