Sunday, December 14, 2014

It's December, the Cowboys are on the verge of not making the playoffs, so how're the Rangers doing?

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: I swear I heard on the radio that Profar's recovery wasn't going as well as hoped. And I heard that Perez will likely not be ready till the All Star break. Remember when Holland was going to be ready at the All Star break last year? Remember when he wasn't ready until pretty much the last month of the season?

And to boot, no starting pitching has been signed. With Perez out, Harrison with an oft-injured back, Lewis getting older and Holland's inability to use stairs without tripping over his dog and blowing out his knee, I'd say starting pitching is still a concern.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: At least I haven't heard about any Rangers getting hurt this off season. Yay.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Still need to learn more about the new skipper. That's on the to-do list while we wait out the winter until opening day.

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Thursday, October 16, 2014

Jeff Banister is the new manager of your #TexasRangers

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Tuesday, October 14, 2014

The #KCRoyals are Buck Showalter/Dr. Zaius' Charleton Heston #ALCS

 

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Sunday, September 28, 2014

This long, strange, injury-riddled season is FINALLY over

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: This was a waste of a season in so many ways. Beltre had another year of his All-Star career wasted. Holland wasted a year injuring his knee. Every move that JD made seemingly blew up in their faces (see Prince for Kins trade as exhibit "A"). Profar was injured and we don't know what he's really got. There were of course the injuries. And Wash is gone.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: There's always next year. And next year cannot be as bad as this year. It cannot. Right?

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: A lot of young, minor league players got a fair amount of playing time this year. Hopefully that will pay dividends next year.

I will be very interested to see if Wash turns up managing another team next year or on another staff as an assistant. I hope we get more of the full story regarding his resignation.

And again there is always next season and with the way the club ended the season maybe there are actually some reasons to look forward to it.

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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Rangers have won 10 out of last 11!?!?!?

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Again, too little way too late.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Maybe just maybe this is a preview of next season. It's not like they have been beating bad teams. Again, for the most part the teams the Rangers have been beating have been playing for playoff position or to make the playoffs. 

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Given his extended job interview over this past month and how the team has performed since he has been at the helm interim manager Bogar may have just won himself the job for next year. 

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Saturday, September 20, 2014

Rangers won a season high 7th in a row

Is it any coincidence that shortly after Wash resigned the Rangers go on a season high 7 game winning steak versus teams with something to play for?


Is it as easy as the following equation?

No Wash = No Drama = Winning

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Thursday, September 18, 2014

Rangers win their 6th straight, sweep A's

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: 6 games is the longest winning streak of the 2014 season. It's mid September. Again, too little way too late.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Rangers might have contributed to the A's late season collapse this season by sweeping them. If the A's miss the playoffs then they will undoubtedly look back at getting swept by the lowly last place Rangers and cringe.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Wash's press conference earlier today was bizarre. Just bizarre.

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#Wash resigned from the #TexasRangers because he was unfaithful to his wife

according to the statement he just made. 

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Rangers are playing for their longest winning streak of the year...

...at 6 against the A's today. So, so, so sad. What a year. 

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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

4 game winning streak going into tonight's game is the second longest of the season

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: the 4 game winning streak going into tonight's game versus the A's is the second longest of the season. Don't tell me the A's don't have anything to play for (Wild Card).  Way to try to play spoiler and still show effort on the field by your Rangers. 

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: the 4 game winning streak going into tonight's game is the second longest of the season. Sad. WAY too little WAY too late. 

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: I have not been watching a lot of Rangers' baseball. But I still want the real scoop regarding why Wash resigned. Where are the hard hitting sports beat writers getting the dirt on this story??? What kind of hurricane of questions would rain down on the Cowboys if Garrett resigned for "personal reasons" with 1 game left in a regular season in which the Cowboys had a losing record???

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Wednesday, September 10, 2014

90 losses and counting...

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Including tonight's game there are 18 games left.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Including tonight's game there are 18 games left. 

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Went to the ballgame last night and saw this, not all evidence of Wash's tenure has been removed from the ballpark:

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Monday, September 8, 2014

89 losses and counting, 19 games left

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: It's hard to believe that a season that started with legitimate playoff hopes for your Rangers has turned into the chore of watching these last games to see if it will be a 100 loss season.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Nothing here.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Just like Greenberg being ousted from the ownership group and then Nolan being put out to pasture (apparently early since he's now working for the 'Stros) it appears as if we will never get the full, unabridged complete story regarding what precipitated Wash's resignation with less than a month to go in the regular season. It just looks, sounds and/or smells bad. After all the bad who is left standing? John Daniels. I'm not saying anything, just pointing it out.

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Friday, September 5, 2014

Wash resigned as manager due to "off the field personal matter"...

...let the speculation begin regarding what that, "off the field personal matter" might be. 

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Thursday, September 4, 2014

Losing Streak Reaches 6 Games

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:  Have to win 10 of last 22 Games to Avoid 100 Losses

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Need only 10 wins in last 22 Games to Avoid 100 Losses

 Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: 61 - the other number of note.  The MLB Record for Players Used in a Season.  Can someone please make certain that whoever is supposed to prevent injuries is not involved in this team next year?  PLEASE!!!

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Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Another Loss.  Another Loss.  Another Loss and now a very pathetic offense has taken root.  We need 10 more wins in 24 games left to avoid the dreaded 100 losses.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Good outing by Doogie in his first game back after "injuring himself falling down the stairs while tripping on his dog" - yeah, let's go with that.

 Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: We have officially broken a record in the 100+ year history of MLB as The Rangers used their 60th player thus far this year - owning the record now alone.  Believe 7 different first basemen alone.  Unbelievable.

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Sunday, August 17, 2014

Rangers avoided getting swept by the Halos, won in walk off fashion

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Poor Choo. He just cannot figure it out at the plate.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Tepesch pitched well against a potent Halos offense. And Rosales got his first walk off hit of his career.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The Rangers celebrated the walk off win like they just clinched the division. Far from it of course. But the Rangers played a good game and got a tough win, with help from the youngsters on the team, never too early to think look forward to next year. On top of that, it's a division rival that's definitely playing for something. In fact, with the loss the Halos are .5 GB of the A's. So if  down the stretch the Rangers get to play spoiler, great. And that begs the question, if the Rangers do get to play spoiler which team's season would you rather spoil, Halos or A's?

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Thursday, August 14, 2014

Will the Rangers Lose 100 Games? Hope Not - Last Thing to Determine This Year

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Decent Team (Tampa Bay) takes another series at Home.  We can't win at home.  This is sad.  Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Yu's elbow is just a mild sprain - will be back soon (but then again, why?) Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: With a .388 Present Winning Percentage, all that remains to be determined this season is whether the Rangers will lose 100 Games.  We are currently on pace to lose 99 Games - these are pretty depressing, and dark times.

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Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Rangers won the series versus the White Sox

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: It was a day game so didn't get to watch. I heard on the radio that it was the first time since June the Rangers won back to back games. Since. June.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Rangers have a winning streak going!!!

