Baseball is My Boyfriend

Moving!

2008-08-03T17:34:00.003-05:00

Baseball is My Boyfriend has been invited to join a new network of sports blogs, My Team Rivals. I hope you will all bookmark the new site and continue your readership, as it has been much-appreciated.

The new address is: http://myteamrivals.typepad.com/texasrangers/

Rangers outhit and outpitched by Blue Jays

2008-08-03T13:45:00.002-05:00

The Bluejays had more errors than the Rangers in Saturday night's game, but they still managed to win the game. I guess it's karma for the Rangers' 5-error win earlier this week.

Scott Feldman was supposed to go to the bullpen after the All-Star Break to give his arm a break. But with injuries, the Rangers have no other option than to keep marching Feldman out there every five days. Fortunately, Scott has something in him that keeps him going. He churned out a mostly-quality start in Saturday night's triple-digit temperatures. The first inning got a bit ugly, with his own throwing error as he attempted to nail a runner at second. But he dug out of that and kept his team in the game through the 5th inning.

The offense was a bit sporadic. Yes, I think that's the best word for it, although the strike zone was atrocious and inconsistent. Still, the Rangers were sat down in order in three different innings. One of them was a bit unconventional, however, as Travis Metcalf was picked off first after reaching on an error in the 7th. Michael Young and Ian Kinsler were a combined 0 for 8. Frank Catalanotto, Josh Hamilton, David Murphy and Gerald Laird were the only ones who managed hits off the Bluejay pitching staff. Ham, Murph and Laird each had two, and Murphy drew one of just two walks of the evening.

The Rangers had a 3-2 lead going into the 6th inning. Feldman quickly surrendered hits to Marco Scutaro and Alex Rios and a walk to Overbay. He was saved a bit by a tremendous throw from Josh Hamilton to nail Scutaro at third after Rios' single, although Rios advanced to second. With one out and runners at first and second, Ron Washington decided to pull Feldman and bring in Jamey Wright. At this point, Feldman was up to 93 pitches, which was probably a stretch for that right arm, but one ground ball would have gotten him out of the mess. And Matt Stairs was coming up next. But, I'm not paid to make the decisions, Wash is. For some reason, he found Stairs to be a huge threat (even though he was 0 for 2 at this point) and told Wright to intenntionally walk Stairs to get to Barajas. Barajas has a history of popping up, but his batting average was higher than Stairs'. As you can tell, Wash's decision backfired and Barajas doubled in Overbay and Rios. Scott Rolen was up next, and he drove in Stairs. Brad Wilkerson grounded out to end the inning, but the damage had been done.

Gerald Laird got one run back in the bottom of the 6th. Josh Hamilton was hit by a pitch and scored on Laird's double. That was the end of the Rangers' offensive threat, although they tried to get the rally going again in the 7th and 9th, getting the lead-off hitter on base in each case, but they were unable to bring him around.

KISS: Gerald Laird and Josh Rupe. Laird was 2 for 4 with one RBI and one run scored. He also caught Alex Rios trying to steal in the 2nd inning. Meanwhile, Rupe threw three scoreless innings and notched three Ks after Wright's meltdown.

MISS: Michael Young was 0 for 4 with three Ks. I appreciate him trying to play through his fractured finger, but if it's only hurting the team, then maybe he should take those five to seven days off.

Hunter debuts, Wilson sinks...pitching staff fired

2008-08-01T23:18:00.003-05:00

Quite a night for the Rangers pitching corps.

Tommy Hunter became the 7th rookie pitcher to debut for the Rangers. He got a bit roughed up, but I liked what he was throwing out there. He'll be fine with a little more time.

C.J. Wilson came into a tied game in the 9th and gave up two runs. This has become characteristic of C.J. as of late, and while many think he should be demoted from the closer role, I'm not ready to give up on him yet. He's going to go through bad streaks and take some lumps. That's part of LEARNING the role. And I bet no one's harder on C.J. about these outings than C.J. himself.

Of course, I still think much of our pitching problem rests on the shoulders of the coaches...but now they're gone. After the game, Texas fired bullpen coach Dom Chiti and pitching coach Mark Connor. I could not be more surprised. I'm also a bit relieved. I do not honestly believe our pitchers are as bad as their numbers imply. And at one time this season, we had NINE pitchers on the disabled list. Someone has to be accountable for that. Andy Hawkins and Jim Colborn are the replacements. I've been impressed with Hawkins' work in OKC (particularly with how he handled Kam last year) but I'm unfamiliar with Colborn. Still, I'm anxious for a change. Anything has to be better than what we've been doing.

Moving on, August is off to a fine start. July ended a bit shaky and with quite a bit of disappointment. But it's a new month, and the Rangers aren't completely out of the playoff race. They're somewhat in the wild card, but I am afraid to let myself believe in that. There are still too many games to play and too many teams to pass. But it's nice that these games aren't completely meaningless.

Tonight's game, as I mentioned, was roller coaster. A lot of them have been lately. The first inning was definitely an omen of things to come -- pitchers' obstruction (when Davis pushed Hunter into the runner trying to get to first) and catcher's interference. I'm not sure there were any other weird plays we could have seen. There was another error later on, and the Rangers dug themselves into a 6-0 hole in four innings.

Bottom four, Catalanotto hits an unlikely double to left. Young grounds out. But have no fear, Josh Hamilton is here. He jacks a two-run shot to center field (and the kid who retrieves the ball ends up on SportsCenter). That's all they would get that inning, but the rally began percolating again in the fifth. With one out, Vazquez and Kinsler each singled and then Catalanotto pushed Vaz around with a single of his own. Young doubled to score Kinsler, but Cat got stuck at third. Ham struck out and the Blue Jays intentionally walked Byrd to get to Murphy. Mistake. Murphy singled to center, bringing Cat and Young across the plate. But then Byrd killed the rally by getting caught in a rundown between second and third.

The game was deadlocked at 6 runs a piece until the 9th. C.J. Wilson enters the game and Blue Jays' Alex Rios immediately singles to third, and Vazquez got hurt on the play. Overbay flies out, but then Lind triples and Rios scores the go-ahead run. Mench gets a sac hit and then Barajas flies out.

Good thing the Rangers have the best offense in baseball. C.J. needed them to bail him out. Kins quickly grounds out, but then Salty (pinch hitting for Cat) walks and Young singles. Boggs doubles to left center and Salty scores, but Young has to hold at third. AGAIN, the Blue Jays walk Byrd to get to Murphy. You'd think they learned their lesson. But no. Murph sneaks one by the third baseman and gets the walk-off win.

KISS: Murphy, Murphy, Murphy. 4th outfielder or not, I'm just glad he's in a Rangers uni. The rookie was 3-4 tonight with 4 RBI. He now has 71 RBI on the season. If THAT'S what we get from our 4th outfielder, I'll take it.

MISS: C.J. Wilson. He gave up two runs and still got the win. Something is just not right in C.J.'s head. I have no doubt he'll get it together, but it needs to be sooner rather than later. I think I'm in the minority of people who want him to finish this season as our closer.

No sweep for you

2008-07-27T19:34:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago, the Rangers were allergic to the .500 line, but they quickly got over that. Their aversion to sweeps is hanging around though. Today, they fell two runs short of sweeping the A's in Oakland. It would have been a great way to get that first sweep -- being a division rival. But, alas, we still won two out of three, and the offense (which seemed to be missing in Minnesota and Chicago) returned.

During this series, the Rangers marched out three very different pitchers -- the fiery veteran Vicente Padilla, the freshfaced rookie Matt Harrison and the slightly more seasoned rookie Eric Hurley. Padilla put up zeroes in his first two innings of work on Friday, but then was mugged for five runs in the third. But, the 5-0 mystical score (and a feral cat which made its way onto the field) sparked a five-run fourth for the Rangers. The Texas bats added one more run in the 7th and then, for good measure, tacked on eight in the top of the ninth en route to a 14-6 win. On Saturday, Matt Harrison did not have his best stuff. He was a bit shaky, but he held his own out there and just kept plowing through it. He was spotted a 3-0 lead in the second, and he gave up three runs of his own before exiting the game three innings later. When he left, the score was 6-3, and he was on track for his second win. Rupe and Madrigal made sure he got it. Today, Eric Hurley returned from DL and looked sharp in the first two batters. Then, it got a bit rough, and Hurley left the game just two innings in, having given up six runs on four hits (including two homers) and two walks. Thank goodness for Dustin Nippert, Jamey Wright and CJ Wilson, who held the A's scoreless for the next seven frames. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done, and, despite a four-run 5th inning, they could not overtake the lead.

The following are my awards for the series, not just today's game...

KISS: Josh Rupe and Dustin Nippert. These two have been workhorses in the bullpen, stepping in when the starter was maxed out and keeping the game in check or within reach. The long relief guy is probably the most thankless job in the bullpen, but I'm sure glad these two are willing to take it.

MISS: It's gotta be poor Eric Hurley. I really wanted him to bounce back from the DL and have a quality outing, if nothing else. Hopefully he will get it together in time for his next start.

This week is my least favorite of the whole season -- trade deadline week. I know baseball is a business, and I know deals that are made are in the best interest of the team, but I am always a bit sad when a player leaves. I have enjoyed watching all of the players currently on the roster and honestly don't want any of them to leave. It will be interesting to see who is still wearing a Rangers uniform a week from now.

Hamilton's big screen double?

2008-07-24T00:21:00.007-05:00

I'm choosing to skip commentary on today's game for a topic that's much more entertaining -- who would play Josh Hamilton in the inevitable movie that will be made about his life someday.

Ever since Josh Hamilton burst onto the Rangers scene, there has been much talk about a biographical film. There's no doubt it would be a great story to tell, and I would definitely go see it. Several times.

Casting could be interesting though. I wasn't sure who I could see portraying Josh. Then, tonight, I broke out one of my favorite "mindless" movies, "Step Up," and it hit me.

Channing Tatum would be a great Josh Hamilton. Okay, so he's not his identical twin, and he'd definitely need to put on some muscle (and fake tattoos). But his voice is right. He carries himself right. He's athletic looking. (He's also pretty nice to look at.) I just think he'd be a great fit.

I could also see Kate Bosworth or Katherine Heigl as Katie Hamilton. Both of them are blond (key), have figures similar to Katie's and have that girl-next-door beauty/appeal. I could see either one as the supportive wife Katie has been through Josh's journey.

It'd be interesting to see who else would appear in Josh's movie. Would any of his Rangers teammates appear?

Back to third

2008-07-22T21:40:00.002-05:00

The Rangers looked like the April version of themselves tonight -- several failed opportunities with runners in scoring position (including a lead-off triple). Of course, the pitching didn't help much either. Mendoza was in an inning too long, and Nippert just couldn't shut it down either.

So, the Rangers are back in third place behind the A's. Maybe this is like that elusive .500 mark. We'll just keep flirting with it for weeks. At least we have something to flirt with, I guess. I'd like something to flirt with. Wait...that's another issue.

As with most games with the White Sox, I had to listen to DJ and Hawk. Ew. Maybe I'm a homer, but I absolutely think Josh and Tom are some of the best tv announcers in baseball (Eric and Victor are my radio choices). Hawk and DJ are just awful. They use stupid catch phrases, point out obvious things and are just plain annoying. I'm so glad tomorrow is the last game with the South Siders this season. I can't take much more "he gone" or "and you can put it on the boooooooard. yes!"

KISS: Chris Davis. Not only did he ensure there was no shut out (I don't want to give Buehrle that satisfaction), but he was 3 for 4 tonight and has raised his avg to .267. Nice to see that kind of production from 1B again.

MISS: Mendoza and Nippert. Luis surrendered six runs on nine hits and two walks. Dustin served up four runs on four hits and three walks. Each of them gave up a home run -- Luis' was a three-run shot to Swisher and Dustin's was a grand slam to Ramirez.

Hopefully the boys can bounce back tomorrow afternoon so they can be at least hold steady with Oakland going into the bay.

Hello second place!

2008-07-21T22:14:00.003-05:00

I hadn't planned to blog after tonight's game, but how can I not acknowledge the fact that my boys are now in second place in the AL West!! Not too shabby, especially considering the weekend they had in Minnesota. Oakland has lost six straight games, which helped the Rangers a little. We're still nine games behind the Angels, but hey ... I'll take it.

Nice homers from the two Hams tonight -- Josh Hamilton and Hank "Hammer" Blalock. White Sox fans may have clamored for Josh's autograph before the game, but I'm sure they weren't too thrilled to see his three-run bomb in the third. It's good to see Hank swinging the bat well again. He didn't look that awful in Minneapolis, honestly. He just failed to hit the ball to a gap in the Metrodome. Tonight, he unloaded a two-run shot.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia proved he WAS more than ready to return to the field (as he told me Sunday). He went 2 for 3 tonight with a walk and a run scored.

I'm starting to worry a bit about Ian Kinsler, who is 0-fer since the All-Star break. A day off seemed to help Josh Hamilton and I wonder if it wouldn't do the same for Kins.

KISS: Scott Feldman. He wasn't even supposed to start in the second half, but he pinch hit (pitched) for the hurting Hurley tonight and held the White Sox to just one run (a Quentin home run). He threw six innings and gave up four hits and three walks. I love this version of Feldman. Hopefully our rotation can get healthy again so he can ease up a bit and be ready to be a fixture in that rotation next season.

MISS: Milton Bradley, who was 0 for 5 with three Ks.

A Ranger win on my birthday!

2008-07-21T21:00:00.002-05:00

Here's a recap of my weekend in Minnesota! I'll be back to regular blogging as soon as I'm caught up at work (hopefully late in the CHW series).

Friday

Road construction extended my drive long enough to hear five innings of the Rangers/Twins game. It never really got completely out of hand, but Millwood didn’t sound too solid. Needless to say, I wasn’t surprised when I received a text later that let me know the Rangers had lost. I was surprised, however, that they were shut out. First time all year. I guess the Twins were just returning the favor from Padilla’s masterpiece in late April.

