An almost-daily check of the Hot Stove League...

The Chicago White Sox picked up Mark Buehrle's option and the San Diego Padres did the same with center fielder Mike Cameron. That takes away one starting pitcher that the Rangers would have been interested in and also seems to help Gary Matthews Jr. under the laws of supply-and-demand for center fielders.

The Padres also declined to pick up the option on catcher Mike Piazza and that has to at least intrigue the Rangers, even if they are committed to Gerald Laird as their No. 1 catcher for 2007.

Piazza is 38 years old and hit .283 with 22 home runs and 68 RBI in 399 at-bats for the Padres last year. The option was for $8 million and the Padres didn't think that was a good value for a guy whose days as a catcher should be mostly behind him.

Obviously Piazza's strength has always been his offense and he could be headed to the American League as a designated hitter and backup catcher. Anaheim could be one possibility as team's look for the next Frank Thomas.

Piazza might be a fit with the Rangers, playing 100-plus games at DH and another 40 at catcher if he's still fit enough to do that. The Rangers would still need a third catcher and they are currently talking to Miguel Ojeda about a restructured contract that would allow him to be that guy.

Piazza can also play first base but only one guy does that around here unless the score is 10-0 in the eighth inning.

Former Rangers pitcher Chris Young is filing a blog from Japan, where he is touring with the Major League All-Star team. Anybody who knows Chris Young knows that it's worth reading. Check it out at: http://chrisyounginjapan.mlblogs.com/

Here are a few rants from readers. At least check out Rodney, our leadoff hitter, and see what you think of his trades. Feel free to add your own. T.R. Sullivan.

First up this week is Rodney, who says: "I would like to see some Texas residents playing for the Rangers. What do you think about sending Teixeira to Colorado for Jason Jennings, Brad Hawpe and Todd Helton, obviously we would have to take Helton and his big contract but the other two guys would make it worth it and they are from DFW.

"Also, what about trading Blalock to Tampa Bay for Carl Crawford. You get a perfect leadoff hitter with great speed, 50+ stolen bases and another guy from Texas. Tampa Bay could move Wiggington to 1st base and DeRosa could play 3rd for Texas. Tampa would probably ask for Cruz also which I would do because you know what Crawford can do but Cruz is still a bit of a mystery. You lose some power but you gain some speed and versatility and a good pitcher.

"I would like to see a lineup with Crawford, Matthews, Young, Helton, Hawpe, Botts, Kinsler, DeRosa and Laird. Starting pitchers,Millwood, Jennings, Padilla, Tejeda and hope a young guy within the organization can take the 5 spot. As you can tell it's close to Halloween and I am dressed as a GM."

Perry from Sherman: "Do you and your readers agree that the Rangers will never get over the 'hump' and be a serious contender until they reach the point where Millwood can be the  no. 2 or 3 man behind a legitimate ace? I saw glimpses of attempts with Showalter to diversify the offense, but it didn't last long....now is the chance to get someone in, with JD's support, who will move the team  in the direction of NOT being a one-dimensional offense. It seems that everyone admires the Yankees and A's patience at the plate or the Chisox ability to play longball and smallball, BUT not enough to incorporate it like ALL THE WINNERS DO!"

Tim L from Colorado City: "I don't think the Rangers are going to succeed with better starting pitching until they start scoring more runs.  They seem to leave too many on base.  They scored  4 or less runs in 59 of their 82 losses.  It seems to me that such a potent offense should be able to score more runs more often.  Do you think they would have won a lot of those games with better starting pitching?"

Kelly K in Garland: "Mr. Hillman looks like a good candidate for manager, but why not interview another former Ranger, Bobby Valentine?  Has he burned too many bridges here?  I tell you one thing.  There would be a loud buzz at the Ranger ticket office and around the metroplex if Bobby V. came back to Big D. (I mean Arlington)."

Scott W. in Kyle: "I have been a Rangers fan for a long, long time back before the V-Ball days.  It seems like it is the same thing every year.  Pitching!!!!!!  I can understand wanting to stay in a good payroll situation but you have to spend some to get quality pitching.  I hope that Tom Hicks will finally do that and get 3 good starters to go with the decent bullpen that the Rangers have."

Robert C in Denton: "I know everyone seems to be pulling for the DVD combo to come to the Rangers and fulfill all of our wildest dreams (ALCS perhaps?).  However, maybe the Rangers should live in the now.  Facts are that with the exception of a very select few, hitters get used to pitchers over time (i.e. Francisco Cordero).  Therefore, pining for pitchers who don't have overbearing stuff doesn't seem like a very intelligent plan.

"The Rangers have put themselves in a position where rebuilding is resigning.  If Hicks decides to do that, he might as well sell the team, because no one will watch that.  Therefore, the idea of going after Schmidt (risk included), Zito (even if you have to overpay), Wood (even as a reliever) and Buehrle (minus this year), seems to be more of a positive message, don't you think?"

Nippon-Ham Fighters general manager Shigeru Takada spoke to the Japanese newspaper the Daily Yomiuri last week and had this to say about the way Major League teams went about looking for new managers.

"In Japan, we don't announce a list of names but rather speak to each individual in private and then announce our decision," Takada said.

Freedom of the Press is an intrusive thing. But it allows us the latest managerial tote board for the Rangers opening:

1. Don Wakamatsu - Still sitting in the pole position. Curiously, he is the only one of the five candidates who has not interviewed with another team.

2. Trey Hillman - If he interviews with the Rangers, he is going to leave a lot of money on the table in Japan. The Padres and the Athletics are also interested. The Rangers may not want him to get away the second time.

3. Ron Washington - He could be another Ozzie Guillen - passionate, energetic and honest - but without the occasional media crisis and feuds with other people.

4. Manny Acta - Hot property. Could be a good fit with the Washington Nationals.

5. John Russell - He is also getting a shot at the Nationals job.

Welcome to the Elysian Fields Bar & Grill, where the patrons can always tell the difference between dirt, mud and pine tar.

* Former Rangers second baseman Billy Ripken, who is doing radio at the World Series, wants to replace Buck Showalter as the club's manager. Said Ripken, "I'd love it. Didn't New York and Arizona both win the year after Buck left? I think I'll throw my hat into the ring. Tell them, I'm interested."

* Don Welke has 42 years of professional scouting experience and one of the reasons the Rangers want him back in the organization is to mentor the organization's younger area amateur scouts. Both he and Jay Robertson will be able to help Ron Hopkins in that regard.

* Welke, among his many other accomplishments, was the advance scout for the United States team that won the gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

* Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter talking about being a free agent after the 2002 season: "Yeah, I mean Toronto at the end of the season said they were going to let me go, and I wasn't going to have an opportunity to come back there unless I was coming back on a Minor League contract.   It was a weird time in my life but I go home, I didn't think that, who's going to take a chance on a guy -- I was sitting there in a sling, who's going to take a chance on a guy like that?   But my agent talked to me and said, "We'll see what happens. There might be somebody that might want to give you an opportunity to come back on a Major League contract."   And pretty soon there was six or seven Major League teams. And I went to visit Texas and St. Louis, and we decided on St. Louis."

* There are 30 ballparks in the Major Leagues. The home team uses the first base dugout in 17 of them, including the Rangers. They have the third base dugout in the other 13 parks.

* Trey Hillman has won the Japan Series as the Nippon-Ham Fighters took the Chunichi Dragons in five games. Up next, his interview with the Rangers for their managerial opening. Winning the Japan Series will be good for his resume. But he has to overcome a couple of concerns. He has never worn a Major League uniform, either as a player or a coach, and he has been in Japan for the last four years, leaving people to wonder if he's out of touch with what's going on in the United States.

* Hillman was the Rangers farm director in 2002 when Grady Fuson was No. 2 in the organization behind John Hart. Have to wonder if the San Diego Padres will be interested now that Bruce Bochy is headed for the San Francisco Giants.

* The Rangers had interested in Bochy but knew he would get a big contract if he left San Diego. They couldn't afford that after buying out Buck Showalter.

* Tigers manager Jim Leyland says slow-moving first baseman Sean Casey does have a steal sign. Said Leyland, "If I jump up in the air and never come down, he goes."

* It would be nice if one time when someone talks about declining ratings for World Series broadcasts that they would at least mention the proliferation of sports bars around the country that take hundreds of thousands away from their living room.

* Just for the heck of it: Cecilio Guante

* Former Tigers manager Sparky Anderson:  "Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa, if we had to vote right today, right today, you would have to vote one of the two the greatest manager of all times. You're not going to give Connie Mack that because he used to leave after the third or fourth inning if things were bad there.   The elevator girl was waiting for him."

* Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols: "The World Series is what you play for. It doesn't count how much money you make or what kind of numbers you put up. If you don't get a World Series ring, you're not a winner."

* Cardinals Chairman of the Board William DeWitt Jr. was once of George Bush's original partners with the Rangers. His father was once the President of the Cincinnati Reds. He traded Frank Robinson to the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher Milt Pappas and two other players. Still think that's the most significant trade in the history of the game.