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: I'm afraid these last 2 months of the season are going to hard to watch and long. At least we have the Cowboys' season to look forward to.  And that crazy owner of the Cowboys is always entertaining, wonder what's he's been up to recently...

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Tuesday, August 5, 2014

After loss last night Colby Lewis pitches a complete game shutout in 16-0 win over White Sox

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: For the first time in a while I got nothing here.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: For in what seems like forever (this whole season?) the Rangers' bats don't waste a great outing by a starter.  5 homers and all the starters got at least 1 hit.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: That's the most runs and homers for the Rangers all season.

Apparently that's the largest margin of victory in a shutout in the history of the Rangers.

Remember when Danks was part of the Rangers' minor league pitching prospect trio nicknamed DVD? Remember when the Rangers had minor league pitching prospects that could stay in the minors and not be called up because 4/5's of your planned starting rotation was or was about to be injured? (See Holland, Harrison, Lewis, Perez)

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Monday, August 4, 2014

Rangers were swept by CLE in 3 game series this past weekend...

...so now there's that. And more and more 100 losses is becoming a real possibility.

That said they're leading the White Sox 3-0 after 3 in the first of a 3 game set in CHI.

Now it's 5-3 White Sox in the 6th. And the once mighty Rangers' offense has managed a whopping 3 hits. Is that bad?

And that's a final after 7 innings played due to rain, Rangers lost 5-3 managing 3 runs on 4 hits. 4 HITS IN 7 INNINGS.  Pitiful.

Second time recently (this season?) that the Rangers have lost to a combo of an opposing team and Mother Nature. Now the weather is beating up on the Rangers too. Sheesh, they can't catch a break.

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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Rangers win 2 out of 3 versus Spankees in Jeter's last trip to Arlington

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: If the Rangers's bullpen had anything last night the Rangers would have swept them. Of course last night the bullpen was terrible and wasted a great offensive performance by Arencibia and the Rangers.

And again last night there was an error in the outfield. Sorry, it's on Leonys Martin as the CF to call his fellow outfielders off when he can make the play and too often this year he hasn't been assertive in his role defensively.

Sadly, this is the first series win for the Rangers in over a month. Is that bad?

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Lewis looked good again. And again Feliz closed out a game.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: This weather recently and this summer generally is freaking me out. It was downright pleasant at the ballpark last night and I'd guess is was more of the same weather-wise tonight.

Beltre quietly is having a great year at the plate. Please, please, please don't let me find out that he has been traded.

Even though he's a Spankee, I never heard about Jeter acting like a jerk like a lot of his Spankee peers (see Clemens, ARod, Texeria, for example). Pretty much a class act. End of an era. That said I will be glad when he's not playing against the Rangers anymore.

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Monday, July 28, 2014

Just tuned in through 4.5 innings versus the Spankees and...

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: ...the Rangers bats have mustered all of 2 hits (of course zero runs) and Yu has given up 2 solo HRs to Brett Gardner. And sure, why not some more salt in the wound, Jeter's 2 for 2.  So yeah, about par for the course/season at that point in the game. 

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Rangers rallied in the bottom of the 5th and put up 4 runs. Then Yu had a shutdown inning in the top of 6. 4-2 Rangers would be the final score. 

And in the bottom of 9 none other than Neftali Feliz had a 3 up 3 down inning to get his second straight save. It's weird but good seeing Feliz close games. Especially close games successfully. 

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: While watching tonight's game versus the Spankess I started thinking of all the things that have gone wrong for the Rangers this past off season and this season. Sure most of them involve injury but I decided to list them in no particular order off the top of my head. Here you go:

- Nolan "retired" and then is an advisor to the 'Stros owner. Huh, that's weird, retirement usually does not mean working somewhere else, much less for a competitor. 
- Holland injured his knee allegedly by tripping over his dog. "Tripping over his dog," allegedly does not mean playing in a rec league hockey game during the off season. 
- Prince got hurt and missed games for the first time ever in his career. 
- Choo signed a huge contract and then bats more like Elvis than Beltre. 
- Martin Perez has to have Tommy John surgery. 
- Profar got injured. 
- Soto got injured, then got caught with weed, then got injured again. Oh yeah, and Soto was the best option the Rangers had for a starting catcher. 

That's all I can think of right now. Feel free to chime in in the comments if I missed something. 

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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Rangers lose 2-1 to Spankees' ground crew's ineptitude and rain

Apparently the Spankees' ground crew had never tried to cover the field with a tarp before trying tonight. And it took them close to half an hour to finally cover the field in a torrential downpour in the Bronx.


Again, the Rangers find another unique, seemingly impossible way to lose a ballgame, with Yu on the mound no less. 

And the Rangers traded away Soria tonight. 

This yet another swift kick to the Rangers' baseball jimmy. And I'm sure there are more kicks to the Rangers' baseball jimmy to come. 

More curse of the Kolan?

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Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Spankees beat Rangers 2-1 with a walk off hit in 14

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: in the bottom of 12 it looked like to me that Elvis clearly called the ball on a pop up to shallow left-center field. The outfielders pulled up and then Elvis quit on it and it fell in. That lead to a bases loaded 1 out situation.

Soria uncharacteristically gave up a run to let the Spankees tie the game in the bottom of 13.

And in the bottom of 14 Tepesch gave up the walk off winning hit.

And the bats only contributed 1 run in 14 innings.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Rangers got out of the bases loaded situation in the bottom of 12 even with Scott Baker on the mound (he'd given up 9 HRs in 16 appearances this year).

And in the top on 13 Arencibia hit a solo HR.

And and in the bottom of 13 Arencibia at 1B made a smart fielding play allowing a weakly hit ball to land in front of him and turn 2 to get out of the inning.

Nick Martinez pitched 5.1 scoreless.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Questlove and Wyatt Cenac (I think that was him, former Daily Show correspondent) were sitting behind home plate and stayed until the end of the 13th in the 14 inning affair.

This was just another kick to the baseball jimmy in this season of multiple, different types of kicks to the baseball jimmy.

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Monday, July 21, 2014

Mikolas pitches Rangers to win over Spankees

Starter Miles Mikolas pitched into the 8th and Soria got the save to pitch the Rangers to a 4-2 win over the Spankees. The bats got to the Spankees' starter Greene and got enough runs on the board to support some good pitching. And now the Rangers are .500 after the All Star break.


And by the way, a friend pointed out that the Rangers' starter tonight looks like a young Nick Nolte. Which fits nicely with me thinking he was going to leave the game, change into a Hawaiian shirt, leather jacket and blue jeans and hit the beat as a 1970's NYC police detective with his older, wiser partner Wash.  You be the judge:

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Saturday, July 19, 2014

Rangers are 1-0 after the All Star Break, beat BJ's 5-1 last night

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Choo struggled at the plate again.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: It was weird, timely hitting combined with solid pitching beginning, middle and end equaled a win yesterday night. Beltre continued to be strong to very strong at the plate and he got some help from Arencibia who chipped in with a 3 run homer to break the game open. And Yu was Yu and Soria closed it out in his typical efficient fashion. It's just a shame that Soria hasn't been afforded more save chances. He's just that good.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: During the break reliever Frasor was traded away for a pitching prospect.

