Rangers Fans, Welcome Derek Holland To The Show

ARLINGTON _ The look on Derek Holland’s face indicated he suddenly realized he’d left something terribly important undone. Like forgot to call Mom on her birthday. Or left the keys in his 2004 Nissan 350Z. While it was running.

He looked at Scott Feldman, one of his new neighbors in the Rangers’ clubhouse, and confessed: “I was supposed to start tonight.” That was back when he was a minor leaguer at Class AAA Oklahoma, back when he was a starter. That was before Saturday morning, when the 22-year-old lefthander answered his cell phone despite not recognizing the number. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels told him to pack his gear, drive south on I-35 and report to the Arlington bullpen.

“I didn’t believe it,” Holland said. “I thought it was a joke.”

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Game Book: Mavs 105, Spurs 97

Huge win for Your Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of their first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs. A few thoughts after the jump.

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Post-Game Show: Royals 2, Rangers 0

Up for discussion:

• The Rangers once tried to engage the Royals in talks about Zack Greinke. Didn’t go far, but it was the right guy. Greinke has 34 consecutive scoreless innings now, dating back to last year. How good did Greinke look tonight. He looked pretty good to me. But, hey, what do I know?

• Rangers are 4-7 on this supposedly favorable stretch to open the season. They finish off the stretch tomorrow. They will finish it with a losing record. Got to be a disappointment.

• Rangers wasted two opportunities with runners in scoring position and nobody out. The offense can’t afford to do that against elite-level pitchers. Got to find ways to get runs even if it doesn’t involve a homer.

• Kevin Millwood: Convinced you yet? Three starts. At least 110 pitches each time out. Three quality starts. A 1.17 ERA.

The Depot: Live Game Blog, News, Notes And Derek Holland Update Center (4/18 Vs. Royals)

Hank Blalock's leadoff triple in the second was wasted. (Photo: R.P. Washburne)

You can always go back and check our Derek Holland coverage from earlier in the day regarding the news of his callup and some answers to questions about his role, etc. . Also, Jeff Miller will be along later with a story on Holland’s first day in the majors.

As for now, let’s start focusing on this game. I had somebody tell me today that Josh Hamilton looks as lost as they’ve ever seen him look at the plate right now. Perhaps the biggest question is why he hasn’t gotten himself into more counts that favor hitters. Hamilton has swung at the first pitch 27 times in his 45 plate appearances. He’s been either 2-0 or 3-1, the most favorable hitters’ counts, only seven times this season.

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Talking To Myself: Q & A On Derek Holland’s Promotion

I will try to run through a hand full of significant questions relating to Derek Holland’s promotion today. If you’ve got more questions, just add them to the comments and I’ll try to answer what I can.

UPDATE: I should mention that our major league debut beat guy, Jeff Miller, will be chronicling the life-changing day for Holland. He’ll have that for your perusal after the game. All questions for this post should probably refer to the technical aspects of why he was called up, how he will be used, etc.

Q: How will Holland be used?

A: For now, as a long reliever. He will be called on when the need for a multiple-inning reliever arises. He will not be used as a setup man, but there is no reason he can’t pitch the sixth and seventh. GM Jon Daniels said Holland is still a long-term starter in the team’s eyes, but when -and if – he moves into the rotation this season will be determined by his performance and the performance of those currently in the rotation.

UPDATE: I should mention that the Rangers believe there is no issue with breaking in a starting pitcher the “old-school” way. That is, having him work from the bullpen for a couple of months or a season before moving into the rotation.

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Two, Yes, Two Games In One: HR Pool, Holland Invasion

With Derek Holland hysteria sweeping over Texas or at least the Press Box, let’s get the little fella into the mix tonight just in case he pitches. We’ll play Holland Invasion until he gets in a game. To win: You just have to guess the speed of his first major league pitch and whether it’s a ball, swing-and-miss, called strike, in-play out or hit.

Also, Homer Pool, is as always, the same: Pick the Ranger to hit the first homer, the inning and men on base. Count is the first tiebreaker. Distance is No. 2.

Your Rangers lineup vs. Kansas City’s Zack Greinke (who hasn’t allowed a run this season): 2B Ian Kinsler (only Ranger starter with a homer against Greinke), 3B Michael Young, CF Josh Hamilton, DH Hank Blalock, LF Marlon Byrd, RF Nelson Cruz, 1B Chris Davis, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, SS Elvis Andrus and pitching for the Rangers. … RHP Kevin Millwood.

On my mark – no false starts – ready, set, go!

Derek Holland Era Has Begun

Holland purchased from Oklahoma City; Josh Rupe designated for assignment.

Well, I was half-right. After watching Rupe struggle through another poor outing last night, the club decided it would risk losing him. They didn’t call up Thomas Diamond, but instead went to the prized 22-year-old lefty pitching prospect. Holland will pitch out of the bullpen for the time being, but I expect he’ll find his way into the rotation before the All-Star break (unless there is marked improvement in the rotation).