* It was Nomar Garciaparra who said, "Back then, my idol was Bugs Bunny, because I saw a cartoon of him playing ball. You know, the one where he plays every position himself with nobody else on the field? Now that I think of it, Bugs is still my idol. You have to love a player like that."

* Sparky Anderson also said this at the World Series: "I got a kick out of then when they used to say baseball is dying and football is No. 1. I hate to break the sad news to football, but nothing will ever take the place of baseball. When it goes bad, call me, because I won't be around but I can be reached underground."

* The Tigers have the best fielding pitcher in baseball in Kenny Rogers and yet their pitchers have still set a World Series record with four errors in four games.

* Nobody is really convinced that Commissioner Bud Selig will leave office when his contract expires in a few years. But former Cubs president Andy MacPhail is already being mentioned as one possible replacement.

* Rangers owner Tom Hicks is a big Selig backer, saying "You really have to give Bud credit for calming the turbulent waters with labor."

* Six dollars for a bottle of the famous local beer at Mike Shannon's near Busch Stadium.

There is Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Westin, Best Western and, presumably, the Rip Van Winkle Motor Hotel here in St. Louis.

But only the finest of accomodations will do for the World Series so welcome to The MAC.

That's the Missouri Athletic Club, a 103-year-old tradition in downtown St. Louis, a stately stone building on Washington Street with four floors of guest rooms that are providing lodging for the World Series.

The MAC is quite swanky, with an ornate, gilded lobby, oak, mahogany and leather furniture as St. Louis' mightiest power-brokers walk around in Brooks Brothers and Donegal Tweed, smelling like Ben-*** after a invigorating hour on the squash court.

A Who's Who of St. Louis stand out on the membership rolls, including U.S. Senator Christopher Bond, former Attorney General John Ashcroft, brewmaster Augustus Busch IV, Hall of Famer Stan Musial, President Bush confidante Bill DeWitt, Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa, first baseman Albert Pujols, Rams quarterback Marc Bulger and broadcaster Joe Buck.

The bar, of course, is named after his dad, Jack Buck, but you need both coat and tie to have an afternoon cocktail. Ben-*** is optional.

Bill Bradley, the son of St. Louis banker, grew up playing basketball at the MAC and Judge Harry Blackmun was living there when Richard Nixon nominated him to the Supreme Court.

Hopefully for Judge Harry he wasn't holed up in the same 10th floor, 10x10 kennell they've provided for me.

But who could complain when we are right on the set of an honest-to-goodness Hollywood movie set. We kid you not. Just a few doors down from our plush digs they are filming some scene from an upcoming movie.

"It's the apartment scene," a technician told me and apparently this must be an action film because there is a lot of yelling going on in that "apartment" early in the morning.

"It's a low-budget film," the lady at the front desk confided to me so apparently there is no risk in running into Uma Thurman or Meryl Streep in the hallway.

Another technician told me the star of the film was actually "the guy who played the killer in Capote."

Missed that flick but apparently it's either Mark Pellegrino or Clifton Collins Jr. and if you've heard of either one of them, you've seen way more movies than me. All I know is they weren't in El Dorado with John Wayne or The Fugitive with Harrison Ford or The Hunt for Red October.

The MAC website says this movie is called Stillwater and it's the second movie ever filmed at the MAC. The 2003 soccer flick The Game of Their Lives also had a scene or two filmed at The MAC, starring Gerald Butler who was also the Phantom in the Phantom of the Opera.

Of course there is really only one Phantom and that's Michael Crawford. Apparently they also don't make many blockbuster movies in St. Louis either. Silence of the Lambs was one but the best I could find after that was either White Palace - a Susan Sarandon vehicle - or China White Serpentine, which no doubt sold a lot of popcorn.

But apparently Satan's Cannibal Holocaust is being filmed somewhere in the city although don't think the MAC is involved in that one. John Ashcroft and Kip Bond would be fit to be tied if that were the case.

They'll be sorry when the Oscars roll around.

Kenny Rogers is the No. 1 topic of conversation at the World Series, a hero in Detroit and a villain in St. Louis. Everybody has an opinion on him, including those who think the Fort Worth Star-Telegram was really really mean to him last year.

Whatever, if you are really concerned about ex-Rangers then you have to feel bad for Ivan Rodriguez, who is struggling at the plate and still looking for his first hit in the World Series. He has had a hard time for most of the playoffs except for one big home run against the Oakland Athletics in the American League Championship Series.

He is still one of the five best catchers in the history of baseball, right there with Johnny Bench, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra and Mickey Cochrane. Josh Gibson has to be included as well even if the stories about his exploits in the Negro Leagues are half-true.

But spare us any mention of Mike Piazza because he is only John the Baptist and not fit to tie Rodriguez's cleats.

There was one play that brought back memories of Rodriguez with the Rangers. It was in the eighth inning of Game 3 when he got tagged with a foul tip and went into the dirt around home plate, writhing in agony while the Tigers came rushing to his assistance.

Rodriguez once again managed to stay in the game as he did so many times in similar instances with the Rangers. He always had a flair for the dramatic but that was just a part of who he was, still is and always will be.

Yes it's terrible that he got away but it was just part of the fallout from a $252 million contract, a pain that may never go away.

Of course Rodriguez was terrible at calling pitches or at least that was the silly perception in Texas. But he caught for the Florida Marlins when they won the World Series in 2003 and now the Tigers have the best pitching staff in the league, so Rodriguez is no longer looked upon as a liability behind the plate.

John Burkett and Rick Helling were his biggest defenders in Texas and they said over and over the Rangers should never let him get away. They had no problems calling their own games, especially knowing the catcher wasn't going to let anything get behind him and no runner was going to steal second base.

But many images can be rehabilitated, whether it's a catcher, a veteran left-handed pitcher or Bud Selig, the Commissioner of Baseball who went in front of a packed press conference on Tuesday and announced a new collective bargaining agreement that guarantees five more years of labor peace.

Selig wasn't officially the Commissioner back in 1994-95, just the interim commissioner for life but he was definitely a part of the stubborn ownership faction that was trying to unilaterally implement sweeping changes in baseball's economic system.

The ploy failed miserably because the Players Association proved too strong and the 1994 World Series has been lost forever. That was the worst disaster to ever befall baseball, worse than Shoeless Joe and Pete Rose, but now two agreements have been reached without a work stoppage so Selig is riding high as the architect of baseball's self-proclaimed golden age.

It's a wonderful thing, especially here in St. Louis where everything is not golden but solid red. That's all they wear to Cardinals games and they drew something like 3.4 million red sweaters and t-shirts to the new Busch Stadium this year in the best baseball town in America.

They are also big in backing the local micro-brewery. At some stadiums they have the silly idea of having the organist play "Charge" when the home team has a rally going but not at Busch Stadium. Here the organist jumps into a rendition of the famous Budweiser commercial jingle and that seems to get them all fired up.

Actually they did mix in a rousing chorus of Ode to Joy at one point during Game 3 but that may be just a preview of the next Budweiser ad campaign that hasn't hit the airwaves yet.

Probably no room in the commercial lineup for new beer ads because the local spots during these high-priced games are going toward political ads and an organization that supports stem cell research handed over $30,000 for one 30-second spot. There is also an ad against a tobacco tax, which is probably supported by the same people who get fired up when the Cardinals have runners on base and the organist starts up another rousing chorus of "King of Beers."

Hey, it beats those incredibly stupid Man Law commercials but then you would be hard-pressed to find Miller Lite anywhere in St. Louis, but then, try buying a Budweiser in Milwaukee.

Yes, I know this is way too long. Trust me, I tried to do some editing. But I love it when people write and I want their opinions aired. This is straying from the original intent of Monday Morning Manager but here are the rants and raves of Rangers fans... TR

Jimmy A. from Plano: " Sure, Kenny Rogers caused some problems last year but when you resorted C J Wilson and John Wasdin as starting pitchers last year, are you really in a position where you can give up a guy like that? He was a good influence in the club house for the most part and surely nothing he could do in two seconds to that camera man could ever take away what he did for the Rangers in his years here. Can beggars really be choosers? I don't know you tell me. Obviously Mr. Daniels thought so and now we can tell, he was wrong."

Steve O. in Grand Junction, Colorado: "It seems to me the Rangers are always letting good pitchers get away like, Kenny Rogers and now possibly Padilla and Eaton. For Eaton they traded away Chris Young, a young pitcher with a lot of potential. Now it seems like they want to dump Eaton, this seems dumb to me. What were they thinking when they traded Chris away for a one year pitcher?"

Chris G. in Greenville, TX. : "I've read a couple of mail baggers who rank Blalock up there with untouchables like Teixeira and Young. I tend to think that Blalock's popularity is based on his first years in Texas. He's a good third-baseman, and the Rangers would be just fine keeping him. But I think the ONLY player on this team that is untouchable is Michael Young. If we could get some nice pitching for Blalock OR Tex, I say go for it. On a side note, I took my 6-yr old son to his first Rangers game this year. He took a sign that cheered on Michael Young. I told him that Young is my favorite player because he PLAYS BALL. He works hard, has great work ethic, and doesn't think he's bigger than the game.

