11/14/12: D-FW sports chat with columnist Kevin Sherrington

I'm not sure I'd call the Leach scene "non-existent." The depositions, which I've read, show otherwise. Also, the Pirate has himself problems of his own up at Washington State. As for Tuberville, I don't buy his explanation, nor should anyone else. Let's see if anything else comes out of it. If not soon, I expect we'll keep bringing it up until someone does.

Great point. I've never seen the league worse, it seems like. You can't count out the mediocre teams, which the Cowboys certainly qualify as. If you run off five wins in a row now, you'd practically be considered a dynasty. I think three is appropriate, yes.

I'm already on record as thinking they should check out Lance Berkman or Kevin Youkilis on short-term deals. Great for the clubhouse, power off the bench. The Rangers need to reduce the load on their regulars during the regular season, and they need to understand why the NL model is working so well in the post-season. It's not just great pitching. Those clubs are getting a lot of production from bench players, who are used to playing during the regular season and ready to go in the postseason.

I tipped my hat to Sherman in the column off that game. These are almost exclusively his players. I talked to Eric Hyman, the Aggies' new AD, after the game, and he said, unsolicited, that the Aggies have the best offensive linemen he's ever been around. And he was an All-ACC lineman at North Carolina. Manziel is also a Sherman recruit, although Mike hadn't to be talked into signing him. I think both deserve credit, although the lion's share should go to Sumlin. He's surprised me with his ability to put it together so soon, and correct a culture in which the Aggies couldn't finish games. He also had the guts to believe in a freshman QB, and he hired a DC who's done a terrific job.

I don't know how many clubs try to blow you away for a shortstop. Aces, yes. Power hitters, yes. But not necessarily shortstops, even as good as Elvis and Profar are. My best-case scenario would have the Rangers trading Kinsler. Moving him to the OF doesn't seem all that appealing to me. His numbers last year would not have been good for an OF. Anyway, play Profar at second for a year, make sure you think he's everything you think he is, then make the decision on whether you trade Elvis before his contract is up and you have to deal with Boras, or decide you'd like to make those two guys your combination at second for the next 10 years.

I don't think Texas saw this coming. I don't think anyone did. Even the Aggies who keep writing me and sending a column I wrote off the Cotton Bowl loss to LSU a couple of years ago. I think it's a product of A&M finally realizing its talent; Sumlin doing a great job; a magnificent freshman QB who's taken the game by storm; a down year overall in the SEC, except at the top. It could, indeed, shift the power base. Very rarely have Texas, A&M and Oklahoma been Top 10 material at the same time. All three draw most of their blue-chip talent from Texas. There's only so much to go around. When one gets up, it tends to stay up for awhile. Mack Brown had better hope his team's recent upsurge is a sign that he's corrected some of their problems.

Hunter is coming off his best season in years, but he'll turn 38 next summer. I'd be reluctant to give him that much, especially three years. One, maybe, with an option. Apparently the Tigers are very interested, which makes sense, given the fact that Delmon Young won't be coming back. He's 10 years older than Young, but he'll play a far better OF, and he's a much better guy in the clubhouse. The Tigers' window is now, which is why Fielder got the big contract.

First of all, thanks very much. It was a great service, although we were wondering at one point if Willie was really going to come out or not. Thankfully, he did. As for being a fan, my definition of the word is someone who pulls for the team no matter what and always tries to see the upside. I'm not going to speak for others of my profession, but, sure, I like to see the local teams do well. But I can't get so emotionally wrapped up or close to the situation that I can't write about it objectively, either. You've got to be honest about these situations, think about how you'd write about this team if it were in another market. What I've found in life is that the best you can offer is the truth, or as close as you can get to it. As a very fine author once said, it can set you free.

I'd go for the pitching, but I don't know who's going to take that contract off your hands. With Michael Young's expiring after next season, Kinsler's officially becomes the worst on the payroll. He's got plenty of time to correct the situation, but now he stands as a roadblock to Profar, unless they move Kinsler to the OF. As I wrote earlier, I don't see that as a good alternative. His numbers last year wouldn't be better than Cruz's or Murphy's. What, exactly, are you solving? Now if he returns to previous form under a new hitting coach, maybe that's a different story.