Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Rangers, Elvis imploded in 7th, lost the game and series. Season over.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Elvis had 2 errors in the bottom of the 7th. The Rangers had 3 total errors in the inning. Little league teams don't have that many errors in most innings. If a team has 3 errors and gives up the lead in the process that team deserves to lose.

Prince (3 hits in the series) continued his post season struggles all series long.

Questions for Banister:
If you're going to pull Hamels why not put in Gallardo, who has dominated the Blue Jays all year?
And Moreland (0 fer) didn't do anything at the plate. So why not see more of Napoli?

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Odor, DeShields, Choo, Gallardo and Hamels played well in the series.

We didn't expect the Rangers to even be in the postseason so this was a bonus, I guess.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: And the Rangers did in this series what few teams before them have done: blow a 2-0 lead in a best of 5 series.

What a way to blow/lose a series.

Elvis should offer to give back part of his salary. And Elvis should call Nelson Cruz to see how he dealt with costing the team a series win.

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Friday, October 9, 2015

The magic number is now 9 after your Texas Rangers outlast the Blue Birds in 14 innings, win 6-4

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Hamels had a shaky start.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Then Hamels settled in. And the bullpen pitched 7 scoreless innings. Hanser Alberto made up for an early error with the game winning RBI in the 14th.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The Blue Birds' Bautista was besides himself in the 14th when Odor was confirmed safe at 2B. And earlier Josh Donaldson jawed at Kela after hitting a deep fly ball foul. Apparently maybe Donaldson thought Kela quick pitched him. I would simply point out that there's no crying in baseball.

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Thursday, October 8, 2015

Magic number is now 10.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Big deal. It's only the first game of the playoffs.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: But now the mighty, mighty Blue Birds have to wine 3 out of the next 4 games.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Cole Hamels can help the Rangers go up 2-0 in a best of 5 series tomorrow, with Beltre hobbled that would be huge.

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Sunday, October 4, 2015

SAY HELLO TO YOUR AL WEST DIVISION CHAMPION TEXAS RANGERS

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: It took a couple tries to get the division wrapped up. It's an adventure.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Given how they looked in the spring and early summer all I have to say is wow. Wow!

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Your Rangers draw the Toronto Blue Birds who've been playing well down the stretch. It's a best of 5 series. Why not play every day and make it a 7 game series? I don't know.

The new magic number is 11. 11 wins in the playoffs gets you a MLB title.

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Saturday, September 26, 2015

Magic number is 5. And do the Rangers really need to start selling ALDS playoff tickets before they clinch?

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Remember when the Dallas Mavericks planned the victory parade route when they were in the finals versus the Heat the first time? It's a trap! Jinx much?

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: They are playing great and barring a monumental, never seen anything like it in the history of sports ever collapse, they should make the playoffs.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Please don't be a jinx.

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Thursday, September 17, 2015

Your Texas Rangers Sweep the Houston Astros out of 1st place in the division

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Again, there's a lot of baseball to be played.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: 2.5 games up is not something to sneeze at with less than a month to go. And the way they took over 1st place, by sweeping the division leader, is strong to very strong.

Plus, Prince and Beltre along with pretty much everyone else (Choo, Moreland, Napoli, Odor) look like they have found their groove at the plate.

And the defense looks strong up the middle. The pitching has been good (maybe not great but definitely good), Elvis and Odor turn double plays night in and night out that not too many tandems in MLB can and Gimenez (and others) and DeShields are good behind the plate and in CF respectively.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Again. Wow. First. Place. Texas. Rangers.

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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

FIRST. PLACE. TEXAS. RANGERS.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: There's a lot of baseball to play till the end of the year.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Again: FIRST. PLACE. TEXAS. RANGERS. 

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: What type of season long comeback has this been?!?!? Wow.

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Thursday, September 10, 2015

Your Texas Rangers have been shutout 4 out of the last 10 games, is that bad?

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Saturday, August 29, 2015

I hate it when they say, "if the playoffs were to begin today the Rangers would be a wild card team."

