Thursday, September 27, 2012

Magic Number 3 to Clinch Division

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Mike Adams gave up homers like he was pitching during the home run derby during the All Star break.  Rangers gave up 11 hits and 7 runs to the often offensively challenged A's.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The offense got off to quick start.  Koji continues to look strong to very strong.  And Joe MF Nathan continues to get it done.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The A's essentially have to run the table to win the division.

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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Rangers Split First 2 Versus A's

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: You're not going to win too many games putting up only 2 runs (both scored in the bottom of the first).  And then after being spotted a 2 run lead, Scooter Feldman proceeded to come out and have trouble finding the strike zone.

And why can the Rangers not run the bases ?

Why can Ogando only go 2 innings?

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Offense did have 7 hits, just left a lot of runners in scoring position.  Were you really expecting to win this one when you heard Yu had a stiff neck and Scooter was starting?

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Seriously, the base running thing is mesmerizing.  How can pros get picked off/caught in no-mans-land/thrown out by a mile when stealing so often?

4 games up and 2 more at home against the A's.  3 more versus the A's next week in Oakland.  8 more games total.  It's an adventure.

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Saturday, September 22, 2012

Magic Number is 9, 12 More Games to Go

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Kins cannot seem to help getting picked off on the base pads.

Josh is having vision problems apparently, needless to say that's not good for someone in his profession much less someone who's going to be a free agent at the end of the season.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Beltre is awesome.  Yu is throwing wicked stuff and is hardly walking anyone. And the Rangers just won 2 out of 3 versus the Halos.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The Rangers have 7 games left against the second place A's.  Still a boatload of baseball to be played.

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Friday, September 14, 2012

19 Games Left in the Regular Season, We Have Half a Tank of Gas, Half a Pack of Smokes, We're Wearing Sunglasses and It's Dark, Let's Role*

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Yeah, the blown save sucked last night.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Keep in mind Joe Nathan had a record number of consecutive saves going before last night.  And he should NOT have been booed by the hometown fans last night when he left the field.  He should have received a very much deserved standing ovation.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: *The above is a bad paraphrasing from the Blues Brothers.  After most of the season completed, the Rangers are up 3 games on the A's in the division with 19 games to go.  Get ready, it should be a fun ride.

Josh is playing tonight.  AB (Adrian Beltre) DH'd last night.  Yes, Joe Nathan blew the save last night.  As a good friend said, that's good timing, now he's due to string together another 30+ save streak just in time for the home-stretch and the playoffs.

Seattle has been pretty darn good since the All-Star break, so no one should be taking this series against them for granted.

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Friday, September 7, 2012

Hello Playoff-Like Baseball; Rangers Lose Pitching Duel to Rays in 11th Inning 3-1

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: The Rangers' offense managed only one run against the Ray's starter.

The Rangers' relievers fell behind the count to too many batters.  That combined with too many BB's by relievers eventually caught up to the bullpen in the 11th.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Of course that one run by the Rangers was a solo homer by Mr. Ranger, Michael Young  who continues to have a hot bat in September.

And Holland gave up only 2 hits in 8 IP, the first of which was a solo homer by Longoria, the only run Doogie gave up.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: As a friend noted, this was a tense game from beginning to end.  Hopefully next time the Rangers are in a tight game like this Adams, Ogando and/or Nathan will be available.

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Thursday, September 6, 2012

I Hate The Texas Rangers (Not Really, Just Joking, Kinda)

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: I really got nothin'. Although, I think Kins may have been run down or picked off between each base this year, way to go.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Oh yeah, they won tonight and Beltre and Murph continue to be the All-Stars of this team.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: I hate the Rangers (not really, just joking, kinda).  Let me explain, here's why I wrote that.  We have been spoiled by these last 2 full seasons, hopefully going on 3 where they make the playoffs, again (knock on wood).  In other words, these Rangers teams the last 3-5 years under Wash have spoiled us.  And for that I kinda hate 'em.  Now we as fans, it seems like, almost expect to make the playoffs each year.  And those are mighty high expectations.  Just remember that no matter what may come this year, or the next, or the many more years after, that we had at least these years.  I'm just saying don't take them for granted and I'll kinda hate the Rangers for spoiling us.

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Sunday, September 2, 2012

Welcome to the Majors Mr. Profar, Rangers Beat Up on Tribe 8-3

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Doogie Holland gave up 6 hits in his first 3 IP.  He was going so bad that Wash came out and gave him a talking to.  It seems Wash is having to go out to the mound when Doogie is pitching a lot.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The rest of the way the Dutch Oven only gave up one more hit, going a total of 7 innings.

Oh yeah, Jurickson Profar, the much ballyhooed minor leaguer, made his major league debut.  And in his first at bat he went yard.  First Texas Ranger to ever do that ( another player did it back in the 60's when the organization was in DC and called the Senators).  Next at bat he had a sharply hit double.  The at bat after that it sure looked like his new teammates hid his helmet and bat in the dugout and caused him to be late coming to the plate.  And Profar got the pie in the face during his postgame interview on the field.  Pranks have been and will be played on newbies, fun to see.

Not to be outdone, Hamilton, Beltre and David "Charlie" Muphy all went deep in the top of the 5th in a span of 6 pitches.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: After losing to the Tribe last night the Rangers' offense bounced back nicely.

There was an airshow apparently going on in CLE and you could hear the planes flying over.  From the sound of it the airshow was taking place in the ballpark's parking lot and the planes were flying 100 feet over the top of the ballpark.

With the win today Wash tied the late great Johnny Oates for the second most wins by a Rangers manager.  Not too shabby.

I know it's only one game but, if Profar is half as good as they say what does that mean for the players on the roster currently and for Profar?  Kins just signed a big extension before this year. And Elvis and Beltre aren't free agents until 2015 and 2016 respectively.  So where does Profar fit?  Convert him to an outfielder?  Don't get me wrong it's a good problem to have.

Going into today the A's have won 7 straight and are 3 GB.  Who are those guys and why won't they lose a ballgame?

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Saturday, September 1, 2012

Despite Errors Rangers Beat Cle 5-3 Friday Night

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Two errors in the same inning by Elvis helped the Tribe score a run.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Get this, Josh walked twice.  In the same game!  Beltre continued to have the hot bat as did Muph and Kins.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Why won't the stinkin' A's lose a game.  Now the A's have won 7 straight and still are hanging tough, 4 GB

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