Guess the yanks doing a rain dance

They were just discussing this on the Ticket – it looks like Michael Lewis’ ground-breaking baseball book, Moneyball, is going to hit the big screen, with Brad Pitt starring as Billy Beane: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210166/

Well from the looks of the last series, it looks like they would be better off making a movie about the genius of Nolan’s baseball philosophy. POW POW!!!

That was weak.

POW!

i am ready to get this on! lets go rangers.

@evan: no home run pool tonight?

Come on padilla, settle down.

@All: Sorry about the lack of a home run pool tonight. Got involved with Hamilton story and neglected to put up a pool. Can’t be so sloppy. Will remember tomorrow night. Based on the lack of winners recently, I detect mental fatigue out there anyway. Maybe you guys could use a night off.

It would have been nice to see elvis in leadoff and let kins hit 3 but wash is set with kins at laedoff.

whew

Looks like burnett is going to come inside to combat padilla pitching inside.

I think he’s looking at the homerun possibilities in right field.

ryans dad, so you bat a guy that is hitting 186 points lower hoping for a HR?
And we wonder why these guys are always swinging for the fences?

Part of the K is on wash, he had the runner go and davis swung to help protect the runner. I dont know if it would make a difference by why put a struggling player in that situation?

That was definitely boneheaded.

Ryans dad, I know but it gives us a little insight into the thought process which I believe is flawed.

This could be a long, long game.

I think I’m glad this game is not on.

bean ball on tex is an ok reaction after the balk call. surely he got a warning, though

This is vintage Padilla we are watching tonight so far.

That could have been much worse. Good job

I’m with you @obagain and @Ryans Dad – The tough mental game that Padilla has played this year has not made an appearance so far tonight.

Nope. Vintage Padilla would have melted down. Current Padilla got out of it OK. Plus, he would have drilled Tex in the ribs, not just throw up and in and barely nick him.

@obagain: good point. but there’s always the chance that they don’t come back and hit one of our guys. but at the same time, that’s just what he does and he always has been. it’s just the risk you take running the guy out there.

@evan: did you see the ump issue a warning? I didn’t. And, believe me, if he was mad and trying to hit Tex, he would have done a better job of it. If the ump thought it was on purpose, with Padilla’s reputation, he would have issued a warning.

I understand that is what he does but when someone breaks youngs hand in retaliation then what do you do?
There is a time and a place and if he hits another batter and the yanks score a few more runs they wont care about putting 1 guy on base.

well, if we had another pitcher to take his place or he had trade value, it’d be a lot easier decision. and unless management does something, it will stay the same. i’m not saying i root for his bean ball. it just seems inevitable. and i do worry about retaliation. but it hasn’t seemed to stop him before.

and good job hank!

At some point they are going to stop pitching to cruz.

way to go, Nellie!

Awesome… Burnett’s already at 56 through 2 2/3

Do you think the guys were embarrassed by those last 3 games against the Yankees?

Crap… Chris can’t even hang onto his bat.

@scooper: well, it looks like they definately studied some more tape on burnett

That’s a tough break for Chris, but he hit that hard which is a good sign.

I hear all that talk from Josh about his good attitude (and I’m sure he has one) but he’s just so demonstrably lost after each at bat.

I feel for him, but I’ve just gotta believe that he needs some time at AAA to take the pressure off.

To add this: I know that’s not an original opinion (and I know Evan doesn’t agree) but it’s just seems like it’s becoming inevitable.

need a shutdown inning

Great shutdown inning by padilla after scoring 3. We need to see some more of that

there’s your payback.

Speed kills, I love them running every time someone is on.

looks like the retaliation turned into a double steal. that’s fun.

except for elvis getting hit.

@becca: elvis is young – he can handle it (obviously).

Did anyone read the blog on millwood over at the DMN?
Some of the stuff I found was really strange.

Ha… TAG cracks me up.

I know this is a little late, but;

I’m not baseball historian but doesn’t 18 games sound like a rather short streak for a team record in errorless games?

I’m probably just being baseball ignorant…

Angels losing 6-0 in the 6th.

oh. well, then there’s just hitting him. and some words.

What did Tex say? I couldn’t tell.

did you guys hear that?!? TAG just said if you’re really that mad, go out to the mound. he’s trying to start a rumble!

