Photo credit: Fantasyknucleheads.com

The Rangers and Matt Harrison have agreed to a five year, $55 million contract with an option for a sixth year. The 2018 is an option that can possibly vest.

“Harrison gets a $1 million signing bonus and annual salaries worth $5 million, $8 million, $13 million, $13 million and $13 million. The club option is $13.25 million but can escalate to $15.75 million. The club holds the option, with a $2 million buyout, but it becomes a vesting option if Harrison works 200 innings in each of the final three years of the deal.” [via Jeff Wilson, Fort Worth-Star Telegram]

The left-hander posted an ERA of 3.29 in 2012 for the Rangers, in 213.1 innings pitched over 32 starts. He has been an important part in the rotation, pitching 185.1 innings in 2011. Drafted by Atlanta he was traded to Texas as part of the Mark Teixeira-trade that sent the first baseman to the Braves.

The extension will buy out 3 years of his free agency. The Rangers now have Harrison, Darvish, Holland signed thru ’17, Holland ’18, Ogando ’16. This is what Jon Daniels and company call ”sticking to the plan.”

Last offseason the Rangers also inked Ian Kinsler to an extension thru ’17, as the club continues to identify it’s core moving forward.

The Rangers and left-hander Matt Harrison are in early stages about a contract extension, reports Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

The Rangers and the agents for Matt Harrison have entered into preliminary negotiations on a contract extension for the All-Star left-hander…

“We’ve touched base with all the guys we want to extend,” Daniels said Nov. 8. “Harry’s one of them. He’s earned that conversation.”

The 27-year-old Harrison posted career-best numbers last season, putting up a 3.29 ERA and a 2.25 SO/BB ratio in 213 1/3 innings; yesterday it was announced he earned the teams Pitcher of the Year award. He struggled in his first three seasons with Texas but has really turned the corner the two years, putting up eerily similar numbers in 2011 and 2012.

The left-hander has two years of arbitration remaining before he hits the free agent market, but Texas could very well lock him down for a few more years, much like they did with right-hander Derek Holland in March.

The Rangers do not generally finalize contract extensions until spring training so it may be a while until a new deal with Harrison becomes official. The team could also sell high on him and make a trade to replace Hamilton if he signs elsewhere.

(Image via flickr.com user Rich Anderson.)

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:

» Continue reading “GASSED And Look For A Very Busy Rangers Offseason”

Help us, Yu. Yu’r our only hope… (I’m so sorry for that…except I’m not.)

I’m sure I’ll have something to say after a few hours, but for now, I just can’t.  Sigh.  The Rangers started out strong, getting 5 runs in the 3rd and then things started to fall spectacularly to pieces…

Ryan Dempster, today’s starter, would give up 2 runs in the 4th and would leave the game with 2 runners on for Derek Holland.  Holland would then allow both of those runners to score, tying the game at 5′s.  Well, the damage should have stopped there, at least for that inning. But a routine pop up to center would be dropped by Josh Hamilton, allowing 2 more runs to score with 2 outs.

That’s really all you need to know.  The offense couldn’t muster up anymore and the pitching just got worse and worse.  Tack on 3 team errors and you have a disaster of a game.

» Continue reading “Like The Rangers, I’ve Got Nothing”

I visited the Temple today for a nooner and definitely left without being satisfied. Joe Nathan came into the game with a lead and blew it and I went home all pissed off. That was game 1 against the Angels, but that’s not what this recap is about. See Dave England for that.

In game 2, Joe Nathan got a red0 and I was finally satisfied. With a 1 run lead heading into the 9th, Nathan took the ball and shoved it up Anaheim’s anus. I couldn’t really use Angels in that sentence…that would have been awkward. Mike Napoli thanked the Angels front office once again for the trade and slammed 2 shots into the bleachers as the Rangers finished off the Angels by a score of 8 to 7.

Derek Holland started the night cap off with a helluva 1st inning. Helluva = 4 runs given up in the 1st. But the Rangers would battle back through 5 innings and take a 8 -4 lead heading into the 7th inning. During the Rangers offensive outburst, Angel slayer Mike Napoli would lead the way after David Murphy and Josh Hamilton primed everything up for him.

Josh doubled to start the scoring off and Murphy homered to continue it, and then Nap Nap Big Weiner started the slaying…solo HR to left in the 2nd, 3 run dinger in the 3rd, and finally, a 2 run double to center. All of that offense would be enough, but not without drama.