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Josh went on the15 day DL on 8-16-15. Not exactly great at timing.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: But at least if the playoffs did start now, your Texas Rangers would be in the tournament. And for all intents and purposes, with the wild card race so tight (Rangers up .5 in the wild card standings), each and every game down the stretch will be important. Kinda like playoff games but not. But kinda.

And Hamels has won 2 straight starts.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Gimenez continues to impress both behind and at the plate.

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Friday, August 7, 2015

Your Texas Rangers are 5.5 GB in the division and 2.5 GB in the Wild Card race.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: There are a boatload for teams in the wild card race so tap the brakes on getting ready for the playoffs.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: But how many of the teams in the wild card race added a bona fide ace to their rotation at the trade deadline (besides Toronto)?

Oh yeah, and the Rangers swept the division leading 'Stros in the last series, not too shabby.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Look at it this way, every game and series is a like a playoff game/series for the whole last 2 months of the season. That makes for some great baseball watching.

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Monday, August 3, 2015

Beltre hit for the cycle for the 3rd time in his career, Rangers won 12-9 over division leading 'Stros

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Of course the pitching gave up 9 runs in the win.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: But Colby Lewis did record his 12 win of the season.

Oh yeah, and Beltre is only the 4th player in the history of MLB to hit for the cycle 3 times in his career. And by the way, no one has hit for the cycle for the third time in a career since Babe Herman recorded his 3rd cycle in 1933. That's right, no one has done what Beltre did tonight for over 80 years. Impressive. Most impressive.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: With the win tonight the Rangers are 2 GB in the wild card standings. So you're saying they have a chance...

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Thursday, July 30, 2015

Rangers get Cole Hamels.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: The Rangers gave up A LOT of prospects. And they traded away Matt Harrison. Harrison is and has been a trooper battling a series of back injuries that caused him to go under the knife. And look, Harrison's contract is guaranteed. He could have all but hung it up but has made great strides to get back to pitching in the starting rotation. All the luck to him in the future.

Also, the first name of the guy we got in the trade is Cole. Cole? That's a weird first name, right?

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Maybe your Texas Rangers are not giving up on this season quite just yet. They are 8 GB in the division and 4 GB in the wild card. Maybe the philosophy is make tournament and anything is possible.

And for next year the starting rotation looks strong to very strong (if injured arms get better):
1. Hamels
2. Yu
3. Martin Perez
4. Gallardo
5. Holland/Lewis/Nick Martinez/Chi Chi Gonzalez

Not too shabby.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: in other trade news David Murphy is now an Angel. I hate to see him play for them but always liked him when he was with the Rangers.

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Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Btw, the Rangers had no hits in the last 8 innings last night versus the Yankees in their 21-5 loss.

Is that bad? 

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Sunday, July 26, 2015

Your Texas Rangers are not out of the race, believe it or not.

If they win today they are going to be 5.5 GB in the division with 2 months to go. And the Rangers are in the wild card race too. 


Uphill battle? Check. Is Holland back? Nope. Let's see what happens. 

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Saturday, June 27, 2015

Little known fact: Joey Gallo is related to winemakers Ernest & Julio Gallo

This factoid/bit of weird information has, of course, been confirmed by absolutely no sources whatsoever.

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Friday, June 19, 2015

Rangers lost 1-0 to LA in the bottom of 9 on a balk

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: A balk! And Elvis' base running 3rd out at 3rd base in the 7th stands out in such a close game.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Rangers pitchers were great up to the balk. And taking 3 out of 4 versus LA is not too shabby.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: I guess they're not sending Gallo back down to the minors anytime soon.

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Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Here's some Rangers separated at birth fun:

Adam Rosales vs. John Turturro vs. Nicolas Cage





Oh yeah, the Rangers took the first 2 versus the Dodgers at home and are leading after 6.5 innings 4-3 in the ravine.

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Sunday, June 14, 2015

Rangers are 1.5 games back in the division going into action today.

Given their record to start the season, who woulda thunk it?

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Saturday, June 6, 2015

Chi Chi Gonzalez threw a complete game shutout last night

versus the defending AL champion Royals in their own house to help the Rangers to a 4-0 win.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: April still may be too much for the Rangers to overcome. They say you can't win the division in April but you can lose it. The Rangers are putting that to the test this year.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Your Texas Rangers are now 2nd in the division and 4.5 GB of the startling 'Stros. And .5 GB in the wild card.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: What would their record be if either Holland or Yu were healthy? Oh the what if's.