Benjie Molina wasn't the 1st base coach last night and TAG wasn't in the booth.

I understand that MLB wanted to honor Jeter during the All Star game. But what about all the other greats that deserve to be recognized. For example, what about honoring the late great Tony Gwynn? Fellow BBA writer Paul Francis Sullivan "Sully" put together an "In Memorium" video honoring the great players that passed away recently, including Tony Gwynn. You can find more from Sully at
http://sullybaseball.wordpress.com, his twitter handle is @SullyBaseball and his podcast is at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sully-baseball-daily/id580843151.

There is a rare, weird noon game start time today versus the BJ's.

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Monday, July 14, 2014

Swept by the Halos the Rangers limp into the All-Star Break...

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: ...with the worst record in MLB, on an 8 game losing streak, after getting swept in 2 straight series, having lost 22 of their last 25. Since June 1st they've lost 29 out of 39.  To put it into perspective another slightly different way how fast the fall has been, on the morning of June 8 the Rangers were at .500. Now they're 19 games below .500.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Rangers can't lose any games during the break. And Yu and Beltre made the AL All Star team.

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Saturday, July 12, 2014

It just gets worse and worse and worse...

That's 21 losses in the last 24 games. That's also 7 losses in a row. And in this current 4 game series they're on the verge of getting swept by the Halos. And if that happens that'll be back to back sweeps against the Rangers leading into the All-Star break.


Today the offense managed 2 runs on 4 hits.

It's just tough to watch. And it's only the midway point of the season. Damn. 

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Nope. That wasn't rock bottom apparently for the Rangers. How is that even possible you ask?

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: It's possible because one of the few times the Rangers got a decent to good performance from their pitchers (3 runs given up all by Tepesch in 6 IP) the Rangers bats put up a goose egg against the Halos. I've asked before but will ask it again, how many games are you going to win when you score zero runs? Oh, that's right, none.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Pitching was good enough to win.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: That's 20 losses in the last 23 games played and 6 losses in a row. That's almost a month of just bad. I really don't remember a bad run like this since I started following the Rangers in 2000.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Rangers swept by 'Stros. Is this rock bottom? It's got to be right?

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Even Yu has caught the bug plaguing the team as he lost to Houston. That bug is what you ask? It's called bad baseball. And the Rangers were swept by Houston in the process of Yu catching the bad baseball bug. I repeat, the Texas Rangers were swept by the Houston Astros. THE. HOUSTON. ASTROS.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: If this is rock bottom then it can only get better right? Yeah, I know, I'm lying to myself. But it makes me feel better. Kinda.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: With all the injuries this season Wash and JD get a pass for this season. At least that's the mantra I keep on hearing.

I blame this year on the curse of Kolan (getting rid of Kins + Nolan).

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Tuesday, July 8, 2014

The Rangers' pitching isn't just bad, it's the worst in MLB, and I'm not exaggerating, numbers don't lie

As the Rangers seem headed to their second straight loss against the lowly (yet compared to the Rangers, the mighty) 'Stros I made the mistake of checking the Rangers pitching as compared to the rest of MLB. Whoops. And keep in mind there are only 30 teams in MLB. Also per a text from a friend I received earlier tonight the Rangers were sending their 12th different starter to the bump tonight. All that said/written the Rangers' pitching in MLB is:

29th in ERA
30th in quality starts
30th in WHIP
30th in BAA (batting average against)

And those are just the stats I found by barely looking. And since I'm not a baseball masochist I didn't dig deeper into the pitching stats for fear of what other horrors the numbers might reveal.

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Monday, July 7, 2014

From, "it's like a train wreck, but I cannot look away," to "please make it stop, I can't watch anymore," to, "tell me more about this Tour de France thing"

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: If my calculations are correct, going into tonight's game against the 'Stros your Texas Rangers have lost 16 of the last 20 games, and as I write this they're losing to Houston 6-2. Somewhere Nolan is leaning back in a chair smiling.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: I got nothing.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: I'm serious. I'd rather watch guys a continent away ride things we all learned to ride as children than Rangers' baseball. At least before now I had the NBA finals and then USA soccer in the World Cup to distract me. Now? I have another half of a season of terrible baseball to watch.

Might as well call up every prospect that's even close to ready for the Show and see if they got anything.

As a great friend has said loudly and often, the whole training staff needs to be fired.

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Monday, June 30, 2014

I don't know if anyone one is up on current events but we're getting our butts kicked*

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Macro: if my counting is correct the Rangers have only won 3 games out of the last 14 they've played. Mixed in there is an 8 game losing streak, the longest in a long, long time.

Micro: tonight Joe Saunders continued to not be very good (and that's being nice). And it's not like the offense and defense behind him was any better. How many games are you going to win scoring 1 run on 4 hit with 2 errors? Not many and not this one tonight.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Struggling here recently to find anything positive in this thing. Odor has been OK.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: *borrowed and paraphrased from Aliens.

If Joe Saunders is going to lose or put the team in a position to lose every game he starts why not call up a pitcher to see if they got something? If they lose a game with a call up on the mound will it count as more than 1 loss like Saunders' starts?

With NBA finals and the World Cup now it's been pretty easy to flip away from Rangers games that are quote frankly hard to watch.

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Sunday, June 22, 2014

When last we left our heroes....

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: ...your Texas Rangers are riding a 4 game losing streak into the series finale versus the hated Halos. The Rangers are 11.5 GB in the division. Ouch.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: But somehow your Rangers are only 4.5 GB in the wild card standings, albeit looking up at 7 teams ahead of them. Still, there some hope. Some. But it's going to take more winning than losing for a prolonged stretch.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Still wondering if/when the front office is going to throw in the towel and start trading away big pieces. We will see.

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Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Rangers ride 3 game losing streak versus CLE into Miami series

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: They lost 3 in a row versus CLE. The Cleveland Indians. The almost alway mediocre to bad Tribe, ouch. And now they face a Marlins team that actually has something to play for, they're only .5 GB in their division.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Not much here.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The Rangers are 8 GB in the division and 3.5 GB in the wild card standings. I don't know how much longer I can continue to say they still have shot at one of the wild card spots since going into today they're looking up at 7 other teams in the wild card standings.

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Sunday, June 8, 2014

Rangers at .500 going into this afternoon's game versus CLE

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: CLE is also 31-31 going into the game today. The Rangers are as good and bad as CLE, at least that's what the win loss record to date reflects.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: With all injuries we should be glad that they're at .500 at this point.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Given that Robbie Ross, Tepesch, Scheppers and Nick Martinez have made as many starts as they have I'm ok with 31-31 at this point. Please let the Rangers just get a little healthy. Please. Of course they probably need a new training staff to try to figure out how to do that.

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Tuesday, June 3, 2014

That got ugly fast in the top of the 8th versus the O's

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: After 7 it was a tie ballgame, 2-2.

Then, Ogando and Cotts and Tolleson were hit like a drum in the top of 8. The O's batted around in the 8th, is that good?