Though he was a non-roster invitee, Holland stayed with the big league team until the end of spring training. He impressed everybody in camp with his pitchability, his stuff and his mature approach to the game. Holland had been scheduled to start tonight for Oklahoma City. His first outing had been kind of rough. He allowed four runs in four innings. I’d like to put the typical disclaimer on here that young kids often struggle in the majors for the first time, but the Rangers do expect big things from Holland, even though he has made just five appearances above Class A. He was a combined 13-1 last year with a 2.27 ERA at Class A Clinton, Class A Bakersfield and Double-A Frisco.

Do Not Let Highland Park’s Matthew Stafford Anywhere Near The Good China

One more reason why HP’s (and Georgia’s) Matthew Stafford ought to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. Let’s see Mark Sanchez do this.

Hat-tip to Adam and noted NFL draftnik Christine for the video link.

About Last Night…

I loved REM best when Michael Stipe couldn’t articulate and Peter Buck barely knew how to play the guitar. I fell in love with The Replacements when Paul Westerburg wrote song lyrics from the personals section of the City Pages or about his crush on the cashier at a convenience store and Bobby Stinson was drunk all of the time, often taking the stage in a giant diaper and nothing else.

Used Cars is still my favorite Stephen Spielberg movie. Mean Streets is my favorite Martin Scorcese film. I think that Edward Norton’s best performance ever was in Primal Fear. I like watching raw talent start to bloom. Even when it stinks, you can see the talent beginning to gain momentum and you can sense just how badly they want to get better and better.

On the flip side, nothing is more maddening than watching someone mail it in or simply give up….

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What’s On My Tivo Alert: Monday Night!

Monday Night, after Jack Bauer further saves democracy, there is some television I think you might enjoy.

Build It Bigger profiles the brand new Dallas Cowboys Stadium on the Science Channel, Monday at 9 pm.

The DMN’s Michael Granberry reviews it before you and I can watch it …

The show is at its best in probing the engineering challenges of putting into place “the two largest interior structural arches on the planet.” Forster shows ironworkers hoisting the last of 16 steel trusses, each weighing 160,000 pounds, that will straddle “the stadium’s most visible features” – those two enormous steel arches, each one-quarter of a mile long and more than twice the length of the St. Louis arch.

He also pays homage to the down-home dudes making it all happen, ironworkers with deep Texas twangs, who allow Forster extraordinary access. As he stands atop the wind-blown roof, he shows how engineers guard against a Texas tornado. With insight and clarity, he shows how professionalism and skill are pitted against a deadline to complete a task every bit as daunting as winning a Super Bowl.Build It Bigger

9 p.m. Monday, Science Channel. 1 hr.

Here, You can see a sneak preview of it all …featuring Emmitt Smith…

And Here is a review from DallasCowboys.com …

Don’t say I didn’t tell you to record it.

Viral Video: Jason Jennings

We sent our crack investigative team to find a hot Rangers pitcher to talk to. It was no easy task considering the team ERA is above 7.00. But we were undaunted. We tracked down and stalked starter-turned-reliever Jason Jennings to talk to him about adjusting to his new role. Great camera work and editing by producer, director and caterer Ted Price.

• More from the VVV (Viral Video Vault): Marlon Byrd; Tommy Hunter

From the director’s chair: The Byrd video will be coming down on Sunday as the major league videos have only 72-hour shelf life. Jennings will be available until Tuesday a.m.

Playoff Preview Mavs-Spurs: I Dreamed a Dream

As I start typing this post, it’s T-minus four minutes and counting until the 2009 playoffs begin. Been doing some last-minute scouting work to prepare myself for tonight’s Mavs-Spurs Game 1. Vegas says the series is basically a toss-up. Noted Mavs-hater Bill Simmons calls this “San Antonio’s last stand.” The casual fandom says it doesn’t matter because no one is beating the Lakers. If that’s your take, stop reading. But you’re not a casual fan, are you? You know Tim Duncan is 10-0 in first-round series in which he’s played. You know that David Berri, associate professor of economics at Southern Utah University, says to ignore the efficiency differential and home-court advantage in this series because S.A. differential is misleading (because Gino is out) as is Dallas’ (because they’ve underachieved until March-April). Three things to watch in this series after the jump:

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Morning After: Thoughts On Rangers 12-3 Loss To K.C.

Sometimes after a good night’s sleep, you find yourself in a clearer state of mind to revisit the previous night’s game. Some thoughts.

1. The decision to pinch-hit for 3B Michael Young did not cost the Rangers the game. It is, however, a terrible message to send to the team and the fans. It was essentially a surrender. It’s OK to surrender AFTER your best guys have had their last, best chance to get back in the game. Ron Washington said he wanted to get Omar Vizquel an at-bat and some time at third. Fair enough. Why wasn’t that a consideration two nights earlier when the Rangers led 15-4 after seven innings? Baltimore had pulled its best players. Why not give Young or Ian Kinsler (who already had his cycle in hand) and Josh Hamilton the last two innings off then? It should probably be noted that after the Rangers left all their starters in, Andruw Jones got hit by a pitch that looked suspicioulsy purposeful in the bottom of the eighth. Think Baltimore was sending a message about etiquette?

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Road To Arlington: Rangers Minor League Report (4/18)

Hickory's Mike Bianucci as an Auburn Tiger in 2008

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