(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!”

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

(Image via Keith Allison.)

So that didn’t go so well, huh?

Harrison wasn’t so stellar, allowing 12 hits, 7 runs, 1 walk, and 5 strikeouts.  Oh and I could’ve done without those 3 home runs.  Aside from Ogando’s home run to Evan Longoria, the bullpen was pretty great, so there’s that…

Offensively, a Mitch Moreland home run and a Josh Hamilton dinger (his 36th) are really the only reasons the Rangers were even sort of in this game.

FINAL: Rangers 4, Rays 8

(Image via flickr.com user Mike LaChance.)

Rangers 1, Rays 0

The Starter And The Game

Yu Darvish had his second straight great outing, going seven innings, scattering six hits, walking only two and striking out ten. The only trouble he really got into was the top of the second when he walked Zobrist to start the inning and Luke Scott followed with a double, putting runners at second and third. Darvish then got Pena on a strikeout, Ryan Robert flew out to shallow center and Jose Lobaton grounded out. Darvish only allowed four base runners after that in the next five innings. Mike Adams threw back-to-back NASTY curve balls to strike out Evan Longoria, and then Mitch Moreland made a heck of a dive and glove save on the line for the last out of the eighth.

» Continue reading “Rangers Beat Luke Scott’s Facial Hair And The Rays”

I got this. (Image via Keith Allison.)

Rangers 8, Twins 0

The Starter And The Game

Matt Harrison was fantastic again tonight, his second start going into at least the eighth inning, taking a no hitter into the seventh and allowing only back to back singles in the seventh inning. He walked two and struck out five. Really his only mistake was an error on a throw to first. Robbie Ross relieved Harrison in the ninth, gave up one hit and struck out one.

The Bats

AdrIan Beltre hit for the second cycle of his career. That’s all you need to know. The other time was with the Mariners against the Rangers

- Beltre is one of nine players this season to have three consecutive games with at least three hits.

- Harrison is one of five pitchers this year with eight starts of at least eight innings. Others: Verlander, Kershaw, Hamels, Felix.

- Beltre is now hitting .316/ .352/ .528 [ 130 wRC+] with tonight’s cycle, and has overtaken Andrus/ Hamilton for the team lead in fWAR.

- Beltre with 3-HR game and cycle in the same week. Only other player ever to do that: Joe DiMaggio in 1948

On Deck

RH Ryan Dempster [7-6, 2.99 ERA, 137 ERA+, 1.11 WHIP], v. LH Brian Duensing [3-8, 4.46 ERA, 92 ERA+, 1.38 WHIP]

Adrian Beltre. Good at baseball. (Image via Keith Allison.)

5 years to the day after putting up 30 runs on the Orioles, the Rangers put on another offensive show, led by Mr. Beltre.  OK, so they didn’t score 30 runs, but 12 is still a lot, guys.

Adrian Beltre was in the zone tonight.  In the first and second innings, he showed off his defensive prowess, making a couple of nifty plays at 3rd.  He then followed up with a line-drive home run to dead center in the bottom of the 2nd to put the Rangers up 1-0.

The Rangers would quickly lose their lead in the 3rd, but not to worry, they have Beltre (and Moreland and Murphy).

With things all tied up 1-1 in the bottom of the 4th, things got fun.  To start the inning, the Rangers had 5 straight hits, including ANOTHER Beltre home run and a David Murphy double.  Then after a Soto walk, Moreland knocked his first (official) grand slam of his career.  Then a few batters later, Beltre would hit his 2nd home run of the inning, his 3rd of the night.  IN THE 4TH INNING.  10-1 Rangers.

But the offense wasn’t done yet.  2 back-to-back singles in the 5th would set things up nicely for Moreland who hit a sac fly to give the Rangers another run.  A Soto double in the 7th tacked on another.

Derek Holland, who sported the stirrups in tonight’s start, went 7 innings, allowing 5 hits, 3 runs, walking 2 and striking out 5.  All in all, a pretty good outing from the Dutch Oven.

FINAL: Rangers 12, Orioles 3