Again, with the ass sucking!!!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Just started watching the Sox Game in the 7th inning, and it all went to shiite. What happened to the Pen? More Sox fans at Game than Rangers fans - not acceptable.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

2 More Games in Texas for this Series.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

Another possible back-breaker for the Rangers, but I don't think so. We'll take the next 2.

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Rangers Win, So What?

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

The freakin' Halos and Red Stocking won.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Jedi Josh batted and is batting great. Thunder Hunter pitched great.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

Let's see what happens this weekend against the Red Stockings. It's beginning to look more and more like the Wild Card is the Rangers' only avenue into the playoffs (I know, I know, this season is already a success but, what's wrong with wanting some playoff baseball in North Texas?). To quote Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid regarding the Halos, "who are those guys?" In other words, why won't they lose a few in a row when they're not playing your Rangers?

And here's another thing, name another MLB team in any other division that has to travel 2 ( TWO!) time zones to play their division rivals. I know they're a lot of variables but check out the records in the AL Central, where arguably your Rangers should be (couldn't KC and the Rangers swap divisions?).

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- Doogie !

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Jedi Josh was hitless and the news about him falling off the wagon this past January came out over the weekend. Ouch. Rangers fans don't care about his off the field stuff as long as it doesn't affect his play on the field.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Dooggie Holland had a no-hitter through 5 2/3's innings and pitched a 3-hit, complete game 7-0 shutout.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

The Rangers take 2 out of 3 against arguably the hottest team in baseball, the Halos. During this series they release the Debbie Downer in the clubhouse Padilla. Brilliant and finally. Of course they could release Padilla after figuring out that they're going to roll the dice with the starting rotation of Old Man Millwood, Doogie Holland, Big Thunder Hunter, Scooter Feldman and Dusty Nippert. All the starters, with of course the exception of Old Man Millwood, are under 30 years old. I like it.

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In my death, I only grow stronger...

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

So, yes, Padilla looked like Eddie Harris in the 9th inning in Major League BUT do you really, REALLY?!?!, bring in the rookie from OKC Penal to face a .394 w/RiSP hitter in a tie ballgame? I know Neftali throws 100 MPH gas but...OK...do we need Captain Ron showing "an inspiring rookie performance" or "gritty trust in our veterans" right now? Am I alone in this? There were a dozen other bad moments for Los Rangers tonight but....I dunno...I'm aghast...

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Otherwise, Neftali Feliz looks AWESOME. Oh, I almost can't wait for next year...except I'm still emotionally involved in this year. This is like that chick you met just before you left for college...she's so hot, she SO gets me and it could all work out. First fries, then Assistant Manager....

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

We are on the cusp. 7 games left on this road trip. I keep thinking we are one rally away from some crazy swine flu/War Pigs mad run at the World Series. Keep believin'...I mean, for real, I'm blogging about Los Rangers at midnight. In August.

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Rangers Get Shutout By Lowly A's

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

5 hits tonight. 5 hits last night. Total runs = 2.

2 stinkin' runs in 2 nights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Arias, in for the injured Kinsler at second, continues to play in shallow right field.

1 RBI in the last 2 nights. Hitting is the problem. Hitting! Not pitching, hitting. It seems like they either score 2 or 7. And they don't help a pitcher out that gives up an early lead. At least it seems like it is from my eyeball test without crunching any numbers. I'm probably wrong but, there's more below about the hitting.

Doogie Holland's confidence is again shaken by a poor showing.

Salty is still having problems throwing the ball back to the pitcher. He actually bounced one to Doogie tonight that got past him. Has no one else noticed this? Ranger pitcher is constantly stretching, jumping or otherwise reaching for throws from Salty to the mound. Watch to confirm.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

?

Hey did anyone see Feliz, "Nolan Jr.", strikeout the first 4 he faced last night?

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

When is the highest paid hitting coach in baseball going to be asked some tough questions?

By Washington? No, probably not by Wash, he didn't hire him.

Is Daniels going to talk to him? Nope, he didn't hire him either(and Daniels was 17 years old when Jaramillo started working for the Rangers).

Nolan Ryan? No, he didn't hire him either.

Hicks? He's his boss but, he's newer to the franchise than Jaramillo and he's busy trying to sell the franchise.

Jaramillo pre-dates all his bosses(1995 is when he came on the staff! Hicks bought the team in 1998.). Who does he have pictures of doing what with what and/or who exactly?

And, has anyone really examined how his success with hitters coincides with the "steroid era"(let's say the "steroid era" is early 90's-2004? I don't know you tell me.) in baseball generally and the Rangers specifically? To use a phrase of JJ's, "I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin." Who're Jaramillo's biggest success stories exactly? ARod? Palmiero? Juando? Pudge? Canseco?

Hopefully the Rangers get their hitting groove back before they play 3 at Halo this weekend otherwise...

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That sucked total asss!!!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

I watched the last 15 minutes to see the Rangers lose to the pathetic A's.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

Sorry, I got nothing here. Nelson Cruz even managed to get hurt on the last play.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

Washington manages to use 6 pitchers for a shut-out, but at the end, with the pitcher struggling, does not visit the mound, does not switch pitchers, nothing. I know the hits were not that hard, but why use 6 pitchers right up until the end, and then not change when the game is at its more important point?

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- Rangers Past & Present by Batting Stance Guy

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- Rangers Finally Win Against Their Kryptonite (Det.)

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

Surely Kinsler can bunt a runner over from second to third with no outs? I guess not, he bunted the ball straight up to the catcher.

At the plate Jedi Josh still looks like the force has left him. In the field he used the force to climb the right field wall to make a great catch.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

In the 5th inning Tommy "Thunder" Hunter was down in the count 3-0 to Ordonez with the bases drunk and 2 outs. Thunder Hunter came back from the 3-0 count and struck out Ordonez ending the inning. That kept the Rangers down only one run. Is Thunder the new ace? His ERA is probably well under 2 in his last 4 or 5 starts.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes:

Man! A Rangers fan down the first base line made a great one handed catch while holding and infant. Baby was unharmed. Responsible parenting? Probably not. Great catch? Yes. I haven't been able to find the video online yet.

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- Rangers Score More Than 3 Runs & Win!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud:

I missed the game. Apparently the flu struck again and Millwood left the game after about 2 innings. (Correction: Millwood did have flu-like symptoms before the game but left the game because of a sore butt muscle.)

The Rangers are still 3.5 games back of the stupid Angels who won't stop winning. Seriously, the the Halos had won something like 9 of their last 10 and had won 8 straight before losing today to the Twins. Who the hell are the Angels playing? Are the other teams blindfolded, playing without gloves on defense?

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining:

The Rangers won.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenote(s):

Can't the Halos go on just a little losing streak? Maybe a little 3 or 4 or even 5 game losing streak, that would go a long way.

Among their fellow divisional rivals, the Halos & M's, the Rangers by far have the best record against the West division. The Rangers are 18-8 versus their division. The Halos are 14-17 and the M's are 16-15 against West division foes.

I think the Rangers still have about 10 games against the Halos. Maybe the Rangers will keep on beating the Halos like a drum in the remaining games against them.

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- 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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