SB Nation Front Page

College Football Season Is Here!

Here's what we have to look forward to locally this weekend:

Saturday

#6 TCU - #24 Oregon St., 6:45, ESPN
#5 Texas - Rice, 2:30, ESPN
Texas A&M - Stephen F. Austin, 6:00
#7 Oklahoma - Utah St., 6:00
Baylor - Sam Houston St., 6:00
Oklahoma St. - Washington St., 6:00, FSSW
UNT - Clemson, 2:30, ESPNU

Sunday

SMU - Texas Tech, 2:30, ESPN

The TCU game is just one of just two games (the other is LSU-UNC Saturday night on ABC) this weekend involving two ranked teams.

Be sure to check out the numerous game previews on our regional team blogs: 

• Burnt Orange Nation has their Game Week post
• I Am The 12th Man preview's A&M's walkover
• Crimson And Cream Machine scouts Utah State
• Cowboys Ride For Free offer their first podcast of the season
• Double T Nation provides keys to the SMU game

0 comments

by Brett Perryman • Sep 2, 2010 12:30 AM CDT

FanGraphs' Top Five Rangers

Sorry this is a couple of days later than it was last week, but here are the top five most valuable Rangers so far in 2010 by FanGraphs.com's Wins Above Replacement measure.

1. Josh Hamilton: 553 PA, .361/.413/.637, 4/5.8 DRS/UZR, .449 wOBA, 7.6 WAR
2. Colby Lewis: 167 IP, 8.78 K/9, 2.86 BB/9, 3.56 ERA, 3.46 tERA, 3.52 FIP, 3.92 xFIP, 3.7 WAR
3. C.J. Wilson: 171.2 IP, 7.34 K/9, 4.04 BB/9, 2.88 ERA, 3.66 tERA, 3.58 FIP, 4.25 xFIP, 3.7 WAR
4. Nelson Cruz: 327 PA, .314/.373/.576, 11/8.2 DRS/UZR, .404 wOBA, 3.7 WAR
5. Michael Young: 587 PA, .289/.339/.470, -12/-5.7 DRS/UZR, .349 wOBA, 2.7 WAR
   

Continue reading this commentary »

0 comments

by Robbie Griffin • Sep 1, 2010 4:56 PM CDT

Francoeur It Is

After flirting with the notions of Manny Ramirez, Brad Hawpe, Ryan Spilborghs and Mike Lowell, the final offensive addition in 2010 is Jeff Francoeur. My reaction to this move is similar to the July deadline deals for Cristian Guzman and Jorge Cantu. They didn’t get anything, and they didn’t give up anything.

In fact, I wonder if there has ever been a trio of less significant deadline trades for position players. None of the three grade out above replacement level. Cantu was almost immediately beaten out by Mitch Moreland and has posted a .211/.262/.263 line in 57 AB. Guzman went 3-for-34 and went on the disabled list before being replaced by a much more effective Andres Blanco.

The first two trades cost the Rangers Tanner Roark, Evan Reed, Ryan Tatusko and Omar Poveda. While any of the four could pitch in the majors, none figure to cost the Rangers. They were all likely headed for exposure to Rule 5 drafts, and none would have ranked on any organizational top prospect list.

Arias is an even lower risk, as the Rangers had already opted to remove the second baseman from their major league roster, not fearing losing him for nothing.

The moral in all of this is: Don’t let Tom Hicks own your pro franchise. The abrupt but unfortunate timing of the completion of the sale of the club meant that the Rangers were unable to make additional significant moves at the deadline, and the waivers process inhibited their ability to add a good bat in August. They didn’t lack the prospects to swap, and once the team was sold they didn’t lack the money to pay the remainder of a contract (as shown by their claim on Ramirez). The end result appears to be a magnificently insignificant trio of deals.

0 comments

by Brett Perryman • Sep 1, 2010 2:43 AM CDT

Rangers Reportedly STILL Interested In Mike Lowell

To piggy back on the rumor below from Robbie, the Rangers are also in talks with the Red Sox yet again about 3B/1B/Old Man Mike Lowell according to T.R. Sullivan.

You can read discussion of the rumor that will not die over at Lone Star Ball.

Personally, this feels like an Adam Eaton or Sidney Ponson sort of deal. The Rangers won’t rest until Lowell is theirs. I feel I can safely assume that Mike Lowell’s corpse could hit more successfully than Jorge Cantu at this point, so I’m not necessarily against this move if the Rangers happen to pull the trigger. With a month in the season left to go, it will likely be inconsequential regardless.

0 comments

by Christopher Fittz • Aug 31, 2010 5:08 PM CDT