Fact or Fiction

We’re (Steve representing the Habla Network) going to play a little Habla Fact or Fiction with Blog Editor and Rangers GM Nick Fox today. I promise we won’t spend the whole time talking about the Rangers and Pirates. Let’s get him on the phone.

S: Hey Nick, how’s it going?

N: Good, man.

S: I saw that your boy Pujols finally hit a homerun, raising his average to a whopping .136, any thoughts?

N: You can guarantee he’ll finish the season 300 points above that, so I’m not too worried.

S: Good one, anyways, let’s get to this. Ready to Play?

N: I think so. Let’s do it.

S: All-time HR champ, Dave Parker, will finish his career with at least 1000 longballs.

N: Fiction. He’s not gonna get another 35 this season, although he may get close. This is definitely his last season, so I’d have to say no.

S: The NL Pennant will leave the state of Pennsylvania for the first time since 2024.

N: Fact. It doesn’t look like the Pirates will be contending, and it doesn’t look like the Phillies will either. There’s a good chance they’ll both miss the playoffs. My pick to win the NL this season is the Marlins.

S: Nolan Ryan’s torn bicep will end his career.

N: Fact. This late in his career, that is such a major injury requiring a lot of work to get back from. He’s had a Hall of Fame career and I see him just hanging them up.

S: The Atlanta Braves will break the Marlins record of 134 losses in a season.

N: Fiction. The chance of getting less than 8 wins the rest of the way is slim. As hard as it is to break the all-time wins record, it’s almost as hard to break the loss record of 134.

S: Gambling addict Brian Fuentes will become the first full-time reliever to lead the league in innings pitched.

N: Fiction. As many innings as he’s seeing on two different teams, he’s still not a starter. I expect Barrios to continue to pitch a lot of innings and beat him out.

S: Francisco Barrios will capture a 2nd consecutive AL Cy Young award.

N: Fact. There doesn’t seem to be much competition right now. What he’s been able to do the last season and a half is amazing. I wouldn;t be surprised to see him win several more in the years ahead.

S: The Dodgers’ Tim Ferrick will break Kent Hrbek’s rookie homerun record of 55.

N: Fiction. Conventional wisdom tells me that as a rookie he’ll slow down the 2nd half of the season. The changes of him hitting 25 more aren’t that great.

S: Crash Davis’s recently hit 500th homer cements his place in the Hall of Fame.

N: Fact. A catcher hitting 500 homers is so rare, almost by itself that gives him a pass to the Hall. In addition, his other accomplishments also make his entrance to the Hall a certainty.

S: The Rangers will end their championship drought and hoist the trophy at the end of October.

N: Fiction. I think there are too many good teams in the AL and a number of good teams in the NL. If given the chouce between one good team and the field, there are so many good teams that I have to pick the field.

S: Scott Dinnis and the rest of the EBoard have done an outstanding job carrying the torch from former commish Jeff D who set the bar so high.

N: Fact. It all starts with Scott. He’s done a great job taking over the commissioner’s role, taking charge and showing leadership. Although, we miss Jeff, Scott has been a great leader.