Leave any suggestions in the comment box.

The Texas Rangers baseball team posted signs warning that children doing the Mexican wave will be sold to the circus. Photograph: Action Images/Reuters

There is the quick update of the day.

What are your opinions.

If anybody needs tickets to games, remember to click the tickets link at the top.

DETROIT — The Texas Rangers announced Tuesday night that outfielder Josh Hamilton is headed to the disabled list after fracturing his upper right arm while trying to score from third on a popup that didn’t leave the infield. He is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

Hamilton suffered the injury while sliding headfirst into home in the first inning of the Rangers’ 5-4 loss to the Tigers on Tuesday. Preliminary X-rays of Hamilton’s shoulder showed no separation or dislocation, but the slugger also had an MRI, which revealed the fracture of his humerus bone. He isn’t expected to swing a bat for a month.

“

It was just a stupid play. I definitely shouldn’t have done it.

” – Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton

Hamilton, who was wearing a sling after the game, said third base coach Dave Anderson sent him home when he noticed the pitcher wasn’t covering home plate on a pop up by Adrian Beltre in foul territory just in front of the Tigers’ dugout. Hamilton was not happy with the decision, calling it “stupid.”

“It was just a stupid play,” Hamilton said after the game. “I definitely shouldn’t have done it.”

Hamilton added: “I listened to my third base coach. That’s a little too aggressive. The whole time I was watching the play I was listening. [He said], ‘Nobody’s at home, nobody’s at home.’ I was like, ‘Dude, I don’t want to do this. Something’s going to happen.’ But I listened to my coach. And how do you avoid a tag the best, by going in headfirst and get out of the way and get in there. That’s what I did.”

Anderson said the club tries to take advantage of every opportunity they can to be aggressive and try to score a run.

“There was nobody covering home plate, so we tried to steal a run there,” Anderson said. “He made a pretty good play. That’s a tough play for a catcher running away and shovel pass and try to tag a guy. There was an opportunity with two outs and we tried to take advantage of it.”

Anderson said just after the game that he hadn’t had a chance to talk the play over with Hamilton because the slugger was getting tests done. But Anderson said it was a play he would have tried with any of the club’s speed guys, like Hamilton.

“You go to home plate and see what happens,” Anderson said. “He can run, so you take a chance.”

Anderson said he would have preferred Hamilton slide feet first on the play.

“I always want him to slide feet first no matter what he does,” Anderson said. “You play this game long enough and I’ve gone through it too, sliding headfirst, and have had some injuries. Sometimes you can’t help it, your instinct just tells you to dive and try to get there. But most of the time you try to go feet first if you can to try to stay away from injuries.”

Hamilton said he heard two pops in his shoulder when he dived into home.

“I’m a little worried,” he said before the team announced his fate.

The play came after Hamilton hit a triple in the first inning and was on third with Beltre up and one out. After Hamilton was tagged out at the plate, he walked to the dugout with his arm behind his back. He then tried to take some swings and said he could swing, but when he stopped his swing he felt a lot of pain.

“He just came up and told me he couldn’t go and that was it,” manager Ron Washington said.

Ian Kinsler took Hamilton’s place as the designated hitter for the rest of the game.

Chris Davis will be called up from Triple-A Round Rock to take Hamilton’s roster spot.

Hamilton has had injury issues during his career. He missed most of last September after hitting a wall at Target Field in Minnesota and cracking a few ribs. He was healthy in time for the postseason and was the ALCS MVP in the club’s six-game win over the Yankees.

Richard Durrett covers the Rangers for ESPNDallas.com.

Follow Richard Durrett on Twitter: @espn_durrett

What are your opinions.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Pitcher C.J. Wilson said Tuesday that the Texas Rangers made him a long-term contract offer a few weeks ago, but that it’s too late in the process to get anything done before Opening Day.

“They did eventually make an offer,” Wilson said during an appearance on the Ben & Skin Show on ESPN 103.3 FM in Dallas. “But it didn’t really make any sense for me to bite at the first offer. I was like, ‘Well, maybe if you guys would have made that offer in January we would have had time to work it out.’ It will take a little longer than two or three days or a week.”

