Post-Game Show: Rangers 10, Indians 0

Posted on September 9th, 2009 2:00pm by Evan Grant
Filed under AL West race, Baseball, Post-Game Wrap up, Texas Rangers

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

Story of the Game
RHP Scott Feldman continues to surge towards one of the greatest seasons by a Rangers starter ever.

Feldman pitched seven shutout innings – he’s allowed just one run in 26.1 innings over his last four starts, all with C Ivan Rodriguez – to improve to 16-4. It tied him for the AL lead in wins and was his eighth consecutive road victory. Feldman, who began the year in the bullpen, is now 12-1 on the road this season. No Ranger pitcher had ever won 12 road games in a season.  Feldman should still have two more road starts remaining. With wins in both of them, he’d tie Claude Osteen (Los Angeles, 1972), Jim Palmer (Baltimore, 1973), Phil Niekro (Atlanta, 1982) and Scott McGregor (Baltimore, 1983) for the most road wins by any pitcher since the divisional era began 40 years ago.

Feldman began the year with a sinker and a cut-fastball, but has grown more and more confidence in his offspeed pitches with each start this season. Recently, he’s used his changeup and sinker to help start piling up strikeouts. In his last four starts, Feldman has allowed just 17 hits and one run, while piling up 20 strikeouts to 10 walks. His seven shutout innings lowered his season ERA to 3.46; it is 3.10 as a starter.

Feldman got five first inning runs of support and never really struggled.

The win moved the Rangers, at least temporarily to within 1.5 games of Boston in the AL wild card hunt. The Red Sox play Baltimore Wednesday night. The Los Angeles Angels, who play Seattle Wednesday night, currently lead the AL West by four games.  The win improved the Rangers to 79-60. It’s the most games they have been above .500 in a season since winning the AL West with a franchise record 95 wins in 1999.

Three Up
• Two words: Feld. Man.
• The Rangers reached double figures in all three games in Cleveland and had multi-run ninth innings in all three games.
• 3B Esteban German more than doubled his 2009 batting average from .150 to .320 with a 5-for-5 day. The Rangers have had a five-hit game, a six-hit game and a seven-hit day this season.

Three Down
• OF Nelson Cruz didn’t have a hit Wednesday. He was the only Ranger without one.
• I got nothing here.
• See above. It was that kind of game.

Stat o’ the Game
2.43: RHP Scott Feldman’s road ERA as a starter this season. Since the club moved to Texas, only twice have pitchers made at least 10 road starts in a season and compiled a lower road ERA – Bert Blyleven (1.95 in 1977) and Gaylord Perry (2.24 in 1977).

Player of the Game
Here are your candidates: SS Elvis Andrus (3-for-5, 12-game hitting streak); CF Marlon Byrd (2-for-5, HR, 4 RBIs), RHP Scott Feldman (7IP, 5 H, 0 R); 3B Esteban German (5-for-5, Double). Vote here.

Tuesday’s Player of the Day: CF Marlon Byrd (60% of votes)

Flying Saucer/Flying Fish Depot Double Dip
Flying Saucer: Rangers win, you win (Free Brat coupon, good until Sept. 15, is here)
Flying Fish: Two walks, no winners (Free Catfish Filet coupon still good until Sept. 14; get it here)

Home Run Pool
No winners.

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32 Comments to “Post-Game Show: Rangers 10, Indians 0”
  • B. Money @ September 9th, 2009 at 2:35 pm

    Gotta be Feldman today. . . the explosion of offense was nice. . . but you only needed 1 run to get this one.

  • scooper @ September 9th, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    Before we meet the Angels in Arlington on 9/18:

    Angels play 9 games with 0 days off.
    We play 6 games with 2 days off.
    Advantage: Rangers!

  • Patrick A. @ September 9th, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    Feldman is a man.

  • JohnnyMel @ September 9th, 2009 at 3:14 pm

    @Evan – What more would Feldman need to do to get serious Cy Young consideration?

  • jb @ September 9th, 2009 at 3:21 pm

    @johnymel: a complete game shutout would perk up some ears

  • Dan-drus @ September 9th, 2009 at 3:25 pm

    Feldman has no shot. Greinke, Felix, Halliday, Verlander all ahead of him by a good bit.

