My fire Ron Washington website was going to be up soon but with the Indians hiring Terry Francona over the weekend, it looks like that’s going to have to wait a little while.
But regardless many changes are going to be blowing in the Rangers camp this offseason between free agents, trades, released and maybe possible coaching and manager changes. Many players and coaches you may have seen the last of in a Rangers uniform.
“NO SERIOUSLY, RON WASHINGTON WOULD LIKE HIS PANTS BACK, YOU GUYS.” – Jay Jaffe [Sports Illustrated] via Twitter
This has been a terrific run from 2009-2012 for this group. The last four years have been fantastic for Rangers fans. Did fatigue play a part? Did Washington play his regulars too much? Did the front office not give the coaching staff a good enough bench to give the regulars time off? A quick look at what I think fatigue played a huge role:
Let’s look at the core players for example. Here are their games played in 2012 and the games they didn’t play in the final months of the season. Players will tell you they get off days [but only four the last ten weeks] on the schedule and they want to be out there every day and they played in two straight full Octobers. Here’s a look:
In what seemed like a probable no brainer, the Rangers have agreed on a contract extension for Colby Lewis, for the 2013 season. It is a $2 million guaranteed deal, with another $4 million potentially available in incentives. It’s good for both parties to get this out of the way so he can concentrate on rehabbing for next year and not his contract status.
Lewis, signed to a two year contract with an option after the 2009 following Lewis spending two years in Japan, has been a tremendous success story for the Rangers, anchoring their staff in 2010 and 2011 and being one of the team’s best playoff pitchers.
Lewis has missed much of this season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his elbow in June with a recovery time of nine to twelve months, he will miss the start or up to the first half of the 2013 season. After the news broke, Jon Daniels spoke publicly about wanting Lewis to stay in the organization beyond this season. He was to be a free agent after this season. Had he not gotten hurt he would of possibly been the best pitcher on the market behind Zack Greinke and might have received a 3 year/ 30 million dollar deal.
It’s being reported he will travel with the team and help the younger pitchers get prepared to pitch.
Colby Lewis went the disabled list with forearm tendonitis just before the all-star break. He made one start, had more issues, got checked out and it turned out to be a full-blown season-ending injury. He has a torn flexor tendon and will be out 9-12 months.
Lewis will be missed, as he has been the team’s best October starter the last two seasons. He is a free agent after this year, and it’s going to be interesting to see if the Rangers bring him back on some minimal, one year type deal, stash him away on the 60 day DL until possibly after the all-star break and then put him back in the rotation at some point in 2013. I’m hoping that, for sentimental reasons, he sticks around for a while.
In other news, Roy Oswalt was scratched from his latest start, due to a recurrence of his chronic back problems. Oswalt’s situation doesn’t appear to be season-ending, but who knows when his aging body will fully recover.
Matt Harrison battled after giving up three runs early. He ended up pitching six innings, only giving up one more run, walking two and striking out two. His last pitch of the night was a home run to Bobby Wilson. Yes, to answer your question, it was Wilson’s first of the year.
The pen
Ogando has not faired very well since coming off the DL about a week ago. He pitched 1/3 of an inning and gave up a 2-run home run to Pujols. Ross pitched 2/3 of an inning, and Adams closed it giving up a run on a Torii Hunter single in the 8th.
The bats
Nelson Cruz hit a 2-run home run in the 4th, his 12th of the season, to cut the Angels lead to 3-2. Young added an RBI in the 8th, and Andrus added one in the 9th.
The game didn’t end well. It didn’t end well at all. The Oakland A’s finished off the Texas Rangers in the bottom of the 9th on a Brandon Hicks walk off homer. Final Score: Texas 3, Oakland 4…F.
The A’s, Ogando, and the rest of the Rangers bullpen ruined a nice return from Colby Lewis. I guess I shouldn’t say the “rest” of the bullpen because neither Mike Adams or Joe Nathan partcipated in the action. I’m not really sure why Ronnie didn’t utilize two of the key cogs in the Rangers bullpen system, but he didn’t.
Colby Lewis, coming off the DL with forearm tendinitis, pitched 5 solid innings and gave up 3 hits, 1 run, and notched 3 strikeouts. Robbie Ross, relieving Lewis, gave up his first run in a long time. Ogando followed Ross and blew the save as he gave up a 2-run double to Josh Reddick. Michael Kirkman would finish things off and take the loss.
Michael Young, Nelson Cruz, and Craig Gentry led the offense with a RBI each.
T’s Game Notes / Observations:
Josh Hamilton is not having a very good July. Is that an understatement? Surely no one else has noticed.
The Rangers sported blue tops and grey bottoms.
Adrian Beltre was a beast at 3B.
Brandon Hicks homer was the 1st of his career. That’s defeating.