Wilson has said this spring that he doesn’t want any contract talks distracting from his preparation and the team’s goals this season. But he added Tuesday that it doesn’t mean his agent might not talk with the team at some point. Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine said the club doesn’t want to distract from anything, either, but is open to talking with Wilson’s agent during the season.

Wilson, who is making $7 million in 2011 just one season removed from joining the starting rotation, will be a free agent at the end of the season. Wilson was 15-8 with a 3.35 ERA in 33 starts (204 innings) in 2011. He had 170 strikeouts and 93 walks and heads into 2011 as the No. 1 starter on the staff. He’ll toe the rubber for Opening Day on Friday.

“We have a good relationship with his agent and we’ve had productive dialogue,” said Levine, who happened to sit by Wilson on a flight from Phoenix to Dallas on Monday afternoon. “We certainly don’t feel it’s dead in the water.”

Levine said the team typically doesn’t complete many long-term deals during the season, but added that this was an unusual case in that Wilson will become a free agent at the end of the season.

“Things were trying to come together too late for it to really get worked out,” Wilson said. “A multi-year contract is a very complicated scenario.”

Follow Richard Durrett on Twitter: @espn_durrett

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Texas Rangers made one roster decision on Sunday, but still have more to sort through before the season gets going Friday in Arlington.

Dave Bush has made the team as a long reliever, according to manager Ron Washington. Bush, who was 0-0 with a 4.85 ERA in 13 innings in Cactus League games, is scheduled to pitch in Sunday’s game against the Seattle Mariners.

“I came here on a minor league deal hoping to show them I could pitch here,” Bush said. “I’m excited. I’m OK with whatever they want me to do.”

The club is stretching out Alexi Ogando, but has not made a decision about the fifth starter. The 27-year-old is the internal frontrunner to replace Tommy Hunter, who sustained a groin strain Thursday and could miss six weeks. Washington said Ogando will start the club’s exhibition game against Coastal Carolina in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Tuesday. If that is the case, Ogando could be on schedule to be the No. 4 starter, allowing the Rangers to split up lefties Derek Holland and Matt Harrison.

The Rangers still have some time to survey external options, but they will need a fifth starter by April 5 against Seattle.

Bush, 31, decided to try to earn a job in spring training with the Rangers in large part because of his history with pitching coach Mike Maddux. The two worked together in Milwaukee and Bush had back-to-back 12-win seasons in 2006 and 2007.

Washington said he likes Bush’s “perseverance, his heart, his character, his thought process out there trying to pitch.”

“He pitches with a purpose,” Washington said. “We felt like he could help us.”

Ogando came into spring training being stretched out to be a starter. He impressed coaches and club officials with his stuff, which now includes a split-fingered fastball that gives him even more ability to change speeds. His slider has also improved, giving him a full repertoire of pitches.

This spring, he’s 0-2 with a 5.06 ERA, allowing six runs in 10 2/3 innings. He made five starts, staying on that schedule until last week, but the club moved him to the bullpen with the expectation that he’d be a power right-handed bat in the late innings. That could now change with the Hunter injury.

If Ogando ends up in the rotation, that would leave two spots in the bullpen to fill with Mason Tobin (a Rule-5 draft pick), Brett Tomko (signed to minor league deal this offseason), Mark Lowe (obtained in the Cliff Lee trade) and Pedro Strop as options.

Richard Durrett covers the Rangers for ESPNDallas.com.

Follow Richard Durrett on Twitter: @espn_durrett

That’s all the news for today.

Texas Rangers managing general partner and CEO Chuck Greenberg could announce as soon as Friday that he is resigning his post with the club, a source told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

The paper said the source didn’t give a reason for the move, but the report adds that how Greenberg operates may have caused disagreements within the organization and possibly with club president Nolan Ryan and Major League Baseball.

Club officials did not return messages from ESPNDallas.com late Thursday.

