D

Evan: You think there is still interest in trading a catcher to BoSox? I figure if Teagarden is going to play it’ll be in Boston.

@Evan – We talked about this a little two days ago, but let’s assume for the sake of discussion that the Rangers DO drop him to 8th and there is no improvement. How long do you think before they consider running with Blalock at 1st full time and letting Chris work it out in the minors?

@Evan, thanks for the links above. Nice detail by Townsend.

I actually have to agree with Gary Cartwright (and yes I am too young to know almost all of the writers he mentions AND the newspapers). But most of the sports writing today lacks wit/humor and tends to be too fact oriented. As RJ notes, blame those real editors (and RJs piece makes it sound like all writers today are saints… whatever).

In my opinion, the thing that lead to the decline of sports writing was the lack of competition. 4 newspapers in the DFW area back in the day? Wow, how could that be a bad thing with everyone reporting the same topic they would have to be creative to have an interesting writing style. Darn real editors.

Wow.. No doubt about that one when it left the bat.

I sort’ve feel like this could shape up to be Millwood’s worst outing this season.

I also sort’ve feel like I’m the only one in here.

I am officially predicting a 10-8 style ballgame today.

@scooper… see, that’s the difference between you and me. Some people throw a dart and try to hit the bullseye. I pick up a handful of darts and hurl them at the board, hoping believing that the odds are in my favor that one of them will hit the mark.

@evan how can you say with certainty that the Rangers are not shopping an outfielder in their quest for a bullpen arm? or are you saying they are not looking for a bullpen arm?

Millwood at over 50 pitches and not out of the 2nd. Blalock error and Kinsler follows; So, what is the value of Davis in the field?
If CD stays sharp and fields would Kinsler be more ready? Would Millie throw less pitches? This could be the anatomy of a loss.

@Dylan –

But just for argument’s sake: Is it possible that isn’t going to happen? Is it possible that the Rangers are a good team that’s getting better, maturing right in front of us? They’re 23-10 since April 24, and they’ve posted a staff ERA of 3.70 in the month of May, the fourth best in the majors.

Here are a half-dozen reasons why we should believe that the Rangers are for real, and that the Angels might really be in trouble:

1. The Rangers are a good team that’s getting better. They really haven’t hit their stride offensively, with Chris Davis off to a poor start and with Josh Hamilton having been on the disabled list for much of the first two months of the season. The Rangers have been respectable on offense, ranking ninth in runs scored, but they probably haven’t hit their full stride yet.

2. They might have the best reliever in baseball right now. Spring is about to become summer and Texas closer Frank Francisco still hasn’t allowed a run. The Rangers have done a good job of protecting Francisco and the other Texas relievers, and in Francisco’s 17.2 innings, he’s allowed just 10 hits and walked five.

3. Vladimir Guerrero’s slow start. David Ortiz’s slump has been the most notorious in major league baseball this year, but Guerrero — the anchor of the Angels’ lineup for so long — is also raising eyebrows in the scouts’ section with his poor start. Activated earlier this week from the DL, having completed his rehab for a torn pectoral muscle, Guerrero is now hitting .208 with one homer in 48 at-bats this season; the single home run is his only extra-base hit.

4. The Rangers have the depth to fill holes. Texas will have the option of promoting some of its young players from a deep farm system, or perhaps using some of those pieces to make a trade for a starting pitcher. If a bidding war develops for an elite starting pitcher late this summer and the Rangers choose to flex the full muscle of their farm system in a push to win the American League West, they could outbid others for the likes of Erik Bedard.

5. Ervin Santana’s stuff. Talent evaluators who saw him in his most recent start report that Santana is throwing well enough to win, with his fastball in the range of 91-92 mph, but that his stuff is still a long way away from the overpowering repertoire he had in 2008, when he was one of baseball’s best pitchers.

6. The expected player exodus out of Seattle and Oakland. The Mariners and Athletics will consider trading some veterans before the deadline, in order to bolster their organizations for 2010 and beyond. This means that while the Rangers run through a second-half schedule that includes 21 games against Seattle and Oakland, they might not have to cope with the likes of Bedard, Matt Holliday, Brad Ziegler, Justin Duchscherer, Adrian Beltre, Jarrod Washburn and Russell Branyan.

@JohnnyMel – Thanks. Buster makes a lot of good points there.

