Monday, November 1, 2010

Oh Man. Well It Was a Hell of a Ride

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Rangers lose World Series in 5 games.  Josh had 2 hits in the series.  Cliff Lee had 2 losses in the Series.  I think the Rangers had 5 runs in the last 4 games of the Series.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: It may take a while and a little perspective but, holy crap, the Rangers made the World Series and won the AL Pennant!  Wash should be the manager of the year with Josh, Nellie and Kins being on the DL for significant, overlapping amounts of time as well as Wash having his number 1 and 2 starters on opening day not even make the playoff roster.  Josh should be the regular season MVP.  Colby Lewis was clutch in the post season.  Lee was clutch leading up to the World Series.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: That was a great ride.  Please, please, please let them sign Cliff Lee.

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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Calm Down, It's One Game

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: I love him but, it is plain now that Big Bad Vlad cannot play outfield. 

For you foosball fans, how many games are you going to win with a plethora of turnovers?  Your Rangers had four (4) errors.  FOUR errors, good luck winning a professional baseball game in the winter league with 4 errors. 4 freakin' errors!

Kinsler has got to peel off towards the dugout into foul territory.

Lastly, Cliff Lee is human after all.  Who knew?

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Nellie Cruz hit off their closer sharply in the 9th in the gap.

I would wager that in most games going foward against the Giants 7 runs will do you.  I hope.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: It's not other sports, it's not one and done.  There's tomorrow.  Maybe tomorrow they drop the antlers on them, they drop the claw on them.  I hope.

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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Stay Classy NY - You're Still Helping the Rangers Maybe Keep Mr. Loctober

The New York Spankee fans, doing what comes naturally, threw beer and spat on the visiting family section during the ALCS against your Texas Rangers.  Surprised?  I'm not.  But, the Spankees fans, who have never been accused of being well mannered or all that bright, may be surprised to learn who was sitting in the visiting family section.  Whoops, Cliff Lee's wife was one of the family members sitting in that section and was none too pleased.  Stay classy NY.

Plus, Cliff Lee has said that if, somehow, the Rangers were to win it all it'd be hard to leave Texas.  Not that the Rangers didn't have enough to play for, just the freakin' World Series, now maybe a WS win equals Lee staying put. 

Regardless of whether he stays or goes on to play for another team, Cliff Lee shall now be given his Rangers nickname - Mr. Loctober, may he have 2 or more wins left in his left arm.

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Sunday, October 24, 2010

Can You Believe It? WORLD SERIES BABY !

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Tommy Hunter was not terrible but, wasn't great.  In game 5 CJ fell into old habits and walked too many batters.  Kinsler was quiet at the plate in the ALCS after a great ALDS.


Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Texas Rangers are going to the freakin' World Series.  Jedi Josh is your ALCS mvp.  Elvis and crew kept on running when able.  Nellie arguably should have been the mvp.  And maybe the Giants will walk Jedi Josh to get to Vlad too.  Young was solid.  Maybe Kinsler will bounce back in the Series.  Cliff Lee delivered as expected.  Mr. Baseball Colby Lewis closed out the series.  CJ was great in game one to no avail.  Except for game 1, inning 8 the bullpen was solid.  Good showing for Doogie Holland.


Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: If the Rangers stay away from the crooked numbers and don't give up any big innings in the Series they'll have a great chance at (gulp) winning it all.

7 down, 4 to go.

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Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Big Dawg Benjie!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: OK, this is just nit picking at this point but, Jedi Josh played a ball poorly off the wall allowing Jeter to turn a double into a triple.  Josh has a history of not playing stuff off the wall well, probably because he's used to slamming into the wall and making the catch.  Something to work on next spring.

Where was Ogando?

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Hunter + Holland = decent starting pitcher; Benjie, Nellie and Josh twice all go yard.


Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Is it just me or does A.J. Burnett look like a meth addict with crazy face?  Seriously, put a long coat on him over his uniform and have him pushing a shopping cart down the road and you'd say, "yep, homeless meth addict."  Might just be me.

Speaking of who looks like who...Tommy Big Game Hunter reminded me last night at times of the kid from "The Hangover" that tasered Zach Galifianakis...NY Spankees catcher Jorge Posada looks like Buster Bluth from "Arrested Development".

