The Bullpen

Mavericks guard Jason Terry is scheduled to undergo surgery tomorrow to address facial injuries suffered in the Mavericks victory over Minnesota on Wednesday night. The Mavericks will release a timetable of how long Terry will be out after the surgery is performed. Terry, the NBA's reigning 6th Man of the Year, has averaged 17 points, 3.8 assists and 2 rebounds this season.

Mean Green Basketball history was made in Monroe, Louisiana this afternoon. The North Texas men's basketball team beat Louisiana-Monroe 74-71 to clinched the Sun Belt Conference West Division title for the first time in school history. It also marked the 8th straight win for the Mean Green and completed a perfect month of February with an 8-0 record. North Texas (21-8, 13-5) has clinched at least the number two seed in the SBC Tournament. North Texas can clinch the number one seed if Middle Tennessee State loses tonight. The Mean Green has an opening round bye in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and will play on Sunday, March 7 in Hot Springs.

I am so excited to work with former Ranger Mark McLemore this year. He will be co-hosting Rangers pre- and post-game shows with Bill Jones, Babe Laufenberg and moi on TXA 21 on Friday nights this year. Being here at spring training with him is like getting a masters degree in baseball. I am peppering him with annoying questions and soaking up everything I can from his 19 years in MLB.

I asked him what's stuck out to him more than anything through the first two days of full-squad workouts. He said he sees the Rangers transitioning from a young, promising team to a mature, veteran squad. You might argue there are some pretty young bucks playing for Texas. True. Elvis Andrus is a mere 21 years old. Julio Borbon is 24. Chris Davis and Jarrod Saltalamacchia just 23 and 24, respectively. There is no doubt 23-year old Derek Holland gets carded on a routine basis (Man, do I remember those days... I digress). Those are some young-ish players in key positions.

Granted, the Rangers' average age is 26.8 years old. Nelson Cruz is 29, Vlad Guerrero 35, Michael Young 33. I would make the argument that every fit and vigorous senior citizen makes: age is just a number.

I've interviewed a dozen players over my three days here and they completely echo McLemore's sentiment. They talk about holding each other accountable. I've heard them saying it on the field during drills when the microphones aren't in their faces. When my mic is in their face, the point is reiterated.

"This year's a little different," outfielder David Murhpy told me. "We're coming off a great year last year. I think everyone realizes we can take the next step and that we are a talented enough team to be a championship caliber team."

I might be drinking that Spring Training Kool-Aid (it's hard not to in this weather) but I like the message.

-- Gina Miller

The North Texas men's basketball team secured it's 20th win of the season tonight with a 65-57 victory over Louisisana Lafayette at the Super Pit in Denton.  It marks the fourth straight season that the Mean Green have won 20 games.

It also marks the 7th straight win for North Texas, as the Mean Green continue their quest for a Sun Belt West Division crown and a first-round bye in the conference tournament. NT is now 20-8 overall and 11-5 in the Sun Belt with one conference game remaining.

North Texas finishes up the regular season with a road game against ULM on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m.

The Texas Rangers have voided the contract of Khalil Greene. On Monday, the Rangers announced that Greene would not report to spring training. The infielder had signed a one year contract with the Rangers on January 21st. Greene spent last season with the St. Louis Cardinals where he missed 46 games due to "a pair of stints on the disabled list" to address issues related to social anxiety.

For a particular story I am doing, I have been asking a number of Rangers about who their leader is.  I have asked Manager Ron Washington and GM Jon Daniels who they look to when they need to impart a message to the team.   The unanimous answer, on all fronts, has been one man: Michael Young.

This shouldn't come as a shock or surprise; but I will tell you it's impressive.  He leads by example and does it vocally, as well.   Pitcher C.J. Wilson might have said it best: "He's made so many sacrifices for the team.  To keep his bat in the lineup and keep his different positions, win a gold glove at short, now he's playing 3rd.  He can win a gold glove there you know."

Young's willingness to do whatever it takes and ability to excel at each attempt isn't lost on his teammates.  "Everyone's going home and looking at himself in the mirror saying 'what can I do to push the team over the top?' Wilson added.

Why does that impress the hell out of me?  Because for years, I have asked just about every key player on every pro team in Dallas who the leader on his team was.  EVERY, single player gave me a different answer or named a few guys.  Some players (Dallas Mavericks) named the owner (Mark Cuban)!  It's so refreshing to have a team that knows who that guy is.  What's even more refreshing is to have a guy who's willing to put himself on the line to do it.  Many players aren't brave enough to do that and for Young to do is a testament to his character.

