And, we're back...

...at .500 again.

Can we stay there? Or better yet, rise above it? I guess we'll see. I liked Scott Lucas' line in his minor league report the other day -- "Speed III: Keanu Reeves stars as the manager of a team that will explode if it surpasses a .500 record." That was a humorous and accurate summation of my thoughts about this team. What is it about .500 that the Rangers just can't handle? Whatever it is, I hope they lost it somewhere between Tampa and Texas ... just as Hamilton seemed to shake off his little slump. If you can call it that. Heck ... as well as he's playing this season, I'll take a 2 for 12 streak from him. He's more than earned it.

Tonight's game was not just a win. It was a well-played win. Millwood, just off the DL, was masterful. Benoit, Guardado and Wilson only continued the great pitching. They held FIVE of the As batters HITLESS -- Buck, Cust, Brown, Barton and Suzuki. In fact, they handed Cust a golden sombrero with four strike outs. Wow. Just wow.

The Rangers offense was also facing a good pitcher in Justin Duchscherer (yeah, I had to copy/paste that) and managed six hits and two runs. Brandon Boggs drove in all three of the Rangers' runs tonight, which is amazing considering he was only added to the lineup 40 minutes before the first pitch. Way to take advantage, Sparky!

KISS: As good as Boggs was, I gotta go with Millwood tonight. I think this was just about the best we've seen him throw all season. He threw 86 pitches in six innings, 57 of which were strikes. He allowed just one run on five hits and struck out five. He didn't walk anyone. He did exactly what an ace of the squad should do. This is the Millwood the Rangers have been looking for.

MISS: It's hard to find anything negative about this game, but I guess I'll go with Chris Shelton, who was 0 for 4 with two Ks.

KAM WATCH -- Kam started the second game of a doubleheader in Omaha tonight. He went three innings and gave up two runs on two hits and one walk. He also had three strike outs. The Redhawks ended up winning 3-2, and Steve Rowe (the guy all the I-Cubs fans think is a coach) got the win. In the same game, Jason Botts was 2 for 2 with a walk, which gave Jason a 3 for 5 day with two RBI. Not too bad. The Redhawks ended up sweeping the doubleheader. You have to see Dustin Nippert's line to believe it.

HEADS UP -- There will be no Saturday entry from me. In fact, I won't even get to see the Rangers/As game tomorrow night. Instead, I'm heading to Clinton to watch the "baby Rangers" (aka the Lumberkings). Holland is on the mound and I'm really excited to see all the young talent down there that I've been reading about. I'll be back sometime Sunday with thoughts and pictures from Clinton.

Playing favorites on an off-day

When I became a Rangers fan three years ago (yeah, I know, I'm just an infant compared to some), it was because of one player ­ Mark Teixeira. He drew me to the game and the team. As the 2005 season wore on, more players grabbed my attention, and Tex was no longer the only draw.

My friend Amy was already an avid Rangers fan (and life-long one) and I was just beginning my love affair with the game of baseball and the boys in Arlington. Amy and I attended more than 30 games together that season, and there was rarely a day we didn't talk. Many of our conversations revolved around the Rangers and our favorite Rangers players. We loved the whole team, but there were definitely those who appealed to us more than others. We decided that each of us should have a top five list.

This top five didn't come without rules, however. They had to have appeared in a Rangers uniform (despite the appeal of certain minor leaguers). Once a player was in the top five, they could not be removed unless they were no longer in the Rangers system. They also could not be demoted for any reason. Promotion was available, however. If one of the players was traded or released, everyone on the list moved up.

My initial top five was much different than today's top five. Tex had the top spot. Behind him were Laynce Nix, Kameron Loe, Jason Botts and MarkDeRosa. When some of those players were traded or released, my top five was jumbled. There was a long time when I only had three or four on my list. With the rules that were in place, I didn't give away a spot lightly.

This year is another story. I started the season with four favorites,unsure if I would be able to add a fifth. I'm struggling though. There are two players I really wanted to add to my roster. I have been contemplating and analyzing it throughout this season. I toyed with the idea of taking liberty with the rules and adding a sixth spot. But I decided against it, as I believe it might compromise the integrity of having a top five.

So, without further ado, here is my current top five and a few words about each of them.

1. Kameron Loe

I can still recall the first time I saw this tall, lanky kid making his way from the Rangers bullpen in right field on May 6, 2005 vs. Cleveland. I remember saying to Amy, "how tall is that guy?" We didn't find out his exact height until we returned home that night, but we were both amazed at the length of his legs. He pitched two scoreless innings that night, allowing just one baserunner (a single to Casey Blake), but I admit, Kam didn't immediately overwhelm me. It took me a few months to warm up to him, and I don't recall the exact game or what won me over, but today I'm one of Kam's biggest fans. I was terrified when a Vlad Guerrero line drive ricocheted off his head in 2006, I was thrilled when he made the rotation in 2007 and I was heartbroken when he failed to make the big club roster this season. I think Kam is capable of big things and I can't wait to see him realize this. (The photo was taken of me, Kam and Amy at the 2006 Sluggers of the West AwardsBanquet. Josh Lewin was actually behind the camera. Ha ha.)

2. Jason Botts

Botts was another one who had to win me over slowly, although it really only took a few weeks. I was at the Ballpark in Arlington when this big guy made his major league debut on September 14, 2005 against Erik Bedard (then with Baltimore). He was 0 for 3 with a walk and two strikeouts as the DH. Not too promising, but three days later, I was there again when he got his first major league hit (and his first RBI) in his first AB of the night. He went 3 for 4 in the 7-6 Rangers win (all three hits were off Joel Pineiro of the Mariners). I was also in the Ballpark on May 28, 2006, for one of my final games before moving back to Iowa when Botts launched his first major league home run of Kirk Saarloos of the Oakland As. Clearly, Botts and I have shared a lot of firsts. Here's one more -- Jason was the first Rangers player I met. I talked with him and got a photo on Fan Appreciation day in 2005. I was overwhelmed by his size but his personality put me at ease. He was really nice, and teased me a bit about my shirt. In case you can't read it, it says "All I Need Is Loe." Jason began singing the words to the tuneof the Beatles' "All You Need is Love." It was way cute. I just hope he didn't sing it to Kam when he returned to the clubhouse. (My friend Amy snapped the photo during the aforementioned Fan Appreciation Day in 2005.)

3. Ian Kinsler

I experienced love at first sight when I saw Ian Kinsler debut on April 3,2006. Actually, I'd already been drawn to him during spring training. The reports on him, alone, were enough to intrigue me. And when he belted his first major league hit off Curt Schilling in his first major league AB, I knew this kid was something special. He finished the day 1 for 2 with a walk,but he was already on my list. He went on to a hot start to his rookie season. If not for missing a significant amount of time after injuring his hand in Anaheim, Kins might have had a shot at the rookie of the year award. I doubt Ian lost too much sleep over that, however. From what I can see, Kinsler is a true team player. Sure, individual honors are nice, but he'd rather see the team do well...and do whatever he can to contribute to that. I like the approach Kinsler brings to the plate and the effort he uses in the infield. I was thrilled when the Rangers signed him to an extension during the off-season, and look forward to what he can do for and with my team. (The photo of me and Kinsler was snapped by a fellow but unknown fan in May 2006.)

