Texas
Texas Rangers could (eventually) have two top-of-the-line starters in their rotation
![Texas Rangers could (eventually) have two top-of-the-line starters in their rotation](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_675,pg_1,q_80,w_1200/4fb16d6fa23aa80b7ac7526728f2f83c.jpg)
Lastly, the Texas Rangers’ entrance workplace is trying to place the franchise out of American League irrelevance. The crew hasn’t received a postseason recreation since 2015 and, in the seven years since, Texas has tried to revamp its roster a number of occasions with gamers like Ian Desmond, Mike Napoli — eligible for the Corridor of Fame subsequent yr — and Shin-Soo Choo. To no success. Getting close to .500 has gave the impression to be a minor victory. And but with one transfer within the MLB Draft, a imaginative and prescient aligned.
The Rangers formally secured what {most professional} baseball scouts thought-about loopy a yr in the past. The prized Vanderbilt duo of Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker each formally signed with the identical crew. The previous Commodores had been reunited with Texas after Rocker was chosen third total within the 2022 draft earlier this month and inked with the group on Tuesday, hauling in a $5.2 signing million bonus.
Texas’ draft technique was easy final yr. It was a matter of which Vanderbilt pitcher it took at No. 2 total. The Rangers selected Leiter and Rocker fell to No. 10 and was chosen by the Mets. New York did verbally comply with a cope with a $6 million signing bonus with Rocker, $1.4 million above the No. 10 decide’s worth. The Mets pulled their provide after reviewing his medical data, with Rocker not collaborating in a pre-draft program to make that data out there.
Scott Boras, Rocker’s agent, claimed quickly after the previous Commodore wanted “no medical consideration.” Rocker did have shoulder surgical procedure final September and returned to baseball with an unbiased crew earlier than this yr’s draft. Rocker’s fastball retained its high-end pace, reaching 99 miles per hour.
The unlikely state of affairs of reuniting Tracy Rocker and Al Leiter’s sons outdoors of the Southeastern Convention may now be a actuality, however a few improvement years separate each from showing within the massive leagues. Main roadblocks exist to get to that imaginative and prescient, as predicting which minor-league arms flip into main league aces is a glorified crapshoot. Not less than the Rangers have a tangible path again to the playoffs, evident for any fan of the franchise to see. And some bizarre analytics-driven reply about exit velocity isn’t wanted.
G/O Media might get a fee
Two guys with top-end rotation potential who can feed off one another are beneath the identical roof once more. And it offers the Rangers an opportunity to not need to beat groups primarily from the batter’s field to win a title. Texas’ pitching staffs during the last decade featured nice outings from Yu Darvish, Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, and extra, but didn’t yield a World Collection victory due to a scarcity of depth. The dearth of back-end rotation expertise has been a thorn in Texas’ aspect for the reason that franchise moved away from the nation’s capital within the early Nineteen Seventies.
Texas was one strike away from profitable the World Collection in 2011 twice, each in Recreation 6 in opposition to the Cardinals. And it didn’t get the job finished. There are many fingers to level for not getting the win, together with with the Rangers’ pitching, and a complete franchise deep dive doesn’t have to occur for one pitch altering the trajectory of the crew eternally.
The odd comparability for what the Rangers can start to appear to be is the crew that smashed them within the 2010 World Collection. The San Francisco Giants beat Texas in 5 for that championship in a season-ending sequence that in all probability lasted one recreation too many. Right here’s the Giants rotation that yr: “Large Time Timmy Jim” Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Barry Zito, Jonathan Sanchez, and Madison Bumgarner. There’s no downtime. And San Francisco additionally received the World Collection in 2012 and 2014 by basing its future plans round younger, dominant pitching and filling out the remainder of its employees with bonafide expertise.
I believe most baseball followers, myself included, anticipated the Rangers to pick Elijah Inexperienced with the No. 3 decide. You get a dangerous, long-term challenge, however one which if it pays off is a cornerstone in your lineup for a minimum of a decade. Inexperienced was the very best pure batter within the draft and went to the Nationals at No. 5. The Rocker choice was a blindside, however a rewarding one for Texas. It pulled off the inconceivable.
Does the Leiter-Rocker team-up come near correcting the missteps for the reason that 2011 ALCS victory over Detroit? After all not, however this does beat mediocrity. Swinging and lacking is best than not making an attempt in any respect. Have a look at what the Royals did (or didn’t do) for 3 a long time previous to its back-to-back World Collection appearances in 2014 and 2015. It’s now apparent the Rangers have some kind of bigger recreation plan with Rocker becoming a member of the fold.
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Texas
71-year-old beauty queen is oldest woman to ever compete in Miss Texas USA
![71-year-old beauty queen is oldest woman to ever compete in Miss Texas USA](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/84335313.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024)
She’s a timeless beauty.