Greenberg, with the backing of an ownership group that includes Ray Davis and Bob Simpson, who are co-chairs of the board, won an auction over a group that included Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban in bankruptcy court in August. Greenberg’s group was unanimously approved by MLB shortly thereafter.

Greenberg has been a visible owner since then, appearing at numerous events on behalf of the team and sharing in the celebration of the club’s 2010 American League Championship.

There is the quick update of the day.

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Texas Rangers pitcher Neftali Feliz said Monday that his preference is to close in 2011, but added that he is happy to start if that’s what the club needs.

“I’ve done it before,” Feliz said, through a translator, of closing. “I did it in the past and I’m comfortable in that role. I know what it takes and know the preparation.”

The 22-year-old had 40 saves in 2010 and was the AL Rookie of the Year. He is working in spring training as a starter, something that could be in his long-term plans.

Feliz said he hasn’t told the club of his preference because he believes he can start and wants to do what is best for the club.

“I don’t feel uncomfortable starting and figuring out that routine,” Feliz said. “I know I can do both. I’ll just get into the routine of starting and go from there.”

Feliz took a line drive off the left shin on Sunday, but said he’s just bruised and is scheduled to make his Wednesday start. He will toss from about 90 feet on Monday, but won’t run.

“If I end up starting, I’ll go all out,” Feliz said. “I won’t do anything differently and just try to get outs.”

Feliz was 4-3 with a 2.73 ERA to go along with his 40 saves. His triple-digit fastball helped him amass 71 strikeouts in 69 1/3 innings with 18 walks. He’s working on his secondary pitches this spring, so that he’s not just reliant on his extremely fast fastball or the slider.

Richard Durrett covers the Rangers for ESPNDallas.com.

Follow Richard Durrett on Twitter: @espn_durrett

Subscribe to our feed!.

The Associated Press

Posted: Mar 4, 2011 9:39 PM ET

Last Updated: Mar 4, 2011 9:39 PM ET

 

Jon Daniels joined the organization as a baseball operations assistant in 2002. He was only 28 when he was promoted to GM in October 2005. (Chris O’Meara/Associated Press)

Once the youngest general manager in big league history, Jon Daniels is under contract to become among the longest-tenured GMs in the history of the Texas Rangers.

Daniels received a four-year contract extension through the 2015 season on Friday, a move that’s been expected since last fall, when he put together the first Rangers club to reach the World Series.

Daniels joined the organization as a baseball operations assistant in 2002. He was only 28 when he was promoted to GM in October 2005. If he serves out this contract, he’ll have been in charge for 10 seasons, which would match the club record set by Tom Grieve.

“My family and I love being in Texas and hope to build something really special over the next handful of years,” he said. “I think we’ve got a foundation and a process in place that we’re real comfortable with.”

The Rangers are considered contenders this season and beyond because Daniels has stockpiled a nucleus of young players and guys still in their prime, such as reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton and last year’s AL Rookie of the Year, Neftali Feliz. Texas’ minor league system was deep enough that Daniels packaged prospects in a mid-season trade for ace pitcher Cliff Lee without gutting the organization.

“The challenge is keeping the pipeline full and making sure there’s still next waves of players coming,” Daniels said. “What’s changed is at the big league level, it’s not a tryout any more. Guys are expected to play at a certain level and help us win. … There’s definitely a challenge. That’s the fun part. I think we’ve got the right people in place.”

Club president Nolan Ryan announced Daniels’ extension while at a meeting of team owners in Arizona, where the club is holding spring training.

“I think what he does best is he tries to assemble the best team he can possibly have around him, in the form of scouts and development people, and then he shows a lot of confidence in them and their ability,” Ryan said. “That’s a trait I like in people.”

Daniels said the next priority is contract extensions for other valued staffers.

“Nolan and I agree we want to keep that key leadership group intact and reward the people that have made us successful,” Daniels said.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Once the youngest general manager in big league history, Jon Daniels is under contract to become among the longest-tenured GMs in the history of the Texas Rangers.

