Hello all…oh wait, no one’s here yet…

Hey sccooper! How was the off day?

What’ even more old is his smirk after striking out…

I am psyched about Martin Perez going to Frisco! How do y’all feel about that?

Walks two straight batters and hamilton swings at the first 2 pitches! Moneyball Hambone…Moneyball!!!

I haven’t heard it announced officially, yet.

Hey Beer Guy…

2-0 Det still in the top of the 1st . . .

Hypothetical question for you:

Let’s assume we make the playoffs (I know, but just let’s assume for now). Who are our starting three pitchers in the first round? Millwood, Feldman, and…? Think it will depend on how Hunter/Holland/Nippert/(BMac?)/acquisition? are going at that time?

hey all

@Beer Guy – I would guess Hunter, but Holland could change that with an off-the-chart last 6 weeks. Plus, Holland would be a nice bullpen weapon from the left side.

… and Feldman isn’t a given. I think the other 3 have more potential to dominate a game, especially Holland and Nippert. And Holland and Hunter have shown they can go deep in games.

@JackDaddy: Unless Holland tanks between now and the playoffs, there is no way he is going back in the ‘pen.

@RangersFan: I’m with you on CD. I’m kind of thinking that he’ll come back when Cruz is able to play.

Do you guys realize that the Angels, who are second in SB in the league ran twice against TT and stopped after both were thrown out? I love the way Salty has improved but TT’s arm should merit more playing time

@longhorns: If Salty’s arm doesn’t improve, TT will get more time. As it stands now, they have told Salty that he is the starter. They won’t change that unless they can blame it on an injury, and the shoulder (poor throwing) would qualify.

Yeah, I can’t see BMac either. I’d say at this point it would be Hunter, Holland, Nippert. I don’t think you can leave Feldman out with his record and pretty good ERA (4.01), but you’re right he lacks the ability to pitch as deep as some of the others (which isn’t a bad thing necessarily in the playoffs, he could be spelled by one of the non-starting starters).

@RangersFan: I don’t know what it is, but it isn’t good.

“…herdin’ cows the size of schnauzers but they’re cattle…” greeat. now I’ll have that in my head the whole night

Well, that’s better than I thought. Last time I heard the stat it was below .200.

I’m ready to see Davis again. I understand the desire to let him settle in down there though.

The CD stretch is missed…

If the Rangers believe that Chris is a major part of the future, they have to get him back up here BEFORE the September call-ups. Otherwise, their statement that he was being sent down to straighten himself out just doesn’t wash.

Andruw .200, 3 HR, 4 RBI in 55 AB’s since break before tonight

@RF: They may keep one of the position players for depth and send down Mathis

Are you guys thinking we have this wrapped up with a week to go in order to set the rotation the way Wash wants?

I’m thinking it probably goes to the end. Also, Feldman better be a lock.

@last: I think it goes doen to the end. And Feldman is probably a lock, just not necessarily #2. And he still needs to keep pitching well.

Who do you think it would be?

I don’t know who THEY would choose, but my choice would be Jennings.

…unless they are planning on bringing him back next year. And I really hope that they aren’t!

Man, that was a good hold to a single though…I often forget how great of an arm he has.

But it is a great problem to have when a guy like Jennings is the weak link in the bullpen

Yeah, but Mathis has been pitching great. Jennings, not so much.

Nippert is throwing a lot of pitches – 48 with 0 outs in the 3rd.

Rain delay in Boston. Det still leads 3-0, bottom 2.

I am so tired of the oversized elbow guards…

Speaking of Mathis, might be seeing him shortly.

@scooper, I remember reading once a rule of thumb for pitch counts: 15 per inning. Which would be about 7 innings = 105 pitches.

So 53 with only 2 innings is a bad sign. Glad they had the day off yesterday and the bullpen is rested.

Yeah, and that 15/inning is the HIGHEST that you want.

Take him out…

If Mathis isn’t already up, he needs to get ready.

Take him out!

Is Ron waiting for another hit?

This sucks

gonna have to score some runs tonite….

Rap on Nippert has always been inconsistency.
Also, bad thing happen when you strand 5 men in 1st 2 innings.

Think he’s done anyway after this inning? Or does he get another chance? His pitch count is already rather high.

If I lived in Cleveland I would refuse to be an Indian fan just to avoid listening to that annoying drum every freaking game!

I said the same thing here in my house but without the glove

Tom Grieve – AFLAC trivia answer?

Knowing Wash he will go back out there…maybe he has a short leash but he’ll go out there…

Here come the “The opposing pitcher is pitching so well lately even though they are no good” excuses for the offense

Why do they keep claiming Laffey is a groundball pitcher? I swear there have been 6 balls go to the warning track through 32/3.

This games sux. Was hoping for a great game. Even left work early, sick, to watch it.

Like Fred said, can’t leave 5 runners on in 2 innings. I have reached the point where I don’t have any confidence in Josh.

That call is horrible. He touched it.

Bad call

look all dont worry we like to play down to the competion

Did Rangers broadcast show Youklas run down a fleeing Pocello and sack him? Looked like Joe Ad**** chasing Gomez to the clubhouse in the Polo Grounds.

I think he didn’t touch it. It looked close, but the ball didn’t look like it shifted trajectory from that, just from hitting the ground.

@Evan–your censors are working over time. As you probably, the Braves 1B I was talking about was Joe Ad****. That’s really funny.

How about Nippert not walking in a circle like a tough guy after a K when he has already given up 5 runs

@Fred: And it was weird that Wash didnt argue. There must be an angle we dont know about.

