Tuesday Special: Walk-Off Slams & Links Galore

Walk-off grand slam against the Yankees:
By far the biggest (and strangest) win the Rangers had this season happened Monday night versus a team that the Rangers seem to never have luck on their side against, the New York Yankees. With the bases loaded and the score tied in the bottom of the 9th, Marlon Byrd hit the first pitch he saw over the right-center-field wall to give the Rangers a 9-5 victory in walk-off fashion. It was also a very strange game. Vicente Padilla appeared to throw a fastball right down the middle on Alex Rodriquez with 2 outs and 2 men on base in the top of the 1st. The umpire thought differently however, and called the pitch a ball. Rodriquez ended up walking amongst the boos from the fans. Jason Giambi then came up and knocked in a run. In the 5th inning Padilla was called for two balks, causing a run. The usually calm Rangers manager Ron Washington immediately ran out to argue and was ejected. There was also many acrobatic catches and home runs, but none as exciting as Byrd's shot to send the fans into a frenzy. The much-needed win came on a great night, where all teams ahead of Texas in the wild card standings lost. Texas is just now 5 games back from first, and we here at DallasDedicated are gearing up for an exciting playoff run!

Dallas sports links around the web:
-Here's the video of Byrd's walk-off slam. There is nothing like baseball's tradition of a dog pile at home plate after a walk-off home run.

-Terrell Owens and Adam Jones have been getting into a fierce battle day in and day out in training camp. The NFL compiled a short video of some of those battles in practice.

-Kelly Dwyer of Yahoo Sports reports that Andre Iguodala and the Sixers are in a stalemate regarding contract talks, and Kelly comes up with trading Iguodala and Willie Green to the Mavs for Josh Howard.

-With the controversy surrounding the Rangers over if CJ Wilson is still the closer or not, Dallas Morning News blogger Jean-Jacques Taylor wants the closer to be Eddie Guardado.
Quick Note: Guardado was sent to the bullpen in the bottom of the 8th to close out the game for the second night in a row. Does Washington have a trick up his sleeve after all?

-ESPN's Chris Sheridan is making something out of Jason Kidd being benched the second half of Team USA's exhibition game over Russia.

-Not only is Mark Cuban still in the running to buy the Chicago Cubs, but the Chicago Tribune reports that Cuban is actually the front runner in the bidding war.

-How does Jessica Simpson let Tony Romo know that she misses her man while he is gone to training camp? She strips for him on a webcam.

-Google thinks Avery Johnson is a sucky coach too, I guess.

-I hate to even link this idiocy, but ESPN's Chad Ford has the Mavs as one of the biggest losers of the NBA offseason so far.

-HBO's Hard Knocks featuring the Dallas Cowboys kicks off tomorrow, and you can see the trailer right here.

-After Josh Howard's arrest, freedarko.com lets us know why it is becoming hard to root for the guy.

-At one point during this summer, the Stars considered bringing back Jaroslav Modry to replace the veteran leadership lost by the retirement of Mattias Norstrom. Now, it looks as if Modry has signed to play in the Czech Republic.

-Ladies and gentlemen (or just gentlemen), meet the new Dallas Mavs dancers.

-Power rankings are stupid, that is until the Cowboys are ranked first.

-What Josh Howard's website should look like.

-T.O. talks about his favorite player nicknames on the Cowboys and what type of sportscaster he would be.

-Newest Dallas Star Sean Avery has a new girlfriend, and the 28 year old is dating someone 51. The fact that he spent the off-season interning for Vogue is making me like him a little less...

-Our friends at mvn.com give the case for Shaun Livingston in a Mavs jersey.

-ESPN Hashmarks creator and Dallas native Matt Mosley gives his theory that Jerry Jones could be trying to make a trade for Carolina star receiver Steve Smith.

-This isn't really Dallas related, but too funny to pass up. Steve Nash and Baron Davis make a movie trailer spoof together on a video competition on ibeatyou.com. They chose the movie "Step Brothers"....


Next time: DallasDedicated is gaining popularity, and other sites are starting to take notice. We have been asked for an exclusive interview with Most Valuable Network's website. They asked our opinions on multiple Mavs-related questions and we will give you our answers.

