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The Depot: Live Game Blog, News And Notes

Posted on May 20th, 2009 6:02pm by Evan Grant
Filed under Baseball, Live blogs, Texas Rangers

Let’s get it started. …

6:25: LHP Matt Harrison hits 96 on radar gun in Detroit in the first inning. I really don’t remember him being a guy who had this kind of velocity when he joined the organization. I thought the velocity ranged from 90-93. If he’s touching 95-96, he potentially vaults himself into a whole new stratosphere.

6:38: Frank Francisco threw in a simulated game environment Wednesday and reported no discomfort, according to assistant GM Thad Levine. If there are no issues, Francisco could be activated from the DL on Friday.

6:43: The Rangers enter the third inning having no hits for the last 10 innings. Is bad, no?

6:46: Make that 11 innings.

6:56: As the Rangers pile up the strikeouts, I should mention that the Rangers strikeout on a more frequent basis than any other team in the league. The Rangers entered the game with 307 strikeouts in 38 games, the third highest total in the AL, but they had played fewer games than Tampa Bay and Cleveland. As a result, the Rangers’ average of 8.07 Ks per game was the worst in the league.

7:05: Rangers turn the fifth triple play in history on Gerald Laird’s liner to Ian Kinsler that he flipped to Elvis Andrus. Made it look amazingly easy.

7:07: Last triple play was in 2002. Vs. Seattle. The scoring on that triple play went 1-6-2-5-1-4.

7:08: Other triple plays vs. Boston (2001), New York Yankees (1999), and Oakland (1977).

7:41: If Ron Washington puts a rookie making his major league debut in the third spot in the lineup, he gets questioned. If Jim Leyland does it, he gets plaudits. Perks of tenure, I guess.

7:44: Here’s an unrelated question that’s been bothering me (seriously): Does the Dirk Nowitzki-Crystal Whoeversheis story get the same play if she’s what most people would consider classicly attractive. It almost seems like there is an undercurrent to the story that is “Hey, Dirk got duped by a homely chick, wow!” Maybe it’s just me, but that’s the feeling I get.

7:49: 94 pitches for Harrison in five-plus innings before he’s lifted. It’s still just 4-1 with the bottom third of the order coming to the plate. Not sure I’d take him out there.

8:25: Telling sequence of pitches against the Rangers in the eighth. Against Joel Zumaya, Nelson Cruz, looking for fastballs, gets three straight breaking balls and strikes out as the go-ahead run with a runner on third base. Then Chris Davis, who has been surprisingly late on a lot of fastballs this year, gets three straight at 98 mph or above and strikes out.

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70 Comments to “The Depot: Live Game Blog, News And Notes”
  • scooper @ May 20th, 2009 at 6:05 pm

    Hey, Evan! You were great on the pre-game show!

  • Ryan s @ May 20th, 2009 at 6:13 pm

    evan-next time I’m around you I will be sure to avoid the B Sheets questions!

  • Evan Grant @ May 20th, 2009 at 6:15 pm

    @Scooper: Thanks. Had to go buy a new tie so I wouldn’t be repeating wardrobe already.

    @Ryan s: I’m a little bit vehement on the Sheets thing, aren’t I?

  • scooper @ May 20th, 2009 at 6:18 pm

    @Evan: I can’t believe they won’t let you wear Hawaiian shirts on the set!

  • obagain @ May 20th, 2009 at 6:18 pm

    Someone needs to invent a reversable tie for you so you dont have to waste money on goofy ties.

  • obagain @ May 20th, 2009 at 6:22 pm

    96 on the gun. Great pitch to get him.

  • scooper @ May 20th, 2009 at 6:30 pm

    Matty better be good, because Verlander is dealin’ tonight!

  • obagain @ May 20th, 2009 at 6:40 pm

    He is not as sharp as he has been lately but still good.
    Looks like he is a little slower tonight.
    Dont know if that is him or just the men on base.

  • JustSaying @ May 20th, 2009 at 6:42 pm

    I think this is another one of those asterick games…..if Harrison can outdual this hot team that has been death to the Rangers then we’ll know we have a top of the rotation guy……..or we’ll have another indicator……….