Why did Benjie Molina switch his catcher's vest before Holland's first full inning pitching?  He started the game with a red and blue vest.  In Holland's first full inning pitching Molina was wearing a solid blue vest.  I wonder why.  Holland's preference?

6 down, 5 to go.

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Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Cliff Lee - Wow

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: I got nothing.  Jedi Josh's second deep fly didn't go yard?  Lee didn't pitch a no-hitter or perfect game? 


Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Cliff Lee is amazing.  Jedi Josh appears to be back.


Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: I cannot decide if Cliff Lee is just incredibly laid back and just takes everything in stride or if he is in fact part Vulcan.  Regardless, he's got it going. 

5 down, 6 to go.

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Sunday, October 17, 2010

So You're Saying the Rangers Have a Chance

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Game one, inning 8 will now be known as the inning of which we do not speak, where Wash went to the bullpen but, decided not to use Ogando or Feliz, the 2 best relievers by far this year.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The bats woke up.  Jedi Josh, Kinsler, David "Charlie" Murphy and Nellie Cruz, to name a few, have been strong to very strong.  And Elivs has been nothing short of amazing on base.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: 4 down, 7 to go.

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Thursday, September 23, 2010

There's No Magic Number In Football

I'm sitting here watching the Rangers in the top of the 11th at 12:12am in a tied ballgame versus the Halos and realized the above.  There's really no magic number in other sports, such as those that have owners whose names rhyme with Berry Bones.  If there is it's only with one or maybe two games left.  Whatever. 

Don't get me started about the Rangers' every away game being on the West coast by virtue of the their division mates.  It sucks.  It sucks for TV viewership/ratings.  It sucks for their travel.  It sucks for their DFW fans who actually want to watch their away games.  There needs to be a massive realignment of the AL/NL and the individual divisions to rectify this.  But, as usual, I digress.

I know no one will read this but, going into tonight's game the Rangers' magic number is five.  Wow.  Who would have thunk it?  The other sports team going right now is worried about losing two in row.  Cry me river.  Unlike other sports, baseball's season is really, really, really long.  A guy in another sport misses a game or two?  So what?  Talk to me when a guy like Jedi Josh misses 15 with broken ribs.

See you Rangers faithful in the playoffs (knock on wood).  Looks like this is the year they make their way out the wilderness of baseball futility and frustration.  I'm knocking on wood again because the magic number is still five and you never know.

Remember, there's a magic number in baseball.  Magic.  In other sports, for example, there's a hail Mary.  What?  What does the Virgin Mary have to do with sports?  That's just weird.  And probably sacrilege.  Give me a suicide squeeze any day.

Bottom of 12 coming up against the Halos.  Rangers up 1.  See you in the playoffs (knock on wood again).

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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Here Comes Ron...

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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

David "Charlie" Murphy!!!!!!!!!!!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: 3 errors.  3!

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: CJ just keeps on keeping on.  Double play against the hit-and-run with Jeter at the plate = greatness.  And, your Texas Rangers won thanks to one David "Charlie" Murphy.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Cliff Lee goes tomorrow.  Let's see if Clifford can not give up any first inning runs tomorrow.

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Friday, July 30, 2010

Still First Place Texas Rangers

Who has the biggest lead of any division leader in either league?  That's right, your Texas Rangers.

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Monday, July 19, 2010

"Let's Go Rangers" Chant at Fenway!

According to Josh and Tag some Rangers faithful envoked the above chant at the last Rangers' game at Fenway.  That's right, "let's go Rangers" was chanted at Fenway.  At FENWAY!  For as many times as "let's go Red Sox" has been heard at the Ballpark, can I be the first to say, payback is a bitch.  Oh yeah, and your Texas Rangers took 3 out of 4 at the Red Stockings.  Suck it Boston.

And as I write this the Rangers are in the top of 12 in the first game against the Tigres.

