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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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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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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Offense Manages Only 1 Run. Again.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: 1 run.  How many ballgames is your team going to win putting up only 1 run?  Answer: not many and not this one.  Feliz walked in the winning run after Frasor loaded the bases in the bottom of 8 and lose 2-1 to KC.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Of course the pitching staff did only allow 2 runs.  That should be enough to win a ballgame.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Rangers dropped out of top two in the Wild Card race with the loss.

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Ogando Gets Rocked by Cubbies

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Ogando only went 2.1 IP with 5 ER's.  And again the Rangers' offense continued to struggle, managing only 4 hits and 2 runs.  And Cruz and Kins were the only ones with hits with 2 each.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Lowe had only 1 ER, Ortiz and Frasor had 0 ER's.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The Rangers' offensive woes are now becoming worrisome to say the least.  Essentially if the Rangers' pitching staff gives up 4+ runs in a game the Rangers have almost no chance to win.  And that will continue to be the case until the offense gets going, if it can.  Is too soon to be looking for a trade to get a big bat capable of hitting few homers in here?

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