4. C.J. Wilson

Everyone has a friend that they love but who sometimes drives them crazy. C.J. is that player on my top five. He's dramatic on the field and charismatic off of it. Despite this, it took me more than a year to warm up to C.J. When I first saw him, he was being groomed as a starter. I witnessed a few of his starts in that 2005 season, and he did little to draw my confidence let alone any love. I thought he was cocky and unreliable. Now, I don't see him as either of those. Okay, so maybe he's still a little cocky, but it's at a level I don't mind. I absolutely remember when C.J. won me over, and it wasn't with anything he did on the baseball field. Between the 2006 and 2007 seasons, I kept reading about C.J.'s fan interactions and his charity work. I had also started reading his blog. This new insight into Wilson's personality put him in a position to become one of my favorites. And he cemented it when he began working -- and performing well -- as a latereliever. Although C.J. continues to infuse some drama in his outings, I remain one of his supporters, and I get excited when he comes into a save situation. I wish he'd smile more on the mound, but I suppose the stern expression part of his closer mentality. I have not yet had the opportunityto get a photo with C.J. I hope to sometime in the near future. (The photo here was taken by me in Minnesota during the 2007 season.)

5. David Murphy

Murphy has been with the Rangers for less than a year, but already he feels like a major fixture. He came over from the Red Sox in exchange for Eric Gagne (the Rangers also acquired Kason Gabbard and Engel Beltre in the steal...I mean deal) on July 31, 2007. He did not make his Rangers debut, however, until 10 days later on Aug. 11 vs. the Tampa Bay (then Devil) Rays. He was just 1 for 3 that first day, but rebounded with a 3 for 4 outing the next day. In the historic 30-3 game in Baltimore, Murphy was 5 for 7 with five runs scored and two RBI. Murphy, much like Kinsler, goes about his business in a very quiet way. He makes some great plays in the outfield, buthe does them in such a way that downplays just how great they are. He makesit all look effortless. Murphy doesn't seem to want a lot of attention, but if the first few months of his 2008 season are any indication, he better get used to receiving it anyway. He was named AL rookie of the month for April, and it was a well-deserved honor. That's also when he earned a spot in my top five. He's the only player on my top five to whom I have never even spoken. But I'm hoping to change that soon. (This photo was also taken by me in Minnesota during the 2007 season.)

All five of these players have earned a spot in my top five because of the way they play the game and how they conduct themselves in general. The selection had nothing to do with their looks. I shouldn't have to add that caveat, but because I'm a female baseball fan, it's sometimes assumed that I like a player because I think he's "hot." Not true in my case. My list of baseball crushes is a whole other entry, one that will probably never be published here in order to protect the innocent (aka the players).

The art of losing

I'd nearly forgotten what it was like to lose a series. It hasn't happened since April 24, when the Rangers dropped their seventh straight game and second consecutive series. From that point until now, it's been a fun ride. Today was an unfortunate drop.

After a 5-3 loss in Tampa Bay, the Rangers are back below .500 -- the ever elusive milestone. The bad part about today is that the Rangers didn't get beat, they beat themselves. They had a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the 5th, but Kason Gabbard gave up two quick singles and three walks. The bases were loaded with one out when Frankie Francisco took over. He got the second out but then walked in in another run. There were five walks total in this inning, and by the time it was all said and done, the Rays were on top 5-2.

I'm not sure if there was a rally turtle in the bullpen or not, but the Rangers attempted to right the ship in the top of the 9th. David Murphy had a one out single and then advanced to second on indifference. Brandon Boggs struck out, leaving the hopes on Frank Catalanotto's shoulders. He managed a single, which brought Murphy home, but then Jarrod Saltalamacchia lined out.

Now, to be fair, the Rays are 12-2 at home (with one loss each to the Yankees and Rangers). They also managed to sweep the AL West leading Angels. They're a tough team, but unlike Monday's loss in which the Rangers lost out to a tough pitcher, in today's loss, they pitched themselves into a loss.

Ah well...keep on keepin' on. Tomorrow's an off-day before the As come in for the weekend. Time to gain some ground in the West again.

KISS: Frank Catalanotto. He was 2 for 4 with one RBI. He was the only Ranger who managed multiple hits off Rays pitching.

MISS: Kason Gabbard. He only recorded two strikeouts while giving up five hits and -- the worst part -- six walks in just 4.1 innings.

Blasting back to .500

Sometimes you get beat up good
Drive yourself crazy being misunderstood
Sometimes you want to throw the towel in
But you come out swinging like you just might win

Keep on, keep on keepin' on
Push it on down the line
Keep on, keep on keepin' on
Keep from gettin' further behind

-- "Keep On Keepin' On" by Jack Ingram

Well, the Rangers are back at .500, and they managed to do it tonight against another tough Rays pitcher, hitting Andy Sonnanstine up for 12 runs on 16 hits and chasing him after just five innings.

I guess the boys were a little frustrated after the Kazmir experience. Can't say I blame them. And people always say the best way to judge a pitcher is not by the home run he gives up, but on how he handles the batter immediately afterward. Do you suppose the same could be said for a team? They should be judged on how they rebound from a loss rather than the loss itself? I dunno. It sounds pretty good to me.

Vicente Padilla didn't evoke much confidence in me tonight. He just didn't seem to have it together. He labored pretty hard and lasted just an inning longer than his Rays counterpart. In that time, he gave up seven hits (including two home runs) and four walks. But, he managed to strike out 10. How's that for turning the tables? Everyday Eddie Guardado and Kameron Loe retained the win for Padilla. Guardado pitched one scoreless inning, striking out one and giving up one hit. Loe worked two innings and seemed to have taken a page from his roommate's gameplan by creating a little drama. He loaded the bases with no outs before fanning Hinske and getting two fly outs (one brought in a run). His 9th inning was much easier to watch -- two strike outs and a ground out.

The pitching staff owes some thanks to the offense tonight, namely Josh Hamilton and Brandon Boggs. The two drove in eight of the Rangers' 12 runs. Hamilton had an outstanding night, and ended up overshadowing Boggs' night -- 3 for 5. His average is back to .273. Not sure I'm keen on sending him back down just yet. Also...Kinsler and Young have extended their hitting streaks to 12 and 13 games, respectively. Keep it rolling, boys.

KISS: Once again, it's Josh Hamilton. The Triple Crown threat was 2 for 5 with five RBI. Of course, four of those came on a grand slam.

MISS: I don't really know. The only SLIGHT disappointment was Loe's 8th inning. But he escaped virtually unscathed, so I don't think he deserves the miss. I don't think anyone does tonight.

So Kam is in a Rangers jersey. Padilla is at 7-2. Hamilton is blowing people away with his performance. The Rangers are at .500. Two players have 10+ game hitting streaks. Murphy is on pace to break the Rangers club record for doubles by a rookie.

It's a good time to be a fan.

It's also a good time to have fellow Rangers fans as friends. I was NOT looking forward to heading back to work today, but Craig and the Snake Pit made it well worth my while. Shortly before lunch time, FedEx delivered a package to me. Inside was a C.J. Wilson bobblehead and a David Murphy player tee. A big thank you, again, to the Snake Pit. Y'all have been way too kind to me. I will find a way to properly thank you sometime.

Tough night in Tampa (St. Petersburg)

Wherever they were, the Rangers sure had a rough game. Then again, we knew it would not be a cake walk going against the Rays.

Who would have thought we'd say that a few years ago?

Scott Kazmir just had excellent stuff tonight. Three hits, no walks, one run and 10 Ks in seven innings. That's just untouchable.

Sidney Ponson was simply no match. He lasted only five innings and gave up five runs on 12 hits and three walks. He only struck out one. He just didn't look good. Then again, it would be hard to follow up Kazmir and look good.

Ramon Vazquez was the only mutli-hit Ranger tonight. He was 2 for 3 with a double. But he made a poor baserunning decision after he hit that double, so he virtually erased all his good karma.

I'll get right to the honors because I don't have a lot to say about tonight's game. What is there to say, really? The Rangers were simply outpitched and outhit. That's how ballgames are won and lost.

KISS: Ian Kinsler. He was 1 for 3, but he drove in all of the Rangers runs.

