Things I think.

1. Oakland has a starting five, and an August schedule, that ought to make every one of us think about the real possibility that Texas isn't going to coast to a playoff berth. You know what? Good. Are the Rangers going to the playoffs? Yes. But the last thing this team needs (well, next to another injury setback) is to take the foot off the gas (think about how that's killed the Mavericks more than once going into the post-season), and I'm good if there's not a temptation – even a natural, subconscious impulse – to ease up for any more than maybe one final turn through the rotation going into Game One. Sure would be nice to have that game in Arlington. 2. Nolan Ryan said last week that while Ron Washington is under contract only through 2010 but will be back next season, Jon Daniels has one more year on his deal, mirroring Ryan's own. It's no longer necessary, even symbolically, for Daniels's contract to track Ryan's in length. This is not meant to be a message to the ownership group, which I expect is already several steps ahead of this, but instead just a thing I think: Daniels needs to be extended, before the season ends, for a long time. Ryan is now a certainty to be around here for the long haul, and thank goodness for that. High on the list of this franchise's top assets are its general manager and lots of people who work here because of him. It's time: To lock Jon Daniels up. 3. Oklahoma City lefthander Michael Kirkman fanned eight in 5.2 innings on Sunday, but walked four and served up two home runs. If the club doesn't want to give Derek Holland this Saturday's start against Boston, Rich Harden's spot could just be skipped and given to Colby Lewis, who – because of two intervening off-days – would still be going on an extra day of rest. Harden (who threw more balls than strikes on Saturday) told reporters after the game that he "never got a feel for his release point," which is so frustrating to hear, and that he "know[s] what [he] need[s] to do to get back." It's August. 4. Chris Davis has still played more third base at Oklahoma City than first base. And now he's the RedHawks' starting left fielder, seeing his first time in the outfield the last two days since his first minor league season (2006). Local reports suggest the Rangers are getting "much trade interest" in Davis, from Boston, among others. Texas shouldn't trade him. Not now, at least. Because I think he has a good chance to follow the Nelson Cruz path and bloom late, in a new setting? (Carlos Pena and Russell Branyan have also been suggested.) I do still believe in Davis's future, but that's not why he shouldn't be traded now. He won't clear revocable trade waivers this season, and that creates two problems: (1) Texas would have only one club to negotiate a trade with, and why limit your suitors? (2) Even if, say, Kansas City were the team that claimed Davis, there's no chance that someone like the disgruntled Zack Greinke reaches Texas on waivers (let alone the timing issue, which makes it difficult to have roster members on both sides of an August trade, unless really bad contracts are involved). Save Davis for the winter, when the club should be in a position to make an impact trade for a starting pitcher or impact hitter and can capitalize on Davis's apparent popularity – if not with the team Texas is talking trade with, then with a third team that can fill a gap in the trade or in the Rangers' own system. I still don't rule out the possibility that Davis figures it out here (even as a bench bat that can play at four corners) (and no, I'm not giving up on the catcher idea), but given the mounting number of failed big league chances, if he's drawing real interest then his greatest value may be in a deal. 5. Looks like Taylor Teagarden, in something of an upset, has not only gotten a chance to prove himself once again in Texas but is, at last, capitalizing on it. He doesn't need to keep up this power surge to be a solid number two catcher. He's starting to gain the confidence of his manager. 6. According to John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus, the Dodgers are thinking about non-tendering catcher Russell Martin this winter to cut costs. Martin makes $5.05 million this year, and I believe he has two more arbitration seasons before he can opt for free agency. Hmmm. 7. I'm not seeing much of anything out of Cristian Guzman, who initially turned down the deadline trade to Texas before reconsidering. Not sure what he does better than Andres Blanco. Wish we could have gotten in on Arizona's Kelly Johnson before the trade deadline. Can't imagine he'd slip through just about the entire league and get to Texas on waivers to facilitate a trade. Sure wish things had worked out with Khalil Greene this year. Ian Kinsler's injury history and the organization's added flexibility financially are going to result in an upgrade at the utility infield spot next year. It's becoming a priority. Right? 