--ND

Crunch Time in Arlington

As the MLB trade deadline passed without any moves made by Texas whatsoever, Rangers fans are left pondering if this team has what it takes to make a legitimate run for their first playoff berth in this millenium. With the arrival of Mark Teixiera in Los Angeles and the Angels playing the best in the majors, I'm going to go ahead and wave the white flag in regards to the american league west race. The wild card is now the only chance the Rangers have, where they currently sit at just 6 games back and 4th in the wild card standings as they begin a 4-game momentum changing series against those New York Yankees, who are third in the wild card race. Texas has an explosive offense and a great manager, but this team is far from perfect. There are several problems this team must face head-on right away before they get left behind in this tight wild card playoff race:

The stand still at the trade deadline:
The only move made during the trade deadline by Rangers general manager Jon Daniels was playing a practical joke on Eddie Guardado. Manager Ron Washington went to the steam room to tell Eddie Guardado that he had been traded to the Washington Nationals. Guardado stormed into the office where Jon Daniels was meeting with some assistants, not even bothering to change out of his robe and shower shoes. Guardado began to scream at Jon Daniels. "Thanks for dressing up," Daniels said. Then the general manager broke into a smile and started laughing. "I can't hold it over you. You're still a Texas Ranger."

While I'm happy to hear that the locker room is a fun workplace, where were all the deals that were supposed to improve this team? Here at DallasDedicated, we gave Jon Daniels three wonderful moves to try to pursue before the trade deadline concluded. While the Yankees continued to make calls to the Rangers organization about acquiring Gerald Laird for some pitching, nothing ever developed into a serious discussion. The Rangers' No. 1 priority was young starting pitching, but they were also looking for veteran relievers to reinforce their bullpen for the stretch run. That was on manager Ron Washington's wish list. But the Rangers couldn't find what they were looking for -- especially a left-hander -- and didn't like what was being offered. Because no trade ended up being signed off on, we are faced with the second problem...

The lack of good starting pitching:
Yes, the Rangers do have a great number of young pitchers that have shown great upside for the years to come. This year, however, we have seen that the inability of a starting pitcher to go at least 6 innings have cost the Rangers dearly. Texas currently sits in last in team ERA (5.25). During the divisional era (since 1969), no team that ranked last in the league ERA reached the playoffs. In fact, none of them had a winning record. Another astonishing statistic is the fact that the Rangers have used 13 pitchers a total of six rookies to start a game this season, most in the majors. Vicente Padilla has been the only consistent pitcher (12-5 with 84 strikeouts), but Padilla's ERA is still at a non-impressive 4.52.

In response to the consistently bad pitching, the Rangers fired pitching coach Mark Connor and bullpen coach Dom Chiti tonight after last Friday's game. Jon Daniels said the club wanted a different voice and that's why a move was made. It is a little unfair to rest all the blame on the pitching coaches, but something had to change. The rotation has dealt with injuries and uncertainty all season. A 6.63 ERA in July with this offense just was too much for Rangers management. It is crazy that the Rangers pulled off a winning record last month with the way the pitching was. Andy Hawkins is now the pitching coach, being promoted from the AAA Oklahoma club. (Quick note on Hawkins: He once threw a no-hitter against the White Sox but still gave up 4 runs. Now that is hard is hard to do!) We will see how a change in staff effects the pitching of the Rangers. The starting pitching should not get all the criticism though, as the bullpen of Texas is the second-worst in the majors. One problem that has arose the last few weeks is the inconsistency of closer CJ Wilson, which brings me to the final problem...

The closer situation:
C.J. Wilson started the season being very dominant, but lately his play has been very shaky. Wilson has now blown four saves, three of which have come since the trade deadline. His record stands at 2-2 with a dreadful 5.28 ERA, and a 6.17 ERA since June 1. During last night's game against Toronto, manager Ron Washington had fans talking when he decided to go with Eddie Guardado in what appeared would be a save situation. Washington told reporters after the game that no closer change is coming, and that he just felt that Eddie was the right man at that point. Many fans have been begging for Ron Washington to appoint Guardado to do what he has done most of his career, close out games. Could CJ Wilson be demoted to the 8th inning spot? Getting three outs in the ninth isn't easy and isn't a job for everyone. CJ Wilson has the mental toughness to do it, but he has to start pitching more like early in the season or change could be coming.

The Rangers begin a four-game series at home against the Yanks tonight, as every game becomes crucial. Texas is 6 games back in the wild card race behind Boston, while Chicago (who are .5 games back behind Minnesota in the AL central), and New York sit ahead of Texas also. Working in the Rangers’ favor is the hope that the three AL east teams, the Rays/Red Sox/Yankees, will beat up on each other and give room for the Rangers to make a move. There are plenty of home games left against wild card opponents to make it happen, but the Rangers must first solve the challenges within the team to do it.