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Friday, July 16, 2010

MANSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU GOT NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MANSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JUST KEEP ON THROWING STRIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MANSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU'RE LOOKING GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MANSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DON'T THINK, JUST THROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some explanation may be in order. The above rant is from about a year ago at a Rangers' game when I heckled the opposing pitcher, a Mr. Manship for the Twins, and I was asked to quiet down by a Rangers' usher. No cursing, and they asked me to quiet down, I don't think they do that at Fenway. Rangers rallied for 3 or 4 runs during that inning versus the Twins-at least that's the way I remember it. Anyway, Ceasar bagging on Bengi Molina right before Molina went yard with the bases drunk against the Red Stockings made me think of ole' Jeff Manship for some reason.  And Rollie Molie Molina went for the cycle against the Red Stockings.  Keep up bagging on Rangers Ceasar.

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Monday, June 28, 2010

So I Haven't Been Watching the Rangers This Last Month, Have I Missed Anything?

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Harden has not panned out.  Scooter Feldman hasn't pitched as well as last year. 

It's before the All-Star game and June was as hot as August usually is in North Texas.  In other words, there's a lot of baseball to play.

Otherwise, I really cannot complain.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Where should I start?  Vladdy Daddy = great; CJ Wilson's made the transition to starter; Cobra "Mr. Baseball" Lewis is the ace of the staff; Frankie Fran is great as a set up guy; if Frankie pitched the night before just in bring Darren Oliver; oh yeah, and this young closer Neftali "Nolan Jr." Feliz isn't too shabby; Elvis is a wizard at short and great lead-off man; Michael Young is just doing what he always does season after season; and Jedi Josh is batting about .500 for the month of June.  There's more goodness but, that's just the highlights.

In June: 20 wins in 25 played, with a 13 game win streak mixed in there.

Did I mention that as of today your Texas Rangers are tied with the biggest lead in their division? (The Padres also lead their division by 4.5 games.)

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
3 at the Halos coming up.  Biggest series of the season?  Probably, and the series are only going to get bigger the longer they stay in first.  Then they play 3 at home against the White Stockings who are only 2 back in their division.  Let's see how the Rangers are doing after the next 6 games.

Read more...

Friday, May 28, 2010

First Place Texas Rangers...For Now...

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Against the AL Central Division leading Twins the Rangers lost the first game of a 3 game series.  Now your Texas Rangers lead the AL West by .5 games.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
At least it looks like they're going to be sold to Nolan Ryan's group.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
It's getting warmer outside in Texas.  Let's see if this incarnation of the Texas Rangers can stand the brunt of full on, effort-draining summer heat that past Rangers clubs have not.

Read more...

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

When Last We Left Our Texas Rangers About a Week Ago...

Rangers Win on Walk-Off Sacrifice Fly Tonight in the Bottom of Nine

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Last weekend your Texas Rangers were swept by the Toronto Blue Birds, losing three straight on the road in Canada.  Lousy Canada.

Tonight Jedi Josh was robbed of a second home run tonight because of umpire errror.  It was a homer, no doubt.  And the umps didn't go to the video reply for some reason.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
The Rangers won the next 2 against the swingin' A's after losing a heart breaking extra inning affair to start the 3 game series last week(before getting swept by the Canadians, what was that all aboot anyway?).  Your Rangers started this week with a quick 2 game sweep against the hated Halos at home. 

Frankie Fran gets his 5th win of the season?!?!?

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
It's just fun watching Vlady Daddy bat and Elvis field at short no matter the outcome of an individual game.  But, it's a bit more fun when the Rangers win.

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Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Can You Say Roller Coaster?

Rangers lose in 13. 

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Rangers gave up the lead in the 9th and the A's took the lead in the top of the 11th and again in the 13th - and the Rangers couldn't rally again in the bottom of 13.  An error by Elvis in the top of 9 helped the A's out.

The game winning run was thrown out at the plate in the bottom of 12 (questionable to send Blanco, pinch running for Vlad, on a Kinsler single).

To write that your Texas Rangers bullpen was used quite a bit would be an understatement.


Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
And the Rangers came back to tie the ballgame in he bottom of the 9th and 11th.  Mr. Baseball Lewis looked good through 7 IP.


Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Roller coaster game, roller coaster season.  Rangers are now tied with A's now atop the AL West.

