Angels 7, Rangers 4

Barely a couple of sips into my Farmhouse wit by local brewery Deep Ellum, the omen was set with the very first batter of the game as Mike Trout lead off with a home run. Once the Angels settled in with a 4-1 lead after four innings, it was time watch and rekindle my childhood love with the provocative detective Angela Lansbury and Murder she wrote [now streaming on Netflix.] The Angels have knocked Dempster around since being traded over from the N.L. He’s 0-2 with an 11.20 ERA against them. All other A.L. Teams 7-1, 2.92 ERA.

With the learning today Mike Adams is out indefinitely with a neck strain, it’s even more important that Uehara has been very good this month.

In the month of September. In 11 appearances, Uehara has 8.1 IP, one hit allowed, no walks, no runs, and 14 strikeouts. Uehara has faced 20 straight batters without allowing a baserunner, and has struck out 12 of them.

This recent uptick in performance by Uehara comes at a crucial time with October around the corner. The bullpen usage usually increases in the playoffs, and particularly in the last two years the bullpen plays a large role in the success of a postseason team. Were it not for the work of Uehara and Nathan, the Rangers bullpen would be in a minor state of turmoil. Alexi Ogando has had his struggles in a few September appearances, and beyond that it is a little hit or miss what kind of production is going to be seen from the rest of the bullpen.

» Continue reading “Rangers Lose, Trout Fished In America, I Watched Murder She Wrote”

I missed you, Yu. (Image via flickr.com user mikelachance.)

In what was supposed to be a very exciting Yu Darvish start, Rangers fans were given Scott Feldman instead.  Can you say let down?  Darvish apparently had some neck stiffness and the Rangers weren’t taking any chances.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m fine with Scooter.  In fact, I think he’s pitched way better than people probably expected once thrown into that starters role earlier this year.  I don’t have a beef with Scooter.

What is upsetting was that if the Rangers won tonight, Yu Darvish would have been only the 2nd rookie in the past 100 years to have 17 wins and at least 214 Ks.  The only other rookie to achieve that feat was Dwight Gooden back in 1984.  Guess Rangers fans will have to wait longer…

Anywho…  Feldman was just eh.  Given a 2-run lead in the bottom of the first, Scooter started out the 2nd by walking 2 of the first 3 batters he saw.  A double later and the A’s were within 1.  A solo shot in the 4th by Chris Carter would tie things at 2′s.  Feldman would only last 4 innings.

» Continue reading “Scott Feldman, Not As Exciting As Yu Darvish”

(Photo courtesy of flickr.com user Jay DeSimone.)

It’s 1:30 AM, I’m drinking Red Brick Hop Lanta IPA and listening to My Morning Jacket. I’m thinking I may go on a long walk to try and figure out what has gone on mentally the last two nights with this team. After tonight’s game, according to Evan Grant, there was about a 30 minute closed door team meeting.  It focused on getting back to Rangers baseball and better decisions.

The starter 

Yu Darvish deserved a better fate tonight. The baseball gods were not on his or the Rangers’ side as the defense made three errors behind him. He allowed three runs, but only two were earned in 6.1 innings. He also walked three and struck out seven. In a start that could have been a gem, he was spoiled by, in the words of Rangers broadcaster Eric Nadel, “total lack of support, both offensively and defensively.”

Andrus was the main culprit in the error department. After having just taken a “mental day” two days ago, he had a lackadaisical throw in the first that allowed Mike Trout to reach to start the game. Worse, he made the decision to not attempt to throw out Trout on a routine ground ball in the 7th inning, instead stopping to argue with the umpire that the ground ball hit the base runner going from 2nd to 3rd base.

Also that inning Yorvit was thrown out of the game after arguing Trout was out on a sac fly to Nelson Cruz who threw home and (although super-slow motion replay showed he was out by a hair) the umpire called him safe.  Torrealba lost it, screaming, yelling and dancing around him like a wild man.