Matt G. Weatherford: "I was wondering how you felt about the front office of the Rangers…as a long time Ranger fan the owners that we have had have never been able to come to the fact that pitching is the key and they can trade a good arm for hitting any day."

Dave C. in Tulsa: "Mathews opting for the free agency market is a bad sign.  If the Rangers fail to sign free-agent pitchers Padilla and Eaton, the team could easily drop into the cellar in 07."

Berry in Oklahoma City: "Let’s just hire Rusty Greer and get some real passion for the game and this organization in the dugout. If he gave half of what he gave on the field as a player we would have more than anything we have had since Johnny Oates."

Jason T. in Mount Vernon: "I like Hank Blalock but he has trouble hitting lefties so maybe moving him for a solid #3 pitcher couldn't hurt and what about letting Danks or Diamond get a shot? Have to start somewhere."

Doug T. in Burleson: "I feel that great pitching will come to Texas if they can get a decent manager. I do not think the candidates they are looking at are really up for a putting together a winning team. They need to look at a veteran.  This is just a thought for food.  I have been a Ranger fan most of my life and I am now 36 years old.  I feel like every season is like watching a re-run.  Same thing, over and over.

James G. Okmulgee, Ok.: "Referring to trade bait for starting pitching. I would love to trade for SP, but you cannot do that with Young, Blalock, Or Teixeira because in doing that you may have to worry about our offensive side. Because all three of these guys have a specific role on the team, in trading one of them and taking that role away could be a hard thing to replace even if it's a top-tier pitcher. In my estimation, our pitching wasn't "bad" last season. Who would have thought that Eaton would be injured, that Loe tailed off and Co-co having a meltdown. With the right guy managing this ballclub, I think we have a great chance next year with virtually the same ballclub and same players."

David C. in Arlington: "I have been a Rangers fan since I bought season tickets in 1993. Unfortunately, the DFW fans demand a playoff appearance today, if not sooner.  The fans don't have much patience for letting young pitchers develop (what would Chris Young have added to a rotation of Millwood, Padilla, and Tejeda?). Your statement about Bonderman and Robertson was right on."

Edgar in Arlington: "As far as a manger, I just wanted to throw a name in the hat.  What about Tony Pena; look at what he did with a bad Kansas City team."

Tim L. in Colorado City: "We need a manager who can be aggressive and produce runs when the guys get on base."

Barry S. in Garland. "What about pursuing Ken Macha as a replacement for Buck Showalter?  I would think a manager that got a team to the ALCS even though they lost would at least be considered for the job."

Kelly K in Garland: "Trey Hillman for manager looks like a good candidate, but has anybody thought about another former Ranger turned Japanese League manager, the Great Bobby Valentine?"

Ben T. in Arlington: "The Rangers go through the same process every year.  Every year it's their pitching. We always look at the outfield, or even a DH.  When is it time to give up, to throw in the towel for my favorite team?  I went to several games this year, and I must say that the team is not even enjoyable to watch.  The only guys I pay attention to are Tex and Young, the two leaders of the team."

Garner M. in Keller: "Hold the fort.  Macha fired?  You've got to tell me that he made the short list for JD?  With what he's done with marginal talent and no payroll the past four years - Texas is the perfect fit for his experience."

Zach W. in Plano: Could the Rangers trade for a dominant starting pitcher like Barry Zito? It would be awesome if the rangers traded Hank Blalock who has been an average player the last season or two for a great pitcher like Zito. Just think if the Rangers got Zito and resigned Padilla. They would have 3 very good pitchers at the top of the rotation. Plus if they made a move for Jason Schmidt or another pitcher like that you could have Zito, Millwood, Padilla, and Schmidt. Just a thought but if you combine that with the great offence the rangers have with young, Teixeira, and if they resign Carlos Lee and Gary Matthews. You could have one of the best teams in the league!"

Brian R in Dallas: "What is your ideal off-season plan?  Mine (for today anyway) is to sign Andy Pettitte and Jeff Suppan for the rotation.  Re-sign Mark DeRosa, Gary Matthews, Brad Wilkerson, and Kip Wells, bring back David Dellucci as the DH, and offer arbitration to Padilla, Barajas, and Lee then take the picks from arbitration and move on."

Eddie in Waxahachie: "It seems to be a theme, trade a front line player in hopes of getting a #1 starter. That is still a gamble. I believe we stay the course and re-sign the pitchers and resign GMJ. Get a good manager that can manage not only the game but the players too. There is something to be said for a player's coach that can also manage the game."

Kyle G. in Arlington: "What is the prospect of the Rangers getting a former player/fan favorite to manage the team?  Someone like a Rusty Greer! I think this move admittedly, may not win a championship, although it might, would go a long way in healing fan apathy towards Hicks and Co. since Rusty is a "god" to many Rangers fans."

Ed in Mansfield: "I lived in Japan for 7 years and watched the Japanese leagues closely.  For the Rangers to pass on Trey Hillman after bringing a team to the Japan Series would be a shame."

Josh R in Fresno: "Is Barry Zito a consideration for one of the "holes" on our pitching staff? I know he will demand a lot of money, but I just wanted to know if we will at least pursue him or not. I think we have some very good young pitchers and I really like the rotation of Millwood, Padilla, and Eaton, but could Zito fit into that rotation somewhere?"

Michael S. in Lewisville: "Once again, the MLB playoffs are replete with ex-Rangers.  I have been a Rangers fan since the inception of the Texas franchise.  In all that time it
has become apparent that the main failing of the Rangers lies not in any particular segment of the team, i.e. pitching, offense, etc., but in a somehow failed philosophy.  It seems that year after year the Rangers take supremely talented individuals and still produce mediocre results.  To add insult to injury it seems that after a stint here in Arlington, ex-Rangers usually rise to the top in other franchises."

Tanner M. in Stillwater, Ok.: I know I am dreaming on this one, but I think they should try to get Will Clark onto the coaching staff. I don’t know what his plans are since retirement, but I think he would be a great coach. He seemed to be the leader of the team during its best years in the later half of the 90’s, and I would love to seem him back with the team."

Joshua W. in Leander, Texas: "I am just as much a Rangers fan as anyone else, and it would be hard to see the likes of Young or Teixeira etc. leave. But good gracious if it meant the Rangers getting a top of the line pitcher that could actually get us into the playoffs - PLEASE MAKE THE TRADE!!! The Rangers obviously have good talent in the minors; Adrian Gonzalez had a good season in San Diego and could have filled in quite well for Tex this year if the Rangers would have traded him. I know it's hard to see the popular players leave, but if it means a playoff appearance, then thanks for the memories, here's to the future!"

Roy in Ada, Ok. : "I don't understand why people always say they will stop being Ranger fans if the Rangers dare trade away (Put Player Name Here). When the Rangers let Buddy Bell depart, I thought my life was over as a youngster. But, eventually, I got over it. It's been 20 years and then some, and here I am, still wearing Ranger hats, shirts and raising my own Ranger fans (two boys and one three year old Ranger daughter who cried when Kevin Mench was traded)."

Joel in Murphy, Texas: "What is it about becoming Rangers GM that seems to make you fall in love with the bat. Although Jon Daniels seems to have a better feel for the Rangers needs than the former GM, it seems likes his priorities of resigning Mathews and DeRosa first, go against what this team needs.  I have enjoyed watching both players, but I would love to see the Rangers push heavy for Barry Zito or Jason Schmidt with Padilla or Eaton to go with them and a lights out set up guy and in turn, play Freddy Guzman, Nelson Cruz, Jason Botts and Victor Diaz."

David J. in San Antonio: "We need to really trade Hank Blalock after his horrendous season he had with just 16 home runs compared to 30- something last year. We could get a decent pitcher, like Wang in New York."

Dennis G. in Sherman, Texas: "If the Rangers had any indispensable people in their organization, they would not have finished under .500 again."

David B. in Dallas: "The Rangers are wrong for firing Showalter. And the fans, media and owners are wrong for the win now or else mentality. It takes time to develop a truly good team and Buck wasn't given adequate help from Hicks."

Andy M. in New York City: "Ignorant Ranger fans annoy me. If you want pitching, you are going to  have to overpay to get it, or you are going to have to have patience to develop it. Laird, Kinsler and Blalock are not going to bring a front line starter to Arlington. And to all those Ranger fans wondering why the Rangers aren't as good as the Tigers, just look at their  pitching. Even when the Tigers had two 20 game losers in their rotation, their staff was in better shape than the Rangers. Home town fans seem to always do this, but I think Ranger fans are the worst at overrating their players. Deal with the idea that Tex is not going to be a Ranger his whole career, and you might have to include Mike Young in there too. Nobody wanted Steve Nash or Finley to go either."

Bill W in Suffolk County, NY: "I’m a Native New Yorker with a heart for the Rangers fan. I live and work and pray amongst Mets and Yankee fans every year.  But, I remain a hopeful and faithful Ranger Fan for Life.  I'm a father of 7 year old quads, three boys and one girl.  Of course my wife is a longtime Yankee fan. I had my heart ripped out of my chest on many occasions dating back to the end of times with this franchise.  But, I will always remain a loyal Rangers fan forever.  And when I'm gone one of my sons will carry the torch."