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Monday, May 10, 2010

About One Fifth of the Way Through the Season; Still First Place Texas Rangers, For Now

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Crash Davis cannot quite make it work in the bigs.  Salty has ongoing issues.  Remember when we all thought that Gerald Laird was expendable.  And Scotter Feldman still hasn't quite figured things out.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Vlad.  CJ Wilson.  Colby, "Mr. Baseball" Lewis.  Neftali, "Nolan Jr." Feliz.  All have been nothing short of spectacular, in that order.  Elvis is leading off now and showing why he should be.  Jedi Josh Hamilton and Michael Young are figuring things out at the plate.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
Three at home against the second place A's starting tomorrow night.  Your Texas Rangers are only leading the division by 1 game.  This is where the Rangers can put some distance between themselves and the whole division or make it clear that this thing is going to be up in the air for some time to come.

The sale of your Texas Rangers is still in limbo because of the supposed convoluted mess that is the current ownership's financial situation.  Remember, MLB has supposedly has threatened to take over the Rangers after creditors rejected the terms of the sale to Greenberg and Nolan Ryan's group.  I, for one, cannot wait until the book is written about what truly happened to the Rangers' ownership.  Will Evan Grant write that book?  I hope so.  I know I'll read it.

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Friday, May 7, 2010

First Place Texas Rangers! Kinda

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Gave up 12 runs.  Oh, Frankie Fran...

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Scored 13 for the win over KC for the win.  And someone alert he media, your Texas Rangers actually didn't commit an error.


Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
So the day the bats come alive the pitching actually goes south?  How does one of the best starting pitching ERA's teams, your Texas Rangers, also have one of the most used bullpens?

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Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Not First Place Texas Rangers!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
It goes without saying one run won't win your ball club many games.  Tacking on 2 errors doesn't help either.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Colby, Mr. Baseball, Lewis gave up only 3 runs in six IP.  Hopefully, most days that'll be good enough for a win.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
Still only .5 games back.  Next up, 4 versus KC at home.

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Monday, May 3, 2010

First Place Texas Rangers! Again!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Offense is still not quite where you'd hope it'd be.


Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
CJ Wilson and Colby Lewis have been awesome.  And your Texas Rangers swept the SeaMen.


Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
Thank goodness the Rangers are in the Western Division.

Hicks' creditors are threatening to put the Rangers into bankruptcy if the MLB does in fact take over the Rangers in order to sell the Rangers to Greenberg and Ryan.  Oh, this just keeps getting better.  And if the Rangers are forced in bankruptcy by the creditors then we could all get a great big look up the skirt of Hicks' financial mess of a skirt since the bankruptcy papers/pleadings would likely all be a matter of public record.

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Saturday, May 1, 2010

So You're Saying They Have a Chance

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Scoring runs continues to be an issue for your Texas Rangers.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Colby Lewis and CJ Wilson have been nothing short of awesome.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
The Rangers have won 3 out of the last 4 and are only trailing by half a game in the division.  Of course half a game separates ALL the teams in the division right now.

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Sunday, April 25, 2010

Winning Streak Over

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Scooter Feldman gave up 4 earned runs and 8 total runs in 3.2 IP.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
I don't know, the Rangers were up 4-0 after 2 innings.  Too bad the game didn't end after 2.  And, the bullpen managed not to give up any more runs.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
You can't win the division in April and May but, as the old adage kinda goes, you sure can lose it.

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Saturday, April 24, 2010

Alert the Media, Rangers on a Winning Streak

OK, it's only a 2 game winning streak but, that's still a winning streak.


Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Nolan Jr. Feliz gave up 2 in the top of the 9th to let the Tigers tie it up.

The vaunted Texas Rangers offense had a whopping 6 hits.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Elvis is awesome.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
Somehow the Rangers are only 3 back in the division.  It's a miracle.
Angels lost this afternoon at the Spankees so if the Rangers win tonight they'll only be 2 back.

