D

Post-Game Show: Blue Jays 18, Rangers 10

D-tails
• Boxscore, AL West Standings, AL Wild Card Standings

Story of the Game
The Rangers returned home Monday night and presented the “crowd” of 16,675 fans with a little bit of everything: A terrible start by popular rookie LHP Derek Holland, a stirring comeback by the offense and a deflating ninth-inning meltdown by the bullpen that killed any chance of a comeback for the ages.

Holland couldn’t command any of his pitches and allowed five runs in the first. He was gone four batters into the fourth after allowing a grand slam to Adam Lind that gave Toronto a 10-0 lead. The Blue Jays extended it to 11-0 on Rod Barajas’ second homer of the game in the fifth.

Then the Rangers hitters went to work. A seven-run fifth inning was capped by OF Nelson Cruz’s three-run homer, his 29th homer of the season. The Rangers scored in each of the next two innings to cut the lead to 11-10, but they couldn’t get the tying run home. Toronto reeled off seven more runs in the ninth against RHPs Jason Grilli and Pedro Strop.

Said Holland: “I’m just going to forget about this one. I’ve got to get ready for my next start. I couldn’t command or establish any of my pitches. I kept trying to attack the zone, but nothing worked. I was very poor. It was just an all-around bad outing.”

(more…)

Rangers-Jays Tag Team In-Game Blog, Notes, Etc.

ARLINGTON - While I’m inputting this file, Evan will be at my side and should chime in throughout the evening.

You’ve probably seen Evan’s report earlier that Jarrod Saltalamacchia won’t be ready to rejoin the club on Tuesday and now calls the chance of surgery to correct his bout with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome 50-50.

5:05: Here is your home run pool entry form. The Saltalamacchia story has been updated.

(more…)

Rangers Jarrod Saltalamacchia Still Feeling Numbness in Shoulder, Return Uncertain

Updated, 5:11 pm: Richardson to be added to roster Tuesday.

ARLINGTON - The possibility that C Jarrod Saltalamacchia has played his last game this season grows. Saltalamacchia  has cut short his rehab assignment after two days because of recurring symptoms  of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in his shoulder. He played two games for Double-A Frisco over the weekend, but exited both games early.

Saltalamacchia said he started feeling numbness in the shoulder in the fifth inning Sunday and, by the seventh, he had a hard time with feeling in his hands. He plans to speak with Rangers doctors this afternoon and will seek a second opinion to determine if there is any other treatment besides surgery. Surgery to remove a rib and improve blood flow to his arm would knock him out for the season.

(more…)

The Home Run Pool has Water; Outfield has Grass

The bald spots around the field seem to have been fixed with new sod, so there’s that. On the other hand, the Ryan Freel era has ended. He was released from Triple-A Oklahoma City after two games. The Rangers have, however, signed the following players to Oklahoma City contracts: INF Justin Leone, RHP Mike Wood and LHP Chris Cooper.

Now for your daily dose of the home run pool. No need to check back later, either. We’ve got tonight’s lineup against Toronto LHP Brett Cecil. Here you go: 2B Ian Kinsler, 3B Michael Young, RF Josh Hamilton, CF Marlon Byrd, DH Nelson Cruz, LF David Murphy, C Taylor Teagarden, 1B Chris Davis, SS Elvis Andrus and pitching for the Rangers … LHP Derek Holland.

Series Preview: Rangers vs. Blue Jays

The last time the Rangers and Blue Jays faced off, Toronto finished the series six games over .500 and just 2.5 games back of New York in the AL East. Since then, the Jays have lost 43 of 68 games to fall 23 back of the Yankees, 12 games under .500, and into the bad graces of their own fans. They haven’t done the Rangers any favors either, going 0-6 against the Red Sox in the last two weeks.

The Jays’ fall really started back in July, but it hasn’t been helped by the drop off that ace Roy Halladay has experienced of late. Since the trade deadline passed with him still north of the border, Halladay has gone 2-4 with a 4.71 ERA and pushed himself out of Cy Young contention. The collapse has even left Jays fans wondering whether the things that have gone right are simply a fluke — like Aaron Hill — and questioning what went wrong.

So not only is the upcoming series between Texas and Toronto a vital one for the Rangers, who have fallen 3.5 back in the wild card race, but it’s seemingly one they should dominate as well.

(more…)

Couple of Ranger Quickies

• C Jarrod Saltalamacchia played seven innings Sunday night for Double-A Frisco after playing six on Saturday. At this rate, I don’t think he’s going to be ready to catch a full-game Tuesday when rosters can be expanded. If not, the Rangers could either play with two catchers for another couple of days, create a spot on the 40-man roster for C Kevin Richardson or recall C Max Ramirez. It appears the Rangers would prefer to add Richardson at this point, rather than Ramirez, but the roster situation is dicey. It’s important for this team to have three catchers in September since it would allow C Ivan Rodriguez to DH against left-handed pitching. The Rangers are scheduled to face lefties in each game of Tuesday’s double header.

• Columnist Kirk Bohls of the Austin Statesman-American writes that Round Rock could replace Oklahoma City as the Rangers Triple-A afiliate after 2010. There’s nothing in the column to say something is in the works, except common sense. No longer associated with the Astros, it might make sense for Ryan to have a Rangers afiliate. And from a business side, it would make a lot of sense if he’s still the Rangers president or part of the ownership group come next season. It might help the Rangers draw more interested from Austin and the Hill Country. I’ve asked Ryan on a couple of occasions since he took over as Raners president if such a move was in the offing and he’s demurred on those occasions, basically saying any decision is a long way away. Come 2010, the decision won’t so far off in the future.

Cowboys Quick-Hits

There are some Cowboys topics on my mind this morning, as we get closer and closer to “Go” time.

In 13 days, the Cowboys tee it up at high noon in Tampa, and at that point, we will have a whole new list of issues to ponder. But, until then, let’s spend some time examining many of the questions down the roster:

(more…)

Road To Arlington: Rangers Farm Report (8/31)

Triple-A: @Iowa 2, Oklahoma City 0

RHP Kris Benson (4-4; 5.19) earned a loss despite allowing only one run on four hits and two walks in seven innings. He also struck out seven Cubs. RHP Warner Madrigal (2-2; 2.57) continued his recent slide, surrendering a run in his one inning of work. In his last three appearances, Madrigal has allowed five earned runs in 2.2 innings.

CF Brandon Boggs (.268/.380/.399) managed the RedHawks’ only extra base hit, going 1-3 with a double. He also managed Oklahoma City’s only walk. Newly acquired RF Ryan Freel (.333/.429/.333) was singled once in his second game for the Hawks. Justin Smoak wasn’t in the lineup.

(more…)