With Angel runners on base and Howie Kendrix at the plate in the 7th, Holland sent a meat pie over the plate and Kendrix sent it out for a 3-run bomb to cut the lead to 1. That would finish Holland’s night. Heading into the 9th still up by 1, Joe Nathan put his big boy pants on and sent the Angels to the showers with their wings tucked between their legs.

Ball game. Rangers 8, Angels 7. And with that victory, the Rangers are headed to the playoffs.

T’s Game Notes / Observations:

• Derek Holland finished the game with 6.2 innings pitched, 5 strike outs, and the win…his 12th of the year.
• Great work by Koji Uehara tonight…that’s big time.
• Adrian Beltre left the game in the top of the 7th after reaching for a liner to his left and was replaced by Mike Olt.
• The Rangers head to Oakland with a 2 game lead.
• The Baltimore Orioles are celebrating.
• The New York Yankees are celebrating.

Wow…I can tell you right now. I will be a wreck for at least the next month. Post season is an extremely emotional time for me and we’re not even there yet!  It’s time to break out the lucky sweatshirt…That was one hell of a game.

What I can say is that it’s definitely going to be an interesting week with the A’s and Angels in town. We’ve got a Pennant Race people! I’m not sure what Billy Beane put in the  A’s Cheerios after the All Star Break but they will not lose. They have pitched well, hit well, beat some of the best teams in the game repeatedly and it doesn’t look they are going to slow down anytime soon.

Hence the reason I was extremely worried going into this series. The Rangers were 4 games up at the beginning of the game tonight and that is not nearly enough distance for me to be comfortable. Holland took the mound for the Rangers against the young pitcher Straily.

Holland didn’t have great stuff tonight. He had trouble commanding his fastball and struggled to get ahead of batters. He worked from behind in the count for much of his outing, which is never a good thing. He lasted three innings, giving up 3 runs, 4 hits and 2 walks.

In the top of the 2nd, Holland hung one out over the plate and Donaldson made him pay when he jacked one out giving the A’s a 2-0 lead.

Mini Rant: As much as I love our announcers, it always seems like they speak at the worst times…”Derek Holland hasn’t given up a homerun to the A’s in the last 8…..CRUSH…Homerun A’s”. Tom Grieve, I love you, but I am also extremely superstitious…STOP IT.  

In the bottom of the 2nd the Rangers got a run on a bloop single by Moreland that scored Young…Whoo on the board. BUT, the A’s weren’t done… Cesepedes added another jack to the A’s board in the 3rd…Hamilton homered in the 5th…A’s scored in the 6th..Back and forth.

I was started to get really worried going into the 7th when the Rangers had 2 outs and Josh Hamilton at the plate. Why was I worried with Hamilton at the plate? I told you the end of the season is very emotional for me! The Rangers came through for me (they decided they didn’t want to give me a heart attack at the ripe old age of 29)…Hamilton walked and Beltre crushed one to center to tie up the game. (Atta boy Beltre! It’s about time someone stepped up!)

Nathan took care of the top of the 9th with a little help from Napoli…a strikeout/thrown out stealing double play was kind of awesome. In the bottom of the 9th Mitch led off with a single up the middle followed by a single by Kinsler and a sac bunt from Elvis. After an intentional walk to Hamilton Beltre came up to try and get the win…Boom single up the middle.

Adrian Beltre is my hero. Suck it A’s!

FINAL: Rangers 5, Athletics 4

END OF GAME NOTES:

• I still sing the ‘Pitcher Has a Big Butt’ Song when Oswalt pitches. It just makes me laugh.
• Koji looked good tonight. I wasn’t ready for that.
• Apparently everyone at the game tonight got tacos because Hamilton hit a home run. I like tacos. Someone bring me some.
• Seriously Beltre is my hero. The End.

Let’s get this straight…I really hate West Coast games. It’s almost impossible for me to stay up late, watch the game, and be functional at work in the mornings. Even though the Rangers and Angels have always had a good rivalry and today was a huge game with Holland and CJ Wilson on the mound, the Angels just didn’t seem like they could get people in the seats.

I’m pretty sure there should be a rule. If you don’t have a certain number of fans at a game the other team can push the game up to accommodate their fans. Sounds like a good idea to me!

