On April 27, Vicente Padilla threw a complete game shut out to defeat the Twins. I was impressed then. But I think he was even better tonight. He just seemed completely locked in. Granted, he let two runners on with no outs in the 7th, but he proceeded to sit down the next three in order -- courtesy of the strikeout. The fastball was completely working for him tonight. Simply spectacular.
While Padilla kept the Rangers in the game, the veteran-rookie combo of Milton Bradley and Brandon Boggs brought in the runs needed to win. Six of the Rangers hitters were hitless for the night, but Bradley was 2 for 3 with a walk and Boggs was 2 for 4. Brandon hit an RBI triple in the 4th to get the visitors on the board and then Bradley added a home run in the 6th for good measure. Two runs didn't seem like a lot, but, fortunately it was one of those nights where it was enough.
KISS: It's gotta be Padilla. He pitched seven innings of two-hit, shut out baseball with eight Ks. It doesn't get much better than that. (Well, a no-hitter or perfect game would be better, but I can wait for those.) Now, he did hit one -- Ichiro with his first pitch -- but he calmed down and only walked two.
MISS: Poor Salty was 0 for 4 with three Ks. But he handled Padilla very well, and that's the part of his game I'm most concerned about. We know the bat is there -- it just wasn't tonight.
The Rangers already have a winning roadtrip (I'm beginning to think they prefer playing away from Arlington). It had been my hope they could return 4-3. And they still have a chance to make it 5 and 2. I hope I didn't jinx them by saying that.
Young is out: Michael Young exited the game after his first AB tonight. Josh and Tom speculated that it could be his lower back, but the FWST is reporting that it's his hip flexor and he is listed as day-to-day. Yikes.
Botts is back...sort of: So Jason Botts cleared waivers. And he's joining the RedHawks roster. For some reason, I feel like this is worse news than when he was DFAed. Honestly. I just don't think he has any more chances left in this organization. And that makes me sad for him.
Picture imperfect: Am I the only one who thinks Ramon Vasquez and Frank Catalanotto look kind of silly in their Yahoo! player headshots? I'm just not digging the facial hair. At all.
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We have been making fun of Cat's and Ramon's picture at the ballpark ever since the season started. Every time they come up to bat we have to look at their mugs with Porn Star Mustaches. They really need to get those shots changed.
You don't like Frank Catalanotto's Fu Manchu? LOL. Cat looks goofy enough, but Ramon Vazquez... he looks like he should be out somewhere cruising in a beatup Camaro with the salsa music cranking. I really can't imagine why those two would want to go with the "pornstache" look like that for the entire year. I can only imagine what the opposing fans think when they put those pic's up on the jumbotron when we're on the road.
I agree with you on Jason Botts - I wish he'd have been claimed by somebody off waivers too. I beleive he's a minor league free agent at the end of this year though (unless the Rangers add him to the 40-man roster again at the end of the year).
As for Saltalamacchia - he seems to be having a tough time right now. 0-3 on Monday, 1-4 Tuesday, and 0-4 last night - he's just not seeing the ball very well right now. And I'm firmly convinced it's this platooning with Gerald Laird that's done it to him, because he was hitting fine the first couple games he got called up. Since then, it's been awhile since he's gotten normal everyday playing time, and now... not so much. I realize the Rangers need to build up Lairds trade value, but I'm wondering how long they can let Laird's playing time come at the expense of Salty.
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