Straight in the Lumberyard

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Crash Davis' error in the top of 8 started the Fish's comeback.

C.J. Wilson, O'Day, Frankie Fran didn't help either. After 7 innings the score was 5-0, Rangers leading.

Final score? Fish win 7-6.

Last home game, which was fan appreciation day at the ballpark, was a microcosm of the whole season...
Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Wasted start by McCarthy. More and more the Danks for McCarthy trade is looking at worst like it's a wash.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
That's it. It's over. At least it is for me. Oh well. Maybe next year they'll make the playoffs.

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"Just When I Thought I Was Out..." *

"...They Pull Me Back In..." *from the greatness that is The Godfather movie series - I'm not saying I'm going to watch all the games but...
...I might...

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Why do they have to do this? Why make it interesting now? Just to crush my hopes of a miracle comeback in the standings?

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

So you're saying we have a chance? OK, now I may have to watch.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

They're down 5 games in the division with 8 games total to play. They have one more against the Fish(Rays) 4 against the division-leading Halos and to end the season 3 against the Seamen(Mariners). OK, it's a long shot. And I know the Halos' magic number is 4 and it would take a monumental collapse on their part but, stranger things of happened right? OK, probably not going to happen. But, I'm in anyway. And these games coming up for the Rangers are as close to the playoffs as I'm going to get this season. Unless...fingers crossed...

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It's Officially Football Season

Rangers lost 2 out of 3 versus Halos, so now, for me, it's now officially football season because I've given up all hope of your Texas Rangers making the playoffs. It was fun while it lasted though. Who knew that they'd be in it until September. Now we have to hope Tony Romo and the Cowboys maybe win a playoff game.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Doggie Holland loses his 5th straight start giving up 5 homers.

Even if the Rangers had taken 2 out of 3 they would have had an incredibly difficult path to winning the division.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
The Rangers managed to finally put up some runs. But, too little and too late unfortunately.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
Who else would like Tom Hicks to PLEASE sell the team asap? Also, build a new, indoor stadium near downtown Dallas (ala MinuteMaid in Houston). Or somehow put a retractable roof on the old one at the very least.

More thoughts on the whole season after the final out of the Rangers' season.

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Rangers Score No Runs, Again

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Rangers lose 2-0 to Halos.
If my math is correct that's forty-six(46), let me write that again, FORTY-SIX (46) innings without a base runner crossing the plate for your Texas Rangers.
Hitting coach where are you? That's over 5 games worth of scoreless ball if you're having trouble with the math like I am.

I know Young and Hamilton are out but, come on, really? No runs in 46 straight innings? How many games can you win if you score zero runs? Oh, that's right, none.

I love Wash as a manager but putting homerless Hank Blaylock in to pitch hit in the bottom of the 8th didn't seem like a good idea. I know he almost had one drop but, it didn't. And he hasn't had many drop in a while that's why he's only appeared about 3 times in the last 20+ games.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
The pitching kept them it, again.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
Why does it look like they're always swinging for the fences? Sometimes a base knock is OK.

Also, about a month or 2 ago when other teams were adding an arm or a bat or both what did your Texas Rangers do? Nothing really. Yes, they picked up some pitchers off waivers and had the call up of the brilliant Feliz so that helped the pitching. They had no minor league well to go to for offense. I remember hearing a quote from Wash where he said that they weren't the type of team to go add an expensive piece(I'm paraphrasing badly). But, that was the sentiment of Wash's quote regarding why the team didn't go add a bat. For whatever reason(finances) they couldn't spend the money(lack of money) to go add one stinking offensive piece(can you spare a dime?). Josh and Young get hurt and this is what's left. They've been in the race all year and when they could've used some help on offense from the front office the front office basically pulled their pockets inside out and shrugged their shoulders to the team. I wonder how that went over in the clubhouse?

Wishful thinking: What if Josh Hamilton would've had the type of season he had last year this year with the pitching the Rangers have had. But, that's why it's wishful thinking.

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That's All She Wrote on the 2009 Season

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

1 Run in the last 3400000 Innings. 6 Games, 6.5 Games Back from the Wild Card. About 17 Games Left.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Sorry, Got Nothing Here.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

Young pitchers running out of gas. Young hitters running out of gas. Key Injuries, a GAME effort for this year, but the chances of getting into the playoffs seem less than 10%. And I must admit, that I can't blame the heat on this one. The bats going silent is quite confounding.