Daniels received a four-year contract extension through the 2015 season on Friday, a move that’s been expected since last fall, when he put together the first Rangers club to reach the World Series.

Daniels joined the organization as a baseball operations assistant in 2002. He was only 28 when he was promoted to GM in October 2005. If he serves out this contract, he’ll have been in charge for 10 seasons, which would match the club record set by Tom Grieve.

“My family and I love being in Texas and hope to build something really special over the next handful of years,” he said. “I think we’ve got a foundation and a process in place that we’re real comfortable with.”

The Rangers are considered contenders this season and beyond because Daniels has stockpiled a nucleus of young players and guys still in their prime, such as reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton and last year’s AL Rookie of the Year, Neftali Feliz. Texas’ minor league system was deep enough that Daniels packaged prospects in a midseason trade for ace pitcher Cliff Lee without gutting the organization.

“The challenge is keeping the pipeline full and making sure there’s still next waves of players coming,” Daniels said. “What’s changed is at the big league level, it’s not a tryout any more. Guys are expected to play at a certain level and help us win. … There’s definitely a challenge. That’s the fun part. I think we’ve got the right people in place.”

Club president Nolan Ryan announced Daniels’ extension while at a meeting of team owners in Arizona, where the club is holding spring training.

“I think what he does best is he tries to assemble the best team he can possibly have around him, in the form of scouts and development people, and then he shows a lot of confidence in them and their ability,” Ryan said. “That’s a trait I like in people.”

Daniels said the next priority is contract extensions for other valued staffers.

“Nolan and I agree we want to keep that key leadership group intact and reward the people that have made us successful,” Daniels said.

If you like reading our blog, remember to bookmark it.

SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Texas Rangers will use this spring to answer one big question when it comes to AL rookie of the year Neftali Feliz: Should he close games or start them?

The club determined this offseason to stretch out Feliz, who signed a one-year deal Thursday for $457,160. He was third in the AL with 40 saves in 70 appearances and a 2.73 ERA last season.

Texas did the same thing with former reliever C.J. Wilson last year, and Wilson ended up with 15 wins and returns as the club’s top starter.

“It’s an opportunity for him to get out there and have a chance to use all his pitches,” manager Ron Washington said Friday. “As an organization, we just want to make sure we don’t shortchange this kid. That’s why we want to give him a chance to see if he can start.”

The answer to that question depends on several factors. The first is how well Feliz’s secondary stuff looks in camp. He has the triple-digit fastball, but was also refining his off-speed pitches as 2010 progressed. Pitching coach Mike Maddux said that Feliz’s raw stuff is ready to start in the majors, but that he doesn’t have the consistency yet.

The decision also comes down to what’s best for the team. Should Feliz show he’s ready to start, the club would have to be comfortable with his replacement. Feliz set a rookie record for saves and was an integral part of the bullpen. Mark Lowe and Alexi Ogando must prove they are ready to get the final three outs.

“If you are faced with that decision, would you rather have 70 innings out of your No. 1 guy or 200 innings? It’s kind of a no-brainer to me,” Maddux said. “He’s got to throw three pitches for strikes and get the ball down in the zone. He has the God-given talent to excel more than other guys who can do the same thing.”

Feliz said this week that he doesn’t care which role he’s in and that he only wants to do what’s best for the team. But either way, he plans to focus a large part of his spring to making his changeup and curveball more effective.

Richard Durrett covers the Rangers for ESPNDallas.com.

Follow Richard Durrett on Twitter: @espn_durrett

Not much else going on in the MLB planet today.

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Texas Rangers right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb said Wednesday that his goal is to be in the club’s starting rotation on Opening Day.

Webb, who reported to spring training with the rest of the pitchers and catchers on Wednesday, has thrown four innings in the majors the past two seasons after undergoing shoulder surgery in August 2009. But the former Cy Young Award winner, who signed for $3 million and could make another $5 million in incentives, believes he’s healthy and intends to prove it this spring.

“I think I’m going to be able to do what everybody else does and be a normal player,” Webb said. “My throwing has been going great so I’m looking forward to it.”

