Daily Score: Dez, Gallardo, College Hoops
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BUSINESS DECISION
Dez Bryant won't play in this week's Pro Bowl. Apparently, he's been dealing with a mysterious groin injury that has never showed up on an injury report. Prudent move by Dez. Without a contract for 2015 and beyond, it makes no sense for Bryant to play in this game. Have no idea why DeMarco Murray is choosing to play. He could easily excuse himself coming off hand surgery a month ago. They both have too much financial incentive NOT to play. Crazy!
YO, RANGERS!
Absolutely love the trade the Rangers pulled off on Monday. FW Trimble Tech's Yovani Gallardo has been one or my favorite pitchers since he broke into the big leagues as a 21-year-old in 2007.
I'm not saying he's anything close to being a Hall of Famer, but he's always reminded me of being sort of a modern day Ferguson Jenkins, who still holds (and will always hold) the Rangers club record with an amazing 29 complete games in a 25-12 season in 1974. Gallardo only has 4 complete games in his career, but he is one of only 10 pitchers who has surpassed 180 innings pitched in six straight seasons.
Instead, I think it's the tempo with which Yovani pitches that reminds me of Fergie. He gets the ball back from the catcher and gets right back on the rubber ready to go again. Like Fergie, he always seems to be in command on the mound and has a terrific competitive spirit about him.
After four straight 200 strikeout seasons (2009-12), Gallardo has reinvented himself a little bit the past two seasons, relying more on his curveball and less on his fastball. Has he lost a little on his fastball or is he simply pitching smarter as he gets closer to age 30? It will be interesting to see as he reunites with Mike Maddux, who was Gallardo's pitching coach in Milwaukee his first two seasons.
And, just in case new Rangers manager Jeff Banister is ever in need of a pinch hitter who can go deep, Yovani is like Fergie in another way too. He can hit a home run. Gallardo has 12 career HRs in 7+ big league seasons, Jenkins hit 13 home runs in his career, all of them coming in his first 8 seasons with the Cubs.
BASKETBALL JONES
Now that football season is over, it's time to start paying attention to some college hoops. It looks like a highly competitive year in the Big 12. The main reason for that is because both Texas and Oklahoma are ranked in the Top 25. When the Longhorns and Sooners are both back in the Top 10 in football, then Big 12 football will be back too. That won't happen until Charlie Strong and Bob Stoops find quarterbacks.