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 Agony of Defeat

The Texas bats came alive Wednesday, and Michael Young welcomed a White Sox rookie with a home run. Yes, the cold streak that had engulfed them had shattered, as Kinsler got back on base and Hank continued to hit. Everything was coming back, and just it time before making the trip out to the West coast to try to gain ground on the Halos.

We walked into the 8th inning with a 8 to 4 lead and unleashed Eddie Guardado from the bull pin who has the lowest GPA of most relievers, not just the Rangers. However, Guardado had and off day and gave up two runs, got two outs and left two people on base when Washington took him out and put closer C.J. Wilson in...Wash, we would have been safer with Eddie. For those who didn't hear about it, C.J. threw one pitch and gave up a three run homer and lost the game.

I heard a Dallas sports radio host defend C.J. He kept saying and arguing with callers that C.J. gets the save and that makes him a great closer and everyone that criticizes him is just ignorant. We'll this game shows exactly why people are asking for a new closer. Not that C.J. can't close a game, and not that he's a bad pitcher, but he closes games it in dramatic fashion; with bases loaded or takes a 5 point lead down to a 1 with a man on third. All that drama will catch up with him, and with us trying to get to a playoff spot those kind of errors it will devastate us at the wrong time. With the horrendous starting pitching we have, we can't afford any C.J. mistakes.

Speaking of pitching, Millwood looks like he's injured...again. Looks like teams are hitting the ball so hard against him it's starting to make his balls ache. All I can say is...Daniel's, with a chance at a good team, and a team that others are afraid of, TRADE FOR SOME PITCHERS!!! Not anything too dangerous, get rid of Millwood, Salty, Byrd and C.J. and a couple of prospects (not pitchers) and get a starting pitcher, a reliever and a closer. You can actually keep C.J. if you can get a good starter and two relievers.

But then again, this could be just a loser's rant, I'm just tired of any Texas team being humiliated, especially this year.

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!!!

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.

Game Preview - Rangers vs Twins Game 1 and the Return of Hank

This weekend the Texas Rangers square off against the Minnesota Twins this weekend and set the stage for their attempt at a playoff run for this second half of the season. Game 1's match up puts Texas Millwood up against Minnesota's Perkins. Historically, Millwood has, well sucked against the Twins, and that's putting it nicely. Millwood is 0 for 5 against the Twins and most of the Twins' line up has experience against him. Millwood is giving up a .318 batting average to the current Twin's lineup. Millwood will have an added challenge with Minnesota on a hot streak right now carried over from June, Millwood can only hope that the All Star break has cooled down the surging Twins and has prepared him to make a stand at lowering his ERA...that's a 5.11 if you didn't know. Perkins, on the other had, only has one game against the Rangers, where he did very well. The Ranger's righty's will have to step up against this left hander, but the good thing is that the Rangers now have seen him pitch, so they know what to expect now.

Hank is Back! Now Hank's Homies have a reason to show up half naked to games again...not like that was stopping them from doing that anyway. The prodigal son is returning to 3rd base and ditching the 1st base idea due to the batting of rookie Chris Davis who has bursted his way into the line up. I'm not expecting anything spectacular from Hank, he's been out for a while, but I have no doubt he'll come back to form in a couple of games.

RANGERS FANTASY BASEBALL TIPS:
Definitely play Bradley, Hamilton, Kinsler and Salty. Sit Davis (bad against lefty pitchers), Hank, and Millwood. Young is a question mark. If you are optimistic, like I am, and think that C.J. will have a save opportunity then put him in. For some reason he has these guy's number, so he'll get the save if given a chance.

Let's go Rangers!

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.

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.

One Game Left Until the All Star Break

Millwood, Millwood, Millwood...I hate to say it buddy, but you're days of professional baseball are coming to an end, unless you want to go to the bull pin, then you might have a couple more years left it you.

But, despite the cringe inducing pitching last night that gave up 9 runs, the team has consistently showed one quality that has been holding them back for many years...resiliency. This team has shown that they are not willing to give up no matter how many points they're down by, and they have shown they are very capable of coming from behind to win.

Last night's game, game 2 vs. the White Sox, the Rangers fell behind, and by the middle of the eight they were down 8 to 2 and began their com back. The pitching allowed one run in the ninth, but the Rangers where down 9 to 7 with two outs and the tying run batting, which happened to be Josh Hamilton. Realistically we can't expect Josh to bail us out of every tight spot, but it is nice to know that he's done it before.

The Rangers have a chance to take two games of a three game series today before the All Star Break, and Matt Harrison, who had an incredible first start against the Halos, is coming to the mound to see what he can do against the White Sox. This game will show Harrison's true abilities, meaning he won't be running on adrenalin like he was during his major league debut.

If they can close out the game today the All Star break will be a great recoup time for many of the Rangers and give them a fresh start for their attempt at making the playoffs, and all we can do is sit back, hope and watch.

Why I wish I played for the Texas Rangers

When you are born and raised in Texas you are expected to play, worship, and religiously follow football. Unfortunately, my wife hates football, so we watch baseball instead. That's just a joke... we really love baseball and we definately love our Texas Rangers and so our "It's Texas Rangers Baseball, Baby!" blog is born.

In all seriousness, I love baseball and I love following the Texas Rangers. My wife and I even met on the 4th of July at the Texas Rangers/Red Sox match-up in 2005. Not only did I snag my wife but the Rangers won the game that day too! I know, one win, right? I love the Rangers but sometimes you have to savor the ones you can...

That said, the Rangers have definately improved their farm system with the help of their GM, John Daniels and it will be interesting to watch as the rookies start moving up into the majors.

My wife and I are going to be talking Texas Rangers Baseball on this blog; games, players, trades, and of course doing what fans do best...criticize. So stay tuned, visit often and catch some Texas Rangers Baseball fever!