The month of May is over, and the Rangers claim the best Record in the AL and sit on top of the AL West with the Angels trailing by 4 1/2 games. The pitching has been solid and the bats have been on and off, but still have been pulling in enough runs to bring in 30 wins. There are a couple of concerns...
Chris Davis, don't get me wrong, I love this kid, but his batting has been atrocious. In order for him to get back into it he's got to learn to shorten his swing and start getting some contact before he trusts the big swing again. Pitchers have adjusted to him and now it's his turn to adjust. The plus side is Davis is playing phenomenal defense and is making Elvis Adrus look good with some of those wild throws after those crazy grabs.
Matt Harrison still seems to have trouble getting settled against good teams. I wish I could say something here that made sense, but I can't, so Maddux is going to have to figure out how to get Harrison to turn the corner and start pitching to his full potential and become a pitcher that can pitch into the post season.
So as we move into June and make our first trip to the east coast to take on the the gauntlet of the Yankees and the Red Sox, the Rangers have a chance to make a statement and force analysts to take them seriously. Time to chime in and let me know how you think the Rangers will finish up this road trip. Let's Go Rangers!
Showing posts with label Texas Rangers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Texas Rangers. Show all posts
Monday, June 1, 2009
Saturday, August 2, 2008
What Was That?
Texas finished up splitting the series with Seattle this week, so I'm going to take this moment to remind the Texas Rangers of something...Seattle is one of the worst teams in baseball!!! You should have swept them without letting them score! The weak pitching of the Rangers showed itself this series letting teams know that it doesn't matter that you're facing the best offense in the MLB, because no matter how bad you suck, your gonna get a hit off of the God awful pitching.
The Rangers further hurt themselves in the wild card race, they failed to beat a crappy team while Boston and New York were on a losing streak. If they would have taken those two games they only would have been 3 games back instead of the dismal 5 and 1/2.
Jon Daniels also said to the team, "you guys are good, but not good enough for me to get some pitchers to help your hitting." Ok, so he didn't really say that, but he might have well of said it since he didn't do anything before the trade deadline.
As for the Ranger faithful, we still have hope, hope that the bats will carry us through to wins and that before the race is over we will go on a much needed win streak that will propel us into the off season and prove that wild cards are why October keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The Rangers further hurt themselves in the wild card race, they failed to beat a crappy team while Boston and New York were on a losing streak. If they would have taken those two games they only would have been 3 games back instead of the dismal 5 and 1/2.
Jon Daniels also said to the team, "you guys are good, but not good enough for me to get some pitchers to help your hitting." Ok, so he didn't really say that, but he might have well of said it since he didn't do anything before the trade deadline.
As for the Ranger faithful, we still have hope, hope that the bats will carry us through to wins and that before the race is over we will go on a much needed win streak that will propel us into the off season and prove that wild cards are why October keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Where's the Sweep?
That's right, I'm greedy. Where's the sweep!? The Rangers had a chance to sweep the A's, which in reality they should have, but couldn't close it out. This was due to Hurley giving up 6 runs in the first two innings, and the Rangers trying to play catch up for the rest of the game.
The Rangers starting pitching is the Achilles heel of the Juggernaut hitting force that is the Texas Ranger's offense. Jon Daniels seems content with his team and it seems like the Rangers are going to have to do with their inconsistent pitching that likes to give up runs like their going out of style. With Daniels unwilling, and seemingly unmotivated, to make a move the Rangers have no choice but to score at least 10 points every game just to guarantee a fighting chance at winning a game. If the pitching doesn't straighten up, then the best hitting team in the MLB can kiss playoff hopes goodbye, and for one Ranger's fan, I'm not ready to do that and I'm sure that the Ranger's offense agrees.
The Rangers starting pitching is the Achilles heel of the Juggernaut hitting force that is the Texas Ranger's offense. Jon Daniels seems content with his team and it seems like the Rangers are going to have to do with their inconsistent pitching that likes to give up runs like their going out of style. With Daniels unwilling, and seemingly unmotivated, to make a move the Rangers have no choice but to score at least 10 points every game just to guarantee a fighting chance at winning a game. If the pitching doesn't straighten up, then the best hitting team in the MLB can kiss playoff hopes goodbye, and for one Ranger's fan, I'm not ready to do that and I'm sure that the Ranger's offense agrees.
