I dont even know if OT is allowed here anymore, but I'm going old school!

Anyways, yeah, title.

McCain takes 5 point lead in reuters poll:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKN1948672420080820

The money race..liberal media has told is it's a massive advantage for Obama. Oops, looks like they were doing what they do best, lie:

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/08/19/the-2008-money-race-stil-closer-than-you-think.aspx

Next we have real clear politics electoral map with no toss up states, which for the first time shows McCain +10

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/?map=10

Now lets touch on the polls most of which would give Obama a 2 to 6 point lead..lets just say I do not trust them. Due to Obama being black and the supposed public tendency to support a black candidate when polled but not in actuality because of fear of being perceived as racist, and the usual liberal bias in the polls run by the liberal media. Combine these two and at any given time I feel McCain is sitting with several points in hand not reflected in polls.

Then we get to the factor of it all comes down to a few swing states, Ohio, Florida, Pennslyvania, Virginia, Colorado, and Michigan. I feel that due to Hillary Clinton running very well in these states, McCain has an edge there.

Finally I feel like Obama is not very bright, therefore his campaign, probably run by a bunch of affirmative action unqualified minorities, has made mistep after mistep, compared to a savvy McCain campaign, and I feel confident that will continue. Latest case in point, Obamas veep frontrunners. As I understand it, Joe Biden and Katherine Sebelius. All I can say to that is..wtf? Joe Biden, no, really?

Im a desperate young woman and I really need a Texas Rangers pet calendar!

Does anybody know where I can get one?

Thank you my fellow Rangers fans!

hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi h ih ih ihi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi i love you  do you love me? forever hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi

I was at the Clinton game last night and saw Smoak's debut as well as 6 innings from Beaven.  I left after 6 innings (I had 2 kids with me) but I saw 3 of Smoak's at bats.  His first 2 at bats were lefty against a pretty solid starter for Peoria.  He saw 7 pitches in his first at bat and drew a walk.  In his second at bat he was a loud out to center and in his third at bat, hitting right, he rolled out meekly on the first pitch he saw.  Defensively he didn't have to do much so I can't comment on that.

Beavan was good but if I didn't know who he was I wouldn't have been blown away.  He was certainly not overpowering and his fastball stayed between 88-91.  He touched 92 occasionally and the stadium gun had him at 97 once on a high fastball, but I'm not sure I trust that reading.  He pitched well but was not the an oh and ah type of performance. I would publish some pics but I don't know how to do it, so if someone will tell me how to get them from my pics onto this then I will do it.

The last round of the Best Ranger Ever vote was pretty close. Six different players (Bell, Hough, Rogers, Sundberg, Jenkins and Sierra) were within three votes of eachother. In the end, Kenny Rogers and Charlie Hough ended up tying eachother.

So I ask you, Lone Star Ball: with the Texas Rangers, who was the better pitcher?

Here's our list so far:

Ivan Rodriguez  1991-2002

Juan Gonzalez  1989-99, 2002-03

Nolan Ryan  1989-93

Rafael Palmeiro  1989-93, 1999-03

Alex Rodriguez  2001-03

Rusty Greer  1994-2002

Michael Young  2000-08

Gotta love my dad!! My dad and I are going to the whole series next week. Our seats arent great but we are going more the experience. Ive been to Wrigley, Fenway and now Yankee Stadium. Is anyone else going? Anyone have any advice on what to do pay particular attention to? Also, my dad and I are staying in northern New Jersey. We will be taking the train into the stadium. I will DEFINITELY have a lot of pictures when I get back. Any advice/input would be awesome!! IM PUMPED!!!

It's been difficult finding info on Boscan other than his great numbers.  Does anybody have any additional insight or info?

