Saturday, July 25, 2009

- Pig Swiney is the Only Thing That Can Stop Playoffs Now!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Swine flu in the clubhouse? Not good. Not overly concerned, but not good.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
The play, all of it. What has team ERA been the last week, and it's going to continue. Keep reading as to why.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenote(s):
Recently, your Texas Rangers have been on a hot streak - want to know why? The Summer has suddenly turned mild in these parts. IN fact, I would suggest their play is an inverse proportion to the average high temperature for a particular week. With predicted mild summer continuing, the Rangers make the playoffs this year. After that, I just don't know.


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Thursday, July 23, 2009

- Get Out the Brooms! Rangers Sweep Red Stockings!


Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Your Texas Rangers are still 3 games back in the standings behind the Halos. Why? The freakin' Halos are 9-1 in the their last 10 games and have won 5 straight.


Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Rangers are now on a 4 game winning streak.


Thoughts / Observations / Sidenote(s):
Hopefully the Halos will come down to Earth soon and your Rangers will make up some games.


Also, interesting to note, the Rangers are only 2.5 GB of the Red Stockings in the Wild Card race.


The offense still is not putting up huge numbers. What about shaking up the batting order at putting Andrus in the lead off role?





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Monday, May 18, 2009

Two Broom Series in a Row For the Rangers; Rangers Sweep Halos in Weekend Series

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
The bullpen let Millwood down in the first game of the series and made it interesting down the stretch, but the bats rallied and pulled out the win.

The Rangers were arguably helped out quite a bit when Lackey (Halo's pitcher) was ejected 2 pitches into his start in the second game of the series. He threw behind lead off hitter Kinsler then hit him. Apparently, the ump thought that this was some sort of retaliation against Kinsler since he went yard twice against the Halos the day before.



After a great catch at the wall in the 7th (?) Jedi-Josh didn't return to the game with a strained groin.

Otherwise, really not much here. 

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
No defensive errors. No base running errors. They turned double plays. Pitchers got out of jams. 

Jedi-Josh seems to be back, both at the plate and in the field. 

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenote(s):
Still no Frankie closing the games.

The Rangers have won 7 straight and now own one of the biggest leads of any division leader in MLB.




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Thursday, May 14, 2009

Get Out the Brooms, Rangers Beat M's in Last At Bat 3-2!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Rangers offense was kept very, very quiet through 8 innings.

Rangers had 8 runners LOB.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Matt "Harry" Harrison spread out 7 hits over 9IP, giving up only 2 runs for the eventual complete game win.

The offense produced just enough, dramatically so in the bottom of the 9th, for the win.  

Hammerin' Hank hit a solo homer in the 9th.

Then Crash Davis went yard with Murphy aboard for the game winner later in the 9th to win it 3-2.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenote(s):
Rangers are only 1.5 games ahead of the Halos since the Halos have been keeping pace.

Again, this series starting tomorrow will tell us a little more about where the Rangers are.




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Rangers Comeback and Win 6-5 in the 11th!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
A throwing error by Young, the old man gave the M's the lead in the top of the 11th, nearly costing the Rangers the game.

The Rangers left 13 on base. 

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Young made up for his error in the top of the 11th with a lead off single in the bottom of the 11th. He'd score the tying run.

Hammerin' Hank hit the game winner.

Elvis continued to perform on O & D. He made another ridiculous, highlight reel play at short and had an RBI producing triple.

McCarthy was very serviceable, with 7IP and 4ER. The bullpen, without Frankie, gave up no earned runs.

Jedi-Josh went yard again.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenote(s):
McCarthy still doesn't seem to be equal to Danks but, hasn't been terrible either.

Frankie may be back sooner than later.

The 3 game series against the Halos is this weekend. A lot more will be known about the Rangers after this weekend. 




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Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Ranger's Over M's 7-1; Return of the Jedi-Josh

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Had the game remained close Frankie would not have been available because of some trouble with his bicep. Thankfully, the Rangers blew the game wide open with a 6 run 7th.

Otherwise, not a lot to write here.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
When the Rangers blew the lid off the game seemingly all the young guns (and some veterans like Young, the old man, and Jones)contributed:
1) Y, the old man, singled
2) Jedi-Josh went yard scoring Young.
3) Jones reached on an infield hit.
4) Byrd doubled, moving Jones to 3rd.
5) Nellie Cruz's sac fly scored Jones, moved Bryd to 3rd.
6) Crash Davis (he had hit a solo homer earlier in the 5th) reached on an error, Byrd scored.
7) Salty doubled, Crash scored, Salty reached 3rd on the throw.
8) Elvis singled, Salty scored.