Leo P in Irving: "I am tired of seeing the Rangers failure. It's frustrating as a fan every year to see the same result. I thought having Showalter would bring production, but it was a setback because we went from a win now mentality to a rebuilding mentality, and its gone back and forth in that way the past two years…Trade for Vernon Wells, find some way to keep Matthews and let them work out who should play center and who should be left field. Trade Wilkerson for a pitching prospect, and resign Padilla."

Daniel M. in Arlington: "Not really a question, more of a statement.  I think you have your winning pitching staff already in guys like Millwood, Koronka, Tejeda, Volquez, and Padilla. The Rangers can win more games with the above pitchers and the defense that the team has now.  One more thing......PLEASE bring back Jerry Hairston Jr.,  He has the speed that the Rangers so desperately need.

Chris B. in Bloomington, Ind.: "I keep seeing all these people calling for the trading of Tex, Blalock, and Young for No. 1 and No. 2 pitching.  But isn't the team based around that young infield?  To me it would just seem like we would keep those core players and try to build up from there."

Jesse D in Rowlett: "If the Rangers feel like making the playoffs why don't we trade Blalock, make a offer to Barry Zito, move Carlos Lee to DH, Michael Young to third base, Joaquin Arias from Oklahoma to SS, try to sign the Japanese pitcher with the 26-4 and a 1.84era  and promote Danks for the 5th spot in the rotation? Maybe trade Millwood and DeRosa for a decent starting pitcher?

Aaron H in Edmond, Ok. "I read an interview not to long ago if Trey Hillman gets the job as the Rangers manager, he was thinking of getting Andy Pettitte off the Free Agent list. Would that be a good idea? I know there is going to be injuries, but we need starting pitching that we can rely on."

Emily H in Roswell, New Mexico: "I just wanted to say thank you for posting Christopher U.'s letter from Anchorage. I agree 100% with him. Being in NM, I too don't get to attend games as often as I'd like, but I am still a fan, no matter if the Rangers win or lose and no matter who is on the roster. Sure, there are some fantastic guys on the roster now, but there were in 1996 as well, and are any of them still on the roster? No! Yes, I was sad that they traded Mench, but it wasn't enough to cause me to stop being a fan."

We have received tons of e-mails of people with great opinions on the Rangers. But Hattie from Amarillo poured her heart out so I'm running her e-mail in it's entirety. Others will be considered on occasion under the title Autocrats of the Elysian Fields. More rants and raves from Rangers fans will run on Monday Morning Manager. Look for that post tomorrow...TR Sullivan

TR

"I've never written in before, preferring instead to respond privately to the idiocy shown by many of the "fans" who do.  But, I've had it.

"I grew up in the Metroplex, on the Arlington/Grand Prairie border, practically in the shadow of Six Flags and Ranger Stadium (the old one).  I remember - albeit barely - the 1972 season and all the times spent at the ball field, Six Flags, and - yes - 7 Seas.  I was in the stands when David Clyde was almost elected mayor of Arlington in his first start.  I suffered through Doug Rader and Eddie Chiles, so I think I have earned the right to go off on some of the comments I've read recently.

First, I think JD is the best thing to happen to the Rangers since an 18-year old catcher got promoted to the big leagues and turned out to be HUGE, not pudgy.  JD appears to have the intestinal fortitude and drive to cause Tom Hicks to remember he's an owner, not a GM. 

Second, the worst on the field decision the Rangers ever made was not Hafner, Monroe, Clyde, etc.  It was A-Rod.  At that time, we were a very young team, with a group of future superstars at the major league level and in waiting, who could have grown up during a rebuilding exercise.  Instead, we signed a guy who can't spell team and is a clubhouse pox, then mortgaged the future to help him win immediately.  I remember the Cowboys, a team with huge traditions, suffering through a 1-15 season, with what would be the first QB capable of making people forget Staubach.  Everyone was screaming and the stands were full of brown paper bags, but - at that moment - Jerry Jones remembered the goal...win consistently, not just this year.  (He's forgotten since then.)  The Rangers have no tradition and barely even crack local headlines most of the time.  Patience would have paid off exponentially.

Third, the worse off the field decision was not hiring Hart or Melvin, nor was it firing Grieve.  It was taking the Ameriquest money and running, rather than doing the right and honorable thing...Vandergriff Field.  It is the only name that should ever hang on a MLB field in the DFW area.  Without the Honorable Tom Vandergriff, there wouldn't be MLB in DFW.

Finally, to all the lunatics who have suggested the names of those Rangers who are either "tradable" or "untouchable".  Michael Young's name shouldn't even appear in those conversations.  Michael Young is the Texas Rangers.  He is the core and heart of this team, whether he ever opens his mouth or not.  Ian Kinsler is going to be an All Star and a good part of the reason is because of the influence of Young.  There are rookies-to-be waiting in the wings who need him.  He plays the game the right way.  He leaves everything he has to give out on the field every game, and his ego has never made an appearance on or off the field.  He carries no baggage and is universally respected across all of MLB.  For goodness sake, even Ozzie Guillen loves Young. Young stays. He must be made a Ranger for life. 

Tex?  Tradable.  It's going to have to be a deal that blows my socks off, but he's tradable.  Blalock?  I love Hank, but he's tradable.  Arias is quite capable of filling the 3B role from a defensive standpoint.  Offensively?  This team has never had a dearth of offense.  I can live with whatever Arias becomes offensively.  I don't think there's a 3B in the Rangers minor leagues beating down the door defensively or offensively.  So, if Tex could get us Dontrelle...absolutely, but that isn't going to happen, because if Dontrelle is on the market it will be because of dollars, and Tex isn't going to be any cheaper.  Tex for Buerhle? Danks is going to be just as good, maybe better.  Bottom line, don't trade young talent, unless if is to improve chemistry, and - even then - you must still get back equal or better YOUNG talent.

This team isn't 1 piece away from the Series.  This team isn't even 1 piece away from the West title.  We've got Millwood.  We can overpay for a #2 & #3, because we can have an outfield of Matthews, Nelson Cruz and a Freddy Guzman/DeRo combination in left, and a excellent - but cheap - combo at 2nd and catcher.  Plug Tejeda in at #4, then chose from Loe, Rheinecker or Koronka as a first half solution at #5.  By the break, Danks &/or Volquez are ready to go.

Then tell all the "fans" who are only fans if the team wins to shut up, and tell Hick to not worry about those people.  Instead, worry about the hundreds of thousands of people who love/loved the Rangers enough to put Re-Sign Pudge bumper stickers on their cars.  There is a loyal and passionate fan base for the Rangers.  We want a team that wins, but we also want a team we can be proud of, even if they don't, because we'll know they left everything on the field.

Hattie Dizmond of Amarillo, TX
30+ year resident of the Metroplex

The custom at the World Series is for the next day's starting pitcher to hold a press conference.

Kenny Rogers did so on Saturday but made it clear to Major League Baseball that no reporters from Texas could be called upon to ask questions. There was no doubt that Major League Baseball would honor the request.

This is Detroit, where Rogers is a hero and one of the reasons why the Tigers are in the World Series. Anything he says, goes.

He has been outstanding to this point. Any and all previous post-season failures have been erased by two tremendous efforts against the New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics in the two previous series.

That comes after a 17-win season in which he was the proclaimed leader of the Tigers pitching staff, a veteran whose leadership is the reason why their young pitchers finally achieved greatness.

"He has been huge," pitcher Nate Robertson said. "Going back to 2003, a lot of guys here had to go through the losing and it was realy good to have his someone with his experience and success and be able to share it with us. It's been huge."

So now Rogers pitches on Sunday in Game 2 of the World Series and he has yet to give up a run in the playoffs. But the Tigers enter the affair having lost Game 1 on Saturday at Comerica Park.

The Tigers lose again on Sunday and they are down 2-0 with the next three games in St. Louis. The Cardinals will have their two best pitchers rested and ready to go, Chris Carpenter and Jeff Suppan.

They have to go through Rogers. He has been golden for the Tigers and after they beat the Yankees in the division series, he stood on top of the dugout and sprayed the crowd with champagne.

They love him. He can do no wrong. Game 2 of the World Series is his. There is absolutely no doubt that the 2006 World Series is going to St. Louis tied one game each.

Welcome to the Elysian Fields Bar & Grill, where everybody knows that Buck O'Neill should have been in Cooperstown a long time ago...

* The Tigers Dave Dombrowski was runnerup to John Hart to be the Rangers general manager in 2001 and Walt Jocketty of the Cardinals was runnerup to Doug Melvin in 1994. But don't forget that Jim Leyland interviewed with the Rangers way back in 1982 for a manager's opening that eventually went to Doug Rader.

* Want one more? When Melvin was hired in 1994, he was immediately pressed on whether he would pursue Tony LaRussa, who was obviously coming to an end to his time in Oakland. But Melvin hired Johnny Oates and LaRussa spent one more year in Oakland before Jocketty hired him in St. Louis.

