Week of May 13, 2013

Let's start with this article about Darvish Striking out a possible 300 for the year.....? Can Darvish realistically strike out 300?

For those that follow anything about the minors Mike Olt is going on the disabled list for an eye problem. He hasn't been hitting well and/or living up to his potential to be a major league candidate blocked by Beltre at 3rd (where Olt plays) or 1st where he really shouldn't be playing because his defense is too good. He'll be back.

Pierzyski is on the DL for an Oblique Strain. Chirinos is called up from AAA. With Soto being...well not so stellar.... we'll see how this goes.

Colby Lewis threw two innings in a rehab start in Vegas last week, but has been pulled from his rehab assignment due to tricep pain. This is likely pushing his coming back to the rotation an additional week at this point. Bummer.

To add to our pitching problems Ogando is now on the DL for right bicep tendonitis. Josh Lindblom is replacing him from AAA. Out of our five starting pitchers we now have 2 left. We are basically playing a AAA starting rotation.

LETS JUST ADD TO THE DL- Ian Kinsler this time. He has an intercostal strain (rib injury). Profar has been called up and I'm excited to see him play. Let's just hope his bat can be of help and not harm.



Rangers vs. Athletics (away)
We play Oakland this week for the first time. The make it or break it team from last year. The good news is we are up 6 games, so for this series they could lose all three and still be ahead. If you care to read a little further I am providing a link that gives a run down of everything from each teams' stats to the ball park and key players...and a few other tidbits. The Match Up. They dare predict Oakland will win this series but I could not disagree more. We are just a better team. Better pitching, better fielding, hitting is debatable. I'm nervous about this series,mostly because I hate what happened last October,  but nothing is too big at for a team that's first in all of baseball. 

13th-5-1 Rangers Lost- Grimm sucked. Rangers can't seem to win in Oakland. That's really all there is to say about that came.

14th- 6-5 Rangers win. We won in the 10th inning due to Mooreland hitting a home run after Nathan gave up a run to almost lose the game. That was nice of Mooreland.

15th- 6-2 Rangers win. A winning series in Oakland. Progress made for the Rangers. Cruz was player of the game after hitting a three run homer and a diving catch to save a rally by Oakland.

Rangers vs. Tigers (home)
This is a series of probably the two best teams in baseball. I disagree and think the Cardinals have better pitching than us currently and a way better bullpen then Detroit. Either way these pitching match ups should be pretty good and we are at home. I give the advantage to us, but it'll be a tough series.

16th-10-4 Rangers Win- An amazing match up between Verlander and Darvish. Such a shame I don't have cable. Either way the rangers batted around in the third with an included 3 run homer from Soto (he's getting better with the long ball lately) and we won becoming the best Rangers team at this point in the season with a 27-14 record.

17th-2-1 Rangers Lose- It was a battle of weak pitching and the Rangers lost. How awesome is that? Also Martin can throw a ball. He threw the ball from center field on the money to the catcher for the tag out in each of the last two games.

18th-7-2 Rangers Win- ELVIS SHOWED UP! He went 5 for 5 and stole 2 bases. Rumors are starting that Andrus will stay in the lead off spot even after Kinsler comes back. Hard to think of Kinsler not taking that role, but if there is run production from Elvis why change what isn't broken. Justin Grimm went 7 innings like what?

19th- It is currently 3-1 in the bottom of the 4th as I finish this tonight.

I'll let Adam Morris tell you the standings. His look prettier than mine. It's worth celebrating!Current A.L. West Standings

Week of April 29, 2013

Something to feel good about. Josh Hamilton just had a night of hitting 0-8! His current hitting line is is 202/.246/.298 and for those that don't happen to know what that means it sucks. He's batting .202, making it to base .246 times, and slugging (hitting) .298 times. Aren't we glad he's not on our team.

Through 25 games Murphy (LHB) Moreland (LHB) and Martin (LHB) seem to be struggling and bad. Seems we need to be working better from the left side. All the rest seem to be doing respectively well....when they decide to hit.

Harrison has to have a second surgery on his back, but it should not keep him out longer. Just the expect due back date of August 1st as if that isn't already bad. Uggg

Perez and Lewis are both starting their Rehab starts in Frisco and Round Rock respectively and both should be back by the beginning of next month. That's a yeah. I should suspect that Grimm with be taken out first and then Tepesch although I hate to see him go because he's done well.

Yu Darvish is the April Player of the month.

The Rangers had an off game the 29th before starting a week long home stand against the white sox and then red sox.

