AL champ Rangers, Cubs to meet on Big League Weekend
After dropping their second straight World Series in painful fashion in October, the Texas Rangers joined the ranks of baseball's hard-luck losers.
The long-suffering Chicago Cubs are near the top of that list.
As the star-crossed franchises gear up for another run at the title next year, they'll meet at Cashman Field in two exhibition games March 17 and 18.
"It's neat to get the Rangers coming off back-to-back World Series appearances," 51s executive director Don Logan said. "They're one line drive being caught from being the world champions."
The Rangers will make their first appearance at Big League Weekend; their two-game series against the Colorado Rockies was rained out in 2004.
"They've wanted to come here," Logan said.
Chicago will make its eighth straight appearance and 11th overall at Cashman in what has become an annual rite of spring in Las Vegas.
"The Chicago thing works," Logan said. "People like that and have come to expect it."
Texas, which includes pitching coach Mike Maddux, a Las Vegas native, is led by outfielders Josh Hamilton -- the 2010 American League Most Valuable Player -- and Nelson Cruz, infielders Adrian Beltre, Ian Kinsler and Michael Young, and catcher Mike Napoli.
Rangers owner Nolan Ryan and new Cubs general manager Theo Epstein are expected to attend the games.
"Theo likes to have a good time, and there's no better place to have a good time as here," Logan said.
Chicago, which also will feature new manager Dale Sveum, is led by shortstop Starlin Castro, outfielder Alfonso Soriano and pitchers Ryan Dempster, Matt Garza and Carlos Marmol.
Both split-squad games are scheduled to start at 1 p.m., but times could change because of television. WGN will televise both games.
The Cubs, who have sold out 13 of their past 14 games in Las Vegas, clipped the Cincinnati Reds 9-8 before a crowd of 9,047 at Cashman on March 12 to open the last Big League Weekend. Chicago then beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 in 10 innings March 13 before a sellout crowd of 11,051.
Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.
