I am a die-hard homie when it comes to sports which means I have been throughtmany painful seasons with the Texas Rangers.  I remember the time when their pitching was so bad ( has it ever been good?) that Darren Oliver's ERA went up on a day when he didn't even pitch.  It seems the official scorer from the day before when Oliver did pitch changed a call from an error to a base hit meaning the run Oliver gave up was earned.  I remember when they had a relief pitcher (I have long sense forgotten his name and you will see why)  whogave up three runs on opening day and did not get anyone out which meant he had an ERA of infinity.  I remember being at the old stadium when they took a shot at thier first mascot, Rootin Tootin Ranger.  He looked a little like Yosemite Sam - a cartoon character.  Only problem was that he made his debut in July and the costume did not have good ventilation so he passed out in the sixth inning.  He got sent down to the minors to Oklahoma City a few days later.  I was there the night the guy climbed the third base foul pole.  The game was delayed unitl he came down.  The police were going to escort him out of the stadium but the crowd in the outfield fueled by nickel beer night (this was BC, before Christ for me) booed so loudly that the police handcuffed him to the rail and let him watch the rest of the game.  He got a standing ovation and spent the rest of the night signing autographs with his free hand.

Having been through all of that, I am loving watching this team play.  They play hard every night and seem to really enjoy the game.  They have far exceeded anyone's expectations but their own and those of Ron Washington.

I know that it is time for Rangermortis to set in (always does after the all-star break) but it is fun while it lasts.