    Even if he finishes with 30 straight scoreless innings he’s behind Greinke, Halladay and Felix in ERA.

  • Dan-drus @ September 9th, 2009 at 3:25 pm

    oops, Halladay

  • Tom B @ September 9th, 2009 at 3:30 pm

    This Rangers team defies logic. They lose Hamilton and M. Young and continue to tatoo the baseball with regularity. They face adversity like it is a fun challenge. Young teams play on emotion and it is all one can do to stay out of the way and don’t let the dream die. What a great year to start a blog. I’m sure it has stirred up interest. I know I got my Post Season invitation to buy tickets today and I’m looking real close at it. Wouldn’t have happened w/o this blog.
    Thanks again Evan and associated faceless people. May your travel next season be all First Class.

  • Stephen R @ September 9th, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    Feldman is having a great year. In fact, Evan is definitely right that Feldman is having one of the best years by a Rangers starter ever. He has a decent shot to win 19 or 20 games and have one of the top ERAs in the AL.

    With that said, he has no business being in the Cy Young conversation with Zack Greinke or Felix Hernandez. Greinke has a 1.08 WHIP and a 2.22 ERA. Even with Feldman’s terrific run, his ERA is still over a run higher than Greinke. Even if we take out Feldman’s poor relief outings, he still is no match for Greinke or even King Felix.

    He also doesn’t have the strikeout or innings pitched numbers to be competitive in the Cy Young race.

    With that said, that shouldn’t be seen as diminishing his season. He has developed into a top of the rotation starter. His cutter is one of the best pitchers in baseball, and he is leading a good pitching staff on a playoff caliber club. He deserves to get many votes for Cy Young, but not first place votes. He should finish around 8th or 9th, behind Greinke, Hernandez, Verlander, Halladay, Rivera, Sabathia, and Lester.

    But if he is the 8th, 9th or 10th best pitcher in the AL, that is still pretty incredible.

  • Ranger Fan @ September 9th, 2009 at 4:01 pm

    Great series. Too bad I had to miss the game. I did read an article this morning that I’ll have to be honest, made me laugh out loud. Washington campaigning for Byrd to win the gold glove? I’m sorry, but no. He’s been great but not gold glove. A lot of his diving catches are due to misreads or strange routes. When asked about Andrus or Davis he said no. Sorry, but Andrus and Davis are more qualified to take gloves at their positions than Byrd is at his. Andrus simply makes plays no one else can and I haven’t seen anyone play a better first base than Davis. (I’m a Davis homer so I’ll be quiet on that) Now, I don’t think Andrus or Davis will win gold gloves. I really don’t think Andrus will get enough votes for ROY, though he should. But Byrd for gold glove? That seems a little out of line to me. Did anyone else see this? Sorry if this has already been discussed.

  • Dan-drus @ September 9th, 2009 at 4:09 pm

    @Stephen

    Cy Young voting doesn’t work like MVP. Writers only vote for 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

    I don’t think he’ll get any votes. But as you said, he is haveing an “Ace” type season and I look forward to what he can give us the rest of this year and beyond.

  • The Beer Guy @ September 9th, 2009 at 4:31 pm

    Great sweep! I hope these bats carry over to Friday, and don’t inexplicably shut down as has happened often in the past…

    I’d list one “down” as the overuse of CJ Wilson. What point was there of bringing him in AGAIN in the 8th inning, up by 5?? How big a lead do we need to trust anyone besides the core five? Aren’t these call-ups here for a reason (e.g., Eyre in the 9th)?

  • Stephen R @ September 9th, 2009 at 4:41 pm

    @ Dan-drus:

    Interesting, I never knew that. I think if anything, that shows that I am a true Ranger fan. Over the last decade that I have followed this team, i have never had to concern myself with the Cy Young. It sure is odd to actually think that a young Ranger starter is even in the conversation.

  • Dan-drus @ September 9th, 2009 at 4:44 pm

    I actually just looked it up earlier today myself…I figured like you that it was like the MVP. It seems 5-6 guys usually end up getting votes, so he may get some if he keeps up his unreal streak of late.

  • Hondo @ September 9th, 2009 at 5:07 pm

    If Feldman pitches every 5th day, he will get 5 more starts, at home vs Oakland and Laa and on the road vs Oakland, Laa and the final regular season game at Seattle. 20-5 is very possible.