Later this week: As the first Cowboys preseason game is just 5 days away, we will give you a season preview of all things Cowboys. Get excited!

--ND

Mavericks: A Team In Turmoil?

With all the news of Ron Artest to the Rockets, the arrest of Josh Howard, and Mark Cuban's bid for the Chicago Cubs, the question begs: is there trouble in MavsLand? As my co-blogger Nate wrote Thursday, thanks to Ron Artest, many Mavs fans are now claiming the race for a playoff spot is in much more than jeopardy. Then, the near deal of Mr. Cuban purchasing the Cubs makes fans wonder about the commitment he has to the team. And finally, Josh Howard (now earning the dubious distinction of always making headlines at the wrong time) gets arrested for street racing. Three big events in the matter of days make it difficult to see prosperity and cohesion at the American Airlines Center.

A few points:

--Ron Artest is still a distraction. There's a reason he was traded for so little in return. Already, Ron-Ron is not getting along with Yao Ming after he raised concerns about the "ghetto" player's past. Chemistry makes good teams great. On paper, the Rockets are good. So far, however, it would seem that the 'meshing' process hasn't gotten off to a great start. Lucky for us.

--Mark Cuban is insisting him buying the Cubs will have no effect on him keeping the Mavs. Normally this is reassuring, but, based on prior events, I'm not too convinced. Up until the trade deadline last season, Cubes assured us he was "happy" with our current team and felt no need to tamper. We had all the pieces to win a championship, we just needed to bounce back from a shocking playoff loss. Yet, despite his assurances, the Jason Kidd trade was made, and the roster completely retooled. This will be deception #1.
After an allegedly bitter argument between Cuban and then-coach Avery Johnson, Cuban wore the now infamous "Avery's Team" shirt at the following game. One would assume by this that Cuban was not-so-subliminally telling us that he had faith in the young coach. However, a day after the playoff elimination, out goes Avery. Not that anyone was very surprised, but only a couple weeks before had Cubes pledged allegiance to the coach. Chalk this up as deception #2.
Now, after both of these, it is not difficult to understand why we at DallasDedicated might not be so reliant on Cuban's 'not selling' promise. Hopefully, since this is on a much larger scale than the previous events, our worries do not materialize into anything drastic. We do not want to have to write a piece about "Deception #3".

--On the other hand, don't view purchasing the Cubs as a bad thing. The conventional argument is that when an owner purchases a second, third, fourth, etc. sports team, he has less time and thus places less emphasis on the original. However, this is not necessarily true. Many owners have successfully ran multiple teams at the same time. A few notable ones:
-Robert Kraft: Owner, New England Patriots (NFL) and New England Revolution (MLS)
-Malcom Glazer: Owner, Tampa Bay Bucs (NFL) and Manchester United (EPL)
-Paul Allen: Owner, Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Portland Trail Blazers (NBA) and Seattle Sounders (MLS)
-Tom Hicks: Owner, Texas Rangers (MLB), Dallas Stars (NHL) and Liverpool FC (EPL)

All of these teams are successful, too. So, Mavs fans, have no worries if Cuban ventures out to Chicago and decides to keep his Mavericks.

--Josh Howard was arrested in a drag racing incident Thursday night in his native North Carolina. He has since been released, but this is another slip up in what is almost becoming a pattern of controversial behavior by the all-star. Some have been screaming "trade" for the last few months now, and this only adds fuel to the fire. However, I am willing to bet that if his play returns to normal and his confidence comes back, many people will think twice about getting rid of J-Ho.

As a cornerstone of the team, he should no go anywhere...at least, that is the hope. He is nowhere near a Ron Artest, Pacman Jones, or any member of the old "Jail Blazers" team level of distraction yet, so just wait it out and he will return to form.

Ultimately, not much can be decided until the season actually starts. So until then, Mavs fans, sit tight (actually, relax...tight would be too tense) and leave all this off season hype to the players who will be trying to prove they make a great basketball team.

Next time at DallasDedicated: We will get all into the Rangers, who despite not making any moves whatsoever before the trade deadline, are searching for that lone wild card playoff spot.