Anyways…the game. I’ve been doing a happy dance over that game last night. Why? Holland took on CJ Wilson. That was fun to watch. Holland looked great last night. It looks like he’s settling in to his post season awesomeness. He pitched 7, gave up 2 runs and 6 hits.

CJ on the other hand only went 2 and 2/3 innings. Excuse me….BWAHAHAHA. Sorry, I’m done. The Rangers loaded the bases in the first but couldn’t get anything out of it…You could tell though it was only a matter of time before they started to hit the ball.

In the top of the 3rd Elvis started us off with a triple and then after Young and Napoli doubles the Rangers were on the board 3-0. Bye, Bye CJ!!!

The Rangers added a couple more in the 8th off a Nelly double and a Geovany Soto bomb to make the score 6-2…That’s how you do it boys. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Pretty simple right?

FINAL: Rangers 6, Angels 2

END OF GAME NOTES:

• Hamilton was still out with the snot rocket problem…Young did a good job of filling the 3 hole though. 5 AB, 2 runs, 2 hits, and 1 RBI…Not bad Mikey, not bad.
• Can I tell you how happy I am Holland beat CJ? Happy dances all around!
• Oakland lost again to the Tigers last night! Whoohoo!

(Image via Keith Allison)

Well, the Rangers continued where they left off last night…not hitting.  Thankfully, all that ended in the 4th when Josh Hamilton laced his 40th home run, giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

Saturday’s starter, Yu Darvish, did his best to mimic Derek Holland’s performance from the night before, going 8 strong innings, giving up only 1 earned run on 2 hits with 7 strikeouts.  And like Holland, the rest of the team really wasn’t supporting his strong start. With a man on 2nd and 2 outs, an Ian Kinsler error would let the Rays tie things up in the bottom of the 8th.

However, unlike Friday night, the Rangers offense woke up in the 10th.  A double by Geovany Soto followed by a Jurickson Profar double, would score Leonys Martin (who was pitch running for Soto).  A walk, single and ANOTHER Josh Hamilton hit by pitch, the Rangers would lead 4-2.

Really until the 10th inning, there’s not much else to report offensively besides Hambone’s homer.  The Rays did (purposely?) hit Hamilton in the  top of the 6th, resulting in home plate ump giving warnings to both benches.  Of course, Wash came out to argue since that wouldn’t give the Rangers a chance to retaliate, but isn’t winning retaliation enough?  I think so.

FINAL: Rangers 4, Rays 2

Jurickson Profar…WOW! That’s really all that needs to be said. Welcome to the bigs Mr. Profar.

To say that Profar led the Rangers today could be a misunderstanding, but I’ll say this, he led the Rangers by inspiring them. That’s my opinion. He finished 2 -4 with a home run, double, RBI, and a run scored.

As far as the other players, Profar inspired Derek Holland to pitch 7 inning while striking out 6. He inspired Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, and David Murphy to all hit home runs.

He also inspired the defense to make some spectacular plays…please see Elvis Andrus, Nelson Cruz, and Beltre on sportscenter.

And finally, Jurickson Profar inspired the Rangers to victory by a score of 8 – 3. I want to personally thank Ron Washington for playing the youngster.

The Rangers visit the Kansas City Royals tomorrow. Game time starts at 1:10 pm. Yu Darvish tows the rubber for God’s team.

The Texas Rangers were defeated by the lowly Cleveland Indians by a score of 4 to 3. The tribesman came into the game with a 6 game losing streak, but no longer. It’s not really how I imagined the Rangers starting off September, and certainly, my sister Jillian did not expect this as a birthday present from them.

Let me be completely honest…it was really tough to pay attention to the entire game. It is the first college football Saturday of the year, and it’s also dove season, so maybe I didn’t even get to watch it all. But I followed it on my phone and I watched enough of it.

Scott Feldman started slow allowing 4 runs in the 1st and the Rangers were never able to catch up. David Murphy and Adrian Beltre did their best by each hitting home runs, but it just wasn’t enough.

The thing I was looking for the most was seeing Jurickson Profar play shortstop, however, he just played around on the bench. Even though Elvis Andrus was slotted as the DH, Ronnie gave the shortstop start to Mike Young. Huh? Yeah…I’m not sure about that one either.

The Rangers and Indians play again tomorrow at 12:05. Derek Holland will take the ball to start.