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Friday, June 5, 2015

Choo had a walk off hit to win game 2-1 for the Rangers in the bottom of 11.

Gallardo and the bullpen were strong to very strong allowing only 1 run on 6 hits.

That's 2 series wins in a row for the Rangers over the Red & White Sox.

Don't look now but your Texas Rangers are 5 games back in the division as they head out on a 6 game road trip against KC and the A's.

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Thursday, June 4, 2015

Joey Gallo hit for 3/4's of the cycle in his MLB debut

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Josh is out for  a month with a hamstring.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Gallo was only lacking a triple to hit for the cycle in his debut. Pretty cool. And sure in his next game he struck out a few times but he also went yard again. Not too shabby in 2 big league games.

Don't look now but going into tonight's action tonight your Rangers find themselves 6 GB in the division.

And is it too early to look at the Wild Card standings? Nope because I just looked and the Rangers are .5 GB. Boom! We are in the playoff hunt.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: I wonder how many MLB players did what Gallo did hitting for 3/4's of the cycle in their MLB debut. I would bet not too many.

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Sunday, May 31, 2015

Jedi Josh strikes again, hits walk off double to win the game.

And with the win your Texas Rangers inch 1 game above .500.


And yesterday Chi Chi Gonzalez had a no hitter for most of his MLB debut helping the Rangers shutout their opponent for the first time this season. The Rangers were the last in MLB to shutout a team this year.  Better late than never I guess. 

And now for the bad news, Beltre injured his left thumb (laceration, stitches) going into 2B breaking up a double play and is out for 2 weeks at least. Call up Joey Gallo from Frisco???

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Saturday, May 30, 2015

Jedi Josh is back! Rangers win 7-4

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Hopefully he's back at this level for the rest of the season.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Jedi Josh Hamilton had 2 homers. And maybe just as shocking and important, he had a BB and no K's. You did not misread that, he had a walk and did not strikeout.

Plus Chirinos contributed at the plate.

And Tolleson had another clean 9th inning for his 6th save. I tell you what, he looks strong to very strong in his new role.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Chi Chi Gonzalez (no relation) makes his MLB debut today. Chi Chi looked good in spring training according to those who had the chance to see him in Arizona. Let's see how he does.

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Saturday, May 23, 2015

Rangers pulverize Spankess 15-4

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: His 3 RBIs today bring Elvis' total on the season to 11. That's right Elvis posted more than a fourth of his RBIs in one game. In late May. Again, for the SEASON he has 11 RBIs.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The offense, as the score indicates, performed well. And Nick Martinez continues to be the ace of the staff with 7 IP, 2 ERs and 5 Ks. For the season he is 4-0 and has a sub 2 ERA, not too shabby.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Josh should be due to join the big club soon. That should be interesting to say the least.

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Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Extra innings in Texas versus KC.

And of course KC hit a first pitch homer in the top of 10 that turned out to be the game winner in a 7-6 loss for your Rangers. Of course no one thing led to this loss but Elvis did have an error that gave the Royals and extra out and run. I'm just saying.

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Monday, May 11, 2015

Odor sent down, Field called up at 2B, Rangers beat KC 8-2

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: I always feel bad for a young player who had some success at the MLB level then falls off and is sent back down. Hope Odor makes it back to bigs.

 Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: 2B Thomas Field was called up to replace Odor and Field proceeded to hit his first career HR. Beltre and Prince also went yard in an 8-2 win over the defending AL champion Royals.

 Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The Rangers get to go up against their former pitching prospect Voquez tomorrow.

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Thursday, May 7, 2015

Rangers swept 3 from the division leading 'Stros

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Look, does anyone really think the Astros are for real?

Before this 3 game sweep the Rangers had not won consecutive games this season.

And the HR leaders for the Rangers still only have a whopping 3 homers for the season. Bryce Harper hit 3 homers yesterday in one game.

