single-season mark by any team in at least a century. Average home attendance was up almost 3,000 per game to 33,461. A solid 20th ranking in coaching is

This story is part of ESPN The Magazines Oct. 31 NBA Preview Issue. Subscribe today!Texas RangersOverall: 10 Title track: 42 Ownership: 31 Coaching: 20 Players: 15 Fan relations: 17 Affordability: 13 Stadium experience: 20 Bang for the buck: 21 Change from last year: +42A new menu item at Globe Life Park this season is The Wicked Pig, a $27 sandwich that puts pulled pork, bacon, prosciutto, ham and BBQ sauce on a sweet Hawaiian roll with sides of pork rinds and coleslaw. Its huge -- just like the Rangers 42-point improvement in our overall standings, the best of any MLB team. After two seasons languishing in the middle of the pack, the Rangers are a top-20 Ultimate Standings franchise for the fourth time in six years.Whats goodThe Rangers didnt just win -- they won in style, compiling a 36-11 record in one-run games, the best single-season mark by any team in at least a century. Average home attendance was up almost 3,000 per game to 33,461. A solid 20th ranking in coaching is courtesy of Jeff Banister, the third manager in the wild-card era to win division titles in his first two seasons with the club. The Rangers have always ranked high in affordability, and that continued with a No. 13 ranking, the highest of any category. The average ticket price of $23.64 is the fourth lowest in the majors. No team with a winning record has prices that reasonable, which accounts for the teams No. 21 bang for the buck.Whats badOther than a disappointing 51st-place showing in title track (which an ALDS sweep wont help), not much is off in Texas. Globe Life Park still rates a very respectable 20th in stadium experience, but the searing Texas heat and the absence of a retractable roof are getting to be too much to bear. The smallest crowd of the year -- 20,720 -- came on an afternoon game in Arlington with a heat index of 105 degrees. Things might change after the Rangers announced plans to build a new, retractable-roof stadium in Arlington, assuming the proposition passes in Novembers election. Taxpayers could be on the hook for a nice portion of the $1 billion price tag, which would give them another reason to sweat.Whats newTexas overcame a rash of injuries to win its second straight AL West title, and fans respected that grittiness, with a 56-point leap in players to 15th overall. There has also been a major thaw in the way fans view co-chairman Ray Davis, as the Rangers rose to No. 31 in ownership, a 43-point vault. The controversial decision to replace franchise icon Nolan Ryan a few years ago still lingered, but it was apparently nothing a few playoff appearances couldnt change.Next: Baltimore Orioles?| Full rankings Sean Couturier Jersey . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Michal Neuvirth Jersey . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. http://www.officialflyersfanstore.com/authentic-brian-elliott-flyers-jersey/ . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. Bernie Parent Jersey .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. Travis Konecny Jersey . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover. NEW YORK -- Mitch Richmond has been promoted on the staff of fellow Naismith Hall of Famer Chris Mullin at St. Johns.Richmonds move from special assistant to assistant coach Thursday comes just before the start of Mullins second season at his alma mater. Richmond, a five-time All-NBA selection, played three seasons alongside Mullin with Golden State and won a title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2002.The Red Storm promoted former graduate assistant Luca VVirgilio to assistant to the head coach and Chris Huey has joined the St.dddddddddddd Johns staff as a graduate assistant.Richmond replaces Barry Rohrssen who the school announced was no longer with the program on Sept. 7. Rohrssen, considered one of the top recruiters in college basketball, was with the program for one season. ' ' '