Upcoming Action: The Rangers are off tomorrow, but start a big time series on Friday against the Angels.
I would say the worst thing about today is my in-laws are in town but the Rangers getting swept happened, so I guess there’s that. I should head down to my local tavern, have a few draughts and hope for some wins this next series.
The Starter
Matt Harrison pitched a complete game. Giving up only two runs, walking two and striking out five. He allowed the go ahead run on a solo home run by newly aquired Kevin Youkilis in the sixth.
The bats
A lonely RBI single by Beltre that bounced off the leg of White Sox starter Jose Quintana in the fourth. The only other hit of the afternoon was by Kinsler.
End of the bench
-Rangers had the MLB-longest active streak without being swept in series of 3 or more games (52 series)
- Saturday reinforcements start to come as Derek Holland will be making his first start coming off the DL and shortly after the break the pitching staff should see Lewis, Ogando and Uehara back.
On deck
LH Martin Perez makes his 2nd start of the year [1-0, 9.00 ERA] v. Twins LH Francisco Liriano [2-7, 5.40 ERA, 74 ERA+, 1.47 WHIP]
After learning that yet another pitcher…this time Colby Lewis…would be making a trip to the disabled list, the Rangers (and their fans) definitely needed some good news. I think a 7-5 win over Detroit is heading in the right direction.
Yu Darvish started out a bit shaky (not at all shocking) in the 1st, walking the first batter and then hitting another just in time for Prince Fielder to smack a double to center field, scoring both runners. Thankfully, the Rangers would get one of those runs back when Ian Kinsler knocked in his 8th home run of the year to lead off the bottom of the 1st.
Not too much to write about here. The Rangers blew a bunch of chances while taking a good old fashion ass whooping by the Colorado Rockies. The final score was 11 to 7. Colby Lewis took the loss as did all the fans sitting in the hot box known as RBiA during the Texas summer.
So in conclusion, I guess I really didn’t miss much while attending Lamaze class. No, not by myself. I attended with the wife! And we had so much fun. Heh, heh, heh, breathe…heh, heh, heh…breathe…
And looking on the positive side, Nelson Cruz blasted 2 ding dongs and I’m a certified labor Lamaze coach. Heh, heh, heh, breathe…heh, heh, heh, breathe…
Just some random thoughts while watching the later part of the ballgame…
Two different balls got loose from the bullpens and ended up on the field. The relief pitchers really need to keep an eye on their balls.
Wow…Trent, the center field guy, did the worm on the center field home run grass. That was awkward.
Tomorrow’s game against the Rockies is at 6:05 pm. Harry will be delivering the first few balls of the game.
Happy Father’s Day to all of you dads out there! What did you get your dad? Me? I got my dad a Rangers W…Well I can’t take all of the credit, but the boys did come out on top today so my dad was happy!
The Rangers started out just like they have in the last couple of games and let the Astros get on the board first. The Rangers went through the first five innings scoring no runs…what’s up guys? Let’s put the bat on the ball.
That’s exactly what they did too. In the bottom of the 6th with the bases loaded, Ian Kinsler belted one to deep left center, clearing the bases and sliding into third for a triple.
That seemed to get the Rangers motivated and they put up 9 runs for the game. Colby pitched another gem… He went 7 innings, allowing one run, one walk and had 10 strikeouts. I don’t know what that boy has been eating lately but he needs to keep it up.
Colbs it starting to look like the ace he’s meant to be. Let’s put him on the Wheaties box!
In fact, let’s keep it up Rangers! Keep playing the way you have been. I like winning and I like staying ahead of the Angels. I’d like to keep it that way!
FINAL: Rangers 9, Astros 3
Tomorrow the Rangers head back to the West Coast (oh please no whiplash this time boys) to take on the Padres.
So NOW we get good pitching AND offense? That hasn’t happened in a while. I guess maybe they knew Rangers fans needed something to be excited about (i.e. half-price Papa John’s) after learning Alexi Ogando was heading to the DL.
Yeah, so it worked, OK.
Colby Lewis was absolutely spectacular, perfect through 5 1/3 innings and only allowing 4 hits all night. Don’t worry. Despite the Cobra awesomeness, he did give up the requisite solo home run in the 8th, giving the Diamondbacks their lone run. But I think a complete game on 106 pitches with 7 strike outs might help me get over it.
Then came the magical 6th inning…
Here’s the rundown: Michael Young singled. David Murphy homered into the wedge! 3-0 Rangers. Yorvit Torrealba singled. Mitch Moreland doubled, scoring Torrealba. 4-0 Rangers. Craig Gentry doubled, scoring Moreland. 5-0 Rangers. Ian Kinsler singled. 6-0 Rangers.
PHEW!
The boys tagged on 3 more runs, 2 in the 7th and 1 in the 8th.
