Charles Dickens wrote in David Copperfield: “…time and tide wait for no man.”  Let me amend that to say "time and tide and Jon Daniels wait for no man or holiday" . 

Another Christmas, another big trade of young talent.

So much for taking some time off on the blog.  Here’s a few quick thoughts before I go back to enjoying the holidays (without baseball – please!).

1. Big risks for both teams.  Josh Hamilton has a pedigree (1st overall pick) but only about 300 ML AB’s – and a history of various injuries throughout his career. In fact he’s said the time off while he was injured in the minors was one of the catalysts for his off the field problems – too much injury down time with nothing to do.  On the other hand lets remember that in 2005 Edinson Volquez was rushed to the majors at 22 years old – then quickly declared a “bust” in 2006 when he struggled in just 33 IP.  Last season he started Class A Bakersfield working his way back to the majors.  The enigma of Edinson is that he has great stuff – but has never been consistent which leaves scouts and development types scratching their heads on how to project Edinson – is he a front end starter? A middle of the rotation type? Some have even said that he could wind up in the bullpen  a as long guy/spot starter?  As I said – risks for both teams.

2. I hate writers and broadcasters who evaluate trades as a “win or loss” for the teams involved.  Trades like this one are filling needs for both teams.  The Reds are short on pitching the Rangers are in dire need of power hitters and young OF’s.  How strange is it to say this: the Rangers need offense but have a decent crop of starting pitching arms that could start contributing as early as this season? Both GM’s were selling at a percieved peak value on players who were successful in short term appearances in 2007 – both GM’s are crossing their fingers that success will continue in a full season 2008 and beyond.  There’s no evaluating this trade until this time next year.

3. Rangers beat reporters should never take any vacation time the week before Christmas.

Wesolych Swiat – Marla Hooch

P.S. That's Polish for Merry Christmas

According to the Mayo Clinic December is the prime month for “Seasonal Affective Depression Disorder” also known as Winter Depression.

I can relate to that. 

So far this month there’s been a series of under whelming events:

• the deadly dull Winter Baseball Meetings
• the lame Mitchell Report
• the less than awe inspiring acquisitions of Chris Shelton, Ben Broussard and Milton Bradley
• the dismal denouement to the disastrous Chris Young trade with the release (non-tender) of the 2006 Pitcher of the Year
• and the Titanic-like sinking feeling when I reached my 50th birthday last week.

I absolutely and unequivocally support the re-building for the 2008 season. But it is still going to be difficult being a Ranger fan, especially when local media types and other local fans (read: pompous Cowboys and Mavs fans) start whining. Wait a minute - they’ve already started. (Although Mavs fans are on shaky ground.)  The Rangers are the butt of many local jokes and object of derision by the sports talk show blow hards and ink stained wretches in the local rags.  Those are plenty of reasons to feel “seasonally depressed”.

But after last night, maybe not.

Need a little inspiration? Some hope for the future? Just listen to German Duran and Blake Beavan say they were glad to be drafted by the Rangers –“my hometown team” or Doug Mathis say  that he’ll do whatever the Rangers want him to do “so I can get to the big leagues” .  People, too often, ask me  why I prefer watching minor leaguers instead of major leaguers – events like last night’s are one of the reasons.

The Newberg Book Release Party at the Rangers Downtown Dallas Office chased all of the December gloom away.  Want more reasons?  Listening to John Whittleman talk about his terrific season at Clinton and his move up to Bakersfield – he knows what he has to do in the California League this season and he’s already got Frisco on his radar.  Talking with Chris Davis – who was a relative unknown 2006 draftee when he joined us at the Winter Fan Fest in January – now he is the 2007 Minor Leauge Player of the Year – who says nice guys don’t finish first?  How can you not be inspired?  How can you not feel just a little more hopeful about the future? How can you not see that re-building through the farm system is the right thing to do?

The weather was terrible, however the crowd and players were great. My personal thanks to Baseball Mom (Toni), who I talked into helping me at the book distribution table – by the way she had a great time too. As always, thanks to Jamey Newberg for allowing me tag along, do you realize that it will be 10 years of the Newberg Report website in 2008? It was fun seeing old friends like Grant and Mike Schiller, Rob Cook, Todd Trice, Scott Lucas and Mike Ryhner, as well meeting some new ones (hey there Trosey!)  Pictures from the event are in the photo gallery on the left hand side of the blog and Jamey Newberg has a more complete report on the Newberg Report website.

Depressed? Not anymore.  Texas Ranger baseball fan?  You bet – and proud of it! How many days until pitchers and catchers report to Surprise?

I have to mention this:  I know there is at least one other “Big Lebowski” fan who reads this blog. Rick Press of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is a former junior bowling champion.  When movie stars, authors and other celebrities are in town to promote something he takes them bowling and then writes an article about it.  This past week was the ultimate: he bowled with "The Dude".