 

Almost More Impressed by the Peeps

While I've been busy dissing the autograph flies at spring training, I must give huge kudos to the fans.  They are a loyal bunch.  I have asked Rangers execs asked if the number of fans is lower than in years' past given the economic climate.  Overwhelmingly the answer is no.  Fan turnout is impressive for a team not named the Cowboys, Yankees or Packers.  There's something to be said for the loyal baseball fan.  Even more impressive is the loyal Rangers fan.  There have been some rough years in the Arlington.

BTW, my personal favorite, The Cookie Lady, is in Surprise with her husband.  I did a story with her years ago and received about two dozen cookies for my colleagues at the station.  Here's hoping we see some of her sweets in the next few days! ;)

 

-- Gina Miller

We're here. (Wade Phillips pun intended.) We braved the snow and cold weather in Dallas to travel to warm and beautiful Surprise, Arizona for Rangers spring training coverage 2010. Interestingly, I posted "Surprise!" as a Facebook status update and comments ranged from "Are you pregnant?!?" to "Are you getting married?!?!" No and no.

To the point: the Rangers are excited about 2010. "Duh!" you must be saying. True, every coach/manager is excited about his/her team heading into a new season. But as Rangers manager Ron Washington told me, "Here we are  February 24th, 2010 (It was actually the 23rd when we talked.) and we're talking about pitching."

"You like that," I asked.

"It's a good thing," he smiled.

We'll get deeper into the Rangers pitching situation this week.

Keep your eye on the catching situation. Mark McLemore said it's the number one thing he's looking at in spring training as Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden are the Rangers primary options. Because of Saltalamacchia's injury issues with the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and his tenuous recovery, which required him to essentially shut everything down for a month, he's a little heavier than he'd like to be. When I chatted with him on Tuesday, he had just gotten through with a killer conditioning workout. He's looking to shave a few pounds. (Maybe we can share diet/workout tips... how many other reporters are game for that?!)

Washington told me the most important thing he's looking for in a catcher is how he works with his pitchers. There's a true art to a catcher earning a pitcher's trust and calling a game. Finding that is Washington's priority.

That's it for Day 1. Photographer Bill Ellis, producer Chris Bullock, my new favorite ex-MLB player Mark McLemore and I left Dallas around 7 a.m. It's 11:15 p.m. Dallas time and we're deliriously tired.

Expect much more coherent blogging later this week. What stories regarding this Rangers team intrigue you?

-- Gina Miller

The Texas Rangers released a statement this morning that recently signed infielder Khalil Greene will not join the team and will not report to spring training in Surprise, Arizona. The Rangers signed the 30 year old Greene on January 21st. Greene spent the 2009 season with the St. Louis Cardinals where he missed 46 games due to social anxiety.

Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels issued the following statement this morning: "The Rangers fully support Khalil’s decision to address this private matter. Per club policy, we will not comment on his medical situation. We have agreed to leave the door open for a continued relationship, if both Khalil and the team desire that in the future.“

"We have not put a timetable on a possible return to the club with the sole focus right now on doing what we can to assist him. The Rangers will continue to work with Khalil and his representatives to monitor his situation and interest in rejoining our organization."

“Over the next few days, we expect that Khalil’s status will be more clearly defined. We will also communicate the impact on the 40-man roster once we've walked through our administrative options.”

The Rangers first full squad workout takes place on Wednesday.

So Josh Howard's "stomach illness" that  forced him to miss the Wizards game on January 20th was possibly a raging hangover?  Does that surprise you at all?  Lord knows I've been there (the raging hangover part) but at least I'm enough of an adult to get my job done.   

Eddie Sefko has the detes on something that doesn't surprise any  of us.  I remember reporting the "stomach illness" when I first heard the details that day and Derek Harper's first words were "he is outta here."  At least Howard's passion to party is consistent.  Sources have told me he was taking advantage of the Dallas nightlife until 5am just about every night during All-Star weekend.  (not passing judgment there....just reporting)

Howard is a player who repeatedly did not take responsibility for his actions.  He blamed the media for his wrongdoings and was constantly enabled by the Mavericks and his hangers-on.  He went from being the untouchable commodity to a player who's more of detriment than asset.  

Are you disappointed his departure didn't happen sooner?  Did the Mavs reluctance to trade him sooner hurt this team?   I had heard he was on the block for a while.  Perhaps other teams were wiser in their unwillingness to take him on a player.  Regardless, he's the Wizards problem now and he might  continue to be just that: a problem

Gina Miller