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.

Future Ranger utilityman Leury Garcia – Photo Tim Heitman- US PRESSWIRE

- Today the team announced they added INF Leury Garcia and LHP Joe Ortiz to the 40- man roster.

- They re-acquire RHP Jake Brigham [traded in the Geovany Soto deal] from the Chicago Cubs for RHP Barrett Loux and a player to be named later. The deal comes because of a Brigham injury. Brigham also gets a 40-man spot.

- Rangers sign RHP Johan Yan to a minor league deal. Gets invite to big league camp.

- Matt Harrison gets named Rangers pitcher of the year.

(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”

Athletics 3, Rangers 1

The Rangers have held the division lead all year until tonight’s loss. It’s now tied. It all comes down to tomorrow’s game 162. I would venture to say its really more about the Athletics taking it by going 70-38 since June 1st. That’s playing .700 baseball. Ridiculous. The Rangers in that time frame have gone 62-47. Pretty good, .570 baseball. So a hat tip to the Atheltics After tomorrow’s outcome they’ll know whether they’re playing Friday or this weekend.

On Deck

I guess the Rangers were jealous of the A’s 5-run 1st from Wednesday night that they needed one of their own on Thursday.  Unfortunately, Matt Harrison wasn’t his best, nor was the bullpen.  But whatever, the boys won.

FINAL: Rangers 9, Athletics 7

(Image via flickr.com user mikelachance.)

Athletics 9, Rangers 3

Martin Perez got the call tonight and preceded not to get out of the first. It had to be one of the worst innings of the season as Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz didn’t help by misplaying two balls in the outfield and the Athletics put up five runs and never looked back. It was such a parade of  ”relief” help out of the pen, I thought Ron Washington was going to summon Nolan Ryan into the game. They used six pitchers altogether and but the staff did issue only three walks. They also had eleven strikeouts.

The offense was just as bad. The Athletics started rookie phenom, Jarrod Parker, who wasn’t sharp, but didn’t need to be. The Rangers did cut the lead to 5-3 after two innings, on 2 RBI by Andrus and one by Moreland. But that was as close as they would get. The team was 0-7 with RISP and left eight men on base.

On Deck

Despite throwing eight innings of one-run ball against the Mariners on Saturday, Harrison took the hard-luck loss. The defeat snapped the left-hander’s 10-game winning streak against Seattle.

The southpaw has worked to a 3-1 record and a 4.47 ERA since the All-Star break, and for the season, he’s 4-3 with a 4.11 mark in 13 games as a starter.

Sorry, Harry, no runs for you! (Image via Keith Allison.)

Guys, I thought we were past this?  You know, those days when we couldn’t get guys in from 2nd with no outs?

TWICE the boys had lead-off doubles (Cruz and Moreland).  TWICE.  And both times the Rangers failed to even move the runner AT ALL.  I wish I could just point to a couple of players, but unfortunately this was a team effort.

I’m just hoping they’re just getting it out of their system before the Playoffs.  Let’s just hope that “getting it out of their system” doesn’t mean letting the Athletics inch closer to overtaking the Rangers in the AL West. Thankfully, the A’s lost Saturday as well, lowering the Rangers magic number to 8.

It’s too bad the offense couldn’t get things together as Matt Harrison pitched 8 innings, giving up 8 hits and only 1 run…a solo shot in the 2nd inning to Michael Saunders.  Yeah, he started out a little shaky, but really started to cruise the late innings.  They just needed a little offense.  Just a little.

FINAL: Rangers 0, Mariners 1

Matt Harrison, that was lovely and I love you. Oh…and Happy freaking birthday!

After a mid-afternoon rain delay, the Rangers did what they needed to do (again) and Matty Harrison was dominant as they defeated the Mariners 2 to 1.

Harrison pitched into the 9th and earned his 17th victory on the year. He finished with 5 strike outs and 1 earned run on 6 hits. He also induced 3 double plays.

Koji Uehara snuck in to finish off Jesus and also picked up his 1st save on the year.

The Rangers offense was carried by Adrian Beltre and Mitch Moreland. Beltre hit a “no question” into the left field stands off former Rangers pitcher Blake Bleavan in the 4th to start the scoring off.

And with David Murphy sitting on the pond in the 5th, Moreland lined a triple down the first base line to score Murph and put the Rangers up by 2. It would be all the scoring the Rangers would need.

Rangers 2, Mariners 1

After their victory tonight and the A’s loss, the Rangers extend their lead in the west to 3 games. The mighty Rangers are off tomorrow, but head to LA to face the Los Angeles Anaheim Western United States North American Angels on Tuesday.

