The Rangers Worst Enemies: Cowboys & Rain

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

The Cowboys season started today(and they won), so now even less attention will be paid to the Rangers locally.

Is it ever going to stop raining? Too bad the Rangers don't have an indoor park like Atros' MinuteMaid. They're falling behind in the standing while not playing a single game(5.5 in the division; 3.5 in the wild card race).

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

The Cowboys season started today(and they won), so now even less attention will be paid to the Rangers locally, that may be a good thing, no pressure on them to perform and they can fly under the radar.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

A talking head at ESPN actually said that the Red Stockings have any easier schedule down the stretch than your Rangers. Rangers' remaining foes: Mariners, A's, Halos, A's, Rays, Halos, Mariners, in that order. Red Stockings remaining foes: Rays, Halos, Balt., KC, Spankees, Blue Jays, Clev. The talking head may be right but, hopefully the Rangers can keep on beating division foes at the same clip as they have been all year, especially when it comes to the Halos. And maybe, maybe the Halos, Spankees and Rays can help out the Rangers by beating the Red Stockings.

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So Are They Going to Make the Playoffs or Not?

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Michael, "the Old Man" Young is out. Jedi Josh is out. They've played .500 ball the last 10 games. There are only about 4 weeks left in the season. They're 5 GB in division and 2.5 GB in the wild card and there are only 26 games left. And they have no games left against the Red Stockings.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Jedi Josh should be back Friday.

The Rangers have 7 games left against the division leading Halos.

There are plenty of games to make up the difference in either the division or wild card races, I think.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

I know, I know, I know, this season is already a success, they've performed way beyond expectations, blah, blah, blah. Well, guess what? Expectations have changed dramatically because they've performed so well. We know what they're capable of.

I'm going to call it. I think your Texas Rangers make the playoffs. Not only that, I think they'll win the division. Halos have an incredibly difficult schedule left and are terrible against division foes. Outside the division they play the White Stockings, Red Stockings and Spankess down the stretch and have more than a few games in division. Am I jinxing them? I don't think so. The Rangers have to think they're good enough to win the division. And why not? So why not say it?

By the way, I went to Houston and caught a great Astros game Saturday night (Astros won in the bottom of the 9th). As a Rangers fan I now have stadium envy. Their MinuteMaid park is awesome. The park is easy to get around inside, in the middle of downtown, indoor and just seems intimate. For example, you can view the game as walk around the lower bowl. Outfield walls are a little too short but otherwise, wow. Did I mention it's an indoor stadium with a retractable section?

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Rangers Sweep Double Header!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Michael Young left the second game with a strained hammy. MRI to follow.

C(ardiac) J Wilson once again made it very interesting in his 2/3's of an inning of work in the 8th of game 2. The bases were loaded with 1 out I think. And I know O'Day was responsible for the run that scored but, it seems more and more every time Cardiac pitches it's closer to a complete meltdown. Don't get me wrong he pitched great at times when Frankie was out but, thankfully Frankie is back.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Jedi Josh, more and more, is starting to look like Jedi Josh again. And Crash Davis is starting to bat like he did last year.

Nippert and McCarthy (McCarthy!) give you two quality starts.

Feliz, "Nolan Jr.", what he do? In the first game he just pitched 2 innnings of perfect (I don't remember anyone walking) baseball while he struck out 4.

Frankie closes two games in one day.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

If Young is out for any signifacant time is that church for the Rangers?

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- I Wouldn't Blame Millwood for Thinking His Teammates Hate Him

or alternate title:

Another Wasted Millwood Performance; Ranger's Lose Game and Series Versus Twins.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

The offense, defense and bullpen let down Millwood. Again.

3-2 lead for Rangers going into the bottom of 8th was blown by poor fielding/pitching. Lose the ballgame 5-3. Ouch.

Homerless Hank Blaylock caused Pudge to drop a pop up ball in foul territory in an early inning (didn't cost Rangers a run). Twins runners on 2nd & 3rd (I think) in the bottom of the 8th inning, a ground ball was hit to first, Homerless threw high to home instead attempting to get the out at first. Runners safe at home and at first. Keep in mind that there was no force play at home. CJ Wilson was less than impressive on 1 day's rest.

Nellie Cruz also mishandled a base knock in the botoom of the 8th so he couldn't even force a play at home when another Twin runner scored.

Rangers' got 4 base runners on in the top of the 9th with no outs but, couldn't get any of them home.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Millwood pitched well enough to win.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

I'd be surprised if Homerless Hank plays first base much more this season. His defense actually did hurt the team last game. Crash Davis isn't going to bat any worse than Homerless, and will field better. Homerless will likely DH sometimes against righty pitching but, I would bet that's about it for him in the field.

September has got to be better than August. I hope.

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Return of the Texas Jedi, They Defeat the Evil Empire and Win the Series

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Nipp got knocked out of the game after 4.2 innings (I think).