MISS: It's a toss-up between Ponson, who struggled on the mound and gave up a lot of runs early, and Milton Bradley, who was 0 for 4 with three strike outs.

And, now, photos from Monday's RedHawks game. They're mostly Chris Davis. Like I said, I regret that there are so few. I should have recharged my camera battery. And I'm still beating myself up over not getting that shot of Eric Hurley in a Be-Bops burger costume.

Davis doesn't disappoint

The Iowa Cubs wasted no time getting on the board, putting up four quick runs in the bottom of the 1st. They tacked on another in the 2nd and another in the 4th. That was the end of their offense, but the Redhawks were already in too deep a hole to climb out.

Redhawks starter Luis Mendoza gave up five of the six earned runs on six hits in just two innings. He didn't walk anyone, but he didn't have any strikeouts either. Elizardo Ramirez was the day's scheduled starter, but he was pushed into relief. My, how the game might have been different if he'd gotten the nod instead. Ramirez went six innings, allowing just one hit on six hits and one walk. He also fanned two. The numbers really say it all -- Ramirez had better stuff.

The damage could have been much worse if not for Chris Davis at 1B. He notched five outs on his own -- spearing a line drive and then doubling off a runner who had headed for second and making a few other spectacular stops. This was my first look at the much-touted prospect, and he lived up to his reputation.

Davis, promoted from AA on Saturday, was 2 for 4 with one RBI (which was the Redhawks' first run of the day). Nelson Cruz was also 2 for 4 with a double and a triple. Nate Gold was just 1 for 4, but he made his one hit count -- a two-run homer to bring the Redhawks within two in the 3rd. I also have to give a nod to Ryan Roberts. He made decent contact all day, but the first three found a glove. He didn't give up and was rewarded when his 9th inning knock found a hole.

I-Cubs fans will probably complain about the umpiring crew, but their team managed to live out my mantra -- a good team will find a way to beat bad officiating. I have to agree some of the calls were iffy and could have gone either way. The one they groaned about the loudest was actually ruled correctly (at least on the second ruling). Jason Ellison made a sliding catch in the 5th to rob Josh Kroeger of a hit. Ellison gloved it just before it hit the ground and the first base official originally called it a hit. Ellison made some noise and his manager came out to back him up. The umpires conferred and called it a catch and an out. Cubs fans grumbled about that for a few more innings, but they got to leave with the win, so I doubt they will talk about it for much longer.

KISS: I think this is a tie between Elizardo Ramirez and Chris Davis. Ramirez pitched quickly and efficiently, and he held the Iowa Cubs in check trying to give his team a chance. And Davis. I've already told you what he did today. I was so impressed by his defense, he could have not batted and still gotten the honor.

MISS: Poor Jason Ellison. He just couldn't get the ball to leave the infield and was 0 for 5 on the day with one K.

I'll be uploading some pictures later. I didn't get to take very many today because I was an idiot and forgot to charge my camera battery. I also failed to get the camera out in time to capture what might have been the photo of the day -- Eric Hurley in one of the Be-Bops outfits (three little kids wear them and race from first to third during an inning break). Before the game, Hurley put on one of the costumes and did a lap from one end of the dugout to the other. I got a good laugh out of it.

I have to admit I was a bit sad leaving the stadium because this was OKC's last trip to Des Moines this season. Maybe I'll have to see if they'll be in Omaha at a time I can make the trip. I would really like to watch them again.

Youngster beats Cy Young winner

Before the weekend started, I knew the Cleveland series would be a tough one. The Rangers were sending Gabbard, Feldman and Mathis to the mound to face Carmona, Lee and Sabathia - arguably one of the toughest trio of pitchers on any team. Two of the three Rangers starters began the season in the minors. Less than three months ago, Feldman was still a reliever.

Given all of that, if you'd told me one of the Rangers pitchers would hold the Indians to just one run, I probably would not have guessed it would be Mathis. The young righty has had a tough time acclamating to the majors, but today, he made adjustments and he made them fast. The lone Indians run on his line came in the first inning. After that, Mathis held them in check despite getting little run support from the Rangers offense.

Of course, a big piece of the Rangers' offensive puzzle was absent most of the game. Josh Hamilton was ejected early when the home plate umpire believed he was arguing balls and strikes. You don't have to be watching too closely to see that Hamilton was not arguing balls and strikes but rather showing the third base umpire that he checked his swing on strike three. He and the third base umpire exchanged explanations and Hamilton was on his way back to the dugout when he was ejected. Ridiculous. I guess the triple crown will have to come another day.

I enjoyed Tom Grieve's rant. This is two in a season so far. Go Tom!!! Hopefully Victor Rojas can adequately take over in a few weeks when Grieve undergoes prostate surgery. Thoughts and prayers for Tom's quick recovery. And also, as an annual volunteer for the American Cancer Society, I thank him for speaking publicly about his diagnosis. People, in general, are not always willing to discuss health problems, and men, particularly, tend to shy away from medical and health issues. But the best way to beat cancer is to find it early, which can only happen if people talk about it and learn what to look for.

PSA over. Back to baseball.

Just a few more thoughts.

...that Indians error in the top of the 10th. Whew. Thank goodness it was them and not us.
...C.J. Wilson is still a drama king. He can't ever just close things out quick and easy.
...Jamey Wright is on the cusp of being in my good graces. I want to like him, but he's done so much bad in the past, it's hard to forgive him.
...I agree with Tom Grieve that this was one of the team's best wins of the year. What a great series!

KISS: This is a collective award for the Rangers pitchers. Mathis held his own against last year's Cy Young winner and kept the Indians to one run on seven hits and three walks. That first inning was a bit rough, but he settled down and got ground ball outs when he needed them most. Francisco, Wright and Wilson combined for two hits, three walks and four strikeouts as they held the Indians scorelss in the final four innings of the game.

MISS: I was gonna say Murph, who was 0 for 4 with a strikeout. But then he had that great catch. I was gonna say Salty, who was 0 for 3 with two Ks and a throwing error, but then he earned a walk in the top of the 10th and scored the winning run. Ahh...so I just don't know.

I get to watch a double-header of Rangers action tomorrow. Half-live and half-televised. I'll be taking in a matinee of Redhawks vs. Iowa Cubs, and hoping the Redhawks can salvage a split of the series. They fell 9-2 today, and the pitching stats are just ugly. Maeda is the only pitcher who didn't give up a run, and he only pitched one-third of an inning. Nippert gave up four, Rowe gave up two and Madrigal gave up three. Ick. The Redhawks offense didn't do much to help their case, with just five hits. Let's hope they fare better tomorrow.

Barring extra innings, I'll be home in time to watch the Rangers and Rays. It's going to be a tough series, but the way this team is playing lately, I don't think we need to lay down and expect to be swept just yet. Call me crazy, but I have faith in my Rangers. Especially coming off a series win in Cleveland. They have not lost a series in the last nine, and as long as they can keep this up, this could be a very interesting season.

I couldn't wait

I just couldn't hold back my Friday and Saturday photos any longer, so here they are...

Friday

Saturday

Also, I've always been intrigued by Wes Littleton's delivery. What can I say, I love the side arm. But last night, for the first time, I noticed his little full body wiggle. Check it out in this video...

Redhawks' bats heat up

After a three-hit, shutout game on Friday night, the Redhawks were hungry for hits and runs. They made up for it Saturday night, pounding out 11 hits and crossing home plate six times.

Oklahoma wasted no time getting on the board. CF Jason Ellison lead off with a walk and stole a base. Nelson Cruz moved him over, and Jason Botts brought him home on a two-out single to right. The Redhawks got their leadoff man on base again in the second inning when 2B Ryan Roberts worked his way out of an 0-2 hole back to a full count and then dropped a single. Taylor Teagarden hit one over the fence one batter later to give the Redhawks a 3-0 lead. The Redhawks added one run in the 4th and two more in the 5th. They had at least one hit in every inning except the 3rd and 7th.

