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Post-Game Show: Rangers 7, Mariners 1

You can go over several different aspects of this game:

• A Rangers starter (in this case, Scott Feldman) outlasting another opponent’s starter (in this case Jason Vargas).

• The first major league win of Derek Holland.

• Several quality at-bats with two strikes in the seventh inning that produced important add-on runs.

• A second consecutive encouraging performance at the plate by Chris Davis.

• Oh, that Josh Hamilton dude. I hear he hit a home run.

So, discuss and prioritize while Jeff Miller and I are downstairs talking to the players and staff about the things we believe to be most significant tonight.

Frank Francisco Unavailable

The Rangers closer will be unavailable at least through the Seattle series after being diagnosed with biceps tendonitis. Francisco complained of shoulder soreness over the weekend – after he pitched in three consecutive games – and received both an MRI exam and an injection of anti-inflammatories on Tuesday. GM Jon Daniels said the Rangers believe Francisco suffered the injury after working out following the three straight days of appearances and not because of the pitching workload. Daniels is hopeful Francisco may play catch on Wednesday and possibly throw a bullpen session before the weekend. But Daniels also indicated the DL is a possibility.

Francisco, who has had two arm surgeries including the Tommy John procedure in 2005, had not pitched on three consecutive days in major league games since 2007. He was asked to get a four-out save at Seattle last Monday. The next day, he warmed up three different times before entering the game with a five-run lead in the 10th inning. Manager Ron Washington indicated a desire to refrain from using Francisco a third day, but still brought him in with a one-run lead last Wednesday.  He ended up throwing 52 pitches over the three-day span and has not been used since.

“We’ve got confidence in a lot of guys, but obviously he’s a big part of what we are doing here,” Daniels said. “Frankie seemed to think he hurt it working out. We’re going to look at his shoulder maintenance program and see what we can do. We’ll just have to look at that and how he prepares for games.”

Francisco moved into the closer’s role last August 25 and has not allowed an earned run in that role, but his 27.1-inning streak pre-dates his promotion to closer. Francisco replaced LHP Eddie Guardado, who replaced LHP C.J. Wilson after Wilson went on the DL last July to have bone chips removed from his elbow. Daniels said Washington is likely to use Wilson as his first option to close games in Francisco’s absence, but the team could also try to mix-and-match relievers depending on the situation.

The Depot: Live Game Blog, News, Notes And Kevin Millwood Chat

The Good Lord willing and the creeks don’t rise – used to be a favorite phrase of Johnny Oates – we will have Kevin Millwood here tomorrow at 2 pm CT for a chat of about 45 minutes. Millwood will answers questions about all things related to Rangers pitching, the big AL West homestand and the Rangers’ season.

7:31: Closer RHP Frank Francisco is unavailable for the Seattle series due to biceps tendonitis.

7:42: Updated the Francisco story.  Bottom line: With a guy who has had two significant arm surgeries in his career, the Rangers have to err on the side of caution with any decision. The club has the option to place him on the DL, retroactive to May 7, which means he wouldn’t be eligible to pitch until May 22 at Houston. At worst, it’s a big blow for at least two weeks. At best, it’s a reminder the Rangers have to be extremely careful with his workload and his workouts.

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Homer Pool: Bizzaro Seinfeld Edition

If you are a Seinfeld nerd like me (and Josh Lewin and Jon Daniels), then you are well aware of the Bizarro Jerry episode in which Elaine finds herself a new pack of friends to hang out with who resemble Jerry, George and Kramer in stature, but not at all in personality. Two members of the Bizzaro pack are the Bizarro Kramer (“we just call him Feldman”) and the Bizarro Newman (“Hello, Vargas!”). Well, tonight’s pitching matchup of Scott Feldman vs. Seattle’s Jason Vargas would make Seinfeld co-creater Larry David happy (yeah, like that’s possible). It’s the Bizarro Seinfeld pitching matchup. Expect Josh Lewin to be asking who is the Gene (George) and the Kevin (Jerry) in this whole deal tonight. In the dugout before the game, the matchup also dawned on Daniels, who asked me, “Hey, wait about the Bizarro Jerry episode, what were. …” and then I interrupted him by saying I was all over it.

That said, you just wanna play homer pool. So here is the Man Hands lineup, which includes the just-activated Josh Hamilton, that the Rangers will send to the plate against Vargas: 2B Ian Kinsler, 3B Michael Young, CF Josh Hamilton, DH Andruw Jones, LF Marlon Byrd, RF Nelson Cruz, 1B Chris Davis, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia and SS Elvis Andrus. Of course pitching for the Rangers will be Feldman … from across the hall.

Flame on everybody!

Dr Pepper Says: Pick A Pack Of Pepper Pitchers, Procure A Pack Of Pepper Prizes

He also says: “Say it five times fast.”

The fine folks at Dr Pepper and the Dr Pepper Facebook fan page are all about giving even more free stuff out. So, they had me come up with another contest. So, here’s the deal: For each of the next five weeks, we’re going to give you the opportunity to pick a group of Rangers pitchers who will lead the team in various categories for the week (which will run Monday through Saturday) . It’s simple: I’ll give you the categories and you pick the pitcher who will lead the team. You get the pitcher right, you get a point, you get his total in that particular category for the week right as well and you get a second point. You can also earn extra points (with me, but not in this game) by going to the Dr Pepper Facebook Fan page and registering as an official fan. The Dr Pepper prize pack details are being finalized, but they include many goodies.

