D

6 inches! It sounds so simple, but it takes a pro to see what needs to be dome and then to do it consistently. Kudos to Michael for adjusting and producing.

Chris can really stretch! I thought his foot stayed on the base long enough.

That blown DP looks alot like the 2008 rangers.

@Ryan: yes, it does; but c’mon, it’s only one play.

Why is Hank Blalock hitting 5th against a lefty? Or starting against a lefty, ever, for that matter?

@Evan Blalock has RISP numbers like that his whole career……$6 mil we could have spent on the bullpen…….What a complete waste before or after the slow winter…….good managers anticipate the market, Rangers sure as Hell didn’t anticipate much this offseason…….getting a coach on the cheap may be effective but he until Maddox can come out of the bullpen I’m going to complain about Hank’s $6 mil……….Dumb dumb move……..

Wow! Josh smoked that ball!

2 games. 2 homers. josh is surely officially back.

Definitely need to get Mac a permanent seat in the booth. I’m sure Hamilton would love it.

@becca: how about our boy chris? I think he’s coming out of his funk, too.

i sure hope so. it’s looking good so far.

Hank wouldn’t be so bad if he was playing against lefty and batting 5th.

Always baffling to me how much deference managers give to veterans

McCarthey looks like he’s got a big curve starting to work. Let’s hope he gets some sink on that fastball

i hate that mccarthy’s given up 3 homeruns this game. if he were padilla, he’d bean the next player. i probably would too if i could throw the ball all the way to the plate at more than 15 mph

anyone else think we need to keep our names as well as our language unoffensive?

@Ryans Dad: Davis had too much service time and too many at-bats last year to retain his rookie status for this season. The rule is no more than 130 at-bats for a position player (Davis had more than 200) and no more than 50 innings pitched for a pitcher and no more than 45 days of service time (before Sept. 1) for either.

@Deloris: Realizing we love all things Seinfeldian, just wondering if maybe we couldn’t pick a, um, more appropriate screen name like say “Man Hands” or “Low Talker” or “I don’t wanna be a Pirate” or even Crazy Joe DaVola.

But to answer your comment: The number of homers is disconcerting, but Rick Helling gave up a lot of homers, too. If McCarthy can stick around games, it doesn’t matter how many homers he allows. It will mean they have mostly come with nobody on base. He’s allowed three tonight, but still a manageable four runs.

Elvis rules!

@scooper Actually I miscommunicated on Hank’s RISP numbers……In 2008 and 2009 his RISP is 70+ lower……but 2006 and 2007 he was much better with a higher RISP……..but every year he has gone down 20-70……
There was some discusion in the media whether the Rangers would pick up the option so at least someone was thinking not to……

McCarthy might be a number 5 but I’d be real nervous if someone thought about putting him in a playoff game…….and isn’t that our “new” standard?…….

i too would enjoy knoxy in espanol. nadel knows some spanish. maybe he could tutor him.

@becca But Nadel understands what he is talking about!

Is Eddie overthrowing?

I’m guessing Lewin gets excited about his toast every morning.

wow. o’day’s stuff looked filthy.

I know it’s early in the season still… but how did we get so lucky in landing O’Day. Do the Mets really have that much relief depth that they could lose him?

@Jacob: I’m guessing if he had looked this good in NY, they would have kept him.

if we’re tied, do we bring in cj? or does o’day stay in? what if we pull ahead? who’s in charge here? i need answers!

@becca: in a tie, I’d leave O’Day in and save C.J. for when we get a lead.

remember when we had frankie? and he was available to pitch? that was awesome. would have felt good right about now.

Elvis is doing a great job as long as he doesn’t get picked

C’mon, Michael!

and there you have it, jacob becker!

wild pitch does the trick too.

darn!

which we’re really good at.

no freakin way. how the heck did he do that?

onohedidnt

holy cow. that was amazing.

Evan was that the best play you’ve seen in Texas?

I am amazed by Salty’s improvement behind the plate. Forget tonight’s earlier bad throw. he’s doing well all the things I criticized him for last year: blocking most balls in the dirt; cutting down base runners, and, most of al, framing pitches, and not lunging at them like last year.

just like pitching (and hitting), i really think good defense is contagious. with elvis playing like that, how can anyone else dare to be nonchalant?

Good to see documentary class didn’t lead to me missing a good game or anything.

ugh. my gut.

this is not going to be good for his confidence! sheesh!