* The inside word is more than one Rangers managerial candidate is talking about hiring Perry Hill for his coaching staff. Hill was with the Florida Marlins for the past several years and has a reputation for being the best infield defense coach in the game. He graduated from L.D. Bell High and still lives in Northeast Tarrant County.

* Mississippi State's baseball team will be able to practice indoors this coming season because of the opening of the Palmeiro Center, a $3.8 million training facility courtesy of Lynne and Rafael Palmeiro. They were the leading donors for the project.

* The Brewers are looking for a hitting coach to replace Butch Wynegar, the former Rangers Minor League hitting instructor. Among the candidates is Jim Skaalen, who once managed in the Rangers farm system. Former Rangers outfielder Gary Pettis is a candidate to be their first base coach.

* Rangers trainer Jamie Reed was inducted into the Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday. The county is located just outside Baltimore.

* Just for the heck of it: Ed Napoleon

* Catcher Ivan Rodriguez was late getting to Spring Training in 1993. Said rookie manager Kevin Kennedy, "That's all right, we're going to be together for the next 18 years."

* The Rangers once asked Mickey Rivers to play left field. Said Rivers, "I felt alone out there, like I was on a deserted island. I felt like Gilligan."

* Julio Franco and Michael Young won batting titles with the Rangers. Five others played with the Rangers and won batting titles elsewhere: Alex Rodriguez, Andrea Galarraga, Al Oliver, Bill Madlock and Rico Carty.

* Burt Hooten and Mike Stanton have both won three World Series games. So? That's the most by any pitcher born in Texas. Frank Robinson, eight home runs and 14 RBi, is also the all-time World Series leader for offense. He was born in Beaumont but grew up in California.

* Ian Kinsler and Tess Brady are getting married in November. The honeymoon is in Hawaii. Three days on the Big Island and five days on Maui.

* Buck Showalter is spending his time watching his son Nathan play ninth grade football and loving every minute. Said he hasn't read a newspaper or listened to a sports talk show in two weeks.

* Rangers pitcher Kevin Millwood's all-time favorite movie is Forrest Gump.

* Alex Rodriguez can become a free agent after next season unless he gets an $8 million raise or $1 million more than Major League Baseball's highest paid player. As of next year, he goes to $27 million per year before any raises.

* Mickey Mantle's 1966 contract with the Yankees included a clause that stated: "The player agrees to perform his services hereunder diligently and faithfully, to keep himself in first-class physical condition and to obey the Club's training rules, and pledges himself to the American public and to the Club to conform to high standards of personal conduct, fair play and sportsmanship."

* The Cardinals in seven. Why not.

So the Rangers have five candidates for the job and the interview process has begun. Club officials say general manager Jon Daniels is not adding any more candidates right now but hasn't ruled it out.

The Rangers have ruled out Ken Macha, who was fired by the Oakland Athletics on Monday. He made the playoffs in two of four years but apparently he had his own problems with players and front office. General manager Billy Beane called it a disconnect at several levels so Macha is out in Oakland but not coming to Texas.

Bruce Bochy?

Now this is where it gets interesting. The San Diego Padres are apparently letting Bochy look around and it may be that he ends up with the San Francisco Giants. But Bochy has a number of qualities that Daniels is looking for, including the respect of his players and a close relationship with general manager Kevin Towers.

Bochy seems to intrigue the Rangers but it's unlikely that they would give him the big three-year contract that he could command. So don't look for Bochy to come to Texas but he would certainly be an attractive candidate.

So here is the latest Managerial Tote Board.

1. Don Wakamatsu - Still think he is the favorite. Not sure how much of an advantage it will be for him to go last but still think it's his job to lose.

2. Trey Hillman. A serious threat, especially if his team wins the Japan Series. Problem is, if that happens, the Nippon-Ham Fighters are likely to throw huge amounts of money at him, which would make it difficult for the Rangers to match or him to turn down. But he impressed owner Tom Hicks four years ago. If he gets to a second round of interviews involving the owner then he could push his way into the job.

3. Manny Acta. The New York Mets third base coach, a native of the Dominican Republic, is an intriguing choice. The Dominican Republic has become one of the most fertile areas for producing outstanding baseball talent and it should be considered significant that he was the choice to be the country's manager during the World Baseball Classic. The San Francisco Giants and the Washington Nationals are also interviewing him.

4. John Russell. The former Rangers catcher has an impressive Minor League managerial record and he commanded respect in the clubhouse as a player. Ian Kinsler had him as a third base coach in the Arizona Fall League and spoke well of him.

5. Ron Washington - He is the Oakland Athletics third base coach and a strong candidate to replace Macha. So too is Athletics bench coach Bob Geren. Orel Hershiser's name could re-surface in Oakland. He was a candidate last year before Macha was brought back.

We received tons of mail over the past week from people wanting to give their opinion on who should be the Rangers manager. Here we go. Feel free to add your opinion to what is presented here:

Mickey S: from Ontario: "With all the young starting pitching talent on the way to the majors isn`t it obvious the Rangers should go get Joe Girardi to manage those young arms?"

A.J. Walker has a suggestion and others had the same thoughts: "Why hasn't anyone mentioned Tom Grieve for the job?  No previous experience? That wasn't a problem in Houston when Larry Dierker left the booth. He wouldn't want it, I'm sure.  He's got a good gig with Josh Lewin, but just seems he could turn these kids into a real team. Just a silly thought.

Brad M. from Grapevine: "Why can't the Rangers seem to figure it out that pitching and defense win championships? Look at the teams left in the playoffs.  It is always the teams with pitching and defense that win out.  I am all for signing Matthews,  but everything after that has to be Padilla, Eaton and another starting pitcher through free-agency and or trade. Hillman has to be the manager!!!!!!"

Philip L. from College Station: "Why is Lou Piniella not being considered? The guy has proven himself over and over?"

Brenda R. from Goldsby Okla. "They just fired Buck, who couldn't get the job done because he wouldn't bunt or hit and run, why would they hire a Buck wanna be. We need a coach with Big League experience as a head coach or with Big League playing experience."

Jason from Arlington: "Why would the Rangers and Daniels not want to hire a Manager with more experience in the majors?  Most of the articles that I see about the Rangers current search for a new skipper all talk about coaches that are an "up-and-coming name in the business." The Rangers already have to deal with a large number of players that might not come back next year.  Is bringing in a new Manager with little "Big League" experience the way to go?  These guys might want to come back to a team that is lead by a Manager that knows what it takes and will do what it takes to play baseball in October.  That's what the game is all about right?" 

Doug L. from Fort Worth: "Hopefully the Rangers will appoint DonWakamatsu as the manager and bring Toby Harrah in as the bench coach. I think he would fit in great!"

Jay A. from Arlington: "Forget all the rest. They need Sweet Lou and he will do the job. End of the story."

Joel B. from Robinson, Tx.: "I think Don Wakamatsu is a good choice to replace Buck. If he does what are the chances a coaching position could open up for Rusty Greer on the bases or on the bench?"

Pat A. from Dallas: "Don Slaught was a personal favorite Ranger of mine growing up.  I can still remember being devastated when Slaught took one on the chin from Oil Can Boyd in 1986.  I've seen that he is now the hitting coach for the Detroit Tigers, is there any chance that Slaught's name could arise as a managerial candidate?"

Travis B. from St. Petersburgh Fl. "The success of Jim Leyland in the playoffs thus far has got me thinking about the Rangers next managerial pick. It seems that a younger teams needs a in your face manager like Girardi or Leyland to optimize their potential. On the other side, the experienced teams take a personality like Joe Torre or Terry Francona. My take on the Rangers is they need an experienced coach like a Cito Gaston or Tom Kelly."

Jim Bisenius is quite insistent when he says: "The Rangers should sign Don Wakamatsu right now.  This guy knows baseball and knows how to handle ball players.  He has a baseball mind that is second to none.  Various ball players and managers from other major league teams have said he should have been a major league manager a long time ago. I say stop the interviews now or some other major league team is going to sweep him from us."

Jason J from Gorman: "Don't you think Girardi would be a great fit? Success seems to follow him wherever he goes. I believe Girardi, Jon Daniels, and Tom Hicks would get along great. Jon Daniels is a good GM and understands it is the managers job to argue balls and strikes, not the GM's. I applaud Joe for standing up to the Marlins GM, he was wrong."

Chase M. from Fort Worth: "We can't be serious about hiring Wakamatsu can we? The Rangers are a pitcher, and a year with Lee away from the postseason. We can win if we have the right leader. Look at the Tigers as an example. They've got a veteran manager in there and look at them. I like Don but he needs to coach a young team without expectations. The pressure here to win will eat him up. What about Pinella or Robinson? We need someone who can lead us, not a rookie who needs time to learn."

Arthur Villarreal of Waco: " I hope the Rangers select Lou Piniella as their next manager.He has play-off experience as a player and manager and a competetive personality which is what the previous manager lacked."

Max L. of Cranston R.I.: "What is wrong with Trey Hillman as a managerial option for the Rangers? In Japan right now he is compiling quit a record, along with playoff appearance this year."

