Post-Game Show: Twins 5, Rangers 3

D-tails
• Boxscore, standings

The Rangers open the second half with their fourth loss in the last five games. Hard to find three ups from this game, but might be even harder to find three downs. Rangers were just beaten tonight, plain and simple. As always, feel free to add your own thoughts:

Three Up
• As manager Ron Washington had foreshadowed before the game, CF Josh Hamilton appears to be getting more and more comfortable with the “toe-tap” trigger to his swing. Hamilton was 3-for-4 with his first homer since May 24. He drove in all three runs.
• The fielding continues to keep the Rangers in games. They turned four double plays on Friday and lead the AL with 104 in 88 games. 2B Ian Kinsler and SS Elvis Andrus have been exceptional at the turn.
• Even though he allowed five runs in the first three innings, RHP Vicente Padilla didn’t allow anything over the next four, keeping the Rangers in the game, conserving bullpen energy and re-affirming faith that he can battle through adversity.

Three Down
• At the game’s most critical juncture, Padilla made a terrible 1-and-2 pitch to Jason Kubel. It was up at the letters and driven for a three-run homer that gave Minnesota a 5-2 lead in the third.
• 2B Ian Kinsler singled in his first at-bat, but then went hitless the next four times up to drop his batting average to .249. It’s the first time his batting average has been below .250 since April 2, 2008 – the third day of the season. Kinsler popped out to the catcher to end the game.
• Over the final four innings, the Rangers managed just two baserunners. SS Elvis Andrus got to second in the ninth, but only because of catcher’s indifference.

The Depot: Rangers-Twins Live Game Blog, News, Notes And Some Pithy Commentary

5:41: We’ve replaced musings with pithy commentary, but there is no replacing the Home Run Pool. It’s open for bidness. Also, the Rangers notebook is available for you to peruse at your convenience.

7:08: OK, game time. Gotta grab a bite after doing TV. Be back momentarily.

7:31: Did I win the home run pool? Oh, no I didn’t. Oh, yes I did.

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Texas Rangers Notes

ARLINGTON - The most interesting moments of the All-Star Game for manager Ron Washington were watching CF Josh Hamilton hit.

Washington said Hamilton looked comfortable at the plate while going 1-for-3, moreso than at any point this season. Hamilton hit the ball to left and up the middle, signs that his “toe-tap” trigger mechanism is helping him regain his timing and wait on the ball. Since the Rangers offense has been its weakest link in the first half of the season, a locked-in Hamilton would be of huge significance.

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Pool Time!!!!!!

The Rangers are back and so is the yet-to-be-sponsored Home Run Pool. That’s OK. Somebody is going to pick up a nice value one day. In the meantime, the only logo we are running is TD’s design. Thanks TD.

It’s so hot outside, I’m going to jump in the pool myself this afternoon, making a call for Josh Hamilton in the first inning, 2-0 pitch, 367 feet to right field. One on, one out. So, now you have to beat everybody else and me, too. But if you do, I happen to have a leftover autographed baseball from last night’s event at Pappasito’s. Not only is it an official Major League Baseball, but it also has a nice plexiglass case and is signed by all four players who participated: Kevin Millwood, Eddie Guardado, David Murphy and Tommy Hunter.

Just in case you are new to the HR Pool. Here’s how it works. You pick the first Ranger to hit a homer. You pick the inning and the men on base. The count is the first tie breaker. Distance is the second. Simple.

Here’s your Rangers lineup against Minnesota LHP Glen Perkins: 2B Ian Kinsler, 3B Michael Young, CF Josh Hamilton, DH Andruw Jones, 1B Hank Blalock, LF Marlon Byrd, RF Nelson Cruz, C Taylor Teagarden, SS Elvis Andrus and pitching for the Rangers … RHP Vicente Padilla.

Get set. Go.

Road To Arlington: Rangers Minor League Report (7/17)

We’re late getting on the Road today due to technical difficulties with our server. Today’s edition will be abbreviated.

Oh, btw: Martin Perez is really, really good.

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Series Preview: Twins at Rangers

The All-Star break seemed to come at a good time for the Texas Rangers. They lost three of their last four games to the division-rival Mariners to end the first half after starting the year 5-0 against Seattle. They fell 1.5 games back of the Angels in the AL West, the furthest from first they’d been since April. A few days off could’ve given the team a chance to recompose and to regain some of the momentum that had them leading the division for much of the first three months of the season.

But before the Rangers even made it back on the field for a three-game series with Minnesota, they had already lost another half game in the standings. The Angels got a head start on the second half with a 6-2 win over Oakland last night, their fourth straight win after sweeping the Yankees before the break. Yet even in the face of what is probably the most important stretch of games Texas has played this year, the Rangers are confident that they’re finally ready to contend for their first division title in a decade.

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Talking Sports While Watching Sports: Followill Edition

This morning’s chat is with the great Mark Followill. The voice of the Mavs agreed to join me for 60 minutes of instant messages about the Mavs summer of transition. Hope you enjoy:

sturm1310: This is truly a great pleasure. Since you have been traveling the 7 seas, give me a quick idea of your feelings about life since Denver, Game 5 for our Mavs.

mark.followill: The pleasure is actually mine, Great Sturminator. As far as your Dallas Mavs I thought on draft night they did a fairly nice job of managing assets. Turned one first rounder into three picks. Seems like they might have a nice diamond in the rough in Beaubois and who knows about the other two. Resigning Kidd was a must, I think Marion helps as a good two way player. Losing out on Gortat was a punch to the stomach. At least mine anyhow

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