Here is the link to the new home of Girls Don't Know Anything About Baseball.

The reasons for the move are in listed in the post from March 30th below.

Marla will still be ranting and raving about baseball, movies, music and anything else she can come up with at the new location.

Thanks to everyone who's read and posted comments on Girls Don't Anything About Baseball - I appreciate your support.  I know it will take a little extra effort but please stop by Marla's new home when you have the opportunity.

Thanks again to everyone - Eleanor "Marla Hooch" Czajka

Who else but MLB and MLB Blogs would wait until the Saturday before Opening Day to change formats and completely destroy my blog?

The changeover to the new format lost all of my links, photo galleries and doesn't allow me to sign on to write a post without a great deal of effort. 

I can't even begin to re-format this blog due  "error" messages when I try to input anything. There are no instructions on using the new format, no explanation as to what the heck a "tag" is  and how to use it - only that it's supposed to be so darn great - my e-mails to MLB Blogs go unanswered, and my post asking for assistance on the blogsphere page garned a flip and not all helpful response.

I don't care if the new format is free, the $4.95 I paid each month was worth a format that was easier to use and had helpful instructions readily available.

Seems to me that MLB is aiming their blogs at 16 year old boys with laptops - that's fine.

However, let me remind Bud Selig and Mark Newman and everyone else at MLB that it's 50 year old women with a steady income who actually buy tickets to games and products from MLB.com (like me) that they are driving away.

Click HERE for the new link to Girls Don't Know Anything About Baseball

Good riddance to MLB Blogs - Marla Hooch

I know after reading that title you are expecting a Chico Escuela parody – sorry to disappoint – but it’s a sincere sentiment on my part.

As I mulled over or maybe just procrastinated about what to write about this week from my trip to Surprise Arizona for Rangers Spring Training, I finally realized what makes my baseball experience truly the best part of my life are the people I’ve met and the friends I’ve made through baseball.  If  I was one of those fans who rooted for  “laundry” or lived by  “sabermetrics” then I’d buy a video game or join a fantasy league – but for me it’s much, much more than just stats on a sheet or the standings listed in a newspaper; and if I’ve never said it out loud – I am now: thank you baseball.

I’ve been to games in exotic locales from the fairgrounds in a scary neighborhood in Shreveport to the elegant confines of Safeco Field in Seattle. I’ve watched young men  grow from under the radar AA infielders to become face of the franchise team leaders.  I’ve met many players and their families, scouts, coaches, media types and other fans in stands with a passion for the game even more fanatic than mine. 

The smartest baseball move I ever made was exchanging e-mails with a young attorney about minor league baseball and then meeting him and a friend of his (yet another attorney) for lunch to talk about our mutual interests, specifically the Rangers minor leagues.  Little did I know that ten years later, those two gentlemen – Jamey and Mike – would become dear friends who allowed me to tag along on a baseball adventure I could have never imagined. Because of my involvement with the Newberg Report I’ve been part of memorable baseball events, met terrific people, some of whom have become treasured friends and had the absolutely the most amazing ten years of my life – thanks guys.

Last week in Surprise I had time to reflect on my good fortune while I watched the mosaic that will be the 2008 Texas Rangers Baseball Season start to piece itself together with the Major Leaguers tuning up for the challenge of a long season, while the minor leaguers eagerly work their way through the system until they too are living the dream of being on that opening day major league roster.

It’s a short list  today – next week we’re back to the Thursday Lineup Card profiling the minor leagues and random game report blog entries (as well as pictures). 

Speaking of pictures, I had camera “issues”  which means I did not take any pictures during my four days in Arizona.  However, let me direct you to Mike Hindman's Ranger Farm Report – he has an excellent Spring Training photo gallery on the left hand side of the page.  Plus I saw Scott Lucas take quite a few photos that I’m sure will be part of his blog Ranger Rundown.