Howard H of Mesquite: "This team needs a manager who is young and can relate to the players. See all Managers that were fired or being fired at least for a good reason. One common factor is they are OLD and can't relate to young players."

Wayne Edwards in Durham, N.C.: "Being a 35 year Washington Senator /Texas Ranger fan will we ever get over the July All Star Jinx. I would like us to bring back a player as a manager that we traded away in about 1977. Mike Hargrove was traded for Toby Harah and the rest has been history.  Maybe we should fix our history and go after Mike Hargrove. He was great when he played for us and has taken the Cleveland Indians to places they have not been before.  Mike belongs once again in the Ranger's uniform."

David Peterson from New Orleans: "One of the guys I came to like as a player and then as a manager of the Triple A New Orleans Zephyrs was Tony Pena. He did a wonderful job cultivating talent there and was a Manager of the Year with the Royals.  While that award doesn't always lead to success considering Buck was fired, Pena seemed like a great young manager and it's hard to judge the record of any manager with the Royals."

Chuck S. from South Padre Island: "Why is Lou Piniella not on the Rangers list as possible Manager? or Joe Torre if Lou goes to Yankees?"

Albert J. from Crane, Texas: "I would go after Joe Morgan. Kevin Kennedy or even Buck Martinez, Tony Pena and maybe Orel Hershiser."

Michael L. from Palm Harbor, Fla.: "If the Cardinals choke in the post-season again, do you think Tony LaRussa will get fired? Do you think Hicks and Daniels would give him a shot at managing if he got fired?"

Byron T out of Austin: "Why not bring Kevin Kennedy back as manager? He had some success both in Texas and Boston. His passion and knowledge for the game would be great. I believe Kevin would be the best fit for the club and that he should be considered for the job."

* George "Doc" Medich was signed by the Rangers as a free agent on Nov. 10, 1977. He was originally a 30th round pick by the New York Yankees in the 1970 draft.

* Medich earned both his undergraduate and medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He graduated from medical school in January, 1977 and was involved in several potentially life-saving incidents at ballparks.

* Medich went into the stands and save a man's life while with the Rangers. The incident occured on July 17, 1978 at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium when Germain Languth, 61, suffered an apparent heart attack in the stands. Medich heard the call go out for a doctor and jumped into the stands, administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and external heart massage. Medich was in residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh at the time.

* After the game, Medich said, "I was trained and I was in the right spot at the right time. Yeah, I guess I saved him. Anytime somebody's lying there without a heartbeat or a pulse...without aid, there's a good chance he would die."

* Two years earlier, while pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Medich was involved in a similar situation an hour before a game in Philadelphia. Medich was walking on the field and noticed an elderly man slumped over his seat and not moving. Medich jumped into the stands and spent 30 minutes trying to revive him. This time he was unsuccessful and the 73-year-old man died of a heart attack.

* Medich also attended to Hall of Fame pitcher Whitey Ford when he collapsed in the Yankees dugout after throwing batting practice on May 21, 1975.

* Medich was a member of the Yankees starting rotation in 1973-75 and was one of the better starting pitchers in the American League. He won 49 games, 14th most in the American League in that stretch, and was 15th in innings pitched and 12th in ERA.

* The Yankees traded Medich to the Pittsburgh Pirates after the 1975 season. Billy Martin had just taken over as Yankees manager during the 1975 season and apparently wasn't a big Medich fan. Martin suggested Medich went around blaming his teammates for his losses. The Yankees ended up getting pitchers Ken Brett and Dock Ellis and second baseman Willie Randolph, and winning three straight American League pennants.

* Medich was with the Pirates for just one year. After going 8-11 with a 3.52 ERA in 1976, he was traded in the middle of spring training in 1977 to the Oakland Athletics in a nine-player trade that sent second baseman Phil Garner to Pittsburgh.

* Medich was 7-1 with a 4.25 ERA in his last nine games of the 1977 season. His teams were 8-1 in those nine games. What is so notable about all this? He pitched for three different teams in September in a bizarre tale of baseball finances at the time.

* The Seattle Mariners claimed him off waivers from Oakland on Sept. 13 and he pitched three games for them, winning two of them. Then he was claimed on waivers by the Mets and he pitched one game for them at the end of the season before becoming a free agent.

* Apparently it was all about money and Medich's impending free agency after the season. Oakland owner Charlie Finley offered him a three-year deal worth $340,000 and Medich turned it down. When their dispute became public, Finley angrily first put him in the bullpen and then put him on waivers. The Mariners claimed him for $20,000 to gain negotiating rights and sign him to a contract extension before he became a free agent.

* When it became apparent that the extraordinarily cheap Mariners weren't going to sign him, they put him on waivers to get their $20,000 back even though there was less than two weeks to go in the season. The Mets, on their way to a 98-loss season and having suffered a public relations blow earlier in the season by trading Tom Seaver to the Reds, then claimed Medich in the hopes of signing the former Yankee before the season ended. They couldn't either and Medich declared free agency, signing with the Rangers on Nov. 10.

* Medich later said that Finley could have sold him to an unknown team for $500,000 in June but wanted players back in the deal as well. The other team refused and Finley was left with just the $20,000 from the Mariners.

* Medich's deal with the Rangers was supposedly four years and somewhere in the "neighborhood" of $1 million. A few days prior to landing Medich, the Rangers had signed Richie Zisk to a $2.8 million contract.

* Medich was with the Rangers for 41/2 years, finally being sold to the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 11, 1982. He was 50-43 for the Rangers with a 3.95 ERA that is the 10th best for any pitcher with at least 700 innings with the club.

* In 1981, Medich threw four shutouts, tying him for the American League lead with Richard Dotson, Ken Forsch and Steve McCatty. It is one of just two times that a Rangers pitcher has been tied for the American League lead in shutouts. Ken Hill had three along with Pat Hentgen and Rich Robertson in 1996.

* Only three pitchers in Rangers history have ever thrown more than four shutouts in a season: Ferguson Jenkins, Bert Blyleven (twice) and Jim Bibby.

* Medich had seven shutouts in his 41/2 years with the Rangers, sixth most in club history. Top five: Ferguson Jenkins (17), Gaylord Perry (12), Bert Blyleven (11), Charlie Hough (11), Jim Bibby (8).

* Medich is 10th in club history with 22 complete games.

* Medich allowed 0.55 home runs per nine innings while with Texas, the lowest ratio for any pitcher with at least 500 innings with the Rangers. Kevin Brown was second with 0.60 home runs per nine innings.

* The Rangers scored 5.11 runs per nine innings with Medich on the mound. For pitchers with at least 500 innings with the Rangers, this was the highest career run support for a pitcher who never pitched at The Ballpark/Ameriquest Field in club history.

* Medich was 10-6 with a club-leading 3.08 ERA and four shutouts in 1981 but Rick Honeycutt (11-6, 3.31) and Dany Darwin (9-9, 3.64) shared Pitcher of the Year honors for the Rangers.

* His 3.08 ERA in 1981 was the 12th best in a season by a Rangers pitcher with enough innings to qualify for the ERA title.

* Medich's birthday is Dec. 9. Todd Van Poppel has the same birthday. So does former Cubs infielder Steve Christmas.

Welcome to the Elysian Fields Bar & Grill, favorite hangout of the long-lost Alou brothers: Skip, Bob, Boog, Toot and Bebop

* Angels pitchers John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar combined for 43 quality starts, most by two teammates in the American League. Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla were second with 42. 

* Padres pitcher Chris Young has made 33 career starts on the road. His record is 13-2 with a 3.08 ERA. In 187 innings he has struck out 157 and held opponents to a .214 batting average. He hasn't lost on the road since June 20, 2005 when the Angels beat him 5-1 while he was still with the Rangers. He has made 24 regular season starts on the road since then and is 9-0 with a 3.07 ERA. He also beat the Cardinals in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on the road.

* Trey Hillman has led the Nippon Ham Fighters to their first Pacific League title since 1981 and has them in the Japanese World Series against the Chunichi Dragons. The Series is Oct. 21-29. Also, reports are former Angels and Astros manager Terry Collins will be the next American to go manage in Japan.

* Watching the playoffs on television reminds of former Phillies manager Nick Leyva who said, "I'm going to Radio Shack to buy one of those headsets like the broadcasters use. It seems as soon as you put them on, you get 100 times smarter."

* Ivan Rodriguez hit .263 (10-for-38) in ten playoff games with the Rangers with one run scored, two doubles, no home runs and three RBI. He had a .300 on-base and a .316 slugging percentage. For other teams, he is hitting .295 (26-for-88) with 15 runs, six doubles, four home runs and 21 RBI. His on-base is .373 and his slugging is .500.

* Is Mets coach Manny Acta going to have time to interview with the Rangers for their manager's job? As soon as the World Series is over, he's supposed to be one of the coaches on the Major League team that is touring Japan. The first game is Nov. 2 in Tokyo.

* Daisuke Matsuzaka will be pitching for Japan in that series and there will be plenty of Major League scouts watching. The 26-year-old right-hander, who was the MVP of the World Baseball Classic, is coming to the United States next season.