After 8 the O's were winning 8-2. Ouch.

The Rangers only managed 2 runs on 5 hits through 8.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Saunders pitched an OK to good game, getting the Rangers to the 7th inning only giving up 2 runs. The game was tied 2-2 after 7.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Why can't Wash (or any manager in MLB) put in the Ranger's closer Soria (or any MLB closer) in the 8th and ask him to get 6 outs instead of 3?  Everyone would need to understand that depending on the number of pitches thrown by the closer that he might not be available the next day.

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Sunday, June 1, 2014

Yu saves the series, 8 IP, 12 K's, gets win in getaway game versus Nationals

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: The offense managed only 2 runs on 10 hits.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: That was 1 run more than Yu and Soria needed to get the win and save.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Next up 3 at home versus Dr. Zaius and the ex-Rangers (Showalter and the O's).


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Rangers won the getaway game versus the Twins, won that series, now they're trying not to get swept in DC

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: In 2 games versus the Nationals the offense has managed 4 total runs. Tepesch came down to earth and managed to only make it through 2 innings yesterday.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Hey, they did take 3 out of 4 versus the Twins. And big picture, the Rangers are 6 GB in the division and 2 GB in the wild card race.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Yu goes today.

I've heard some local radio types talk about when/if JD and the front office will decide to blow this thing up and start retooling for next year and the future. I think if you're still in it at the All Star break that would be a tough sell to the fans and the players left over after any potential moves are made.

Just something interesting, the Twins franchise moved from DC in 1960 and changed its name to the Twins. In 1961 DC was given an expansion franchise again called the Nationals that in 1971 would move to Arlington, Texas and was renamed the Texas Rangers.

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Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Rangers in a pitching duel with with Joe Saunders on the mound. No, I'm not joking, really, Joe Saunders was in a pitching duel.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Rangers managed only 1 run.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: 1 run was all they needed tonight versus the Twins. Leonys Martin stole second and Sardinas (who was playing SS after Elvis was ejected) knocked him in in the top of 7th.

Saunders went 5 and looked good after a shaky start. And then Soria came in for a quick 1, 2, 3 save in the 9th. Boom. Rangers win 1-0.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Rangers can win the series if they can win the getaway day game versus the Twins tomorrow.

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Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Rangers blow 1 run lead in bottom of 9, lose to Twins 4-3

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: First blown save for Soria. And he only has 8 saves all year.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: That's Soria's first blown save. Was bound to happen.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: How bad has the batting been this season? Actually not that bad when you look at certain stats compared to the rest of MLB. The Rangers are 8th in runs, 3rd in batting average, 3rd in on base percentage, and 13th in slugging percentage.

The pitching compared to the rest of MLB? As you might have guessed, not so good. The Rangers are 26th in ERA, 27th in quality starts, 29th in WHIP and 30th in batting average against. Yeah, that's more than not good. That's awful. That's how much the injuries to the Rangers' arms have hurt them this year.

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Monday, May 26, 2014

And the hits keep on coming...

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: I got nothing really, it was a nice win over the Twins 7-2. To nitpick, for the first time in a while Beltre had an off day at the plate.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The offense again showed up, with 7 runs on 11 hits. And Nick Tepesch had a solid game on the mound.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Seriously, with all the injuries to the bats and arms no one would have been surprised if the Rangers would have continued their early losing ways.

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Did not see that coming, Rangers take 3 out of 4 from Tigers in Detroit

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Not much here. Scott Baker got roughed up in one Rangers loss. The only bad thing I can think of regarding the recent offense is that there's still not much power to speak of.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Where did this offensive explosion come from? Who knew losing Prince for the season would result in this type offensive production? At least for one series anyway.

And it's not like the Rangers beat a bad team with bad pitching, they beat Porcello and Verlander. And again rookie Nick Martinez pitched well in a win.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: 5 GB in the division, 1.5 GB in the wild card. This thing isn't over by a long shot. Next up the Twins.

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Thursday, May 22, 2014

It goes from worse to holy crap, that's just not right...

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Prince Fielder, you know the guy they traded Kins for, the guy that never ever ever misses a ballgame? Yeah, he's done for the year because of season ending surgery on his neck.

Jurickson Profar, you know the guy who was going to replace Kins at 2B, the guy who is a can't miss prospect? Yeah, he's out for another 2-3 months.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Rangers won their first game of the series against Prince's old team/Kins' new team.

Still 2 GB in the wild card standing as of this writing.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: More curse of Kolan (Kins+Nolan)? I just have this picture in my mind of Nolan and Kins sitting in a room like Bill Murray in Caddyshack but instead of woodland creatures made of plastic explosives Nolan and Kins are playing with voodoo dolls of the Rangers, and they're laughing maniacally as they stick pins in the dolls.

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Monday, May 19, 2014

Well, that got pretty darn bad pretty darn fast, didn't it?

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: If my math/counting is correct then since this April 25, 2014 this is what's happened:

- The Rangers lost 6 out of 7 series.
- The Rangers have lost 15 out of 22 games.
- The Rangers are 7 GB in the division.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: At least they have the day off today.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: When is it too early to start watching the wild-card standings? The Rangers are 2 GB in the wild-card standings.

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Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Catastrophic Day: Rangers lose series versus 'Stros, lose their arms

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Before a pitch was thrown Perez was done. Harry was done. Then they lose this series versus the Astros.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Next year?

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Your Rangers have lost 3 series in a row. When's the last time that happened?  All this and they're 4.5 GB as of this writing. It's an adventure.

Is Mitch warming up in the bullpen going forward?

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Sunday, May 11, 2014

Rangers lose 2 out of 3 versus Red Sox at home

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Robbie Ross got beat up early and that was that. The offense was once again struggling.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Frasor was good in relief.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The Rangers are now 4 GB in the division and find themselves 2nd to last leading only the Astros. Ouch. Speaking of, hopefully the 'Stros are just what the doctor ordered, 3 up versus the Spacemen in Houston coming up.

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Friday, May 9, 2014

Yu again 1 out away from a no hitter and some other thoughts about the Rangers/Red Sox tonight

- Red Sox pitcher Buchholz looks like he could have played a character on the show Breaking Bad that may have cooked and/or used crystal meth on said show.


- to answer Jeff, yes we have a player named Odor, but it's not pronounced like the word odor. But yes his base running a did stink, and he stunk on a key defensive play/error late in the game (see below). 

- I don't recall Pierzynski playing (defense or offense) last year for the Rangers as well as he has for the Red Sox.

- Jeff, I agree, Elvis looked unusually great tonight at the plate. Hope this is a trend for him and not an anomaly.

- Prince has looked more comfortable at the plate lately and tonight.

- After Martin hit a homer in the bottom of the 5th I realized how rarely we get to hear the Natural theme music at the ballpark.

- 6 pitches by Yu to get through the top of 6 was strong to very strong.

- Terrible fielding mistake was made in shallow right field by LF Rios and 2B Odor in the top of 7 that broke up the perfect game. I put that error on the veteran Rios for not calling off minor league call-up Odor and making the play. And I cannot help but think that but for that error Yu at least gets the no hitter if not the perfect game, especially considering all the extra pitches the error cost Yu.