Meanwhile, Redhawks pitching remained strong as four arms teamed up to shutout the Iowa Cubs. I-Cubs LF Matt Murton was the only offensive threat, going 3 for 4 on the night. Robinson Tejeda had a nice outing. Although he worked a bit slow for my taste (especially on a chilly night that felt more appropriate for football than baseball), he got the job done. He threw 104 pitches in six innings of work, 63 of which were strikes. He struck out eight and gave up just four hits and two walks. Wes Littleton was the most impressive Redhawks pitcher of the night. He worked very quickly and sat the 7-8-9 batters in order, two on strikeouts and on on a groundout. He needed just eight pitches for his inning of work, seven of which were strikes. Bill White and Kea Kometani were slightly less efficient, but, like Tejeda, they got the job done.

KISS: Taylor Teagarden. Even though he twice got caught in rundowns, the catcher was 2 for 2 with a pair of walks and a pair of RBI. Oh, and he also signed a baseball for me after the game, but he'd already impressed me even before that :)

MISS: I was pretty disappointed in DH Joaquin Arias. He was 1 for 5 with a strikeout. His lone hit didn't come until the top of the 9th.

I'm exhausted after a long day in cemeteries and then an evening of baseball, so I don't think I'll watch the Rangers-Indians game from tonight. Looking at the box score, alone, it looks like errors may have been very costly in this game. The two home runs Scott Feldman gave up probably didn't help either. I am impressed that my boys managed eight hits off Cliff Lee, arguably one of the hottest pitchers in the AL right now, and it's really no surprise to me that half of those hits were by Young and Hamilton.

I'll be working on pictures from Friday and tonight in a bit and posting them with my entry tomorrow.

Former high school teammates have opposite fortunes

Kason Gabbard and Jarrod Saltalamacchia have a few things in common. They attended the same high school and played on a team together. They were both traded to Texas on the same day. Tonight, however, their differences were more apparent than their similarties. Gabbard couldn't get ahead of the Indians batters and Saltalamacchia had a field day with Cleveland pitching.

Gabbard got behind hitters early and only lasted three innings. In his short outing, he gave up six runs, all earned, on six walks and four hits. His teammates had spotted him a four-run lead in the first and then, with the help of his battery-mate, spotted him seven more in the 3rd. But Kason just couldn't take advantage of it.

Saltalmacchia, on the other hand, had a terrific night at the plate. The young catcher went 2 for 4 with a double, a grand slam (I'm almost certain Jon wet himself when this happened) and a walk. This was a much-needed good outing for Salty, who has been slumping whil his platoon-mate, Gerald Laird has been red hot.

Kam Loe had to take over in the 3rd with an 11-6 lead. He looked strong at first, but things unraveled in the bottom of the sixth. The damage could have been much worse, however, as the Rangers lucked out on a sketchy call on a Ben Francisco ground-rule double (replays show it should have been ruled a home run, which would have chased in three runs). He exited after just 2.2 innings, surrendering one run on four hits and ended up with the win. Frank Francisco came in and got roughed up a bit too, lasting just one-plus inning and giving up two runs in that time on no hits and two walks. Everyday Eddie and Jamey Wright salvaged the Rangers win with 2.2 scoreless innings. Guardado allowed one hit in his two-thirds of an inning, and Wright kept the Indians of the base paths for two innings with no hits and three Ks.

KISS: As terrific as Salty was, I'm sorry, but I gotta give tonight's honor to David Murphy. The Rangers rookie was 3 for 6 with three runs scored and three RBI as he extended his hitting streak to 10 games. His batting average is now .297, and he's closing in on Mark Teixeira's record for most doubles by a Rangers rookie. (Tex had 29, Murphy already has 19. I'm guessing Murph will end the season with 40 because when the weather heats up, some of those doubles will turn into HRs.) I'm absolutely enamored with Murphy right now, and thanks to the Snake Pit, a Murphy player tee is currently en route to me (it actually arrived in Des Moines this evening and will be in my hands on Tuesday).

MISS: Gabbard. He just couldn't seem to throw strikes, and you can't win games without those.

Turns out I saw two VERY different games tonight. A minor league pitchers duel and a major league slugfest. I was obviously more satisfied with the latter, but the former was pretty fun to watch too. Despite the loss, I really liked seeing what Murray was throwing out there. And live baseball is just better than broadcast baseball anytime.

Pirate battles but takes a tough loss

A.J. "The Pirate" Murray held the Iowa Cubs hitless for three innings and scoreless for seven innings. He struck out seven (at least two of which were looking), gave up six hits and only walked one. Still, he lost the game 1-0, pitching all eight innings that he was needed.

The Redhawks offense was simply anemic tonight. It was a chilly evening in the 50s, and the bats just couldn't get warm (neither could I). Nelson Cruz, John Mayberry Jr. and Ryan Roberts had the only three hits for Oklahoma, and only Roberts' was for extra bases. The Redhawks also drew three walks, but they just couldn't get a man beyond second base.

I heard fans around me hoping for just one run -- from either team -- for most of the game. It was so cold that they just didn't want to sit out there long. Even though it was a short game (just over two hours), the chill made it seem endless. Finally, the Iowa Cubs broke the scoreless tie in the 8th with a leadoff double from 2B Eric Patterson. He stole third and came on home on a Matt Murton single. Patterson also flashed a little leather throughout the game, making two spectacular catches to rob Mayberry and Arias.

KISS: Even though he took the loss, I gotta go with Murray. He battled out there and seemed to be cooking for seven innings. That eighth one was the only time he got in trouble. He threw 107 pitches, 73 of which were strikes.

MISS: Nelson Cruz misread Cubs pitcher Keisler and got caught in a rundown between 1st and 2nd with two outs in the first inning.

I took some photos tonight, but I think I'll wait until tomorrow night to load them. I'm not sure I'll get a Redhawks game tomorrow night...the weather is calling for thunderstorms. Fabulous. But Monday should be alright and I'll be in the photo wells to watch Elizardo Ramirez on the mound.

I'm watching the Rangers-Indians game now, so I'll be posting my thoughts on that later too. Double-header from me. Woo!! :)

Wish you were here

The final two games of the Rangers-Twins series were bittersweet for me. Or can I say sweetbitter?

The sweet part was winning -- once with a combination of bats and a great pitching arm, and the other time with pure guts.

The bitter part was knowing I was supposed to be there seeing both games. I'm so disappointed that the tickets I bought to Wednesday's and Thursday's games had to be wasted because of gas prices. Grrrrrrr. I could have walked out of the Metrodome a very happy Rangers fan two days in a row. *sigh*

But I have to get over that and just live with it. I suppose it helps that my boys won period. And brought themselves back to one game beneath that seemingly elusive .500 mark.

I picked a good day to wear my Josh Hamilton player tee. He was 3 for 5 today, including a home run, which turned out to be the game-winner. Hamilton just continues to pad his stats, which already has him leading the league in all three triple crown categories.

As thrilled as I was by Hamilton's performance, I was proudest of C.J. Wilson's. It's no secret Ceej has had some troubles these last few weeks. As I watched the Yahoo! box score this afternoon, I felt my stomach knot up when I saw C.J.'s picture fill the "pitching" slot in the bottom of the 10th. Josh Hamilton had just spotted him a one-run lead, and C.J. had to face the top of the Twins order, which started with Carlos Gomez, who was 4-4 with a HBP for the day. I was practically holding my breath during that at bat, until I read that Gomez flied out to center. Whew. One down, and two to go -- 0-3 Brendan Harris and 2-4 Michael Cuddyer. C.J. quickly got ahead of Harris, 0-2 and then got the Twins SS to groundout. Cuddyer struck out and the game ended. I wish I could have seen C.J.'s face, and I hope he was smiling. I also hope he's found whatever has been missing the last few weeks because I know that wasn't the real C.J. Wilson.

