The month of May is over, and the Rangers claim the best Record in the AL and sit on top of the AL West with the Angels trailing by 4 1/2 games. The pitching has been solid and the bats have been on and off, but still have been pulling in enough runs to bring in 30 wins. There are a couple of concerns...
Chris Davis, don't get me wrong, I love this kid, but his batting has been atrocious. In order for him to get back into it he's got to learn to shorten his swing and start getting some contact before he trusts the big swing again. Pitchers have adjusted to him and now it's his turn to adjust. The plus side is Davis is playing phenomenal defense and is making Elvis Adrus look good with some of those wild throws after those crazy grabs.
Matt Harrison still seems to have trouble getting settled against good teams. I wish I could say something here that made sense, but I can't, so Maddux is going to have to figure out how to get Harrison to turn the corner and start pitching to his full potential and become a pitcher that can pitch into the post season.
So as we move into June and make our first trip to the east coast to take on the the gauntlet of the Yankees and the Red Sox, the Rangers have a chance to make a statement and force analysts to take them seriously. Time to chime in and let me know how you think the Rangers will finish up this road trip. Let's Go Rangers!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Saturday, August 2, 2008
What Was That?
Texas finished up splitting the series with Seattle this week, so I'm going to take this moment to remind the Texas Rangers of something...Seattle is one of the worst teams in baseball!!! You should have swept them without letting them score! The weak pitching of the Rangers showed itself this series letting teams know that it doesn't matter that you're facing the best offense in the MLB, because no matter how bad you suck, your gonna get a hit off of the God awful pitching.
The Rangers further hurt themselves in the wild card race, they failed to beat a crappy team while Boston and New York were on a losing streak. If they would have taken those two games they only would have been 3 games back instead of the dismal 5 and 1/2.
Jon Daniels also said to the team, "you guys are good, but not good enough for me to get some pitchers to help your hitting." Ok, so he didn't really say that, but he might have well of said it since he didn't do anything before the trade deadline.
As for the Ranger faithful, we still have hope, hope that the bats will carry us through to wins and that before the race is over we will go on a much needed win streak that will propel us into the off season and prove that wild cards are why October keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The Rangers further hurt themselves in the wild card race, they failed to beat a crappy team while Boston and New York were on a losing streak. If they would have taken those two games they only would have been 3 games back instead of the dismal 5 and 1/2.
Jon Daniels also said to the team, "you guys are good, but not good enough for me to get some pitchers to help your hitting." Ok, so he didn't really say that, but he might have well of said it since he didn't do anything before the trade deadline.
As for the Ranger faithful, we still have hope, hope that the bats will carry us through to wins and that before the race is over we will go on a much needed win streak that will propel us into the off season and prove that wild cards are why October keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Where's the Sweep?
That's right, I'm greedy. Where's the sweep!? The Rangers had a chance to sweep the A's, which in reality they should have, but couldn't close it out. This was due to Hurley giving up 6 runs in the first two innings, and the Rangers trying to play catch up for the rest of the game.
The Rangers starting pitching is the Achilles heel of the Juggernaut hitting force that is the Texas Ranger's offense. Jon Daniels seems content with his team and it seems like the Rangers are going to have to do with their inconsistent pitching that likes to give up runs like their going out of style. With Daniels unwilling, and seemingly unmotivated, to make a move the Rangers have no choice but to score at least 10 points every game just to guarantee a fighting chance at winning a game. If the pitching doesn't straighten up, then the best hitting team in the MLB can kiss playoff hopes goodbye, and for one Ranger's fan, I'm not ready to do that and I'm sure that the Ranger's offense agrees.
The Rangers starting pitching is the Achilles heel of the Juggernaut hitting force that is the Texas Ranger's offense. Jon Daniels seems content with his team and it seems like the Rangers are going to have to do with their inconsistent pitching that likes to give up runs like their going out of style. With Daniels unwilling, and seemingly unmotivated, to make a move the Rangers have no choice but to score at least 10 points every game just to guarantee a fighting chance at winning a game. If the pitching doesn't straighten up, then the best hitting team in the MLB can kiss playoff hopes goodbye, and for one Ranger's fan, I'm not ready to do that and I'm sure that the Ranger's offense agrees.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
The Agony of Defeat
The Texas bats came alive Wednesday, and Michael Young welcomed a White Sox rookie with a home run. Yes, the cold streak that had engulfed them had shattered, as Kinsler got back on base and Hank continued to hit. Everything was coming back, and just it time before making the trip out to the West coast to try to gain ground on the Halos.