Let’s start with this: Today is the 11th anniversary of 9/11. Let us never forget. A moment…

Now on to baseball…

When I was little I loved the Indians for some reason. They were my second team behind the Rangers. Why? I have no idea. I think as I got older though, my hardcore passion for the Rangers grew and the Indians got left in the dust.

Here we are in present day as the Rangers came back from an off day to take on the Cleveland Indians at home. Harrison vs. Jimenez. This should be interesting. I talked about it the last time the Indians played the Rangers. Does anyone remember when Jimenez rocked?

Yeah, about that. Now I just kind of want to laugh at him. Don’t get me wrong. I love the fact the boys came in and beat him up (with the exception of Hamilton), but seriously….how does someone go that downhill after being traded? I just don’t get it.

Jimenez lasted 5 innings but gave up 5 runs (only 2 of them being earned runs) , 4 hits and 4 walks. Harrison on the other hand looked pretty good out of the gate. He went 5 and 2/3 only giving up 2 on 5 hits and 3 walks.

The Rangers bats looked pretty good tonight too. Beltre knocked in his 31st ding dong… Kinsler, Moreland and Martin had doubles and Murphy, Martin and Soto had stolen bases. Yes, I know the stolen bases don’t have anything to do with the bats, but the fact that Soto stole a base got me excited. Sorry for partying people!

The Rangers got in a little bit of trouble in the 8th when Mike Adams came in…It was interesting. The Tribe put two more on the board making the score 6-4 Rangers.  Not to worry though. Joe Nathan came in in the 9th and shut it down.

I’m glad the Rangers pulled this one out. The A’s are seriously getting too close for comfort. I know it’s a pennant race, but let’s put some distance between us and them, ok guys?

FINAL: Rangers 6 , Indians 4

END OF GAME NOTES:

• Cruz was not in the starting lineup today. Could it be he’s not boomsticking enough?
• Where is Jurickson Profar? That kid is fun to watch. Let’s put him in more Wash. He’s proven he can play some ball. Plus, any 19 year old that says he ‘acted’ scared to get the same pitch is a hero in my book.
• I still love David Murphy.
• Mike Adams had an interesting 8th inning. I’m not really sure what he was doing. Still thinking about Joe Nathan in a Cowboys uniform? Don’t know what I’m talking about? Look it up…it’s kind of funny.

Did anyone else start today thinking they needed a vacation to recover from the holiday? I sure did. I love holidays, don’t get me wrong…but the day after holidays is always BRUTAL. The work day seems twice as long, the motivation is lacking, and the Rangers made me wait until tonight to watch them play when I was so used to the day games from this weekend.

Apparently the Rangers had the same jet lag feeling I did today. Second game at Kauffman Stadium against the Royals with Harrison on the mound trying to finally get his 16th win….Wouldn’t happen. They looked awful. Well, it started off just fine, but after Elvis’ homerun in the first and and RBI from Moreland in the second the Rangers went on a downhill slide.

In the third inning Kinsler got picked off third…

Mini Rant: Ian, let me start by saying I love you…you are my favorite player and have been since you started in the bigs. BUT I am getting really tired of trying to defend you to people. Please stop making stupid mistakes and go back to the basics of baseball. No more pops up or pickoffs please. Trust me you’ll thank me for the sound advice. It might save you from some Texas lynch mobs.

After the pickoff Kins decided he would start off the bottom of the third with an error putting Cain on first. A double later and the Royals were on the board. The Royals scored again on a soft sac fly to center, which Hamilton made a great throw on (Soto just couldn’t get the tag down in time)…lame.

Harrison didn’t look bad until the 5th inning. He couldn’t keep the ball down, it looked like he had no control and he paid for it. A two run bomb by Alex Gordon and a double later and Matt Harrison would take a seat on the bench. Poor guy is having a really hard time getting that 16th win.

The Royals got another homerun off Roy Oswalt in the 6th. Does anyone remember the ‘pitcher has a big butt chant’? I’m pretty sure they were talking about Oswalt (yes, I know he’s on my team…I just can’t help singing that chant everytime he comes out).

The Rangers threatened in the top of the ninth when they put runners on the corners with no outs. Young got a sac fly and the Rangers got a run out of it but unfortunately the Rangers couldn’t pull out of the holiday hangover to get the W tonight. Tomorrow we really need to get the win…I really don’t like how close the A’s are getting. Let’s do this boys!

FINAL: Rangers 3, Royals 6