Rangers against the White Sox (Home)

30th-5-0 Rangers lost because they can't hit. I this this is becoming a theme this year.

31st-10-6 Rangers Win- Mooreland showed up going 3-3 with a walk! About time.

1st-5-2 Rangers Lose-Umm we couldn't manage to hit with runners in position after having five Rangers in a row reach base. What?? Aparently Soto in particular doesn't know how to get around the bases when needed to....

2nd- 3-1- Rangers Lost. I don't have anything for this game except the the Rangers lost the series because of terrible offense. The Rangers were outscored 19-10.  It's the first series they have lost this year. I'm not too disappointed after all the successes we can celebrate thus far. 

Rangers against the Red Sox (Home)

3rd-7-0 Rangers Won- The bats were hitting. Enough said.

4th-5-1 Rangers Won- Ogando pitched a fantastic game, Gentry hit a home run, and our pitching is keeping us in first clearly seen when we can sweep a series against the second best line up in baseball.

5th-4-3- Rangers win a tied game, bottom of the ninth, 2 outs, two on base and Beltre batting after Berkman was intentionally walked. I'm not sure why they would do that, but they did. Beltre hits a single to drive in Andrus and we win the game. Glorious I say.

Another week in the book. Rangers on top 2.5 games.

Week of April 22, 2013

Begin week 1/2 Game up and in 1st place in division

Jokaim Soria has a set back and will not be back to pitch in the bullpen until July 1st. He was due back after Tommy John Surgery in June, but pulled a muscle in his chest keep him out an extra month.

The postponed game from the Cubs will be made up May 6th.

Yu Darvish continues to be amazing with now 49 strikeouts for the year and the most in MLB. Here is a GIF of a series of five pitches all pitched to Pujols to strike him out. The article explains it a little more clearly what is happening. Darvish Pitching

Playing Angels in Anaheim
22nd- 7-6 Rangers Win- AJ hit a homer in the bottom of the ninth to win the game. I think people are really starting to like AJ at least I am. He's a solid veteran catcher and seems to be a solid bat as well.

23rd-5-4 Rangers Lose- Rangers faced a lefty pitcher, so Baker went in for the lefty Murphy and Gentry went in for Martin. Rangers have had a terrible line hitting left hand pitching. It didn't work. They couldn't end up hitting with runners in scoring position especially after sending the game into extra innings.

24th- 11-3 Rangers win. Darvish was just GOOD.

Playing Twins in Minneapolis 
25th- 2-1 Rangers Win- Tepesch had a decent outing with no back up offense

26th- 4-3 Rangers WIn- Grimm pitched 7 shut out innings. I think he's starting to settle into his role of replacing Harrison for now. By the way the Rangers have matched the 98 Yankees record of 16-7 after 23 games. Pretty good I'd say. Our base running has much to be desired and something I consider to be a weakness especially when two guys are thrown out at home when they shouldn't have been. Also in the bottom of the ninth Ortiz was taken out to put in Nathan who then gave up 3 run almost costing the game. Nathan is great, just not that night.

27th-7-2 Ranger Lose-  Elvis and Beltre were given the night off with Beltre playing as the DH. It's not Garcia or Baker's fault for the loss, they did their job, but a game is always more fun to watch with them in their rightful spots. Holland pitched well with NO run support. We lose when that happens.

28th- 5-0 Rangers Lose- Repeat of yesterdays game. Maybe they are tired after a rode trip and coming home for the week will help. Just a hope.

Rangers end week 2.5 games in 1st place. 

Sunday, April 21, 2013
Rangers on top 1/2 Game!


Tepeche and Grimm are taking hold of the fort until Perez and Lewis are back in May. So far they are making shaky but respectable outings with a win a piece.

Julio Borbon placed goes to Cubs. Played center field for us with his time decreasing due to injuries and the productiveness of Gentry and now Martin. He was out of options and left on waivers. Good luck to him.

Matt Harrison will undergo surgery on his back for a herniated disc, and will not be back until after the lone star break. Our starting pitching was supposed to be a strength this year, but with injuries leaving young arms and Ogando struggling maybe it's not quite as strong for now. With Perez and Lewis both expected to be back next month it should improve.



Played Cubs Away-
16th- 4-2 with Gentry making diving catch to win the game http://youtu.be/06S3LZ8QoEo

17th- postponed

18th- 6-2 loss Rangers aren't hitting

Played Mariners at Home
19th-7-0 Rangers. Finally had first big inning of the year.

20th-5-0 Rangers. Toepech left in the top of the 2nd after being hit in the wrist by a line drive. He should be fine to make his next start.