--PD

Panic! At The Metroplex

It has been a little uneasy around the Dallas/Fort Worth area ever since the news of Ron Artest signing with the team down the highway, the Houston Rockets. DallasDedicated is here to calm your nerves and keep you from hitting that panic button...

Ok, I too wrote just two weeks ago about how disappointed I have been with the Mavs organization as of late. While some moves have been very premature and even a little panicked, trying to get Ron Artest by giving away Stack and Bass was part of the dumb decisions I was talking about. This is what I wrote about trying to get Ron Ron:
"Jerry Stackhouse for Ron Artest straight up is a head-scratcher but arguable, but throwing in the young Brandon Bass with nothing but upside ahead of him is just idiotic! Brandon Bass has improved dramatically in just the one season he has worn a Mavs uniform. He out-hustles anyone and everyone, he is by far the strongest player on the roster, and he is ever-improving. GM Donnie Nelson has sent scouts all over the world to find young, raw talent and we finally get one in Bass and he attempts to trade him for a nutcase. Who would you rather have, a young player that is nicknamed "The Animal", or a player that would rather rap than play basketball and started the biggest brawl any sport has ever seen? We can all thank God that Sacramento did not accept this deal (how dumb are they?)"

Now less than 2 weeks later you are freaking out because the Houston Rockets got Artest? We should all thank Rockets GM Daryl Morey that he made a trade happen before the Mavs organization decided to give in to Sacramento and send away Josh Howard for the loon. Some Mavs fans cannot fathom why Sacramento took a deal that involved washed up Bobby Jackson, a young and unproven rookie, and a draft pick but denied the trade that would get "The Animal" Brandon Bass and a veteran shooter. The approved deal actually works better for the Kings than the Bass/Stack combo. Sacramento is already in abundance at the 2 guard position (Douby/Salmons/Martin/Garcia) and already has three power forwards that are undersized at 6-10 (Shelden Williams/Kenny Thomas/Abdur-Rahim). Sacramento needed a veteran backup point guard that was a positive leader in the locker room, which they got in Bobby Jackson. Jackson was also already a crowd-favorite in Sacto. Donte Greene replaces Artest at the SF spot, and a desirable first round draft pick was thrown in to sweeten the deal. So, let's forget about Artest until we have to face Houston in the regular season.

North Texas is panicking far too early, not realizing that the Mavs roster is nowhere near set for the upcoming season. History of the Mavs have shown us that deals happen frequently in the month of August. All in the month of August, the Mavs signed Eddie Jones (Aug. 6, 2007), Devean George (Aug. 1, 2006), Doug Christie and Diop (Aug. 19, 2005). In August 2004, the Mavs made two big trades to acquire Damp and Jason Terry too. Josh Smith is still looking for a different city to play basketball in, but reports around the league are that Atlanta wants far too much for him in return. It's very hard to know if this deal would ever happen, but let's not get our hopes too high. However, do not put ANYTHING past Mark Cuban, because we all know he's willing to do anything that he thinks will help the team.

The problem is this: What does Cuban think will help the team? If he believes trading Josh Howard is the answer, he is wrong. If he believes shopping Bass around to pick up a shooter is the answer, he is wrong. Shan Foster would fit that role, and that can happen without anyone being traded. Who is to say this team is not a contender? Just 3 short years ago, this team was in the Finals! A year after that, 67 wins happened! Last year did not go at all according to plan, but little tweaks have been made to improve this basketball team. A new coach with a new philosophy is encouraging, and Jason Kidd will be much more "Jason Kidd-like" this season. Two big men, Juwan Howard and Malik Allen, were non-factors, and they have been replaced with DeSagana Diop and James Singleton. Summer league star Charles Rhodes could soon be signed as well. Tyronn Lue never proved he could backup Jason Kidd, and he has since been replaced with Keith McLeod. Gerald Green was very impressive in summer league play, and his new attitude can only help this team. The team this year compared to last year is younger, more athletic, deeper, and isn't even close to complete yet.

The Mavs are just as much contenders as they were two years ago. If this year does end in heart-breaking fashion (which you'd think Mavs fans would be used to by now), Kidd will most likely not be asked to return. That frees up around 19 million dollars in cap space to make a run at the free agency fest of 2010, where big names like LeBron, Wade, Bosh, McGrady, Nash, and Ginobili all hit the market. How is that for off-season options?

Hands off the panic button Mavs fans, I see playoff wins and good times ahead. Just be patient, relax, and wait to see what happens. The Dallas Mavericks run at their first NBA championship is in no way over.

