Post-Game Show: Rangers 6, Mariners 4

D-tails
• Boxscore, Standings

Three Up and Three Down from Seattle where the Rangers rode three homers to a win, keeping them in first-place and pushing RHP Scott Feldma’s record to 8-2.

Three Up
• RHP Scott Feldman pitched at least six innings for the 12th time in 15 starts this season. Feldman lowered his ERA as a starter to 3.21 for the season. You could make an argument that he possibly should have been allowed to face left-handed hitting Ichiro Suzuki with two outs and a man in the seventh; Ichiro is 2-for-14 against Feldman.
• RF Nelson Cruz celebrated his addition to the AL All-Star roster with a pair of hits, including a two-run homer, and a walk in his first start in the last four days. Cruz’s two-run homer in the eighth built the Rangers a 6-2 lead.
• 1B Hank Blalock got the Rangers homer-only offense started Friday with a solo homer in the second. Blalock is 9-for-18 on the current road trip – or since he took over as the regular first baseman.

Three Down
• LHP Derek Holland got a key out by striking out Russell Branyan to end the seventh inning with the tying runs on base. But Holland faced four hitters on the night and retired only one.
• RHP Jason Jennings, on after Holland, allowed both the runners he inherited to score. Jennings has allowed 10 of 18 (55.6 percent) inherited runners to score this season, the third-worst figure in the AL. The Rangers had planned to have him only enter with nobody on base, but that plan has been abandoned.
• Since hitting homers in his first three at-bats on Wednesday, DH Andruw Jones is 0-for-10.

The Depot: Rangers-Mariners Live Game Blog, News, Notes And, Of Course, Musings

8:16: Pool remains open until 9:10 p.m. The Rangers lineup vs. RHP Brandon Morrow: 2B Ian Kinsler, 3B Michael Young, CF Josh Hamilton, DH Andruw Jones, 1B Hank Blalock (3-for-4, HR vs. Morrow), LF Marlon Byrd, RF Nelson Cruz, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, SS Omar Vizquel and pitching for the Rangers. … RHP Scott Feldman.

8:19: David Murphy is not in the lineup tonight because of what appears to be a slight strain on his right index finger. He bent the finger back while trying to make a sliding catch on Ichiro Suzuki in the eighth inning last night. Manager Ron Washington opted to sit him down even before batting practice began. Washington had planned on sitting Nelson Cruz, the All-Star, for a fourth consecutive day because he is going with the hot hands right now and Murphy has been the hottest among the outfielders. … There is nothing wrong with SS Elvis Andrus. Washington just wanted to get INF Omar Vizquel a start in this series and tonight seemed to be the best fit.

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Today It’s Not A Home Run Pool, But A Home Run Puget Sound

Hey, the water is clean, cool, fresh, crisp and if you are lucky, you might even catch a Dungeness crab if you miss out on winning the homer pool.

We’re playing blind until I get a lineup, but that’s just how we roll. The most interesting thing for me about the lineup today is whether newly-minted All-Star Nelson Cruz will be in it. Can you leave an All-Star out of your starting lineup four consecutive days?

Remember, you can get FREE STUFF!! by sending me an email RSVPing for next Thursday’s Pennant Race Pep Rally at Pappasito’s. We have an affinity for alliteration (see what I did there?) here.

UPDATED, with lineup at 8:15 CDT: The Rangers lineup vs. RHP Brandon Morrow: 2B Ian Kinsler, 3B Michael Young, CF Josh Hamilton, DH Andruw Jones, 1B Hank Blalock (3-for-4, HR vs. Morrow), LF Marlon Byrd, RF Nelson Cruz, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, SS Omar Vizquel and pitching for the Rangers. … RHP Scott Feldman.

Pappasitos Update And FREE STUFF

For those who missed it in last night’s live blog, we have our first two player commitments for next Thursday’s Pennant Race Pep Rally at Pappasito’s in Arlington. The AL All-Star Team’s loss is your gain as Kevin Millwood will join us from approximately 6:30-7:30 to sign autographs and mingle. He will be joined by one of the all-time most entertaining and professional teammates I’ve ever been around, Eddie Guardado. We’re expecting one or two more additions.

Manager Ron Washington and GM Jon Daniels will both address the masses – and please, we really would like to see masses out there – around 6:30 (a lot is dependent on just how quickly the Rangers wrap up their post-All-Star break workout, so it could be anywhere from 6:15 to 6:30).

Also, we’re hoping to have a couple of former Rangers act as celebrity whiffle ball hurlers for our kids home run derby. And maybe if enough adults want to get in on the action and we’ve got time, we’ll let you take a few hacks, too. I know Mike Simms, member of the 1998 AL West championship team will be there. I’m still fishing for guys. If you’ve ever wanted to hear your name called by the great Chuck Morgan, who will emcee the derby, now is the chance. Oh, and I believe the kid’s winner will take home a full-on Ian Kinsler jersey.

And because Pappasito’s and myself are in such a giving mood. If you email me that you are going to attend the event, I’ll make sure you can get a free appetizer at the event (with the purchase of any type of beverage). Let’s limit this to the first 50 emails I get, providing I get 50 of them.

