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It’s Evan! Hey, I have a eatery that you need to try while in PHX. You need to eat at Oregano’s if you haven’t been there before. The meatball sandwich is spectacular!

Hello everyone.

So, are we going to score 3 runs tonight to get a win?

Have all the bandwaggoners left?

nope, still here!

Quick DP and lets end the inning.

We saw that place when we were there for spring training…well my sister lives there too but i go for spring training. we’ll go to chino bandido next time. love that mascot.

This game is almost out of reach.

Being in a slump is bad, having your whole offense in a slump at the same time is deadly.

maybe someone should pull salty and davis aside and say you see what the 20 is doing that is how you become a good hitter

I’ve never been a serious fan of any other team, but I wonder if other teams’ fans are as downbeat/cynical/pessimistic/whatever-you-want-to-call-it as Ranger fans tend to be?

Hmmm, maybe Cubs fans! It just occurred to me

I agree, Evan! How many of us really believed that we would be in first place on June 22? We might have hoped, but we certainly didn’t KNOW. We’re a young team having some trouble. Of the three phases of the game, I’m glad the trouble is with OFFENSE. That’s the area where I am most confident that we can turn it around.

@beerguy: Cowboys’ fans are like this, too! I know because I am one of them. I think it may be a DFW thing.

beerguy, go to the yankee or redsox board.
They go crazy when they lose 2 in a row and start talking about firing the manager and releasing players and sending players down.

@beerguy: no offense taken! I certainly understand the attitude.

@obagain: lol, ok that’s really too much…sort of like calling for the QB to be benched after one incomplete pass! Those fans are just too spoiled by success (versus the bitter negativity of Rangers and Cubs fans I guess)

I should probably just be quiet about teams. The Rangers are the only DFW team I like…don’t wanna upset the natives too much

@obagain: Yeah it does look like that. Shows there’s only so much a coach can do…if the player isn’t going to follow suggestions…

9:09: Chris Davis now has 102 strikeouts and his season average has fallen to .193. My personal opinion was that if the Rangers wanted to try and send him down and get a quick fix for him, this road trip would have been the perfect opportunity. They could have subbed out Hank Blalock or Andruw Jones at first and gotten a necessary boost in offense since they were losing the DH in NL parks. And then Davis could have had another two weeks leading up to the All-Star break to get himself right. To me, the needed boost in offense would have offset the loss in defense. It would have also been productive in helping Davis get back to the big leagues with the most time to have an impact on the season. The Rangers opted to stay with the defense, which remains stellar. But I’m afraid, they are going to have to revisit the possibility of sending him to the minors for a tutorial and it may take longer now. He just really is messed up at the plate.

No pitcher is going to offer him a hittable fastball as long as he keeps jumping out and swinging at offspeed pitches, regardless of location. That brings me to this: The word going around baseball right now is that the Rangers are the easiest team in the league to pitch to. If you get in trouble, just throw a changeup. They’ll chase.

Is there no HD coverage tonight?

i’ll be here too. with my julio franco figurine on the couch next to me.

gun showed harry throwing 96. is that accurate? because if he’s going that high, he’s certainly attacking.

no HD tonight.

Just kill me.

Evan,

Not upset with the losing actually, for the very reason you are making. I’m more interested in the “how are they playing” and signs for the future. I am very disheartened by the approach at the plate by some of the mainstays. I am also frustrated that 3 players that won’t be here next year are getting significant ABs and only one is producing (Byrd) and barely at that. I’m not a fan of rushing people to the majors (e.g., Smoak should not sniff Arlingon this year), but Borbon appears near ready and Max is 25 years old. Once his wrist heals, he should be up instead of Jones (Jones is really just DHing anyway).

The approach at the plate is what has most people disgusted, I think. Plus, once they fall behind, we are essentially DONE, with this offensive attack — would anyone bet $2 to win $20 that we’ll come back tonight?

Re/ Danny Baez – why would we exhaust money or (worse) prospects for an over-priced middle reliever, when that’s not the isssue here? ODay and Grili have proven you can get guys cheap and that the whole endeavor in filling the back of the rotation is a crap shoot.

This is the worst I’ve ever seen a team slump at the plate. Its so bad, that it makes me question whether they are slumping or whether this is what they are? Maybe Davis is Kevin Maas. Byrd has always been considered a 4th OF that will get over-exposed by playing every day. That has happened. Blalock is a veteran and his approach at the plate is embarrasing and sets an example for the younger guys. People talk about Palmeiro, Gonzo, Arod, Pudge, Sierra, Canseco — let’s examine this guy. Mike Bascik (spelling?) proclaimed as much 2 summers ago on the Ticket (was a Saturday and nobody was listening, so didn’t get any attention).

