Randy Edward's Fitness Blog: The Foam Roller Might Just Get Rid of Your Pain

Randy Edward's Fitness Blog: The Foam Roller Might Just Get Rid of Your Pain: "Before I tell you the benefits of a foam roller I should probably explain what a foam roller is for those of you who have no idea what I am..."

Part 2 Smith/Turner football game 1997 with Host Craig Vaught

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDrtiW-jxsc

Its Hard To Remember What All The Michael Young Pre-Season Fuss Was All About

Shortly after the Texas Rangers acquired 3rd basemen Adrian Beltre this past off season Michael Young openly questioned where he fit in with the Texas Rangers' future and requested a trade. Ron Washington assured Young, the media, and Ranger fans that he had a plan. Rangers' General Manager Jon Daniels maintained since the day the Rangers' acquired Beltre there was plan for Michael Young as a Texas Ranger. Things got really dicey between Young and Daniels. So much so that Young said he felt "manipulated and misled". Shortly after this Daniels and Young sat down and were able to clear the air. Young credited Daniels for initiating the meeting which Michael said he "laid out in detail what I was feeling, what my concerns were [and] gave him an opportunity to do the same". Daniels felt it was a productive meeting and said, "I feel very good about decisions we made as an organization. We like the way the club sets up, but hate the way it played out." Twenty games into the regular season it appears Washington and Daniels plan for Young and the Texas Rangers is working. The Rangers are in first place in the American League West and are tied for the best record in the American League. Michael Young leads the team in at bats with 82 and a 366 batting average which is third best in the American League. Adrian Beltre, whose signing sparked Young's issues with Daniels and the Rangers, leads the Rangers and American league in runs batted in with 19. He leads the Rangers in home runs and is tied for second in the American League with 6. It's early in the season but the Ranger's decision to pick up Beltre and keep Young has already paid dividends. With Josh Hamilton on injured reserve the Rangers have not missed a beat. They lead all of the Major League Baseball teams in extra base hits with 75 and they are currently tied for second with the Cincinnati Reds in home runs. With the starting pitching at 3.19 and 4th best in all of baseball it is no wonder Jon Daniels feels good about the decisions the organization has made. Twenty games into the MLB season it's hard to believe anyone ever questioned Michael Young's future with the Texas Rangers. I myself am guilty of thinking there was not enough room to keep everyone happy but I don't have the experience or the success Ron Washington has had as a Manager or Jon Daniels has had as a General Manager. When Washington and Daniels say they have a plan for the future it is time for the Ranger fans, media and myself to believe they do have a plan and it is a plan that gives the Rangers the best chance for success. There is still a long season ahead but Washington and Daniels' plan to upgrade the 3rd base position and keep Michael Young on as a productive part of the Texas Rangers appears to be yet another success. The Rangers have put everyone in Major League Baseball on notice that they are going to keep on getting better. Even given the short history that Washington and Daniels have with the Rangers it's time that the rest of us to believe whatever plan they have is going to be a good one.

Sources
espndallas.com: Richard Durrrett March 25th, 2011
espn.com

Coach Ressa Excited To Get Spring Training Under Way

Newman Smith has the first practice of spring training on Friday, April 29th. Coach Paul Ressa is ready to get going and says the 2011 edition could be his deepest team yet. That's a bold statement considering the 2009 and 2010 campaigns both reached the regional semi finals. The number of kids playing football is up at Newman Smith which can be attributed to the success coach Ressa and the Trojans have had the past two seasons. It's not just numbers, but quality numbers. Coach Ressa told me he has 70 varsity jerseys and just might suit up 70 varsity players next year. When asked who he expected to be the standouts this year he got a big smile on his face and said, "there is a lot of competing to be done in spring training. Ask me after spring training. We are deep at every position. I expect a whole lot of kids to compete for a job." Spring training begins April 29th and finishes up with the spring game on Friday, May 20th, 7:00pm at Standridge Stadium. The bar has definitely been raised at Newman Smith and expectations are running high for the 2011 season. Come get to get a early glimpse of the 2011 Trojans on May 20th and keep an eye out for possible pregame alumni events.



Spring Training Key Dates

Thursady May 5th: Scrimmage, Time to be announced.
Thursday May 12h: Scrimmage, Time to be announced.

Friday May 20th: Spring Game, Time: 7pm. Web Cast available
 

Craig Vaught Covering Smith/Turner in fall of 1997

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4QqmDe2GoQ

Are the Rangers the Favorite to Win the American League After the First Weekend of Baseball?

Before the beginning of the 2011 major league baseball season, it seemed like most of the so-called baseball "experts" were picking the Boston Red Sox to win the American league pennant. Nothing is ever settled in the first series of the season, but it looked like the Texas Rangers took exception to that. In fact a good majority of publications have the Red Sox beating the Oakland A's in the 2011 World Series- not the Rangers. Yet the Texas Rangers dispensed of the Boston Red Sox in the opening weekend outscoring them by a combined total of 26-11, while sweeping all three games. The Rangers had a team batting average of .333, with 34 hits and 11 home runs.What's more impressive is the Rangers did this with 3rd baseman Adrian Beltre batting .154 over the weekend, and defending American league MVP Josh Hamilton, hitting for one extra base hit. The Texas Rangers' batters are a murderer's row. Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz became the first team mates to ever hit a home run the first three games of the season. David Murphy was up to his old tricks from the 2010 season with only 5 at bats he had 2 runs, 3 RBIs and a home run. There are 10 batters on the Rangers that can hit the ball very well. In fact there is no other team in baseball that can hit the ball as well as Texas. Championships are not won in magazines before the season begins,  or the opening series of the season. The Rangers served notice that they intend to defend their first American League championship by sweeping that first series. Getting back to the World Series for the Rangers will depend on much more than the just hitting the ball. The Rangers still have questions at the pitching position. C J Wilson and Colby Lewis are the tested veterans in the starting rotation the 3-5 starters are all question marks. The number three starter, Matt Harrison got off to a nice start with a 5-1 win going 7 innings with 5 hits and 1 earned run. If he can pitch anywhere close to that the rest of the season he will be fine but last season he had some consistency issues. Harrison pitched his way to the number 3 spot in spring training going 2-0 with a 3.91 ERA. He held the opposition to .224 batting average during spring training. Some off season changes in Harrison's delivery seem to be paying dividends. The 4 and 5 starters Derrick Holland and Alexi Ogando have even more questions to answer. Both are bright young prospects. Ogando will be making his debut as a starter Tuesday against Seattle. He had a very promising year as a reliever in 2010. Holland will have to be more consistent than he was in 2010. The Rangers Neftali Feliz is one of the best young closers in baseball. He was the 2010 rookie of the year, and at 22 years old he might be the best pitcher on the staff. It's the relief pitching that really muddies the water. How the Ranger's relief pitching develops will go a long way in determining if the Rangers make it back to the World Series. Outside of a mid season trade for a top starter from a team that has thrown in the towel and wants to cut payroll, like last season's acquisition of Cliff Lee. The best chance for the 2011 Texas Rangers to get to the World Series and more is the development of the relief pitching staff and the 4th and 5th pitcher in the starting rotation.  The batters are going to have to hit. The Boston pitching staff is one of the best in the American league and the Ranger bats torched them for the second most home runs in an opening 3 game series in major league baseball history. If the young Ranger arms can pull their weight there will be more banners raised in Arlington this year and in the years to come.


Statistics: www.cbssports.com