Walking through the Nicollet area with my friends, I was wearing my Kinsler All-Star player tee. A few Twins fans came up behind me and asked me who Kinsler played for. They already knew the answer, but I didn’t know that so I answered. They gave me a hard time about their team’s victory that evening and about their boy Morneau’s show during the All-Star festivities.
THEM: Who won tonight?
ME: Yeah, well…you won’t win all of them.
THEM: We’ll see about that. Who won the Home Run Derby?
ME: Who hit the most home runs that night?
THEM: Doesn’t matter. Jason Morneau still won.
ME: Jason? Um, and you call yourselves fans.
THEM: It’s a joke among fans. And this guy’s from Canada, so he knows Jason Morneau.
ME: Yeah, well who drove in the winning run in the All-Star game?
THEM: Who scored the winning run in that game?
ME: Well, Morneau couldn’t have come home if Young hadn’t hit that sac fly.
THEM: Yeah, yeah, whatever.
They were nice about the whole thing. I honestly don’t mind taking heat from fans who are actually knowledgeable and aren’t jerks about it.

Saturday

My first Rangers game of the 2008 season. What a way to kick it off. A 14-2 loss. Yuck. Absolute yuck.

I arrived at the Metrodome in my Hamilton player tee just before 5 p.m. I had wanted to get there a little earlier, but road construction in Minneapolis is rampant thanks to the upcoming Republican National Convention. Ah well. I still caught the end of batting practice and got to chat with Shirley “The Cookie Lady” Kost for awhile while we watched our favorite boys warm up. I met Shirley three years ago in Texas and we’ve sort of stayed in touch ever since. I’ve run into her in Anaheim, Kansas City and Minneapolis so far. She’s a great Rangers fan, and I hope someday I am in a comfortable enough financial situation to follow them around like she does.

The game started, and, Matt Harrison got into trouble early. That Mauer home run just felt like the beginning of a long night. And it was. Well, it was a short night, but it sure felt long. The game was less than three hours long, but when you’re being tortured like I was, three hours can feel like much longer.

The one highlight, for me, was the Chris Davis two-run homer. His swing is so sweet. There was just no question about the hit as soon as it left the bat. Two guys next to me cheered, and I was confused since they were wearing Twins garb. The one quickly explained that Crush was on his fantasy team. I congratulated him on his good pick-up.

There isn’t much else to talk about regarding this game. It was hideous, but it couldn’t completely kill my excitement over my first game of the year. It was nice to finally see some of the new faces in person – Hamilton, Bradley, Boggs, Ramirez, etc. I got a nice wave from Hamilton (although he had just finished signing when I got there) and Frankie Francisco as well.

After the game, I met back up with my friends and we went and saw “The Dark Knight” at the imax theater. This is a little OT, but well worth a mention. Such an amazing movie. I don’t usually get into the superhero-type films, but this was just … wow. Heath Ledger was absolutely captivating. If he doesn’t at least get an Oscar nom, there’s something wrong with Hollywood.

Sunday

The big 2-8 officially started with “The Dark Knight.” Then, after just a few hours of sleep, I was up and ready to get back to the Metrodome. I sincerely hoped my boys would give me the birthday gift of a win.

I arrived at the ‘dome around 11:30 a.m. unsure if the boys would take batting practice. But after their performance Saturday, I was happy to see they were swinging away. I noticed right away that Wash was tossing BP. Where’s Rudy? The outfielders had already hit, I guess, because Davis, Teagarden, Blalock and Saltalamacchia were the ones in the cage.

Only Salty and Feldman came over to sign autographs, and Salty was the only one I got to talk to. I really didn’t have anything for him to sign, so I just handed over my ticket. While he signed, I chatted him up a bit. Or at least tried to.
ME: Hey Jarrod.
SALTS: Hey there, how you doing?
ME: Good, good. How are you? Are you about ready to get out there again?
SALTS: I’m more than ready.
ME: Good to hear. I mean, I like Taylor and all, but I want to see more of what you can do.
SALTS: *smiles* Thanks, that’s nice to hear. Hopefully I’ll get out there again soon.
ME: Well, good luck the rest of the season.
SALTS: Thanks.

I also got a wave and a nod from Everyday Eddie. He is still quite well-known and heckled in Minnesota. You should have heard the folks around me when he came in to pitch the 8th. I wish I could remember what all they said, but it’s a blur now. And I’m getting ahead of myself anyway.

The Twins’ Baker looked amazing through five innings. I don’t know if his stuff was just working or if we were that off, or maybe it was a combination of the two. I was getting nervous that I would not only witness a loss on my birthday but that my Rangers would be the victims of a perfect game.

Thank goodness for Taylor Teagarden, who notched his first major league hit and home run in the same swing. I wanted to stand up and cheer, I was so excited for him (and, okay, for myself). But I restrained myself and just clapped from my seat.

It was good to see our closer isn’t the only one who likes to put a few on the bases before getting that third out. Joe Nathan looked pretty shaky in his one inning of work. I prayed the boys would put a few more runs on the board before C.J. Wilson came in. I wasn’t really in the mood for Mr. Drama King. I didn’t want him to ruin my birthday. Fortunately, although he made things interesting, he didn’t spoil it. He got the save, the Rangers got the 1-0 win and my birthday was a happy one.

After the game, I was not yet ready to leave, so I lingered above the Rangers dugout. I watched Teagarden do his interview and then receive his home run ball. I was sure to congratulate him on his first HR/hit, and he grinned at me. Nice day for him.

Finally, I made my way out of the ‘dome and sadly left behind my Rangers for the weekend. My birthday ended with a free ticket to the Neil Diamond concert. The venue was sold out and Neil didn’t disappoint. He’s an amazing performer. No surprise, really. He hasn’t been doing this for three decades on accident.

Overall, I’d call my birthday weekend a success. The Rangers loss may have been a downer, but it couldn’t spoil all three days. There were far more highlights to make up for it.

Also, here are my photos from the weekend. Warning: There are an inordinate amount of shots of Chris Davis and CJ Wilson. :-/

Looking back and looking ahead

2008-07-16T23:19:00.002-05:00

First, looking back....

Justin Morneau may have won the Home Run Derby, but the only hitter anyone is talking about is Josh Hamilton.

JD Drew won the All-Star Game MVP Award, but it was Michael Young who mercifully ended the game with a sac fly in the bottom of the 15th inning.

Simply put, the Rangers ruled the All-Star festivities. And I don't know when I've ever been so proud to be a Rangers fan as I have been the past few days. Okay, so I'm always proud to be a Rangers fan, but there's been an extra glow this week.

The funny thing is that everyone who knows me associates me with the team. This has it's ups and downs, of course. When the Rangers get blown out, no-hit (Buehrle) or simply stymied (Santana and Bedard last summer), I get looks and words of sympathy. And a few jabs. Likewise, when Josh Hamilton hits 28 homers in the span of about 30 minutes or the team drives in 30 runs in one game, people look for me to be on cloud nine (not beyond the realm of possibilities). I'm not sure where I was going for this, but I just thought it was interesting. I've had more phone calls and e-mails about my boys in the last few days than I've gotten since last August. Like I said, it's a lot of fun to be a Rangers fan right now.

Now, looking ahead...

I have a pretty great weekend ahead. Tomorrow night, I'm going to a Matt Nathanson concert on the river (granted it doesn't rain out). Then, Friday night, I'm headed to Minneapolis for a weekend with two of my former college roommates.

The Rangers gave me a nice gift this year by arranging to be in Minneapolis (4 hours away) on my birthday. That's right. I will be taking in my first Rangers game of 2008 this weekend, and probably the only two I'll get to this season. I have a PRIMO seat for the Sunday game. Afterall, that is the anniversary of my birth, so I decided to treat myself. I haven't yet bought a ticket for Saturday night, but I'm sure I'll be in the cheap seats since I think my friends (not really big into sports) will be accompanying me. I'm hoping to arrive at the Metrodome early both days to maximize my Rangers experience.

My birthday weekend will end with a Neil Diamond concert. Ha ha. Yeah, I'm serious. The ticket was free, so why not? :)

Gotta love a walk-off

2008-07-09T22:48:00.004-05:00

I saw two nice wins tonight, but -- no disregard to the Perry High School Bluejays -- the Rangers win was definitely the highlight of the night.

When I arrived home from the Bluejays' game, I did my best not to check in with Lonestar Ball (my FAVORITE group of people to watch a game "with") or go to any sports news sites. I moved swiftly through my recording of the game and caught up in the 7th inning.

What a nail-biter of a game, but I was thoroughly pleased with our pitcher-by-committee. Madrigal, Rupe, Francisco and Wright did exactly what was needed tonight. In fact, the Rangers were tied 2-2 when Francisco entered the game. And promptly surrendered that two-run homer to the Angels 4th outfielder, Juan Rivera. If not for Marlon Byrd, the gap might have been much bigger. He robbed the Angels of extra bases more than once. And Jamey Wright reached out and stabbed a liner in the top of the 8th.

As we headed into the 8th, I really wasn't sure we could make a comeback. I mean, I always hope we can, but it was not looking promising. Scot Shields had us completely flumoxed the other night and K-Rod, well, he's K-Rod. Shields continued his mastery tonight, but we got to K-Rod pretty fast. Ramon Vazquez earned a lead-off walk. Ian Kinsler struck out (rare occurence until tonight). Frank Catalanotto grounded out to first. Our hopes rested on Michael Young, and he kept the hopes alive by driving in Vazquez on a single. Then, he stole second while Josh Hamilton was at the plate. I was just hoping for an extra base hit, something Hammy hadn't had in...well, a long time.

Boy, did he makeup for lost time. A two-run, walk-off homer to right field to give the Rangers the win and a lead in the series!!!! I was absolutely out of my mind, screaming and whooping and jumping up and down. I'm shocked the Perry Police didn't arrive to cite me for disturbing the public.

KISS: Oh, it's sooo tempting to give it to Hamilton, but I really think I have to go with Michael Young tonight. He was 3 for 5 with a walk, and if not for his single in the 9th, Hamilton would not have had the chance to hit the homer. Young takes a lot of heat for not being a real flashy or emotional player, but, you know what, I'm still glad to have him on my team.

MISS: Frankie Francisco. He failed to strikeout anyone in his one inning of work. He allowed the two go-ahead runs and made my blood pressure rise uncomfortably.

But who really cares about the MISS, when the game ends like this...

Before the Rangers win, my presence was requested at Progressive Field here in Perry tonight for the baseball team's senior night. Other media folks have been giving me a hard time for claiming to be a big diamond fan and not attending a game. I've just been preoccupied with two jobs and Rangers basebally, I guess. So, I made an effort to go tonight and I was rewarded with a 7-4 Bluejay win. Starting pitcher Charlie Beeler worked a fantastic curve ball, pitching three scoreless innings. Meanwhile, the Bluejays offense scored o run in the 1st, five in the second and another one in the third. After three, Beeler moved to shortstop and the third baseman Travis Anderson came in to pitch. Anderson got rocked a little, but held onto the lead. With post-season play just 48 hours away, Coach Mike Long had to be careful with his pitching staff, and starting left fielder Tyler Cooklin came in to close out the game. Speaking of outfielders, Sam Stetzel and Drew Rinner had a pair of FANTASTIC grabs. If they were in the majors, they definitely would have been web gems. Despite giving up two home runs, the Bluejays defeated the Winterset Huskies 7-4 in their home closer.

Fresh face, solid arm

2008-07-08T22:18:00.002-05:00

I do my best to keep up with the Rangers' minor leaguers, but I had very little knowledge about Matt Harrison until tonight. The rookie, whom we acquired in a package for Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay last season, could not have had a tougher assignment for his major league debut. The first place Angels. And then an hour-long rain delay. But he didn't appear shaken one bit. He looks like he's 10, so maybe that youthfulness and some adrenaline helped him.

While Harrison was working his magic (more on that later), Ian Kinsler extended his 20-game hitting streak, Michael Young went 2-3 en route to his 10-game hitting streak and Chris Davis stroked his fifth homer since being called up less than a month ago. And they did all this against an Angels All-Star with pretty decent stuff.

I couldn't believe how many youngsters we had on the field tonight. With the exception of Young, Byrd and Bradley, everyone else was under the age of 30. Harrison and Davis are 22, and Salty and Duran are 23. Crazy. Just crazy.

KISS: Harrison. You couldn't ask more of this young man in his debut. He threw 97 pitches and went 7 innings. He allowed the Angels to score just two runs on five hits and one walk. He also had one strikeout. His groundball to flyball out ratio was 9-10 -- not entirely reassuring, but he has a lot of potential. I would like him to get another look and possibly be in the rotation next spring.

MISS: C.J. Wilson. He may have gotten the save, but he didn't do it in his dominating fashion. Strikes were hard to come by and he actually walked two. He gave up one hit and then hesitated on a come-backer that could have been a game-ending double-play.

Rollercoaster

2008-07-07T21:59:00.002-05:00

This game started with an epic low. Luis Mendoza (who previously looked pretty good in relief outings) surrendered eight runs to the Angels in just 1.1 innings. It was ugly, and I thought I might throw up.

Then, something strange happened. Dustin Nippert came in and pretty much shut down the Angels offense for the next seven innings. The lone run he gave up came on Torii Hunter's second HR of the evening.

Meanwhile, the home team cranked out a few runs of their own. Trailing 8-1 after 4.5 innings, they pounded out a five-run bottom of the 5th, courtesy of a three-run homer by David Murphy and a two-run bomb by Chris Davis. Good to see Murph getting his swing and timing back. He was 0 for 18 going into Sunday's game in Baltimore. He finished that day 2 for 4, and while he was just 1 for 5 tonight, he was robbed of two hits by Casey Kotchman.