We walked into the 8th inning with a 8 to 4 lead and unleashed Eddie Guardado from the bull pin who has the lowest GPA of most relievers, not just the Rangers. However, Guardado had and off day and gave up two runs, got two outs and left two people on base when Washington took him out and put closer C.J. Wilson in...Wash, we would have been safer with Eddie. For those who didn't hear about it, C.J. threw one pitch and gave up a three run homer and lost the game.
I heard a Dallas sports radio host defend C.J. He kept saying and arguing with callers that C.J. gets the save and that makes him a great closer and everyone that criticizes him is just ignorant. We'll this game shows exactly why people are asking for a new closer. Not that C.J. can't close a game, and not that he's a bad pitcher, but he closes games it in dramatic fashion; with bases loaded or takes a 5 point lead down to a 1 with a man on third. All that drama will catch up with him, and with us trying to get to a playoff spot those kind of errors it will devastate us at the wrong time. With the horrendous starting pitching we have, we can't afford any C.J. mistakes.
Speaking of pitching, Millwood looks like he's injured...again. Looks like teams are hitting the ball so hard against him it's starting to make his balls ache. All I can say is...Daniel's, with a chance at a good team, and a team that others are afraid of, TRADE FOR SOME PITCHERS!!! Not anything too dangerous, get rid of Millwood, Salty, Byrd and C.J. and a couple of prospects (not pitchers) and get a starting pitcher, a reliever and a closer. You can actually keep C.J. if you can get a good starter and two relievers.
But then again, this could be just a loser's rant, I'm just tired of any Texas team being humiliated, especially this year.
We walked into the 8th inning with a 8 to 4 lead and unleashed Eddie Guardado from the bull pin who has the lowest GPA of most relievers, not just the Rangers. However, Guardado had and off day and gave up two runs, got two outs and left two people on base when Washington took him out and put closer C.J. Wilson in...Wash, we would have been safer with Eddie. For those who didn't hear about it, C.J. threw one pitch and gave up a three run homer and lost the game.
I heard a Dallas sports radio host defend C.J. He kept saying and arguing with callers that C.J. gets the save and that makes him a great closer and everyone that criticizes him is just ignorant. We'll this game shows exactly why people are asking for a new closer. Not that C.J. can't close a game, and not that he's a bad pitcher, but he closes games it in dramatic fashion; with bases loaded or takes a 5 point lead down to a 1 with a man on third. All that drama will catch up with him, and with us trying to get to a playoff spot those kind of errors it will devastate us at the wrong time. With the horrendous starting pitching we have, we can't afford any C.J. mistakes.
Speaking of pitching, Millwood looks like he's injured...again. Looks like teams are hitting the ball so hard against him it's starting to make his balls ache. All I can say is...Daniel's, with a chance at a good team, and a team that others are afraid of, TRADE FOR SOME PITCHERS!!! Not anything too dangerous, get rid of Millwood, Salty, Byrd and C.J. and a couple of prospects (not pitchers) and get a starting pitcher, a reliever and a closer. You can actually keep C.J. if you can get a good starter and two relievers.
But then again, this could be just a loser's rant, I'm just tired of any Texas team being humiliated, especially this year.
Monday, July 21, 2008
The Flop, the Turn, and the River
The second half of the season is looking a lot like a Texas hold'em game. The flop came with a
bleak looking future for the Texas Rangers after dropping the first two games after the All Star break in humiliating fashion to the Minnesota Twins. Game three was feared to be more of the same, but something magical happened...the pitching showed up, and hence the begin of the turn. Vincent Padilla commanded his first start after being lifted from the DL and the Eddie Guardado and C.J. Wilson complemented hold the red hot Twins to a grand score of a big goose egg (that's 0). C.J., of course, did it in true C.J. Fashion by allowing someone to get within 90 feet of tying the game before finally closing it out with the win.
The turn continued Monday when the Rangers continued their road trip to Chicago and the White Sox. The Sox trying to hold on to their lead in their division, with a sold out crowd saw the "Ham Slam Which" up close and personal when Hamilton put the Rangers on top with a 3 run home run deep into center field. Hank Blalock started to get back into the swing of things as well, adding a two run homer later in the game quieting the rowdy White Sox crowd.
Now the Rangers have taken second place in the AL West, and with this comes the River. Two games with the White Sox and then into California to face the A's and try to catch ground with the Halos. This will prove if the Rangers will be able to take a humiliating two game loss start and turn it into a commanding hand.