- Yu did contribute to a 1 hitter with Ogando getting the last out of the game. And oh yeah, the Rangers won 8-0. 

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Your Rangers lost 3 out of 4 to the Rockies

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: In the 3 losses the Rangers scored only 5 runs. And the Rangers have lost 7 of the last 10. Not so great.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Rangers are still somehow only 2 GB in the division. As bad as it has seemed they're still in this thing.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The Rangers have designated 2B Josh Wilson for assignment and have called up top prospect 2B Odor. Fingers crossed that he will spark the offense. The offense can't be much worse than it has been.

Next up 3 at home versus the Red Sox.

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Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Is it bad that going into tonight's game versus the Rockies your Rangers have lost 7 of the last 10?

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Yes. And as I write this they're losing 5-1 to the Rockies.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Somehow they're only 2 GB in the division.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Can someone explain to me why we have a home/away inter league series versus Colorado? I am and have been for some time done with inter league play. Why not have more division games? More games against wild card rivals?

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Thursday, May 1, 2014

Rangers got swept in 3 game series versus A's, are on a 4 game losing streak

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Is it bad to only score 4 runs in a 3 game series? 'Cause that's what your Rangers did in their 3 game series versus the A's. Are 4 errors in a game good? 'Cause that's what your Rangers did in the last game versus of the A's.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Rangers still have one of the best records in the AL.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Your Rangers are now 3 GB behind the A's in the division after getting swept by them. Is it too early to be looking at the wild card standings? The Rangers are in first place in the wild card standings and .5 ahead of the Halos in the wild card standings. And the Rangers have 3 at the Halos starting tomorrow night.

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Monday, April 28, 2014

How many games are the Rangers going to win when they score zero runs? Rangers lose to A's 4-0

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: The A's continue to be Yu's kryptonite. Of course it's not like he got ANY run support as the Rangers offense put up a goose egg. And the A's hurler Gray was pretty darn good throwing a complete game 3 hitter.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: I got nothing. The Rangers got dominated.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Perez throws for the Rangers tomorrow and if Yu isn't careful he will find himself being considered the 2nd best starter on the team behind Perez.

Rangers are now 1 GB of the A's in the division.

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Rangers lose 2 out of 3 versus Seamen heading into home series versus A's

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Rangers pitchers gave up a lot of runs in three games against the Mermen, 6, 3 and 6.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The offense also put up a fair amount of runs, in three games versus the Seamen, 5, 6 and 5. It's just that the defense/pitching gave a few too many runs. Of course if the Rangers offense continues to average 5-6 runs per game, I'd be OK with that.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Next up the A's and going into the series the Rangers are tied for first in the division versus them.

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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Sweep? Sweep! Sweet! Can you say first place Texas Rangers?

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Prince was 0-fer? I don't know, I don't have much.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Martin Perez pitched a complete game shutout for the win. Awesome.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Yeah, that's right, the Rangers rolled into the Land of Oak, depleted by injuries, and swept 3 from the at the time first place A's. Now the Rangers lead the division by .5 games. Game/division race on.

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Rangers rally in the top of the 9th, beat A's 5-4

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Nick Martinez had a few tough innings to start the game.

With Kouzy pulled in the middle of 4, Josh Wilson was pressed into service at 3B and committed an error that put men on 2B and 3B with 1 out. And it cost the Rangers 2 runs, unearned, and allowed the A's to take. 4-3 lead.

Wasted lead off double by Mitch in the top of 9, he was bunted over to 3B representing the tying run, then Martin bunts but Mitch doesn't head home till well after the bunt was laid down. The bunt was right back to the pitcher and it was a relatively easy out at home plate. Terrible play, just not sure whose fault it was. Did Mitch miss the sign, break too late or did Martin bunt on his own?

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Nick got out of a bases loaded 1 out jam on a double play flyout to CF, with Martin then gunning down the runner at home in the bottom of 2. Then in the bottom of 3 Nick had a 6 pitch, 3 up 3 down inning.

Prince continues to at least get a base knock here and there.

After Mitch is thrown out at home on a terribly executed bunt play, Josh Wilson tied the game with a double that scored Martin from 2B(Martin had just stolen 2B). Then Choice hit a single that scored Wilson from 2B to take the lead 5-4.

Soria got the save.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Choo was hurt in the opener versus the A's and was out of the lineup tonight and likely will be out for a few games.

Kouzy was lifted in the middle of the 4th with back stiffness. Of course it was in the mid 50's
temperature-wise to start the game so hopefully that's all it is, cool weather causing muscle tightness in Kouzy's back.

I tell you what, the Rangers have shown a knack for scoring runs against the bullpens they've faced.

Rangers deliver the A's first back to back losses of the season.

Rangers are .5 GB now behind the A's.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Rangers win opener in Land of Oak 4-3

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Yu has had trouble versus the A's in his short career, when compared to his performance versus other teams the A's appear to be his kryptonite.  He had a 1-6 record versus the A's going into the game tonight.

Tonight Yu gave up 3 ER's in 6 IP.  That doesn't sound so bad but Yu only had one 3 up, 3 down inning all night.  It was an adventure.

Elvis had a huge throwing error in the bottom of the 9th that put the tying run on 2B with 1 out.  Could have been terrible.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: As opposed to a lot of other outings versus the A's, Yu got some run support, getting out of the Land of Oak with a no decision.  Choo went yard to lead off the game and Prince continued to produce at the plate (2-4), he even had a double (sure it's not a homer but it showed some power).

Kouzy was named the AL offensive player of the week after his great performance last week filling in for the injured Beltre, not too shabby.  And Kouzy continued his hot streak at the plate tonight, scoring the go ahead run in the bottom of 8 after a lead off double.

Soria absorbed the Elvis error in the bottom of the 9th and got the save.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: With Kouzy performing so well at the plate don't the Rangers have to find a spot for him in the batting order when Beltre comes back?  Moreland has been OK but nowhere near as good as Kouzy.  I could see Kouzmanoff DH'ing for the Rangers.  Hopefully the Rangers can too.

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Sunday, April 20, 2014

Rangers take 2 out of 3 in weekend series versus White Sox

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: The winning streak was stopped at 5, with the Rangers losing the finale/getaway game badly today.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Colby Lewis was good in his start yesterday only giving up 1 ER.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The Rangers travel to the Land of Oak for a 3 game set against the A's. Your Rangers trail the A's by 2.5 going into the series. Yu starts tomorrow night in the opener of the series. Hate, hate, hate the west coast road games. So hard to stay up that late and watch them because the games don't even start till after 9pm our time.

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Thursday, April 17, 2014

Rangers win series versus Seamen, win a daytime getaway game and have a...what do you call it? Oh yeah, a 3 game winning streak going!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Scheppers a starting pitcher he is not. 6 ER's. Ouch.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Rangers' offense bailed out a poor outing by a starter. Prince had another hit, 2 BB's and no strikeouts. All but 2 Rangers batters had at least 1 hit. And Kouzy (my nickname for Kouzmanoff) was 2-5.