But that was all they could muster. Despite having two on and no out in the 6th and then two on and two out in the 9th, they just couldn't bring any more home.

KISS: Dustin Nippert was absolutely spectacular tonight. I gave him a standing ovation in my own living room. He came into a nightmare of a game and brought the Rangers back to striking distance. He went 7 innings with 103 pitches. He walked one and gave up four hits while striking out four as well.

MISS: It'd be too easy to give it to Mendoza tonight. Michael Young was almost as disappointing. He was 1 for 5 with two Ks and four LOB. *sigh*

I apologize for not blogging after the finale in Baltimore. I was just so irked after the All-Star selections were announced that I couldn't bring myself to write anything. Don't get me wrong, I'm THRILLED that Josh Hamilton, Milton Bradley, Ian Kinsler and Michael Young will be representing the Rangers. I'm just mad that Kinsler will not be starting at 2B. Stupid Red Sox Nation. I don't even blame Pedroia. He didn't cast 34,000 votes for himself (I don't think). It's a bit reassuring that Rangers fans were able to get the vote that close, but still disappointing that they fell short. Ah well. At least we'll have four reps this year instead of the requisite one, right?

Newberg knows

2008-07-06T11:40:00.003-05:00

As always, Jamey Newberg describes Ian Kinsler's All-Star worthiness much better than I do.

Read his Sunday entry here.

The selection show is a little more than an hour away. I'm holding out hope that the NYP article was wrong, however naive that might be of me. I just don't want to believe that Kinsler wasn't voted in by the fans. If it holds true, it will only increase my hatred of the Red Sox.

Back in the win column

2008-07-05T23:02:00.002-05:00

I got a little greedy in New York. I wanted the sweep so badly that I had trouble appreciating a series win. But I put the game behind me (for the most part) and looked forward to Baltimore. Camden Yards just isn't nearly as intimidating of a venue as Yankee Stadium. I thought for sure my boys would be a little frustrated after game three with the Yankees and really come out swinging. Wrong. Vicente Padilla crumbled either from injury (strained neck muscle and bruised thumb) or ineffectiveness. Probably both. And Jeremy Guthrie seemed to have all his good stuff for our offense. The 10-4 loss was pretty tough to swallow. Thank goodness I had a Gimikk performance and fireworks to salvage my 4th of July and help me forget.

Today's game helped too, although the beginning wasn't so pretty. Scott Feldman looked like he was in trouble during his first swing through the Orioles' batting order. But then he settled down and kept it together, churning out another quality start and holding the O's to just three runs in six innings of work. His buddies in the bullpen -- Frankie Francisco, Eddie Guardado and C.J. Wilson -- helped him get his third win of the season by holding the orange birds scoreless.

Meanwhile, Scott finally got a little run support. There have been too many games where Scott was throwing well, but the bats just weren't going. But Kinsler lead off with a double and then Young singled him in to give the Rangers a first inning lead. They surrendered it temporarily in the bottom of the first, but they surged back in the 6th when German Duran hit a two-out double and then Kinsler followed up with a souvenir shot to left field. That was all they needed to secure the win, but they added another insurance run in the 8th as Max Ramirez crossed the plate when Michael Young hit into double play with no outs and the bases loaded.

Max Ramirez wasn't even supposed to be in the game, but Jarrod Saltalamacchia had to leave the game in the middle of his at bat in the top of the 6th. Turns out he has a strained right groin. Hopefully that won't keep him out for too long. We're already down one catcher (Laird) and our options for backup there aren't great. Don't get me wrong -- I think very highly of Ramirez and Teagarden (arguably our top catching prospects), but I do not want Teagarden leaving AAA (where he's playing nearly everyday) to come up to the bigs and sit on the bench. It's bad enough Ramirez is doing a lot of that now. If the call has to be made for another catcher, I sincerely hope the Rangers bring up Kevin Richardson instead. He's been in the system a long time, and most of the pitchers are very familiar with him. I remember once reading from C.J. Wilson that K-Rich calls the best game he's ever seen. C.J. doesn't dole out praise that's undeserved. At least not in my estimation.

Speaking of C.J., I love the version of him we've seen on this roadtrip. He is simply lights out. Whatever he did to get his mechanics and technique sorted out, I love it. He's working fast and getting strikeouts. Now that's a closer. Our closer.

I can't forget to mention German Duran. He said he got to the ballpark early today to work with Rudy Jaramillo. It was a much-needed session as Duran had been struggling at the plate lately. Although part of that is due to his extended time on the bench behind the hot Ramon Vazquez. Coming into tonight's game, Duran was just 4 for his last 24. Tonight, he went 3 for 3 with two runs scored. Keep it up, kid.

KISS: Ian Kinsler. He extended his hit streak to 17 games (though he'll probably have to double it to get much attention from that sports network) and went 2 for 3 with two RBI. It was his home run that made all the difference in the game and his penchant for lead-off doubles is hot.

MISS: Byrd, Davis and Saltalamacchia. All three of them have BAs in the lower-.200 range. Tonight, they were a combined 0 for 12. Davis' outing tonight really doesn't concern me too much. I do worry about the other two. I loved Byrd's contributions last year and I still want to see Salty really break out. I think he's capable of it, he just hasn't managed it yet.

TBS will announce the All-Star Game starting lineup tomorrow at 1 p.m. CST this is during the Rangers/Orioles game, so I'm not sure how I'll keep up with both (I guess that's what DVR is for, but I want to watch both LIVE!!). If you believe the New York Post's article, the lineups have already been leaked. I can't find the link now, which makes me think it's a hoax. Of course, I don't want to believe it, but I'm sure it will prove to be true. If it is, Kinsler failed to beat Boston's Dustin Pedroia out for the start at 2B. Absolute crap. Stupid east coast bias. I'm so sick of it. Kinsler is the better player. Hands down. He'll be there either way. That much, I'm sure of. And if he doesn't start, it means just one thing -- when he replaces Pedroia late in the game, he'll have the game-winning hit and win the ASG MVP Award just like Young did a few years ago. That's not such a bad consolation prize.

We all know Hamilton and Young will likely make this year's roster. I'd like to see Milton Bradley go as well. The guy's been such a contributor to this team. On the National League side, I, of course, voted mostly for Cubs. They are my NL team, afterall. I still love DeRosa like he's a Ranger, and I'm absolutely giddy over the season Geovany Soto is having as catcher. I watched him for a long time in Iowa, wondering when he'd get the call-up. The Cubs infuriated me by continuing to try and find other catching options (Jason Kendall anyone?) when their gem was biding his time and tearing up AAA. I guess he's showing them now. He's currently sitting on a .291 batting average with 14 dingers and 51 RBI. Not too shabby for a rookie!!!

Two out of three ain't bad

2008-07-02T21:15:00.005-05:00

The Rangers seem to be singing this tune a lot this season.

It's funny, really. I had hoped we'd go into Yankee Stadium and take one. But once we took two, I got greedy. And just like a player who just hit a double but tries to stretch it into a triple, I got burned. I feel so sick right now, and, you know, I feel guilty feeling that way. Maybe I wouldn't if tonight's loss hadn't been so ugly. That 7th inning was just pitiful. I felt so bad for Warner Madrigal. I was anxious to see him pitch, but I'm not sure bringing him into a one-run game to face the heart of the Yankee order was the appropriate debut for him.

*sigh*

I need to just be happy that the Rangers won the series and move on. In light of that, let's just skip straight to the awards for the night...

KISS: Chris Davis. He has hit in every game he's gotten into so far since being called up last week. I bet he'll be talking about tonight's homer -- to centerfield in Yankee Stadium -- for years to come. It was a beauty. And he showed off that glove I saw in Des Moines a little over a month ago too.

MISS: Ron Washington. I know the bullpen was maxed out, but I think he should have put Wright in for the 7th inning. Instead, he let Madrigal get "baptized by inferno" (Josh Lewin's words...so appropriate). I just hope Madrigal can shake this off and get back up on the bump. He has better stuff than what we saw tonight.

Kinsler loves Yankee Stadium

2008-07-01T21:36:00.002-05:00

I'm so amped up right now. I'm not sure I can put two sentences together. But I'm sure gonna try. These boys DESERVE it.

Ian Kinsler has shown all season why he should be in the All-Star Game. But in this series, he's stepped up another notch. Clearly, Ian LOVES playing in Yankee Stadium. And so he should be playing there on July 15. And not just playing. STARTING. I've cast 500 votes for him on my own. And I'm not sure I'm done yet :) Especially not after tonight. More on that later. You know where it's going.

These close games have increased my blood pressure substantially. The ups and downs are almost too much. But they sure make the wins that much more gratifying.

I absolutely love that my boys have marched into Yankee Stadium and won a series from the much-feared and overpaid New York Yankees. If I'm this thrilled, how must the players feel? I'm not sure I'd blame them for breaking out a little champagne (or sparking grape juice in the case of Josh Hamilton and C.J. Wilson). Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating a bit. But can any Rangers fan really say they aren't celebrating this series?

Just like Monday night, it was a pitcher's duel out there. While National League play seemed to muffle our offense, it turned our pitching up a notch. Millwood kicked it off and had a great game cooking out there. He went five innings and struck out six. He allowed just one run on five hits and four walks. He also took a shot off his upper shin, and apparently that was what chased him from the game and brought Rupe in for the 6th and 7th innings. He got knocked around a little and the Yankees were able to tie the score at 2, but then Rupe calmed down and got it done. Frankie Francisco was, once again, awesome. He was throwing strikes -- and hard ones -- out there. After 12 pitches, he had his team headed back to the dugout with a still tied game. C.J. Wilson made us sweat it a little bit in the bottom of the 9th. Spotted a one-run lead, he walked the first batter on four pitches, but then managed a double play, a groundout and a fist pump to end the game.

KISS: Ian Michael Kinsler. He was 2 for 3 with two walks and two stolen bases. He dialed his BA back up to .324. Without his smart base running, the Rangers would not have gotten that run for the lead in the 9th. He is the best leadoff hitter in baseball right now. I dare someone to prove me wrong.

MISS: David Murphy and Josh Hamilton each went 0 for 4 with a walk. And at this point, I'm not sure who's going to bust out of his slump first. Pitchers seem to have figured Hamilton out, and he just needs to make some adjustments. I haven't figured out what Murphy needs to do. Hopefully both of them can get back on it again soon.

I would love to see a sweep tomorrow, but it's not gonna be easy. Mendoza vs. Ponson. Whew. Either way, I'll be here :)

Stuff the ballot box

2008-06-30T21:52:00.004-05:00

Double-post tonight. But it's worth it.

I'm a homer...I know it. I vote for my boys EVERY YEAR in the All-Star balloting. This year is a bit different though. I'm still voting for them, but this year, I feel like they REALLY deserve it.

Ian Kinsler is 2nd in 2B voting. Yet he's WAY ahead of Dustin Pedroia in offensive categories. Kinsler -- .321 BA, 13 HR, 50 RBI, 72 R, 20 SB, 26 2Bs, .911 OPS. Pedroia -- .304 BA, 8 HR, 37 RBI, 53 R, 9 SB, 23 2Bs, .790 OPS. The choice is clear.

Michael Young is...well, he's Michael Young. I know his numbers aren't real flashy, but he's consistent. He's steady. I feel good with Young on my team.

Josh Hamilton. Do I really need to campaign for him at all? He's done it all for himself. He's a Triple Crown threat and great guy all around. I mean, the guy already has 80 RBI. Well ahead of the ASB.

Milton Bradley. I was not thrilled with his signing in the off-season, but he has won my affections. He's contributed and behaved. The guys seem to love him in the clubhouse, and that always wins points with me. I put a lot of weight on off-the-field contributions.

Frank Catalanotto is still hanging in there at DH, and may just be the best pinch hitter in the majors.

And, of course, I've been writing in David Murphy for OF, even though I know it's a long shot. I still heart him.

Rangers fans -- let's send our boys to Yankee Stadium for the mid-summer classic. On Tuesday, July 1 (the last day of internet voting), several fans will be staging a Great Ranger Vote. I plan to make my contribution during the game.

Click here to vote.

You can vote 25 times per e-mail address. When you run out of your own e-mail address(es), you can use any XXXX@dodgit.com extension and it’ll act like a real email.

Vote and vote often.

Gut-wrenching, heart-pounding, WONDERFUL win

2008-06-30T21:19:00.006-05:00

Who goes into Yankee Stadium with a one run lead in the bottom of the ninth and retires A-Rod, Giambi and Posada?

Ah...that's right, it's C.J. WILSON.

My stomach was a bundle of nerves when the Rangers' closer made his way in from the bullpen. I'd already experienced the heartbreak of seeing Eddie Guardado making a premature exit due to an unknown injury. Poor Everyday Eddie. And I had been thrilled from the ELECTRIFYING performance of Jamey Wright. But I always get nervous for my favorites (I couldn't eat the whole day of Kameron Loe's first career start. True story, even if it's a sad one), so it's no surprise that I began biting my nails when C.J. came in.

C.J. showed no signs of similar feelings, though. In fact, this might have been the most confident I've seen him in a long time. He kept his cool out there and threw good pitches to some very good hitters. Maybe his weekend save and productive outing (Sunday) helped build his confidence. Either way, I screamed loudly with EACH OUT he notched in the 9th inning.

Honestly, this was a pretty great game all around. The offense wasn't overpowering, but the defense didn't make any mistakes and the pitchers kept the Yankees (save A-Rod) from crossing homeplate.

KISS: I think this has to be a collective award for all of tonight's pitchers -- Feldman, Francisco, Wright and Wilson. They held the Bronx Bombers to four hits (and only one was a bomb, really) and only gave them three free passes. They also struck out six. Nice to see Feldy finally get his first win, and it's good to see the bullpen holding their own as well.