Wow did any else laugh when they saw what tex said?

That was payback for the Andrus plunk last inning.

@becca: TAG is from the school that says, “Don’t talk about it — DO something about it.” If you are not going to charge the mound, shut up and go to first base.

THAT was Tex’s payback.

thanks, obagain. i don’t read lips very well.

How can he put holland in there again? Very strange call

Man, is Padilla the king of the meltdown inning or what?

I know he’s had a decent year so far, but the guy drives me crazy with all the hit batters, walks, etc.

My tolerance for the guy has been gone for a while, so it wouldn’t hurt me at all if JD decides to move him at the deadline.

it’s still fun when tex gets all pissy. i don’t miss him much.

The yanks kill LH pitching and holland comes in with 2 on, what could possibly go wrong?

And…with his erratic-ness and failure to hold the lead, he just perpetuates the Yankees-phobia yet again.

Wash had to get Padilla out before he kills someone! But I’m glad we pissed them off! That’s how it was with the Rays and Boston last year. When you get the emotions engaged, it takes the intimidation factor out of it.

Anybody’s better than Padilla.

I totally agree with what Ian said above. If Elvis had been carted off with a broken leg, Padilla gets a HUGE part of the blame for pissing Tex off.

Oh well, hopefully Padilla will get his head in the game in 5 days.

Salty has really gotten good at blocking the balls.

Ughhh I hate the Yankees. I wish padilla had hit all of them

Like I said, what could possibly go wrong.
Wash really needs to go, I dont care if we are in first, he dosent have a clue.

How come the Yankess have to beat us by at least a touchdown every game?

Padilla set the tone, and the kid got spanked.

Again.

oh vincente you go and piss them off and look at us now……

I don’t have a problem with showing the other team that you’re not afraid of them. But you (Padilla) need to have the talent to back it up.

At least they missed their chance to get even

It is 9-3 and they made their point.

Scooper, he threw high enough to let him get out of the way but close enough to let them know someone could really get hurt.

Make no mistake Ernie, that pitch that hit Andrus was intentional.

This is not really the way to start a road trip, especially this particular road trip. Maybe Padilla should’ve stayed on the DL another week or two.

NY vs texas. Already know the outcome. Sad. How many people in here are really yankee fans, eh?

i agree that any time padilla pitches, warnings should be issued before the game.

@all: Gotta agree with Ernie about the hitting of Andrus. It was a tight curve. Did a double take when I saw it labeled a curve ball on the screen, but in slow motion, there was a little hump in it.

maybe holland isnt quite ready just yet. maybe we are putting him into the pressure cookers too soon.

he’s a blowup artist now. when he pitches its like, “BOOM goes the dynamite.”

C’mon Crush

LOL @ “BOOM goes the dynamite”

I think Madrigal is there to even the score. I hope anyway.

we have a crappy bullpen.

anyone else getting worried about being sweeped? if so then its RED ALERT time for us heading to fenway.

it sure would be nice to get an out this inning.

the fact is, padilla hit tex twice, once on purpose. tex took out andrus with a clean sliede that was legal.

@ryan’s dad: i think benson’s spot in the line up is exactly for soaking up yankees innings after the ranger’s are down more than 5 innings. i can’t think of anywhere else i’d rather see him.

to hell with Tex… he’s selfish. i am so glad he is gone.

i meant 5 runs. not innings.

mad dog is terrible.

i have total mind melt right now. someone please say something positive.

first place texas rangers.

there you go.

I thought both pitches that hit Tex were on purpose. And Elvis was hit on purpose, too. Still, Burnett should not have gone at Nellie’s head.

Ernie, he had to make a statement but he also wanted to get thru the 5th to get the w.
The second one was because the first didnt work.

And don’t forget, their guy threw at our guys head. That is worth a suspension in my book.

i don’t know all the baseball rules: say padilla gets suspended, or anybody gets suspended for that matter, do you move someone up from AAA or do you play with a 39 player roster?

Evan, I know he cant come back for 10 days but after the 10 he will be an option.
I would like to see some new blood in the BP, it might not be any better bat at least we dont get the oh no, not him again, feeling.

ryans dad, padilla was the one that started it and for a stupid reason. Baseball would not suspend him unless he actually hit him.
You have to expect someone to get hurt when padilla is throwing at everyone.

