Ballpark babble ...

Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson was fired today and there is some speculation about the job security of Rangers manager Ron Washington among the media-types in these parts.

Neither should come as a surprise considering the nature of this what-have-you-done-for-me-lately business. It's always the manager/coach that takes the heat (or credit) whether it is deserved or not. That's just how it is in sports and that's not going to change anytime soon.

 Ask me and I still think it's too early to change leadership in Texas. The pitching has been inconsistent, the defense has been horrible and the offense has struggled. Look at the Rangers lineup on a nightly basis. Look again. Then look at the lineups in the rest of the American League West. I don't think anybody expected the Rangers to compete for a title this season, but  the way the team has been losing this year has just been ugly. It has people wondering about the direction of the club and its manager. It's too early to raise the white flag. Then  again, nobody asked me.

Giants starter Barry Zito has been sent to the bullpen and the jokes about the highest paid reliever in history have started. That's too bad. Zito is obviously off his game. I think he has been prone to "thinking too much" on the mound in the past, but those problems should be behind him. He's too experienced for that stuff. Send him to the disabled list or a gym. His arm strength is gone and it is nowhere to be found. Maybe all of those innings pitched while with Oakland are catching up to him. Who knew not missing a start all those years because he was so durable would come back to haunt him 

Is Rangers shortstop Michael Young playing out of position? Is Ian Kinsler? So far, the answer is no. So far ...

Say what you want about Rangers GM Jon Daniels and his history of trades but leave him alone when talking about the Josh Hamilton and Edinson Volquez deal. Hamilton is leading the Rangers and MLB in RBI. Volquez is 4-0 for the Reds.

Yankee fans should be a tad worried because Alex Rodriguez is on the disabled list. This guy always plays hurt and never misses a game. He plays every contest like it is his last so the fact that he is on the DL is a huge deal. Then again, Alex could be wising up in his old age (33). Rest now, play later. I still can't see agreeing to go on the DL as an easy decision for him.

MLB.com's Tom Singer. Look him up.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are on top of the division and playing great baseball. I wonder if fans are showing up at the park to watch. It's not a surprise anymore. These guys are good.

Making an issue about the decision of Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder to go vegetarian is just in poor taste.

Who knew watching Tampa Bay could be so much fun?

Cheers to the wonderful people at The Make-A-Wish Foundation for making my niece's dream come true and allowing to meet every princess her heart desired on a recent trip to Disney World. Jeers to the people that scowled or made comments as she and her little brother and mother used a special path for special needs children to get to the front of the line for rides and events. Keep in mind that the only thing tougher than hearing "We are a 'Wish' family" is actually having to say it.

Boooooo