Poor Toby's Almanac...Easter Sunday
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."
Matthew, Chapter 28
One week to go:
Gerald Laird is going to be the Rangers Opening Day starter but that doesn't keep teams from dialing general manager Jon Daniels cell phone.
The Cincinnati Reds have been the most recent to inquire about Laird. They are deeply concerned about their catching situation but there's really not a match between the two teams.
So the biggest decision the Rangers have to make this week is whether to let Jarrod Saltalamacchia stay with the team to share time with Laird or send him to Triple A.
The Detroit Tigers are looking for relief pitching and are scouting the Rangers hard. Remember Franklyn German used to pitch for them but couldn't throw strikes so they stuck him on waivers. Now he could make the Rangers bullpen. The inside word is the Tigers wanted German to rely too much on his fastball while the Rangers have him throwing his split-finger pitch at anytime in the count.
There have been some rumblings that the Rangers were willing to trade Frank Catalanotto but club officials shot that one down.
While the Rangers mull whether to keep Jason Botts or Kevin Mench for the final spot on the roster, manager Ron Washington quietly ponders the value of having outfielder Jason Ellison. He has had a good spring and gives the Rangers something that Botts and Mench don't: speed off the bench.
Oracle of Elysian Fields:
"If you're going to start off slow, Spring Training is a great place to start off slow."
First baseman Ben Broussard, who is starting to heat up.
Toby's Top Five
1. Boston Red Sox – They stood up for their coaches and other staff members over the trip to Japan. It also gave Curt Schilling something to do while on the disabled list.
2. Luis Mendoza – The Rangers have a fifth starter
3. Baseball in Florida – If Spring Training meant anything, then we would be expecting a Marlins-Rays World Series.
4. Miguel Cabrera – He is getting an eight-year, $153 million contract from the Tigers. Here's what's interesting. That's roughly the same contract that Juan Gonzalez turned down from the Tigers in Spring Training of 2000.
5. R.A. Dickey – Word is he's going to make the Mariners pitching staff as a Rule 5 draft pick.
Ex-Ranger of the Week: Edinson Volquez has a 3.00 ERA this spring for the Reds with three walks and 21 strikeouts in 15 innings. Josh Hamilton has had a great spring for the Rangers but the Reds just didn't give him away.
Birthdays: Cy Young's 141st birthday is Saturday. He was born on March 29, 1867 in Gilmore Ohio. He died on Nov. 4, 1955. That apparently proved to be a momentous occasion for baseball because the following year the Cy Young Memorial Award was created for pitching excellence. Brooklyn's Don Newcombe was the winner.
The Rangers still haven't had a winner yet.
Robinson Tejeda turns 26 on Monday. He was just an infant when Dave Hostetler and Jeff Kunkel were the Rangers future. Now Kunkel turns 46 on Tuesday and Hostetler is 52 on Thursday.
Adam Melhuse, who could end up being the Rangers backup catcher, turns 36 on Thursday.
Speaking of Cy Young, he shares the same birthday as Denny McLain, who turns 64 on Friday. This is the 40th anniversary of McLain being the Major League's last 30-game winner.
Anniversary: On March 23, 1951, the Dodgers signed a 21-year lease on Dodgertown in Vero Beach. Next year they play in Arizona, just down the street from Surprise in the West Valley. They have already played their last game in Vero, which reminds of Sam Malone's famous last line in Cheers: "I'm sorry, we're closed."
By the way: You know that Max Klinger was a big Toledo Mud Hens fan in MASH. Used to wear a Mud Hens hat. Turns out that was not a Mud Hens hat he was wearing but an early Rangers hat.
Last call:
I made a lot of this spring. I got to hang around a lot of veteran guys and I learned a lot about pitching and a lot about hitting. I got a lot out of it and I'll feel good leaving camp. I think I've showed I can compete and throw strikes.