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Sunday, April 18, 2010

Spankees Sweep Rangers

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Rich Harden's lines are looking like those of one fictional character Nuke LaLoosh.  I don't put a lot of effort into this blog by looking at box scores and crunching stats but, from today's game against the Yankees here's "Nuke LaLoosh" Harden's line:

3.2 innings pitched, gave up 4 runs(1 homer) on 5 hits, all earned, walked 6, struck out 5, hit 2 batsmen, all on 94 pitches.  Wow.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Elvis still looks like Elvis.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
Next up the Red Stockings.  I'm worried about back to back sweeps.

Read more...

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Put the Brooms Away

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
The Rangers lost the getaway game this afternoon to end up taking 2 out of 3 from the Tribe.  So much for the sweep.

2 back to back errors put two of the Tribe on base, setting up the Tribe's game winning homer in the 8th.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Harrison looked great until he gave up the 3 run, game losing homer the in the 8th.  Again though, 2 errors set up the game losing pitch.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
I haven't looked at their record over the past couple of years in these types of games but, the Rangers seem to lose a lot of these get away games.  It seems like the Rangers lose a lot of these get away games when they're going a sweep or to take 3 out 4 in a series.

Next up, Spankees.

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Nellie

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Is it bad that Michael Young and Borbon(lead-off) are batting under .200?

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Everyone else, besides Crash Davis, is now hitting over .300.  Feliz, Nolan Jr., looks like a modern day version of a certain Yankees closer.  There I said it.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
I am going to be the ultimate homer.  If the Rangers win the get away game tomorrow, the Rangers sweep the Yanks this weekend.

Oh yeah, Nellie Cruz went yard, again.

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Monday, April 12, 2010

Rangers Win In Extra Innings, Over .500 Again

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Frankie Fran is no longer your closer after blowing 2 saves in the young season.  Rangers committed an error, I know it's just one stinkin' error but, those add up, especially against good teams.  You cannot give MLB teams an extra out, it seems like more times than not that leads to a run.  Borbon is not doing so well leading off.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Harden looked good.  As usual Oliver was reliable.  Frankie Fran had a scoreless inning for the win.  And Neftali "Nolan, Jr." Feliz got the save.

Vlad and Nellie are both still batting over .400.  Jedi Josh's avg is up to .227.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

Elvis is batting over .275.  Arias is also batting over .400.  Why aren't either of them leading off?

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Sunday, April 11, 2010

Another Blown Save

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Your Texas Rangers cannot make a 3-1 lead going into the 9th stand up.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Nellie Cruz again made the offense go.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
Frankie Fran, 2 blown saves in 5 games.  Is it bad?  Is that bad?

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Friday, April 9, 2010

First Place Was Nice While It Lasted

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Yesterday the Rangers give up 7 runs on 5 hits.  Harden walked in 2 runs.  The Jays commit 3 errors in the field and your Rangers still only manage 4 runs.

Today, the vaunted Texas offense manages 1 run on 5 hits.  Frankie Fran can't save the game and get the loss in the 9th.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Yesterday, Harden struck out the side in I think the 3rd inning.

Today, CJ Wilson looked like a real life MLB starting pitcher.  Too bad it was wasted.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
Offense continues to be a problem.  3 games and Jedi Josh has exactly 0 hits.  Problem?  Yeah.

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Monday, April 5, 2010

First Place Texas Rangers!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
For a good part of the game your Texas Rangers were getting no hit.  Scooter Feldman didn't look so hot early.  Neftali, "Nolan Jr.", Feliz gave up the go ahead run in the 8th (ERA 27.00).  The sale of the Rangers is still, STILL not final.  Why?

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Rangers win in the bottom of 9, 5-4.  Crash Davis didn't get a hit but, he didn't strike out either.  Scooter went 7, eating up innings.  The ageless one, Darren Oliver, came in to clean up Nolan Jr.'s mess.  Salty came through with the game winning hit.  Nelson, "Nellie", Cruz had a boat load of RBI's.  Vlad's hitting .667.  Five different Rangers scored.  Frankie Francisco got the save.  The Rangers are on pace to win 162, in first place and Nellie is on pace, if my math is correct, to have 648 RBI's.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
This game, for better or worse, may prove to be a microcosm of the Rangers' season to come.  Down (no hit for a good part of the game), up (tie it), down (give up a late inning, go ahead hit), up (9th inning winning run).  Or the bats can come alive and then, watch out.