Good grief.

go ahead at 3rd…time for some more timely defense and good pitching

holy crap, ceej. i mean, um, thanks for the stop, salty?

is jennings warming up yet?

i guess i should have said that this isn’t going to do anything for our confidence in him, huh?

(sigh) I may have to go check the Mavs score. Dunno if I can gut through this (sorry for the pun, becca…)

ok, so he WAS setting them up for the DP…

Thank God! I just hate the fact that everything involved with C.J. involves drama. and that’s the nice thing about Frankie – 1,2,3 is pretty common.

@scoops – that’s what it is. drama. nailed it.

Some of that “A” would be good from AON

I just want you to know that CJ and I are making great progress……ALL of you know that just a few weeks ago CJ would have found a better way to lose this game……see how our couch sessions have reeled CJ in…….just think if we didn’t have this couch time?

Anyone want to volunteer to apply Gestalt therapy to CJ?

PH for Elvis? Hmmm…

@evan: that note about C.J. scares me even more! You have to know before the pitch what you are going to do if the ball is hit to you. when you need the DP, you don’t hesitate – you throw to second immediately.

i meant nelly PHing for elvis.

i’m still shamed by my dr pepper musings.

well, we still have Omar!

obviously, wash doesn’t think he can live through another inning of C.J., either!

that, at least, was not C.J.’s fault.

who closes tomorrow?

still just one out, too.

Oh, sweet moses smell the roses.

I think it’s time to call up Madrigal and unconditionally release CJ for better or worse. If I ever run for President, that will be my platform.

@ryans dad: i’ll be your acorn-type PAC. i’ll canvas the metroplex for you.

at least we have 2, 3, and 4 coming up

way to go, Michael!

Mavs are almost out of it. FYI

that morrow cat is fond of 97 pmh fastballs. guess that’s why he’s in the majors.

double steal?

Should have bunted.

ballgame!

man, i give blalock crap. but he did it again.

hello win column!!!

sincerely,

YOUR First Place Texas Rangers

$6.5 million for Hank doesn’t look so bad now!

I do believe that’s a hit w/RISP for The Hammer.

Hank just earned some of that 6 million

I’ll be at the game tomorrow… Hopefully it is exciting as this win! Great win for the guys…

I love winning AL West series.

If this team can win with CJ on the mound and Hank in the batters box with RISP then anything is possible……..

I totally agree with Evan on the PH for Elvis. Why? But when things go counter intuitive to standard baseball logic, I already know what Wash answer will be: Gut.

I propose a rise of the proletariat to determine a “comment of the night” to be awarded in the comments the next day.

I nominate Jolly @10:42 for tomorrow.

oh I forgot and Wash making the bullpen and pinch hitting decisions with CJ and Hank as heros ….it’s a funky nirvana night……..

Not a commenter, DP. A specific comment from the past, like Jolly’s at 10:42: “If this team can win with CJ on the mound and Hank in the batters box with RISP then anything is possible……..”

also, why are there several small dots, then 2 bigger ones at the end of the comment? does the thing recognize elipsi as different punctuation marks than periods? seems so.

Morse code test… . . … . . …

@becca Thanks…I’m strickly setup

that outing is supposed to make us feel better?

Wonder who we could get for CJ from the Braves?

Or drive your sissy foreign race car.

Someone owes Blalock an apology.

Beware if you let my client slip into your dreams on another team…….if you think it is painful with him on the team just think how painful it would be for him to come back and beat you………a Freudian nightmare…..

I’ve got an idea. We could sign him to a 10 year $250,000,000 contract, then trade him to the Yankees.

Just pump him full of steroids for about three years, give him Madonna’s phone number and bodda bing, bodda bang. Problem solved.

Why do we trust DH to come in with the bases loaded and no one out and we don’t trust Andrus in the late inning with RISP and a tie game…..if you are going to baptize your young pitcher with fire then Elvis needs the same opportunity to hone his skills…..just Saying…….

Man this is a tough crowd……my kind of people…….

I guess Hamilton really is healthy if he can make that semi-diving catch and slide into home without hurting himself. sure was nervous when he dove for that fly-ball though

@ryans dad: don’t forget the part about making his lips look purple during night games. i think that has something to do with it too.

Evan: Nobody believes you.[smiley face] Sweet win .

good nite!

I’m guessing DMN never wanted to do something as comprehensive, informative and interactive as this… and that’s why Evan doesn’t work there anymore!!