MISS: Milton Bradley, who was 0 for 4 with 4 Ks. All that time off in interleague play was not good for Bradley. But he'll get back on track soon, I'm sure of it.

Two games over .500 feels good. Let's keep it rolling boys. I'd love to have a winning record as we head into the all-star break, but the road to that goal won't be easy with the Yankees, Orioles, Angels and White Sox in the way. We'll just have to take it one day and one game at a time.

My stimulus check arrived recently, and while most of it will be spent responsibly (eliminating debt), I decided to use a small portion of it to buy myself a birthday present. So, on my 28th birthday, I will be sitting seven rows from the field near the Rangers dugout in the HHH Metrodome in Minneapolis. (Yeah, I decided I'm going even if I have to sleep in my car in downtown Minneapolis and cyphon gas from other cars to get home. Not really. But I may have to make a few sacrfices to make it work.) I am so giddy, I can hardly stand it. :) Keep an eye out for my perennial Rangers-related birthday wish list :)

I'm looking forward to seeing my boys in person for the first (and probably only) time all season that weekend. I'm disappointed that gas prices and my job will hold me to two Rangers games this season, but I'll take what I can get. That's part of why I don't feel so bad splurging on a good seat.

P.S. Chris Davis is a lot of fun to watch. And look at. I might be developing a crush.

Slacker returns

2008-06-29T22:29:00.003-05:00

I'm referring to myself in that headline ... not one of my beloved Rangers. :) I'm not sure who could be referred to as a slacker on that roster anyhow. Sure, a few of them have had slumps and bad games, but as far as I can tell, none of them are slackers. Even when they go 0 for 5 or allow 3 HRs, they're still giving all they've got that day. Some days, it just doesn't work as well as others. I have days like that, so they're allowed them as well.

The team is still hovering around that .500 mark, but the past few weeks have not been without their share of excitement. I'm speaking, of course, of the infusion of young blood. Eric Hurley, Max Ramirez and Chris Davis have all made their major league debuts ... and have lived up to the hype that preceded them. Ramirez had his first hit and home run on the same night -- his first night starting at catcher. Davis has hit a home run in each of his two starts. Hurley earned his first win today against a tough Phillies offense, and has a respectable 4.24 ERA over three starts. The future has arrived in Arlington, and it's been very fun to watch.

It was nice to get a series win against the Phillies. They might be slumping now, but they are a pretty formidable team. They've been in the playoffs the last two seasons and will likely be in the picture again this fall. Josh and Tom were comparing Ian to Chase Utley on Saturday night, and that's quite a compliment. Though I'm not sure to who. I guess both. I have great respect for Chase, and Kinsler is quietly gaining some respect of his own. I missed Friday night's game because I was out with friends, but I did witness Saturday night's unfortunate outcome and today's clincher. I had even more interest in this series than most because I had a bet with a co-worker (and big time Phillies fan). He now owes me lunch one day this week. YAY!

My boys now head to the House of Pain in New York for a three-game set with the Yankees. This will be the Rangers' first series with the Bronx Bombers for 2008, and, even though the Yankees aren't posting a formidable record this year, I'm still a little nervous about it. I'm looking forward to Wednesday night's match up between Mendoza and Ponson, however. Ponson made a not-so-graceful exit from Arlington just a few weeks ago, so it'll be interesting to see how the first reunion goes. I'm hoping my boys just completely light him up.

Because of my long absence, I will refrain from giving a KISS or MISS with this entry, but I promise to return to regular blogging soon.

Leaving the Capitol with a series win

2008-06-22T19:29:00.002-05:00

Friday night's game was not just long, it was disappointing. I don't mind sitting through a 14-inning game if it results in a win. But that didn't happen. The Rangers dropped the game 4-3 to the pitiful Washington Nationals. That must have fired them up for Saturday's game because they broke it open with a 13-3 pounding. They eeked out a second win of the weekend (and the series win) today by a score of 5-3 (threes were wild, apparently).

When C.J. came out there in the 9th today, there was a different air about him than there has been the last few times out. It's no secret he's been struggling. Even he admitted it. But in struggle, there can be growth. C.J., hopefully, has gone that route, and he certainly looked it today. He came out throwing strikes and needed just 13 pitches to retire the Nationals in the bottom of the 9th. That's what a closer's line should look like.

My heart broke when Gerald Laird came up injured. He's been having a great season, and to see him faceplant into the field after legging out a bunt hit to first. Apparently, he really strained his right hamstring and will be out for about a month. Poor Gerry.

On the flipside, it was fun to see the debut of Max Ramirez, even if he's still looking for that first hit. That's alright. Houston is waiting.

I wish I had more thoughts, but my head is so congested they're getting lost. Stupid allergies. Probably from all the water (and subsequent mold).

I have my sights set on taking in a pair of Rangers games in Minneapolis in July. That's the weekend of my birthday, so I think I deserve to treat myself. Now, I just need to find the money for tickets, fuel and food. *crosses fingers*

Byrd carries Rangers past hometown team

2008-06-17T21:51:00.003-05:00

Tonight was supposed to be Mark Teixeira's homecoming, but an Atlanta native showed him up instead. Marlon Byrd made his one hit of the night count, sending it out of the yard. In between at bats, he was flashing a little leather as well, and the bullpen should buy him dinner tonight.

I'll admit it -- I was a little nervous about seeing Tex play AGAINST my Rangers tonight. I wasn't sure how I would feel. Isn't that always how it is when you see your ex with his new woman for the first time? Tex was and will always be my first baseball love, but he's moved on, and apparently so have I. I felt no sense of regret, remorse or old love surfacing when I saw him in the batter's box tonight. I think it's safe to say I'm over him. I won't necessarily always cheer for him, but I'm not likely to "boo" him either (it's lame and I owe him more than that).

Vicente Padilla had a perfect game rolling through four. I'm not sure who jinxed him. Maybe it was Padilla himself. But, unfortunately, it came to an end. Ah well. A perfect game will have to come another day. As it turns out, the Rangers were lucky to eek out a win! They had a six run lead through five and then gave up two in the top of the sixth. The real nail-biter innings were 8 and 9, in which Eddie Guardado gave up a three-run homer and then C.J. surrendered a lead-off double. But Ceej calmed down after that and got two groundouts and a flyout. He also showed off some impressive hops to get that second out. Maybe he was watching the Lakers & Celtics before warming up.

KISS: Gerald Laird. He was 2 for 4 with a stolen base and a run scored. He also had a decent night behind the dish. (He won't be quite so happy when he checks in on his beloved Lakers after the game.)

MISS: It's gotta be Guardado. Not long ago, Wash said Everyday Eddie was his 8th inning man. I actually felt pretty good about that, but tonight was not encouraging. Guardado walked two and then gave up a homer in his one inning of work. His ERA was below 3 entering the game, and he finished with a 4.03. Ouch.

Speaking of "ouch," Milton Bradley suffered a strained quad muscle early in the game. It's a shame too, because the league's hottest hitter was 1 for 2 with two RBI. He was on his way to a nice game. Hopefully he won't be out too long.

Rain, losses go away

2008-06-15T23:36:00.002-05:00

A .500 roadtrip is far from exciting, but I'll take it. After salvaging two of three in Kansas City, the Rangers dropped two of three in New York against the Mets. Ironically, the Mets' manager has endured criticism and rumors similar to Ron Washington. In April, many speculated Washington would be the first to lose his job this season. Now, it may be Willie Randolph. Call me a softie, but I just don't see what good it would do to fire either of them mid-season. Besides, Randolph has done a good job in the past. But the end of 2007 and the start of 2008 have been disappointing for the overzealous New York fans. I know losing isn't fun, but you can't win every year. Just ask the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team. You also can't continue to lose every year. Just ask the Kansas Jayhawks football team.

Thoughts on Friday's game:
Scott Feldman started out well, with the exception of that balk (which I'm still confused about). He even got his first career hit, but I think running the bases or at least being on the basepath for extended period of time got to him because he unraveled after that, and the Rangers ended up losing 7-1. Texas' lone run came on a Josh Hamilton homer. I wonder how many different ballparks he has homered in now? Do you suppose he will catch Sosa's record someday?

Thoughts on Sunday's first game:
Kevin Millwood looked really good. He battled out there, and while he didn't get a hit (like the other two Rangers pitchers), he kept his team in it and gave them an opportunity to win. A series of misplays endangered the Rangers' 8-2 lead in the bottom of the 8th and the bottom of the 9th. Fortunately, the boys held on and eeked out an 8-7 win.

Thoughts on Sunday's second game:
Kason Gabbard didn't walk anyone. I think that's a very poignant statement, given the fact that was his major weakness before taking a trip down to Oklahoma. Whatever he did to fix it, I hope he hangs onto that and becomes the solid lefty we need in this rotation. He also got his first major league hit, a nice base knock to right-center actually. He had the lead until the 3rd inning, and the game remained tied for three more innings before the loss became official. For some reason, the Rangers decided to intentionally walk Tatis with two out and two on. They had to know Randolph would pinch hit for Martinez, even though he was pitching well. A guy appropriately named Cancel came in to pinch hit and Gabbard was up 0-2 on him before Cancel connected on a two-run single.

My KISS for the series: Ramon Vazquez. Even though he was 0 for 3 in the second game today and didn't even play Friday, Vazquez still gets the honor. I'm beginning to think he really likes game one of double-headers. He was 3 for 4 with 4 RBI in the first game today. (Let's not forget he drove in the final three runs during that historic 30-3 Baltimore killing last season.)

My MISS for the series: I was pretty mad about Ian Kinsler's baserunning today. With two outs and Josh Hamilton at the plate, Ian got caught in a rundown between 1st and 2nd.

((It should be noted that today's games are the only ones I actually got to watch, so that's why my KISS and MISS came from those games.))

I swear I will soon get back in the habit of blogging after every game. Life has just been a bit crazy lately. Friday night, I was up all night and ended up walking eight miles in our annual Relay For Life. (And I realized I forgot the link in that last entry, so it's there this time, and your donations are still welcome!) I crashed all day Saturday and then headed to my hometown for my class reunion.

And if you know where I live and have been paying attention to national headlines, you might know where part of that insanity comes from. Yes, Iowa has been deluged with rain and storms in the past few weeks. Des Moines, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids have probably gained the most attention, but there are surely several smaller communities equally as drenched. Fortunately, I am not in one of them. We had minor flood concerns near our water plant, but as far as I know, everything is a-okay. I'm about sick of the rain by now, and I would really be okay if I didn't see any rain for another month.

That is, of course, unless I can see the Rangers sliding around in it like they did in Shea Stadium on Saturday night. Ha ha!! That footage is classic!! And a real reminder that these guys are really just overgrown boys :)

Ready for interleague play

2008-06-13T13:23:00.004-05:00

Wow, I've fallen off the blogging bandwagon lately. It's a shame, too, because the Rangers actually won their series in KC. Despite some sloppy play, they managed to take the first two games from the Royals. Too bad they couldn't hold up for a sweep and a win for Eric Hurley in his major league debut. But I'll take two out of three. Remember what Meatloaf said.

Overall, I thought Hurley had a nice debut. It wasn't great, but it wasn't awful. It was just nice. The flyballs (12 of his outs were flyballs, and he also gave up two homers) may get him in trouble, but he didn't walk anyone. At least he's throwing strikes. And he held it together out there for six innings and 92 pitches. With a little more work, I see him as a solid addition to the Rangers starting rotation of the future.

My KISS for the series undoubtedly goes to David Murphy. The guy often listed as a 4th outfielder is proving his bat is needed in the everday lineup. During the KC series, he was 4 for 12 with 7 RBI, one walk and two Ks. Five of those runs were driven in Wednesday night's game, in which David had a grand slam and a solo shot.

My MISS for the series probably goes to Frank Catalanotto. His defense at 1B made me cringe, and he didn't bat that well either -- 1 for 7 with a walk and one run scored. I don't know what the 1B solution is -- Chris Shelton is hit or miss, and he's our only other option.

The hottest story of the KC series was Milton Bradley's emotional outburst after a KC announcer unfavorably compared him to Josh Hamilton. While I don't think Milton did the right thing by rushing up to the booth (thankfully Wash and JD stopped him), I do sympathize with his feelings. He and Josh Hamilton both came on as "risky" signings, based solely on their off-field struggles, yet they've both had well-above average seasons so far, but Hamilton is getting all the praise, and Bradley is getting very little. That would probably bother me too. No matter how much Bradley likes Hamilton (and I have a feeling they're pretty good pals), there's still an ego to check, and that can be hard to swallow sometimes. Ryan Lefebvre's comments Wednesday night may have just been the final straw for Bradley. Upon reading and hearing them, I think Lefebvre was way out of line and unprofessional. His job is to comment on players' performances, not their personalities. I can't recall ever hearing the Rangers announcers make similar comments about opposing players. Even Tom Grieve's rant about Richie Sexson in the infamous batting helmet incident were about Sexson's performance as a player. Lefebvre will, no doubt, receive no reprimand, and Bradley will just need to buck up, ignore it and make Lefebvre look like an idiot by proving his assessment wrong.

I will miss two of this weekend's games ... for good reason. Tonight, I'm participating in my fourth Relay For Life. (You can click on that link to contribute, if you wish!) Tomorrow night, I'm attending my 10-year high school reunion. I can't believe it's been 10 years already. Sunday is Father's Day and I have to work at 1 p.m., but hopefully I'll be home in time to catch most of the game.

I love interleague play because I get a kick out of our pitchers swinging a bat. (And interleague play was pretty kind to us last year, as I recall.) Too bad Kameron Loe is back in OKC. He swung the bat pretty well last year in Pittsburgh -- he was 1 for 2 with a walk. He set the bar high for Millwood, Feldman, Gabbard, Padilla and company in the upcoming interleague matchups.