Impress Your Buds - Wilfredo Boscan, SP, TEX

Through the MLB draft and by raiding the IFA market, the Texas Rangers now find themselves flush with talented young pitchers. Often forgotten among the talk of 95 mile per hour fastballs and hammer curves is Wilfredo Boscan, an 18 year old IFA from the Dominican Republic who is currently undefeated in class A short season ball. With a 7-0 record and solid peripherals, he's looking like the next in a long line of talented Ranger pitching prospects.

let's take a look at Boscan's numbers;

Age 17 - 1.75 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, .210 BAA with a 61/13 K/BB in 56 2/3 IP @ DSL
Age 18 - 2.96 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, .258 BAA with a 54/8 K/BB in 51 2/3 @ A- (SS)

Obviously, a 5.5/1 K/BB ratio at such a young age is impressive. Mix in a 54% GB rate and you have the makings of a pitcher saber-heads will clamor over. Boscan's only drawback is his 51 hits allowed in 51 2/3 IP, but this can be attributed to a rather high .338 BABIP and the possibility that he's just a young pitcher filling up the zone a little too much.  With his current peripherals, further adjustment to the United States, and the addition of some meat to his 6'2" 160 lb. frame, Boscan could take off.

Typical 2008 Ranger game

1-Scott Feldman has good outing until he struggles in his last inning

2-A reliever comes in and blows the lead

3-Bad umpiring call costs the Rangers 1 run and gives the opponent the lead

4-Wright comes in, and a an error on an easy play costs the Rangers 4 runs

5-Another horrible call gives the opponent an out

6-Mr. Unclutch (Chris Davis) fails to get a hit in two key occasions, one being in the 9th

7-The Rangers ALMOST come back.

If the Rangers dont sign Sabathia or at least a Lowe type, then they better get someone who can shutdown the 7th or 8th inning because we now lead the AL in blown saves and our save percentage is 57%.

AND why did we put in fransisco, hes now blown 3 straight save oppurtunities

Okay, so it wasn't that long ago that it seemed like people either wanted the Rangers to trade him at the deadline or bring him back for next year.

With the numbers he's put up, he's due for a payday.  If you were part of the front office would you give it to him?  The guy has missed a lot of time.

Personally, I really dig the guy.  I love his approach at the plate and the attitude he brings to the team.  Not only that, he also seems to enjoy playing here and if what you read in the press is any indication, he's well-liked by his teammates.  But the missed time does bother me.  And while he's the kind of guy who is always going be good when healthy, he's probably not going to duplicate his 2008 numbers even if he could avoid injuries.  It seems to me that this was his career year and he'll likely drop off to some degree next year. 

It would depend on the money/years obviously, and I don't see him giving the Rangers a discount big enough for me to bring him back if I had anything to do with the decision.  When the team needed him the most, he was down with injuries.  Now I don't blame the guy for the Rangers falling out of the Wild Card race...I never thought they had the pitching to pass who was in front of them.  I did however think Bradley would come back and the Rangers would be able to stick around and stay close enough to make it a little more interesting.  That doesn't look like it will happen.

Anyway, what do you guys think?  Will Bradley play for Texas next year or not?  Would you be pissed if not or would you just accept it?  I don't think any Rangers fan would be happy to see him go, but if I'm wrong speak up.

Rangers ranked in the AL:

BEST POWER
1. Josh Hamilton, Rangers

BEST HIT-AND-RUN ARTIST
2. Michael Young, Rangers

MOST EXCITING PLAYER
1. Josh Hamilton, Rangers

And that's it, not one Ranger among the top three at a position defensively.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/majors/best-tools/2008/266676.html

ARodo was the best hitter, Halladay best pitcher. In the NL Pujols was the best hitter, Webb was the best pitcher, Han Ram was most exciting.

I know that Jamey's got the 2008 draft page, but it hasn't been updated yet, so does anyone know where I can find the guys who signed or didn't sign from this draft?

I was curious about:

Clark Murphy 5th Rd

Harold Martinez 19th Rd

William Thompson 7th Rd

Michael Bianucci 8th Rd

Kevin Castner 10th Rd

Corey Young 12th Rd

Justin Gutsie 14th Rd

Justin Miller 16th Rd

Thank you in advance!