Andy Newberry

AP preseason poll - Andy Newberry

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:45:10 -0600

The Associated Press preseason poll is out today and no Wichita Falls area teams made the top 10. I gave Graham, a finalist a year ago, a No. 8 vote in Class 3A. No one else gave them a vote. I also gave a vote to Archer City, my surpise pick in a tough-to-call district.

Here is how I voted:

5A
1st Place: Euless Trinity High School
2nd Place: Austin Westlake High School
3rd Place: Abilene High School
4th Place: Katy High School
5th Place: Round Rock Stony Point High School
6th Place: Lufkin High School
7th Place: Allen High School
8th Place: Cedar Hill High School
9th Place: Beaumont West Brook High School
10th Place: Coppell High School

CLASS 4A
1st Place: Lake Travis High School (Austin)
2nd Place: Aledo High School
3rd Place: Denton Ryan High School
4th Place: Brenham High School
5th Place: Stephenville High School
6th Place: Angleton High School
7th Place: Tyler John Tyler High School
8th Place: Highland Park (Dallas)
9th Place: Kerrville Tivy High School
10th Place: Cedar Park High School

CLASS 3A
1st Place: Brownwood High School
2nd Place: Lucas Lovejoy High School
3rd Place: Carthage High School
4th Place: Cuero High School
5th Place: Celina High School
6th Place: Kirbyville High School
7th Place: Abilene Wylie High School
8th Place: Graham High School
9th Place: Pittsburg High School
10th Place: Wimberley High School
CLASS 2A
1st Place: Daingerfield High School
2nd Place: Littlefield High School
3rd Place: Newton High School
4th Place: Refugio High School
5th Place: Gunter High School
6th Place: Blanco High School
7th Place: Arp High School
8th Place: New London West Rusk High School
9th Place: Lexington High School
10th Place: Bushland High School

CLASS A
1st Place: Goldthwaite High School
2nd Place: Stratford High School
3rd Place: Mart High School
4th Place: Tenaha High School
5th Place: Canadian High School
6th Place: Falls City High School
7th Place: Albany High School
8th Place: Kerens High School
9th Place: Collinsville High School
10th Place: Archer City High School

So who is going to be great that I'm leaving out? The first few weeks may change my mind on quite a few teams.

Chaffin to La. Tech - Andy Newberry

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 23:48:17 -0600

Devontay Chaffin is planning on going to Lousiana Tech as the Old High wideout/kick returner told coach Jayson Lavender on Thursday night that he has committed to the Bulldogs.
That doesn't mean he has to go there, the athletes sign next February, and we have seen over the past few years many of our athletes use that right to change their minds.
But going Division I is quite an accomplishment for Chaffin. He's always one of the smallest guys on the field, but just about always the fastest man out there, too. He didn't grow up playing with the pigskin all the time. He wasn't envisioning himself as the next Dave Meggett or Mel Gray or Deion Sanders.
He played basketball. Maybe he was shooting for being the next Spud Webb or Mugsy Bogues.
Chaffin's speed helps him on the basketball court, but he's electric to watch on the football field.

Here's wishing him a happy and complete senior year and a great future as he has a chance at a free education. Like Chaffin's returns, a senior year really goes by in a blink.

Angels try to get more athletic - Andy Newberry

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:50:22 -0600

You can blame the Texas Rangers, specifically Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton and Julio Bourbon for the latest move by the Angels.
The LA Angels of Anaheim and their traveling media all noted how athletic the Ranger outfielders were in series in Texas a couple of weeks ago. While Hamilton and Cruz are better than any set of corner OFers in the busines, the Angels had the aging Bobby Abreu and below average Juan Rivera. Sometimes it's an extra base hit here and there. Sometimes a step can be the difference between an out and a two-run double.
The Angels praised the Rangers for their defensive work.
And on Tuesday they did something no one would have forecasted at the beginning of the season -- move Torri Hunter to right field.
Hunter, a nine-time Gold Glover, slid over from his customary center field spot for 23-year-old rookie Peter Bourjos, who was called up after hitting .314 with 13 HR and 27 steals at Triple A.
The Angels will certainly be more athletic. And they'll have a good pinch-hitter available as Juan Rivera, Abreu or Hidecki Matsui will find theirselves sitting.
Those vets can blame it on Texas.