  • obagain @ May 20th, 2009 at 6:43 pm

    If he can go 7 with 3 or fewer runs I will be happy either way.

  • becca @ May 20th, 2009 at 6:47 pm

    has detroit had success against anyone else like they have with the rangers? or are we just lucky?

  • scooper @ May 20th, 2009 at 6:47 pm

    Guys, I really believe that Harry is for real. Did you catch Kevin Millwood the other day when he said that Harry might have the best “stuff” on the team? That may have been an exaggeration, but I don’t think he would have said it if there wasn’t some truth to it.

  • obagain @ May 20th, 2009 at 6:47 pm

    The bright spot is verlander has thrown 49 pitches thru 3 so if we keep that pace he wont make it to the 7th.

  • scooper @ May 20th, 2009 at 6:48 pm

    @becca: they’ve been pretty good recently.

  • obagain @ May 20th, 2009 at 6:52 pm

    I’m still worried about teagarden, he seems to lose a lot of balls, that indicates a lack of focus.

  • obagain @ May 20th, 2009 at 6:56 pm

    Hopefully he makes a mistake because the rangers are looking bad right now.

  • becca @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:04 pm

    the triple play?!

  • scooper @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:04 pm

    Triple Play!

  • obagain @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:05 pm

    Triple play, maybe that will wake them up.

  • Brent @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:05 pm

    Did Young just tell Harrison to throw the triple-play pitch?

  • becca @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:06 pm

    @brent: must have. the young guy, he’s a leader, alright.

  • AJM @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:07 pm

    Ian blew it — it could have been an unassisted triple play, if he’d not thrown it to Andrus.

  • obagain @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:07 pm

    No no-no tonight!

  • becca @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:08 pm

    AND a hit. looks like the rangers just put on their big boy baseball pants! they’re ready to play!

  • obagain @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:09 pm

    And the rally is on!

  • Kaisersoze @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:14 pm

    In related news, Gerald Laird just changed his number to 13. One player, three outs.

  • scooper @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:14 pm

    time for TT to connect.

  • scooper @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:15 pm

    way to go, Taylow!

  • becca @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:15 pm

    and who was down on teagarden? ha! i kid, i kid…

  • obagain @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:16 pm

    There we go, now let’s score 3 more!

  • obagain @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    Verlander approaching 90 pitches already.

  • obagain @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:18 pm

    Surely they pitch around kins to load them up.

  • scooper @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:18 pm

    at least Elvis moved the runners over.

  • scooper @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:19 pm

    Nah! they’ll look at that road average and think he can’t hit! Yeah, right!

  • Brent @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:20 pm

    @Kaisersoze – Line of the Week

  • obagain @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

    95 pitches now.

  • Kaisersoze @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

    I posted that just so Evan could use it.

  • GeauxRangers @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:25 pm

    at least it is tied up

  • obagain @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:25 pm

    Well, I have a softball game so I gotta go, yall dont celebrate too hard after we win this one tonight.

  • scooper @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:25 pm

    I think this is the game where we break our losing streak in Detroit. the gods seem to be smiling on us.

  • GeauxRangers @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:27 pm

    42 pitch inning for Verlander. He can’t be in there much longer

  • becca @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:32 pm

    oh. that didn’t look so good. you think if harrison gets the loss, they’ll talk about breaking up the happy couple? surely it would take more than just one throwing error and one (hopefully not) unstellar game from harrison. i bet i’m jumping the gun. ok. i am. please disregard.

  • becca @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:34 pm

    yeah, totally jumped. harrison got out of the inning and looked good doing it.

  • scooper @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:34 pm

    @becca: no problem! they are still a happy couple!

  • Brent @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:40 pm

    Ranger Pitching Fun Fact – As of right now, Verlander and Harrison have the exact same ERA — 3.99.

  • scooper @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:48 pm

    @brent: was that before or after the home runs?

  • Brent @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:49 pm

    Ranger Pitching Fun Fact (Update) – Harrison’s ERA increased 0.54 in less than 8 minutes.

