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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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