The Rangers finished the day with 16 hits, 12 of which came from the top five men in the order. The bottom four were 4 for 15. But Vazquez can be forgiven for his one hit because he also drew three of the team's seven walks.

Rangers pitchers also gave up seven walks, but none were more devastating than those surrendered by Jamey Wright in his two-thirds inning of work. They allowed the Twins to catch up with the Rangers, making the score 5-6. Benoit should probably share some blame too. He gave up two runs in two innings of work and got a blown save AND a win. Tell me that's not a strange line. Only Wilson and Francisco had scoreless outings.

KISS: Extremely tough call between pitching and hitting, but I think I've gotta go with Hamilton. The guy is just a beast, and is only barely getting the attention he deserves nationally. That's alright, though. The fans are noticing, and they're the ones who matter to me.

MISS: Wright. Just when I was starting to let him back in my good graces, he has an outing like this. I wonder if it's just the Metrodome. He didn't pitch well there last year either.

The Rangers roll on to Cleveland now. If the weather cooperates, I'll only get to see one Rangers game live (though I'll be DVRing all three of them). Friday and Saturday night, I will hopefully be heading out to Principal Park to watch Jason Botts and the Redhawks take on Josh Kroeger and the Iowa Cubs. Should be a good four-game series. The Iowa Cubs are 22 and 24 and just two games behind the Memphis Redbirds in the PCL American North. Meanwhile, the Redhawks are leading the PCL American South with a record of 27 and 20.

Saluting Sidney

If you'd have told me in March that the Rangers would have two complete games from their pitchers before the end of May, I'd have laughed.


If you'd have told me those pitchers would be Vicente Padilla and Sidney Ponson, I'd have said, "whatever" and "who?"


Sir Sidney was apparently exactly what the Rangers needed to slow down the Minnesota Twins. Ponson needed just 110 pitches to mow down the Twins, allowing just one run on six hits. He walked one (the redhot Delmon Young on four straight pitches) and struck out four, but relied heavily on his defense to turn some great plays as his groundball to flyball ratio was something like 18-3. Unbelievable.


While we're mentioning the defense, I would be remiss not to talk about the Michael Young we saw tonight. Okay, so I couldn't see the game, but by all accounts (stupid blackout restrictions!), he was playing like the all-star shortstop he has been in past seasons. Maybe something clicked. Maybe he was tired of hearing/reading about a possible move to 3rd base. Whatever it was, he showed he could still go get the baseball and make great throws across to 1st base.


The Rangers didn't necessarily need the long ball tonight, although they did get three of them -- Young, Kinsler and Laird. The offense seemed to come out of nowhere, pounding out seven runs in the top of the 6th to inject life in an otherwise sleepy game. Of course, I missed the part when Bradley and Washington were injected. Maybe the excitement really started there.


KISS: Sir Sidney Ponson. Wow. I have been truly impressed by what he's brought to this team. I definitely regret not taking advantage of the chance to get him know him better last month.


MISS: Tough call. There's not much to complain about. But I guess I'll say David Murphy for getting thrown out twice trying to get to third base (once on a fly ball and once trying to stretch a double into a single). I think 3B just had kryptonite all over it tonight where Murph was concerned.

Kam is coming up!

I just received word that Kameron Loe is on his way to join the big club!!! I'm so very excited for him (even though this means I won't get to see him this weekend in Des Moines).

Prior to Kam's call-up, the Rangers DFA'd Franklyn German. I'm not sure I understand this move, but it can't take away from my glee for my favorite pitcher.

Roller coaster ride continues

Round and round we go again
Upside down and back again
Confusion always gets the best of me
Knuckles turning red to white
Courage puttin' up a fight
As passion feeds upon the rest of me
Desperate for pure intoxication

It's the feeling of this ride we're on
It's making me crazy
Like a roller coaster we've been on too long

-- "Roller Coaster" by Tony Lucca

Tony Lucca might just have been singing about being a Rangers fan. Sometimes I feel like I'm on a roller coaster on this team. Alright, MOST of the time I feel like I'm on a roller coaster with this team. Take the lead, lose a lead, tie the game, give up a tying run....ahh. It makes me a bit crazy. But I suppose that's part of being a fan.

The Rangers scored two runs quickly -- solo home runs from Hamilton in the first and Kinsler in the third. Two was enough...until the fourth inning when a misplayed ball cost Scott Feldman three runs and a quality start. The wheels came off when Hamilton misplayed and then overthrew a ball. Then Feldman proceeded to give up a single, a walk and a wild pitch before finally getting Cuddyer to ground out and end the inning.

Minnesota had a 5-2 lead on Texas going into the 7th. Apparently, the number 5 is a strange one for the Rangers (and I'm not referring to Kinsler). More times than I can count, the Rangers have either blown a five-run lead or recovered from a five-run defecit. Fortunately, tonight, it was the latter. They piled on two runs in the 7th and two more in the 8th. They had men in scoring position in the 9th, but failed to add any insurance for C.J. Wilson to work with.

And C.J. could have used it. After getting Craig Monroe to ground out, Wilson seemed to get a bit lost as he walked Craig Monroe and then Adam Harris before facing Joe Mauer. Those walks came back to haunt him as the runners moved up on a wild pitch and Monroe scored when Mauer singled to center. It was a 6-6 tie with one out and runners at first and third with Justin Morneau up. A perennial BA and RBI leader for the Twins. All he needed was a sac fly to bring the win for the home team.

The game remained tied through two more innings and the Twins let their PITCHER, Korecky, bat. Insane. Frankie Francisco had sat too long and came out of the 'pen a bit stale. He got the first batter out but then surrendered a hit to the PITCHER. That, alone, was a sign we didn't deserve to win this game. Pair that with our regression back to lack of hits with RISP (and less than two outs), and it was just a bad combination for the Rangers.

Finally, the torture appeared to be nearly over in the bottom of the 11th as Francisco loaded the bases up for Morneau with one out. Korecky represented the winning run. But Francisco found his velocity...suddenly...and struck Morneau out. Relief for a few seconds, and then the agony continued as Cuddyer grounded out to third.

The Twins finally got the win when Hamilton misplayed a ball in the bottom of the 12th off the bat of Howie Clark. I don't really want to say more about it. This game was far too long.

Puke.

KISS: I don't really even know who to give the kiss to. I was pretty disappointed with tonight's game all around.

MISS: C.J. Wilson. He earned his second blown save of the year, and not by simply being outsmarted at the plate. He walked the tying and go ahead runs to face two of the toughest hitters in the AL -- Mauer and Morneau. It was just poor pitching, and I'm not sure what he was thinking out there.

I apologize for not keeping up with my Kam watch. He took the loss on Sunday, although that does not adequately represent his outing. He pitched three innings, giving up just one hit -- a solo homer -- as the RedHawks fell to the Redbirds 1-0. Since May 11, Kam has thrown six innings in which he's given up three runs on eight hits and struck out five. The best part of that line is NO WALKS. His ERA is currently 5.14 and falling. Hopefully he'll be able to knock it down even more this weekend in Des Moines.

That's right, the RedHawks are coming to my home state for Memorial Day weekend for a four-game set -- Friday through Monday. I have to cover graduation on Sunday, but I plan to be there on Friday, Saturday and Monday. I'm really looking forward to seeing Kam, Botts, Hurley and Nate again, and getting my first glimpse at Taylor Teagarden. You better believe there will be plenty of pics from the weekend.