Another day, another new Ranger - Andy Newberry

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:23:49 -0600

The Rangers introduced Mitch Moreland at first base on Thursday -- he came through with two hits in his debut -- while at the same time trading for Jorge Cantu from Florida.
On Friday they made a move for another veteran infielder with a trade for Christian Guzman from the Washington Nationals.
Guzman was the starting shortstop for the Minnesota Twins for several years before going to the Nationals. He had a career high of 10 home runs in 2001 with the Twins.
He had a great year in 2008 in Washington with nine homers, 55 RBI and a .316 average.
He has a .282 average and .327 on-base percentage this year, both slighly higher than his career marks.
He has played 63 games at second, 20 at short and eight in RF.
The Rangers are guarding against Ian Kinsler's injury taking longer than expected and also have added a veteran they probably think could fill in at short or second in the playoffs.

The Rangers may be in bankruptcy court, but they continue to act like a first-place team on and off the field. This is what contenders do at this time of year.

Rangers adapt without Kinsler - Andy Newberry

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:36:24 -0600

One interesting thing about Ian Kinsler's injury was that Ron Washington would have to make some batting order decisions.
For tonight, it looks like Mike Young stays put in the 2-hole and Josh Hamilton moves from fifth to third with Nelson Cruz moving up a slot.
Another option, when Julio Bourbon plays, is to have Bourbon second and drop Young to third.
I actually like moving Hamilton to third better. When the bottom of the order gets something going in the late innings, you don't have as far to go to reach a power bat like Young's. And this gives Hamilton, only the best player in baseball right now, a better chance of getting that fifth at-bat.

Could have a new Ranger soon as several reports indicate that Jorge Cantu is coming from the Marlins for a couple of prospects. I would hope Cantu hits behind Nelson Cruz or behind Molina is that deal is made.

Foster's team second at national tourney - Andy Newberry

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:13:15 -0600

Marcus Foster of Hirschi played this summer with the Dallas Mustangs' 15-year-old basketball team in AAU. Foster
The Mustangs made the championship game of a recent national event in Las Vegas and lost that final in overtime.
Foster will obviously put up some big numbers in his sophomore season as he has to handle the ball and set up the offense more after the Huskies lost so much to graduation.

I hope and pray that Foster stays grounded, realizes his immense potential and stays focused on bigger dreams than just being the big kid on the block in Wichita Falls.

Former city stars like Bingo Merriex and recently Richard Ross have been great examples of how to prepare and play.

If you haven't seen Foster, make sure you get out this season to do so.

Angels fall, tied with Oakland - Andy Newberry

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:07:10 -0600

The Dan Haren debut for the Angels went about as well as Cliff Lee's did in Arlington. Haren was throwing the ball OK, striking out 8 Red Sox on Monday night. But he gave up a homer, a triple and was knocked out of the game when a line drive hit him in the fifth.
The Angels went on to lose, 6-3, and fall 7 1/2 back of Texas and into a tie with Oakland for second behind the Rangers.
Texas has nine fewer losses than the Angels at this point.
Like the Rangers with Lee, you wonder if the Angels should have given Haren a couple extra days to get used to his new surroundings.

Angels try to find answer to Lee - Andy Newberry

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:17:41 -0600

The Angels finally came up with their answer to the Cliff Lee in the form of Dan Haren, a right-handed starting pitcher they got from Arizona on Sunday.
It doesn't appear the Angels gave up near as much as the Rangers did for Cliff Lee. Texas gave up a current position player plus a good pitching prospect.
So should the Rangers have waited longer and found a better bargain as it appeared the Angels did?
I don't think so. I'd still rather have Cliff Lee at the top of my rotation in October.
Lee, C.J. Wilson, Tommy Hunter and Colby Lewis are a good foursome. If Derek Holland or Rich Harden find a groove, they are options, too.
Haren is good, but I don't put him in Lee's class as an ace. The thing about the Angels' deal is that it's not just for this year. They will also have Haren the next couple of years and that could be where this deal hurts Texas.
If they lose Lee, the Rangers pick up a couple of first-round picks, but those will take some time to develop into big-league help.
My prediction hasn't changed in that I think the Rangers will hold off the Angels in the American League West. But this deal might make it closer.