Go Rangers!!!
bleak looking future for the Texas Rangers after dropping the first two games after the All Star break in humiliating fashion to the Minnesota Twins. Game three was feared to be more of the same, but something magical happened...the pitching showed up, and hence the begin of the turn. Vincent Padilla commanded his first start after being lifted from the DL and the Eddie Guardado and C.J. Wilson complemented hold the red hot Twins to a grand score of a big goose egg (that's 0). C.J., of course, did it in true C.J. Fashion by allowing someone to get within 90 feet of tying the game before finally closing it out with the win.
The turn continued Monday when the Rangers continued their road trip to Chicago and the White Sox. The Sox trying to hold on to their lead in their division, with a sold out crowd saw the "Ham Slam Which" up close and personal when Hamilton put the Rangers on top with a 3 run home run deep into center field. Hank Blalock started to get back into the swing of things as well, adding a two run homer later in the game quieting the rowdy White Sox crowd.
Now the Rangers have taken second place in the AL West, and with this comes the River. Two games with the White Sox and then into California to face the A's and try to catch ground with the Halos. This will prove if the Rangers will be able to take a humiliating two game loss start and turn it into a commanding hand.
Go Rangers!!!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Rangers vs Twins
Well, as you saw I didn't put in a game 1 summary or a game two preview, and that's because I've been too busy trying to earn extra money to pay for the two TVs I broke. One during Game 1 and the other during game 2. These past two games have been like watching a tee ball team screaming out "Red Sox Suck" in the middle of Fenway Park...those poor kids would end up getting trampled, just like our Rangers.
I normally would recap the game and point out some highlights, but if I began to do that I would have to replace my computer monitor as well as the two TVs, so I will leave with this...Rangers, I beg of you, put the KY away, turn around and fight back for God's sake.
I normally would recap the game and point out some highlights, but if I began to do that I would have to replace my computer monitor as well as the two TVs, so I will leave with this...Rangers, I beg of you, put the KY away, turn around and fight back for God's sake.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Game Preview - Rangers vs Twins Game 1 and the Return of Hank
This weekend the Texas Rangers square off against the Minnesota Twins this weekend and set the stage for their attempt at a playoff run for this second half of the season. Game 1's match up puts Texas Millwood up against Minnesota's Perkins. Historically, Millwood has, well sucked against the Twins, and that's putting it nicely. Millwood is 0 for 5 against the Twins and most of the Twins' line up has experience against him. Millwood is giving up a .318 batting average to the current Twin's lineup. Millwood will have an added challenge with Minnesota on a hot streak right now carried over from June, Millwood can only hope that the All Star break has cooled down the surging Twins and has prepared him to make a stand at lowering his ERA...that's a 5.11 if you didn't know. Perkins, on the other had, only has one game against the Rangers, where he did very well. The Ranger's righty's will have to step up against this left hander, but the good thing is that the Rangers now have seen him pitch, so they know what to expect now.
Hank is Back! Now Hank's Homies have a reason to show up half naked to games again...not like that was stopping them from doing that anyway. The prodigal son is returning to 3rd base and ditching the 1st base idea due to the batting of rookie Chris Davis who has bursted his way into the line up. I'm not expecting anything spectacular from Hank, he's been out for a while, but I have no doubt he'll come back to form in a couple of games.
RANGERS FANTASY BASEBALL TIPS:
Definitely play Bradley, Hamilton, Kinsler and Salty. Sit Davis (bad against lefty pitchers), Hank, and Millwood. Young is a question mark. If you are optimistic, like I am, and think that C.J. will have a save opportunity then put him in. For some reason he has these guy's number, so he'll get the save if given a chance.
Let's go Rangers!
Hank is Back! Now Hank's Homies have a reason to show up half naked to games again...not like that was stopping them from doing that anyway. The prodigal son is returning to 3rd base and ditching the 1st base idea due to the batting of rookie Chris Davis who has bursted his way into the line up. I'm not expecting anything spectacular from Hank, he's been out for a while, but I have no doubt he'll come back to form in a couple of games.
RANGERS FANTASY BASEBALL TIPS:
Definitely play Bradley, Hamilton, Kinsler and Salty. Sit Davis (bad against lefty pitchers), Hank, and Millwood. Young is a question mark. If you are optimistic, like I am, and think that C.J. will have a save opportunity then put him in. For some reason he has these guy's number, so he'll get the save if given a chance.
Let's go Rangers!
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