The bullpen held the M's offense from doing any more damage.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Is it sad that we're all so excited that Prince didn't go 0-fer? Is it sad that we're so excited about a 3 game winning streak?  Don't care, it's great.

Also, is it too early to be watching the standings? Also don't care, Rangers are 1.5 GB with A's yet to play tonight.

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Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Rangers win walk off style 3-2 versus Seaman, somehow...

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: The offense was poor most of the game.  Yu gets a no decision, again because of the lack of run support.

Leonys Martin and Choo had a circus moment in the outfield that somehow, when I saw the game, was scored as a hit.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Rangers win!!!

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The Rangers continue to be King Felix's kryptonite.

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Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Robbie Ross awesome, Rangers' offense good, Rangers beat Seamen 5-0

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Only 2 solo homers in the 2nd inning represented all the Rangers' offense until the 8th inning.

Ogando came in with a 2-0 lead and a man on 1B in the 8th and immediately proceeded to walk the first batter he faced.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Robbie Ross was great, 7.2 IP, 0 runs, no BB's.  The offense woke up in the bottom of 8 putting up 3 additional insurance runs.

Prince and Kouzmanoff each had solo homers in the 2nd.  And Kouzmanoff was 3-4.  And again, Prince wasn't 0-fer.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: A marquee match up between aces is tomorrow, King Felix vs. Yu.  Hope it's good and a Rangers win.

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Monday, April 14, 2014

Errors and lack of offense doom Rangers in loss to Seaman

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Errors kill.  Errors give the other ball club extra outs and the Mariners made the Rangers pay.  3 errors way are too much for this incarnation of the Rangers to overcome.

Question:  And how many games are you going to win when you score 1 run on 7 hits?
Answer:    Not many, including this game.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: If I would have told you Colby Lewis would go 5+ IP in his first start with 3 ER's and no BB's you'd have been happy right?  Well that's what he did.  Not too bad.  And the whole pitching staff had only had 4 ER's.

Wash got thrown out, good to see he still cares, even if he got thrown out after a replay decided Arencibia committed and error on a force play at home on the transfer of the ball from his mitt to throwing hand.

Prince had a 2 bagger along with a single so there's that.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: To answer Raw Athleticism's questions in comments re Prince, it is neither too early or too late to worry about Prince's offense.  Any time is the right time to worry about his offense.  Of course tonight he went 2-4, so all he needs to do is keep up going 1-3 or 2-4 in every game the rest of the way to maybe bat .250-.275 by the end of the season.

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Sunday, April 13, 2014

Rangers take 2 out of 3 versus 'Stros, barely.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: The Rangers only scored 1 more run than the 'Stros in the 3 game series this weekend, out scoring them 7-6. That's for 3 games, not one. Yeah, the offense has not been impressive to say the least, and that was the Ranger's offense going up against Houston's pitching. Case in point Prince had 1 hit in the series. ONE.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Rangers won the series. A win is a win.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: 4 against the Seamen are next. And Mr. Colby Lewis is the listed starter for the next game. I would just like the offense to give him some run support. That'd be nice.

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Wednesday, April 9, 2014

The bullpen lets us down. Again. Rangers lose series versus Bo Sox. Prince 0-fer. Again.

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Tuesday, April 8, 2014

All the Rangers get at least 1 hit (except for Choice and Wilson), Rangers hang on and win 10-7

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Beltre was DH'ing and left the game in the 6th with tightness in his left quadriceps. The bullpen again was shaky as the Rangers hung on for the win.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Offense finally showed up. And Prince contributed. Perez looked good throwing 5 double plays. The ER's look bad at 4 in 6.1 IP but yet again the bullpen doesn't help a starter out allowing all 3 the runners Perez allowed to get on in the 6th to score.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The Rangers have to start winning series. They get another chance tomorrow in a rubber game versus the Red Sox.

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Monday, April 7, 2014

Return of the Scheppers (versus the Red Sox), Rangers lose 5-1, but this loss was not Scheppers' fault...

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Fielder still looked lost at the plate, he went 0-fer again.  But the whole team was bad offensively, 1 run on 8 hits and 2 BB's.

2 errors were committed in the game, 1 by Prince.  If he's not going to hit Prince sure better not commit errors playing 1B, even on tough, push-bunt plays late the game.

How many games are you going to win when you have more errors than runs?  Not many.

Scheppers gave up a lot of hits. Rangers pitchers generally allowed a lot of base runners.

And again the bullpen is shaky to bad.  And again that's a symptom of relievers being starters (Scheppers and Ross) and the new, young bullpen pitchers not being up to the task.  Thus you have the bullpen being handed a 2-1 deficit and that eventually turning into at 5-1 loss.

In top of 7 Rios stole 2B, no outs.  Moreland moved him over to 3B, 1 out.  Rangers ended up stranding Rios and Martin and were still down 2-1 wasting a great chance to at least tie the ballgame up.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:  But regarding Scheppers, he only gave up 2 runs through 5 and left the game losing 2-1, leaving the Rangers in striking distance.

Rios again looked good at the plate and aggressive on base pads.

And though Scheppers allowed a lot of base runners, he managed to force the Sox to strand all but 2 of them.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Given the amount of Red Sox base runners in the 1st through 7th innings it was a MIRACLE that it was only 2-1 going into the 8th.

Ex-Rangers (Napoli and Pierzynski) were a combined 6-8 at the plate.  And ex-Ranger Koji Uehara closed out the game.  Ouch.

I would hate to have Lackey on a team I root for given the way he shows up teammates by yelling like an idiot on or around the mound when a play on defense behind him doesn't go his way.

Wash lost his first challenge of the year early in this game when Elvis dropped the ball on the transfer between his glove and throwing hand at 2B trying to turn a double play.  It sure looked like he did catch the ball and just lost it in the transfer.  Apparently the umps in NYC saw it differently and the national ESPN broadcast team said that the double play transfer was going to be officiated more closely.  Error on Elvis.

Today is the 25th anniversary of the premiere of the great, classic baseball movie Major League.  Do we need to sacrifice a live chicken for Prince to starting hitting?

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Sunday, April 6, 2014

Just what Yu Wanted, Rangers Win 3-0

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Prince was 0-fer again today. Eventually they're going to need him to start producing.


Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Yu was great, the bullpen was good. And the offense produced just enough. Heck, Elvis even went yard!

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: I tell you what, with the job Choo has done offensively I haven't found myself once this young season thinking, "man I wish we had Kins."

Oh yeah, one other thing, Yu is now the pitcher to reach 500 K's in the fewest innings pitched in MLB history. Ever. In the history of Major League Baseball. Impressive. Most impressive. 

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No good deed goes unpunished, Nick Martinez optioned to AA Frisco

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: All Nick Martinez did was hand the Rangers a chance to win last night and this is how they repay him? And from one start it sure looks like Martinez is a WAY better MLB starting pitcher than Saunders and Scheppers.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Yu is coming back today and they had to make room on the roster for him. And Nick Martinez could use some more time in the minors to fine tune his game.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Plus, given that the injury bug has attached itself to the Rangers like the poltergeist attached itself to Carol Ann, I have a feeling we will see Nick Martinez again this season.