Speaking of Feldman, here's a feel good story for Father's Day weekend.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder?

2008-06-08T19:04:00.004-05:00

Pardon my temporary absence from blogging. I had a crazy end of the week (between car problems, a sick cat and extra work) and the games weren't all that inspiring either. As you know by now, I don't like writing negative things about my boys. I suppose it goes back to that, "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."

Today, the Rangers beat the Rays' sweep by jumping out ahead early. They got on the board in the first inning with a David Murphy solo shot. Ramon Vazquez and German Duran decided they wanted in on the long ball action too, driving in a combined three runs with their homers.

Meanwhile Doug Mathis showed the better of his two selves and pitched well. Even the outing-ending home run wasn't a bad pitch -- Upton went and got a high one. I'm fine keeping Mathis around in the rotation for awhile if today's version shows up more often. Frankie Francisco and Eddie Guardado retained the win for Mathis, but C.J. Wilson had to add some drama in the bottom of the 9th. Single. Strikeout. Reach on error. Sac fly and run. Walk. Strikeout. Hello Win Column!

KISS: Again, it's gotta be Milton Bradley. Bradley was just 1 for 2, but he drew three walks. With Hamilton out of the lineup, the Rays were more hesitant to pitch to Bradley.

MISS: Brandon Boggs, who was 0 for 5 with three strikeouts and eight men left on base.

It was a strange game, with Michael Young (finger and strained groin) and Josh Hamilton (viral infection) both out. Hopefully the two days of rest (tomorrow's an off-day) will help them get back into gear.

Tom Grieve called his final game today before seeking treatment for prostate cancer. I wish TAG all the best and look forward to his return as Josh's sidekick.

Also, don't forget to vote for our OKL boys for the Triple-A All-Star game!

Tomorrow's an off-day -- the first of three off-Mondays this month. Any requests on something for me to write about?

Rangers send Indians packing with a split

2008-06-05T23:03:00.002-05:00

These last two days are exactly why I love baseball. You can have a (really) bad game, and then turn around and have a great game. There's not much time to dwell on the loss before you just have to and get to move on. Love it.

The wind whipped through the ballpark tonight and the hits flew out. At first, it looked like that might not be a good thing. Kevin Millwood, in his second start after coming off the DL, gave up four runs in the first inning. It looked ugly. Especially when the Rangers failed to get on the board in the bottom half of the inning. But Millie went back out there and gutted it out. Beginning with the second inning, Millwood sat down 13 consecutive batters, and the Indians were done scoring for the night.

The Rangers, however, were just getting started. They strung together some timely hits in the bottom of the second and put a three-spot on the board. Milton Bradley singled in Michael Young in the third to tie the game, and then Young singled in Gerald Laird in the sixth to give the Rangers the lead. They never looked back.

That double steal by Kinsler and Young was a thing of beauty. In fact, the Rangers were hot on the basepaths tonight, with three stolen bases. The Indians didn't have any. Guess they could use Kenny Lofton again. Or maybe they were just afraid of Gerald Laird's arm. I would be.

KISS: Milton Bradley. He was 3 for 4 tonight with two RBI and no Ks. He hasn't gotten very much attention this season, conceding that to Josh Hamilton. But Bradley has contributed to this team in a big way. And I'm sure fans don't even know the half of what he brings to this team. Not unless they're hanging out in the clubhouse.

MISS: Josh Hamilton had a rare 0 for 4, RBI-less night. He did get on base once, with a walk. I think Hamilton's allowed a few off-games, however, with all he's already done this season. He'll get back on track soon.

All in all, it was a really fun game to watch. Especially after a great draft day for the organization. I was shocked when I received a text message that said the Rangers had taken college 1B Justin Smoak as their first pick. For all of the draft predictions I'd read, his name had not come up. From what I understand, the Rangers didn't think he'd be available at #11, but there he was, and they snatched him up. Josh Lewin said the kid can be described as the Mark Teixeira starter kit. Woot! Is it too much to hope he's in Clinton next summer so I can go see him play??

The Rays come into town this weekend. Once again, the Rangers get to start the series with the tough Scott Kazmir. Texas counters with Vicente Padilla, fresh of bereavement leave. I hope whatever pulled Padilla from the team has been remedied and he's ready to deal again.

Impressive offense, depressing outcomes

2008-06-04T23:17:00.003-05:00

In the series with the Indians, the Rangers have scored 30 runs. The problem is, they've given up 35. And they're down in the series 1-2, with one game to go. Against C.C. Sabbathia. I don't care if he is struggling lately. He's still a strong pitcher, and he'll come around. Heck, he may even come around tomorrow.

The only things worth noting about this series are...

- Marlon Byrd's grand slam was beautiful.
- Josh Hamilton just continues to drive in runs. I'm not sure anyone can really stop him.
- Michael Young and Ian Kinsler have 20- and 19-game hitting streaks.
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia's offense seems to be picking up.

Of course, all of this feels like it's for naught when you look at the game results. In fact, I'm sure the boys don't care much about how many runs they've driven in or how many hits they got when there's no "Hello Win Column" on the scoreboard after the last pitch.

I actually felt bad for Sidney Ponson having to pitch on three days rest tonight. All in all, I though he held up as well as can be expected in those circumstances. His wingman, Elizardo Ramirez, had a great 5th inning then just seemed to crumble. That was NOT the Lizard I saw with the Redhawks. Not sure what happened to him. But, hey, Kam Loe looked great when he came out. Let's hope he sticks around. I'm sure Angel would like him to stay in Dallas for awhile.

I'm not really in the mood to offer a KISS or MISS tonight. Sorry. It's been an exhausting week (even outside of baseball). My car is giving my trouble. My cat has an ear infection. Work has been stressful. The weather is awful. And there are other things too, but those are far too personal for this blog. Anyway...things have to look up soon, right?

Maybe they already have. Several sources are saying Jason Botts has been acquired by the Nippon Ham Fighters. Sayonara, Bottsie. I will sincerely miss you and continue to keep an eye on your career. May you come back to haunt the Rangers someday. Kind of like David Dellucci has done this series. I know Amy's smiling from heaven. Not that DD helped beat her beloved Rangers, but that he's done pretty well this season.

So, now Bottsie has to move out of my top five. *sniff* That means everyone else moves up and the #5 option opens up. Not for too long. I already had a candidate waiting in the wings. Who else? Josh Hamilton. So that brings my list to --

1. Kameron Loe
2. Ian Kinsler
3. C.J. Wilson
4. David Murphy
5. Josh Hamilton

Kind of an odd assortment, huh??

Well, time to get to bed. Maybe if I sleep soundly enough I can pretend tonight's game never happened.

Rangers finish the weekend even again

2008-06-01T19:51:00.003-05:00

I spent the afternoon on the road and thus missed the final game of the Rangers/As series. Text alerts were my only connection, and I tried to keep up as best I could. I was bummed when I received the final text that the Rangers had lost 13-8.

I had to find out how they lost, so the first thing I did when I got home was check the box score. Apparently, the 7th inning was the Rangers' undoing. Scott Feldman lasted six innings and left the game with a 7-4 lead (well, when he actually left the mound, it was 4-2 in Oakland's favor, but his offense put a five-spot in the bottom half). Handed a three-run lead, Jamey Wright and Robinson Tejeda both failed to get an out and allowed a combined seven runs on four hits and three walks. Francisco finally came in and put out the fire, but not before giving up two more runs on two hits. Josh Rupe pitched the final two innings of the game and held the As scoreless, but the damage was already done. Not even a Josh Hamilton homer in the bottom of the 9th could undo the disarray.

So, the Rangers are back at .500 with the Indians coming into town for four. Although my boys couldn't expand their above-median record (and overtake Oakland for second place in the West), it was still a good weekend. The Rangers won the series and lead the season series 6-3. I really don't feel like I can complain when it's put in that perspective.

Since I didn't actually see or hear the game, I don't feel like I can give a KISS or MISS today. Instead, I'll just share my photos and video from Clinton.

Lots of pictures here

And, as promised, video of Blake Beavan's juggling talents. This wasn't his best showcase of the afternoon, but it was the best one I could capture. He spent much of the time trying to teach Jorge Qunitero and Hector Nelo how to juggle. It was entertaining, to say the least.

Things I learned in Clinton

2008-06-01T00:55:00.003-05:00

- The fans here love the Lumberkings.

- If baseball doesn't work out, Blake Beavan could join the circus as a juggler. He has some skills.

- Speaking of Beavan, he may be cocky, but he's also quite personable. He stopped to chat with several fans and never said "no" to an autograph request.

- Engel Beltre's first name is pronounced "En-yel" not "Ing-gul."

- Beloit probably has the Midwest League's tallest and shortest players on their roster. Infielder Chris Cates is 5'3" (but an above average four-tool player...at least I only saw four tools tonight) and pitcher Loek Van Mil is 7'1".

- Don't leave early...you'll miss the good stuff.

After a 32-minute rain delay, I departed Alliant Energy Field as the Lumberkings were trailing 6-5 in the middle of the 8th. If I didn't have friends waiting for me to arrive in Dubuque (an hour-plus drive) to stay at their house, I probably would have stayed. But as it was it was nearing 10 p.m. But I listened to the rest of the game, and since it took another hour, I'm glad I didn't stay for it.

Apparently, after I left, I missed two fireworks shows. One during the game and one after. I'm not sure exactly what went down, but eight players (four from each team) were ejected after a benches-clearing brawl behind homeplate. It took umpires and coaches another 25 minutes (this was after the long rain delay) to sort out who was playing and what was going on. As far as I can figure out, there was some kind of interference and then some players just got into it. I'm anxious to find out what really happened. And I'm actually kind of sorry I missed it. I don't know that I've ever seen a baseball brawl in person.

I did, however, get to see some great baseball although the first few innings didn't look promising. Derek Holland, who was 5-0 coming into tonight's game, crumbled in the top of the 2nd inning. He walked the first batter and the next batter reached on a bunt. The defense managed a force out after that, but then Holland walked the next batter to load the bases. Three consecutive doubles later, the score was 5-0 in favor of the visiting Beloit Snappers. Finally, Holland got the third out, but the interim was painful.

It looked like Holland might earn his first loss of the season, but the tides began to change, and the game shifted in the bottom of the 5th. With one out, Matt Lawson reached on a bunt single. Miguel Alfonzo then struck out, and it appeared the Lumberkings would strand their third baserunner of the night. Engel Beltre kept the inning going with a soft fly single and Renny Osuna walked to load the bases. Mitch Moreland stepped up and delivered in a big way. With one swing, he cleared the bases and brought the Lumberkings to within a run.

Much like their big brothers on the Rangers have done several times this year, the Lumberkings didn't let a five-run defecit discourage them. They rallied and brawled their way to an 8-6 win.

Engel Beltre, before getting ejected in that 8th inning brawl, had a great night. The centerfielder was 4 for 5 and had more than one spectacular catch. Miguel Alfonzo played some nice defense too, including an outfield assist to nail Beloit's Joe Benson at the plate.

KISS: It's gotta be Moreland. The man was 2 for 5 and drove in four runs. He also played some great right field.

MISS: Probably Holland. He just didn't seem to have it out there. In three innings, he surrendered five runs on five hits and three walks. He also struck out a pair, but it wasn't a pretty outing.

I'll have pictures tomorrow (I took about 50) and some video of Beavan's mad juggling skills.

I was thrilled to see the Rangers won tonight. By all accounts, Ponson left his struggles in Tampa and came out strong. The team is now above .500 again, and I'm really hoping for the sweep tomorrow. I won't get to see the game, however, because MLB EI isn't airing it. What's up with that?!

And, we're back...

2008-05-30T21:43:00.006-05:00

...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

2008-05-29T15:16:00.011-05:00

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

2008-05-28T17:07:00.002-05:00

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

2008-05-27T21:57:00.002-05:00

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)

2008-05-26T20:53:00.003-05:00

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

2008-05-26T17:52:00.004-05:00

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

2008-05-25T18:15:00.009-05:00

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

2008-05-25T12:40:00.005-05:00

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

2008-05-24T23:09:00.003-05:00

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

2008-05-23T23:51:00.011-05:00

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

2008-05-23T22:30:00.004-05:00

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

2008-05-22T22:37:00.004-05:00

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

2008-05-21T21:37:00.004-05:00

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!

2008-05-21T16:47:00.003-05:00

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

2008-05-19T21:51:00.012-05:00

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'

2008-05-18T19:28:00.007-05:00

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

2008-05-16T21:20:00.024-05:00

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

2008-05-09T21:18:00.005-05:00

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

2008-05-09T00:12:00.003-05:00

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

2008-05-08T22:39:00.003-05:00

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

2008-05-07T23:07:00.014-05:00

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 :)

2008-05-06T23:46:00.005-05:00

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

2008-05-05T23:13:00.011-05:00

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

2008-05-04T16:47:00.009-05:00

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..."

2008-05-03T23:35:00.009-05:00

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

2008-05-02T23:38:00.004-05:00

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.

Never get comfortable

2008-04-30T22:34:00.002-05:00

You'd think a fan could get comfortable with a 9-1 lead. Not this fan. Not tonight.

That wind looked nasty. The errors were almost as nasty.

Kevin Millwood continues to prove he's a different pitcher than he was last year. If he keeps on improving, he really can be the anchor this team needs. He didn't finish strong tonight, but the weather was tricky...for both teams. There were a lot of hits (on both sides) that would not have been so productive in normal conditions.

It's always fun to watch firsts -- Boggs' HR. Hamilton's grand slam. LOVE IT.

KISS: Josh Hamilton. He may have only been 1 for 5, but his four RBI certainly came in handy.

MISS: I suppose Duran's throwing error. It was an ugly inning all the way around, though, so it's a tough call.

One thought

2008-04-29T23:08:00.001-05:00

I only have one thought about tonight's game (I'm still not in the mood to do a full entry)...