'Don't be sad ... 'cause two out of three ain't bad'

Meatloaf was onto something. Two of three ain't bad. It ain't that exciting either.

The Rangers have won seven straight series now.

I read that back and it should be a pretty exciting statement. But dropping the third game of a series is a bit disappointing, I guess.

Let me try again. Once more with feeling.

The Rangers have won seven straight series now!

That's better.

Even though I'm still anxiously awaiting a series sweep, I'm loving the way the Rangers are rolling right now. Their pitching has been solid, the hits have fallen in (or gone out) and the defense has been much less error-ridden. All of this happened just in time to take down the Royals, the As, the Mariners, the As again, the Mariners again and then interstate rivals the Astros.

The Rangers pounded out the home runs in the first two games of the series, but had a hard time hitting anything today. Brandon Backe, who came into the game 2-5, shut the Texas batters down for six innings. His groove was broken in the 7th when Michael Young belted a one-out single. Then Milton Bradley and David Murphy came up for back-to-back homers. The Astros changed pitchers, calling for former Ranger Doug Brocail, which seemed to do the trick. Laird flied out and Boggs grounded out to end the rally. The Astros' five-run lead had been quickly narrowed to 5-3. The Rangers managed to get one more run in the 8th when Catalanotto doubled in Ian Kinsler but could not score any in the 9th as Valverde struck out the side, allowing just a single to Laird.

KISS: Josh Rupe and Jamey Wright. The duo came in and combined for three scoreless innings and a pair of strike outs. They gave their teammates the chance to rally.

MISS: Kinsler's decision to try for home when Young popped up to the short stop in the bottom of the fourth. Instead of one out with runners at first and third, it set up two outs with a runner at first.

Now, the Rangers head out on a tough roadtrip -- four in Minnesota, three in Cleveland and three more in Tampa Bay. That last series looks like the toughest, but the AL Central is hard to judge right now. All of the teams, save the Tigers, are hovering around .500. The Rangers, themselves, continue to flirt with .500, but haven't managed to surge ahead for more than one day. But, if they keep winning two out of three, they'll be on their way soon.

Don't mess with Hamilton

Tonight's game was the beginning of the Battle for the Silver Boot. But it was also the battle of the NL and AL RBI leaders -- Lance Berkman (NL) and Josh Hamilton (AL). Given the subject of this post, you know who won.

Shawn Chacon probably doesn't care if he ever sees Josh Hamilton again. Ham knocked two home runs off the Astros starter for a total of FOUR RBI!!! He finished the night with five RBI, which was just shy of a third of his team's total for the night.

Berkman, by the way, had no RBI for the night.

Going into the top of the 5th, Sidney Ponson had an 8-2 lead. You'd think that'd be a pretty good cushion. But...not so fast. The Astros responded with five runs in an ugly, ugly half-inning. Thank goodness for some bad Astros baserunning (he was out by a LONG SHOT), or the bleeding would not have stopped there. Frank Francisco came into the next inning, and he was fine until he allowed that four-pitch walk to Hunter Pence (what was he thinking?!?), and a few batters later, the tying run cross the plate.

Yuck. I really thought we were done. Good thing a game is nine innings long and not just five. :)

Despite having the bases loaded for two batters in the 6th (thanks to Astros errors), the Rangers could not get another run. I really wanted to see Brandon Boggs get an RBI there, but he hit a chopper that took a few bounces and the catcher recovered it to get Hamilton out as he tried to score for the third plate appearance in a row. Then Chris Shelton pinch hit for Frank Catalanotto and gave the ball a good ride, but Pence denied his hometown team with a spectacular play. It made me want to puke, but it was still a good play.

I gotta say...I no longer cringe when I see Jamey Wright coming out of the bullpen. Last season was just rough for him, and I hope it was an abhorration. Wright did what Francisco could not -- retire three batters without letting a run score. Jamey now has a 3.24 ERA in 25 innings pitched. And he's gaining my confidence. Nice job, Jamey.

I think the neighborhood heard me loud and clear when Ian slid into home to give the Rangers the 9-8 advantage. I yelled so loud. It was a close play but Kinsler was safe. The replays showed it over and over. Good call by Campos. The yelling continued when Hamilton hit that standing-up triple!! OMG!!! I was practically jumping on the couch!!! A double away from the cycle. The last Ranger to hit for the cycle was GMJ in September 2006. (How ironic that he was our CF and major contributor that year? I was sad to see him go when he left, but I'd go through that again to bring in Hamilton.)

I also loved the lefty home run parade tonight -- Hamilton (times two), Saltalamacchia (it's ABOUT TIME, boy!) and Murphy (you already know how I feel about him). Shelton and Young decided to take it to the other side of the plate and out of the park as well. It must be starting to heat up in Arlington. The baseballs are flying out of the park. Love it. Three years ago, I was at the Rangers/Astros game where the Rangers hit eight home runs.

The bottom of the 8th inning was about as pretty as the top of the 5th inning was ugly. Homer, flyout, homer, reach on error, groundout (runner advances), triple, homer, walk, double, groundout. Seriously? Astros fans must have just been sick. But I was giddy, and I'm selfish when it comes to baseball. I only care about me. :)

KISS: Josh Hamilton. Five was his magic number for the night. 5 for 5, five RBI. That walk was a let down. (How many times is a walk a let down?) I really wanted him to get a double to complete the cycle. Or at least get a hit so he could have a six-hit night. Have I told you lately that I love him? I absolutely love him!! I'm so sad I won't get to see him play in Minneapolis on his birthday on Wednesday. *sigh* Why do I have to be so poor? Can anyone convince Tom Hicks to send the plane for me on Wednesday? Hey - it's worth a shot.

MISS: Sidney Ponson. He was good for the first four innings and then things just fell apart. It was bad pitching combined with some bad luck. He gave up seven runs (only three earned, but some of the unearned were his fault!) on nine hits. He didn't walk anyone and he struck out two.

I apologize for my extended absence from blogging. Life has been incredibly busy lately. On top of working two jobs, I'm also heavily involved in planning the Relay For Life and a monthly Friday night celebration here in town. And I've tried to have a bit of a social life too. Fear not, however, I've been keeping tabs on my boys. I was happy to see them dominate the two series against division foes. I'd have loved to have seen a three-game sweep (of either the As or the Mariners), but I'm not going to get too greedy. If they can keep winning two out of three, we'll be just fine.

Three Then Four

I had to borrow an album title as my blog title for tonight. It was just appropriate to bring one of my favorite musicians, Dave Barnes, into the fold as the Rangers defeated the As for their third consecutive shutout and their fourth consecutive win.

Not bad for a team that has hardly been known as a pitching team in recent history.

April 1-9, the Rangers surrendered 28 runs in six games.
May 1-9, the Rangers surrendered 18 runs in nine games.

In April, the Rangers gave up 172 runs in 27 games, which was an average of 6.37 per game.
So far in May, the Rangers have given up 18 runs in nine games, which is an average of 2 per game.

I know it's early in the month, and the Rangers might raise that average, but for right now, I'm enjoying the ride that is great Rangers pitching.

Scott Feldman wasn't perfect tonight, but he got the job done and held the As scoreless for six innings. He walked four and allowed just two hits while striking out a pair. He retired 18 of the 24 batters he faced and didn't give up a hit until the 5th inning. I really like the Starter Feldman MUCH BETTER than I liked Reliever Feldman.

Jamey Wright, Joaquin Benoit and C.J. Wilson each pitched a scoreless frame, extending the Rangers' shutout total to 31 innings. Wright and Benoit made quick work of their innings, needing just a total of 20 pitches (11 for Wright and nine for Benoit) to tally three outs. C.J., on the other hand, added some unnecessary drama. He just seemed shaken up or unfocused for those first two batters -- giving up singles to Jack Cust and Frank Thomas. Fortunately, he calmed down and got Emil Brown to ground into a double-play and striking out Bobby Crosby to preserve the shutout streak. The entire ordeal cost him 22 pitches.

