D

Just a note to everyone who thinks we need to get rid of Guardado – Holland apparently follows him around like a puppy and Benson said he’s going to go sit by Eddie to learn how to be a reliever. His positive influence stretches much further than simply his ability to pitch.

Doubt I predicted here, but I always go with 100-62.

First time I did that was in 2004, and on a mailing list, I was the only one over .500. It wasn’t like price is right, so I won despite going over.

Man, this team is starting to leave way to many men on base and poor Davis will turn into Rob Deer if he is not careful.

The good news is that they get a lot of men on, so they can afford to have alot of them left on. The more runners you get – the more LOB, but also the more runs.

I’d rather leave a guy stranded than have on one on at all.

Marcus,

I think 5th would be a good place for him. He will see some good pitches with Cruz behind him.

my personal preference would be MY 3rd with Hammy 4th. I really like Andrus in the 2 hole. Brings the sac bunt to the offense, the hit and run, bat contol and energy. You waste his skills at 9. It also pushes power down to the bottom of the lineup, where you can live a little more with a KO.

I would also consider Young 5th. I WOULD NOT move Kinsler from leadoff.

@JackDaddy – I agree, but what would you think of MY at 4 behind Josh?

i think my favorite closer was akinori otsuka. he never really posted moster numbers like Zim did, though.

and didn’t his arm essentially explode in 1,000 pieces after he left the rangers?

@Evan – how many scoreless does Frankie have right now?

Hey, becca! How’s my favorite 30-year-old?

ha. i’m working. have to save to my retirement in about 8 years.

It sure seems like we’re getting those double plays to get us out of innings here lately. I really dig it.

I don’t wanna jinx him, but McCarthy is really dealing right now…

@scooper: Once again, you are right. If the Rangers decide to sit or demote Davis – something that still isn’t on the table yet – they’d most likely go to Blalock and DH Jones regularly.

@JackDaddy – just a thought
@becca – sorry. no more age cracks!

IMO, Smoak may very well end up 3rd in the lineup, but it wouldn’t be this year or next year. Remember, when Davis came up last year and was tearing everything up, Washington constantly kept him low in the lineup. I would anticipate the same with Smoak. Besides, I don’t know that anyone takes Hamilton out of the 3 hole for the foreseeable future.

Jus took a really big dump. Huge. I’m walking on air now!

@evan – do you mean the Rangers’ starters have only allowed 2 runs? You’re right, that is significant. And you’re also right that the hitters seem more relaxed.

@ raoul – way TMI

Way to go, Whip, LOL

@evan – sorry! I need to learn to read!

@scooper: My fault. Left the first three innings phrase out initially. Had to go back and fix it.

It’s time for the patented Dave Burchette peck away theory

Is Kris Benson warming up?

it’s good to see McCarthy still throwing his fastball after the grandslam.

of course, it set up another hit…but at least his attacking the plate.

@scooper: Benson is warming up, yes. I believe McCarthy is done since Benson is warming, but it would be important for McCarthy to go back out and get through at least one more inning. That to me is the idea of “pushing” guys. Want them to go a little farther, to recover after a rough inning, etc.

This is one of those innings we need to grab back a couple of runs and not let Oakland get that “shutdown” inning.

by the way, I am responsible for this loss. Just saw that AFraud is coming back Friday (who is on one of my fantasy teams) so I dropped Mike Lowell and had a spot for a pitcher. Not much left to choose from so I picked up who? You guessed B Mac. 18 seconds later he gives up 5 runs.

Nice ding dong by Crush.

Don’t lose faith in Davis!

Query? Is what Greinke doing on par with Oral Hersh crazy year with the 50 something scoreless innings? Its better than what Fat Butt did last year for Milwaukee isn’t it? I don’t think I ever seen a stretch of this kind of dominance.

Check out this line:
IP W L KO BB H ERA WHIP
45.0 6 0 54 8 30 0.40 0.84

Absolutely filthy.

ugh. gagne. i wasn’t happy when we brought him here. but i laughed the loudest when he pulled a bottom muscle after his first outing. or something like that.

Now we know why the A’s were so behind in HRs this season. They needed their fair share of Ranger’s pitching to keep up.

