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The Depot: Live Game Blog, Notes, News And TV Talk (4/19 Vs. Royals)

If, like me, you missed J. Buffett in Frisco last night to watch/attend Rangers, then here is the set list. Not terribly upset now that I missed the show. Would have liked to see “Coast of Carolina,” but the rest of the non-standards didn’t blow me over.

Gotta go get into pre-production for big Rangers Live! debut coming up at 1:30 CDT. But a couple of quick points about today’s lineup”

• Ron Washington said Chris Davis’ off day is just an off day and that it won’t extend into next week. So Davis gets today and tomorrow (an off day for the whole team), then faces Roy Halladay on Tuesday. Not necessarily the best recipe for breaking a slump.

• Josh Hamilton IS playing today, though I thought he might get a day off. Hamilton is hitless the last two games with four strikeouts in seven at-bats. He has junked the swing changes he made for spring training and gone back to the “toe-tap” starting mechanism. But the problem isn’t just mechanical. Hamilton is swinging at almost every first pitch that comes his way. He’s jumping at them. That’s a mental adjustment he’ll have to make. In Rudy Jaramillo’s world, it’s most important to get the foot down early, but to hold the swing back as long as possible. Hamilton appears to be getting his foot down late and the rest of his body is rushing to keep up with it.

2:35: The Rangers scored two runs in the first by breaking from their season-long trend of hacking at the first pitch. They let Kyle Davies get himself in trouble by working their way to walks. The Rangers had four walks in the inning and scored twice. Entering Sunday, the Rangers were officially the most aggressive team in the league, taking the first pitch only 67.8 percent of the time. Only Tampa Bay (69.4) took it less than 71.5 percent. Eight teams took the first pitch at least 74 percent of the time with Boston (80.3) leading the league. It seems every April, the Rangers have to take a remedial course in plate discipline.

2:41: To replace LHP Derek Holland at Oklahoma City, RHP Beau Vaughn, who had been transferred only a day earlier to Double-A Frisco, was transferred back to Oklahoma City.

2:43: Oh, by the way, the lead the Rangers carved out in the first? Gone. Mike Jacobs hit a two-run homer  off Vicente Padilla to tie the game at two in the top of the third.

3:00: You know, Josh Hamilton, who has struck out in his first two at-bats today, has whiffed in six of his last nine at-bats. He’s hitless in those nine at-bats too, by the way.

3:02: Not sure about the strategy, but it worked out for K.C. manager Trey Hillman. After Vicente Padilla walked No. 9 hitter Mitch Maier to lead off the third, Hillman had Coco Crisp lay down a sacrifice bunt. Yes, Crisp entered the game hitting .216, but he was 6-for-12 against Padilla in his career. The Rangers were on the verge of getting out of the inning, but David DeJesus singled to score the tying run.

3:27: Royals scored one in fourth to take lead again. How much worse does inning get if Elvis Andrus doesn’t make alert cut off play and throw back to first to get Mike Jacobs wandering too far off the base?

3:37: Do not believe I have ever seen a sub 60 mph curveball from Vicente Padilla. Until now. Just registered at 59. After a 65 mph curve a minute ago. That must have been the sharp curve.

3:40: Blue won dot race. Quickly becoming highlight of the day.

3:45: And that’s seven strikeouts in Hamilton’s last 10 at-bats. His body language suggests somebody who is mentally beaten. Not physically tired, but mentally fried.  That’s why today would have been a good day, in my opinion, to give him rest.

4:34: Hamilton does not strike out. Pops out to third baseman in foul territory. I remain convinced today should have been a day for him to get away from this slump.

4:52: Go figure this team. I have to go get on set for the FOX Post-Game Show. Be back later with a colum regardless of how this game comes out.