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Texas Rangers OPENING DAY ~ Final Four ~ Mavs ~ Injinji Toe Socks

GO RANGERS!!!
It's going down for real... 
OPENING DAY
Thursday, March 29th
2:35 PM CST
Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers


Yes, I know... the Astros won the World Series last year.

However, I do remember the years when Opening Day vs. the Astros was an easy win. Not anymore, since they got their Dome Stadium, with their grass field, and our Nolan Ryan. Bitter? Nope. Still not bitter. Congratulations Houston!

Opening Day pitching duel? 

Justin Verlander (Astros) - 2017 ERA 3.36 
vs. 
Cole Hamels (Rangers) - 2017 ERA 4.20

ERA = Earned Run Averaged

How do you calculate that? Great Question!

earned runs x total innings (9)  = ERA
          innings pitched

If Verlander is on the mound for the Astros, and we get 4 hits off of him in 5 innings that he pitched... his Opening Day ERA for 2018 would be... 

4 x 9 = 7.2 ERA
   5

If the Astros only get 2 hits off Hamels through 6 innings... it will look like this... 

2 x 9 = 3.0 ERA
   6

Why did I do all of this math? Well, I like math. And, sometimes it's fun to see how stats work. Also to prove that the more innings you pitch with less runs scored by the other team, the lower your ERA, and statistically, you've given your team a chance to beat the other team by scoring more runs.

We know that Verlander was a stud during the World Series last year. So this was also my way of avoiding the fact that they have multiple Ace's this year and we have one. Hamels is a GREAT guy! And he is an Ace. But we didn't do anything to build around him. All JD and the Rangers have done is talk about a 6 man rotation, which Hamels is not a fan of. 

As for the rest of our Roster... who is new to the line-up for Opening Day?

Adrian Beltre is BACK!! He's healthy and ready to go! All of the other guys, you should know from the past year or two. Now they're older, wiser, and hopefully they have the same grit and drive as our 2010 and 2011 teams. If not, it will be a long season.

1. Delino DeShields, CF
2. Joey Gallo, 1B
3. Elvis Andrus, SS
4. Adrian Beltre, 3B
5. Nomar Mazara, RF
6. Shin-Soo Choo, DH
7. Robinson Chirinos, C
8. Rougned Odor, 2B
9. Ryan Rua, LF

Our new pitchers this year are: 

Mike Minor
Doug Fister
Tim Lincecum (he's injured for a month)
Jesse Chavez
Bartolo Colon

Here is the entire schedule for the season. This is our second to last season in The Ballpark in Arlington. Enjoy every moment!! It's a beautiful ballpark!

#TexasRangers

Final Four
I had Duke and Arizona in the Final, with Duke winning. I also had Michigan and Kansas in the Final Four. 2 out of 4 isn't that bad??

Needless to say, my bracket was busted a long time ago.

But, the games are still fun to watch. Especially because we have two #1's going against each other, Villanova vs. Kansas. And a #3, Michigan, vs. a #11 seed, Loyola Chicago.


Loyola? Yup, your new Davidson. Here's a video with their road to the Final Four.

Fun facts...

Two of their teammates have played together since the 3rd grade. Watch the video clip.

Their Coach, Porter Moser, won MVC (Missouri Valley Conference) Coach of the year for 2018. This is his first Head Coaching job. He's been with the Ramblers since 2011. He was an assistant two different times at Texas A&M in the 90's. And, he seems to be a stand up guy! Couldn't be happier for him and his team!

The Ramblers are also in the Missouri Valley Conference... can you name one other team in this Conference?

No? Check out the list. I couldn't name one either.

The winner of both of these games will be Monday night, April 2nd. It will be CRAZY if Loyola-Chicago beats Michigan and ends up playing Monday night. A #16 seed already beat a #1... never say never.

#marchmadness
#bigdance
#ncaabasketball
#FinalFour

GO MAVS!!! 23-52 (wins - losses)
Losing. Is. Not. Fun.

Watching Dennis Smith, Jr. play... is Fun!

He is our seasons highlight!

He's only 20 years old, and he signed his Rookie contract for 4 years. Which gives Cuban three years to get other good players around him and make a charge at another championship.

Dirk, who is not 20 years old, is sure he will return next year. I'm personally ready for him to be an Assistant Coach. I think he'd be great at it. Not that he needs to keep working. It would just be nice to keep him with the team.

Mavs off-season? Is it too early? We have seven games left. Then they rest, heal up, and trades start happening. It shall be interesting.

#mffl

Thoughts... 
Injinji Toe Socks.

I know what you're thinking... ew, gross, socks between my toes.

Yup. Socks between your toes = life changing.

I used to suffer from Morton's Neuroma in both feet. A painful, and not fun ball of nerve damage in your foot. A physical therapist recommended these socks to me years ago. It was around the time the Toe Shoes made their debut. I wasn't that hard core, so the sock idea sounded doable.

It was explained to me that wearing a toe sock is like wearing a glove on your hand vs. a mitten. The mitten type sock (normal sock) keeps your foot warm and your toes can overlap, which makes them less functional. The toe sock (glove type), allows your toes and feet to stay cooler and operate as individuals. You end up having more control with your feet and feel a bit more stable.

We bought a pair for my Grandma, who had been getting blisters when she walked her mile a day... she stopped getting blisters and only wears these socks now.

These are the only socks I own. I wash them more often than I would if I bought cheaper socks, but I don't think I could ever go back to wearing a normal sock after how free my feet feel in these.

My favorite to workout and wear daily are these...

Lightweight Socks

My favorite to wear inside of boots are these... 

Liner Socks

And these are my favorite to wear skiing... 

Snow Socks

They have great sales if you sign up for their emails!

**no, this is not a paid ad, I'm just a normal kid, who has real life issues, and spends her own money trying random things to feel better**

#hugsomeone
#injinji
#toesocks

~smile~

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