And Elvis is still averaging about 1 error per game.*

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Houston is the division leader and the Rangers swept them. That's something and maybe it's a sign the worm's turned for the better for the little Rangers.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: *That is an exaggeration. But Elvis does already have 7 errors this season. Not too strong when combined with his .231 BA. Does that HUGE contract John Daniels gave him still seem like a good idea?

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015

The Texas Rangers have the worst batting average in MLB going into tonight's game

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: At least that's what I heard on the radio today. And judging by the ole eyeball test and the fact that only 2 position players are batting over .300 and one of them (Mitch Moreland) is now injured that seems about right.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: I got nothing.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the Rangers have yet to win consecutive games this year. And it's almost May. Is that bad?

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Monday, April 27, 2015

Reality really is stranger than fiction: Josh Hamilton is a Ranger. Again.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, California, USA, planet Earth, Milky Way galaxy are paying Josh Hamilton a lot of money to play for the Texas Rangers, their division rival. Brilliant move by JD.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, California, USA, planet Earth, Milky Way galaxy are paying Josh Hamilton a lot of money to play for the Texas Rangers, their division rival. Even with the Halos paying most of his salary, is JD still wasting the small amount of money the Rangers are paying for him?

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Please, please, please let us see even a small glimpse of the Jedi Josh who helped lead the Rangers to back to back World Series appearances. A long shot? Sure. But remember, a lot of time reality is strangers than fiction.

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Friday, April 24, 2015

Rumors abound: Deal in works to bring Josh Hamilton back to Texas

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: He's not the same Josh who was MVP. And he's coming off an injury.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The offense can't get any worse by adding him can it?

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Do the Halos have some type of incriminating evidence they're using to blackmail John Daniels into making this deal? Is Pete Incaviglia available? What about Juan Gonzalez? I'm just asking since it appears the Rangers are trying to acquire former Rangers power hitters that can't hit or hit for power anymore.

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Rangers beat the Halos 8-2 behind another good start by Nick Martinez.

The celebration of last night's victory was short-lived because of course when I just checked the score of today's day game the Rangers were losing 7-0 in the 5th.


Ray Davis, the reclusive leader of the group that owns the Rangers, gave an interview. The first one he's ever given. And according to him it might be his last. 

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Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Rangers on first streak of the year and of course it's a losing streak.

Now the Rangers are on a 2 game losing streak having lost to the Halos last night. Up till last night they'd been in a rhythm, lose a game then win a game. Now they are 3-5. 


We are 8 games into the young season. The Rangers' offense is averaging 3.75 runs per game so far (the offense having been shutout twice already). The other problem is the pitching and error-prone defense are giving up 4.875 runs per game so far. More than a run per game more than the offense is putting up. That's not good. In fact that's really, really bad. 

I know it's early in the season and I will try to remember to check on this when we are 20 games into the season, which should be a better sample size. But if this run differential keeps up then I would guess the Rangers will be more than 2 games below .500 after 12 more games. 

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Sunday, April 12, 2015

Rangers lose to 'Stros in extra innings 6-4, lose series

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Once again the Rangers can't get through a game without an error. And the Rangers cannot win 2 in a row.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Rangers also haven't lost 2 in a row this young season. They just won last night after all. I guess that's something.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Next up the Halos come into town lugging their boatload of Josh Hamilton luggage.

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Friday, April 10, 2015

You gotta freakin' be kidding me, Holland, Choo & Rua left today's home opener due to injuries. And of course the Rangers lost 5-1 to the 'Stros

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Injuries. Again. If the Rangers didn't have bad luck...blah, blah, blah. And the Rangers committed 2 errors in the loss.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Prince Fielder had 3 hits. Beltre had a hit and scored the only run. I guess that not much but it's something.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Seriously, is there a team doctor/trainer not so secretly sabotaging this thing driven by some weird horror-movie-type motive (like he was cut from his high school baseball team and this is his way of exacting revenge)?

And/or it's more of the Curse of Kolan (Kinsler & Nolan - both were were shown the door by the club before last season). Who do I blame for bringing on the Curse? One John Daniels, the general manager and now president of baseball operations.