1. Minor Matters: I did spend most of my time on the backfields watching the minor leaguers.  As always, the Rangers make it very difficult to figure out who you are watching – they don’t put names on the jerseys and often change numbers on some of the players, and there aren't any "lists" with names and numbers for those of us who are actually interested in the minor leagues (I know some the of parents watching the games would also have liked a listing of some kind too.)  Fortunately, the pitchers standing around (waiting for the 5th inning when they can leave) or the ones charting pitches in the stands are extremely helpful when you ask about who is playing CF or waiting on deck.   I  was duly impressed with Engle Beltre – Scott Lucas and I saw him hit a wicked triple to left and make it to third with the throw only a split second behind him.  Finally got to see Kasey Kiker pitch on Sunday – all I can say I’m in – looking forward to seeing more of him – soon.  As for Julio Borbon – the reports of his good OF instincts are not exaggerated – plus just saying his name “Julio” reminded me of one Billy Crystal’s best gags in the movie “Running Scared” (if you’ve seen the movie then you know the scene where he’s calling the villain played by Jimmy Smits on the car phone).  I missed seeing Blake Beavan pitch – but I did get hang around with him watching a couple of games – I also met Michael Main, talked a bit with Kevin Mahar and got my requisite hugs from John Whittleman, Michael Schlact, German Duran and a beaming Doug Mathis who was told he was going into the OKC rotation the day I saw him.

The thing that most impressed me:  Nolan Ryan sat in his golf cart watching an entire 9 inning Low A baseball game –  intently.  Now, who was saying his position with this team is only “PR”?

Update - Friday March 28th: From today's column by Jim Reeves in the Startlegram:

" 'I tell you one thing that's going to change next year,' Ryan said as he tried to figure out just exactly what minor league pitcher he was watching throw in the bullpen.
'We're going to put names on the backs of these uniforms. We've got about four pitchers wearing No. 19 and they all look alike.' "

God Bless you Nolan, I hope the guys in player development listen to you.

2. As for the major leaguers – everything you’ve read and heard about Josh Hamilton – it’s the truth –  he is “all that” if he can stay healthy – he might be the best reason to buy a ticket to a Ranger game this season.  One of my favorites, the ample citizen, Franklyn German will be in Arlington next week  (Baseball Mom will be happy about that). Of course, I’m glad that Jason Botts made the team – the problem is will the manager actually give him any meaningful AB’s?

3. And everyone else:  it was great to see so many baseball pals like Lacey and her Dad, Len, Sherry, the Schiller Family, Blake’s mom Michelle, Barbara, Scott and of course Jamey, Ginger, Erica and the irrepressible Max.

4. Odds and ends: What I like the most about Spring Training is the relaxed atmosphere and the relatively small crowds – it is indeed a welcome respite, if only for a few days, from the hard realities of everyday life.  And I have to mention that there are some excellent Elvis karaoke singers in Surprise and the surrounding area (and yes, I would’ve gotten up and sang “Mack The Knife”).

Marla’s musing on the upcoming season:  I’ve already predicted on The Monday Morning Manager on Postcards From Elysian Fields that the Angels will win the AL West - even with all their injuries – they will still be the team to beat in a very weak division as well picking another Red Sox World Series win.

The Rangers 2008 Season – it’s all about the pitching, always has been, always will be.

That's why I can’t say I’m terribly confident about their chances to compete at all this year. Alot could go right – much more could go wrong (and already has) especially on the mound.  Speaking of confidence,  I wrote this on another website but I’ll say it again: if this season's Rangers team is successful it will be in spite of the manager, not because of him.

I could use some baseball. -– Marla Hooch

“Out in the shiny night, the rain was softly falling
The tracks that ran down the boulevard had all been washed away

Out of the silver light, the past came softly calling
And I remember the times we spent inside the Sad Café…” 
-- Glenn Frey/Don Henley

Spring Training starts out with such promise, you get a little excited when you hear words like re-building, youth and references to "plans" like the Rockies.  But as a Ranger fan for almost 29 years I should have known those words would ring hollow.  The more I read the past few days, the less enthusiasm I have for the upcoming major league season.  It’s not just the injuries – it’s the mindset.