Eric Hurley
Volquez will blossom as he is given a chance. Danks is going to take the next step with the White Sox. Well we have Diamond who isn't one. DVD, DVD, DVD!!!! Anyone else remember that one? The bottom line is you never, never ever trade starting pitching. It is too unpredictable. Rumor has it Diamond is projected as a middle relief pitcher at best. How about trying to develop some starting pitching. The Rangers answer for everything is to send the starting pitcher to the bullpen. Way to go guys, keep up the good work. I remember when Rogers left the bullpen and became one of the best starting pitchers we ever developed. Were the Rangers even around during the Korean War, thought that was in the 50's with Eisenhower. What do you say Fred r us, advise us on the times. I remember seeing a photo of "Ike" another abbreviated name that didn't seem to bother him at a Washington Senators game. If you are keeping track, and i am, we could have Chris Young, Jon Danks and Edinson Volquez as three of our starters along with Gabbard and Mendoza. Not to shabby, young but not shabby. Would the future be brighter? Would their be hope? Surprise, surprise, the Rangers think of dealing Catalanotto. Does he really fit on this team? Salary dump, the Rangers will have to pay part of that 11 million dollars, probably 1/2. So do it and be done. Nelson Cruz and Jason Botts where are you boys? Just less than 18 months ago Cruz was the player we wanted, now he is going for some magic beans? Way to go JD you are the greatest. Draft picks and Kevin Mench for Cordero, Young, Gonzales, Soriano. Wow! Oh to be young and dumb, to think that you really know what you are doing when you are in over your head. Rumor has it that Ryan isn't too impressed with Daniels, Thank God for that. Maybe Daniels should have went to select a seat with Nolan. Hopefully he will be in the stands watching along with his manager friend soon enough. Can you say distancing. Doesn't the GM have to take the fall for his manager and all of the horrendous trades. Who can get on here and justify what he has done? How about Reid Ryan as GM? Why isn't their any buzz about a possible conflict with President Nolan Ryan and his ownership of AAA and AA franchises of the Astros? Seems like a conflict of interest to me. Clemens is in for a pardon and Bonds is going to be prosecuted? Give me a break. At least Bonds didn't get on TV and lie? Doesn't the Federal Government have better things to do than prosecute egotistic athletes. Wouldn't my economic stimulas check be higher if they focused on Governmental issues. Believe it Ryan has already ran interference for Clemens. Clemense, that is not a misspelled word, is popular with George Herbert Walker Bush, so it is a done deal. Thank God he made all that money, because he probably aint' going to the hall and won't be associated with any team. As "Bullet" Bob Feller said, any guy that doesn't go to his mothers funeral and pitches, ain't no friend of mine. By the way "Bullet" is another nickname!
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"All the hail the power of Jesus name, lets Angels prostrate fall. Bring forth the royal diadem and crown him Lord of All, Bring forth the royal diadem and crown him Lord of All. And my all time favorite, "he among who is without sin, let him cast the first stone." El Shaddi, El Shaddi, Adonai,,, age to age your still the same, by the power of your name. Amy Grant who is now married to Vince Gill, her second husband. Believe it. That my friends is another chapter of the bible.
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Thank God that their weren't computers back then and blogs as their would have been a lot of anonymous criticism. Ha ha. Go 8 ball, my new favorite player, how about this for his intro music. Huey Lewis and The News: "I wanna new drug..... Just kidding!!! If Volquez wins 15 games what does Ham have to do for the trade to be equal???
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T.R., thanks for appropriately honoring the Lord Jesus. Those who honor Jesus name and then trash others do not honor him at all.
By the way, I hope you don't take this the wrong way but, Toby is one ugly mutt. I'm sure he is a very good pet after all, a dog doesn't have to be pretty to be a good dog.
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Now, now Rick, "judge not, lest ye be judged, for in the manner you judge, then you shall receive the full measure." First remove the speck from your own eye, then you will see to help your brother." I got my first Bible at 5 years old by memorizing scriptures. So bring it on..... A Bible thumping po po, and remember thou shalt not steal, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, because that sums up the fullness of the law." Remember to render unto God, what is Gods, and to Caesar, well unto Caesar." And last but not least, for Mr. Hamilton, forgive him 70 times 7 which is 490 forgivens, 8 down, 482 to go. If he performs as everyone says he will, then i am all for it. Ha Ha. Besides didn't Steve Howe get that amount of chances?
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And to all those so called Churches out there that function as Corporations, then get ready to pay some taxes. I find it funny and or ironic, that the Jesus i have learned about REJECTED WEALTH, MONEY AND WORLDLY POWER, was born in a manger, took the occupation of a carpenter and functioned amongst the poor. "He was rejected by the chief priests, scribes and pharises, yet it seems that is what a lot of these so called preachers have become. In the book of Revelation, it states, at the judgement seat of Christ, their will be people there who attempt to justify by saying, didn't we drive out demons in your name, and Jesus will state, "Depart from me, ye doers of inequity, i never knew you. It is all about the cash with these mega churches, they should be taxed and should start feeding the poor, clothing the sheep. Most of them do nothing in their local communities and are too busy with the profits from their booksales and prayer pillows. We are talking billions of dollars people and believe me the government is going to get their cut watch, wait and see.
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And last but not least, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose his own soul." Hey Rick i am just playing around don't be so serious. I love irony, I know my Bible more than i know the Rangers.
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And for all the preachers out there, the leaders of the corporate churches, the drivers of the Land Rovers, Mercedes and the owners of the 3.5 million dollar homes and the million dollar book sales. The prosperity doctrine is what i believe it is called. Open your bibles, if you have one and read a passage from Jesus Christ, the founder of the Christian religion. Named after him i do believe. And i doth quote, " It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God." Boy do i feel better.
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Just now noticed you were trying to communicate with me. I won't offer my opinions to you because they are like noses, everybody has one, they smell, and they have a couple of holes in them. But I will give you Jesus' opinion and not shot gun a bunch of scriptures all over the place.
Matthew 15:10-20
verse 11- Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
verse 18-20- Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man.
Matthew 12:34-35
...out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth evils things.
Matthew 12:33
Either make the tree good,and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
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