Harrisons struggles (not critizing, he’s just a second year player), McCarthey’s injury, Padilla’s head — all of these factors convince me that Holland MUST remain in the rotation. We need to develop our potential ACES.

Again, I’m happy overall, but very disappointed in the offense. I can tolerate Salty’s and Davis’ and Elvis’ woes (though it has gotten past the silly point with Davis). I can’t tolerate seeing Jones, Blalock and Byrd up there. Particularly, the 1st two – it’s an automatic powerdown for me and I want to vomit.

If do anything at the deadline other than bring in a 1B rental, we are making a huge mistake.

@obagain: There was an interesting story (from Jayson Stark I think) on ESPN’s website the other day about Huston Street. When he got to Colorado, the pitching coach wanted him to make a small adjustment on where he put his foot on the mound. Street blew it off as unimportant, and proceeded to continue to struggle. Finally, he gave in and did what the coach had said, and he’s been great since. So, yeah, I agree that a good coach is one that can get the players to try what he suggests, but sometimes I’m sure their egos get in the way.

meant “filing the back of the bullpen”, not “rotation”

oh, guess not.

amen Jack Daddy but i bet you .50 cents that they score at least one or strike out 10 times

@Evan- what happened to the Harrison-Teagarden battery?

Evan,
I’m sure this has been brought up at some point before, but has anyone checked up on Davis’ eyesight?

maybe harrison will steal 3rd!

sorry – distracted tonight. meant you fire Rudy if they haven’t turned it around by the break (don’t care whether they are in first or not).

Woo a run!

Hopefully the team follows Marlon’s lead and works the count. That’s what I want, let’s start a 20 run rally!

cruz is going for the fences…

LET’S SIGN BARRY BONDS.

(half-joking)

jack daddy I said the same thing the other day and people said we would be a laughing stock if we let him go and he would be snatched up in a minute but. I have seen little league teams more patient then this and its like Bob and Dan said on the Ticket and it use to always bug me but know i see their point they have never seen one coach in this area get a free pass like he does I mean the guy can do no wrong I am not saying he is not a good coach but clearly if you cannont get 2 guys to stop swingging at pitches that they have no chance at hitting and yes I realize that he cannot do it for them but if the pitching is bad get rid of the pitcher why is it not the same for the hitting somebody please explain.

Arizona has given up the 6th most runs in MLB at 341 coming into this game.

@Fred: they aren’t going to be able to trade Padilla unless they eat most of his salary. Remember, no one claimed him when he was on waivers. If we are going to have to pay him anyway, we might as well take what good starts we get from him.

I’m gonna be really mad if they give up a few prospects for BP help when they have Murray and Eyre pitching well in AAA. When it’s not the BP hurting us.

Salty and Davis got on base…

The tides are turning!

Vision doesn’t have a lot to do with not catching up with FB at the letters and chasing breaking balls in the dirt. Almost llike you have to put a girdle on him to only swing between the belt and the knees, and if it’s spinning near the knees, lay off. I’d still keep him in the majors and let him try to hit his way out of it, tho.

@JackDaddy: you don’t even fire a pitching coach over a 1-2 month pitching slump. why would you fire a hitting coach who has overseen a team with the prodigious offensive output that the Rangers have had for years? I have never seen a team-wide slump like this, but I don’t believe that this is all Rudy’s fault. You know, he actually has a great track record!

@Fred- Old saying, if it aint broke, don’t fix it. I liked the results we were seeing from Harrison with Taylor working with him. I know Ranger brass are all high on Salty, but I just don’t see it.

and lookie there, more hits. hot dog indeed.

@obagain: there is nothing wrong with looking for their pitch and driving it. I think they just need to make sure that it really is “their pitch.” Swinging at a FB isn’t the same thing as looking for a FB in a certain zone and swinging if you get one there (which is what I think Rudy means).

Evan,

I think there has been over-rating of the offensive success. We have been so far behind so many games for these years that your hitting #s get inflated — pitchers aren’t trying to be too fine when they are up 7-1. The 3 times we made the playoffs we had offensive output that was offensive. I think its been 2 months and advocate giving him a 3rd. But I’ve seen managers roll for less, with a better track record. Hurdle had the Rockies in the World Series 2 years ago.