An honest Abe - Andy Newberry

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:08:52 -0600

When I showed up at Rangers Ballpark In Arlington the first thing I did was go by the ticket office and get my family some tickets to a future game. Put them in my back pocket and went to pick up my media pass and settle in to cover Cliff Lee vs. Jared Weaver, two of the top Cy Young Award contenders this year.
But somewhere between the gate and my press box seat, I dropped the tickets. Had paid cash, a rarity, so no way to track them.
Feeling like an idiot, I retraced my steps and then was trying to decide what inning I wanted to miss while I went back to the ticket window to buy tickets again.
But Bob, the nice gentleman running the press box, wasn't going to give up so easily. I asked him if anyone had turned them in, thinking I might have dropped them after reaching the press box.
Bob took charge and we went to a ticket manager to ask if they'd been turned in and no luck. He then took me to guest relations and believe it or not, someone had found the tickets and turned them in. If they hadn't, there was no way I could have tracked them having paid cash. I had no receipt, only a recollection of where the tickets were.
I was shocked. So regardless of how the game turns out, the trip restored my faith in honest Americans that love good baseball.

The 7-0 Tommy Hunter - Andy Newberry

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:01:57 -0600

The amazing Tommy Hunter rolled again on Tuesday night as the Rangers blanked the Tigers, 8-0.
Hunter improved to 7-0 on the season with a 2.09 ERA.
So is Hunter good? Or is he lucky?
I think it's both.
Obviously he won't continue to win at a 7-0 pace. Even Cliff Lee loses games as the Rangers have seen.
The statistics show Hunter is getting lucky -- his strand rate is 86 percent and 70 is somewhat normal. His average against on balls in play (BABIP) is .253 (.300 is typical) and Hunter was at .286 last year.
He is striking out right at 5 batters per nine innings and over the long haul that won't equate to an ERA under 3 and maybe not under 4.
But Hunter is getting a few more grounders this year and more infield popouts.
I wouldn't change anything about Hunter right now, but a realistic look at his pitching profile is more of a No. 4 starter and not the ace he has been for the last month.
In the meantime, enjoy the ride.

High praise for Rangers - Andy Newberry

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:06:46 -0600

Tom Grieve was on The Sports Animal radio in Oklahoma City on Tuesday afternoon and had some high praise for the team and Josh Hamilton in particular.
He is obviously going to be pro-Rangers, but the current broadcaster and former player and GM has an excellent feel for what is going on in the organization.
Grieve said he "expects the Rangers to win." The team isn't hoping to win, it plans to win the AL West and then anything can happen.

When asked about Josh Hamilton and his league-leading batting average and offensive game, Grieve called the Ranger outfielder the "best player in the game today. A five-tool player who can do all the things you want a player to do. There are no holes in his game."

Grieve also stated something I've felt all along and that is that the 2010 Rangers are the best team in franchise history. They may not register the most wins, but have the best mix of talent.
Grieve said this team is "better than any of the three teams that won the division" in the late 90s.

Rangers win a wild one - Andy Newberry

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:12:23 -0600

The Rangers lost their last extra inning game in Boston so it didn't look all that good when Texas blew leads of 2-0, 5-2 and 6-5 to find extra innings again in Detroit.
The Tigers kept getting leadoff walks and then it seemed a matter of time before Magglio Ordonez or Miguel Cabrera put an end to the night with a long ball or a double to the gap.
But Matt Harrison impressed me. I love this lefty as a long man or spot starter, just not as a member of the rotation.
And Nelson Cruz has his bat going again, making the Ranger order one slot deeper. Now if Elvis Andrus will get it going, this team will churn out 5-6 runs about every night.

I was hoping that my mention of Mike Young's awful defense in my column for Tuesday would help him turn it around. That way I could get some nice e-mails about how I shouldn't rip Mr. Ranger for anything.
But Young was again brutal in the field last night. Tried to open the door even in the 14th inning when the Tigers were running out of chances. The official scorer only gave Young one error, but baseball players know he should have recorded the last out, too.