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For Gosh Dog Dog*

"You should see my shoes"* - From the greatness that is Fletch.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

19 games left. 6 GB in the division. 4.5 GB in the wild card. Let me crunch the numbers here...crap, not looking good for the home team.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

They have 7 games left against the Halos. They need to win them all or at least 5 out of 7 I would think.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

It's not over until it's over but man, it's not looking good. What the heck happened? Well, the Rangers have played .500 ball the last 10 games. The Halos and Red Stocking have not. Also, Jedi Josh and Young being hurt and Millwood not pitching well hasn't exactly helped much. Add to that Scooter Feldman's last outing and this is the boat they're in. The fat lady hasn't sung yet but, I think I can hear her humming.

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No More Rain, Please

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

More rain.

Halos are @ Red Stockings. I don't know who to root against.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

I'll have to see who wins the first game of the Halos/Red Stocking series. Then, I guess I'll cheer for a sweep either way. Regardless, the Rangers have to beat the A's, and now need help.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

Who to cheer for/against - 6 GB in divsion; 4 GB in wild card; Red Stockings magic number(RedStockings wins or Rangers losses) to clinch wild card is 17 with 20 games left to play. Rangers need either the Red Stocking or Halo to lose 7 out of the next 10 and the Rangers have to win about the same. Or the Rangers have to win ALL the games they have left against the Halos. Hopes for playoffs fading.

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The Rangers Worst Enemies: Cowboys & Rain

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

The Cowboys season started today(and they won), so now even less attention will be paid to the Rangers locally.

Is it ever going to stop raining? Too bad the Rangers don't have an indoor park like Atros' MinuteMaid. They're falling behind in the standing while not playing a single game(5.5 in the division; 3.5 in the wild card race).

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

The Cowboys season started today(and they won), so now even less attention will be paid to the Rangers locally, that may be a good thing, no pressure on them to perform and they can fly under the radar.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

A talking head at ESPN actually said that the Red Stockings have any easier schedule down the stretch than your Rangers. Rangers' remaining foes: Mariners, A's, Halos, A's, Rays, Halos, Mariners, in that order. Red Stockings remaining foes: Rays, Halos, Balt., KC, Spankees, Blue Jays, Clev. The talking head may be right but, hopefully the Rangers can keep on beating division foes at the same clip as they have been all year, especially when it comes to the Halos. And maybe, maybe the Halos, Spankees and Rays can help out the Rangers by beating the Red Stockings.

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So Are They Going to Make the Playoffs or Not?

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Michael, "the Old Man" Young is out. Jedi Josh is out. They've played .500 ball the last 10 games. There are only about 4 weeks left in the season. They're 5 GB in division and 2.5 GB in the wild card and there are only 26 games left. And they have no games left against the Red Stockings.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Jedi Josh should be back Friday.

The Rangers have 7 games left against the division leading Halos.

There are plenty of games to make up the difference in either the division or wild card races, I think.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

I know, I know, I know, this season is already a success, they've performed way beyond expectations, blah, blah, blah. Well, guess what? Expectations have changed dramatically because they've performed so well. We know what they're capable of.

I'm going to call it. I think your Texas Rangers make the playoffs. Not only that, I think they'll win the division. Halos have an incredibly difficult schedule left and are terrible against division foes. Outside the division they play the White Stockings, Red Stockings and Spankess down the stretch and have more than a few games in division. Am I jinxing them? I don't think so. The Rangers have to think they're good enough to win the division. And why not? So why not say it?

By the way, I went to Houston and caught a great Astros game Saturday night (Astros won in the bottom of the 9th). As a Rangers fan I now have stadium envy. Their MinuteMaid park is awesome. The park is easy to get around inside, in the middle of downtown, indoor and just seems intimate. For example, you can view the game as walk around the lower bowl. Outfield walls are a little too short but otherwise, wow. Did I mention it's an indoor stadium with a retractable section?

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Rangers Sweep Double Header!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Michael Young left the second game with a strained hammy. MRI to follow.

C(ardiac) J Wilson once again made it very interesting in his 2/3's of an inning of work in the 8th of game 2. The bases were loaded with 1 out I think. And I know O'Day was responsible for the run that scored but, it seems more and more every time Cardiac pitches it's closer to a complete meltdown. Don't get me wrong he pitched great at times when Frankie was out but, thankfully Frankie is back.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Jedi Josh, more and more, is starting to look like Jedi Josh again. And Crash Davis is starting to bat like he did last year.

Nippert and McCarthy (McCarthy!) give you two quality starts.

Feliz, "Nolan Jr.", what he do? In the first game he just pitched 2 innnings of perfect (I don't remember anyone walking) baseball while he struck out 4.

Frankie closes two games in one day.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

If Young is out for any signifacant time is that church for the Rangers?

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