No, Nolan Ryan is not moving to Canada, but the Texas Rangers’ president and CEO, could have a presence in baseball’s return to the Canadian capital of Ottawa.

The Ottawa Sun is reporting, Ryan-Sanders Entertainment group is involved in negotiations for the Eastern League franchise that will begin play in Ottawa in 2014. The group currently runs two minor-league clubs: Triple-A Round Rock of the Rangers’ organization and Double-A Corpus Christi of the Houston organization. Nolan Ryan and his sons, Reid and Reese, are part of the group.

If the group takes control of the Ottawa franchise, it will not affect the Rangers’ and their relationship with Double-A Frisco. The Rangers in September extended their player-development contract with Frisco through the 2018 season. Ottawa would probably align itself with Toronto.

(Image via Keith Allison.)

Man, it’s been a while since we’ve seen an offensive explosion like the one we saw Sunday.  So, can do that again?

With 19 hits and 11 runs, I think it’s safe to say that the offense really liked Toronto pitching today.  Every Ranger starter got at least 1 hit (with the exception of Adrian Beltre) and all reached base at least once.  Murphy, Kinsler, Hamilton, Cruz, Young, and Moreland each had a double, with both Young and Murphy also knocking a home run each.

It wasn’t just the offense that dazzled today.  Matt Harrison was quite impressive, going 8 innings and giving up 2 hits and 2 runs.  Harry also only walked 1 batter and struck out 7.  Honestly, Harry easily could have gone the distance but was pulled at 90 pitches after the 8th for Mark Lowe.

FINAL: Rangers 11, Blue Jays 2

(Image via Keith Allison.)

Since Ryan Dempster is still up to his Cubs-antics, lost his passport and couldn’t make the trip to Toronto with the team, Rangers fans were forced to suffer through yet another Roy Oswalt start.  Thankfully, we were spared from an atrocious outing…just a slightly-painful-at-times one.

Roy actually looked pretty good at times.  The righty was pretty efficient through the first 2 innings, striking out 3 of the 6 batters he faced.  The third wasn’t as pretty.  After getting Jeff Mathis to ground out to start the inning, Oswalt then walked Gose.  A stolen base and a balk (Oswalt’s 1st of TWO this game), the runner was at 3rd.  A single would score the run and Toronto took the lead.

Thankfully, the Rangers bats made a brief appearance in the 5th.  Beltre would double to start the 5th, and would score on a Nelly BOOMSTICK.  Rangers up, 2-1.

» Continue reading “Texas Rangers: All Ya Need Is A BOOMSTICK”

(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]

After being at the game last night and watching the slugfest the Rangers put on, I’m wasn’t quite sure how they would do today.

Colby took the mound for the Rangers and with the exception of him giving up his obligatory couple of runs, he actually had a pretty good outing.

He was hitting his spots (which he’s had trouble with lately) and went 5 and a third, giving up 4 runs, 10 hits and had 6 strikeouts. Not his best, but not his worst by any means.

The Rangers picked up right where they left off last night, and got two runs on the board in the bottom of the second. Rangers 2-0. That’s how to start us off boys.

The Rangers tried to threaten again in the bottom of the second and third innings loading the bases each time, but just couldn’t pull anything out of it.

In the top of the 5th Colby hit a shaky patch and gave up a 2 run homer to Rasmus that bounced off the foul pole in right field. It’s ok, he always has to give up a couple right? 2-2.

The Blue Jays got a couple more in the top of the 6th on a double, a really weird looking failed fielder’s choice and a perfectly laid down bunt. Blue Jays 4-2. Damn, that sucked.

But don’t you worry Rangers fans, the brutal lineup came through for again. In the bottom of the 6th the bottom of our lineup showed up to play and Cruz, Torreabla, and Moreland banged back to back to back homeruns.

» Continue reading “Rangers Recap: Hamilton Hits #20, Walk-Off Style”

Former Ranger Kevin Millwood <photo courtesy of Alex Calderon>

Former Texas Ranger great Kevin Millwood towed the rubber for the Seattle Mariners, and boy, did the Rangers make him look superstarish…

Really, how does one, Kevin Millwood, stifle one of baseballs best line ups? Hell if I know. Personally, I think I could of hit a ball off Millwood, not sure why none of the Rangers couldn’t. Millwood pitched 6 innings and instead of pounding him for 20 hits and a ton of runs, the Rangers were only able to get 3. Not good.