8. Joe West is an irritating umpire to watch. 9. How confident are we that Vladimir Guerrero is going to bounce back? Since the beginning of July, he sits at .213/.278/.336 in 122 at-bats. Justin Smoak was more productive as a Ranger than Guerrero has been over July and August. Let's say he pulls out of it a bit, but doesn't do anywhere near the level of damage he did in the first half (.319/.364/.554)? What do you offer him this winter to make sure he doesn't shop around? Tricky. 10. Smoak since his demotion to AAA Tacoma: .207/.314/.448. Josh Lueke (AA West Tenn and AAA Tacoma): one run on seven hits and zero walks in 11.1 innings, 20 strikeouts. Blake Beavan (AA West Tenn and AAA Tacoma): four starts, 3-1, 4.50, 25 hits and two walks in 24 innings, 13 strikeouts. Matt Lawson (AA West Tenn): .363/.414/.525 in 80 at-bats. Chris Ray (San Francisco): 2.84 ERA with eight strikeouts and five walks in 12.2 innings. Michael Main (AA Richmond): 13.83 ERA with 21 hits, 14 walks, and seven strikeouts in 13.2 innings; hasn't pitched in 12 days. Evan Reed (AA Jacksonville): 1.2 scoreless innings in one appearance, left with tightness in his elbow. Omar Poveda is out for the season. Ryan Tatukso (AA Harrisburg): one start – one run on five hits and four walks in 4.2 innings, six strikeouts. Tanner Roark (AA Harrisburg): one start – three runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings, four strikeouts. Roman Mendez made his second Spokane start yesterday, giving up four runs (all unearned) on seven hits (including two home runs) and one walk in 4.2 innings, fanning five. Seven groundouts, one flyout. Chris McGuiness sits at .261/.433/.304 for Bakersfield, with six walks and four strikeouts in 23 at-bats. 11. Yes, Tanner Scheppers has been solid most nights since returning to the bullpen for the RedHawks. But nowhere near as dominant as (40-man roster member) Pedro Strop, who since returning to AAA from Texas has put up these video game numbers: 8.2 innings, zero runs, four hits, zero walks, 16 strikeouts. Both are going to be here in September, but if one gets here before then, I'm not so sure it shouldn't be Strop. 12. I hope that Torii Hunter Jr.'s friends at Prosper High School aren't making fun of him because of where his Dad is playing. (Or not playing, while he serves his four-game suspension.) 13. Texas gets a bit of a break tomorrow, as A.J. Burnett was scratched yesterday with back spasms and will go for the Yankees in Arlington tomorrow night rather than Phil Hughes. 14. Several new prospects should enter the fold soon: The deadline to sign 2010 draftees is a week from today (two hard-throwing righthanders, supplemental first-rounder Luke Jackson and fifth-rounder Justin Grimm, are the key unsigned picks), and Daniels has suggested the Red Sox prospect to be named later in the Jarrod Saltalamacchia deal could be announced before long. 15. Sometime soon, when the club is on the road, we're going to have a game-watching Newberg Report event with Chuck Greenberg (who is "temporarily physiologically incapable of being elated"). We'll charge some sort of admission fee but it will all go to charity. Stay tuned for details. 16. There's been lots of talk, particularly since the All-Star Break, about how Texas was facing a really tough part of its schedule. Does anyone ever take the time to think about the idea that other teams are now at the point at which they have to say the same thing when Texas comes up on their schedule? This sort of success is still taking some time to get used to. And that's fine with me. Give me a battle over the next eight weeks rather than a whole lot of cruise control. OK. Maybe seven. =========================================================== To join the free Newberg Report mailing list so you can get e-mail deliveries of every edition of the newsletter, daily minor league game recaps, and frequent Newberg Report News Flashes, go to www.newbergreport.com and click the "Mailing List" link on the top menu bar. (c) Jamey Newberg http://www.newbergreport.com Twitter @newbergreport