Is it bad that going into tonight's game versus the Rockies your Rangers have lost 7 of the last 10?

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Yes. And as I write this they're losing 5-1 to the Rockies.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Somehow they're only 2 GB in the division.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Can someone explain to me why we have a home/away inter league series versus Colorado? I am and have been for some time done with inter league play. Why not have more division games? More games against wild card rivals?

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Rangers got swept in 3 game series versus A's, are on a 4 game losing streak

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Is it bad to only score 4 runs in a 3 game series? 'Cause that's what your Rangers did in their 3 game series versus the A's. Are 4 errors in a game good? 'Cause that's what your Rangers did in the last game versus of the A's.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Rangers still have one of the best records in the AL.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Your Rangers are now 3 GB behind the A's in the division after getting swept by them. Is it too early to be looking at the wild card standings? The Rangers are in first place in the wild card standings and .5 ahead of the Halos in the wild card standings. And the Rangers have 3 at the Halos starting tomorrow night.

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How many games are the Rangers going to win when they score zero runs? Rangers lose to A's 4-0

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: The A's continue to be Yu's kryptonite. Of course it's not like he got ANY run support as the Rangers offense put up a goose egg. And the A's hurler Gray was pretty darn good throwing a complete game 3 hitter.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: I got nothing. The Rangers got dominated.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Perez throws for the Rangers tomorrow and if Yu isn't careful he will find himself being considered the 2nd best starter on the team behind Perez.

Rangers are now 1 GB of the A's in the division.

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Rangers lose 2 out of 3 versus Seamen heading into home series versus A's

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Rangers pitchers gave up a lot of runs in three games against the Mermen, 6, 3 and 6.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The offense also put up a fair amount of runs, in three games versus the Seamen, 5, 6 and 5. It's just that the defense/pitching gave a few too many runs. Of course if the Rangers offense continues to average 5-6 runs per game, I'd be OK with that.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Next up the A's and going into the series the Rangers are tied for first in the division versus them.

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Sweep? Sweep! Sweet! Can you say first place Texas Rangers?

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Prince was 0-fer? I don't know, I don't have much.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Martin Perez pitched a complete game shutout for the win. Awesome.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Yeah, that's right, the Rangers rolled into the Land of Oak, depleted by injuries, and swept 3 from the at the time first place A's. Now the Rangers lead the division by .5 games. Game/division race on.

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Rangers rally in the top of the 9th, beat A's 5-4

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Nick Martinez had a few tough innings to start the game.

With Kouzy pulled in the middle of 4, Josh Wilson was pressed into service at 3B and committed an error that put men on 2B and 3B with 1 out. And it cost the Rangers 2 runs, unearned, and allowed the A's to take. 4-3 lead.

Wasted lead off double by Mitch in the top of 9, he was bunted over to 3B representing the tying run, then Martin bunts but Mitch doesn't head home till well after the bunt was laid down. The bunt was right back to the pitcher and it was a relatively easy out at home plate. Terrible play, just not sure whose fault it was. Did Mitch miss the sign, break too late or did Martin bunt on his own?

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Nick got out of a bases loaded 1 out jam on a double play flyout to CF, with Martin then gunning down the runner at home in the bottom of 2. Then in the bottom of 3 Nick had a 6 pitch, 3 up 3 down inning.

Prince continues to at least get a base knock here and there.

After Mitch is thrown out at home on a terribly executed bunt play, Josh Wilson tied the game with a double that scored Martin from 2B(Martin had just stolen 2B). Then Choice hit a single that scored Wilson from 2B to take the lead 5-4.

Soria got the save.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Choo was hurt in the opener versus the A's and was out of the lineup tonight and likely will be out for a few games.

Kouzy was lifted in the middle of the 4th with back stiffness. Of course it was in the mid 50's
temperature-wise to start the game so hopefully that's all it is, cool weather causing muscle tightness in Kouzy's back.

I tell you what, the Rangers have shown a knack for scoring runs against the bullpens they've faced.

Rangers deliver the A's first back to back losses of the season.

Rangers are .5 GB now behind the A's.

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Rangers win opener in Land of Oak 4-3

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Yu has had trouble versus the A's in his short career, when compared to his performance versus other teams the A's appear to be his kryptonite.  He had a 1-6 record versus the A's going into the game tonight.

Tonight Yu gave up 3 ER's in 6 IP.  That doesn't sound so bad but Yu only had one 3 up, 3 down inning all night.  It was an adventure.

Elvis had a huge throwing error in the bottom of the 9th that put the tying run on 2B with 1 out.  Could have been terrible.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: As opposed to a lot of other outings versus the A's, Yu got some run support, getting out of the Land of Oak with a no decision.  Choo went yard to lead off the game and Prince continued to produce at the plate (2-4), he even had a double (sure it's not a homer but it showed some power).

Kouzy was named the AL offensive player of the week after his great performance last week filling in for the injured Beltre, not too shabby.  And Kouzy continued his hot streak at the plate tonight, scoring the go ahead run in the bottom of 8 after a lead off double.

Soria absorbed the Elvis error in the bottom of the 9th and got the save.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: With Kouzy performing so well at the plate don't the Rangers have to find a spot for him in the batting order when Beltre comes back?  Moreland has been OK but nowhere near as good as Kouzy.  I could see Kouzmanoff DH'ing for the Rangers.  Hopefully the Rangers can too.

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Rangers take 2 out of 3 in weekend series versus White Sox

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: The winning streak was stopped at 5, with the Rangers losing the finale/getaway game badly today.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Colby Lewis was good in his start yesterday only giving up 1 ER.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The Rangers travel to the Land of Oak for a 3 game set against the A's. Your Rangers trail the A's by 2.5 going into the series. Yu starts tomorrow night in the opener of the series. Hate, hate, hate the west coast road games. So hard to stay up that late and watch them because the games don't even start till after 9pm our time.

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Rangers win series versus Seamen, win a daytime getaway game and have a...what do you call it? Oh yeah, a 3 game winning streak going!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Scheppers a starting pitcher he is not. 6 ER's. Ouch.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Rangers' offense bailed out a poor outing by a starter. Prince had another hit, 2 BB's and no strikeouts. All but 2 Rangers batters had at least 1 hit. And Kouzy (my nickname for Kouzmanoff) was 2-5.

The bullpen held the M's offense from doing any more damage.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Is it sad that we're all so excited that Prince didn't go 0-fer? Is it sad that we're so excited about a 3 game winning streak?  Don't care, it's great.

Also, is it too early to be watching the standings? Also don't care, Rangers are 1.5 GB with A's yet to play tonight.

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Rangers win walk off style 3-2 versus Seaman, somehow...

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: The offense was poor most of the game.  Yu gets a no decision, again because of the lack of run support.

Leonys Martin and Choo had a circus moment in the outfield that somehow, when I saw the game, was scored as a hit.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Rangers win!!!

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The Rangers continue to be King Felix's kryptonite.

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