Okay, I’m done with Millwood. And I’m almost done thinking about this game.

Scott Feldman, substituting for the DL bound Neftali Feliz, didn’t quite make it through 5 innings as the Mariners had some pretty nasty plans for him. He walked Michael Saunders, gave up a blooper to Mike Carp, got Brendan Ryan on a ground out, intentionally walked Dustin Ackley, and BOOM…Alex Liddi slammed a granny off a meatball over the middle of the plate.

With the lead in hand after the 5th, the Mariners went on to polish off the Rangers 5 to 3.

T’s Observations / Game Notes:

• Kevin Millwood? Really? Apparently, Millwood has been good for his past few outings.
• Scotter Feldman retired 9 straight at one point in the game and although he was tagged with the loss, only gave up 3 hits.
• Adrian Beltre homered and doubled.
• The Rangers are 500 over their last 20 games.
• Now I’m done thinking about this game. F.

Upcoming Action: The Rangers are off tomorrow, but will return to action on Friday at the RBiA against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Texas Rangers started off the MLB games today by losing to the Toronto Blue Jays 11 – 5, and it wasn’t necessarily pretty. Big Matt Harrison received his 2nd loss on the year while Ricky Romero earned his 4th.

Anyway, it’s early May so let’s look at the positives…

• The Rangers are still in 1st place in the American League West.
• Brandon Snyder hit his 1st MLB home run. 
• This is the first time all year that the Rangers have lost consecutive games.
•  Elvis Andrus continued to hit the ball well. He went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and a run scored.
• Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre sat this one out and were able to rest up a little more.
• After reporting eye problems last night, Mike Napoli played the entire game at 1st base and had no problems.
• The Rangers scored 5 runs.
• Ian Kinsler scored another run. According to Evan Grant (Dallas Morning News), Kinsler is on pace to score 162 runs in 150 games played. That would be awesome.
• Josh Hamilton was named AL Player of the Month and Yu Darvish was named AL Rookie of the Month – both for April.

Up Next: The Rangers have the day off tomorrow, and will travel to Cleveland to face the Indians. Colby Lewis (3-0) will face off against Jeanmar Gomez (1-1).

With Hamilton and Beltre both out of the lineup tonight, I’m not going to lie…I was a little worried. I don’t know why, I just had one of those weird feelings.

Neftali Feliz took the mound tonight against Drew Hutchison and the Blue Jays.

After taking his last start off and spending a couple of innnings in the pen, Nefty was back in the rotation today. He looked good the first couple of innings and got some major backup from his offense when the Rangers put up 5 runs in the top of the second. Rangers 5-0.

Damn, nice inning guys. But that nice, cushy lead wouldn’t last long…In the bottom of the third Nefty walked two and then Kelly Johnson smacked one over the left center fence. Rangers 5-3.

Next batter? Jose Bautista. What did he do? Bombed one over the fence. Man, where did that come from? I know you’re good Bautista, but you haven’t hit crap this year. You had to hit one right after Johnson? Trying to show him up, huh?

The Rangers got another run on the board in the fourth making the score 6-4, but this game was far from over. Robbie Ross came into the sixth in relief of Nefty with two runners on, but got out of it. Go Cowgirl!

Ross came back in the seventh to try and shut the Jays down but ran into some trouble when Elvis made his first error of the season. A couple of singles, and a couple of what definitely looked like errors to me later, the Blue Jays were up 7-6. What the hell just happened?

The Rangers faced their old teammates Darren Oliver and Francisco Cordero in the 8th and 9th innings…Oliver got the best of our boys in the 8th but Ol’ Frankie had a bit of trouble in the ninth.

With two outs the Rangers decided they weren’t ready to go home that easily, and Kinsler and Andrus singled. With runners on first and third I’m sure the last person Frank wanted to see was Michael Young at the plate (I loved it though!!! Sigh of relief….whoooo!).  Old Faithful, Mikey, singled up the middle and scored the tying run. 7-7!!

Well my excitement didn’t last long when Mike Adams entered in the bottom of the ninth and gave up a walk off home run off the top of the left field wall to Brett Lawrie. I shouldn’t have looked! That always happens to me! Well that’s depressing.