Finally, how many of these hitters inflated their numbers artificially? Finally, finally, that was the old approach with old management. His style appears to be in direct conflict with the philosophy of Wash and the way JD wants to build this. Hey, what do i know. But 2 + 2 isn’t adding up to 4.

They don’t teach bunting at the major league level Beer Guy :p

Clearly! Harrison looked about as nervous as a virgin at prom!

@JackDaddy: personally, I disagree; however you are entitled to your opinion.

Why would you trade for starting pitching thats not the problem and they already have more than they have spots.

@beerguy: thanks, again, for mentioning opening another tab. it works just fine!

Harrison when he does get ahead in the count can’t finish them off.

Scooper, by being agressive with their pitch they are not worrying about the count and just looking for a pitch to drive.
He does not believe in working the count unless the pitcher does not give in and and give them their pitch.
If you walk to the plate thinking swing at the first good pitch you get fooled easier.
I am not saying fire rudy, he is a great hitting coach but he doesnt want the hitter letting a good pitch go by no matter the count.

@scooper: No problem!

Yep, something’s not right with Harrison. Physical, mental or both, but he’s not the same pitcher as he was during that nice streak he went on before the DL stint.

@dc: same here.

becca, yes padilla is that hated.

10:03: I don’t think I’m ever going to understand how Ron Washington views Jason Jennings’ role. He said he didn’t want to bring him with runners on base. The entire bullpen should be fresh tonight. Go to a true long reliever. Jennings, I thought was supposed to pitch in close games. This is a chance for Doug Mathis to pitch and try and keep the game close so that in the sixth or seventh if the Rangers get back in it, they have Jennings available. If they don’t, then they have a fresh Jennings available on Wednesday.

Well….what can you say? We ran into the vaunted Diamondbacks buzzsaw. We had no chance coming into this thing!!

Very much agree. Not sure at all why you bring in Jennings there…

@ scooper so they trade 4 or 5 prospects for an ace. What if it ends up being like DVD and they keep the ones the end up being the worse prospects. Then were back to build for 2015?

@obagain: I understand the difference, but that is his style and he (and the Rangers) have had success with it for years. It is nice (and sometimes preferable) to work the count, but I don’t hear any complaints when we are hitting.

I am not a wash fan so I try to stay out of some of these decisions but here are a few things to remember about this year.
Cruz is out cleanup hitter, now we rarely see him there.
We will have a consistant lineup every day.
We almost never see the same lineup.
We will bring holland along slowly, 3 of his first 5 games he entered with the bases loaded.
I dont listen to much wash says, he is the one big downer for me this seasin.

@DC: you either trust your evaluation of your prospects (and other team’s players) or you don’t. We are going to HAVE to trade some of them for the simple reason that not all of them can play in Arlington, anyway. Some of the guys that we trade are going to have a lot of success somewhere else (remember, they are talented). You can’t be afraid to pull the trigger because you MAY give up some talent.

Ok, I have been having fun, joking around about Barry Bonds and what not, but in all seriousness…..It is good that we are contending, I am of the opinion that you build a lead to sustain these swoons, and we are still in first place. The Angels were the hottest team in baseball, and it wasn’t enough to catch us…yet. We will turn this thing around, and we DONT need to VEER off of our course and trade the farm away, cause that don’t guarantee CRAP anyways. It’s a marathon, and we could get HOT again at any moment. I don’t know what this RANT is about other than maybe “be careful what you wish for” and have P A T I E N C E. GO RANGERS!

Evan – the other thing that strikes me this year is that other than the Jays series (when we got shut down by hamburger), it seems we are constantly running into other team’s top arms. Look at the SF – get Cain and Zito. AZ – Max and Haren (after Sea misses both). Maybe its my imagination (we did miss Oswalt and the aformentioned Jays series where we missed Doc). I don’t know. Just altogether strange for me.

But like you said, I think this year is tremendous progress and actually am fretting more over Harry’s last few starts than the last 6 weeks of hitting combined. He is falling behind hitters and when he does get ahead he’s not putting them away.

Its just frustrating to see LAA sweep SF and then we go in and get swept. Sea sweeps AZ and then we go in and lay this egg.

TD – you are spot on re/ the reason why you build those leads. You have to weather the waves. Jeez – 4 days ago the Angels were the hottest team in baseball, then they lose 3 straight. The Rockies announced a firesale and then rip off 17 of 18. Yanks looked like a monster and now have their own streak. Jays have been up and down. Really, on the Dodgers and Sox have been consistently good.