* Think the Rangers have a shot at him? First they'll probably have to pay $20 million or more to the Seibu Lions for his posting rights. The New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers are also interested. He's 26, he's a pitcher and he's probably better than any free agent on the market. That right there will drive the price up to where only the Yankees can pay.

* Twins center fielder Torii Hunter said during the ALDS that whenever Athletics third base coach Ron Washington gets a manager's job, he's going there as a free agent.

* Washington was a product of the Kansas City Royals Baseball Academy. In 1970, Royals owner Ewing Kauffman had the idea of finding undrafted and untapped talent, putting them in a baseball setting for ten months and teaching them the game. Second baseman Frank White was the most famous graduate. Washington was another. The academy was run by Syd Thrift, who died earlier this year. It lasted just three years, closing in 1973, but the complex is still there in Sarasota, Fla. not far from the Rangers old place in Port Charlotte.

* Just for the heck of it: Mike Zywica.

* Braves announcer Skip Caray to the San Diego Chicken: "Why did you cross the road?"

* Bo Porter, who was the Rangers Opening Day center fielder in 2001, has been impressive in the Marlins farm system as a manager and could end up on the Major League staff as a third base coach.

* The Rangers lose their first round draft pick if they sign a Type A free agent who has been offered arbitration by their former club. The Rangers and the Reds were both 80-82 but the tie-breaker put the Reds in the bottom 15 of teams who can't lose a first-round pick as compensation. The tie-breaker was number of victories in 2005 and the Rangers won six more.

* Everybody knows William Howard Taft was the first President to throw out the first ball on Opening Day. But he was also the first President to attend a Minor League while in office. It didn't happen again until George Bush the Elder took office.

* Ask someone who has been the most impressive in the Rangers Instructional League and the immediate answer is infielder Marcus Lemon.

* Johan Santana led the American League with 245 strikeouts. Detroit's Jeremy Bonderman was second with 201 strikeouts in 214 innings. In Joaquin Benoit's last 2152/3 innings, going back to June 29, 2004, he has struck out 205 batters.

The first baseball game my father ever took me to was between Army and Subpac, and no this was not out there on the Hudson River at West Point.

This was in Hawaii, at Schofield Barracks, the military installation made famous in From Here to Eternity, the movie where Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster are rolling around in the surf and Montgomery Cliff plays Taps on the trumpet, all from the World War II novel by James Jones.

Subpac was short for Submarine Base Pacific over at Pearl Harbor and, back in 1968, the military had a league on Oahu just like young Archie Graham described in Field of Dreams.

Subpac won, 8-1. They always won in every sport, apparently there are some pretty good athletes attracted to the idea of spending 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea which I finally learned is how far they traveled and not actually how far below the sea the submarine is.

Some guy for Subpac hit a home run over the right field fence and the next day I rode by the ballpark on my bicycle with the grand idea of finding the baseball that he hit. Looked for a good ten minutes and couldn't find it and such are the dreams of an eight year old who has seen his first baseball game.

Of course I didn't know much about Deborah Kerr and the pounding surf back then.

But my father and I spent the next three years watching the Hawaii Islanders play, the Triple A team in the Pacific Coast League that was the affiliate of first the Chicago White Sox and then the California Angels. The 1970 team, managed by Chuck Tanner, won 98 games and a few years ago was picked as the 38th greatest Minor League team of all-time.

They played in Honolulu Stadium on King Street and Joe DiMaggio, during World War II, once hit the ball out of the place, but it was also known as the Termite Palace and is no longer there.

The Islanders had former Major League pitchers Dennis Bennett and Juan Pizzaro, a second baseman named Doug Griffin who would win a Gold Glove for the Red Sox, and Winston Llenas, who was from the Dominican Republic but was named after Winston Churchill and lost out in the PCL batting crown by fractions of a point to Spokane's Bobby Valentine. Al Michaels was the local broadcaster who did the play-by-play on the radio

Yes the Islanders were that loaded but so too were the Spokane Indians, the Dodgers affiliate with Valentine, Steve Garvey, Bill Buckner, Charlie Hough and Tom Paciorek, plus catcher Steve Sogge who had quarterbacked O.J. Simpson and USC in the 1969 Rose Bowl. Tommy Lasorda managed them and they swept the Islanders in four games.

That was Minor League baseball and I finally made it to the Big League 35 years ago this month when my dad and I walked into Candlestick Park for the first time.

The date was Oct. 2, 1971, the first game of the National League Championship Series, a golden autumn afternoon and nobody ever forgets walking into a Major League ballpark for the first time. Candlestick Park was lampooned to the end because it was too cold at night - the Polar Grounds they called it - but on that stunning awe-struck day of 35 years ago it was truly like walking into the Emerald City.

Only there was no Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion or the Wizard himself, but Willie Mays, Willie Stargell, Roberto Clemente and Willie McCovey and they would all end up in the Hall of Fame one day.

So too would Gaylord Perry and he pitched that day for the Giants. The Pirates, because Dave Kingman lost a fly ball in the autumnal haze, led 2-1 into the fifth behind Steve Blass but then up came Tito Fuentes with a runner on first and he lofted a little fly ball down the right field line that squeezed between the wall and the foul pole for a two-run home run.

Mays then walked and McCovey followed with a monster home run, a towering shot into the upper deck in right field that gave the Giants a 5-2 lead. Years later, when I was going to the University of San Francisco, McCovey was still hitting shots into that upper deck and there has never been a doubt in my mind that he could put one on the roof at Ameriquest Field in Arlington as well.

Perry pitched the whole game - this was 1971, not 2006 - and stayed in there even after Al Oliver had a two-run single in the seventh. Richie Hebner singled with one out in the ninth but Clemente flied to right and Stargell grounded to first to end the game.

"I went after him with fastballs and hard sliders," Perry said after the game, the hard slider no doubt being a euphemism for another famous pitch.

The Giants won and they were still talking about McCovey's blast the next day, but the Pirates would win the next three - beating Juan Marichal in a memorable Game 3 - and then took down the Baltimore Orioles in seven games in the World Series.

They don't play baseball in Candlestick Park anymore but the National League Championship Series starts tonight with Game 1 at Shea Stadium and perhaps a 12-year-old kid will get to see his first Major League Game game as well.

Those who are 47 will be watching too with the memory of 35 years ago still as clear as ever. Now that VCRs have replaced the old transistor radio, still wish that I had a tape of the game. But at least one can still rent From Here to Eternity.

The Rangers search for a manager. The New York Yankees search for answers. Four teams search for a World Series title. We seek opinions and rants from our top-of-the-line Monday Morning Managers.

First question will be our Trade of the Week. That has to be a regular feature of our off-season MMM.

1. Brian Cashman calls the Rangers. Says the Yankees will trade Alex Rodriguez for Hank Blalock, Gerald Laird, Robinson Tejeda, John Danks and C.J. Wilson. Do you do that trade? Why or why not?

2. The Yankees fire Joe Torre. Should the Rangers call him immediately? Why or why not?

3. What do the Oakland Athletics do right that the Rangers don't.

4. Who is going to win ALCS and the NLCS.

5. Give us one really good trade proposal that the Rangers should be looking into right now.

All right. Here are the candidates as they stand at the start of the Rangers managerial derby. Changes may occur as new information comes in. But here is what's out there.

1. Don Wakamatsu. The clear favorite. He has a good relationship with the front office, a good rapport with the players, a strong understanding of the game and good leadership qualities.

2. Rudy Jaramillo. His knowledge of hitting is profound and he commands deep respect from him his players. He has to convince the Rangers he can handle all aspects of managing.

3. Trey Hillman. The former farm director is a candidate because he deeply impressed Tom Hicks four years ago. He has since been managing in Japan. He does not know Jon Daniels that well but if he impresses him as much as he did Hicks and John Hart four years ago, he could move up the board.

4. Ron Washington - The Oakland Athletics third base coach has a colorful style of speaking but he knows baseball. The Rangers have heard good things about him. Torii Hunter said he would play for Washington in a minute. He should get an interview.

5. Bud Black - The Angels pitching coach's name has come up. Seems a long shot but he's an interesting name the Rangers have heard good things about.

6. DeMarlo Hale - At this point, word is Hale is unlikely to be a candidate.

7. Bobby Jones - Just about every Ranger has played for him at some point in the minors. He has a great minor league managerial record. He commands respect. Probably not going to get an interview but he deserves consideration.

8. Joe Girardi - He could be the National League Manager of the Year, so he has to be considered. But if he had trouble getting along with the front office or some of his coaches... Don't see this one happening.

9. Dusty Baker - No. He is not coming here. Book it.

10. Lou Piniella - He is not the right fit with a young general manager and an owner who is adamant that payroll be tied to revenue streams.

11. Jim Fregosi - All you can do is just shake your head.

12. Tom Kelly - This name has been bantered about but Twins general manager Terry Ryan said he's not interested in managing again. The Rangers aren't the first team to wonder.

13. Jamie Quirk. Rockies coach. Long shot, dark horse, whatever the vogue term is of late. Still, he's a name.

14. Rusty Greer. He has no experience. But some of his other qualities are intriguing.

Stay tuned. We'll talk about Rangers of the past some other time.