A 71-year-old Texas beauty queen proved that age is just a number after becoming the oldest woman to ever compete in the Miss Texas USA competition.
“‘I am delighted to be a part of this incredible new experience as a contestant in the Miss Texas USA pageant,” the age-defying contestant Marissa Teijo wrote on her Instagram page.
The El Paso resident will compete against nearly 100 other women at the pageant this weekend in Houston, the El Paso Times reported.
If Teijo wins this prelim, she will go on to represent the Lone Star state in the Miss USA pageant in Los Angeles on August 4.
This comes after the Miss Universe Organization removed contestant age limits in a bid to be more inclusive.
The septuagenarian wants to use her accomplishment as proof that you’re never too old to pursue your dreams, declaring: “I feel that all women now have a new stage of opportunity, strength and beauty.”
Jackie Garcia-Martinez, CEO of Bazaar Models, who represents Teijo among other contestants, says she’s proud to rep “women of all shapes, ages and races.”
“As I prepare my team to compete at Miss Texas, I’m thrilled to support these women who inspire me as a leader every day,” she said.
Speaking of ageless beauty queens, Alejandra Rodriquez, 60, recently fell short of winning the Miss Argentina competition, dashing her hopes of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant ever.
This isn’t the first time an unlikely contestant has taken the pageant world by storm.
In June, marine spouse Bailey Anne Kennedy, 31, was crowned the first-ever transgender Miss Maryland USA, meaning that she will compete at the Miss USA competition.
Texas
How much money do you need to make to be in the top 5% in Texas?
![How much money do you need to make to be in the top 5% in Texas?](https://www.kxan.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/06/AP21054444582189-e1706183462297.jpg?w=1280)
(NEXSTAR) – The disparity between the income that an average U.S. resident brings in yearly compared to those sitting at the top of earners in each state has always been a major topic of discussion.
In fact, WalletHub states that “the highest-earning 10% of individuals in the United States earn over 12 times more than those in the lowest-earning 10%, based on the latest Census data.”
And while looking up what the “average salary” is across the country, ($74,600, according to the latest data from the Federal Reserve), appears to give a solid idea of how far off most Americans are from the 5% club, a closer look at the high-end salaries reveals that the disparity is even more stark.
WalletHub broke down the income of all 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C into three different groups: the average annual income of the top 5%, the average for the bottom 20%, and the median for all of each state’s residents.
Landing at No. 1 was New York where the top 5% makes about $553,000 a year. That’s almost $35,000 more than the next two highest states and nearly $100,000 more than the 10th-ranked state.
While the top 5% is thriving in the Empire State, its bottom 20% is falling well short, ranking 44th in salary with $13,301.
Right behind New York is Connecticut and Virginia where the average is about $518,000 apiece. Followed by New Jersey and Illinois which are both hovering around $505,000.
The state with the lowest top 5% threshold is Alaska, where earning roughly $321,000 will get you into the club. Hawaii and Vermont aren’t far behind where the top 5% makes about $334,000.
Check out what you need to make in your state:
Rank | State | Average Annual Income of Top 5% | Median Annual Income | Average Annual Income of Bottom 20% |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New York | $553,436 | $91,366 | $13,301 |
2 | Connecticut | $518,757 | $114,156 | $14,576 |
3 | Virginia | $518,296 | $89,393 | $18,694 |
4 | New Jersey | $505,621 | $117,847 | $16,445 |
5 | Illinois | $504,800 | $78,304 | $16,192 |
6 | Georgia | $487,870 | $66,612 | $16,472 |
7 | Texas | $481,483 | $70,513 | $16,802 |
8 | Washington | $474,067 | $103,748 | $18,223 |
9 | Florida | $470,308 | $68,818 | $15,375 |
10 | Massachusetts | $466,208 | $127,760 | $13,689 |
11 | Minnesota | $464,981 | $86,364 | $19,797 |
12 | Colorado | $456,603 | $97,301 | $18,451 |
13 | California | $454,829 | $123,988 | $13,949 |
14 | Tennessee | $453,539 | $59,077 | $15,679 |
15 | District of Columbia | $450,892 | $162,265 | $9,011 |
16 | North Carolina | $450,592 | $63,025 | $15,836 |
17 | Utah | $448,195 | $89,786 | $22,491 |
18 | Michigan | $446,114 | $62,446 | $17,019 |
19 | Missouri | $446,069 | $59,715 | $16,821 |
20 | Pennsylvania | $445,261 | $74,711 | $15,801 |
21 | Ohio | $436,922 | $61,904 | $16,188 |
22 | Maryland | $427,135 | $124,693 | $16,647 |
23 | Arizona | $424,913 | $74,375 | $16,604 |
24 | Kansas | $423,517 | $68,489 | $17,176 |
25 | Nebraska | $416,325 | $72,384 | $17,380 |
26 | Arkansas | $416,224 | $51,032 | $14,069 |
