The temperature was in the upper 30's at Ameriquest Field in Arlington, but that didn't stop new Rangers Manager Ron Washington from holding a portion of a mini camp outdoors.
“Beautiful baseball weather,” he said with a laugh. “I love it. We got our work done.”
Most of the work was actually moved to the indoor batting cages. These days the focus of General Manager Jon Daniels is to bring stability to the organization.
“The reality is I'm the third General Manger in the last six seven years,” said Daniels. “Ron's the third or fourth manager we're having. We've had too much turnover in the leadership here, and in our scouting and development departments.
With Washington as the new manager, young players know their careers are getting a fresh start. Once again, it’s all about first impressions.
“I know that he is going to bring a positive upbeat energy to this club,” says Rangers Pitcher Cameron Loe. “That's just the feeling I get from him, every time I talk to him. But I don't know how its gonna work. I'm very interested to see how it works.”
Pitcher Thomas Diamond shares a similar view. “Since he was in Oakland, he's seen most of the guys,” says Diamond. “He really hasn't seen any of the guys in the minor leagues, so its like a first impression here.”
Washington says he's contacted most of the players about what he expects. It was something he wanted to address as quickly as possible.
“I wanted to get that out of the way before spring training started,” says Washington. “I wanted them to know what I'm about. I wanted them to know my attitude. I wanted them to know my effort level, my commitment, and I wanted them to match it. And if they match my level of attitude commitment and effort, I'm not going to have any problems.”
This mini camp will last only two days. It’s designed for the pitchers, because that's what the team needs to work on most. All will be in Surprise, Arizona in about two weeks. Those who attended, included C.J. Wilson, John Koronka, Kameron Loe, A.J. Murray, Kevin Millwood, Thomas Diamond, Eric Hurley, Robinson Tejeda, Edinson Volquez, Francisco Cruceta and Brandon McCarthy.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Matt Doherty Is Trying To Change SMU Culture
Matt Doherty won a national championship as a player at North Carolina. He even played with Michael Jordan. But now he's trying to turn a program around as the head basketball coach at SMU.
At his weekly radio show at Ten Sports Grill in Downtown Dallas, he spends time talking to loyal SMU fans.
“My wife always called me the mayor anyway,” he says. “I mean its kind of what I do, shake hands and greet people. That's the Irish Catholic in me.”
Doherty has been a college coach for 16-years, and uses a weekly radio show, broadcast on KAAM 1770 AM, to get the word out.
He preaches a philosophy similar to that of Bob Knight. “You know if you make more foul shots, they are free shots, if you make more, than the other team takes, your gonna be in good position to win a basketball game.”
jennifer henry-smu fan
“I love that he can be the face of our program,” says Jennifer Henry who sits in the crowd listening to the radio show. “I mean this event right here is one example. He's out, he's greeting people, he's making relations in the community, and I think that's really important, and something we've really missed.”
In his 9-months on the job, Doherty has helped the school install a new digital scoreboard, and even got construction started on a state of the art practice facility. The SMU Tennis Center had to be removed.
“That big mud pile, that big, big mud pit, is one of the most exciting things I've ever seen,” says Doherty as he looks over the construction site. “That's the future of our program.”
Doherty also appears weekly on Southwest KIA Sportstalk on Channel 52, and opened the show this week by saying: “I just want to say one thing. Okay, I'm not a candidate for the head coach of the Dallas. Okay I just wanted to make that clear.” It’s a clear indication of a likeable personality.
Doherty also has his own Blog at MustangHoopsBlog.com.
“I now am proud to say I'm a Mustang player,” says SMU Forward Ike Ofoegbu, “I know looking back in about two or three years, it’s going to be a big time program. I mean he wants it to be like a Duke or North Carolina, so I mean, he's going to get it done.”
The bottom line is that folks on campus like what Doherty are doing. He's accessible, he's promotable, and he's trying to change the culture. But just like the new basketball facility, it’s not going to happen overnight
At his weekly radio show at Ten Sports Grill in Downtown Dallas, he spends time talking to loyal SMU fans.
“My wife always called me the mayor anyway,” he says. “I mean its kind of what I do, shake hands and greet people. That's the Irish Catholic in me.”