@JohnnyMel – Like the others, thanks for that. I saw the tease on ESPN.com this morning and it had been bugging me all day…

@scooper – I’m still here. Waiting for something to happen.

Wow.. How does that ball not get caught?

@dylan: i thought you were the one who threw the handful of darts.

The thing I don’t like about AJ in the three hole. Slow and DP prone. Get Cruz up there

Wow.

Cruz is going to get splinters in his shoulder with that bat stuck up there.

I’ve been watching baseball for a long time, but I just don’t understand what constitutes a balk.

@dylan: think of a 90 degree angle (plate to rubber to first base). then draw a line at 45 degrees. on a pickoff throw, the pitcher’s front leg has to go past the 45 degree line.

@evan: i agree, it does look like he breaks that plane, but I thought it was just our angle watching on TV. I knew it was close, but, more often than not, they haven’t called it.

Thanks @scooper. Seems like that happens 97% of the time anyway.

Was gonna call BS on this injury until I saw the blood.

BIG hit by Salty. Good to see him get a clutch AB.

That AB by Kinsler was one of the worst ever. Chasing 3 straight slider’s low and away from a pitcher whose only decent pitch is a slider.

THAT was a lot better!

Spectacular inning by the kid. Makes me feel better about starting him against the BoSox in a week.

Wow… That’s the kind of break that can come back and haunt a bad team.

That slider is just making good batters look silly.

Suzuki has had a real nice game, both blocking the plate and throwing out runners, despite the bad throw on the Young dribbler.

I have no idea why he didn’t keep throwing the slider, but I’m glad he didn’t.

Tie ballgame! Take ‘em however you can.

My reverse mojo worked! (see post 4:01)

It was all part of my devious plan to snap Holland and the offense outta their funk.

I don’t like that camera view from behind home plate with the pitch coming.

Amazing. Just an amazing, resilient team we have here….

Good teams beat bad teams. What they do against other good teams isn’t so cut and dried.

That’s a major difference this year: The Rangers are beating bad teams.

Really surprised at this move, going with Frankie in the 9th. Why not bring in O’Day or Eddie and save Frankie for if they get a lead?

@Dylan: because were going to win it in the 9th, OBVIOUSLY! lol.

@dylan: we won’t “get ahead” any more, we will win the game (either in the bottom of the 9th or in extra innings).

Apparently I can’t say “Wow” again because I already said it and the boards think it is spam.

Can I just curse instead?

@scooper – Good point.

Dylan – in answer to your question, if the Rangers get a lead, then the game is over.

Wash is managing with his gut again. Thjat isn’t always good. Usually your primo closer does not come in during a tie at home.

@dylan: think positive, it will be a win! and you are right, no blown save.

I promise I typed that before the ball dropped in.

Damnit. Ian has not had a good day.

There should be a great explanation to bring Frankie – Frank on an even game. Either you’re absolubtely convinced your bottom ninth will make it happend or what? What if we don’t score, would you bring him to pitch another inning? Bringing Crush to cover 1st base was a good move, bringing Francisco in a non save situation mekes me wonder… and you start the inning with Josh Hamilton who, by the way is injuried.

Just Venting and wondering about MOMENTUM killers.

Wonder what O’Day and CJ are thinking? We are the Prep guys; Frankie is the surgeon.

3 out of 4 ain’t bad.

@TsingSao: if the game is tied going into the 9th, there will be no save situation. as soon as we get ahead, it is over. or, in this case, when they score and we don’t, it is over.

scooper, with all the respect, that’s a very mediocre way to put things up. In my mind, if you win today you go out of town with a HUGE momentum (4 game sweep of a division rival?) to face contenders (NYY & BOS). Today your momentum ‘could’ get down because:

a) You lost a home
B) with your “ace”
c) using your closer on a non save situation

The next series is a very good way to determine if we can be contenders or ppretenders… and for the most part will show you how mentally prepared are these players.

Good luck on the road!

tie game, at home, you don’t bring in your closer… period. you bring your very good arms of O’day, Eddie or (god, forgive me) CJ, he wont be questioned for those moves, because if you DONT score you still loose him for the game, or do you make him pitch the 10th?

I bring Frankie with a man on base, that’s what Im saying… otherwise I stick to the bullpen. thanx.