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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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?
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.
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.
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.
Posts
All Comments
© Blogger templates Newspaper III by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008
Back to TOP