Understand the concept? I hope so. But just in case, I’ll give you my sample picks for the week along with the entry form. All picks must be in before the first game of the week, which in this week’s case is 7:05 p.m. tonight:

Innings pitched: Kevin Millwood, 7
Strikeouts: Frank Francisco, 6
Walks: Scott Feldman, 5
Pitches thrown: Millwood, 116
Hits allowed: Brandon McCarthy, 8
Staff ERA: 4.11

Got it? I reserve the right to tweak the contest rules for next week, but for now, you have your rules and your model. Go.

Viral Video: Rangers Roundtable In A Square Booth

You didn’t think we’d gather the peeps at Pappadeaux and not argue baseball, did you? Special guest Jamey Newberg of The Newberg Minor League Report and Bob Sturm of, well, everywhere joined the videographer extraordinaire (and the guy who ordered chicken fingers at a a seafood restaurant) Ted Price and myself to talk baseball before last night’s Home Run Happy Hour.

McCarthyism: Brandon McCarthy On Facing The White Sox, The Danks Trade And Dealing With Weather

For this installment of Brandon McCarthy’s Blogiary™  (that’s a combination blog entry/diary), I thought it was important that he address the idea of facing his original club, the Chicago White Sox, for the first time since being traded here in 2006 and that he discuss how he handles the constant comparisons to John Danks since they were traded for one another. Also, McCarthy’s win over the White Sox in Texas was delayed twice by rain (at the start and again before the game became official). McCarthy is a creature of habit, though he’s made strides in not being quite as obsessive about details and routines, so I wondered how two delays affected him. Read on:

“If three years ago someone had told me that years later fans would still be talking about the Danks/McCarthy trade, I wouldn’t have believed it. Maybe I thought it would work out differently, or I may have just been naive, but whatever the case may be I still get a lot of questions about it. My answer is pretty simple: I don’t really care about it.

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Homestand Helper: Rangers vs. Seattle Mariners

The Rangers begin a huge homestand this week that could set a tone for the summer. Seattle, which the Rangers swept in a two-game series in Seattle last week, is followed by the red hot Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Angels enter the week having won four in a row, but are hosting the Boston Red Sox before coming to Texas. The Angels have dealt with a rash of injuries (to John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Vladimir Guerrero) and grief (the tragic death of Nick Adenhart), but have closed to within a half-game in the West. Lackey could be back by the weekend as could Santana and even Guerrero is a possibility. Much more on that series to come. But before that potential early-season showdown, the Rangers face Seattle.

Tuesday: Rangers vs. Mariners, 7:05 p.m. (KRLD-105.3 FM, FOX SW)

Probable starters: Rangers RHP Scott Feldman (2-0, 5.79 ERA) vs. LHP Jason Vargas (1-0, 0.00)

Worth noting: Since moving into the starting rotation, Feldman has a 3.24 ERA. Feldman, however, is seeking his first win at home as a starter in more than a year. He beat Oakland on May 9, 2008. Since then, Feldman is 0-3 at home as a starter; the Rangers are 1-10 in those games although he has qualified for a quality start in five of them and pitched at least six innings in eight of them.

Giveaways/Promotions: None.

Ticket deals: Free Kid Tuesday. Tickets for kids 13 and under are free in all seating sections, excluding All You Can Eat Seats.  One free child ticket is available with every full-price adult ticket purchased.

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Game 4: Mavs 119, Nuggets 117 (3-1, Denver)

For the second consecutive home game, it was 48 minutes of high tension playoff basketball for the Dallas Mavericks.  And, for the second consecutive home game, it came down to the final 30 seconds.  And while it was not with any degree of ease, the Mavericks figured out a way to close the deal, get a win, and extend their 2008-09 season for at least another 48 hours and another flight to Denver, Colorado for game 5 on Wednesday.

It was a game that was impossible to feel good about until the very end.  The Mavericks could never reel in the Nuggets for the entire game.  In fact, for what must have been a dozen times, the Mavs would mount a surge only to  be pounded over the head with an answer for Denver.  Make no mistake, Denver was trying to drive a dagger.  They were ready to relax and let Houston and the Lakers fight it out.  But, in a game where it would have been easy to tap out and quit, the Mavs showed some real fight and determination not to let their season end in front of the home fans.

Is it delaying the inevitable?  Almost certainly.  But, is there ever a bad reason to fight and show pride?  I can’t think of one in the playoffs.

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“Home Run Happy Hour” At Pappadeaux Is A Grand Slam

Fans lined up for autographs. (Photo by R.P. Washburne)

What if you threw a happy hour party and everybody came? Last night Evan pulled off a great show over at Pappadeaux on Oak Lawn—over 350 folks turned up to meet and greet Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Marlon Byrd, Scott Feldman, Taylor Teagarden, and Chris Davis. Long-time Rangers radio guy Eric Nadel stopped in for a surprise visit. InsideCorner’s ace photographer R.P. Washburne was there and sends a few pictures. You might as well jump.

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Road To Arlington: Rangers Minor League Report (5/12)

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