- Free-agent catcher Mike Napoli is headed to the Boston Red Sox on a 3-year, $39 million deal.

Oddly the Rangers decided not to make a qualifying offer of $13.3 million to Napoli, so they won’t receive any draft-pick compensation in return.

Napoli hit .227 in 2012, but had 24 homers and 56 RBIs with 53 runs. That was a drop-off from his production in 2011, when he had a memorable second half, hitting .383 and performing well in October.

- Also the Rangers agreed to terms with catcher Geovany Soto last night. The deal is for $2.75 million with $250,000 in incentives. So that gives Texas a backstop, but they still need another. It’s a thin free-agent market, though A.J. Pierzynski is still available. Perhaps the Rangers will look at the trade market. The Blue Jays have a surplus of catchers and perhaps would part with John Buck or J.P. Arencibia.

Napoli crushed the ball at Fenway Park in a small sample size. He has a .306 average and a .710 slugging percentage in 19 games with seven homers and 17 RBIs.

Napoli will be missed, he quickly became a fan favorite. But at this cost and the Red Sox needing him more than the Rangers it makes sense for the Red Sox to push and sign him with the hole they had at first base. 

So that leads to this tweet from Ken Rosenthal earlier today:

@Ken_Rosenthal

(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”

I miss the happy Texas Rangers.

Today, I was supposed to be getting ready to go to a game at RBiA to see the Rangers play. Instead I’m sitting at work and trying to figure out what I’m going to have for dinner tonight.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

Over the next few months, I expect to see a lot of changes in the makeup of the Texas Rangers. A few of the key players for this team over the past few years are free agents (i.e. Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli, among others). Along with the possibility of not resigning at least one of those two, I expect a few trades. I think they need some new blood in the clubhouse that isn’t bitter or beaten down about the past couple of postseasons.

This team needs to start over.

» Continue reading “Texas Rangers: Let’s Beat A Dead Horse!”

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.)

Things you need to know about this game:

1.  Josh Hamilton can’t play baseball with sinus issues and is really good at snot rockets.

2.  The 4th inning was the worst.  The Angels scored 6 runs.  We saw 3 Rangers pitchers and 12 Angels batters.  We also saw Tanner Scheppers throw a wild pitch and while covering home was hit by Chris Iannetta as he crossed home plate.  Then, Mike Trout nearly cleated Scheppers head when sliding into home on the wild pitch while Scheppers was down in the home plate area.  Evidently Scheppers has a bruised knee and had to leave the game.

3.  I thought that after a while, I’d get used to the weird glove crap thing that Ryan Dempster does before each pitch. I haven’t.

4.  West Coast games still suck.  Seriously, anyone who stayed up after that horrendous 4th inning deserves an award.  Or at least a free cup of coffee.

5.  Mike Napoli still loves Angels pitching.  A home run, a single, …

6.  The A’s lost earlier in the day, so the Rangers magic number goes to 13.

7. Jered Weaver is now 9-0 against the Rangers when pitching at home.

8.  Vernon Wells fell over the left field wall while trying to catch an Ian Kinsler home run. And it was hilarious.

9.  I’m blaming Hamilton for the awful 4th. Surely if he and his sinuses had sucked it up, none of that awfulness would have occurred.

10.  Eff the Angels.

11.  Despite being only 3 games back in the Wild Card game AND playing their division rival, Angels fans still couldn’t attend the game.

FINAL: Rangers 3, Angels 11

Oh boys…You have officially made me nervous. The A’s refuse to lose…and we can’t beat the Mariners? This is seriously going to be extremely interesting over the next couple of weeks.

The Rangers play the A’s in 7 of their last 17 games…We need to put some distance between us. Hey just couldn’t pull it out tonight. Feldman had a rough start and gave up a run in the top of the first and 5 runs in the third. Whoops.

The Rangers mounted a comeback however and tied it up but just couldn’t hang on. Justin Smoak smoked one in the 8th inning and then added another RBI in the 9th to stifle his old team.

The good news? Mike Napoli was back tonight in full uniform. Not only was he back…he smacked a three run homerun in the comeback. Welcome back Napoli! You’ve been missed!

What I can say… We better not lose the playoff spot to the A’s. I refuse to let that happen. Suck it up boys. Let’s get this done.

FINAL: Rangers 6, Mariners 8

(Image by Flickr.com user dorena-wm.)

The Starter And Game

Roy Oswalt made a spot start, with the team pushing Yu Darvish back until Tuesday because of a tight quad. He went 5 1/3 giving up four runs, but only three were earned. He walked one and struck out four. He botched a rundown in the third inning as a runner from third was allowed to score and tie the game at two. Body language is easy to read but hard to know what’s really going on, but  again it looked like Oswalt was not happy being lifted in the sixth inning.

» Continue reading “Rangers 6-Run 8th Seals Twins’ Fate, Bottle Of Red Wine Seals Mine”

(Image via Keith Allison.)

Well, at least Josh showed up to play?

It’s hard to get too upset with Scott Feldman, Wednesday’s starter.  Sure he wasn’t spectacular, but sans the 2nd and 3rd innings, he looked pretty sharp.  Besides, if Scooter is only giving up 3 runs (only in the 3rd inning) to the Yankees, that’s not the problem.  His line for the night: 6 innings, 7 hits, 3 runs (all earned), 4 walks, 7 strike outs.  Robbie Ross, Alexi Ogando and Mike Adams combined to pitch 3 scoreless innings to finish out the game.

As for the offense, 4 hits.  Pathetic. Well, you know, except the 2 of those hits that were home runs by Josh Hamilton.  #33 and #34.

FINAL: Rangers 2, Yankees 3

• The game started after an hour and 45 minute rain delay where the Rangers apparently played hide and seek to pass the time (which evidently Michael Young is also bad at…)

• Still no Gentry sightings…
• Nick Swisher: Rangers killer.  8 RBI on the series.