Monday, July 21, 2008
The Flop, the Turn, and the River
The second half of the season is looking a lot like a Texas hold'em game. The flop came with a
bleak looking future for the Texas Rangers after dropping the first two games after the All Star break in humiliating fashion to the Minnesota Twins. Game three was feared to be more of the same, but something magical happened...the pitching showed up, and hence the begin of the turn. Vincent Padilla commanded his first start after being lifted from the DL and the Eddie Guardado and C.J. Wilson complemented hold the red hot Twins to a grand score of a big goose egg (that's 0). C.J., of course, did it in true C.J. Fashion by allowing someone to get within 90 feet of tying the game before finally closing it out with the win.
The turn continued Monday when the Rangers continued their road trip to Chicago and the White Sox. The Sox trying to hold on to their lead in their division, with a sold out crowd saw the "Ham Slam Which" up close and personal when Hamilton put the Rangers on top with a 3 run home run deep into center field. Hank Blalock started to get back into the swing of things as well, adding a two run homer later in the game quieting the rowdy White Sox crowd.
Now the Rangers have taken second place in the AL West, and with this comes the River. Two games with the White Sox and then into California to face the A's and try to catch ground with the Halos. This will prove if the Rangers will be able to take a humiliating two game loss start and turn it into a commanding hand.
Go Rangers!!!
bleak looking future for the Texas Rangers after dropping the first two games after the All Star break in humiliating fashion to the Minnesota Twins. Game three was feared to be more of the same, but something magical happened...the pitching showed up, and hence the begin of the turn. Vincent Padilla commanded his first start after being lifted from the DL and the Eddie Guardado and C.J. Wilson complemented hold the red hot Twins to a grand score of a big goose egg (that's 0). C.J., of course, did it in true C.J. Fashion by allowing someone to get within 90 feet of tying the game before finally closing it out with the win.
The turn continued Monday when the Rangers continued their road trip to Chicago and the White Sox. The Sox trying to hold on to their lead in their division, with a sold out crowd saw the "Ham Slam Which" up close and personal when Hamilton put the Rangers on top with a 3 run home run deep into center field. Hank Blalock started to get back into the swing of things as well, adding a two run homer later in the game quieting the rowdy White Sox crowd.
Now the Rangers have taken second place in the AL West, and with this comes the River. Two games with the White Sox and then into California to face the A's and try to catch ground with the Halos. This will prove if the Rangers will be able to take a humiliating two game loss start and turn it into a commanding hand.
Go Rangers!!!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Rangers vs Twins
Well, as you saw I didn't put in a game 1 summary or a game two preview, and that's because I've been too busy trying to earn extra money to pay for the two TVs I broke. One during Game 1 and the other during game 2. These past two games have been like watching a tee ball team screaming out "Red Sox Suck" in the middle of Fenway Park...those poor kids would end up getting trampled, just like our Rangers.
I normally would recap the game and point out some highlights, but if I began to do that I would have to replace my computer monitor as well as the two TVs, so I will leave with this...Rangers, I beg of you, put the KY away, turn around and fight back for God's sake.
I normally would recap the game and point out some highlights, but if I began to do that I would have to replace my computer monitor as well as the two TVs, so I will leave with this...Rangers, I beg of you, put the KY away, turn around and fight back for God's sake.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Homerun Hamilton
The house that Ruth built, whether your a fan of the team that calls this place home or not, there is no denying this is holy ground for baseball. Countless baseball greats have walked through these long dark corridors to walk onto the field surrounded by 50,000 fans, and as their names echo in this mammoth house, it is instantly known how the residence of this house feel about them. It is rare that anyone but a Yankee receives an ovation here, but on Monday night, as Josh Hamilton began to bombard Roth's house with home run after home run, the crowd rose to its feet. Then as clear as day, a Texas Ranger's name was being chanted by some of the leagues most ruthless fans..."Hamilton, Hamilton!" Josh crushes a ball 500 feet to right center field..."Hamilton, Hamilton!" Another ball is sent screaming to the upper deck. After the first round of the 2008 Home run Derby was over, Hamilton was cheered after hitting 28 home runs, a Home run Derby record. He also left the jaw's of his fellow All Stars on the floor with his display of power.