. . . I will not become “that” guy. . . I will not become “that” guy. . . I will not become “that guy. . .

Where’d the favorite reliever stuff come from? Anyway, I’m a Zim guy – he’s actually one of my favorite players, ever.

I once volunteered to donate an elbow ligament or 3 to him. Beyond that – Hideki Irabu.

He was great for about 3 or 4 weeks, and those were a fun 4 weeks in ’02(?).

Almanzar was a guy I liked, YOSHAAA was also good.

Time to call Martin Kove. This thing is over.

(I reserve the right to claim this is a reverse jinx later)

and after the first batter he faced, he’s shying away from his fastball. that was only 90ish mph. is there really nobody better out there?

Can somebody please get Benson a pink slip ASAP.

I think this is good – you gotta overcome adversity, and this gives McCarthy a chance. Assuming he’s not on the DL in the morning.

I blame everything on ana benson. Feldman didn’t want to be in pen and Benson didn’t want to be in pen. I think you saw and are seeing the results. My sense is that by June 1, Mr. Ana Benson will be off this team and somebody from AAA (AJ Murray?) will be on the squad. Feldman will hold down the spot until he falters a few times and then Holland will take his spot (unless B Mac or Padilla get hurt first)

Not sure how we started talking about favorite relievers. I think it related to a discussion on FrankFranc. I like segues off topic. Keeps things lively.

I needed a game where my stress level could come down.

Bob, you’re right. AJ Murray needs to replace the corpse of Eddie Guardado.

Vaughan to replace Benson? Diamond if he can get healthy (though he was underwhelming). My choice? Doug Mathis.

@Bob – I’d rather have too many lefties than too few; Murray will be here, we need to see what he can do.
@Jack – you have a point, but I’d happily be stressed every day through the World Series!

Scoop, no major league staff is gonna carry 4 LHPs.

Mathis could be it.

btw, you let Benson and Guardado finish this trainwreck no matter what – I don’t care if they score 30 and their arms literally fall off (which is a distinct possibility with Eddie’s still living corpse).

Ben Vareen is already in the ballpark. Throw him in!

@JD–

you are so right; then ship those 2 off and ship AJ and Mathis in. And then close your eyes and hope for the best. Things will be bumpy this year with this middle-relief corps

@All: Benson’s first outing has been rough. Or rather pretty miserable. But again, you can’t simply take his first career outing as a reliever as the ultimate litmus test. He’s due more time to get situated in this long man role. How much time? I’m not sure. BUt more than one appearance.

Evan – agree, but this isn’t based on one outing. He has looked horrible all year (his era was 9 coming in), his stuff is average at best and he’s not part of the future or the present. I would rather take the lumps with Mathis, Bannister or Diamond.

I like Evan’s idea on sitting the old dog’s at this point and re-setting for the weekend series. Will it happen? Doubtful.

first place texas rangers! day 2!

Golson in CF, Vizquiel at 2b, but Young still at 3rd?

ahhh, you mean b/c they got Eddie up. Man, I really got flustered there for a minute. Seriously, my face is all red. Good lesson in any event not to be so mean spirited.

@JD – please tell me you’re being facetious (it’s hard to tell in writing!)

Scooper – I was actually being serious. I REALLY thought Evan meant they were reading this stuff (it’s been a long day at work and I’m fried). I definitly paniced for a second!!!

But it did make me feel bad for the shots at Guardado.

I’ll try to make it. I REALLY was being serious! But I am a goofball at the same time. I feel bad when I think I’ve hurt someone’s feelings, even if they are athaletes that made more money playing for a month than I make all year!!

Be honest, if you thought those guys were reading this stuff, you wouldn’t feel bad busting Benson’s balls about his wife? Or referring to Guardado as his “barely lifeless corpse”? (which is really funny, by the way).

I am afraid if I go though that I’ll “Chris Farley” Kinsler to death.

I can just see it now:

Jack Daddy: “Hey Ian – umm, remember when you hit that home run off Danks? Umm, that was cool.”

Kinsler: “What the hell is wrong with you, dude?”

And if they bother to read this stuff, I’m guessing it’s because Evan shows it to them for a laugh!