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Saturday, April 5, 2014

Rangers @ Rays, Nick Martinez vs. David Price... Nick who??? Rangers lose 5-4 to Rays, not Nick Martinez's fault

The Nick Martinez (NM) adventure began tonight...

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: The bullpen was handed a 4-3 lead going into the 7th and could not deliver the win.  And I know it's early in the season but Prince Fielder has not been that impressive, and was 0-fer today.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Yup, Nick Martinez left the game with a lead, not too bad for his first MLB start.  Jeff Wilson, Choo and Elvis had a multi hit game.  Rios drove in 2.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The injuries to the starting pitchers of course affects the bullpen, instead of Robbie Ross and Scheppers coming into the game into a game the Rangers are winning in the 7th and 8th you get Frasor and Cotts.  When your unknown 5th starter hands you a lead after a good, solid outing you have to make that hold up.  They didn't tonight.  Darn.

Yu makes his season debut tomorrow.

Top of 4:
Jeff Wilson got another hit, second for the game.

And the Rangers made David Price throw a lot of pitches, in this inning and in the game to this point.  And and Choo had a long at bat, came back from an 0-2 count and eventually had a sac fly to score the runner from 3B.  Awesome.

Rangers tacked on another run, 4-1 Rangers.

Bottom of 3:
I wasn't expecting NM to shut out the Rays.  NM made a mistake and Escobar hit a solo homer to LF.  That homer got out the yard in a hurry.  No other harm done.  Rangers lead 3-1.

Top of 3:
Rangers retired in order.  Price looked like he settled down after the Rangers got to him early.

Bottom of 2:
NM got out of some trouble.  Rays stranded 2 runners.  Rangers still winning 3-0.

Top of 2:
Rangers tack on another run.  3-0 Rangers.

Bottom of 1:
The Nick Martinez (NM) adventure is about to begin...

3 up.  3 down.  Not too shabby for NM's first inning of pitching in the bigs.

Top of 1:
Choo is just a great lead off hitter.  Again he got on base to start a game.

Elvis' beard looks fake.

2 out double by Rios scored Choo and Elvis.  Rangers winning 2-0.

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Check it out, TTRB is a member of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance!

The good folks at the Baseball Bloggers Alliance have allowed little ole TTRB to join their ranks.  It's got to be official, they sent me a logo and everything that I put up here on the left side of TTRB.  And click here and you'll see TTRB listed as one of the blogs for your Texas Rangers.  I think it's pretty cool.  Thanks to the Baseball Bloggers Alliance letting us join their group.

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Friday, April 4, 2014

Late to the game live blogging: Revenge of the Saunders...

[If you happen upon this during the game, refresh this page every once in a while to see new posts.]

Rangers lose 8-1. By the way, are 4 errors bad?


OK, I'm out unless there's a huge rally.

Bottom of 7:
Figueroa (Figs) gets another chance for your Rangers to lower his gianormous ERA.



Top of 7:
Is it bad to have 3 hits entering the 7th?  Just wondering?

A challenge by the Rays is going to upheld, 3rd out.  Inning over.  8-0 Rays.  Crap.

Bottom of 6:
BS error called on Beltre's throw to first.  Prince should have scooped it.  Again, BS.  Hit, error, 2 runners.  No harm.  Inning over.

OK, 3 runs an inning and hold them and then we're tied.  Yeah, I know it's not likely.  Don't mock me.

It's the middle of 6
Rangers' starter Saunders was, to be nice, underwhelming.  8-0 Rays.  Ouch.  Welcome to the backside of the Rangers' current starting rotation.

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Thursday, April 3, 2014

Day off for the Rangers...

...next up @ TB. Joe Saunders takes the mound for the Rangers. Friend of mine told me not to expect much from Saunders. Hope he's wrong.

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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Live blogging: Rubber Game Versus Phillies

[If you happen upon this during the game, refresh this page every once in a while to see new posts.]

Rangers win 4-3.  Two nights in a row the Rangers win in the bottom of 9.  Wow.  After the Rangers offense does very little most of the game, the Rangers win in appropriate fashion: Choo drawing a walk with the bases loaded to win the game.  I'll take it.

Yeah, I know it's early but, that was a big win.

And thanks to you guys for the great comments.

Bottom of 9:
Hopefully Papelbon is not that good.  Or the Rangers offense wakes up.  Or both.

Lead off 2 strike single by Beltre.  So you're saying we have a chance.  6th hit of the night for the Rangers.

Double by Moreland.  Beltre just cannot run like he used to and couldn't score on the double.  Runners on 2B and 3B, 1 out.  Adduci can be a hero.

Nubber down the 3B line scores Beltre.  Adduci beats the throw to 1B.  Runners at the corners, 1 out.

By the way, Papelbon has "small mouth."

Martin base hit up the middle, scores Aducci.  Tied game.  Wow.

Now Donnie Murphy can be a hero.  Lots of chin music by Papelbon.

Papelbon walked Murphy.

Choo is up.  Bases loaded.  Now Choo can be a hero.  Choo draws the walk.  Winning run walked in.  Rangers win.  Wow.

Top of 9:
Rosin is still in. (I fixed the innings, somehow got it messed up in the 6th inning.)

Rosin pitches a 3 up 3 down inning.

Rangers have 3 more outs.

Bottom of 8:
Nothing.  No runs.  3-1 Phillies.  Still.

Top of 8:
Rookie Seth Rosin in to pitch.  Please let him pitch as well as he did on opening day.  OK Rosin got them out of that.  6 more outs for the Rangers on offense.

Bottom of 7:
Rangers offense been bad all night.  And of course no runs.  Again, how many games are you going to win putting up zero runs?

Moreland with a 1 out triple?!?!  Yup.

2 out single by Leonys Martin, scores Moreland.  Rangers trail 3-1.  Phillies leaving in Kendrick.  Choice popped out to shallow right.  4 hits all night.  1 run.  That's not going to cut it.

Top of 7:
Tolleson gets the first out in the top of the inning and now it's time time to see (gulp) if Pedro Figueroa can start to fix his ERA from his first appearance (21.60 ERA, is that bad?).  Is it bad to walk the first batter you face on 4 pitches?  I'm pretty sure it's not good. 5 straight balls and counting.  It's a miracle, pitch number 6 is a strike.  And pitch number 7 is a screamer to Prince for a double play to end the inning.  It's an adventure.

Bottom of 6:
All Choo does is get on base when he leads off an inning.  I will take it, even if he reached on an error.  @Joe Mama: Choo Choo! (OK, I regret writing that but won't delete it.)  Rangers waste Choo leading off and again getting on base.  REALLY, REALLY, REALLY would like some offense out the Rangers.

Top of 6:
Yup Robbie Ross is done.  Tolleson is in.

Man, Beltre is just amazing at 3B.  He makes amazingly difficult defensive plays at 3B seemingly every game.  And probably makes it look too easy for us to appreciate how great he is as a defensive player.