Nelson Cruz Going To All-Star Game

With news today that Torii Hunter is going to the DL, the American League has added Nelson Cruz to the AL All-Star roster. Since Hunter was a player selection, the replacement for him had to be the next person in line among player voting. That would be Mr. Cruz. No word on whether he might be a late addition to the Home Run Derby, but the dude does have 20 homers.

Also, it is still possible that Ian Kinsler could end up an All-Star. Dustin Pedroia’s wife is having pregnancy complications and he may have to excuse himself from playing to be with her. If so, Kinsler and New York’s Robinson Cano would be the most logical choices. But, since Pedroia was elected by the fans, that replacement decision would be in the hands of Tampa Bay and AL manager Joe Maddon.

About Last Night: Michael Young Takes Blame for Botched Double Steal In Rangers 3-1 Loss At Seattle

SEATTLE - Manager Ron Washington said Felix Hernandez was as good as he’s ever seen him on Thursday night, which is why the Rangers tried to steal an extra run in the sixth inning. Having runners with decent speed on the corners, two outs and two strikes on Andruw Jones, it seemed like the perfect situation to create something and maybe even rattle Hernandez in the process.

That’s why Washington put on a sign for a delayed double steal with Josh Hamilton taking off from first and Michael Young then breaking for home. The play is supposed to work like this: Hamilton breaks on the pitch; as soon as the catcher cocks his arm to throw to second, Young breaks for home. Young beats throw home and scores run. If Hamilton gets caught in a rundown, so be it.

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UFC 100 – It Is Finally Here

OK. I don’t want to get carried away here, but I have not looked forward to a UFC PPV like I am looking forward to Saturday night’s card. This is going to be amazing.

Many of the PPV’s are not dynamite from top to bottom. But, this card has at least 4 fights that have “I can’t wait” status, and I want to make sure they get previewed here now, and then reviewed after the show is over from your favorite MMA wanna-be expert.

The UFC has made it to 100, and therefore, Dana is blowing this thing out with a show that should live up to its hefty price tag ($54.95 in HD). Do they do too many Pay-Per-Views? Yes. Do they water down their own product and continue to throw stuff together every month to get another $55 from the most loyal fans? Yes. Should we plan on them stopping? Not as long as we keep coming back for more.

This sport is blowing up. It might be on the verge of going to the very next level (I have no idea, really, but I love it). But, do you really need 10-11 PPV’s a year? Oh well. Let’s celebrate when they get one right.

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Road To Arlington: Rangers Minor League Report (7/10)

Guillermo Pimentel, photo by Scott Lucas

The Rangers didn’t get the $2 million Guillermo Pimentel who was one of the most prized free agent prospects in the Dominican Republic this summer, but already have a Guillermo Pimentel who has the sort of raw physical tools that could be molded into a pretty special ballplayer.

Me, from Surprise, on March 20:

I’m going to recommend that you put this kid on your watch list. Nineteen year old outfielder Guillermo Pimentel is a thoroughbred with a good-sized, athletic body, plus speed and a plus arm. Physically, he’s a clear standout. Seeing time with both Domincan Summer League teams last year, Pimentel (no relation to pitcher Carlos) hit .311 / .395 / .415 for the DSL 1 club and drew 13 walks while fanning just 16 times in 106 at-bats.

I’m just warning you. I’m a little obsessed with this guy. He’s toolsy as all get out and it appears he’s got a bit of an idea of what he’s supposed to be doing.

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Post-Game Show: Mariners 3, Rangers 1

D-tails
• Boxscore, Standings

Three Up and Three Down from Safeco Field where the Rangers suffered a tough-come-from ahead 3-1 loss to Seattle.

Three Up
• RHP Tommy Hunter was tough, competitive and poised while matched up against King Felix Hernandez. Hunter went six innings and allowed four hits and left without allowing a run.
• 1B Hank Blalock produced a pair of singles in smart at-bats. He has 12 hits in 32 at-bats (.406) over the last eight games, during which he has five extra-base hits and seven RBIs. He’s raised his batting average from .237 to .259.
• Pitching for the third consecutive night, RHP Darren O’Day was efficient and effective. He used just 10 pitches for a 1-2-3 seventh inning that set LHP C.J. Wilson up to face the heavily left-handed top of Seattle’s batting order in the eighth.

Three Down
• LHP C.J. Wilson, absolutely brilliant for the last 10 weeks, allowed his third homer of the season. All three have been extremely painful, resulting in losses at Detroit (in April), at New York (in June) and Friday when Franklin Gutierrez hit a three-run shot with two outs in the eighth.
• 3B Michael Young did not break for home as he should have on a called double steal with two strikes on Andruw Jones in the sixth. With the Rangers trying to steal a run against Felix Hernandez, Young was supposed to break for home as soon as C Rob Johnson cocked his arm for a throw to second. Young hesitated, thinking Johnson was pump-faking, and ended up tagged out at third in an inning-ending rundown.
• The Rangers had been 39-1 when leading games after seven innings this season. This was loss No. 2. Wilson has been the victim in both of those losses.