Webb, 31, said he’s been throwing since Dec. 15 and that he felt good during three recent bullpen sessions off a mound. He pitched in the instructional league and then got some rest before resuming his throwing activities.

“Once you take off, you can tell in a couple of weeks that your arm is recovering,” Webb said. “I didn’t get that over the past two offseasons and this past one I could tell I was recovering. Even though I wasn’t throwing in a game, I was throwing every day and I could tell two or three weeks into the offseason that my arm was feeling good and like a normal offseason. That was good.”

Webb acknowledged that he’ll have to fight the tendency to do too much too soon. That’s something the Rangers’ medical staff and front office have talked to him about. Dr. Keith Meister, the Rangers’ physician, did the surgery on Webb’s shoulder so the club believes it has a good understanding of where Webb is and how to approach things.

“They are all about finishing the year, don’t rush yourself to have a setback like we did last year,” Webb said. “I pushed myself pretty hard and pretty quick last spring to get on the mound and to get into spring training in shape with the other guys and it didn’t work out. I kept getting setbacks. We never really gave it enough time. I’ve talked to guys that have had the procedure and it’s a year and we tried to do it on a six-month time scale.”

But Webb feels good now. He hopes he can return to the level that made him the 2006 Cy Young Award winner in the NL and an All-Star in 2007 and 2008 before the shoulder debridement surgery (cleaning out loose debris and inflamed tissue). Webb won 22 games in 2008 before the injury forced him to miss most of the last two seasons.

Webb thinks he can regain that form.

“I never was a power pitcher and with the time I’ve had off and the feedback I got from the throwing I’ve done so far, it seems like it’s going to be pretty good,” Webb said. “I’m definitely hoping I can get back to that. That’s the ultimate goal.”

Richard Durrett covers the Rangers for ESPNDallas.com.

Follow Richard Durrett on Twitter: @espn_durrett

Thanks for reading! .

David J. Phillip

FORT WORTH, Texas — The Texas Rangers are discovering that it isn’t easy to trade a six-time All-Star with fewer than two weeks remaining before spring training.

Baseball sources indicated Thursday that a deal for Michael Young is not likely to develop and that the Rangers’ all-time hits leader will be in Surprise, Ariz., on Feb. 20 for their first full-squad workout of spring training.

General manager Jon Daniels said only that nothing has changed since Monday, when the Rangers first acknowledged that Young had asked to be moved. But the Rangers are considering how to move forward should they be unable to deal him.

“There are two potential outcomes,” Daniels said. “One is that there’s a trade that makes sense for the club and satisfies Michael’s request. The other is it doesn’t and Michael will play a vital role on the club. We’re still working through it.”

The timing of Young’s request and the size of his contract have clubs balking at a deal. Some have shown interest to varying degrees, but others have called to say they aren’t interested.

Colorado and Minnesota, two of the clubs that aren’t blocked by Young’s limited no-trade clause, have interest in him, but only if the Rangers pick up a significant portion of the $48 million remaining on Young’s contract over the next three years.

The Rangers aren’t willing to do that, though they would consider picking up more money depending on the strength of the package they were to receive in return.

Minnesota is willing to deal away left-hander Francisco Liriano — who would fill a hole in the Rangers’ rotation after they missed out on signing Cliff Lee and trading for Matt Garza or Zack Greinke this offseason. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is a big fan of Young, who could become their third baseman.

But the money factor will be difficult to overcome.

“I’m not going to set any deadlines,” said Daniels, who has not spoken to any free agents about filling a hole that would be created if Young were traded. “We will walk down the path and see if we can satisfy all parties. If not, we put the club together with the idea of Michael playing a key role on the team, and we’re still prepared for that.

“If a deal is going to happen, it would be more likely that it would happen before (spring training). But we all know better than to say something definitely will or definitely won’t happen.”

The Rangers have not been in contact with Young for almost two weeks, since he asked to be traded. Daniels said that he hasn’t had any recent conversations with agent Dan Lozano.