OK, no harm done.  Really, really, really need some offense.  Preferably 4 runs or more.

Bottom of 5:
Rangers again put up no runs.  Only 3 hits by the Rangers' offense all night long to this point.  Crap.  They're making Kendrick look like a Cy Young contender.

Top of 5:
Robbie Ross has pitched OK to good, but at this point it doesn't look like he'll get through this inning.  Lead off hit.  Here we go.

And Mr. Robbie Ross gets out of the 5th without allowing any more harm.  How much you want a bet he's done for the game?

And another question, how many games are you going to win scoring zero runs?

Bottom of 4:
Rangers threaten but get no one across the plate.

Top of 4:
Phillies keep on getting on base.  But no harm done this time.  Really wish they had not wasted that chance in the bottom of the 1st.

Bottom of 3:
Watching the ESPN broadcast, little change up from listening to and watching the local guys.  But ESPN has to roll out Seahawks QB Russell Wilson.  Enough already, we get it.  He was drafted by the Rangers for some cheap PR.  93 games in the minors a while ago, .229 BA.

Oh by the way ESPN, the Rangers again did nothing on offense.

Top of 3:
Ryan Howard goes yard, 2 run homer. 3-0 Phillies.  Damn.

Bottom of 2:
Rangers do nothing on offense.

Top of 2:
Nice double play ball to get out of trouble with no damage done.


Bottom of 1:
How good is Choo? Fought off some 2 strike pitches and got a base hit.

And then Elvis moves him over and with the throwing error, runners on 2B and 3B with no outs, brilliant.

Why wasn't Choo running on contact? Curse of Kinsler? Curse of Kolan?

Runners on 2B and 3B with no outs. What a waste if  they don't score at least one run. Waste complete. No runs scored. Damn. 

Top of 1:
Phillies score a run on an error.  Curse of Kolan (Kinsler + Nolan)?

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Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Live blogging: Boom Goes the Dynamite...

...walk off hit by your best Ranger Beltre wins the ballgame.

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Live blogging: at Game, 2-2, Middle of 8...

...we're wearing sunglasses, have a half a pack of smokes, they cut off the beer, let's roll.

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Monday, March 31, 2014

14-10 Loss, Was That the Cowboys Losing to the Eagles??? *

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: * Is that that 2,947th time you've heard someone say something like that?

Pitching. Was. Terrible. Scheppers and Ogando, 2 pitchers upon which this club is going to rely in some role the entire season, were awful.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Offense was not the problem.  At all.  And as a good friend mentioned, today is a testament to the great decision making of John Daniels in NOT overpaying for Cliff Lee a while back.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Dear baseball gods, please, please, please don't let the pitching be as bad as it was today for the rest of the season. While we're at it, please don't let it be anywhere near as bad as it was today.  And please let the offense be as good.

1 down 161 more to go.

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Sunday, March 30, 2014

So It's Rangers Opening Day Eve

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: So injuries huh? Wow. Never seen a team get hit with the injury bug like your Texas Rangers. It's been like the Black Plague version of the injury bug that hit them in Arlington. Yeesh.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Maybe, just maybe the Rangers can play .500 ball or a little better until they get healthy. I guess we'll see, as they say, that's why they play the games.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Cannot wait to see instant replay used.

Also, there are many stories that I would like to know more about. Like how it came about that Hank Greenberg was out of the ownership group. Then what exactly lead to Nolan leaving. You cannot tell me the personality and boardroom clashes that might have occurred wouldn't be interesting to read about. Lastly, Jackie Moore was ousted as the bench coach and replaced by Tim Bogar. Moore was said to have been a Nolan guy. Bogar on the other hand has apparently worked with Bill James. Makes me think he's a John Daniels guy. Did Wash even have any input into who would be his new bench coach? I'm interested to see how Bogar and Wash work together and interact. In the little bit of spring ball I've watched it doesn't look like Wash and Bogar speak. In my opinion the body language between them has looked downright icy. I might be wrong. We will see.

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Saturday, March 29, 2014

Watching a Baseball Game in the Alamodome Is Like...*

...watching a ballet performed on a pop up stage at a county fair.


...hearing Pavarotti sing at a karaoke bar. 

...seeing the Queen of England shop at Walmart. 

It's watchable but doesn't quite fit or look right. 

*your Texas Rangers are playing some preseason games against the 'Stros at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The Alamodome was made only for football and definitely not baseball. The right field porch is about 225 feet (I might be exaggerating). And the Alamodome might be the worst designed sports arena constructed in North America in the last 25 years. 

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Wednesday, March 26, 2014

You Gotta Be Freakin' Kidding Me, Now Yu Is Injured

This has got to be a record or something for players/starters getting injured in such a short amount of time. There is a chance Elvis' arm is still hurt. Harrison is not healthy and I get the feeling he never will be right again. So again, is it the curse of Nolan or Kins? Or the curse of Kolan (you get it-I combined Nolan and Kins)?


Or can we just go with the old trusty: Way to go Wash!

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So Feliz Was Sent Down to the Minors...

...representing just another kick in the jimmy for your Texas Rangers. So what are we calling this? The Nolan or Kins curse?  Kins did say he wanted them to 0-162. At this pace they won't have any starters left for opening day.

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Here Is My Preview At CardsConclave.com

The good folks at CardsConclave.com asked some Texas Rangers blogger-types 6 questions regarding your Texas Rangers' off-season.  Posts here are usually pretty short and sweet so in keeping with that my answers to their questions were short and sweet too.  By the way I answered these questions before I heard that Yu was injured too.  Here are my answers:
1) How would you grade the offseason?
C-.  And that's being nice. Profar is out, Soto is out. Holland is out. Kins is gone. Sure Fielder and Choo were added but pitching is a huge question mark and little was done to address it. 

2) Will Prince Fielder be just what this team needs?
Does Prince play second? How many different pitches does he have?  In other words no, he's not just what the team needs because there are too many holes for one player to fill. 

3) Which roster battle will be the most intriguing during spring training?
At this point the roster battles are who will play 2B with Profar out for a while. Next would be the battle for the last few spots in the starting rotation. 

4) What rookie, if any, will make the most impact on the team in 2014?
Maybe Rougned Odor at 2B if Josh Wilson doesn't work out replacing Profar at 2B. 

5) What will be the final record of the team and where will they finish in the division?
Just a guess of course with so many question marks. 87-75, they somehow finish second in an evenly matched division. 

6) Which player from your team do you most enjoy watching?
By far Adrian Beltre. From his weird phobia of him getting his head touched by his teammates in the dugout after he belts a homer to him keeping things light in the infield and joking around with Elvis, any base runner on 3B, or an ump, you can tell he enjoys playing the game. And I think this year he's going to firmly take over as a/the leader of the ball club. 

Check out the full preview with everyone else's answers to the preview questions. 

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Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Yours Truly Was Asked To Contribute To A Texas Rangers Preview...

...by the good folks at CardsConclave.com.  Some other Texas Rangers bloggers contributed too.  Click the link and check it out!

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When Last We Left Our Boys of Summer...

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