By Zachary Walker

Rangers Couldn’t “Claw” Their Way Back

The optimism before the game was like the weather hovering above the ballpark, cold, gloomy and grey. And as it would turn out, that’s how the game would be. The fans weren’t their usual expressive selves, partly because they were huddling close together at a 60 degree stadium, but mostly because of the way the team fell into the game. The decision to start Michael Young at first base, and not at DH, will be a definite topic of discussion going into the offseason. Yu Darvish pitched a very solid game, but with the lack of run support, any men on base deep into a one game playoff will make a manager go to the bullpen. Not bringing in left-handed reliever Robbie Ross, but instead giving the game over to Derek Holland, proved to be another error. All wouldn’t really bother me as much as Josh Hamilton’s at-bats did. The usual power swinging Hamilton went 0 for 4, including a touch of the ball that barely made it to the pitcher, who got the easy out. The fans, as the fielding was being announced in the ninth inning, laid into Hamilton with overwhelming boos. With each run scored against Joe Nathan, thousands filed out of the stadium leaving behind just die-hards, true believers in the spirit of the rally and lots of empty beer bottles. Things got edgy in the bottom of the ninth, as Cruz followed by Napoli then a pinch-hit by Jurickson Profar set up a game tying grand slam opportunity for David Murphy. As contact was made the hopes of returning to the World Series for a third straight time snapped shut in the glove of left fielder Nate McLouth. A tip of the cap to the contract makers for not overreacting to Hamilton’s strong start with a contract that would handcuff the Rangers to a player who seemingly packed it in for parts of the season. Trust me, if he’ll say it’ll leave a bad taste in his mouth, if his last memories will be remembering the boos, we’ll remember the dropped ball in Oakland and the 0 for 4 finish.

Cowboys Need a Changing of the Guard

It’s only the first quarter of the season, and it’s perfectly clear that there is a problem. When you are, what the Cowboys are, and that is a team that has every eye on them at all times and such an expansive fan base, that when fingers start to get pointed, they always get pointed at the wrong people and for the wrong reasons. Easy to blame Romo for the picks in the Chicago game. But it starts with the offensive line, which is appropriately named. Doug Free has been bad, Nate Livings not much better than him. Ryan Cook, is like leftovers that you eat because you NEED to eat. Tyron Smith has struggled at left tackle, sure he gets credit for being the best we have, but being the best player on a terrible line gets you bundled with this bad pile. But the worst on the line by far, is Mackenzy Bernadeau. He is directly responsible for the Lance Briggs pick six. He isn’t getting any push in the run game. They say the first step to fixing a problem, is admitting there is one. I’m a fan of Jerry Jones, but this position must get fixed, and the time is now. The team is coming off the bye week, and you have a player within the organization to make the switch. The first player the Cowboys contacted after this year’s NFL Draft back in April, was Ronald Leary. A big bear of a man, and the reason he wasn’t drafted is because of a degenerative disease in his knee, that doesn’t hamper his play but limits his career to around seven years. The Cowboys gave him the maximum signing bonus because they liked him so much. If Jerry Jones believes the window is closing, why not give the player whose window will also close early. Hey, it’s worth a shot. If you switch now, he might be game ready by Baltimore, or at least Carolina. Given the current state of the team, how can it be worse.