Fangraphs ranks fielders and of the 10 American Leaguers who have played third full-time this year, Young ranks eighth. He's ahead of two other converted middle infielders -- Miguel Tejeda and Jhonny Peralta.

Love this guy on my team and in the two-hole of the lineup. But it's hard to figure out why he's so bad at third base. Dean Palmer would be an upgrade at this point.

Love the Rangers' chances tonight as Tommy Hunter tries to stay undefeated against Mr. Imperfect Armando Galarraga.

Legendary Yankees owner dies - Andy Newberry

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:17:29 -0600

George Steinbrenner passed away on Tuesday at the age 0f 80.
I never met him so my memories of him are what I've seen and read.
And to be honest, a lot of my funny memories of him are fake from the Seinfield show. "Big Stein" needing his calzone. Big Stein having the kids at the office.
Steinbrenner going to tell George's parents that Geore had died and getting ripped for the Jay Buhner trade.
A look at his early years came in the "Bronx is Burning" by ESPN. There were stories in some of those years of calls to the clubhouse to make lineup suggestions. He hired Billy Martin five times.
And although the Yankees suffered through most of the 80s as Big Stein's big signings didn't work out, the legendary owner will be remembered as a winner. He was smart enough to hire and then keep Joe Torre for a dozen years, mostly staying out of his way compared to the early Stein years.
Steinbrenner brought back Yankee pride and Yankee hate, both important to the game of baseball. Half of the sporting world needs someone to root against when the playoffs start.
Starting in 1995-96, the Yankees brought that back.
I'll miss the Yankee boss.

A lot of bitterness - Andy Newberry

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:53:42 -0600

Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert acted like a jilted lover on Thursday night when he found out LeBron James was leaving for Miami.
If I was a Cleveland Cavaliers stockholder or season ticket holder, I would want some explanations.
If James was this bad and really a quitter, why was he holding out hope until the last minute? Why did he get stuck with nothing?
Why did he offer James some of my season-ticket money to keep him?
There are probably some better ways James could have handled some things. He's not perfect, he's 25. But he did raise a lot of money for the Boys & Girls Clubs.
He didn't get to choose his team coming into the league -- they have a draft. So he had a chance to choose his next team and made a decision to play with some talented friends.
I got no problem with that. The reaction may have shed some light on some of the things the Cavs let James and his "team" get away with in Cleveland, but it shed a lot more light on why James was ready to cash checks from a different owner.
Early in the process, the Cavs dismissed a sign-and-trade possibility, knocking teams like the Mavericks, Rockets and Thunder, who could have given Cleveland some value, out of the equation.
So it's really hard to feel too sorry for the Cavs getting stuck with nothing. Gilbert made it an all-or-nothing proposition. And he was left with nothing but a broken heart and a mediocre basketball team.

Dirk still the star - Andy Newberry

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:45:30 -0600

Plan A for every NBA team outside of the Lakers and Celtics was to get a Superstar Free Agent this summer.
Plan B will start tonight for most of those teams, including the Dallas Mavericks.
Dallas has a star -- you know the guys that no matter the lineup around them their team wins 50 every year.
Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzi, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, maybe Dwight Howard.
But Dirk would have loved to be a No. 2 for a few seasons.
So what do the Mavericks do for a second banana now?
Caron Butler is OK. Jason Kidd is a good PG to have as aging Hall-of-Famers go. Shawn Marion used to be good.
Roddy B is going to be good. But unless he's the team's unquestioned No. 2 by the time the playoffs start, this team isn't ready for the next level.
There has to be a second guy who can win big games for his team. The Celtics have always had Paul Pierce, but when they added Ray Allen and Rondo to the mix, they had two more guys who could explode and take over games.
KG? Na. Great support player. But we saw in Minny, something less than an automatic 50-win star.
I don't see Butler as the oh, we better double cover him tonight star player you need as a No. 2 to win in this league.
He's a very good No. 3 is Roddy emerges or the Mavs find a way to trade for an excellent No. 2.

The Mavericks still have a lot of assets -- read DallasBasketball.com for the best coverage of these -- and will undoubtedly do something to improve their chances.

But tonight, there will be one or two teams that accomplish their Superstar Plan A. Everyone else will start working on Plan B or C.