Relief Worker: In Loss, Jason Jennings Makes Strong Case For Key Role In Struggling Rangers Bullpen

• Boxscore: Tigers 4, Rangers 3; MLB Standings

DETROIT – Early-season games – particularly in a 162-game sport – are fact-finding missions.

Spend all the time you like in training camp creating situations and roles and what not, the real data-collection doesn’t start until the season does. Which is why, the lasting importance of the Rangers’ 4-3 loss to Detroit Saturday may not be the game in standings, but the return of the real Jason Jennings.

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Post-Game Show: Tigers 4, Rangers 3

All things considered, this was a pretty good baseball game. At least it was a close game. Lot of late-decision making. But, for you, I’m guessing it’s frustrating nonetheless. Key talking points for you:

• Matt Harrison. Your thoughts? Too many walks and I didn’t like him giving up a run a half inning after the Rangers had given him the lead back. But the fifth could have gotten a lot worse. He got out of it with just one and the score tied at five.

• Jason Jennings: The answer to the middle-relief quandary?

• Walks: Rangers issued seven more. Walks make me gnaw the flesh off my hands. When the Rangers give them up in bunches, it’s just numbing.

• Chris Davis: Still only five games, but he maybe looking worse with each passing game.  Just 1-for-18 after 0-for-3 day and he struck out three more times to up his total to nine.

Back later with more.

The Depot: Rangers Notes, News, Live Blog And Other Assorted Stuff (4/11 at Detroit)

Welcome to the depot. All aboard for the Rangers-Tigers Express. Next departure is at 12:05 p.m. (CDT) We’ll be here this afternoon with our usual variety of pithy comments, notes, any newsy updates and whatever else pops into our overheated mind. Please join us. To participate (or just to lurk regularly), remember, you’ve got to periodically hit refresh. Otherwise you’ll be staring at the same computer screen all afternoon.

10:28: Most interesting thing about the Rangers lineup today is that it marks the first time three players acquired in the 2007 Mark Teixeira trade will appear in the same game. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is catching, Elvis Andrus is at short and Matt Harrison is on the mound. The other two guys in the deal, RHP Neftali Feliz and LHP Beau Jones, made their 2009 debuts last night for Oklahoma City and Frisco respectively. They combined for five scoreless innings. Read more on the Road To Arlington.

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It’s So Hot In The Press Box Today, Our Home Run Pool Is A Jacuzzi

They could turn down the heat a tad in the press box, but hey, we’re not complaining, just trying to be environmentally conscious.

No winners on consecutive days in the pool. Well, let’s see what you can come up with today. The vault is being freshly stocked with some soon-to-be-announced free stuff for an upcoming event at Pappadeaux. Details will be announced here soon. In the meantime, you can get in on some of the freebies if you can pick today’s first Ranger homer, the inning in which it’s hit and the number of men on base at the time. First tie-breaker is the count. Second is the distance.

Here is the Rangers lineup that will face RHP Justin Verlander (none of the Rangers have homered off Verlander): 2B Ian Kinsler, 3B Michael Young, CF Josh Hamilton, DH Hank Blalock, RF Nelson Cruz, LF David Murphy, 1B Chris Davis, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, SS Elvis Andrus and pitching for the Rangers. … LHP Matt Harrison.

Actuary Look At The Stars’ Season (Part I) While Players Can Tee It Up Before The Masters Is Over

This morning, we’ll review some numbers. After the full league is done Sunday, it’ll be time to compare the Stars to the rest of the league, like where James Neal officially finishes in rookie goals. Feel free to mention others that you find significant.

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Road To Arlington: Rangers Minor League Report (4/11)

The depth of pitching prospects in the Rangers minor league system was on full display yesterday. Four games on the card and a top pitching prospect climbed the hill in each one of them. Neftali Feliz got the start for Oklahoma and Kakey Kiker started for Frisco while Michael Main and Tim Murphy got the starts for Bakersfield in their twinbill (Hickory was washed out).

While there were things to like about all four starts, and all four of the starters are top-notch prospects, only one was more-or-less flawless. It just goes to show you that it pays off to sit down for a chat with the fellas here at Inside Corner.

So if you are still hurting from watching Armando Galarraga’s beat down of the ballclub that gave him away last year, make the jump. To soothe your pain, you could use some Kasey Kiker.

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