- I Wouldn't Blame Millwood for Thinking His Teammates Hate Him

or alternate title:

Another Wasted Millwood Performance; Ranger's Lose Game and Series Versus Twins.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

The offense, defense and bullpen let down Millwood. Again.

3-2 lead for Rangers going into the bottom of 8th was blown by poor fielding/pitching. Lose the ballgame 5-3. Ouch.

Homerless Hank Blaylock caused Pudge to drop a pop up ball in foul territory in an early inning (didn't cost Rangers a run). Twins runners on 2nd & 3rd (I think) in the bottom of the 8th inning, a ground ball was hit to first, Homerless threw high to home instead attempting to get the out at first. Runners safe at home and at first. Keep in mind that there was no force play at home. CJ Wilson was less than impressive on 1 day's rest.

Nellie Cruz also mishandled a base knock in the botoom of the 8th so he couldn't even force a play at home when another Twin runner scored.

Rangers' got 4 base runners on in the top of the 9th with no outs but, couldn't get any of them home.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Millwood pitched well enough to win.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

I'd be surprised if Homerless Hank plays first base much more this season. His defense actually did hurt the team last game. Crash Davis isn't going to bat any worse than Homerless, and will field better. Homerless will likely DH sometimes against righty pitching but, I would bet that's about it for him in the field.

September has got to be better than August. I hope.

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Return of the Texas Jedi, They Defeat the Evil Empire and Win the Series

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Nipp got knocked out of the game after 4.2 innings (I think).

Rangers were 1-hit through about 5 innings.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Oh, by the way, that 1 hit was a 3 run shot by Kinsler.

Grilli had a bad last outing. Add that he had to step up and into the roll as one of the long middle relievers since they let go of Jennings. And he did it. I think I could hear the sighs of relief from Wash & Maddux all the way back here in DFW.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

That's the first series the Evil Empire has lost at home since June. And who beat them? You're little ole' Texas Rangers. Maybe this'll start a little win streak or at the very least winning at a better than .500 clip. Keep your fingers crossed.

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- At Least Get Their Names Right

From an article on Yahoo! previewing this afternoon's game but referencing last night's game:

"Josh Hamilton had three hits and Daniel Murphy [emphasis added by yours truly] added a homer with two RBIs on Wednesday, but Texas lost for the fifth time in eight games and fell to 2-3 on its nine-game road trip."

Daniel Murphy? Come on, at least get the Rangers' names right. It's David Murphy, he actually plays for the Rangers. Daniel Murphy apparently plays for the Mets. Wow, great reporting. Why don't they just call the team the Arlington Ranch Hands while they're at it. No respect I tell you, no respect.

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- The Evil Empire Strikes Back

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Man I do not like the Spankees, especially mirror kissing A-Rod and mouth-breathing-dumb-faced Teixeira.

Oh, Doogie Holland, maybe next time.

Oh Jason Jenning why cannot I not think of a nickname for you? And why does it seem like your relief appearances have gotten worse each time you pitch?

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

David "the Murph" Murphy actually batted well against a lefty and it was Pettitte no less, accounting for the only two Ranger RBI's.

Elvis was again brilliant in the field.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

Red Stockings won. Halos won. At least the Rays didn't win. Now the Rangers are 5 back in the division and 2.5 in the Wild Card. Why do I feel like playoff chances are slipping away? Maybe because the Rangers are playing .500 ball and I'm not sure that'll punch their ticket to the post season.

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- Rangers beat Evil Empire, Barely

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Rangers are down 4-0 after 2 innings. Whoops. Game over according to some.

Millwood didn't have his best stuff by a mile.

Then, 10-5 Rangers winning going into the bottom of 9. Final score is 10-9 Rangers win.

WTF you ask? Wash inexplicably put in pitcher Grilli, (Grilli! when's the last time he's pitched in a game) in the bottom of 9 and he proceeded put on 2 with no outs (single, walk). Then Frankie Fran came in to salvage it, barely, with the game ending on a questionable double play (see below).

