Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Once the Rangers started their playoff run I was not about to jinx it with a post and bandwagon. And it worked! Wow.
I'll update as the game goes on.
I would have updated this post during the game with highlights.
There weren't any.
Rangers lose 4-0 to the 'Stros.
Rangers are in last place. Yay.
Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: And we're looking up in the Wild Card standings at division rivals the Seattle Seamen and the Los Angles Angels of Anaheim, California, USA, Earth, Milky Way.
Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Hey, we're only 4.5 GB and it's early August. So, you're saying we have a chance.
Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Say what you will about Yu Darvish (you know who you are) but, he is a class act. He took out a full page ad in the Dallas Morning News thanking the Texas Rangers fans and defending himself against his detractors. I sincerely hope he and the Dodgers win the World Series this year (unless the Rangers somehow get there).
Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Our ace the last 4 years is gone.
Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Nothing.
Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Here's what John Daniels and the Rangers got in return for a 4 time All-Star, starting pitcher:
Willie Calhoun, AAA, 2B/OF, defensively challenged that can hit.
A.J. Alexy, A-ball, pitcher.
Brendon Davis, A-ball, infielder.
I don't know about you, but it sure looks like that the Dodgers got the better end of this deal. Which makes me think (and this is just me guessing, and based on no sources) that the Rangers wanted to get something now for Yu because they knew they had ZERO chance of re-signing him in the offseason OR they had not desire to try to re-sign him in the offseason. Otherwise, the trade makes no sense because this is a clear sign from the front office that the season is over, at least to the fans (and this fan for sure) and maybe the clubhouse.
Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Of course the Rangers lost the game.
Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: It was very cool to watch. He did it.
Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Now only if we could have a pitcher do that well, either in a regular season or a postseason run, much less for a career. Look at the side bar to the right here. It's been a long while since the Rangers had a 20 game winner, for example.
In other news, Lucroy was traded. He seemed like a good guy in the interviews I saw/listened to but, he never panned out into that dominant, everyday catcher that could hit consistently. Especially when you have Chirinos who (at least per the eyeball test) handles the staff better and just hits HR's about every 3-5 at bats. I wish Lucroy well.
Now let's hold our breath and see if today is Yu's last day as a Ranger.
Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: If they (John Daniels) trade him I gotta believe that's a clear sign to the rest of the clubhouse that the front office is throwing in the towel for this season.
Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: No upside. You never know what you'll get if you just get prospects.
Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: I'm tired of people saying he's not an ace. Look out that window. There's not too many pitchers with the stuff he has.
Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Maybe Banny left in Perez too long. But why go to Dyson with the game on the line? Why would Banny expect Dyson to get them out of a jam?
Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Perez and the bats were winning the game through six against Sale (until it all fell apart like a 10 cent suit).
Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Lets see if they can avoid the sweep tonight.
Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: But they're still 7 GB in the division. Beltre and Hamels are still out. And To start the season it seemed that either the bats could not produce runs or the pitching couldn't help but give up too many runs.
Dyson didn't record his 1st strikeout of the season until just the other day and seemingly half the lineup has been hovering around the Mendoza-line.
Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: THEY ARE ONLY 7 GB! After that roller coaster ride to start the season, I'll take it. Especially considering the above.
And they're only 1 GB in the wildcard race. If it's not too early to be following the division standing then I argue it's not to soon to be checking on the wildcard standings. So there.
Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Martin Perez goes up against Sale tonight. Sale has been nails for the Sox this year. Let's see what Perez brings to the mound tonight.
Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Is it bad when more than half your starting lineup is hitting below .200? And I know batting average is now considered an antiquated metric but still, too many bats for the Rangers have been quiet.
Odor and Mazara started of strong and have faded.
Please let Beltre get back in the lineup soon.
Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Matt Bush appears to have settled into the closer role.
Gallo's OPS is OK (see, I look at other stats besides batting average).
Elvis and DeShields have generally been more up than down. And Gomez hit for the cycle last night.
And again, after a scary bad start (especially when trying to close games) they're not out of this thing. Like the old saying goes, you can't win the division in April but, you sure as hell can lose it. And the Rangers survived April.
Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: If Hamels and Yu pitch anything like the aces they can be then the Rangers will be in this thing.
The Rangers picked up Yankees castoff Kozma off of waivers which may mean Profar's days in Arlington are numbered. Which leads me to this point, if you don't have a place for a prospect to play everyday when you call him up to the big club then don't do it. Trade them for value or leave them in the minors. It's hard enough to play in the show much less when you're not playing everyday, learning a new position and/or playing different positions when you do get a chance to play (all of which apply to Profar).
Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Dyson has been terrible in 2 outings. And the starting pitching has been so-so.
Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Elvis went yard and the offense put up 6 runs.
Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Pitching has been poor. The law of averages may be catching up to the Rangers and their razor thin run differential from a year ago. At least to start the season. The only hope is that the pitching gets better.
Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: To say Yu could not locate his fastball after the first few innings is an understatement. And Banny put Yu back out there for the 7th when he was pushing 90 pitches and just didn't have it.
Carlos Gomez getting thrown out trying to steal 2nd early in the game cost the Rangers a run when right after that Nomar had an extra base hit to start the game.
Joey Gallo again was without a hit. He hit some hard, but no results.
Napoli in his return was 0 fer.
Elvis had a an error, surprise, surprise.
Dyson gave up 3 runs in the top of 9 to allow the Indians to break a 5-5 tie.
It was 5-1 Rangers after 4. And the Rangers ended up losing 8-5.
Yu had 4 ER's, Bush had 1 ER, and the Rangers' closer Dyson had 3 ER's. Is that good? I'll answer that question for everyone. No. That's not good.
The new local announcers were sedate. I cannot believe I'm going to write this but, I miss Buzz and Tag.
Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Yu started strong (even though he faded late),
Carlos Gomez had a homer and Odor had 2 HR's. Elvis had a double and and triple.
Nomar looked strong at the plate
Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: I saw something I had never seen before. When Yu went back out for the 7th he had a strikeout, past ball that resulted in the batter safe at 1B and the run scoring from 3B. Never seen than before.
The umps still suck. Cargo was safe on that early steal attempt I think and after review they still called him out. BUT, had they called him safe to begin with he would have been safe after review too. And the ump behind the plate flat out missed some strikes early especially low in the zone that Yu threw.
You can read the full preview on the Cards Conclave blog right here. Check it out! Chris' answers are the "TRB" ones. Opening day for your Rangers is this Monday at 6:05 pm against the defending AL champion Cleveland Indians. Go Rangers!
Read more...(hit refresh on your browser every so often to see updates, please feel free to comment)
Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: This has been a continuation of the end of last year's series.
Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Now Cobra Lewis, Mr. Baseball, is set to start game 3. And hey, they have nothing to lose. Maybe they'll play looser. And better. Playing better would help too.
Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: I wonder how many teams have come back from an 0-2 deficit in a 5 game divisional series. I bet not many.
Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Kinda bad to always have to come from behind.
Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Kinda great that they seem to be able to.
Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Home field would be nice.
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