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Thursday, April 9, 2015

Boom goes the dynamite! Ranger win 10-1!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Elvis had an error-free game for the 1st time this year. And no hits.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Many did well at the plate today. Choo, Odor, Moreland and Beltre went yard (on a homer on 1 knee). And Nick went 7IP with 5 K's.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Next up the home opener tomorrow versus the 'Stors with Doogie Holland on the mound.

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Rangers get shelled & shutout, lose 10-0.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Question: How many games are you going to win when (1) your starter gives up 9 hits in 4.1 IP and 5 ER's (2) but since your defense commits 4 errors the opponent put up 9 runs total AND (3) your offense manages only 3 hits in the game.

Answer: Not many and not this one.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Not much here. Martin and Fielder got hits along with DeShileds in his Rangers debut.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The new starters Gallardo and Detwiler in their debuts have not exactly dazzled. Hopefully it's just been a case of first start jitters. If not and this is what we can expect from them every 5th day then it's going to be a LONG season.

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Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Mr. Baseball Colby Lewis* gets Rangers' 1st win of season, Rangers win 3-1. The Rangers will not go winless this season after all.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Beltre and Odor are still without a hit in the young season. That's really, really nitpicking though...

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: ...because Lewis pitched 6 strong (4K's, and 1 ER). And the bullpen made it standup for the 3-1 win.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: *I call him Mr. Baseball because kinda like Tom Selleck's character in Mr. Baseball Colby Lewis played pro ball in Japan after playing MLB and was pretty good across the Pacific. Good enough that after 2 years in Japan he was offered and he accepted a 2 year contract by the Rangers in 2010. And the rest they say is history.

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Tuesday, April 7, 2015

One (1) hit for Rangers in opener. Ouch.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: At this pace they're on track to get 162 hits for the season. The A's Gray took a no hitter into the 8th when Rua got the Rangers only hit on opening day.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: It's only one game and it's a long season.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: But if the offense keeps this up it could be a really, really long season. This just seemed like a continuation of last season's offensive woes. And man, what a way for Jeff Banister to start the season. First he gets so sick he misses the last preseason game at the Ballpark in Arlington and travels separately from the team to the opener. Then his team lays an egg in the opener.

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Wednesday, April 1, 2015

New guy Chris' thoughts, musings and predictions regarding your Texas Rangers' upcoming season

My good friend and lifelong Rangers fan Chris will be contributing here and there on the blog. Here's Chris' first contribution. And it was featured at Cards Conclave:
1) What are your thoughts on the team’s offseason?  Did they do what they needed to do?

As of yet, I don't think the Rangers have really done anything this offseason that will have a big effect on the season, for better or worse.  I know there is a lot of buzz around Gallardo, but he has yet to prove he can be the ace he was projected to be when he broke into the league in 2007.  In fact, his career ERA and WHIP are 3.69 and 1.30, and those are great representations of every year he's been in the majors.  Unfortunately, when those numbers are translated to the AL, we're probably looking at a 4+ ERA, which they probably could have found without trading prospects for.  The Rangers also added a former 1st rounder who has been unable to keep a rotation spot, a few bullpen pieces, and Kyle Blanks, an enormous first baseman with a ton of power and an inability to stay healthy. All that being said, the success of the Rangers this season hinges on health (darn), and the players they paid big money to last year showing they're worth anything close to the contracts they were given.  Given the large contracts on the roster and the rash of injuries, there isn't a lot the Rangers can do yet.  I do like the idea of pitching Juan Carlos Oviedo and Leo Nunez in the same game.  

2) What are the expectations for Prince Fielder this year?

I have high hopes for Prince Fielder, but much lower expectations.  It wouldn't be surprising to see him get off to a slow start given the year off.  I'd say .260 with about 22-25 HR's is what I'm expecting, assuming he plays the whole year.  If he can get to about .275 with 30 HR's, it will be a successful season for him.  

3) Jurickson Profar’s name seems to always come up in trade rumors. Is he going anywhere?

A resounding no.  Obviously, this has become a much easier question to answer.  With the state of his shoulder, they can't get enough in return to make it worth trading him.  Might as well hold on and hope he fulfills the immense potential.

4) What player do you expect to make the greatest strides this year?