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Crash Davis went 2-4 with NO STRIKE OUTS. Alert the Media.

Rangers rally to be up 10-5 going into the bottom of 9 then, the almost complete meltdown, but don't meltdown completely.

With one out, on the final play of the game (a double play line out to Elvis, he caught the ball and then stepped on second base "beating" the guy on second back the bag who was trying to tag up) the Spankee runner was arguably safe but, called out. Let me be honest, he was safe. It was, at best, a tie (when Elvis stepped on the bag and the Spankee runner's hand touched second) and the tie goes to the runner. But, I'll take the ump's call.

That play made up for all the non-strike calls made by the homeplate ump (with all the Spankee money in his wallet) when the Rangers were pitching.

Feliz is Feliz. Awesome.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

Catastrophic moment? Almost. Maybe. You have a 10-5 lead going into the bottom of the 9th against the Spankees and you make it that interesting? Rangers did win 10-9 but they made it a drama. So Drama Rangers win, ooohhhh, Drama Rangers win!

Of course Red Stocking won. Halo is tied as I write this. Somebody (Halo, Red Stocking) lose, please.

That's why each team gets 27 outs. It ain't over till it's over. Oh, and umpires making bad calls help the Rangers every once in a while, thankfully it was tonight.

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- Your Texas Rangers vs. the Evil Empire

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

They're calling up Crash Davis.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

They're calling up Crash Davis, he can't be hitting any worse than Homerless Hank Blaylock and definitely plays better D.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

So is this kind of what it's like to be a Cubs, Yankees or Red Sox fan in July & August and (gulp) September? You watch the Rangers' game and (if you're like me when at home) your online checking scores for the Red Sox, Rays and Angels (and no, I haven't given up on the division, we will hold the line HERE!). And Rangers play Halos seven (7!) more times. It would just help if the Halos would lose 2 or 5 games in a row.

So is the division race over? Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

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A Fine Outing with Friends

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Javier was thrown out for cheering too loud, and showing too much enthusiasm. Actually, this was also the highlight - and thrown out is a bit of a stretch.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

11-1. The Bats are a hittin'. The pitchin' is a pitchin'.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

I can't wait for the emails to the Tickets over the stupidity of them getting upset, over people CHEERING at a ballpark. One of the craziest things that I have ever seen.

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We will watch them win this Thursday (live)

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Tiger lost the freakin' PGA from a guy that NO ONE HAS ever heard of.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Pudge's Return - I guess. Is this guy going to play? Since a 4 Game is unheard of, this loss increases the chance of a win on Thursday when we watch live.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

Minnesota has a pretty decent team. Not sure what we need with Pudge - I am going to assume he is just a fill-in, from time to time.

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Again, with the ass sucking!!!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Just started watching the Sox Game in the 7th inning, and it all went to shiite. What happened to the Pen? More Sox fans at Game than Rangers fans - not acceptable.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

2 More Games in Texas for this Series.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

Another possible back-breaker for the Rangers, but I don't think so. We'll take the next 2.

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Rangers Win, So What?

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

The freakin' Halos and Red Stocking won.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Jedi Josh batted and is batting great. Thunder Hunter pitched great.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

Let's see what happens this weekend against the Red Stockings. It's beginning to look more and more like the Wild Card is the Rangers' only avenue into the playoffs (I know, I know, this season is already a success but, what's wrong with wanting some playoff baseball in North Texas?). To quote Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid regarding the Halos, "who are those guys?" In other words, why won't they lose a few in a row when they're not playing your Rangers?

And here's another thing, name another MLB team in any other division that has to travel 2 ( TWO!) time zones to play their division rivals. I know they're a lot of variables but check out the records in the AL Central, where arguably your Rangers should be (couldn't KC and the Rangers swap divisions?).

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- Doogie !