Oakland pitcher Greg Smith entered the game with a 2.50 ERA, but the Rangers nudged it up to an even 3.00, hitting him up for four runs on two walks and six knocks, including a home run. This is the same guy who mowed down 10 Rangers batters just last Sunday in Oakland. Unbelievable.

KISS: The pitching was magical, but I gotta go with Brandon Boggs. That kid laid out and nearly injured himself trying to make a play on a long fly ball in the first. Fortunately, he was OK, because he provided three of the four Rangers runs with a 3 for 4 night at the plate. His night started with a solo home run in the bottom of the 2nd. Then he singled in the 4th and doubled in two runs in the 6th. His buddy Marlon Byrd will be returning from the DL soon, but Boggs is definitely making it difficult to even consider sending him back to AAA.

MISS: I don't even have one tonight. Except for maybe the fact that Richie Sexson only got a six-game suspension for last night's debacle in Seattle. Of course, he's appealing it.

Other notes...

- The Rangers traded Kevin Mench to Toronto for cash considerations. Great move by the organization. The outfield was getting crowded in Oklahoma, and I really wasn't too keen on listening to Mench whine some more about being stuck in the minors.

- David Murphy was voted AL Rookie of the Month for April. Can I get a Murphy player tee yet? LOVE THAT GUY. Absolutely love him. (I was also thrilled to see Geovany Soto earn the NL Rookie of the Month honor. I watched him play in Des Moines for a long time while the Chicago Cubs tried out the Jason Kendall experiment instead of calling Soto up. Nice to see him finally getting his due. Soto is currently batting .345 with 13 doubles, six homers and 24 RBI.)

- And, finally, some sad news. For months, I've been planning to take in my first two Rangers games of 2008 in Minneapolis on May 21-22. I requested the time off, bought some cheap tickets and was all set to go. But it looks like gas prices are going to keep me home. To drive up and back (even in my little fuel-efficient car) would cost me roughly $100, and I just can't justify the expense right now. Not even for baseball. You know it's bad. If gas prices don't drop, I may not get to any Rangers games this year...but I really don't want to think about that right now.

Well, Sexson fired ME up, but the Ms still lost

You'd think I'd have a ton to say after that brawl. And I do. Except I don't know if I want to say it all. Okay, what the heck...I'll go ahead.

Richie Sexson is an idiot. That pitch was nowhere near his head. If he wanted to inspire his team, maybe he should have just GOTTEN a hit instead of charging Kason Gabbard, who the Rangers just retrieved from the disabled list earlier today. Gabbard apparently has "bruised legs," but I would not be terribly shocked if his back problems "re-emerged" in a few days. And by then, it'll be too late. Sexson will have been issued his wimpy three-game suspension (because we're the Rangers and have no pitching anyway, so why would MLB do ANYTHING to give us justice), and be back to hitting near the Mendoza line.

To add insult to injury, I made the mistake of seeking out some Mariners' fans message boards. And they were actually proud of Sexson. As you all know, I'm all about sticking by my boys...but I seriously would have been embarassed if that'd been one of our players. If it'd been one of my five favorites, he would have earned at least a temporary demotion, if not a permanent one. What Sexson did was classless and uncalled for. There is no excuse for throwing your helmet at a pitcher. Especially when he did nothing to deserve the charge.

I'm anxious to see what the sports network folks have to say about this. So even though I should head to bed, I'm staying up to watch SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight.
I am still fuming. And I should be rejoicing. My boys went to the West Coast, and took two of three from the As and three of four from the Mariners. It was all I asked for and more. They return to Arlington with a handful of wins and a little lighter (with the DFAing of Broussard). They have looked like a different team this month, and I hope they can carry that play into this weekend for another round with the As, and then three more with the Mariners (that should be an interesting series).

I cannot even focus enough right now to issue a KISS or MISS. And I've said about all I can say tonight. Except one thing -- Way to go Rangers!! You made staying up late all week well worth the exhaustion it induced.

Big Sexy is the Big Stupid

Wow...talk about an interesting brawl. I think that was better than the Feldman-Kennedy side-arm punch debacle a few years ago.

My favorite part was Tom Grieve's comments...

“If Kason Gabbard’s going to hit anybody, he’s going to hit one of their good hitters. He’s not going to hit Richie Sexson.”

“You’ve got a chance to hit Ibanez. You’ve got a chance to hit Beltre – two good hitters. You got a guy coming up there who can’t hit water if he fell out of a boat, and you think he’s going to throw at him?”

"Sexon threw his helmet like a little girl!"

...and later...

"I shouldn't have said Richie Sexson threw the helmet like a girl. I don't think even girls would have done that. So to any girls watching, I apologize."


I just pray Kason isn't seriously hurt. That was the dumbest move I've ever seen. We just got Gabby off the DL, and he was throwing a good game.

I hate Richie Sexson.

Padilla, Rangers keep on rolling

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.

Almost boring...almost :)

I hate to call a Rangers win boring. Because I don't want the gods of baseball to take that the wrong way and take Rangers wins away from me again. So, this game wasn't boring, but it was certainly a lot more relaxed than recent other wins.

My pal Sidney Ponson continues to show good stuff out there on the mound. Of course, being spotted a 10-run lead in the third might help a pitcher relax. Overall, though, Ponson, who now boasts a record of 2-0 and an ERA of 1.33, really was good on his own. He threw 103 pitches in seven innings, giving up one run on seven hits and one walk. He only struck out two, but he seemed to be able to get the Mariners to hit right at the defenders behind him. Especially David Murphy, who had a spectacular diving catch early and ran down a few others I wasn't sure he would get to. What was I thinking? This is David Murphy, not Milton Bradley.

The Rangers were actually outhit, knocking all six hits in the first three innings. They chased Batista --- I'd be scared after that MONSTER home run from Josh Hamilton too (no way was that only 425 feet). The boys in blue were subsequently stymied by Baek (who worked similar magic on them last year), Rowland-Smith and Lowe. But the damage had already been done, and the Rangers emerged victorious.

My boys are now 14-20 and tied with the Mariners for the bottom of the AL West. Keep on climbing, boys. You're not out yet.

KISS: A bit ironically (if only in my mind), it's Ponson. For a guy who hadn't won a game in a year prior to May 1, he has been outstanding in a Rangers uniform. I wasn't thrilled about him signing, but he can stay in that uniform as long as he keeps up what he's doing.

MISS: It was tough to find a downer in this game, but I guess I'll go with Milton Bradley. He earned one walk, but was 0-4, and it's always disappointing to me when the designated hitter doesn't get a hit.

I wish I had more thoughts and more time. But these west coast games are killing me. Especially when Wednesdays are my early days in the office.

Too little, too late

The Rangers tried to rally, but a seven-run defecit was just too much.

The Mariners left their bats at home while they were in New York, but seemed to have found them in time to battle their division foes. They pounded out seven runs early and chased Kevin Millwood after just three innings. Millwood was trying to break his nine-game road losing streak, but instead it extended to 10. He just got hammered tonight, and it was ugly. It's too bad, really, because up until tonight Millwood has looked pretty good and has often pitched better than what his record shows. Not sure what was missing from his repertoire tonight.

Josh Rupe did a fine job over the next four innings. He only gave up one hit and struck out three as he held the Ms scoreless. Rupe's job as the long man is not an enviable one, but he sure has become valuable a few times already this season.

Speaking of valuable -- how about the young guys ... Duran and Boggs. Duran broke up Washburn's perfect game in the top of the 3rd and held his ground at third base. Boggs ended his six-game hitting streak, but ran down a very well-hit ball in the 7th to rob Adrian Beltre of extra bases.