Elsewhere in the Dallas sports world: The Texas Rangers are just 4.5 games back in the Al wild card race. Things are beginning to look up after last night's one-run win against Seattle. Michael Young thought he would have the night off, but instead came in to pinch-hit in the bottom of the 8th. He had the winning sacrifice fly, and CJ Wilson looked sharp to close the game out. Texas faces Seattle tonight looking to capture the series win and move a step closer to capturing a playoff spot.

--ND

Mavs Summer Squad, Part II

The Summer League is officially finished, and the training camp invites have been dished out. My fellow blogger Nate gave a breakdown of each player invited to camp earlier today, so my task is to delve a little deeper and break down exactly who we believe should and who will be wearing a Mavericks jersey (or very nice "street" clothes) on opening night.

In a COMPLETELY ideal world, DallasDedicated would like to see Charles Rhodes and Shan Foster nabbing the final two roster spots, waiving James Singleton and his guaranteed money (or possibly an unproductive veteran). Simply put, Rhodes showed more talent than Singleton, and Foster is a much needed shooter. Ranking the hopefuls--in an ideal world, remember--would look like this:

1) Shan Foster--Needed the most on the roster. For years Dallas has lacked a pure shooter.
2) Charles Rhodes--Performed so well it would be foolish not to have him on the roster...which could happen due to some premature contractual dealings.
3) Reyshawn Terry--Rick Carlisle noted Terry's improvement after his move to power forward this season (played the 3 last year). Like Rhodes, he is 6'8", so in a man for man decision, Rhodes has the upper hand as of now.
4) JaJuan Smith--Would be a much better prospect and would have a much greater chance to make the roster if he wasn't so undersized. As a 6'2" shooting guard, he has point guard height and shooting guard skills.

Now, of course, this is not a perfect world, and there are many hitches and bumps in every plan.

Bump #1: James Singleton is not only already signed, but his contract is guaranteed. We've beat this like a dead horse, but it is such a shocking move by the Mavs front office that we are still puzzled. Donnie Nelson, however, is not closing the door anything. If current performances continue throughout camp, don't be surprised if Donnie decides to take the hit and make room for Rhodes. This is a lot of maneuvering for a player who will most likely get few minutes, though.

Bump #2: Again with more Charles Rhodes. Art Garcia reports that Rhodes has gotten "various European offers" and is weighing the pros and cons of pulling a Josh Childress. All this talk and petition about Charles being on the final team could be for not if he decides to jump the pond. Really, anything could happen at this point in the hunt for Charles "Rocky" Rhodes.

Bump #3: Mark Cuban. This is not a bad bump. This is a bump of unpredictability. Don't count out Cubes to make a drastic roster altering trade before the start of the season. Predicting the final roster is easy now, but throw in a trade and every is changed. In the blink of an eye an integral part of this team could be on his way out (see: Artest trade rumors. But now he is gone to Houston).

Hitch #1: This is a "hitch" rather than a "bump" because it is not as deterring to opening up room for the final roster. Another viable option--if the front office wants to make room for any of the competing players--would be to cut a veteran. This would most likely be Eddie Jones. In a period which the Mavs are beginning to age, this would make the team younger and would give it more potential to grow.

Hitch #2: The Mavs say no to Shan Foster. Although illogical in the eyes of DallasDedicated, this also seems quite possible--judging by the organization's reaction to his play. The front office has shown more of an interest in JaJuan Smith and his incessant hustle than the 3-point Vandy bomber. Hopefully this is just a momentary infatuation and Foster will have no problem. Yet another undersized two-guard is not what the Mavericks need; a pure shooter with size, however, is in their best interest.

OVERALL, look for Singleton to become even more motivated as he now has Charles Rhodes and his large fan club breathing down his neck. Shan Foster should take the final spot regardless of what happens with Rhodes and Singleton. Terry and Smith will most likely be left off, but should have the ability to land with other, not as talented teams.

ELSEWHERE around Dallas...

The Rangers pulled off a bottom of the 9th comeback against Seattle, thanks to Ramon Vazquez's walk off double. He was able to redeem himself after a sub-par day in the field, in which he committed three errors. It wasn't a pretty win, but the squad won on a night in which most wild-card contenders lost. With the Angels running away with the division (and Mark Teixeira), the Wild Card Race is now just that...a race. With a lot of teams.