  • Auditor @ May 20th, 2009 at 7:55 pm

    Guess who is BBWAA Badge #238 and Dallas area Chapter Chairperson?

    http://bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1765&Itemid=111

  • Dustin Pedroia @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:02 pm

    They should yank his card!!!

  • scooper @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:04 pm

    the only thing I had right in the Home Run Pool was who would hit it.

  • adiosmofo @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:06 pm

    Anybody got a distance on the HR? looked large

  • becca @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:06 pm

    i want to know why in general catchers aren’t better hitters. they understand delivery and movement of pitchers so much better than most batters, you would think. but beside pudge and piazza, there haven’t been a ton lately that are just killing balls.

  • becca @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:09 pm

    the dirk thing – i think it’s just getting so much play because there hasn’t been any real drama with dirk while he’s been in the nba. he’s not making 7 babies a year, playing with semi-automatic weapons, not getting busted with the weed (looking at you josh howard)…that the story just has legs because it’s something out of the ordinary for dirk. and my two cents was spent.

    now back to the baseballs.

  • scooper @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:13 pm

    @becca: several reasons. 1) the wear and tear on their bodies (knees and hands in particular). 2) they are not usually as athletic (as youngsters, coaches don’t put their best athletes at catcher). 3) most catchers are told to concentrate on their defense (coaches consider offense from a catcher as “gravy”). If you are a really good hitter, they’ll try you out at other positions to avoid the wear and tear so that you can avoid wearing down (see Craig Biggio). I’m sure there are more reasons, but that is just off the top of my head.

  • adiosmofo @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:17 pm

    Dirk– what she said. Plus, he’s white

  • scooper @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:21 pm

    What Tom is saying about Zumaya’s fastballs (and not having a curve) is correct. Also, they’ve been seeing good fastballs all game.

  • Jeremy @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:25 pm

    I’d like to see Davis get a few RBIs here.

  • scooper @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:25 pm

    Dirk – I agree w/ becca and adios, but evan has a good point. people are used to pro athletes dating gorgeous women. it’s understandable to date a “homely” woman if she has other outstanding qualities. But to get duped by a “homely” woman means you got screwed all the way around.

  • jcouch @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:27 pm

    all or nothing rangers… DAMN IT

  • Jeffrey @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:29 pm

    no excuse for only getting 1 run when you have the bases loaded with no outs

  • Kaisersoze @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    The opposing pitcher throwing 100 mph isn’t a valid excuse?

  • Jeffrey @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:37 pm

    cruz didn’t strike out on 100 mph pitches. and the first three batters teed-off on his 100 mph pitches.

  • becca @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:37 pm

    is it smart to bat hamilton? hope it works out.

  • JustSaying @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:38 pm

    If Verlander goes 6 or 7 then Harrison needs to go 8 or 9…..well that happen……

    Rudy is taking a beating in these games……his plays are just not getting thru……

  • JustSaying @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:52 pm

    I wonder if any opposing players will growl low or bark slightly in the lane……..just saying it could be a one way ticket to his head…..

  • I'm With Incaviglia @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:54 pm

    Yo Evan…I would have stuck with a Hawaiian shirt.

  • dic @ May 20th, 2009 at 8:57 pm

    EVAN: When is the next meeting at Pappadeaux’s?

  • lsbs @ May 20th, 2009 at 9:11 pm

    Our free swinging Ranger hitters vs. Justin Verlander on his game = Advantage Detroit…heavily.

    Harrison can’t pitch like an ace EVERY single time. Dude is solid and a big piece to the puzzle.

    Inside Corner…lovin’it! From the viral videos to the depot…good stuff. E.G., glad to see you get to do what you were meant to do. Get you some face time.

    And…F the tigers, albeit gently. That is all.

  • JustSaying @ May 20th, 2009 at 9:13 pm

    I like the blue and gold….

  • JustSaying @ May 20th, 2009 at 9:29 pm

    @evan I think you need to get The Ghost of Billy Martin on this show……..I know billy could kick up some dust…….