Kinsler singled but didn't score later in that same inning.

Scooter Feldman pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up only 4 hits and 1 earned run.

Doogie Holland pitched a perfect 1 1/3 innings and Every-Day Eddie pitched a perfect 9th to close the game (non-save opp.).

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenote(s):
If the starters keep pitching like this it'll be difficult for Doogie Holland to break into the starting rotation, not a bad problem to have. If one of the starters falters, then Doogie appears to be ready to step in.

Your Texas Rangers are 8-2 in their last 10, not too shabby.

Hopefully Frankie's injury is short term but it could be more serious and put him on the DL, which would mean trouble for the Rangers in close games when they need a shut down closer. Every-Day Eddie and CJ Wilson have been anything but consistent this year. Maybe Jennings? Maybe closer by committee if Frankie goes on the DL?




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Monday, May 11, 2009

Rangers Win 7-1! Still "First Place Texas Rangers"

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
I got nothin' here really. Great game all around on O & D.

I guess if I had to be picky Padilla served up 4 walks and had to get himself out of a jam early on. 

Rangers had 6 LOB.

But really, that's about it.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Padilla gave up 1 hit. In his last 2 starts he's given up 2 hits total, that's gotta be a record or something (it is, he's the 1st Ranger in history to accomplish that feat).

The Rangers' offense, without Hamilton or Young, put up some runs to support a great start by their hurler.

The Rangers bullpen only gave up 1 hit, for a 2 hit game.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenote(s):
Your Texas Rangers lead the division by 1/2 a game over the Halos and have 3 game set against same coming soon. And the Halos to date have won 4 straight. Lastly, and again, if they can win that series against the Halos, or better yet sweep, we'll be talking about the Rangers all summer, I think. I hate to put to place too much weight on a May series against a divisional rival but, if you look at the schedule this is a big deal with inter-league play coming up, especially for a young ball club.




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Sunday, May 10, 2009

Rangers Lose 3-2, But Still "First Place Texas Rangers", Barely

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
The mighty Texas Rangers' offense managed to put up a whole 2 stinkin' runs, ruining a great start by ace Millwood.

Millwood arguably was left in 1 inning too many by Wash.

"Ghosts of Bad Trades Past" continued to haunt the Rangers as the White Sox's ace, and former Ranger, Danks pitched a great game.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Millwood looked great in the loss giving up 3 runs is 7 IP, at one point he got out of a bases loaded jam in the middle innings.

Rangers continued to run on the base pads. 

Elvis looked and performed great on D and O.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenote(s):
The Rangers lead the division by only 1/2 a game.

Watch out the Halos, they've won 3 straight and are right behind your Texas Rangers. Rangers play 3 against the Halos next weekend. The outcome of that series may set the tone for the season, especially if the Rangers sweep or are swept.

Questions still surround, and are being written about, owner Tom Hicks' default on loans concerning the Rangers.




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Saturday, May 9, 2009

Rangers Win 6-0 Over White Sox! Still "First Place Texas Rangers"

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Rangers' D committed another error.

Rangers' offense left 9 on base.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Matt "Harry" Harrison pitched a complete game 4 hitter. Let me write that again, Matt "Harry" Harrison pitched a complete game 4 hitter. Wow.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenote(s):
Apparently, Harry's catcher going forward is going to be Teagarden. Usually, only pitchers like Maddux or El Presidente have their own guys catch a game when they pitch instead of the usual catcher. Although, with this result your really can't argue with it.

Rangers are up in the division by 1.5 games.

But, watch out for the Halos, they're at .500 and are going to soon be at full pitching staff strength.




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Thursday, May 7, 2009

Rangers Win 3-2 Over A's; "Hello, First Place Texas Rangers"

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:
Rangers put up only 3 runs.

Francisco allowed 2 base runners to get on in the 9th in a 3-2 game.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:
Elvis went yard (solo) to start things off on a good note in the 1st.

Rangers manufactured 2 runs in the 4th.

No errors for the Rangers.

Only 4 Rangers LOB.

Scooter Feldman only gave up 2 runs in a quality start.

Doogie Holland pitched 2 scoreless in relief.

Francisco got another save. ERA to date: 0.00

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenote(s):
Rangers are in the 1st place in May. Yes it's early but they're still in first.

Their win streak is now 5.

They're 3 games above .500 after a dismal start to the season.



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When Last We Left Our Boys of Summer...

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