That got ugly fast in the top of the 8th versus the O's

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: After 7 it was a tie ballgame, 2-2.

Then, Ogando and Cotts and Tolleson were hit like a drum in the top of 8. The O's batted around in the 8th, is that good?

After 8 the O's were winning 8-2. Ouch.

The Rangers only managed 2 runs on 5 hits through 8.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Saunders pitched an OK to good game, getting the Rangers to the 7th inning only giving up 2 runs. The game was tied 2-2 after 7.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Why can't Wash (or any manager in MLB) put in the Ranger's closer Soria (or any MLB closer) in the 8th and ask him to get 6 outs instead of 3?  Everyone would need to understand that depending on the number of pitches thrown by the closer that he might not be available the next day.

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Yu saves the series, 8 IP, 12 K's, gets win in getaway game versus Nationals

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: The offense managed only 2 runs on 10 hits.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: That was 1 run more than Yu and Soria needed to get the win and save.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Next up 3 at home versus Dr. Zaius and the ex-Rangers (Showalter and the O's).

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Rangers won the getaway game versus the Twins, won that series, now they're trying not to get swept in DC

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: In 2 games versus the Nationals the offense has managed 4 total runs. Tepesch came down to earth and managed to only make it through 2 innings yesterday.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Hey, they did take 3 out of 4 versus the Twins. And big picture, the Rangers are 6 GB in the division and 2 GB in the wild card race.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Yu goes today.

I've heard some local radio types talk about when/if JD and the front office will decide to blow this thing up and start retooling for next year and the future. I think if you're still in it at the All Star break that would be a tough sell to the fans and the players left over after any potential moves are made.

Just something interesting, the Twins franchise moved from DC in 1960 and changed its name to the Twins. In 1961 DC was given an expansion franchise again called the Nationals that in 1971 would move to Arlington, Texas and was renamed the Texas Rangers.

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Rangers in a pitching duel with with Joe Saunders on the mound. No, I'm not joking, really, Joe Saunders was in a pitching duel.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Rangers managed only 1 run.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: 1 run was all they needed tonight versus the Twins. Leonys Martin stole second and Sardinas (who was playing SS after Elvis was ejected) knocked him in in the top of 7th.

Saunders went 5 and looked good after a shaky start. And then Soria came in for a quick 1, 2, 3 save in the 9th. Boom. Rangers win 1-0.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Rangers can win the series if they can win the getaway day game versus the Twins tomorrow.

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Rangers blow 1 run lead in bottom of 9, lose to Twins 4-3

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: First blown save for Soria. And he only has 8 saves all year.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: That's Soria's first blown save. Was bound to happen.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: How bad has the batting been this season? Actually not that bad when you look at certain stats compared to the rest of MLB. The Rangers are 8th in runs, 3rd in batting average, 3rd in on base percentage, and 13th in slugging percentage.

The pitching compared to the rest of MLB? As you might have guessed, not so good. The Rangers are 26th in ERA, 27th in quality starts, 29th in WHIP and 30th in batting average against. Yeah, that's more than not good. That's awful. That's how much the injuries to the Rangers' arms have hurt them this year.

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And the hits keep on coming...

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: I got nothing really, it was a nice win over the Twins 7-2. To nitpick, for the first time in a while Beltre had an off day at the plate.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The offense again showed up, with 7 runs on 11 hits. And Nick Tepesch had a solid game on the mound.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Seriously, with all the injuries to the bats and arms no one would have been surprised if the Rangers would have continued their early losing ways.

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Did not see that coming, Rangers take 3 out of 4 from Tigers in Detroit

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Not much here. Scott Baker got roughed up in one Rangers loss. The only bad thing I can think of regarding the recent offense is that there's still not much power to speak of.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Where did this offensive explosion come from? Who knew losing Prince for the season would result in this type offensive production? At least for one series anyway.

And it's not like the Rangers beat a bad team with bad pitching, they beat Porcello and Verlander. And again rookie Nick Martinez pitched well in a win.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: 5 GB in the division, 1.5 GB in the wild card. This thing isn't over by a long shot. Next up the Twins.

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It goes from worse to holy crap, that's just not right...

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Prince Fielder, you know the guy they traded Kins for, the guy that never ever ever misses a ballgame? Yeah, he's done for the year because of season ending surgery on his neck.

Jurickson Profar, you know the guy who was going to replace Kins at 2B, the guy who is a can't miss prospect? Yeah, he's out for another 2-3 months.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Rangers won their first game of the series against Prince's old team/Kins' new team.

Still 2 GB in the wild card standing as of this writing.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: More curse of Kolan (Kins+Nolan)? I just have this picture in my mind of Nolan and Kins sitting in a room like Bill Murray in Caddyshack but instead of woodland creatures made of plastic explosives Nolan and Kins are playing with voodoo dolls of the Rangers, and they're laughing maniacally as they stick pins in the dolls.

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Well, that got pretty darn bad pretty darn fast, didn't it?

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: If my math/counting is correct then since this April 25, 2014 this is what's happened:

- The Rangers lost 6 out of 7 series.
- The Rangers have lost 15 out of 22 games.
- The Rangers are 7 GB in the division.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: At least they have the day off today.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: When is it too early to start watching the wild-card standings? The Rangers are 2 GB in the wild-card standings.

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Catastrophic Day: Rangers lose series versus 'Stros, lose their arms

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Before a pitch was thrown Perez was done. Harry was done. Then they lose this series versus the Astros.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Next year?

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Your Rangers have lost 3 series in a row. When's the last time that happened?  All this and they're 4.5 GB as of this writing. It's an adventure.

Is Mitch warming up in the bullpen going forward?

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