» Continue reading “Texas Rangers: Errors, Umps, No Bats, & Weirdness Oh My”

<photo by Paukrus>

• Derek Hollands looks so cute with his new face do and hair do. And he looks 12. And he has a hot wife.
• Jesus is batting DH for the Mariners. How can you beat Jesus?
• Elvis Andrus receives a day off. Not good for my fantasy baseball team.
• Chone Figgins is still on a major league team? Wow. Nice contract for the rest of baseball. And nice 1st strikeout for Holland.
• Nice work from Holland…1-2-3, sit down and go pee.
• Former Ranger Blake Beavan is rolling the dice on the mound for the Mariners.
• The bottom of the 1st went by way to fast for the Rangers.

» Continue reading “Rangers Recap: One.Big.Turd!”

(Photo via flickr.com/mikelachance816)

The Starter

Yu Darvish improved his record at the ballpark to 5-0. Although it wasn’t pretty going only 5 innings giving up 3 runs on 7 hits walking 3 and striking out 3. Once again his command wasn’t there throwing 93 pitches in his short outing. Darvish came out as a precaution with a stiff back.

The relievers

Mark Lowe pitched 2 innings as he was only pitcher not to pitch in Saturdays 13 inning game, allowing only a hit and striking out 1. Alexi Ogando pitched 2/3 of an inning giving up a home run  to J.P. Arencibia, who hit 2 today. Ogando came out of the game after being hit on the hand on a come backer to the mound from Brett Lawrie. X-rays were negative as it is a bruised hand. Yoshinori Tateyama finished the game giving up a 2-run home run to Colby Rasmus in the 9th.

The bats

Ian Kinsler had a home run and 4 RBI. Andrus, Beltre [2-run HR] and Napoli [2-run HR] chipped in with two each. Michael Young had 3 hits. Overall they had 3 walks and struck out 8 times.

End of the bench notes

- Rangers have won 3 games by at least 11 runs. The other 29 teams combined have won 4 games by at least 11 runs

- Rangers passed 1 million in home attendance today in only their 23rd game. Only two other clubs with more, Yankees and Phillies but both have played more home games. Today was sellout number sixteen on the season

- Blue Jay pitcher Jesse Chavez who struckout 5 straight batters today was drafted by the Rangers in 2002 and was traded to the Pirates in the Kip Wells deal in 2006.

On deck

LH Matt Harrison [5-3 4.72 ERA] versus the Seattle Mariners and RH Kevin Millwood [3-4 3.72 ERA]

It's too bad we couldn't see what Mitch could've done with another at bat...

Today’s game featured Matt Harrison against former Ranger Brandon McCarthy, and boy was this a crappy game on all accounts.

Harrison had an extremely rocky 1st inning, walking the leadoff man, giving up 4 hits (2 singles and 2 doubles), and allowing 3 runs to score.  Yuck.  He wasn’t much better in the 2nd, walking 2 more batters and giving up a double.  Miraculously, the Athletics somehow didn’t score that inning.

Helped out by 2 fantastic catches by Nelson Cruz in the 3rd and 4th innings, Harrison breezed through until the 6th when he was replaced by Mark Lowe.  Alexi Ogando pitched the 7th and 8th innings, giving up a solo home run to Josh Reddick in the 7th.  Joe Nathan would also make an appearance in the 9th (his 3rd appearance in 3 days).  8 pitches. 3 outs. Boom.

» Continue reading “Texas Rangers: Athletics 1, Wash’s Gut 0″

So I think the Rangers liked the pink bats…

Tonight’s match-up saw Neftali Feliz (not to be confused with PEDRO Feliz) on the mound against Jered Weaver.  Feliz pitched a solid 6 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks and striking out 5.  Weaver did not fare as well, allowing 8 runs over 3 1/3 innings.  Ouch.

But enough about pitching.  Per usual, tonight’s game featured the Rangers offense.  And A LOT of it (SPOILER: Every starter had a hit except David Murphy).

The Rangers got on the board early with a sac fly by Beltre in the 1st.  After losing their lead on a 2-run bomb by Trumbo in the 2nd, the Rangers bounced back in a big way in the 3rd.