Scooter was extended to a multi-year, multi-million contract before opening day, saving him from being an opening day starter making less than half a million dollars.

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Sunday, April 4, 2010

Hope Springs Eternal

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Wash and coke.  Kinsler's on the DH to start the season.  Who the heck did they say is the opening day starter?  CJ Wilson is a starter, maybe?  Is the sale of your Texas Rangers even final?

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Scooter Feldman is your opening day starter.  Good, for Scooter.  And here's why.  As backwards as the below may read here's why your Texas Rangers may have a chance (all the below pitchers' salary numbers and whether they're starters, relief pitchers or somewhere in between is taken from Yahoo! sports as of 4/1/10; also, this is not a complete list of Rangers' pitchers per Yahoo! sports):

Scooter Feldman SP, salary: about 435 thousand
Rich Harden SP, salary: 7 million
Frankie, "FrankieFran", Francisco RP, salarly: about 1.6 million
Matt Harrison SP, salary: about 405 thousand
Tommy, "Big Thunder", Hunter SP, salary: about 400 thousand
Colby, "Mr. Baseball", Lewis SP, salary: undisclosed
Neftali, "Nolan Jr.", Feliz RP, salary: 400 thousand
Dusty Nippert RP/SP, salary: about 400 thousand
Darren, Doomsday, O'Day RP, salary: about 400 thousand
Darren Oliver RP, salary:
CJ, Mayday, Wilson RP/SP, salary: about 1.8 million
Doug Mathis RP/SP, salary: about 400 thousand
Luis, "SuperNova", Mendoza SP, salary: about 400 thousand

They all, for the most part, have something to play for and prove.  Whether it's to themselves or GM's or who knows who.  For example, I haven't looked around the league to compare but, how many opening day starters do you think make less than half a million dollars?  They all should have something to prove.  They started to prove it last year, here's to hoping they continue to prove it this season and beyond.  I genuinely hope and think they will.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
The batting and defense, or lack thereof, might be what what holds them back from winning.  Or maybe the pitching that I'm so high on is not nearly as strong as I think it might be.  Maybe they don't rally around Wash like I think they might.    

But, anything is possible this time of year.  This year they win the division.  This year they win a post season series.  This year they have a 20 game winner.  This year they have a Cy Young winner.  This year they win the Pennant.  This year they win it all.  Maybe this is the year they find their way out of the wilderness of baseball futility.  162 games is a long haul.  Starting tomorrow, we'll see.

Read more...

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Rangers Controversy! Smells Like Baseball Season

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Ron Washington is a 57 year old major league manager and he did what!?!?  And he's saying that that is the only time he's ever done coke?  He played in the majors in the 1970's right?  OK, just checking.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
So Wash is human, he was out with his old buddies and thought, hey, why not.  Maybe the team will rally around their skipper because of this.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
So I wonder exactly how short of a leash Wash is going to be on after opening day.  How many games under .500 and/or how long under .500 do the Rangers have to be for Wash to be shown the door.  On the flip side, remember, winning cures all that ails you in sports.  Rangers win this season, then Wash's coke use is an interesting footnote to the season.

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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

MLB Was Involved in Running Your Texas Rangers

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Your Texas Rangers were run so deeply into the ground that MLB had to be consulted before certain decisions could be made since July of 2009. Money was the key factor and, for example, stopped your Rangers from signing their number one draft pick last year because the would-be rookie wanted too much cash.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Your Texas Rangers' major decisions had to go through MLB meaning Hicks couldn't make any more bad decisions.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
The depths of fiscal ineptitude achieved by your Texas Rangers while ran by Mr. Hicks is only now coming to light. I cannot wait until a tell-all is written that details blow by blow how the Rangers and Mr. Hicks reached such dire financial straits.

Read more...

Monday, January 25, 2010

The King is Dead. Long Live the King

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
The sale of your Texas Rangers to the Greenberg-Nolan Ryan group still has to be approved by 70% of the owners and Hicks' dozens of creditors. Why couldn't this sale have been finalized earlier? If the sale had happened months ago would the Rangers still have Marlon Byrd and Millwood on their roster?