But a source said that the Rangers would reach out to Young next week if it appears that they will be unable to trade him. They expect that Young won’t be a disruption in the clubhouse should a trade not develop.

“I would hope so,” Daniels said.

That’s all for today.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Josh Hamilton walked through a gutted-out room under construction near the Texas Rangers clubhouse. The AL MVP had just agreed to a US$24-million, two-year contract.

“I was sweeping places out like this seven years ago or whatever,” he said. “This goes for anybody. It’s awesome to think about what God can do in your life if you allow him to. … It’s just amazing.”

The deal, four days before a scheduled arbitration hearing in Phoenix, covers his last two arbitration-eligible seasons. Hamilton can become a free agent after the 2012 World Series.

Hamilton gets a $3-million signing bonus, a $7.25-million salary this year and $13.75 million in 2012.

The three-time all-star has a .311 career average with 93 homers and 331 RBIs in 468 major league games, an incredible comeback for the former No. 1 overall draft pick whose career was derailed by well-documented cocaine and alcohol addictions after he got hurt in the minors. He made his major league debut with Cincinnati in 2007, and he flourished after being traded to Texas.

“We want to be a part of this organization, not only for the next couple of years, but for a long time to come,” Hamilton said.

General manager Jon Daniels termed the talks with Hamilton as “very good negotiations” and said he hopes the deal is indicative of a “longer relationship” that will include another multi-year agreement in the future.

“It was apparent that both sides wanted to do something to recognize both Josh’s importance to the club, but also he and his family’s desire to be here for an extended period of time,” Daniels said. “I think the first step that we took here with this deal kind of gets through the arbitration process.”

While the Rangers settled the contract for Hamilton, they are still trying to accommodate Michael Young’s request for a trade. Young is the team’s career hits leader and longest-tenured player after 10 seasons.

After signing free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre last month, the Rangers said Young would become the primary designated hitter and serve in a utility role where he could fill in at every infield position. He had agreed to that plan.

Daniels confirmed earlier this week that Young had requested a trade, saying Young had a “change of heart about that role.” Young later disputed that characterization, saying he had been “misled” and “manipulated” by the team without getting in specifics.

Hamilton hit a major league-leading .359 last season with 32 homers and 100 RBIs despite missing most of the final month of the regular season with broken ribs. The outfielder returned for the end of regular season and the playoffs.

Hamilton made $3.25 million last season, when the Rangers went to the World Series for the first time in franchise history. When the sides exchange proposed arbitration salaries last month, Hamilton had asked for $12 million, $3.3 million more than Texas had offered.

It has been 11 years since the Rangers went to an arbitration hearing with a player.

“Obviously you want to have things behind you as far as the business standpoint, before you go start playing again,” Hamilton said. “This deal done allows me to do that for a couple of years now. … Just go play and have fun, and stay away from walls.”

Hamilton got hurt last year when he rolled his ankle and stumbled into the wall after making a catch on the warning track in Minnesota. He had two stints on the disabled list in 2009 after separate wall-crashing catches.

Last month, he spent six days in the hospital last month with pneumonia and lost 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) during his illness. Hamilton said he has since added 12 pounds (more than five kilograms)to get to 235 and is feeling “very good” in his workouts.

Rangers pitchers and catchers report to Surprise, Ariz., next Wednesday. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 20.

There is the real possibility that Young could still be with the Rangers then.

Trading Young is difficult because he is owed $46 million over the remaining three seasons in contract — $15 million in each of the next two seasons and $16 million in 2013 — and there are only eight teams not on his no-trade list. Daniels has said a deal will only be made if it improves the Rangers.

Daniels said Thursday his focus was still on trying to make a trade. He said if a deal was going to be made it would “most likely” be done before the first full-squad workout, though he has set no deadline.

“None of us are happy that it’s come to this, especially publicly. Nobody looks good right now,” Daniels said. “There’s two potential outcomes. One is that there’s a trade that makes sense for the club and satisfies Michael’s request. The other is it doesn’t and Michael will play a vital role on the club. … It’s premature for me to speculate on what’s going to happen.”

Thanks for reading! .