Jason Botts was one of Ian Kinsler's closest friends on the team.
Botts gets DFA'd.
Kinsler gets ejected during his first AB of the night.

Coincidence? I'm not so sure.

Bye Bye Botts

2008-04-29T17:09:00.003-05:00

Needless to say, I am devastated by today's announcement that Jason Botts had been DFA'd. I'm not surprised, but I'm still saddened. And a bit angered, too. I just don't get the thought process.

Ben Broussard: .173 in 75 at bats. Eight RBI. Five walks. 31 years old. Can play 1B or DH.
Jason Botts: .158 in 38 at bats. Five RBI. Eight walks. 27 years old. Can play 1B, OF or DH.

The press would have you believe Botts was DFA'd because he failed to capitalize on the opportunities he's been given. Has Broussard fared much better? If you ask me, those lines are fairly similar EXCEPT for the at bat totals, which are nearly double for Broussard. Don't tell me this was about defense either.

My first instinct is to hope Botts can make it through waivers and remain in the system. But my second, stronger instinct, hopes Botts finds a home and better opportunity elsewhere ... and then watch the Ranger front office folks cringe every time they face him or read a box score. Botts' potential is far greater than Broussard, who is supposedly a veteran player.

*shakes head*

I just don't understand it. Not even a little.

And I'm not sure I'll have the motivation to do a post-game post either. Right now, I'd say "no." But we'll see if the Rangers/Royals game can change my sour mood at all.

"Triple Play" tradition continues

2008-04-27T15:37:00.002-05:00

Maybe we should have the "Triple Play" event every month. Apparently, the Rangers are undefeated on "Triple Play" Sunday.

I had to work this afternoon, but I was notified when Jason Botts hit a homerun to give the Rangers a 7-0 lead. My first thought, "I hope they can hold onto that lead." And I immediately felt bad for thinking that. I've become a bit jaded about this team, and I would like to return to optimism. Regardless, my love and loyalty to them is unwavering. I'm hanging in there...just as I hope they are.

Speaking of Botts, it pains me to see the struggles he's having and then read how many fans are ready to give him his walking papers. I, of course, will never be ready for that. I agree he struggles with major league pitching, but that might be because he hasn't yet had a stretch to try and adjust to big league pitching. He's getting there now...and if his playing time continues and he hasn't improved by the ASB, maybe my mind will change. But I think he deserves more time. Admittedly, I'm biased. (I still miss Laynce Nix, if that tells you anything.)

I had a special dose of glee when Josh Hamilton became the first run allowed by Joe Nathan all season. I believe Nathan is one of the great closers in the AL...maybe even in both leagues. Because he plays for the Twins (and not some team in the East), however, he goes largely uncelebrated. Except by Twins fans. They love this guy. Absolutely love him. So, I take great pleasure when one of my guys can beat a great pitcher. And I'm especially glad it was Josh, who as T.R. Sullivan noted, is leading the AL in RBI.

Ian Kinsler has also reached a milestone -- by reaching base in 25 straight games. Kinsler hasn't delivered a bunch of big hits this year, but if there's one thing you want from a leadoff hitter, it's the ability to get on base. And Ian has it. He really excels in that first spot in the order.

KISS: Vicente Padilla rebounded from a TOUGH game in Detroit and pitched a complete game shutout. This is the first Rangers complete game since 2005. Good to see the Padilla back in 2008 form. He has certainly worked his way back into my good graces. I will gladly eat crow after my winter pleadings to release him.

MISS: Sadly, it's Botts. Even though he had a homer, he also struck out three times. Some quality time with Rudy may be in order.

The win, if nothing else, should put the guys in a good mood as they head to "Triple Play," which is a fantastic fund-raiser. Someday (maybe next year, if life deals me favorable cards), I hope to attend it. In the meantime, I live vicariously through friends who are going and will be subscribing to the Fox Sports package for one month JUST to watch the re-cap on FSNSW.

You're killin' me, Smalls!

2008-04-26T22:38:00.002-05:00

Three errors and poor pitching sank the Rangers' hopes of a two-game winning streak as they fell to the Twins 12-6 tonight.

The game started out decent, and my new pal, Sir Sidney Ponson actually finished with a decent line. 5.1 innings, seven hits, four Ks, one earned run. Unfortunately, one of the Rangers' errors was his (I think it's fishy that a pitcher's error doesn't cost him an earned run), and it turned into a three-run inning for the Twins as they tied the game.

From there on out, it seemed like the Rangers just couldn't string some hits together (as has been the case the whole season), and the Twins just kept scoring -- three more in the seventh and four in the eighth. It was more than enough to put the hometown boys away.

KISS: Josh Hamilton, who was 3 for 4 with two RBI. Murphy may have had one more RBI, but Josh won out because he didn't strikeout. He continues to be a consistent contributor to the offense.

MISS: This dishonor is shared by Wright, German, Guardado and Feldman. The relievers just couldn't stop the bleeding. Wright was actually credited with a blown save. I do not agree, however, with the Rangers using Feldman as a reliever when he has been working as a starter. Flipping his roles back and forth is not going to help his development.

Random notes ...

- There's a web site out there that is supposedly for discussing which players are married, dating, etc. I read it for pure entertainment value -- I honestly have no intentions of dating a baseball player. If it happened, I'd be fine with it, I guess, but I'm not actively seeking it. Anyhow, the web site has plenty of entertaining posts on it, and it's interesting to read the number of players who are accused of cheating on their spouses (I'm sure it does happen sometimes...) and those who are ...ahem... not well-equipped. I was NOT entertained by a post about the Rangers' 2B. I won't repeat what it said, but it was not flattering and more than likely not true. I also felt it was slanderous. I voiced my concerns to the site moderator, and -- I kid you not -- the post was taken down within five minutes. Now that's service. No one messes with my boys. Not even on the 'net.

- I ordered Ben Broussard's CD the other day. I'm actually looking forward to getting it. I think his music is right up my alley, so I'll be sure to post a review after I've given it a sufficient listen.

It's about time

2008-04-25T22:02:00.003-05:00

The Rangers did more than win tonight. They proved they've still got some fight in them.

I started to get sick to my stomach in that four-run third the Twins put up. But my boys rebounded in a BIG way with a five-run bottom half. They probably could have (and should have) put up more runs that inning, but some poor base running by Jason Botts pretty much squelched that hope.

The bullpen was perfect tonight -- even Eddie Guardado. Between Guardado, Wright, Wilson and Benoit, there was only one Twins baserunner. That was on a hit in the top of the 10th. Way to go, boys!!

KISS: David Murphy. He was the hero of the game with the walk-off single to bring the Rangers back into the WIN COLUMN. It was his third hit of the night. He also played some great right field, tracking down some hits and keeping the Twins off base.

MISS: Kevin Millwood allowing the bases to load for Justin Morneau (always a threat) in that awful top of the third.

P.S. Prayers for Hank Blalock's speedy recovery from whatever he did tonight.

Of fans and snakes

2008-04-25T15:05:00.003-05:00

First off, happy birthday to the Snake Pit's Craig!! Hope our boys can get in the win column again for you!!

Second, there's a nice article about Kam and the Snake Pit in the Oklahoman.

P.S. There are some interesting organizational meetings going on today about the future of the club. I'm anxious to hear the outcome, though I would be surprised if we heard very much at all. I guess we'll see...

Unlucky seven

2008-04-24T18:21:00.003-05:00

I was at work so I couldn't watch today's game, so I kept up via box score. That was painful enough.

Ever the optimist, I still believe the boys will turn this all around. I had hoped it'd be today.

They hung in there for the first several innings, and Jason Jennings actually appeared to be throwing a good game. At first. Five runs in five innings, all of which crossed on a long ball. The home runs are killing this pitching staff. Fukumori didn't fare much better. Three runs in 2.1 innings. Franklyn German was the only pitcher who didn't allow a run, but he only pitched one-third of an inning.

Michael Young and Jason Botts were the only Rangers starters who reached base three times AND did not strike out. Hank Blalock reached twice. Several others reached once. The only Ranger who didn't get to hang out on the bases at some point was Adam Melhuse. He struck out three times and left five men on.

I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it. The players on this team are too talented for this kind of play. Have they decided to fold for the season already? Have they lost motivation? Or are they being mis-managed?

Twins come in for three tomorrow, and I hope the Rangers can find a way to win. Not only for the record sake, but also because I know Friday is Craig's (of Snake Pit fame) birthday. For his loyalty, he deserves to watch a win.

Don't want to watch, can't look away

2008-04-23T20:54:00.002-05:00

This afternoon, there was a car accident near my home. Given that it's a small town, everyone in my neighborhood was on their lawn checking out the action. It's a horrible thing -- to be drawn to a car accident and unable to look away.

That's sort of how I felt tonight while watching the game. I could have...maybe should have...turned the game off, but I just couldn't. This is probably the ugliest game I've seen from the boys so far this season. Maybe ever. Except for maybe that Yankees game when we lost a 10-run lead or something like that.

As the bottom of the sixth unfolded, I started to feel like Orioles fans must have felt last August when the Rangers put a 30-spot up on the hometown team. Ugh. At some point, do you just laugh? I'm still waiting for that to set in.

I can already tell I'm not going to be in the mood to do my usual blog about this game. In fact, I think I'll just stop this blog now before I get really depressed.

Tomorrow's another game ...

No fuel for the Rangers in the Motor City

2008-04-22T20:46:00.008-05:00

Where did Vicente Padilla v2008 go? The 2007 version seemed to be in the ballpark tonight. He's had such a strong season until tonight. I suppose everyone's allowed a down day, but I didn't expect his to come quite so early. I thought he'd at least wait until the temperatures had climbed a little. I definitely saw the old Padilla at the end of the 3rd, when he took his sweet time picking up that come-backer and then spearing it to first base. *shakes head*

I love this team, and will always love this team, but tonight's game was painful to watch. Nothing seemed to be going the Rangers' way. But a lot of that was their own fault. I still say Gerald Laird was safe at second early in the game, but that play alone probably wouldn't have helped the guys much.

I'm beginning to wonder if frustration is getting to the team. They all just seem to have these weights on their shoulders ... even from the first pitch. That's not going to bring any wins. I'm not saying they should be smiling and cheerful, but they need to at least appear confident in themselves, and I'm not seeing that lately.

Anyhow. Back to tonight's game.

Josh Rupe was great for four innings, but got into trouble right away in his fifth inning of work. Then Wes Littleton had to come in and try and clean things up ... or at least stop the bleeding. He could not seem to find an adequate bandaid.

Thankfully, all of the pitchers had some good defense behind them. Any night where there are no errors is one I'll celebrate...at least modestly.

KISS: Jon's gonna hate this, but I have to give it to Gerald Laird. Not only was he 2 for 3 on the night, he also did a good job of handling some wild pitches from all three pitchers.

MISS: Padilla's line is just hideous. Seven runs (all earned) on eight hits, which includes three homeruns. Two of those were hit back-to-back. He also hit one batter (although I thought it was a questionable call) and walked one.

Earlier in the day, I listened to a radio broadcast of the RedHawks/I-Cubs game. The RedHawks could not finish the sweep. Elizardo Ramirez struggled and the offense just could NOT get anything going. I-Cubs starter Sean Gallagher was LIGHTS OUT, with 12 strikeouts on the day. He only needed 101 pitches to get through eight innings. The announcers were very complimentary of Kevin Richardson, Nate Gold and Nelson Cruz, however.

A few notes I forgot to share from the weekend...

I am a very shy person, and am usually hesitant to request attention or anything else from the players, but I was proud of how I handled this weekend.

--- Saturday evening, when Kameron walked by, I took a deep breath and called out his name. He had to look around a minute, but he finally spotted him. I relayed greetings from the Snake Pit (as I had just spoken to Craig that day) and told him he was stuck with me as his Snake Pit for the night. Kam smiled and said, "Right on! I'm in good hands. Thanks for being here!" Totally made my night. I won't lie.

--- Frankie Francisco walked back and forth between the bullpen and dugout a lot Saturday night. Probably trying to stay warm. Every time he walked by, he would look at me (probably because I was one of only about six people in the park wearing Texas stuff...yes there were others), so I finally said "hi." I was surprised that he gave me a friendly smiled and returned my greeting.

--- Sunday, after the game, I was packing up my camera and noticed a single baseball in the dugout. All the players appeared to be gone, but I really wanted the ball. To my relief, I saw Nelson Cruz returning to the dugout. I waited for him to gather his things and then called out his name. I called him "Nelly" (which I hope isn't too informal) and asked if I could have the ball. He nodded and retrieved it for me.

Again, I'm never certain how to handle players. I want to appear a supportive fan without being overzealous. My theory is they don't really owe me anything -- not a ball, an autograph or even a wave. Although I'll admit I do get disappointed when I don't get an autograph, photo or greeting I'm hoping for. But I'm certainly thankful when I am acknowledged. I put a lot of time and energy into my fandom.

A weekend of Ws

2008-04-20T19:08:00.003-05:00

The RedHawks ended my weekend on a good note with 7-4 victory over the Iowa Cubs. Kevin Mench was virtually unstoppable at the plate, and Paul Kometani and Frankie Francisco destroyed any hope the I-Cubs had of a rally in the late innings.

Brandon Boggs and Ryan Roberts both had a frustrating day at the plate. Both made decent contact with the ball, but they just couldn't find a gap. Boggs grounded out twice, popped out once and struck out once. Roberts grounded out twice, popped out once and hit a sac fly.

Ellison had a rough day in left field too. He fell trying to make one catch and mis-read another. The only RedHawks error, however, was charged to Ryan Roberts, who overthrew Nate Gold at first.

KISS: Mench. He was 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI. He didn't strikeout once, and always seemed to be in the middle of a two-out rally.

MISS: Boggs, who was 0 for 5 with two strikeouts.