Positivity ensues around Terrell Owens. ESPN.com's Matt Mosley caught up with T.O at training camp and has this to say about him:

"Well, it appears we're still waiting. Believe it or not, Owens is viewed as the consummate teammate in the Cowboys' locker room. He's the one player who somehow remembers to text birthday messages to all the quarterbacks and wide receivers. And when he burns a young cornerback in training camp, he'll stop and explain to him why it happened. Oh, and he keeps bringing hundreds of T-shirts to camp for his teammates, which isn't normal protocol for All-Pro receivers. Yesterday, tight end Jason Witten was wearing his "iCatch" T-shirt while Leonard Davis had on an XXXL "iBlock."".

Very lofty compliments towards a guy who, a couple years ago, was the most hated man in the league. And they seem like well deserved compliments at that.

Be on the look out for a report on how the Rocket's acquiring of Ron Artest will affect the Mavericks.

--PD

Mavs Summer Squad: Who's Dream Will Become a Reality?

It's time to go jersey shopping with Dallas Dedicated!
As the NBA Summer League is now over, next for the Mavericks is filling the final two roster spots. The Mavericks currently have 13 guaranteed contracts. Guard Keith McLeod is also under contract, but it is not guaranteed. If McLeod is asked to stay, just one lone spot remains. 4 players that made a well enough impression to be invited to fall training camp are:

Shan Foster:The Mavs draft pick had a tough time getting off the bench, but once he did, he shot over 48 percent and averaged 8.6 points despite only playing 19 minutes per game. Shan Foster really looks like a player that the Mavs could use, and we here at DallasDedicated hope he can prove that at camp.



JaJuan Smith: JaJuan Smith is an undersized shooting guard at 6-2, but the rookie definitely showed his hustle in every game. We are not sure why Donnie Nelson is so keen on this young guy, he averaged only 7.6 points per game and really didn't stand out besides the game against Minnesota. We will see what is to come of the man with the best first name in summer league...JaJuan!

Charles Rhodes: Has made by far the biggest impression on the Mavs organization. Not a lot of expectations coming in for this guy, and he made sure everyone took notice. Rhodes reminds DallasDedicated of Brandon Bass, and really...who can't use another Bass? The rookie from Mississippi State shot an unbelievable 64 percent from the floor while also pulling down 6 boards and 11 points per game. We here at DallasDedicated are hoping to have a number 23 Mavs Rhodes jersey in the near future!

Reyshawn Terry: Started off very slow, but when McLeod was sent back to Dallas, Terry really showed that he could handle the point guard position. Terry displayed the consistency the coaching staff wanted to see during his second summer league season, averaging nearly 10 and 6, and even had a double-double in the last game. Will it be enough to get to play with the big boys?
A thought: Jason Terry is probably already confused in practice when coaches yell, "Jason" at Jason Kidd. Can you imagine now a player with the same last name on the team too?

We believe at DallasDedicated that James Singleton was given a guaranteed contract WAY too early. The staff really didn't get a chance to see everyone else's strengths before deciding to keep Singelton. It's hard to imagine Charles Rhodes getting a spot on the team with Singleton essentially blocking him. The good news though, is what GM Donnie Nelson said before leaving for China. "Rhodes is real athletic and showed really good promise," Nelson said. "We’re planning on having a good old-fashioned training camp with spots that are going to be won. We have 13 players with guarantees, but if one of the veterans shows up and is not prepared, we’re not afraid to cut guaranteed money." Maybe Eddie Jones or James Singleton will be cut after all to free up room for the explosive Charles Rhodes or sharp-shooting Shan Foster. Sources have also said that Charles Rhodes has recieved many European contract offers, which shows that he turned a lot of heads around not just the NBA, but the world.

In other Mavs news: Dirk had a great interview with mavs.com about his dream coming true, being able to take Germany to the olympics. You can read the interview here.

Later: My co-bloggger Patrick will give you his take on the Mavs Summer League...stay tuned!


--ND

DallasDedicated Plays Rangers GM

As the July 31st trade deadline approaches, the Texas Rangers seem to be at a stand still. The Rangers currently stand 5.5 games out in the wild card race, and double that in the AL west behind the Angels. While this year isn't the make or break year for this Rangers squad, we here at DallasDedicated believe that all it would take to get a legitimate push for a playoff spot is a step towards improved pitching. Texas has the firepower and confidence to outscore their opponents, but pitching continues to be the Achilles heel of this baseball team. Don't sweat it though, DallasDedicated is here to give Rangers GM Jon Daniels all the tools he needs to pull off a major deal.