As I write today’s blog I can’t stop thinking about an old song by the Eagles.  Which means this week instead of a list, we’ll just fill in between the lyrics to that tune I keep hearing:  "The Sad Café" :

"Oh, expecting to fly,
We would meet on that beautiful shore in the
Sweet by and by…"

Have to mention the the Rangers Minor League Season Preview on MiLB.com written by  Kevin T. Czerwinski  (whose name is more difficult to spell and pronounce than Eleanor Czajka’s)   

One of the fun things with these spring previews has been “just one more thing” on ATM: He Said - She Said – MLB’s excellent minor league blog.  They profile one player who didn’t make the list on MiLB. The really interesting tid-bit about the Rangers “just one more thing” is that 2007 draftee RHP Ben Henry turned down an appointment to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis to play for the Rangers,  read all about it right here.

Mike Hindman is heading to Surprise this weekend, he'll be updating his Rangers Farm Report blog while he is in Arizona - it is required reading at Hooch World Headquarters.

"Some of their dreams came true,
Some just passed away
And some of them stayed behind
Inside the Sad Café …"

Last week’s name those prospects were the “Fab 4” from the 2001 Charlotte Rangers. Tthey are from left to right:  RHP Nick Regilio, LHP Chris Russ, Pitching Coach Fred Dabney, RHP Greg Runser and RHP Ryan Dittfurth.   

Nick Regilio (2nd Round – 1999 Draft) is the only one of the four who pitched in the majors – 37 innings during the 2004 and 2005 seasons for Texas.  Chris Russ (3rd Round – 2000 Draft) made it to High A Stockton – but his career was plagued with arm problems – he played two more seasons of independent baseball and last I heard was a rising real estate mogul in Arizona.  Greg Runser (5th Round – 2000 Draft) did make it as far as  AA Tulsa in 2002 – and has been playing independent league baseball, last seen: 2007 in the Canadian American League sporting a 10.20 ERA.  Ryan Dittfurth (5th Round - 1998 Draft) also made it to AA Tulsa, and did pitch a few innings at AA Frisco in 2003.  Ryan was also a victim of arm problems, but has continued to play independent league baseball. Last year with Sussex of the Canadian American League pitching 140 innings with a 3.73 ERA.   Fred Dabney followed Doug Melvin to the Brewers organization and is now the pitching coach for the High A Brevard County Manatees.

The final “Name That Former Rangers” prospect for this off-season will appear in two weeks.

"The clouds rolled in and hid that shore
Now that glory train, it don’t stop here no more…"

I keep reading speculation about what JD will do at the trading deadline this coming July.  Just my opinion, but I think everyone needs to tap the brakes on their expectations.  2007 was the perfect storm – he had a bona fide star player with a year and half left before free agency (Mark Teixeira) as well as a player who was more likely riding a wave of his past accomplishments than his actual performance (Eric Gagne). 

If anyone thinks Jon Daniels will get anything more than fringe B or C  type prospects for the likes of Ben Broussard, Kevin Mench, Eddie Guardado or even Milton Bradley (if he’s healthy and behaving himself) I think they are sorely mistaken.  The number and more importantly type of prospects the Rangers received last season were based on the type players they were giving up.  Or to put it simpler terms – if the Rangers want more of the same kind of players they got last July they’ll have to trade Josh Hamilton and/or Michael Young (and Jennifer Engle of the Startlegram seems to think Young will ask for a trade).

"Now I look at the years gone by,
And wonder at the powers that be.
I don’t know why fortune smiles on some
And let’s the rest go free…"

Speaking of Michael Young, I kind of wonder what would have happened to the face of the Rangers franchise if Ron Washington and JD were making the decisions after the 2001 season when Young  hit .249 for 300+ AB’s.  Would he still be a Ranger –especially  if they used the same standard they are judging Jason Botts (hitting .242 in 244 major league AB’s).  My fervent hope is that Ron Washington and Jon Daniels flinch hard every time they read a boxscore or the stat sheet for the team where Jason lands. 