I watched today's game from the photo wells next to the dugouts. I spent the first three innings next to the I-Cubs dugout and the remaining innings next to the RedHawks dugout. This is the third time I've done this, but today was unlike the other two. In so many ways. You hear and see a lot of things in those dugouts -- some funny, some heartbreaking, some that make you cringe.

I had an interesting chat with Sir Sidney Ponson, but I think I'll keep that one to myself. Or at least not post it on here. If you're really curious, you can drop me an e-mail at laney895@hotmail.com. It's nothing huge, it's just amusing. Ha ha.

I'm sad I won't be able to go to the remaining two RedHawks games (stupid work!!). But..the team will be back at the end of May for four games, and I will be attending AT LEAST three, so there's some consolation there.

Also, my photos from today are up -- here. I wish I could have gotten more photos, but I need to learn how to adjust the f-stop.

Ugly baserunning, uglier hecklers

2008-04-19T23:58:00.003-05:00

51 degrees does NOT feel like baseball weather, but it is what I endured to take in my first live baseball game of the season. And it was worth it.

The Oklahoma RedHawks looked pretty bad on the basepaths in the first inning, but made up for it with some timely hitting and capitalizing on I-Cubs errors later in the game. Nate Gold kicked off the RedHawks rally in the second inning with a solo home run into the right field porch. It was Gold's lone hit of the night, but it was enough to get the Oklahoma bats going.

The Iowa Cubs committed three errors, which only cost them one run, but it was enough. On top of that, they managed two runs in the first, but didn't strike again until the final two innings of the game.

I was pretty impressed with Casey Benjamin's defense. The shortstop made a fantastic leap in the 1st to rob Tony Richie of a hit. The I-Cubs would have easily tacked on two runs if Benjamin hadn't snagged that ball.

KISS: Chris Shelton, who was 2 for 4 with three RBI. He also drew a walk. As designated hitter, I felt like he did his job very well.

MISS: Jason Ellison attempting to steal home in the first inning with one out, Nelson Cruz at first and Nate Gold at the plate. (Cruz was subsequently picked off attempting to steal 2nd.)

The hecklers in right field were more unbearable than the cold. They might have been amusing if they'd been original, but the only things they were calling out were profanity. And, honestly, if you're going to be a good heckler, buy a program and learn something about your targeted player. Don't just yell out his number and tell him he sucks or that he's a douchebag. The hecklers' favorite targets tonight were Nelson Cruz and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, although they got on Kameron Loe and Kea Kometani a bit as well. Cruz and Salty handled it very very well. At one point, they threw a beer bottle in the direction of Nelson Cruz. He just picked it up and moved it off the field. Later, he tossed them a ball, which they immediately threw back at him. Stupid hecklers. Hey, Nelson, how about throwing a ball to someone who's actually there to cheer for you (ahem, me).

I didn't get too many pictures tonight because it was overcast and got dark pretty early. But, if you want to take a gander, click here.

"I think I'll go to Boston..." or maybe not

2008-04-18T21:33:00.002-05:00

I think I'll go to Boston,
I think that I'm just tired
I think I need a new town,
to leave this all behind...
- "Boston" by Augustana

The only thing the Rangers left behind between Toronto and Boston was pitching.

Luis Mendoza looked fabulous through his first two innings. Clearly, I got excited a little too early. I'm not sure what happened to him, but once he gave up that double, he seemed to have lost the strike zone completely. This lead to a five-run inning for the Red Sox, and I had a feeling that would be enough to secure Boston's win.

I was right.

Josh Rupe and Dustin Nippert did they best they could and at least slowed the bleeding. Rupe gave up two earned runs on four hits and one walk. Nippert surrendered two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk.

KISS: Hank Blalock. So much for that sore back. He sure didn't look sore tonight. Two for four with a homer and two RBI. He also made a couple of nice snags and throws at third.

MISS: Mendoza. If he had just calmed down after that double and gotten one of the next two batters out (instead of walking them to load the bases up for Big Papi), the game would have been completely different.

The next few entries will be RedHawks centered as I will be taking in two RedHawks/Iowa Cubs games this weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing Kam, Salty, A.J., Nate, etc. It'll be my first live baseball game of the season which means the fever is about to really be unleashed. :)

One sweep deserves another

2008-04-17T21:03:00.001-05:00

Seven innings. One earned run. Three walks. Two strikeouts. 112 pitches.

It wasn't perfect, but Vicente Padilla did EXACTLY what the team needed him to do tonight. For his efforts, Padilla was granted his ?? win of the season. After Wednesday's 14-inning exhausting marathon, the bullpen was taxed and the Rangers needed a strong performance from Padilla. They got it.

They also got some better defense. Kinsler made some great plays and Ramon Vazquez had a beautiful snag at short. And how about David Murphy holding Matt Stairs to a VERY LONG single?

Speaking of Murphy, are there any #7 Rangers player tees available yet?

German Duran had a tough assignment in his debut, but I thought he handled it well. He may not have gotten a hit, but he kept at it and never appeared discouraged or frustrated.

It was nice to see Kinsler get back in the hitting groove again too. 3 for 4 after an 0 for 11 drought that probably felt twice as long to him.

Jamey Newberg had a nice observation on C.J. Wilson earlier today.

KISS: I really wanted to give it to Padilla, but David Murphy's THREE DOUBLES won out.

MISS: I suppose I have to give it to Botts for his 0 for 4 performance, which included two Ks.

This was a nice way to start the roadtrip. And I'm starting to think they really do like the road better than Arlington.

P.S. I hope Marlon Byrd and Hank Blalock are better soon.

Losing streak ends ... after 14 innings

2008-04-16T21:42:00.022-05:00

I'm so glad this was not a West Coast game. I don't know if I could have stayed up until 2 a.m. watching/listening to this. Good grief. I got home around 8 p.m., after an alumni function, and thought for sure I'd only catch the tail end. Well, I did, but it was a very long tail!! But if a long game is what this team needed to get out of the losing column, I'll take it. You know, on second thought ... if this had been a West Coast game, I'd have stayed up all night for that conclusion.

But before I gush about my unsurprising KISS of the night, I'll talk about the team in general.

Gabbard looked really good tonight. Despite those few walks he surrendered, I thought he looked a lot more in control than he did the last time I saw him pitch. He didn't seem to labor too much either. It's only too bad he didn't get a win. He certainly pitched well enough for one.

On the whole, it was a decent game. Hitters were more patient, and the defense looked a lot better. It's still not perfect, but at least it wasn't ugly. That RISP stat is going to keep haunting us, I'm afraid. I don't know what the team can do to work on that ... except keep plugging away.

Michael Young went and got a few balls he hadn't gotten to the last few weeks. He didn't make that play on the hit up the middle, but that's okay. He stopped it from going into the outfield, so I'll take it. I'm honestly not that worried about Young's defense, and it disgusts me that people actually think he should be moved or traded. He's a veteran player and has been our Mr. Reliable for several seasons now. He will come around. And when he does, hopefully the youngsters are holding up their great play as well.

Josh Hamilton ran down some long hits out there in right field. He has amazing reads on the ball, and seems to get a good jump no matter where he plays. I look forward to seeing him play in person in about a month.

Milton Bradley and Frank Catalanotto both looked really good at the plate tonight. Frank is probably very comfortable hitting in Toronto, but he also just really seemed to be seeing the ball well. He didn't look so lost at the plate.

The whole night was capped off perfectly when C.J. Wilson earned his fourth save of the season.

KISS: C'mon. You knew he'd get this the first time he had a really good game. Jason Botts finally got another start at 1B tonight, and although he struckout twice, I would still call his night at the plate a success. With a homer and a long double, he had a nice 3 RBI night. I know this still won't shut up the Botts bashers, but I am THRILLED for him. It must feel really good to finally get his first hits and RBIs of the season AND bring his average up to .222. Hey - it's better than .000.

MISS: Joaquin Benoit. I usually feel secure with him coming into the game (unlike with Jamey Wright), but he got into some big trouble tonight. Loading the bases and then walking in a run. Wes Littleton had to come in and try and clean up the mess. He did a fair job (and looked GREAT in the 9th)-- the best he could do in that situation, but Ben Broussard (a defensive replacement, no less) made a horrible throw and the lead was lost.

I really hope Vicente Padilla is ready to go the distance tomorrow night. Our bullpen is taxed (as is the Bluejays' bullpen). Would love to see the first complete game by a Ranger pitcher in a long time, but I guess it depends which Padilla shows up.

P.S. I will not have a voice tomorrow/today after all my screaming. I'm sure glad I don't share any walls with neighbors or they'd have likely called the police on me by now. And how would I explain the noise?

Same score, different day

2008-04-15T20:11:00.002-05:00

The Rangers lost 7-4 again today. I was at work, so I didn't get to see the game. And I was swamped, so I couldn't check the box score. I'm actually still working, so I've decided not to watch it. I'm just ready to turn the page on this series and move on. That's the great thing about baseball -- you don't have very long to dwell on a loss. Tomorrow is another day and another game. And, in the Rangers' case, it's another city as well. I have faith that this team will get on track soon. There's too much talent in their midst not to.

By the way, I have to note my HUGE error, which EMC was kind enough to point out in a very diplomatic way. Jason Botts has NOT had 12 ABs this season. I'm not really sure where I got that number. I must have dreamed it. Ha ha. He has had six plate appearances, one of which was a walk. I agree he needs to capitalize on every chance he gets, but coming off the bench cold, twice, in high pressure situations ... not exactly the best recipe for building his confidence. I only hope his confidence isn't being broken. He needs a string of consistent at bats, whether that's every three days or every five days. And they can't be pinch hit situations. He needs three or four ABs at a time. He'll never get used to big league pitching if he doesn't get to see it on a consistent basis.

Then again, I'm just a fan. What do I know?

I guess, if I relate it to my field, this would be the equivalent of someone judging me based on the first six articles I wrote in my professional career. I don't remember what they were (it was almost six years ago!), but I can guarantee they were nothing great. Fortunately, my editor saw my potential and continued to guide me. I'm not saying I'm an all-star writer now, but I can hold my own.

I'm glad no one gave up on me and that I didn't have to read blogs/articles/etc. everyday about how much I suck. I might have given up. Then again, I think that's what a lot of Rangers fans seem to want Jason to do. He must be a heck of a lot stronger in mind (I know he's stronger in body) than I am.

Bad news Rangers

2008-04-15T00:28:00.002-05:00

Things just keep getting uglier. I know it'll turn around at some point, but until then, it's really hard to watch.

This is going to be a short blog. I don't have a lot to say about the game, and it's really late.

KISS: Wes Littleton looked good in his 2.1 innings of work. He only allowed one baserunner on one hit in that span, and he fanned two. In fact, I was kind of disappointed they didn't leave him in for another inning. Instead, they brought in Jamey Wright, who loaded the bases, but, thankfully didn't let any runs come in.

MISS: The play that allowed Vlad Guerrero to score from second on a sac fly. If it'd been Figgins or Anderson, I might not be so sickened. But Vlad is not exactly speedy. How on earth did that happen? Was it Josh's error or Michael's? Either way, it was absolutely inexcuseable.

Despite what I write here, I do love and believe in this team. They will start playing better baseball. I just hope it's sooner rather than later.

Upgraded from ugh to eh

2008-04-13T16:56:00.009-05:00

That RISP factor is going to be the demise of this team. How many times are they going to leave men on second and third? The most frustrating example was Marlon Byrd's lead-off triple in the 10th. The Rangers had three outs to use to get Byrd in, but they just couldn't do it.

The Rangers defense calmed down and didn't notch any errors on the afternoon. Pitching looked as sharp as always. Hamilton offered up a sweet shot to right. Frank Catalanotto had two solid hits. Jason Botts actually got in the game -- even if he wasn't able to capitalize. (I think I've given up on him getting many starts, and now just pray for a plate appearance or two. That seems to be the best he's going to get.) German, Benoit, C.J. and Nippert did their part.

It could have been a better game (i.e. a win), but all in all, it was a decent day.

Don't worry ... I'm getting to the pitching. Scott Feldman looked great in his first major league start. I've always been a fan of Feldman's. He had his struggled last season ... and really seemed to have a cloud hanging over him during his entire career. But I like the way he pitches, and I felt like he was given some shotty assignments last year -- taking the mound in the middle of a mess. It's hard to look good in those. But today, he seemed to be in a groove. He lasted six innings and gave up just three earned runs on six hits, two walks and one hit batter. He also had three strikeouts. It wasn't flawless, but he certainly didn't hurt his team. In fact, he gave them every chance. He will not earn a win because German surrendered a run in his inning of work, but I'm sure neither Feldman or anyone else in the organization is overly disappointed by that.

It was good to see Cat get a few hits. I know I've been hard on him (though I've been kinder than others). I honestly think Cat's a good guy, but I'm just not sure a veteran player like him has a place on a team that is supposedly in rebuilding mode. I'd rather see some of the younger players getting the ABs Cat's getting. But, today, he made good of his ABs.

KISS: Feldman. He obviously worked hard in the off-season and spring on his delivery and it's paid off. I look forward to seeing what more he has to offer in the months and years to come.

MISS: Ben Broussard. He was 0 for 3 with two Ks and three men left on. He was 1 for 12 with one walk in the Toronto series. I'm not advocating for benching him permanently, and I know they don't want to platoon him, but what would be so wrong about rotating him out every third game? (I guess I haven't completely given up on Botts as a starter ... I'll campaign until it changes or he leaves. Also, it should be noted that Botts has only had 12 ABs total this season.)

P.S. Does anyone know what all the AB songs for the Rangers players? I'm trying to hear them on TV, but it's difficult with such a small sampling and Josh and Tom talking overtop of them. The only one I can figure out is Laird's, which is "Superstar" by Lupe Fiasco. I'm just curious ...