I'm not going to comment on Milton Bradley's defense. I don't think I need to.

KISS: Honestly, I think I gotta go with Rupe here. He came in and held the Ms for four innings, trying to give his team a chance. That they didn't capitalize is not his fault.

MISS: Frank Catalanotto swung and fouled back ball four TWICE with two on and two out in the 9th with the Rangers down by four runs and Josh Hamilton on deck.

Now, taking a page from Jon, I'm going to start doing a Kam Watch. Oklahoma lost tonight, but Kam was credited with a hold as he pitched two scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out one.

Sweep spoiled

Usually, the Rangers and As like putting on a hit show. Today, they were all about the pitching in the 3-1 Rangers loss. Each team had a fantastic performance from their starting pitcher as they wore those throwback uniforms (although it was very weird seeing my boys in red/grey threads with a Washington W on the hat).

Rangers hitters were held to just four knocks, one of which was German Duran's first major league home run. It's always exciting to see firsts. Especially in a season that, so far, has had very little else to celebrate. I think (and hope) that'll change, but for now, I'll take every little pleasure this team has to offer. Right now, that's a lot of individual firsts and honors, and that's fine with me.

Other than Duran's homer, the Rangers had just one other extra base hit -- a double from Brandon Boggs in the top of the 9th. It's too bad Gerald Laird couldn't keep the inning alive and bring Boggs around, but I guess that's just the way it is.

KISS: Scott Feldman. I have to admit, I was skeptical but hopeful about converting Scott from a reliever to a starter. I like Feldman and think he's a good guy, but he certainly had his share of struggles as a reliever. As a starter, I feel like we're looking at a different player. He had good stuff today as he shut down the As for six innings and gave his team a shot to win. They only gave him one run to work with, as they attempted to figure out a very good pitcher in Greg Smith, but Feldman took that one run and stayed with it. Things unfolded for him in the 7th, but I'm not holding that against him. In 6.1 innings, Feldman was charged with three runs on six hits (including a two-run homer) and one walk. He also struck out five.

MISS: Hitters three, four and five in today's lineup. Hamilton, Bradley and Murphy had 10 of the Rangers' 12 strikeouts. It could be that they're all left-handed hitters and faced some TOUGH Oakland pitching, but it was still a major downer from what has been a pretty reliable chunk of the offense this season.

Now, it's onto Seattle for four. As I've said before, this is a great time to make up ground. And, I'll be honest, I'm anxious to see Iowa boy Jeff Clement with the Mariners.

P.S. I have a huge favor to ask. I really want one of those C.J. Wilson bobbleheads they'll be giving out on May 16. I'm willing to pay for a game ticket and shipping for anyone who will help me out. If that person wants anything from Iowa, we could also probably work that out. Just contact me -- laney895@hotmail.com. Please, thanks, hugs and kisses in advance.

"We've got more bounce in California..."

It wasn't long ago I DREADED games in California. It was in Oakland that Laynce Nix injured his shoulder in 2005, which kept him out for most of the rest of the season. It was also in California that Kameron Loe was hit in the head with a line drive off the bat of Vlad Guerrero. Oh...and those teams always seemed to enjoy delivering a nice beating as well.

Not so much lately. The Rangers took two of three from the Angels during their first homestand early in April, and now they've taken two of three from Oakland. I might cry if they get a sweep tomorrow. (I can't wait to see the THROWBACK uniforms!!)

Maybe playing in California isn't so bad anymore.

A.J. Murray looked pretty good in his "spot" start. I always enjoy watching him pitch, and I was anxious to see tonight's game. He went through the first few innings with very little trouble, but lost a little bit in the 5th and 6th. I was hoping he could make it through a full six, but the As chased him with that little rally they had. Ah well ... shake it off, Pirate. You did fine.

Frankie Francisco got the final two outs in the 6th (with a play I'll talk about in a few moments), then surrendered a lead-off walk in the bottom of the 7th. Fortunately, that walk didn't come back to haunt him. Then, it was Jamey Wright time. He got the first two outs and then walked Jack Cust with Bobby Crosby coming to the plate. I won't lie ... I held my breath. It was scary. But I got to let out a sigh of relief when Wright struck him out.

That David Murphy three-run home run was a thing of beauty. I was happy to see Chris Shelton's homer too. The insurance gave me a little peace of mind with Joaquin Benoit loosening up in the bullpen. Benoit finished out the game with some GREAT stuff. It's nice to see him in this kind of shape. And it's REALLY nice to know we have two capable closers.

Everyone in the lineup got a hit tonight. But no one had two. It was a strange line in the box score.

KISS: Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who delivered my FAVORITE play in baseball tonight -- a strike 'em out-throw 'em out combo -- in the bottom of the sixth to halt an As rally. And that smile on his face as he went into the dugout was priceless. Simply priceless. (Oh, and belated happy birthday, Salty!) I'll admit I was worried about Salty being able to flash some arm strength and accuracy , but I like what I saw tonight.

MISS: Milton Bradley getting caught between 1st and 2nd base. That was ugly.


Last, but not least ... CONGRATS to Josh Hamilton on being named AL Player of the Month for April. The honor is well-deserved, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was named POTM again sometime this season. We've seen some greatness from him, but I have a feeling his best is still yet to come.

No quality start, but definitely a quality finish

Hopefully, that'll be the summation of this season. But certainly it was the story for tonight.

The Rangers have a lot of ground to make up, and with the calendar turned to May, there's no better time to start. April was rough, but there's still plenty of time to pull this together and have a respectable season. Now's the time to start building that. With 13 games against division rivals in the next two weeks, it's the perfect setting for a resurgence. Can the Rangers do it? I think they can. Especially if they play more games like last Sunday's game (Padilla's complete game shutout, which featured solid defense to go with stellar pitching and timely hitting). I'm ready to return to the optimistic fan I once was. And the first two games of May have helped me with that a little.

Vicente Padilla did not earn a quality start tonight in the first game of the West Coast swing, but he still got the win and had a decent outing. He had several of the Oakland hitters completely fooled. He only got into trouble in that 6th inning. Mostly, he seemed flustered and just couldn't seem to clear his head and just get it by them.

Jamey Wright pitched a successful one-third. Eddie Guardado and Joaquin Benoit made me sweat a little through their two innings. And then C.J. Wilson came on to get the save in a one-run game.

Speaking of C.J., what's up with him lately? I'm not sure I've seen him smile in awhile. In fact, the other night, when he was exiting after the 11-9 victory, he seemed to almost be pouting. I understand having a "game face" on while on the mound (especially in his role), but I know C.J. isn't the brooding fellow he seems to be lately. Or maybe he is and I've just mis-read him. I don't know.

For once, the errors were not on the Texas side of the box score tonight. As I watched the first inning unfold for the A's, I felt some deja vu. But was grateful it was happening to them and not us. We've had enough of those. It's about time things went our way.

KISS: I gotta go with Hamilton again. That diving catch was one of the most spectacular things I've seen all season. Maybe even back to sometime last season.

MISS: All the technical difficulties, which made me miss the error charged to Ian Kinsler. I would have liked to have seen exactly how that ball managed to glance off Padilla and then be kicked by Kinz.

By the way, I didn't get to see yesterday's game, that's why there was no entry for the game. I will say I'm suddenly thankful for Ponson's presence on this team. I hope he can continue on the track he's on. (Mostly so I don't have to see him in Des Moines later this month...ha ha ha. Just kidding.)

Also, Ben Broussard's CD came in the mail today. I've listened to it a few times. He has a good sound. He won't be on "American Idol" anytime soon, but his voice is pretty nice too. I'll need to give it a few more listens before I decide how much I like it, but for now, I'm glad to have it in my collection.