In Ft. Worth, Jennifer Floyd Engel wrote the AL Wild Card-leading Rangers finally look to "have a real-deal chance for playoffs and long-term sustainability," but Rangers Owner Tom Hicks "has to sell." Floyd Engel wondered, "Does he ever want to go to his accountant and say, 'Is there any way for me [to] keep the team?'" Hicks Sunday said, "There is a way, and I'm working on that. So we'll see." Hicks said of a possible sale, "Let's not talk about that. We're not going to talk about that. I've always said I hoped to stay involved in a significant way with the Rangers because I want to be here to watch this plan finally happen" ( FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/17 ). GET YOUR MOTORS RUNNIN' : Red Wings Senior VP & Alternate Gov. and Tigers Senior VP Jimmy Devellano appeared on Toronto's The Fan 590 Friday and said the Tigers "will come in at around" 2.6 million fans this season. Devellano: "That's pretty good when you know and understand the economy in Detroit and Michigan." Devellano also noted both the Tigers and Red Wings are "trying to become a more regional team." Devellano: "We're really marketing now into Canada, … making a real push there with a lot of advertising … to try to get some people from Canada over to our games and I think it's working even for the Tigers" ( The Fan 590, 8/14 ). CIRCLE THE WAGONS : The Grizzlies yesterday unveiled their '09-10 Power Pack ticket information, "highlighted by 11- and 22-game packs and new seating and pricing options." Fans will receive a "free gift card worth up to $150 courtesy of Circle K and the Grizzlies for a limited time" with each Power Pack purchased. There will be "three 11-game packs, starting at $11 per game," while the 22-game pack can also be purchased "for as low as $11 per game" ( Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 8/18 ). TWINS' BILLS : In Minneapolis, Joe Christensen wrote the Twins "quietly pushed this year's payroll projection above" $70M with their recent trades for SS Orlando Cabrera and P Carl Pavano, though Twins GM Bill Smith declined to comment on payroll specifics. Meanwhile, the Twins' season total attendance is 1,706,873 through 58 home games at the Metrodome, which is 167,196 "ahead of last year's 58-date total of 1,539,677." That is an "average of almost 2,900 more fans per game" ( Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/15 ). FALLING STARS : In Houston, Ortiz & Justice reported decreasing attendance and a losing record prompted the Astros "to extend their ticket giveaway for the remainder of the season." The Astros are "giving away two tickets for kids 14-and-under for every purchase of each full-price ticket at the mezzanine ($12), view deck I ($15) or view deck II ($12) sections" ( HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/15 ).
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