Hicks will still have a minority interest in the team and be named "Chairman Emeritus".

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
The MLB owners and Hicks' 40+ creditors want this sale to happen.

Hicks will be named "Chairman Emeritus". "Chaiman Emeritus" is a nice way of saying to someone, "you've been with the company for a long time, were maybe once in charge but really weren't all that good at your job. Here's an office and a title. Oh, and don't worry about trying to use the phone in your office, it's not connected."

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
Get this, Hicks bought the team for about $250 million and this sale is going to be for more than $500 million. Pretty good profit for Hicks except for the fact numerous creditors reportedly hold, as of 5/19/09, $525 million in debt owed by Hicks' company.

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Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Poor Mark McSteroid

Re: Mark McGwire's admission of using performance enhancing drugs:
What?!?!?! He used steroids?!?!? I don't believe it! I DID NOT see this coming! (How do you get this thing to type in sarcastic font?)

As he pretty much said in his interview with Bob Costas on the MLB network, apparently Mark McGwire thinks it's not his fault because he played during the "steroid era." It's not his fault that those monsters held him down and forced those syringes into him time after time over the course of apparently a decade. It's also not his fault that he is the poster boy for the steroid era:



After steroid users, like McGwire and Bonds, transformed themselves from slender athletic players into mini-Hulks they deluded themselves into thinking that everyone would just believe they all just got stronger, developed better recovery time, worked out more often and longer, had better endurance and put on tons of body/muscle mass in their mid to late 30's because they just worked out a lot and ate right.

Mark McSteroid stated he didn't take steroids to hit homers. McSteriod took 'roids just to stay healthy and thereby stay on the field making plate appearances. If by staying healthy he just happened to hit more homers than he would have had he been injured then, accoding to Mark McSteroid, it was just his "natural ability" being allowed to shine through thanks, of course, to the 'roids. For example, can you really blame McSteroid or the 'roids he took for the season he stayed healthy and hit 70 homers to break Maris' record? Yeah, with logic like how could anyone blame poor McSteroid? At least that's how Mark apparently sees it.

I think Mark McSteroid really believes it wasn't his fault, like he insinuated in his interview with Costas: It was in all the gyms, everyone was doing it, it was the steroid era, he had to do it because he was injured all the time, it was the one-armed man, etc. Poor, poor delusional Mark McSteroid, in his own mind he never had a chance.

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Vlad To Meet You

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Vladimir Guerrero only played 100 games last season for the Angels in his FOURTEENTH year in the league. He had 2 stints on the DL last year in his FOURTEENTH year in the league. Some think that his knees have had it. He's turning 35 here soon. Not old in real life but old in baseball life when you're a power hitting right fielder.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Since 1997 Vlad has played at least 140 games each year with the only exception being last year. If he's only DH'ing then he'll have a  better chance at staying healthy since he won't have to run around in the field.

At least he won't be playing for the Angels and against the Rangers anymore.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
If he stays healthy this will be a great addition. That's a big "if" though. Once knees start to go they usually keep going until the player becomes a former player.

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Monday, January 11, 2010

At Leats Hicks Jr. Is Up Front About How He Feels About Liverpool Fans

Hicks Jr. sent a profane email to a critical Liverpool fan. That email went public. In the email Hicks Jr. wrote, "Blow me f*** face. Go to hell. I'm sick of you." Hicks Jr. resigned from the positions he held with the Liverpool soccer team that his father partly owns. 


Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Too bad Hicks Sr. couldn't have sent a similar email to a Rangers fan that would have forced him to sell years ago. Hicks Sr. never sent such an email or said as much to Rangers fans. But, as Rangers fans, we always kinda knew what he thought of us.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Maybe this is a little insight into how the Hicks view fans, whether they be Liverpool or Texas fans. Like father like son maybe? At least Hicks is in the process of selling controlling interest in the Rangers. Too bad for Liverpool fans Hicks has no such plans for their soccer team.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:
Is the sale of the Rangers done yet? Please let it get done. Please.

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When Last We Left Our Boys of Summer...

Older TTRB Stuff

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