» Continue reading “Texas Rangers: Of Pink Bats And Boomsticks”

The game and on the mound

My son a complete pill tonight, he was fed up with the game early as you can see but Matt Harrison was awful, the left-hander allowed a franchise tying 14 hits. The other two were Bobby Witt in 1996 against Seattle and Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd in 1991 at Baltimore. He had at least one man on in all five innings he pitched, which means he threw out of the stretch most of the game.

Harrison allowed 7 runs [6 earned] , walked only 1 and struck out 3. Lowe, Uehara, Ross and Ogando combined to go 4 innings with Lowe giving up the only 2 hits out of the pen.

The bats

The Rangers racked up 13 hits themselves, Andrus lead the attack with 3 and the team just missed a few chances late. Most notably Andrus had an 11 pitch at-bat in the 8th and missed a grand slam down the right field line by about 3 feet. Hamilton had 3 RBI and 3 strikeouts. Napoli also had 3 strIkeouts.

» Continue reading “No Rays Of Sunshine Tonight: Rays 8, Rangers 4″

After a killer road trip the Rangers headed back to the Ballpark to take on the dreaded New York Yankees. Yuck. I don’t know what it is about that team… I just do not like them.

Mini Rant: Early right? I’m in one of those moods apparently…Like I said above, I don’t like the Yankees. BUT, it bugs me when people talk about how the Yankees buy their team/talent. Well yeah, it is a pro sport after all. Plus they all have to go out and still play the game no matter how much they get paid. Anyone can come out and have a good game on any certain night (Philip Humber anyone?)… and that my friends, is what is great about the game of baseball.

The Yankees came out in the top of the first and knocked in 2 off Mr. Dutchstache when he loaded the bases and Granderson hit a bloop into right center. Not a good way to start guys. Yankees 2-0. (I told you I didn’t like them!)

The Rangers looked good in the bottom of the first when Kinsler and Andrus singled puting them on first and third with Hamilton at the plate and no outs. Hamilton grounded out to second but with some crafty baserunning by Andrus, Kinsler came around to score. 2-1 Yankees.

Both pitchers had a good couple of innings, both giving up a couple of hits but nothing that caused serious damage.

In the top of the 5th though, things got pretty ugly for Derek Holland. After Stewart scored on a sac fly from Swisher, Jeter and Cano were in scoring position when Alex Rodriguez stepped to the plate.

ARod bombed one to left center field. Score? 6-1 Yankees. Whoops. The shining light? Hamilton made a beautiful over the shoulder catch in left to save futher damage. Good job Hambone!

In the 6th Stewart got on again and Jeter (who was having a monster game going 3-3 at that point, and 4-5 for the game) got him home with a double to deep right. Yankees 7-1. What happened boys?

Hamilton decided he wasn’t going down without a fight and after chunking one of his bats halfway down the first base line Hambone got a new bat. He apparently liked that bat a lot better and spanked a ball over the center field wall. 7-2…Don’t call it a comeback. We just needed more cowbell.

» Continue reading “Rangers Recap: Can’t Win ‘em All…”

Man, where to begin?  I’ll start with the final score:  Rangers 18, Red Sox 3.  Pretty isn’t it?  Who would have thought I could ever feel comfortable with Koji Uehara taking the mound in late innings any situation?  I guess when he has a 14-run lead to work with, it’s hard to eff it up.  Let’s recap all the awesome…

The madness began in the 2nd inning.  With one out, Nelson Cruz laced a double to centerfield.  Mike Napoli, FINALLY breaking out of his slump, hit a moonshot over the Monster to tie the game.  A walk to Yorvit Torrealba, a single by Craig Gentry (3 cheers for finally getting on base!), and a walk by Ian Kinsler loaded the bases.  Singles by Elvis Andrus and Josh Hamilton (due to some questionable defensive plays by the Red Sox) would score Torrealba and Gentry.  4-2 Rangers

Oh, but there’s more…

» Continue reading “Rangers’ Bats Love Red Sox Pitching”