I'd love to say Rua or Rodriguez, but I think it has to be Odor.  He flew through the minors and held his own last year with the big club.  He could add twenty points the the batting average, hit about 15-17 HR's, and steal about the same amount of bases.  His stolen base percentage should improve greatly from last year, when he was caught about twice as many times as he was successful.  

5) What’s your projection of the team’s record and where will they finish in the division?

Of the teams in their division, the Rangers are probably the hardest to predict.  I could see them with anywhere between 65 and 85 wins, but I'm going to say 74-88 and just behind the Astros for dead last in the West.  I'd love to be more optimistic, but too many things have to go right, and some of them are already going wrong.  

6) What do you like best about being a Rangers fan?

I live in Chicago right now, so this is fairly simple; Nolan Ryan pummeling Robin Ventura, who was 20 years younger than him.  I love that that wins me almost any argument here.  As Rangers fans, we don't have a rich history full of World Series victories and Hall of Fame players, but I remember where I was when Ryan manhandled Ventura .  I remember the front page of the paper the next morning.  I miss Nolan.  I'm afraid we may be approaching a mild rebuild, so that's what I fall back on right now.  This season, I'll be able to add a food stand at The Ballpark entirely devoted to fried food to this list.  Given the current food climate, fans may actually have a heart attack the next time the Rangers get one strike away.  Twice.

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Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Yours truly was invited to a preview of "Baseball: America’s Presidents, America’s Pastime" hosted by the George W. Bush Presidential Center

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Nothing to write here really. Since it officially opens to the public on Saturday there were a few empty display cases and some exhibits without written explanations of what they were and the 2 video displays weren't up and running yet. But those were minor things. The exhibit is well put together with memorabilia and information spanning the history of baseball and our Executive Branch.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The exhibit demonstrates that sports and specifically baseball transcend many things including party and politics. Democrat or Republican, it doesn't matter, the president in office may change but baseball has been and continues to be our pastime. And the exhibit reflects that with quotes referencing baseball from Republican and Democratic presidents side by side in testament to the fact that baseball has no party.

And if it's not clear, yeah, you should check it out!

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Info regarding the exhibit can be found here.

I consider myself a student of history, especially American history during the Revolutionary War. But I did not know that George Washington's Patriot soldiers played an early version of what would evolve into baseball at Valley Forge.

Here are some photos I took at the preview (and I somehow didn't take pictures of the baseballs signed by Sandy Kofaux, who rarely signed autographs, or a baseball signed by Bob Feller), and please excuse the quality of the photos, they were taken with an iPhone 3GS:

Joe DiMaggio signed baseball:



Stan Musial signed glove:



Tommy Lasorda signed hat:


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Friday, March 13, 2015

Now it's officially official. Yu will have season ending Tommy John surgery next Tuesday

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Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Yu Darvish is likely out for the season.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Yu is likely going to have season ending Tommy John surgery next week.

Oh yeah, Martin Perez and Matt Harrison are still out.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Yu is the ace but he is only one guy that pitches every 5 days. And the Rangers have other arms, like Gallardo, Detwiler, Tepesch, Chi Chi Gonzalez and even Nick Martinez that can try to start to attempt to fill the void Yu leaves in the rotation.

And as for the other big, recent injury this spring training, it's not like Profar contributed a whole lot last year.

I'm just trying to point out it's not quite as bad as it looks and seems maybe. At least not yet.*

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: If I had to put money on a couple Rangers having a breakout year those 2 Rangers would be Leonys Martin and Roghned Odor. Don't ask me why, just a gut feeling and based on the eyeball test watching their progress last year.

*I'm in self denial. Can you blame me? Yeah, it's bad. I just cannot wrap my head around the idea that this year might be as bad as as last year. It's still spring training for gosh dog dog! I should be able to hope the season isn't already over.

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Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Yours truly appeared on the Baseball Bloggers Alliance Podcast!

Here's the link to BBA's podcast. Thanks to A.C. and Rick for hosting and having me on the podcast and thanks to fellow guest Steve who writes the Rangers blog One Strike Away...Twice!