Despite what critics have said, Daniels has done a pretty good job in putting this Rangers team together. We all knew Mark Teixeira was not going to return to this team coming into this season, so before last season's trade deadline Daniels dealt him to Atlanta for Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Same with Eric Gagne, who was dealt to Boston for David Murphy. Then Daniels traded the veteran Kenny Lofton for young Max Ramirez, who has been a gem this season when Laird was put on the disabled list. All those deals have paid off, but the pitching problems were once again ignored. The trade deadline is about 4 days away, and it's time to make some changes...

On the Rangers trading block:
Daniels says that they are not trying to get short term improvement that is a long-term risk. (remember Carlos Lee? Sammy Sosa?) That is a smart decision, which is why Daniels is wanting to especially get some young pitching. So who are the Rangers willing to say goodbye to?

Hank Blalock: Major League sources said there has been "medium interest" in Blalock, mostly from the Dodgers, Twins and Giants. All three teams are looking for a third baseman, and Blalock has shown since coming off the disabled list that he can still handle the position defensively. Let me be the first to say: Michael Young will be the Rangers third basemen next season. I have been saying for years that trading Blalock for a rotational pitcher would be a wise bet. Blalock has had trouble staying healthy, and our backups at third base can fill the void for the remainder of this season. Trading Hank to the Twins could get us a starter and a solid reliever.
DallasDedicated's Deal: Trade Hank Blalock and Eric Hurley to Minnesota Twins for Kevin Slowey
and Francisco Liriano. Slowey is the 4th man in the Twins rotation, a Texas native, and has had a pretty strong season. Liriano has a dreadful 11.32 ERA in the majors, but has had three straight strong outings in the minors. He could be the possible 8th inning pitcher if Guardado is dealt, who is rumored to be pursued by the Cardinals.


Gerald Laird or Jarrod Saltalamacchia: The Yankees are looking for a catcher and have asked about both Laird and Saltalamacchia. The Rangers have an abundance at the backstop position, so dealing one of them wouldn't be a problem. Texas has their eyes on some young pitching, and here's the deal that should be sought after...
DD's Deal: Trade Gerald Laird, Vicente Padilla and Eddie Guardado to New York Yankees for Phil Hughes.
While Texas would essentially be giving up two pitchers for one, Hughes is more affordable, younger and with more upside. Hughes is ever-improving and could be the number 2 on a pitching rotation by next year. Plus, moving Padilla's $11 million contract off the books for 2009 gives the Rangers a lot more money to pursue a big-time free agent such as CC Sabathia or Ben Sheets. Guardado has pitched well this year, but he is a free agent this off season and nobody knows if he will be back or not.

Marlon Byrd: The Newark-Star Ledger reported that the Mets sent a scout to a recent Rangers game to scout Byrd and Milton Bradley. The Rangers have repeatedly assured that Bradley is in no way a trade assett, so I don't see him leaving our team. Byrd is a very likeable guy, but the Rangers have too many outfielders and need to move one. Plus, AAA outfielder Nelson Cruz is tearing up the minors and is MLB ready to join the Rangers. So what could the Rangers get for Marlon Byrd? It's hard to tell, but mlbtraderumors.com says that the Mets are shopping starting pitcher Oliver Perez. JACKPOT!
DD's Deal: Trade Marlon Byrd to New York Mets for Oliver Perez
I'm not sure if Byrd is enough to entice the Mets to give Texas Perez, but switching Bradley for Byrd would definitely do the trick. Milton Bradley has slowly become one Arlington favorite, but his contract is up after this season. Frank Catalanotto might also be the ex-factor for a deal with New York. Any combination of these players could land this pitcher, who is currently third on the Mets rotation. Can you imagine getting him? Playoffs here we come!

Attention Jon Daniels! If you listen to DallasDedicated, fortune and playoff wins await you in the future. A weak pitching rotation becomes powerful, and no players traded away is cause for regret. Padilla would be the best player you give up, but saving 11 million dollars will dry those tears. So go make these deals happen...you can thank me later!


Next time on DallasDedicated: Patrick and I will give you our final thoughts on the Mavs summer league, which ended last week. There are roster spots left and we know what the Mavs should do. Stay tuned!

--ND