Saturday night disappointment

2008-04-12T22:37:00.003-05:00

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but pitching seems to be the best thing the Rangers have going lately. The offense hasn't quite come around (particularly with RISP) and the defense makes me cringe. Of all the categories I'd like my team to be leading the league in, errors is not it. Ron Washington is supposed to be big on defense, but I certainly don't see any Gold Glove-caliber players right now. I'd almost say they're worse now than they were before Wash came.

Ugh. That's the word of the weekend, it seems. I just don't know what else to say.

KISS: Marlon Byrd. He had two of the Rangers six hits tonight and drove in their only run. Roy Halladay was lights out, but Byrd managed to connect. Let's hope he can keep on and that the others catch up with him.

MISS: Frank Catalanotto. 0 for 4 as the DH. His job tonight was to hit and he couldn't do it.

P.S. David Murphy was safe.

Ugh ...

2008-04-11T21:56:00.007-05:00

That is the only word I can think of to describe this game. Well ... the only one that's appropriate for a mixed audience.

Three errors is three too many. One is too many. Especially those stupid errors. Gerald's arm tonight was just not on target. Not until the 9th ... and by then it was too late. And then there was Frank's ugly left field play. Kaz Fukumori's pitching. Greg Zaun steals home?!? Are you kidding me? Aaaaahhh. I just wanted to throw up.

Then Josh Hamilton hit that monster homer, and I smiled for a little while. Dustin Nippert was a pleasant surprise too. He looked TONS better tonight than in his last outing.

But two bright spots is not enough to smooth over all the bad in this game. It was just ugly.

Are we sure it was the Blue Jays who were sleep-deprived?

Blah. I don't even want to give a KISS and MISS tonight, but I'll try anyway.

KISS: Obviously, who else could it be ... Josh Hamilton. 2-4 with one homer and four RBI.

MISS: That Zaun stealing home play was just hideous. I guess I'll blame Laird for that one. His throw to second sucked and then Zaun practically danced past him to score a run.

Here are a few random thoughts too:

- I am so happy to see Buck Coats in that Blue Jays uniform. I watched him in Des Moines with the I-Cubs for too many seasons. Buck is an all-around great guy, and even if he's not a Ranger, I want to see him do well.

- Speaking of good guys ... who can dislike David Eckstein? Even when he's playing for the other team (which he always has in my case), he's a lot of fun to watch. I just like the way he plays.

- Am I the only one anxious to see Scott "I even punch sidearm" Feldman start on Sunday? Woot!

- Who should have been covering first on that Vernon Wells hit in the 7th? Should Broussard have let Fukumori get the ball (even though Ben had the better angle to get the runner at home if it'd been a little faster)? Should Kinsler have come over to cover?

- How long until there are David Murphy player tees available for sale? I want one.

Anyway ... here's hoping Luis Mendoza can help turn it around tomorrow.

Two wins in one day

2008-04-10T21:27:00.007-05:00

Okay, I was all excited to see Botts get a shot tonight. And, I guess, he did. But it was extremely abbreviated. He was pulled in the 7th for Broussard. Okay, so Botts was 0-2 with a walk, but three plate appearances, in my opinion, does not count as a fair shot. Grr. It's becoming painfully clear to me that Botts will not be on this team by the end of the season. I hope I'm wrong, but if I'm right, I know the Rangers will regret letting him go. (By the way, I should make it clear that I have nothing against Broussard. I think he's a fine player, and he's clearly been a contributor already this season. I would just like to see Botts get a solid look...sooner rather than later.)

I'm also not sure how I felt about Cat pinch hitting for Byrd in the same inning. Byrd seemed to have just found his swing in the previous AB, and then was sent to the bench. What gives?

Okay, I'm done questioning/criticizing Ron Washington for the night. I couldn't do his job, so I shouldn't pretend I could.

Despite my above gripes, it was a pretty decent game. No errors from the defense, Melhuse had a nice game and C.J. Wilson got his second save of the day (he only needed 17 pitches to get both jobs done, too). Kason Gabbard looked great until that two-run homer. Still, this year's starting pitching is stronger than it has been in awhile. Certainly better than last year. We had a dynamite bullpen last year, but they were overworked. We have a pretty similar arsenal this year, but hopefully they can stay fresh with some help from the front line.

Speaking of the bullpen, I'm not sure who our solid long reliever is. Some might say it's Jamey Wright, but he makes me nervous. Ever since that walk to end a game in Minneapolis last year, Wright's appearance in a game has been less than reassuring. He could still win me over (I used to feel the same way about C.J. and even Kam, but they've managed to get in my good graces), and I hope he does.

KISS: Marlon Byrd. He finally got his first hit and had a fantastic throw to nail Adam Jones out at third.

MISS: I'm trying to think of one, but I really can't. I think I got all my griping out early in this entry.

So, now the Rangers have a two-game winning streak. And speaking of streaking, was there really a streaker during the game? WTF? I like how Michael Young was trying not to laugh during the whole thing. Meanwhile, Wright looked annoyed. Ha ha.

Finally, and certainly worth noting (way more than the streaker), a belated congrats to Chuck Morgan on announcing his 2,000th consecutive major league game. What a phenomenal accomplishment. He does such a great job at the ballpark. It just wouldn't be a Rangers game without him. He's always coming up with new ideas (the Dot Race, Rangers Captain and Six Shooters were all his) and he's more than willing to listen to other people's ideas (I've e-mailed him more than once). He IS the voice of the Rangers, and I look forward to hearing him call his 3,000th game.

Back at .500

2008-04-10T19:45:00.002-05:00

I was at my part-time job for the first game, but luckily, I was able to open my laptop, hook up to someone's wireless internet and listen to the game. I'm so glad I got to do that. It sure brightened my day!!!

Kevin Millwood didn't pitch quite as well as he did in his first two starts, but he finally got his first W of the season. The offense (mainly Michael Young) came through for him, and Benoit and C.J. did a great job of carrying on once he'd exited the game.

KISS: Benoit. I love love love that all of his outs were punch outs.

MISS: I suppose Hank Blalock's throwing error. Thankfully, it didn't come back to haunt us.

Onto game two, which features Kason Gabbard on the mound and Jason Botts at first base. Yessssss.

Just my luck

2008-04-09T20:08:00.003-05:00

It's been a ROUGH week. I returned from my fabulous and virtually carefree vacation to a desk full of work. I worked 10 hours on Tuesday and another nine today. The only thing getting me through was the promise of Rangers baseball tonight. It would be the first game I was able to watch in more than a week.

So...of course it would rain. Of course the game would be postponed. BOO!!!!!!!!! So now there's a doubleheader tomorrow, beginning at 4 p.m. I don't know if I'll get to see the first game. I'm not sure how MLB EI handles that.

But I guess I'll get to see the second game. And that might be the best one to catch because the DMN Blog is reporting that Jason Botts will start at 1B in tomorrow's game. Yay!!! It's about TIME!!

Anyhow, back to "Big Brother 9." I just wanted to voice my thoughts here and assure everyone that I did, indeed, make it back from Texas in one piece.

Fond memories and new friends

2008-04-03T23:05:00.007-05:00

I've always said baseball is a nine inning vacation (well, someone else said it and I just adopted it as my own), so it's appropriate that I have squeezed some baseball into my vacation. This trip to Texas was planned because of a wedding, but I couldn't resist a trip to the ballpark or the offer to have dinner with some fellow Kameron Loe/Ranger fans.

My heart always starts beating a little faster when I round the bend on Randol Mill Drive and Rangers Ballpark comes into view. That place holds such happy memories for me, mostly from the 2005 season. That was the year I fell in love with baseball and the Rangers and subsequently attended more than 30 games. It ended up being my last season with Amy, as well, and some of our best times were had in the confines of those walls. Times I'll hold onto for the rest of my life.

So I felt a bit nostalgic as I parked my rental car and strode toward the door to the Grand Slam Gift Shop. Of course, once inside, I was instantly transported to the present and future. There are some fabulous new Rangers clothing items in there, especially for women. I'm so glad MLB has realized not all women like pink. I actually like pink a lot, but when I'm wearing Rangers gear, I want it to be the true team colors. I browsed for a long time, and could have spent much longer in there if I didn't have other friends. When I finally left, I was in possession of a new red Rangers shirt that I can't really describe and my new player tee for 2008 -- a Josh Hamilton player tee. He certainly didn't take long to win me over.

After my shopping, I had a quick coffee stop with my friend, Amber, and then headed for my next baseball-related event --- dinner with the Rangers Fans of the Year for 2007, Kam's Snake Pit. I can't even put into words how nice it was to have fellow Rangers/Kam fans to converse with. I'm pretty sure I bore my family (though they try to be impatient) and other friends with my Ranger ramblings, so it was awesome to have someone to talk with who was interested in what I had to say as well as their own tidbits/views to offer. Craig, Erin, Aubrey Rose, Vikki and Heather were great dinner companions, and I look forward to meeting up with them for a game sometime soon.

After dinner, I went back to the Snake Pit headquarters for a very special meeting with Angel (whom Craig and Erin's family is caring for in Kam's absence). I'll be honest, I was half-excited and half-nervous about this concept. I had never even touched, let alone held a snake. And had certainly never been close to one Angel's size. She was a pretty neat snake. I'm not ready to rush out and get one myself, but I don't mind her too much.

So many chances, so few taken

2008-04-02T00:28:00.002-05:00

The Rangers had the bases loaded TWICE with one out and failed to bring any runs in during those opportunities. On top of that, they committed a number of errors, which cost them pitches and runs. Ick. It was just ugly baseball.

But then ... in the top of the 9th, something beautiful happened. Josh Hamilton stroked one into the seats. Gorgeous, just gorgeous.

Then C.J. Wilson came in and got his first save of the season. First of many, as I've predicted.

KISS: Obviously, Hamilton. Not only did he have a homer, he made some spectacular catches. I am completely enamored with the way he plays. I hope it's not just the honeymoon phase. He seems like the real deal.

MISS: Hmm ... I guess Ian Kinsler, who made two fielding errors tonight. I hope the off-day on Thursday allows him (and Hank and Mike) the rest they need to beat this flu. I can't imagine it's easy to focus out there when you don't feel well.

If it wasn't so late, I would write more. But I have to be up for work in about six hours. And after work, I'm boarding a plane for Texas. A friend of mine is getting married in Ft. Worth this weekend, so I'm headed down there to help her celebrate. Don't worry, I plan to sneak in trip to the ballpark as well, and I'm having dinner with the Snake Pit. It's going to be so nice to talk Rangers with someone who actually shares my affinity for them (and a certain pitcher). That said, I will likely miss the last game of the Seattle series and all of the Anaheim games. Boo. But I'm not sure I have a choice, so this will probably be my last game post until next Tuesday.

GO RANGERS!!!

No such thing as a good loss?

2008-03-31T21:10:00.003-05:00

The Rangers outhit the Mariners in the 2008 season opener, but it wasn't quite enough. I know I'm probably accused of always finding the bright side of losses, but there really were a lot of good things going on in this game...

- Kevin Millwood looked really good. The only two runs he surrendered were unearned. Without that error, he might have been good for another inning.

- Michael Young seems to have less weight on his shoulders than he did at the start of last season. At least emotionally. Although, physically, it looks like he's bulked up a bit. His arms, at least, look bigger. And he showed off his power in his first at bat with a HR. Three-hit night for the All-Star.

- Poor Ian Kinsler. I respect him for getting out on the field through his illness, but maybe he should have rested instead. Hope he feels better soon.

- I got my first look at Josh Hamilton. I like what I see. He's going to be really fun to watch this year.

- The oft-hated Gerald Laird threw out two would-be base stealers tonight. That's what I love about that guy.

Overall, I can't complain about tonight's game. Even if it was a loss, it's still baseball.

KISS: Michael Young. He's well on his way to another 200 hit season with three tonight, including an RBI. His oppo taco was the perfect way to start his season right.

MISS: Kaz Fukumori. He only faced five batters, but let three runs come in on two hits and two walks.

New season, new blog site

2008-03-30T17:25:00.002-05:00

The 2008 Rangers season begins in roughly 24 hours. Perfect time for a new blog, right? Well, MLBlogs didn't leave me much of a choice. The weekend before Opening Day, they made a bunch of changes, and I tried, but I couldn't figure them out or learn to like them. So...since I'm familiar with Blogspot, here I am.

New beginnings are exciting, full of potential and hope. As they said on "Fever Pitch," a new season is "a clean slate." While this doesn't reassure some Rangers fans (who have already written this team off before the first pitch has even begun its journey to the catcher), it still makes me smile. Perhaps that's because I'm new to Ranger fandom and thus not yet jaded. Or perhaps I just prefer to believe in this team. There are some very good pieces in this year's roster, and, depending on how they're utilized, this could be a very fun season to watch. Either way, let's play ball!

Here are my pre-season predictions...

AL East - Red Sox
AL Central - Tigers
AL West - Angels
AL Wild Card - Mariners
NL East - Mets
NL Central - Cubs
NL West - Dodgers
NL Wild Card - Padres
AL Pennant - Red Sox
NL Pennant - Cubs
WS Champs - Cubs

By the way, my sports editor (a huge Cubs fan) is convinced I'm trying to kill him with those predictions. Ha ha.

And now, my Rangers-related predictions...

Wins - 82
Most runs scored in a game - 17 (we won't get to 30 again...ha ha)
HR leader - Josh Hamilton
RBI leader - Marlon Byrd
Stolen base leader - Ian Kinsler
Pitcher with most wins - Vicente Padilla (I have a feeling/hope he'll redeem himself in a big way)
Saves for C.J. Wilson - 28
All-Star representative - Ian Kinsler
Biggest surprise - Jason Botts (it's no secret I'm biased on this, but if he gets a fair shot, I think he wil surpass many fans' low expectations for him)
September call-up with the most impact - Eric Hurley