27 | South Carolina | $412,771 | $62,909 | $13,996 |
28 | Kentucky | $411,897 | $55,629 | $13,800 |
29 | Oklahoma | $405,113 | $57,215 | $15,205 |
30 | Idaho | $403,737 | $70,041 | $18,372 |
31 | Delaware | $402,989 | $87,173 | $16,930 |
32 | Wisconsin | $402,256 | $72,602 | $17,973 |
33 | Nevada | $401,062 | $80,366 | $14,472 |
34 | New Hampshire | $400,343 | $110,205 | $18,075 |
35 | Indiana | $399,270 | $64,170 | $16,670 |
36 | Alabama | $398,584 | $55,480 | $13,242 |
37 | Montana | $395,720 | $68,937 | $15,337 |
38 | Louisiana | $395,155 | $56,282 | $11,504 |
39 | Iowa | $395,093 | $68,974 | $17,621 |
40 | South Dakota | $393,809 | $69,266 | $17,252 |
41 | North Dakota | $387,548 | $79,874 | $15,661 |
42 | Wyoming | $387,280 | $76,307 | $16,199 |
43 | Oregon | $377,399 | $91,100 | $14,720 |
44 | Mississippi | $377,040 | $46,880 | $12,168 |
45 | Rhode Island | $353,721 | $104,252 | $12,668 |
46 | New Mexico | $351,972 | $58,911 | $11,944 |
47 | West Virginia | $345,239 | $52,719 | $12,477 |
48 | Maine | $338,866 | $79,800 | $13,749 |
49 | Vermont | $334,470 | $89,695 | $14,477 |
50 | Hawaii | $334,369 | $141,832 | $14,014 |
51 | Alaska | $321,634 | $113,934 | $15,646 |
As for what state’s residents make the most money on average, Washington D.C. finished with the highest median income of $162,265. Unfortunately, D.C. also finished with the lowest salary for the average annual income of the bottom 20%, with $9,011.
Other states that had a high median income were Hawaii ($141,832), Massachusetts ($127,760), Maryland ($124,693), and California ($123,988).
These states with a smaller gap between the average earner and the top 5% make it easier to make the jump, but it’s still difficult.
According to GoBankingRates, it will take a variety of factors to make that jump. First, you need a steady increase in income. This could mean you are making better financial decisions, investing wisely, or perhaps experiencing career advancements.
Another factor is maybe having a solid investment strategy, look to see that you are getting positive returns on your investment and that you have a well-diversified portfolio.
Finally, prioritize your long-term financial stability. Look to prioritize saving over short-term pleasures.
And if you’re looking to go even higher than the top 5%, Forbes found that to be one of the top 1% of earners in the U.S., you need to bring in an annual salary of at least $597,815, so start saving up!
Texas
Texas A&M Routs Tennessee, Pulls Within One Win Of National Title
![Texas A&M Routs Tennessee, Pulls Within One Win Of National Title](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3211,h_1806,x_0,y_169/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/all_aggies/01j11my8sztyzmp316mj.jpg)
One. More. Win.
That is all the Aggies need to clinch their first-ever baseball national championship after their Game One victory over the Tennessee Volunteers 9-5 Saturday night to stay undefeated in the NCAA tournament.
The Volunteers talked about facing Ryan Prager, knowing the difficulty they would endure facing A&M’s ace to start off the series. However, there wasn’t much talk about A&M’s sizzling-hot offense and the impact that it can have in a game.
Gavin Grahovac wasted no time reminding Tennessee of said impact.
Grahovac launched the third pitch of the ball game into the right field seats to give the Aggies a quick 1-0 lead, the first leadoff home run in the College World Series in over 20 years. An RBI single by Caden Sorrell scored Jackson Appel and gave A&M a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Tennessee would score a run in the second inning to cut the lead to one.
And then came the top of the third inning.
Three hits and one throwing error later, and the Aggies were up 7-1 over the top-ranked team in the nation.
Kaeden Kent would ensure the lead in the seventh inning with a two-run homer to the Aggie bullpen and put the Maroon and White ahead 9-2.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Tennessee began a small rally, with two long balls of their own scoring three Volunteer runs and cutting the Aggie lead to four.
And then, out of the pen comes Evan Aschenbeck, and the rest is history.
Aschenbeck needed 46 pitches to get him through two-and-two-thirds innings of work, but he made every single one count, allowing only two hits and striking out seven to secure the win for A&M.
Ryan Prager would score the win on the mound for the Aggies. He gave up eight hits and allowed two earned runs, but he did not walk anyone and struck out six in his four innings of work.
With the win, Texas A&M became the first team since the Vanderbilt Commodores in 2015 to win their first nine games in the NCAA tournament.
Texas A&M will look to shut the door and clinch their first national baseball championship as Game Two comes around tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. CST on ABC.
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