Finally: This my last blog entry until after New Year’s (I hope…)  It’s time for some holiday baking (ask my family about my cookies, biscotti and placek – they’ll tell you ol' Marla knows her way around the oven). Plus I need to do some research on the perfect combination of cognac and egg nog for my New Year’s eve toast.  I’ll be back after the New Year holiday with more…stuff. 

Until then, I leave you with a wish for hope and  “Better Days” in 2008. (Lyric by John Rzeznik)

“And you asked me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days.
I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And designer love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days.”

Be happy, be safe and enjoy the blessings of the season – Marla Hooch

Seated from left to right: Clinton/Bakersfield 3B John Whittleman, Frisco IF German Duran, 2007 1st round draftee RHP Blake Beavan, Rangers 2007 Minor League Player of the Year - Frisco 3B Chris Davis, Frisco/OKC RHP Doug Mathis ... Standing in back: Jamey Newberg

Pictures from the party are in the Photo Gallery on the left hand side of the blog.

Toni's Daughter - Marla Hooch

"A bottle of red, a bottle of white
Whatever kind of mood you're in tonight
I'll meet you anytime you want
In our Italian Restaurant."

-- "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" by Billy Joel

I know this is a baseball blog.

I know I should be writing about:

1) ...the fact it is a pretty sad statement about how the Rangers are percieved by players, other teams and fans when they can't even sign one their last options for the OF - a troubled player with injury and attitude problems (Milton Bradley).

2)... or taking issue with Jamey Newberg when he says that a combo of Elvis Andrus/Eric Hurley will be as valuable next off season as Detroit's Maybin/Miller duo that landed Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Caberera with the Tigers this week.  I almost agree on Andrus, but not on Hurley.

Eric may be the best pitching prospect in the Rangers farm system, but that is faint praise considering the awful track record this organzation has for scouting and developing top shelf starting pitching.  My guess is that Hurley will never be in Baseball America's Top 20 list of overall prospects, or their Top 10 list of overall pitching prospects.  As I said before - Hurley is a nice prospect - will have a good career - but is nowhere near elite.

3) ... how much I missed the Monday Morning Manager on Postcards from Elysian Field this week (and mentioning that I liked the Tennesee Waltz theme - by the way the best recording of that song is Tom Jones with Chieftains on "The Long Black Veil" CD).

4)... reminding myself that I knew many of the local fans (and unfortunately some of the local media) would be moaning and groaning about the Rangers lack of activity this off-season.  Re-building a team the right way is tough - ask the Braves fans who suffered through Bobby Cox's rebuilding in Atlanta in the late 1980's - or Detroit fans who suffered through a 116 loss season in 2003.  Just remember the Braves had a playoff team every year in the 1990's and the Tigers went to the World Series just 3 years after that horrendous 2003.  Patience for fans is tough - it's made even worse when local media fans the flames by endless, uninformed whining and jokes at the Rangers expense.

....but I'm not going to go there - none of the Texas baseball news is upbeat  and I don't want to ruin my good mood.

The foundation of my bliss: an unexpected musical distraction this week. One of  my customers called me Monday to offer complimentary tickets to the Billy Joel concert the next day.   I talked my sister, Mrs. Schmenge, into accompanying me to the AAC - truthfully - she was very easy to convince.  Neither of us could  remember the last time we'd been to a big arena concert.  The most amusing sight: instead of holding up cigarette lighters during favorite songs - the audience held up their cell phones.   Speaking of which - the blurry picture on the left is one that I took with my cell phone at the concert.

We knew all but one of the songs he performed and we sang along - my voice is still recovering.  I've always enjoyed a well crafted pop song - hearing my favorite Joel tune, "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" live was fabulous (and, yes, I did hold up my cell phone during that song)  There's no doubt Billy Joel is one of the better pop songwriters of my generation and he puts on a darn good concert.  You can read the glowing reviews in the Fort Worth Star Telegram and Dallas Morning News (shame on the DMN critic for admitting in print that he left the show early). 

It was much appreciated that Billy didn't hide the fact that he's older, has a lot less hair and can't hit the high notes quite like he used to - although he sounded just fine on "An Innocent Man".  At 58 years old he still puts on a high energy show - a little over 2 hours with no intermission - which gives those of us who are quickly coming up on our entry into that decade the satisfaction of knowing that we can still be "cool" in our 50's.

Thanks to my associates at the AAC for the tickets, to Mrs. Schmenge for coming along and singing along and to Mr. Joel for a highly entertaining evening of music and memories.

It's a long, long off-season - plenty of time to talk baseball - and we'll get back to it next week.

"Don't wait for answers, just take your chances, don't ask me why" -- Marla Hooch

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P.S. By the way if you want to get a taste of the Billy Joel concert experience - I   suggest the "12 Gardens" CD recorded in 2006 and the impetus for Billy's return to concert touring.