Josh went on to lose the derby in the 3rd round, when the scores are reset, but even though he was beaten everyone will remember the show he put on in the first round and will forget that he did not walk away with the hardware. And as Ranger's fans, we will also remember that a Ranger's name was cheered throughout the Bronx that night, in the last days of one of baseballs most sacred places, the house that Ruth build, Yankee Stadium.
Josh went on to lose the derby in the 3rd round, when the scores are reset, but even though he was beaten everyone will remember the show he put on in the first round and will forget that he did not walk away with the hardware. And as Ranger's fans, we will also remember that a Ranger's name was cheered throughout the Bronx that night, in the last days of one of baseballs most sacred places, the house that Ruth build, Yankee Stadium.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
The Adventures of C.J. Wilson
Watching C.J. try to close a game is kind of like watching an old Batman episode as a kid...BIFF, BAM, BOOM! C.J. Watches base hits whizz by his head. POW!!! C.J. gives up more runs. Then something clicks in Batman's head and everything makes sense...BIFF, BAM, BOOM...this time C.J. strikes out the DH that has been killing pitchers. ZOOM!!! the next batter watches a slider bend into the strike zone and all he can do is stare.
Thank God I don't have a heart condition, cause if I did I would have had a heart attack by now and C.J. Wilson's name would have been written all over it. After the last game before the All-Star break C.J. has 22 saves and a 5.01 ERA...no that's not a miss print, a 5.01 ERA. How does a closing pitcher get 22 saves with a 5.01 ERA at the halfway mark you ask? By having the most scoring offense behind him.
The Rangers put on an impressive hitting display without the help of Josh Hamilton, who went 0 for 4. Ian Kinsler and Max Ramirez led the way with three RBI's a piece and along with the rest of the Rangers combined for 12 runs in 8 innings against an intimidating White Sox pitching staff...well intimidating to other teams. Then C.J. walked into the 9th inning with a 12-8 lead and the bottom of the order. C.J. being true to a dominant closer's form, came out and commanded his presence with a strike ou...well actually it was four singles and a run. C.J. proceeded to get one out...then give up two more runs, but with men in scoring position and The DH that has been crushing Rangers' pitchers all day long, he does what barely any pitcher has been able to do...get Thome to strike out looking and just when people think its a fluke, he gets Konerko to do the exact same.
Only time will tell what fate has in store for these Texas Rangers, led by the ERA killing bats of Kinsler, Young, Hamilton, and Bradley followed by the up and coming hitters Boggs, Murphy, Ramirez and Davis. And if the ERA collecting pitching staff can make some improvements then Texas just might be able to enter the playoffs being feared by pitchers and make a run for ground never reached...but, lets first focus on the A's and the Angels and getting a chance to fight for a playoff spot.
Thank God I don't have a heart condition, cause if I did I would have had a heart attack by now and C.J. Wilson's name would have been written all over it. After the last game before the All-Star break C.J. has 22 saves and a 5.01 ERA...no that's not a miss print, a 5.01 ERA. How does a closing pitcher get 22 saves with a 5.01 ERA at the halfway mark you ask? By having the most scoring offense behind him.
The Rangers put on an impressive hitting display without the help of Josh Hamilton, who went 0 for 4. Ian Kinsler and Max Ramirez led the way with three RBI's a piece and along with the rest of the Rangers combined for 12 runs in 8 innings against an intimidating White Sox pitching staff...well intimidating to other teams. Then C.J. walked into the 9th inning with a 12-8 lead and the bottom of the order. C.J. being true to a dominant closer's form, came out and commanded his presence with a strike ou...well actually it was four singles and a run. C.J. proceeded to get one out...then give up two more runs, but with men in scoring position and The DH that has been crushing Rangers' pitchers all day long, he does what barely any pitcher has been able to do...get Thome to strike out looking and just when people think its a fluke, he gets Konerko to do the exact same.
Only time will tell what fate has in store for these Texas Rangers, led by the ERA killing bats of Kinsler, Young, Hamilton, and Bradley followed by the up and coming hitters Boggs, Murphy, Ramirez and Davis. And if the ERA collecting pitching staff can make some improvements then Texas just might be able to enter the playoffs being feared by pitchers and make a run for ground never reached...but, lets first focus on the A's and the Angels and getting a chance to fight for a playoff spot.
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