Hey guys, I’ve posted here once in a while, but I’ve been more a regular over at the DMN blog this year (and last year, under a different name). Anyway, I’m a bit fed up with the tone/nature of a lot of readers’ posts over there (snide comments, haters, juvenile idiots), so I’m going to try here to find a community of real Rangers fans.

Tough game tonight

(power down)

Beer guy, I am on that blog when they have them and come here when they dont.

Tex was always bitter when he was here.

yeah. i remember that. good to see he got over it. stand up guy, that tex.

@Evan
Bad night for the first line score buddy. Boy that sure looks ygly

@The Beer Guy: We are happy to have you.

@obagain: We’d love to keep you.

We are trying to build a community website/forum/blog (wefolog?) that caters to interested, engaged Rangers fans who are passionate about their club, but civil and courteous in their tone. If there is anything we can do to insure your regular returns, let us know. We try to please.

If he had only hit tex I doubt he would have done it but padilla was throwing in on everyone.

if benson gets a shut out inning, i might have to stop talking about him so badly. man, who would have thought?

I was hoping we could take 2 of 3 from the yanks. No way with pettite and sabathia. Oh well maybe we can sweep Boston. Ha

Beer guy, this year is a perfect example.
He is really pitching great, right?
He had 5 starts in april and went 2-3 with a 2.39 era.
In may he had 6 starts with a 3.59 era, his record? 2-2.
He is called a hard luck pitcher because of no run support, seems logical.
So with 3.50 era he should do well if the rangers could score just 4 runs a game for him.
In 7 of his 11 starts the rangers have scored 4 or more.
No matter what he is a pitcher that just keeps his team in games, good for a 3-4 guys but terrible for a 1-2 guy.

Actually his april record was 2-2 not 2-3.

I am happy with Davis’ AB’s tonight. Much better than usual.

Beer guy, yes he was the 3-4 guy in atlanta but in cleveland he only won 9 games and had a 2.39 era, cleveland won 93 games that year so it is strange a guy that leads the league in era only wins 9 games.

Why not keep Benson in there? That’s odd.

Say Hey, It’s Ole “Every Once in a While” Eddie. Good for him.

@Evan
I know wash is trying to get some pitchers some work, but shouldn’t we have saved maybe holland and eddie for later in the series/road trip

maybe wash is doing a team building thing. one guy in the bullpen messes up, everyone gets to pay. it’s like the bullpen equivalent of running laps?

Holland is pitching Saturday, so he wouldn’t have left him in longer.

That makes sense.

@scooper where are those damn yankee fans? off with their heads……..

I’m picking what is possibly the worst night to express this opinion, but jeez… Has any Ranger pitcher ever been put under the microscope more than Padilla? Ok – possibly Chan Ho Park, so let me rephrase:

Has any other SUCCESSFUL pitcher ever been as castigated as this guy? I love having a guy with the ‘nads to pitch inside – or to send a message.

He may be more proactive (rather than reactive) than other pitchers, but I’ll take it. Yes, I understand the whole “what if one of our guys gets hurt in retribution” argument, but I find it nice to have a pitcher who is afraid of no one.

Just my two cents.

Of course, since I am in Austin, while typing this comment, someone might have been hit in retaliation after the official “warning”. If so, I’ll take Pepe Frias in the homer pool for the remainder of the year.

Yeah, I saw that. But you have to admit that seeing someone take a 34″ piece of Maple off the dome is hilarious!

I like it, Leemer, wish more pitchers still did that. I do think that Padilla tends to do it at bad times (2 men on and 1 out, etc.). Best of my recollection, you used to make a statement or retaliate with no men on base. He has a balk problem, too.

@obagain: I agree in that Padilla does choose some odd times to plunk a guy. Tex’s second tonight comes to mind. However, you take the good with the bad, and I’d have to say his good far outweighs his bad (over the course of his Texas tenure).

I’m trying to think of the last guy the Rangers had that was not afraid to throw inside while hitting a few (Nolan excluded) that didn’t have a well documented control problem. Thoughts, anyone?

And beer guy? Welcome to the good site.

@leemer: Kevin Brown? I don’t recall how many he threw at, but he had the attitude.

@leemer: feldman was even ready when the batter charged the mound. there was no question that pitch was on purpose.