Doherty has been a college coach for 16-years, and uses a weekly radio show, broadcast on KAAM 1770 AM, to get the word out.
He preaches a philosophy similar to that of Bob Knight. “You know if you make more foul shots, they are free shots, if you make more, than the other team takes, your gonna be in good position to win a basketball game.”
jennifer henry-smu fan
“I love that he can be the face of our program,” says Jennifer Henry who sits in the crowd listening to the radio show. “I mean this event right here is one example. He's out, he's greeting people, he's making relations in the community, and I think that's really important, and something we've really missed.”
In his 9-months on the job, Doherty has helped the school install a new digital scoreboard, and even got construction started on a state of the art practice facility. The SMU Tennis Center had to be removed.
“That big mud pile, that big, big mud pit, is one of the most exciting things I've ever seen,” says Doherty as he looks over the construction site. “That's the future of our program.”
Doherty also appears weekly on Southwest KIA Sportstalk on Channel 52, and opened the show this week by saying: “I just want to say one thing. Okay, I'm not a candidate for the head coach of the Dallas. Okay I just wanted to make that clear.” It’s a clear indication of a likeable personality.
Doherty also has his own Blog at MustangHoopsBlog.com.
“I now am proud to say I'm a Mustang player,” says SMU Forward Ike Ofoegbu, “I know looking back in about two or three years, it’s going to be a big time program. I mean he wants it to be like a Duke or North Carolina, so I mean, he's going to get it done.”
The bottom line is that folks on campus like what Doherty are doing. He's accessible, he's promotable, and he's trying to change the culture. But just like the new basketball facility, it’s not going to happen overnight
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Indoor Golf At Its Finest
While the average Texan was worried about slick roads, traffic jams, and avoiding outside activity, some folks headed to the golf course.
The place is Texas Indoor Golf, located in Grapevine, Texas. It’s on the access road, across the freeway from Grapevine Mills Mall.
“I have a sixty degree rule. Sixty degrees or warmer, that's the only time I play outside,” said Brian Beasley of Bedford.
Here when the golfers check in, they are asked if they prefer wind on the course, background crowds, are fans yelling when you hit a bad shot. It’s computerized golf using your own clubs and your own shots.
. “We like bad weather days,” says Jim Buchanan, General Manager of Texas Indoor Golf. “That's not a problem for us. As a matter of fact, rain sleet snow, like the post office, we're open.”
Just because they play indoors, doesn't mean you have to give up all the comforts of golf. It may be nasty outside, but in here, the weather is not a problem.
Says Beasley, “You’re playing golf at Pebble Beach, what more could you ask for, unless they had free beer!”
Al Slutz of Fort Worth was just as excited. “It’s snowing and icy outside, here we are playing Pebble Beach, with my friends, what could be better than that.
Not only is it 72-degrees in here, but you can choose from the finest layouts in the world. So while you're reliving your commute to and from work, on this icy, snowy day, you can think of these folks, teeing it up at Pebble Beach, and never left Texas
The place is Texas Indoor Golf, located in Grapevine, Texas. It’s on the access road, across the freeway from Grapevine Mills Mall.
“I have a sixty degree rule. Sixty degrees or warmer, that's the only time I play outside,” said Brian Beasley of Bedford.
Here when the golfers check in, they are asked if they prefer wind on the course, background crowds, are fans yelling when you hit a bad shot. It’s computerized golf using your own clubs and your own shots.
. “We like bad weather days,” says Jim Buchanan, General Manager of Texas Indoor Golf. “That's not a problem for us. As a matter of fact, rain sleet snow, like the post office, we're open.”
Just because they play indoors, doesn't mean you have to give up all the comforts of golf. It may be nasty outside, but in here, the weather is not a problem.
Says Beasley, “You’re playing golf at Pebble Beach, what more could you ask for, unless they had free beer!”
Al Slutz of Fort Worth was just as excited. “It’s snowing and icy outside, here we are playing Pebble Beach, with my friends, what could be better than that.
Not only is it 72-degrees in here, but you can choose from the finest layouts in the world. So while you're reliving your commute to and from work, on this icy, snowy day, you can think of these folks, teeing it up at Pebble Beach, and never left Texas
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