Welcome to Happy Hour at the Elysian Fields Bar & Grill, where everybody is trustworthy...

* Phil Nevin, who is with the Minnesota Twins in the playoffs, said this on Thursday about the Rangers trading him to the Chicago Cubs: "It still bothers me that they gave up on me so early. You look back on a veteran player like Frank Thomas. You look at his numbers at that point, it's a good thing that Oakland didn't give up on him."

* The Rangers traded Nevin to the Chicago Cubs on May 31. He was hitting .216 with nine home runs and 31 RBI in 46 games and 176 at-bats at the time of the trade. Through May 31, Thomas was hitting .227 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI in 44 games and 150 at-bats for the Athletics.

* The Rangers have already reached out to Trey Hillman, their former farm director who is managing the Nippon Ham Fighters in the Japanese League. Hillman's team is in the Pacific League playoffs and has asked the Rangers to wait until after they are done. But he is a top candidate, right behind bench coach Don Wakamatsu.

* Been reading The Missing Ring, Keith Dunnavant's account of the 1966 University of Alabama football team that went 11-0 and did not win the national championship. Makes you realize that Buck Showalter missed his calling. He should have been an assistant defensive coach on Paul "Bear" Bryant's coaching staff.

* Watched Showalter work with Joaquin Arias on his drag bunting technique on a Friday afternoon before the Rangers 160th game of the season against the Seattle Mariners. Afterward Showalter couldn't stop talking about how much fun it was. There is no doubt he has a profound knowledge of the game, just like Bobby Valentine. If he is not going to manage again, he still could fill a huge role with some organization as a teacher.

* One thing that you can never underestimate about four Rangers managers: Buck Showalter, Johnny Oates, Kevin Kennedy and Valentine. All were complete busts as players. Really believe that bothered all four and they were absolutely driven to make up for it by being successful Major League managers. All were smart, all were passionate, all wanted it bad. Maybe even too much. Even Oates.

* Great quote from Milton Bradley, the Athletics tempermental outfielder who caused a stir by dumping coffee on pitcher Esteban Loaiza during Game 2 and then getting into it with hitting coach Gerald Perry. Bradley said the whole incident was overblown and added, "Next thing you know, they'll have me taking an overdose of pills."

* Just for the heck of it: Tony Scruggs.

* D'Angelo Jimenez began the season as the Rangers little-used utility infielder. Looks like he'll finish the season as the Athletics starting second baseman in the playoffs now that Mark Ellis is out with a fractured right index finger.

* Said Jimenez: "I'll be ready. In my country I have more pressure than over here. In winter ball, I've been to the finals. It's a lot of pressure. It's your country. They are real crazy over there. They are really into the game. I'll just go with the flow here."

* Oakland third base coach Ron Washington would be very interested if the Rangers ask him to interview for their managerial job. Said Washington: "I'd be interested in any job if they want to talk to me. They have a good team, I would love to help turn them turn it around."

* Former Athletics pitcher Dave Stewart on his NBX podcast "Throwing Heat" about the difference between baseball players and football players: "They may be four times tougher but you know what, I’ve been 11 years retired from the game, no arm problems, no problems with my body, walking perfectly, shoot if I want to have sex tonight I can have sex tonight. How about these football players using walkers and goddarned canes and oxygen tanks to do the same things I do on a daily basis.  They may be four times tougher but they’re four times dumber too."

* Stewart on managing the San Francisco Giants: "I don't want to do that but I'd be better than Jim Fregosi."

* Michael Young on how he recovers from the baseball season: "By watching football. From Saturday morning through Monday night, I'm basically unavailable."

* Former Rangers manager Pat Corrales is out as the Atlanta Braves coach. He is being replaced by Chino Cadahia, who had been the Braves Minor League Field Coordinator since 1997. Cadahia got his start as a long-time Minor League manager in the Rangers organization.

Said Braves general manager John Schuerholz: "People in baseball know who he is. He is a high energy guy. The players respect and respond to him. He's an outstanding addition."

* Cadahia has one claim to fame. He was Ivan Rodriguez's first manager in the Minor Leagues and handed him the nickname of "Pudge."

* Outfielder John Mayberry, third baseman John Whittleman, catcher Emerson Frostad and second baseman Jose Vallego are all playing for the West Oahu CaneFires of the Hawaiian Winter League.

* The Rangers have extended their agreement with Class A Clinton through 2008.

* Yankees manager Joe Torre on why Kenny Rogers had so much trouble during his time in New York in 1996-97:  I think Kenny is a guy who would much prefer to  do what he does without everything being under a microscope.   I just didn't think he was comfortable here. I thought he's a high-quality pitcher, he's proven that in a number of places.

" But it just doesn't seem like he's got his feet on the ground here. I know we've talked quite a bit during that year because he, you know, wasn't sure everybody wanted him here, including me.

"And at the time I said it wasn't true, and if it was true, it would having in to do with the fact that we all wanted -- we all wanted him to do well. And it was just I think a personality that he just wasn't comfortable here.   I can't find any other way to describe it."

Buck Showalter is out as Rangers manager, for better or for worse, depending on one's point of view. Time for the Monday Morning Managers to have their say at the Elysian Fields.

1. Do you think the Rangers made the right move in dismissing Showalter?

2. Who do you think should be the Rangers next manager

3. Bonus question: Who is the best manager in Rangers history?

Walked through the Oakland Athletics clubhouse after they had beaten the Minnesota Twins in Game 1 of their division series and ran into Steve Vucinich, their long-time equipment manager.

"Hey," he asked. "What happened at the big meeting in Dallas."

Told him it was a dinner meeting at Tom Hicks' cabin in North Dallas and at that point they were probably just getting around to fixing the hors d'oeuvres before the guests were scheduled to arrive.

But everybody surely wants to know what will happen at the big summit meeting that supposedly will decide Buck Showalter's fate as the manager of the Rangers.

The bloggers have all rendered an opinion, really anybody who follows the Rangers has made their feelings known and there are is rampant speculation that the manager will be either fired or he will step down on his own accord.

Hicks has provided the only window into what may or may not happen, saying that he only wants to sit down with Showalter and general manager Jon Daniels, get their take on what happened this season and what it will take to fix it.

Hicks said it will be up to Daniels to make any recommendation regarding Showalter. Daniels said early in September that he was "not thinking about" changing managers but everything would be reviewed at the end of the season. That was before the Rangers stumbled to the finish line and ended up with a losing record for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.

A source said Showalter's relationship with the players will be a prime topic of discussion and if there is a problem, whether or not it is irreparable.

Showalter may have the support of a majority of his players but in a presidential election, it's not how many states you can win but if you can carry the big ones like California and Texas.

They may also discuss whether or not the Rangers can reach the World Series at their current payroll level, and if that comes up then maybe Hicks is the one who has to answer some questions. But both the Twins and the Athletics had lower Opening Day payrolls than the Rangers so the current mantra about it "being about the right players and not payroll" will remain in vogue.

Then it becomes about the farm system as well and others have to answer for that, not Showalter.

But he is the manager and he well knows where the blame will ultimately fall. Maybe if he makes some changes in his approach then maybe it will mollify his bosses, but to ask him to be something he is not isn't going to solve anything.

George Steinbrenner tried to push Showalter into a corner only to have his manager walk away. Of course Showalter was hot property way back when and the Arizona Diamondbacks were eagerly awaiting. Here he would be walking into an uncertain future and away from three more lucrative seasons on his contract.

Showalter was hired four years ago when Hicks was openly ready to start over, take the payroll way down and begin rebuilding with young players. Showalter was asked to lead it, a task he accepted willingly even as Alex Rodriguez wanted no part of it and engineered a trade to the New York Yankees.

The Rangers overachieved in 2004, winning 89 games with a great bullpen and earning Showalter Manager of the Year honors. But the bullpen fell apart in 2005 and the Rangers had little in the way of young pitching to match their terrific offensive talent.

The Rangers made a major effort last winter to contend and everybody, including Hicks, talked in Spring Training about how good the pitching was but that hardly proved to be the case.

Pitching is still an issue, and so is the payroll but right now Showalter and his relationship with players is the prime topic of conversation over what is undoubtedly a sumptuous meal.

Even the condemned get one last meal although the proverbial midnight call from the governor remains a distinct possibility.

At some point the meeting will adjourn and Showalter will head off into the night, either a dead man walking or still the manager of the Rangers.

At this point it's still too close to call.

Greetings from Minnesota, where the American League Division Series starts on Tuesday. The Rangers will not be a part of it but out of sight does not necessarily mean out of mind.

Surely there are a few opinions still out there left to express, or general rants to employ. We take them all here at the Elysian Fields.

1. Who was the Rangers Most Valuable Player this year and why?

2. Who was their Pitcher of the Year and why?

3. What positives do you take away from this season?

4. What was the most frustrating aspect of the season.

5. Professor Marvel looks into his Crystal Ball and tells you that a pitcher within the Rangers organization will win the Cy Young Award in the next five years. What is his name?