I think managers roaring out and jawing is over rated. Do you really think there’s no chirping going on. Plus, did you notice Elvis standing at he plate while the questionable foul was called? Kinda takes away some arguing leverage.

i notice the blog is much more lively when we are losing

Hey, Alan! What do you think about Perez to Frisco?

We suck

5-0 is not insurmountable. We need to chip away…

It seems like we have bad scouting reports on pitchers, or bad game plans prepared for them, or something like that.

This is another of those parks that Evan wrote about where it allows very few homeruns. Usually does not bode well for the Rangers.

Laffey doesn’t have the rep, yet, but he is not just a scrub. But we can’t be leaving that many men on base. I put it on the hitters. And Nippert just lost it in that inning (not that the first 2 were great).

It’s funny how the view on TV appears to be much better than the announcers have. Either that or Josh is ridiculously optimistic. No one thought that Byrd hit was doing anything except flying into the CF’s glove. Why Josh’s voice rose like it might be a hit or homer, I’m not sure.

You know, maybe it’s considered unprofessional or counterproductive, but sometimes I think it would be good to have announcers who got angry/frustrated (along with the fans) in games like these. I really don’t want to hear them joking around like nothing’s wrong.

that is lack of concentration on a routine play.

@DC: I don’t know. That was pretty high.

well to me it seems like every spare/ordinary pitcher makes u look like a triple a team in my humble opinion

Cleveland Sucks

Now I’m curious. How tall is Hank and how tall is Chris?

@The Beer Guy – Angry announcers bemoaning everything that goes wrong is bad for Viewership. Most people watching are something less than Romohicans or Cornerians. The job of the announce team is to keep things as interesting as possible.

Remember, even Harry Caray was fired for being too negative.

885 strikeouts lets go for 890 tonight for the year

ok maybe not

Hank 6’1
Chris 6’4

@rangersfan: thanks!

Murphy and Blalock suck

Yeah, I’d like to see Chris at 1B, too.

Welp, they’re gonna have to come back without me. I have a going-away party to attend. Was going to go late (post-game), but this stinks and is no competition for the beer that awaits me there. Go Rangers! Talk to y’all tomorrow.

Everything I heard when they sent him down said that the team told him that he was being sent down to get himself right, that he was a big part of the future. If that is true, you can’t just tell him now that “You did what we wanted you to do, but we don’t have room for you right now.” If they wait until the roster expands, that’s what they are saying to him.

One positive for Nippert is he is saving the bullpen

I completely agree Scooper. What does it take for them to make that move.

This game reminds me of that Holland start a while ago…lots of strikeouts and a lot of runs…

My guess as to why cd isn’t back up yet is bc the brass hasn’t seen enough of what they need to see. I’m sure they just aren’t looking at numbers, but his swing. They held on for so long before they sent him down that I could only assume if they thought he was ready, they would bring him back.

They can’t get this wrong. His career hangs in the balance. You don’t want to send him down again 3 weeks later (heck, at all). It could ruin him. These guys have proven to be aggresive with promotions. We have to trust them.

Trinidad & Tobago sucks

Anybody remember when the deadline to sign draft picks is? And, how are we doing in that department?

Font pitching in hickory tonight 5in 2 hits 0 runs 3 walks 4 SO.

The ump sucks

@Rangers Fan: Thanks!

@Jack-I dunno, he’s cut down on the K, hitting to opposite field. Looks like power is down a bit, so prolly shortened swing. Sounds like better pitch recognition, with the W’s, but haven’t seen him. Still wish he was up

Nippert is at 104 pitches. Does he go back out or is he done? I think he’s done because he hasn’t pitched that much this year.

Young sucks

This team without Kinsler and a 0/4 young…we are going to struggle.

Well guys, taking a break…hopefully be back during a comeback!

i think a lost tonight and a win by the red sox and angels and all the momentum is gone I think a playoff team comes in here and kicks some tail no well its just one of those games well how many of those games have we had this year and the excuses of why we dont reak of rangers past

Well, respect Nippert for eating the innings. One inning used to always spoil his night. Dejavu all over again.

Red Sox lead 6-3. Top 6.

Time to start chippin’ away. In fact, way past time. Paying again for not coming thru with RISP

@Last of the Romohicans

appreciate it

Jones sucks

@All: Spent a nice evening out having a delightful French dinner. Yeah, French. That’s right, I said it.

Doesn’t look like I missed much here.

@Last & WAGS: when Scheppers pitched in the indie league, he lost his amateur status and his college eligibility. That’s why we have until just before the next draft to sign him.

wondering more about Purke – with the TCU connection and all

I don’t like the Rangers offense…

Evan either one of them have boras as agent ?

@RAT: Any lineup with a guy like AJ hitting fourth can not be dynamic. The only thing he does well is to take walks.

hi all!!! someone (me) forgot that games don’t start at 9pm when they’re in cleveland.

just turned it on and heard about someone charging the mound? was that in the boston game? or did someone try to go at nippert? and if so, did nolan jump and and start swinging?

i feel so lost. although the score shows me all i need to know. ugh.

@Becca: Youkilis charged Porcello. Both were ejected.

thank you scoops!

@becca: Yeah, Purke.

Sit down Elvisy! Rangers offense = incredible.

@Ryans Dad
was this Ryan’s Dad … or Ryan?

southwick – agree! Being down changed a few things in the game (maybe Salty or Andrus bunts Blalock in if you’re tied or down 1). . . but for the most part, getting shutout means it doesn’t matter how many you gave up.