Post-Game Show: White Sox 4, Rangers 3

So, what’s the story tonight?

• Whatever the lesson that Derek Holland learned tonight?

• Is Scott Feldman a starter or a swing man?

• Just how opportunistic is the offense after getting the tying run to second base with one out in the eighth and then ending the inning with a pair of first-pitch swings?

Viral Video: Jon Daniels On April

Superstar Video Producter Ted Price was at Rangers Ballpark today, so we shot a bunch of videos and we’ll be spacing them out over the next couple of days. GM Jon Daniels stopped by our expensive set to discuss the significance of the first month of the season. It only took Daniels two takes to get the interview down. Perfectionist.

The Depot: Live Game Blog, News, Notes And InsideCorner Night Update

Sorry, the train’s been a little late pulling out from The Depot tonight. Was in the back of the media room trying to nail down some options for InsideCorner Night. You know, booking guests, haggling on ticket prices, planning the fun menu, etc. So, let’s get down to baseball.

7:28: Updates on IC Night coming. RHP Scott Feldman blazed through the first two innings on just 20 pitches and retired all six hitters. He got five ground ball outs. Ian Kinsler hit another leadoff homer in the first. It’s 1-0. Consider yourself caught up.

7:41: See the little fella to the left. That’s Nolan Ryan or at least a reasonable facsimilie thereof. Some 20,000 of the little replica statues will be handed out tomorrow as the Rangers celebrate a weekend of Ryan’s accomplishments. Tonight is the 18th anniversary of Ryan’s seventh no-hitter. The statue, a  replica of the lifesize figure that sits in Vandergriff Plaza at Rangers Ballpark, is based on a phot taken of Ryan after he reached his 5,000th strikeout on August 22, 1989.

7:47: No home run pool winners tonight. Nobody took the leadoff option. Ian Kinsler now has a pair of leadoff homers in the last week and seven for his career.

7:53: Green is your winning dot. Feldman continues to deal.

8:15: Latest edition of Viral Video is up starring Rangers GM Jon Daniels. May take a few moments before the HD version is ready. I’m much more handsome in HD.

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Homer Pool Of The Day

Pick a Ranger, any Ranger, to hit the team’s first homer of the night. Pick the inning and the number of men on base. Get it right and you win free stuff! And who doesn’t love free stuff? First tie-breaker is count; second tie-breaker is estimated distance. If you pick no homers for the Rangers, please predict the total number of runs they will score.

Here’s your Rangers lineup, sans Josh Hamilton,  against Chicago LHP Mark Buehrle (who has a no-hitter against Texas): 2B Ian Kinsler, CF Marlon Byrd, 3B Michael Young (1 HR in 45 at-bats vs. Buehrle), LF Andruw Jones, DH Hank Blalock, RF Nelson Cruz, 1B Chris Davis (1 HR in 3 at-bats), C Taylor Teagarden, SS Elvis Andrus and pitching for the Rangers. … RHP Scott Feldman.

Texas Rangers Place Josh Hamilton On Disabled List, Recall Max Ramirez From Oklahoma City

ARLINGTON - The Rangers thought they might try to wait out Josh Hamilton’s pesky rib cage muscle strain, but only if they didn’t have any other medical issues crop up in the meantime.

The arrival of a new medical problem – C Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s eye irritation – combined with the team’s desire to let Hamilton completely rest the injury for a bit forced the Rangers’ hand Friday.  Saltalmacchia, who left Thursday’s game early,  was not at Rangers Ballpark Friday. Doctors suggested he stay in a dark room for the day to help alleviate the irritation. Saltalamacchia could be back as early as Saturday, doctors weren’t sure exactly how long it would take to alleviate the irritation, which had spread from his left eye to the right.

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Homestand Helper: Rangers Vs. Chicago White Sox

Call this the abridged version. We’ll have the rest of the weekend’s festivities up shortly. In the meantime, in case you are sitting on the fence about tonight’s game, here’s a little info.