"Maybe the time has drawn the faces I recall
But things in  this life [and on this team] change very slowly,
If they ever change at all …"

Ponson, Mench, Broussard, Guardado, and I’ll put Bradley in there too – same story year nine...

"There’s no use in asking why,
It just turned out that way…"

It’s the Rangers – they’ll never change – what was I thinking?

Next week I’m heading for the backfields of Surprise Stadium to admire the White Tank  mountains, meet up with friends old and new and indulge in some minor league spring training.  The next blog will be the week of March 24th.

"So meet me at midnight baby, inside the Sad Café "

–- Marla Hooch

…and I’m not talking about a Sunny Afternoon with Ray and Dave Davies.

One of the fun and frustrating aspects of the early days during Spring Training is that as Ranger fans we have been starved for any kind of real baseball since September, so the tendency is to over react to a couple of very bad or very good outings. We have to remind ourselves that  Spring Training is for shaking off the winter, stretching out the muscles and most importantly, as the DTFC’s John “Birdy” Sweet has always advised us, to learn how “to pace yourself" for a long season. 

Let’s take a deep breath, start off at a leisurely pace and take a look at this week’s list:

1. Overdoing it:  If you were listening to Eric and Victor this past weekend (and if you weren’t – why not?) then you heard Eric mention his conversation with Jerry Narron about Josh Hamilton.  Narron admitted that he might have contributed to Josh’s time on the DL last season because he played Hamilton a little too much. Jerry said it was hard to sit him down because he was having such a tremendous start. He felt that he probably should have rested him a bit more often since Josh had only been back playing baseball full time for a year and wasn’t quite up to enduring the grind of a long major league season. 

2. Name that Prospect #5: The only guess, Montgomery Clift, couldn’t have been  too serious (since it was ventured by Mrs. Schmenge) and of course was wrong.  The Tulsa uniform should have been one of the clues to identify 1B/OF Jason Jones.   Jason, the Rangers 13th round draft choice in 1999, spent his entire six year career in the Texas organization and did get 107 AB’s with the major league Rangers during the 2003 season.  He retired after the 2004 season with a very nice .285 career (minor league) BA.   

This week on the right is another multiple name those prospects from the Charlotte Rangers of yesteryear.

4. Something that might be worth starting to worry about: Brandon McCarthy. My suggestion to Nolan Ryan is - it’s great your teaching him about throwing a better curve ball – maybe next you could teach him a little something about toughness and conditioning.

5. Close call: I was glad to hear that Hank Blalock and his family were not injured in the car accident in which they were involved the other day.  I just didn’t know anyone could actually drive at 40 mph on Bell Rd. during March.

6. If you are going to over react: How about touting Franklyn German? The “ample citizen” – as Baseball Mom referred to him when she saw Franklyn in OKC last summer - is sporting a 0.00 ERA in 3 IP with 5 K’s and 3 hits.  (EDIT: and I promise I wrote this note on Tuesday night before Jamey Newberg mentioned it in his report this morning.)

Let’s also mention that more than one local wag has said Jason Botts will have to hit his way on to the 25 man roster.  Botts is hitting .333 with 2 extra base hits, a .385 OBP and .583 SLG – compare that to “secret weapon” Ben Broussard’s .083 BA /.100 OBP / .100 SLG with no extra basehits – how’s that for some over reaction?

7. No kinks  on this blog:   Again, this week kudos Anthony Andro on the Star Telegram blog Foul Territory for blogging during the games with interesting tidbits and keeping those of us who have to work for a living updated during the day.

8. He knows how to pace himself:  Belated Happy Birthday to my mentor and friend Jamey Newberg.

The first non-sequitor of the 2008 season:  I won’t even be thinking about the Rangers – Twins game on May 22nd.  This is where you'll find me.

“It’s not the years, honey, it’s the mileage” – Marla Hooch