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Saturday, March 7, 2015

Yu Darvish is thinking of having Tommy John surgery. Nooooo!!!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Yup. You read that right. According to ESPN Yu's thinking about it. So now this spring training is starting to feel a lot like last spring training. Great. 

And how many times do you hear players and organizations say they are thinking about a medical procedure so the player can get right physically for the long term and then the player doesn't undergo the procedure?  Seems like almost never. 

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: He's only "thinking about" it so he might not go under the knife, right? Right? 

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Seriously, how much can one team take when it comes to the dreaded injury bug and bad luck? And how long will it last? Apparently at least two seasons in the Rangers' case.  I blame the Curse of Kolan (Kins and Nolan being let go). 

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Thursday, March 5, 2015

Yu Darvish pulled from start today due to tricep tightness

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: You're darn right this worries me, especially given the Rangers' injury woes dating back to last season.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Heard it was just a precautionary measure. So hopefully it's nothing.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Michael Young is now a special assistant to the GM. Am I crazy but didn't Young have some not so nice things to say about the Rangers' front office back when he was a player? Awkward...

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Monday, February 23, 2015

I'm a little late with this but in case you were under a rock, Profar will likely miss the season

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Yup. Just like clockwork, before a single game, even a spring training game, a Ranger (Profar) is likely out for the season (see Holland last year).

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: At least JD extended out the MVP of the Rangers Adrian Beltre through 2016. Please, please, please don't let him get hurt.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Profar now reminds me of another DFW sports figure that everyone claims is great but we have yet to see him perform to his supposed potential due to injury. That other DFW sports figure is one Sean Lee, linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys. Ask anyone a few years back and they would tell you that Sean Lee was an elite, can't miss talent. Which maybe is true and maybe it's not. But does it really matter if he's always hurt. Injured means he doesn't play. If he cannot play then by definition he is not great. I can just see them randomly running into each other, "Mr. Profar, Mr Lee is ahead of you in the waiting room waiting to see the doctor."

At any rate, Profar should be back for the 2016 season. 2016! Man I wish they had traded him when he was a can't miss prospect and the Rangers could have received a MLB proven #2 or 3 starting rotation guy. Oh well, it's easy to Monday-morning quarterback all that now I guess.

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Sunday, February 8, 2015

Guess how many Texas Rangers' deals are mentioned in Grantland's article re the worst current MLB contracts?

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Spoiler alert,  it's a lot. And this is just current contracts. Chan Ho and ARod's contracts should of course be in the hall of fame of bad MLB contracts.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: At least there's some ex Rangers on the list that the organization dodged some bullets on (see Mark Teixeira, ARod and Josh Hamilton's current deals).

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Rangers' contracts mentioned in the article, in this order I believe: Elvis, Prince, Shin-Soo Choo and Matt Harrison.

JD has gotten some passes regarding some bad deals he's orchestrated, I think, since he did put together 2 squads that went to back to back World Series. And he should. But for how long? The World Series appearances were in 2010 and 2011. That's starting to seem like a long, long time ago in a Rangers galaxy far, far away. The club doesn't have Nolan or Wash anymore. I gotta wonder, how many more mediocre to bad seasons JD will be allowed before he's looking for a new gig?

Of course one good season will right everything. And then we will be talking about how great JD is again.

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Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Texas Rangers' pitchers and catchers report Feb. 20 to Surprise AZ

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Given the incredibly disappointing campaign last year (injuries like no one's ever seen, Wash resigning, 3rd worst record in MLB last year) I'm not sure how optimistic I can be.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Given the incredibly disappointing campaign last year (injuries like no one's ever seen, Wash resigning, 3rd worst record in MLB last year) this year can't be any worse, right?  Right?

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: And the Rangers have a new skipper in Jeff Banister, cannot wait to see what he's all about.  If half the stuff I've heard and read about him is true then he's a baseball guy through and through.  He's proven to be a lifer and loyal to his old organization I think since he's 50 years old and spent 29 years with the Pirates organization.  Sounds a lot like Wash.  I just hope Banister does as well as Wash did managing the team for a couple years there.  Maybe he'll even do a little better.  Who knows?

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When Last We Left Our Boys of Summer...

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