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Jedi Josh was hitless and the news about him falling off the wagon this past January came out over the weekend. Ouch. Rangers fans don't care about his off the field stuff as long as it doesn't affect his play on the field.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Dooggie Holland had a no-hitter through 5 2/3's innings and pitched a 3-hit, complete game 7-0 shutout.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

The Rangers take 2 out of 3 against arguably the hottest team in baseball, the Halos. During this series they release the Debbie Downer in the clubhouse Padilla. Brilliant and finally. Of course they could release Padilla after figuring out that they're going to roll the dice with the starting rotation of Old Man Millwood, Doogie Holland, Big Thunder Hunter, Scooter Feldman and Dusty Nippert. All the starters, with of course the exception of Old Man Millwood, are under 30 years old. I like it.

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In my death, I only grow stronger...

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

So, yes, Padilla looked like Eddie Harris in the 9th inning in Major League BUT do you really, REALLY?!?!, bring in the rookie from OKC Penal to face a .394 w/RiSP hitter in a tie ballgame? I know Neftali throws 100 MPH gas but...OK...do we need Captain Ron showing "an inspiring rookie performance" or "gritty trust in our veterans" right now? Am I alone in this? There were a dozen other bad moments for Los Rangers tonight but....I dunno...I'm aghast...

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Otherwise, Neftali Feliz looks AWESOME. Oh, I almost can't wait for next year...except I'm still emotionally involved in this year. This is like that chick you met just before you left for college...she's so hot, she SO gets me and it could all work out. First fries, then Assistant Manager....

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

We are on the cusp. 7 games left on this road trip. I keep thinking we are one rally away from some crazy swine flu/War Pigs mad run at the World Series. Keep believin'...I mean, for real, I'm blogging about Los Rangers at midnight. In August.

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Rangers Get Shutout By Lowly A's

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

5 hits tonight. 5 hits last night. Total runs = 2.

2 stinkin' runs in 2 nights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Arias, in for the injured Kinsler at second, continues to play in shallow right field.

1 RBI in the last 2 nights. Hitting is the problem. Hitting! Not pitching, hitting. It seems like they either score 2 or 7. And they don't help a pitcher out that gives up an early lead. At least it seems like it is from my eyeball test without crunching any numbers. I'm probably wrong but, there's more below about the hitting.

Doogie Holland's confidence is again shaken by a poor showing.

Salty is still having problems throwing the ball back to the pitcher. He actually bounced one to Doogie tonight that got past him. Has no one else noticed this? Ranger pitcher is constantly stretching, jumping or otherwise reaching for throws from Salty to the mound. Watch to confirm.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

?

Hey did anyone see Feliz, "Nolan Jr.", strikeout the first 4 he faced last night?

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

When is the highest paid hitting coach in baseball going to be asked some tough questions?

By Washington? No, probably not by Wash, he didn't hire him.

Is Daniels going to talk to him? Nope, he didn't hire him either(and Daniels was 17 years old when Jaramillo started working for the Rangers).

Nolan Ryan? No, he didn't hire him either.

Hicks? He's his boss but, he's newer to the franchise than Jaramillo and he's busy trying to sell the franchise.

Jaramillo pre-dates all his bosses(1995 is when he came on the staff! Hicks bought the team in 1998.). Who does he have pictures of doing what with what and/or who exactly?

And, has anyone really examined how his success with hitters coincides with the "steroid era"(let's say the "steroid era" is early 90's-2004? I don't know you tell me.) in baseball generally and the Rangers specifically? To use a phrase of JJ's, "I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin." Who're Jaramillo's biggest success stories exactly? ARod? Palmiero? Juando? Pudge? Canseco?

Hopefully the Rangers get their hitting groove back before they play 3 at Halo this weekend otherwise...

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That sucked total asss!!!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

I watched the last 15 minutes to see the Rangers lose to the pathetic A's.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Sorry, I got nothing here. Nelson Cruz even managed to get hurt on the last play.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

Washington manages to use 6 pitchers for a shut-out, but at the end, with the pitcher struggling, does not visit the mound, does not switch pitchers, nothing. I know the hits were not that hard, but why use 6 pitchers right up until the end, and then not change when the game is at its more important point?

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