Friday: Rangers vs. Chicago White Sox, 7:05 p.m. (KRLD-105.3 FM, FOX SW)

Probable starters: Rangers RHP Scott Feldman (1-0, 7.71 ERA) vs. LHP Mark Buehrle (3-0, 3.00 ERA)

Worth noting: Buehrle once complained of mysterious lights in the outfield that he claimed were being used to signal Rangers hitters about what pitches were about to be thrown. It seems odd he’d make that complaint since he’s had no real trouble in Texas. He is 3-1 with a 2.61 ERA in Arlington and has pitched at least seven innings in all four of his starts. Buehrle also no-hit the Rangers in 2007 in Chicago.

Giveaways/Promotions: Big Bang Friday Fireworks, presented by Windmill Suites

Ticket deals: FANtastic Fireworks Fridays. Enter FIREWORKS as the coupon code on texasrangers.com to purchase tickets regularly-priced up to $25 for only $10.  Plus, all cash parking will be just $5.  Offer is also available in person at Rangers Ballpark or via phone at 972-RANGERS, all compliments of 105.3 The Fan.

Derby Time

Make the jump to get my horse-by-horse analysis of the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby along with selections for what appears to be a wide-open classic.

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Derrick Turnbow Released

RHP Derrick Turnbow has exercised the “out” in his minor league contract that allowed him to request his release if not in the majors by May 1. Turnbow didn’t exactly make a strong case to break into a bullpen that has struggled by compiling an 8.53 ERA in 6.1 innings at Triple-A Oklahoma. Most shocking statistic he had down there: Nine walks and one strikeout. Ouch.

Mavericks – Nuggets: A Closer Look At The Season Sweep

The number we keep hearing is that Denver is 4-0 against Dallas in the regular season. What does that mean? Is it as one-sided as that number indicates?

Yes and No.

Yes, because the Nuggets built leads in most of the games, and figured out ways to win the close games. They beat the Mavs in a game without Carmelo, and they beat the Mavs in a game without Nene.

No, because the Mavericks team we see now has nothing to do with a Mavs team that had Devean George, Gerald Green, and James Singleton all start games in this season series. Josh Howard did not play at all in a 2 of the games, and played hurt in the other 2.

The question in this series is who will help Dirk score. He gets big production in pretty much every game against Denver so this idea that Kenyon is going to give him grief is not really based on past results. Jet will score, too. But beyond that, the Mavs could not count on much. That will have to change.

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May Day, May Day: It’s Time To Vote

Need your input people for the April InsideCorner Rangers Player of the Month Award. The winner will get a laurel and hearty handshake.  Here’s how the voting works. I suggest some nominees. You vote. I’ll tabulate, though I may truck in some Florida election officials to help me out, if need be. Anyway, I promise to run a fair and clean election. Here are your nominees in alphabetical order:

• Frank Francisco: Did not allow an earned run in 10.2 innings over 10 appearances as he converted all six save opportunities presented to him.

• Ian Kinsler: Hit for the cycle and went 6-for-6 on the way to hitting .322 for the month; leads team in homers (7), RBIs (20) and steals (7).

• Kevin Millwood: Has pitched at least seven innings in all five starts, including a complete game and a 121-pitch outing and is fifth in AL with 2.13 ERA.

• Michael Young: Became first player to ever hit three ninth-inning homers in a span of five days to either tie the game or give his team the lead. Hit .295 with six homers and 13 RBIs.

Polls are now open. They close at 7:05 tonight.

Road To Arlington: Rangers Minor League Report (5/1)

There have been a few early-season disappointments among the Rangers top prospects. Mostly it’s been the pitchers in Bakersfield, which is quite possibly the worst place in the world for a pitcher to try and put up numbers. RHP Michael Main has struggled mightily. RHP Blake Beavan hasn’t gotten on track like he will eventually. LHP Tim Murphy’s ERA is pretty bloated right now.

But for every one heralded prospect who has struggled so far, there are two major breakouts in progress and none is more stunning than the one being staged by the guy you are looking at right now.

I think it’s official.

A star is born. Or at least another legitimate top prospect.

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