Hamilton will make a big difference – just hope its not too late.

But I do hate this – you know its bad when you wished you had watch Confessions of a Shopaholic with your wife instead of watching the game!!!!

@evan what makes me crazy about jennings is the team always does exactly what it says it is not going to do…..180 every time…..

Talent doesn’t mean success ask Mickey Sasser or Chuck Knoblauch.

You never know what a players mental make up will be till they are in the fire.

@Jack Daddy: That girl in that movie, ISLA FISHER, is smoking hot! LOL….I got dragged to that at the theater. HAHA…..

this is like death by a thousand cuts.

Evan 5 that means your (ACE) failed too.Except in this case the bats are the losers.

I have always (at least, usually) supported Wash. But what the hell was the rationale for letting Jennings hit? To save the bullpen? To save a pinch hitter until the game is over? It’s not like Jennings is knocking them down.

Evan did you see my ? about the break on pitches and do you know the answer?

Way to go salty.

I also agree with Evan that Jennings does not belong in a game down by 5 runs. If Jason is an integral part of your bullpen in close games, why in the world is he pitching tonight? If you can’t trust Mathis in a lost cause, why is he in the bullpen? It’s not like these guys have a recent history of 5 run comebacks.

Salty called time on that one.

Salty is still very raw. There have been lot of time this year where the pitcher has had to jump for his throwbacks.

and yes, if you have a guy sitting in your bullpen for this exact situation, you use him. mathis is just a warm body at this point. and he needs to be used.

Evan,

I believe I’ve seen it once before in a Rangers game. Let me do some research.

well salty is certainly going to make the highlight reels……..

T.R. Sullivan gathered a few hot stove-related nuggets from Rangers general manager Jon Daniels on Tuesday afternoon. Let’s dig in…

* Daniels thinks there won’t be enough “sellers” by the time the July 31 trade deadline rolls around. “There are just not that many teams decidedly looking to move players,” he said. “There are very few teams that are not within striking distance.”
* The Texas GM acknowledged that a scout was present for Pedro Martinez’s workout in the Dominican Republic last week, but the 37-year-old right-hander’s contract demands are currently too high.
* In the end, grabbing a starting pitcher is probably going to be too costly, both in salary and prospects. (Or just salary, if we’re talking about free agent Ben Sheets).
* “Relief is more realistic,” Daniels concluded.

@DC: I did see the question, but was hoping it would, um, go away quietly since I don’t have an adequate answer. I think it probably has to do with arm angles and kinisieology (though I have no idea how to spell it properly. I’ll try to get an answer or at least a theory so that if it crosses your mind again, I’ll have something that makes sense.

oh, i guess teagarden would be starting anyway against padilla.

Evan-3 is a significant losing streak. 4 is when your stopper absolutely has to end it.

Evan thanks i’ve always wondered that just never had the chance to ask anyone.

Jack Daddy-Trouble with the Baylor stats is that Jennings is .202 life time in ML.

The may already have a reliever in el duke, a starter if they sign sheets and after the break they should have their hitter in hamilton.
Sprinkle in an aj murry and a feliz and we wont have to do anything.
If you need a part you then do it in the winter when trading is cheaper.

Now he brings in Mathis.

Now mathis is in after it is out of reach?
I just dont get it.
Any bets on if he finishes the game even if he doesnt allow a run?

i couldn’t find evidence of a prior case of a run scoring on a throw back to the pitcher but I do seem to recall it.

Speaking of TR – check out his stats on the Rangers futilit. On pace for the worst offensive month in the A.L. since 1981 (or the worst June – unclear from his article).

@evan: I was hoping there would be a players-only meeting yesterday. Surely they are more fed up with this than we are.

Hmmm…a nine-pitch AB and he flied to left, then a walk! Dare we hope?

Mathis is there to save the rest of the bullpen. Get in some work, if necessary take the punishment. It’s called a mop up man.

I thought bats had typically been made out of Ash and that the Maple bats were the ones that had been investigated.

It is the maple that are the problem.

hey evan,
wondering if you saw my comment under your blog regarding marlon byrd swinging for a contract?

@scooper: If you are still reading, you have an answer, though, somewhat convoluted, in a new blog post. Bottom line: Time was never called and a new ball was never put into play.

@AB: I didn’t see your comment, but I think you may be on to something there, though, having watched Byrd compete, if he’s swinging with less discipline than in the past, it’s not something he is consciously trying to do.

kinsler has to be the guy that leads us out of this offensive drought………