21st-11-3 Rangers- 4 home runs today most notably Martin's first career home run and Nelson Cruz's Grand Slam.

First is the big news of Nolan Ryan losing his job. Well to water this way down what has happened is Nolan Ryan's position was taken away from him. He was Present of baseball operations and that job has been divvied up between Jon Daniels (President of General Operations) and Rick George (President of Business Operations. There are hundreds of articles out there but the bottom line is that the Daniel camp and the Ryan camp don't get along. They never have.

Ryan didn't want Darvish here and Daniels did.
Ryan wanted Oswalt and Daniels didn't.
Ryan wanted to keep CJ Wilson, Daniels didn't.

Daniels won each of those situations anyway. However it's a true test of someone who has played professional baseball vs. someone who graduated from an ivy league school. They really aren't supposed to understand each other. They have tolerated each other for the past three years while the club has been successful, but something has happened and the shift in jobs has occurred.

Ryan won't talk either. He did eventually make a statement, but all he really said was that the two sides were talking. That was it.


MEANWHILE ON THE FIELD

We currently only have 4 starters until Colby Lewis comes back in May. Until then we have to make do with what we have which isn't much. Martin Perez, Robbie Ross, Justin Grimm and a slew of others. Of them it was the thought that Perez would probably land the spot, and his spring pitching was great; helping his cause. Then a line drive hit him in the write and broke the bone leaving the Rangers without him for the next two months. Now we REALLY don't have a fifth starter.

So we go get Derek Lowe, a 40 year old guy whose "pitching style is good for inifield hitting and a home run friendly park." Just what we need.

That's it for this week. I leave you with one thought that had come out today:
The Cardinals are missing their shortstop due to injury and are in need of one badly. We have 2 fantastic ones. We are missing and end of the rotation guy. They have those. As sad as I would be to see Andrus go, could a trade be possible?

Alright I'm back after a very long Hiatus. It's winter and there is NOTHING going on.

1. Who is going to take Hamilton's ridiculous contract that will be way to much and he won't amount to?

2. What will they do with Profar, Kinsler, Andrus.
On that one I say put Profar in the minors, let him develop a little more, and bring him up later in the year. For goodness sake he's 19.

3. Should they take B.J. Upton to replace Hamilton. Ummmm no, not to replace him. Not many are going to come close to a replacement, but it's in my opinion a better option than Martin/Gentry Platoon. Neither are going to produce offensively the way we need them to.
BJ Upton Article


Until there is more news to report.
Becca

13-3 record as of 4/22/2012! We are first in the division by 5.5 games from Oakland. We are first in all of baseball! Way to go Rangers!

Not a lot to say this week besides the Rangers are amazing. Their starting pitching is phenomenal, their bullpen, when needed, is excellent, defense is great. Their bats could pick it up a bit, as we have had most of our games won by just a run or two, and our bats really are better than that. 

The big news of the week is that Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez is retiring tomorrow in a ceremony before the game. He will be pitching the first pitch. He debuted with the Texas Rangers in 1991, and played his last game last year. In almost all of his seasons he hit above a .300 batting average, as was a great catcher. He actually picked off runners stealing 2nd 46.1% of the time!! He will for sure go down in the Rangers Hall of Fame. We will have to see about the baseball HOF. He has been linked to Steroids by Jose Canseco, but never by the Baseball Commissioner's League. For more on Pudge, visit the following link. 

Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez and his career

This week the Rangers played the Mariners at home in which the won went 3-1. This is expected as Seattle isn't so awesome. It just helped make us better in our division. 

Then they went to play the Twins in a ballpark where they have a losing record since the park opened two years ago. I've never liked watching them play in that park, because they never do well. It's a pitchers park, and the Rangers are hitters....were hitters. Now that we can pitch, they swept and went 3-0. 

Then they went to Detroit to play in Comerica and against the Comerica curse. They second game was postponed to rain, and played a double header Saturday. The only game I really questioned was the second game of Verlander (one of the best pitchers in baseball), and Feliz (3rd game ever pitched.) On baseball that games goes to Verlander easy. What is impressive is that while the Rangers did lose, We had two on in the 9th with one out and one run behind. We had a chance to win that game, we just didn't. I've never been so OK with losing. We won in extra innings today to make up for it, making our record 3-1 over the series. 

Next Up: 3 games against the Yankees, a day off, and then 3 games against Tampa Bay all at home. Look for Hamilton and Young to continue to be part of the top 5 hitters in baseball, which the Rangers as a pitching team being number 2 overall. Exciting stuff going into the end of April!!