Rangers were 1-hit through about 5 innings.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Oh, by the way, that 1 hit was a 3 run shot by Kinsler.

Grilli had a bad last outing. Add that he had to step up and into the roll as one of the long middle relievers since they let go of Jennings. And he did it. I think I could hear the sighs of relief from Wash & Maddux all the way back here in DFW.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

That's the first series the Evil Empire has lost at home since June. And who beat them? You're little ole' Texas Rangers. Maybe this'll start a little win streak or at the very least winning at a better than .500 clip. Keep your fingers crossed.

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- At Least Get Their Names Right

From an article on Yahoo! previewing this afternoon's game but referencing last night's game:

"Josh Hamilton had three hits and Daniel Murphy [emphasis added by yours truly] added a homer with two RBIs on Wednesday, but Texas lost for the fifth time in eight games and fell to 2-3 on its nine-game road trip."

Daniel Murphy? Come on, at least get the Rangers' names right. It's David Murphy, he actually plays for the Rangers. Daniel Murphy apparently plays for the Mets. Wow, great reporting. Why don't they just call the team the Arlington Ranch Hands while they're at it. No respect I tell you, no respect.

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- The Evil Empire Strikes Back

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Man I do not like the Spankees, especially mirror kissing A-Rod and mouth-breathing-dumb-faced Teixeira.

Oh, Doogie Holland, maybe next time.

Oh Jason Jenning why cannot I not think of a nickname for you? And why does it seem like your relief appearances have gotten worse each time you pitch?

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

David "the Murph" Murphy actually batted well against a lefty and it was Pettitte no less, accounting for the only two Ranger RBI's.

Elvis was again brilliant in the field.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

Red Stockings won. Halos won. At least the Rays didn't win. Now the Rangers are 5 back in the division and 2.5 in the Wild Card. Why do I feel like playoff chances are slipping away? Maybe because the Rangers are playing .500 ball and I'm not sure that'll punch their ticket to the post season.

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- Rangers beat Evil Empire, Barely

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Rangers are down 4-0 after 2 innings. Whoops. Game over according to some.

Millwood didn't have his best stuff by a mile.

Then, 10-5 Rangers winning going into the bottom of 9. Final score is 10-9 Rangers win.

WTF you ask? Wash inexplicably put in pitcher Grilli, (Grilli! when's the last time he's pitched in a game) in the bottom of 9 and he proceeded put on 2 with no outs (single, walk). Then Frankie Fran came in to salvage it, barely, with the game ending on a questionable double play (see below).

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Crash Davis went 2-4 with NO STRIKE OUTS. Alert the Media.

Rangers rally to be up 10-5 going into the bottom of 9 then, the almost complete meltdown, but don't meltdown completely.

With one out, on the final play of the game (a double play line out to Elvis, he caught the ball and then stepped on second base "beating" the guy on second back the bag who was trying to tag up) the Spankee runner was arguably safe but, called out. Let me be honest, he was safe. It was, at best, a tie (when Elvis stepped on the bag and the Spankee runner's hand touched second) and the tie goes to the runner. But, I'll take the ump's call.

That play made up for all the non-strike calls made by the homeplate ump (with all the Spankee money in his wallet) when the Rangers were pitching.

Feliz is Feliz. Awesome.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

Catastrophic moment? Almost. Maybe. You have a 10-5 lead going into the bottom of the 9th against the Spankees and you make it that interesting? Rangers did win 10-9 but they made it a drama. So Drama Rangers win, ooohhhh, Drama Rangers win!

Of course Red Stocking won. Halo is tied as I write this. Somebody (Halo, Red Stocking) lose, please.

That's why each team gets 27 outs. It ain't over till it's over. Oh, and umpires making bad calls help the Rangers every once in a while, thankfully it was tonight.

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- Your Texas Rangers vs. the Evil Empire

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

They're calling up Crash Davis.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

They're calling up Crash Davis, he can't be hitting any worse than Homerless Hank Blaylock and definitely plays better D.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

So is this kind of what it's like to be a Cubs, Yankees or Red Sox fan in July & August and (gulp) September? You watch the Rangers' game and (if you're like me when at home) your online checking scores for the Red Sox, Rays and Angels (and no, I haven't given up on the division, we will hold the line HERE!). And Rangers play Halos seven (7!) more times. It would just help if the Halos would lose 2 or 5 games in a row.

So is the division race over? Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

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A Fine Outing with Friends

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Javier was thrown out for cheering too loud, and showing too much enthusiasm. Actually, this was also the highlight - and thrown out is a bit of a stretch.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

11-1. The Bats are a hittin'. The pitchin' is a pitchin'.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

I can't wait for the emails to the Tickets over the stupidity of them getting upset, over people CHEERING at a ballpark. One of the craziest things that I have ever seen.

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