But let’s not sing the blues yet people. It’s only the Rangers second road loss in their first 11 road games. Not too shabby. Let’s do what we do best and put this behind us. Tomorrow is a new day and a new game. Take Wash’s words….That’s how baseball go.

FINAL: Rangers 7, Blue Jays 8

After a series loss to the hot Tampa Bay Rays (go home Rays, I don’t like you right now) the Rangers headed to Toronto to take on the Blue Jays and Kyle Drabek in the first of their 10 game road trip.

Is it weird that after everything said in the post season about Yu Darvish, I’m actually glad when he takes the mound? After that first game, he seems like he’s gotten it together, and I liiikkkkeeee it.

Darvish looked awesome in the first three innings, striking out two per inning. Yes, that equals 6 by the third inning. Pretty impressive if you ask me. Can YU do that? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

The Rangers put up a couple of runs of their own in the second and third innings. In the second Beltre led off with a double and Cruz got the RBI with a double of his own. Rangers 1-0.

In the top of the fourth Kinsler walked with one out and Elvis lined one to the right center gap scoring Kinsler from first. Rangers 2-0. Yippee!

Darvish was definitely throwing some nasty stuff and half of the time it looked like the Blue Jays batters were shaking in their cleats. BUT it was bound to come to an end at some point, and it did in the bottom of the fourth when Encarnacion sat on a hanging curve and launched it over the left field fence. Rangers 2-1.

Dang, I was hoping for the no hitter. Darvish went 7 innings, gave up 1 run, 5 hits and struck out 9. That would make two of the Rangers rookies 4-0. Remember the days when our pitching really sucked? I’m glad that’s behind us.

I mean seriously, both pitchers had a great night tonight. Drabek went 6 innings, giving up 5 hits and 2 runs and struck out 8. It was a good run for him. Texas hitting was definitely happy when they pulled him out of the game.

Crawford came in for Drabek in the 7th and gave up back to back homeruns to Mitch Moreland and Craig Gentry…wait what did I just say? Yup, you read that right. Moreland and Gentry. 8 & 9 hole. I’m happy, just a little shell shocked, that’s all. Rangers 4-1!

Mike Adams and Joe Nathan both pitched one inning and both had strong outings. They got the job done and sent the Rangers out with their 17th win of the season! Let’s keep it up boys!

FINAL: Rangers 4, Blue Jays 1

End of Game Notes:

• Josh Hamilton did not play today due to still having stiffness in his back.
• Adrian Beltre filled the DH spot today and Michael Young was at third. Wash said it was to ‘save Beltre’s legs on the turf’.
• Both Ranger rookie pitchers are 4-0 this season. Awesome.
• Craig Gentry hit his first homerun of the season. And it went over the fence!
• Wash didn’t get thrown out tonight. He decided his bday was too much fun for him to handle.

That 'stache would fit in well with the Dutchstache

Well, if you believe everything you hear on MLBTradeRumors.com, the Blue Jays have won the rights to Japanese sensation Yu Darvish with a bid of $40million.  I don’t know about you, but I’m relieved.  I’d rather spend $40MM elsewhere, like signing Derek Holland to a long term deal or Prince Fielder.  Jays, you can have Yu.

ASIDE:  I will say I’m sad we won’t get to use all the amazing puns that come with signing a guy whose name is YU.  Sigh.  Maybe that alone would be worth $40MM…just think of the merchandising possibilities!   Yu Can’t Touch This!  Need Yu Now!  Someone Like Yu!  Endless puns, people.

It’s also rumored that the Chicago Cubs are the front runner for Prince Fielder.  This actually upsets me.  They keep saying the Rangers aren’t pursuing Fielder, but I refuse to believe it.  Just imagine the towering homeruns he’d hit in RBiA!  Why wouldn’t we want that?    If the rumors are true that the Rangers have been shopping Mitch Moreland some, then maybe Daniels is trying to get Fielder after all.

The Rangers are also in the mix to trade for the Oakland left-hander, Gio Gonzalez (is there a rumor that doesn’t include the Rangers??).  I’m not really sold on Gonzalez, but the Rangers seem hellbent on getting a top of the rotation starter, so complaining about it seems futile at this point.