  • Dan-drus @ September 9th, 2009 at 5:33 pm

    Better hold him out of the final game so he can pitch the ALDS opener.

  • Dan-drus @ September 9th, 2009 at 5:36 pm

    Anyone know the Rangers’ team record for shutouts pitched in a season? I count 11 so far this year…

  • Hondo @ September 9th, 2009 at 5:48 pm

    Feldman is our best pitcher right now. Giving him 5 chances at wins in the next 23 games helps our playoff chances. He then lines up for the second game of the postseason on 5 days rest.

  • Lamar in PA @ September 9th, 2009 at 6:09 pm

    @Dan-dus: The 1977 Rangers had 17 shutouts, that’s the club record.

  • Jack Daddy @ September 9th, 2009 at 6:22 pm

    I earlier said that 94 wins ties for the WC and 95 ties for the Division.

    That means Boston would have to go 14-10, LAA would have to go 13-12. Seams unlikely huh?

    I think that means 95 to tie for WC and 96 to tie for Division.

    So to win 96 games and tie LAA we have to go 17-6 and LAA 14-11.

    To win 95 games and tie Boston we have to go 16-7 and Boston 15-9.

    Can we go 16-7, much less 17-6? Boy I love this!!!

  • Lamar in PA @ September 9th, 2009 at 6:23 pm

    If he keeps it up and wins 18-19 games, I’d expect Feldman to get one or two third place votes in the Cy Young race because two of the votes come from each market, so one or the other (or both) of the Rangers voters will probably throw him a bone. And you never know about him picking up a vote or two elsewhere, you can never underestimate the sway wins have over Cy Young voters. Fun facts: the last time a Ranger had a Cy Young vote was ten years ago, when Aaron Sele had 4 points in the voting and John Wetteland had 3. And only one Ranger has ever come close to the award: Fergie Jenkins finished second in the voting in 1974, losing to Catfish Hunter 90-75. The closest anyone else came? Jim Kern was 4th in 1979, losing to Mike Flanagan 126-25. Research is fun!

  • Lamar in PA @ September 9th, 2009 at 6:27 pm

    @Jack Daddy: My inner Lou Brown is thinking 16-7 is what it’ll take. But I don’t think Boston going 14-10 the rest of the way is unlikely at all. They’re running on fumes in the pitching department and they’ve got a lot of Yankees and Angels left on that schedule. If the Angels go 13-12 the rest of the way, it’ll be because the Rangers went 16-7 (or better), so that too is within our grasp. To me, the real question is can the Rangers win the kind of games they’ll need to on the road. We can’t see that team I watched in Baltimore this weekend anymore if they’re gonna reach the playoffs.

  • Charles @ September 9th, 2009 at 6:54 pm

    I think its possible if Feldman keeps performing like this, he will get a few votes for Cy Young. There’s no way he gets it, but if he gets to 20 wins, let’s consider a few things. One, Felix and Verlander pitch in pitcher’s parks. I honestly think if you consider peripherals such as pitcher type (strikeout, or pitch-to-contact) and ballparks, Feldman is probably deserving of a few votes. Greinke deserves it, and CC has pitched well enough to garner enough votes (especially from East Coast media), but if Feldman does get to 20 wins, how could he not get Cy Young votes?

  • gordosan @ September 9th, 2009 at 7:33 pm

    The off speed pitches have converted Feldman from being an average starter, but being a legitimate #1 or #2.

  • JustSaying @ September 9th, 2009 at 10:37 pm

    feldman is making 434k this year and is under arb control for 3 more seasons……that’s just a hellava thought……and i haven’t even started figuring out what we have in hunter and harrison and mcCarthy and feliz and holland……that’s a pretty giddy outlook……a college bat in next year’s draft and we’re almost there…….

  • Gunter @ September 9th, 2009 at 10:39 pm

    At what point do you consider moving to a 4-man rotation to give Feldman/Hunter more games? You are in the race….you’re in it.

    Millwood and Holland seem to have regressed to some degree, but Feldman and Hunter have been gold, and you’ve got B-Mac sitting there.

    Do you consider moving the Dutch Oven to the ‘pen and rolling out a 4-man of Millwood/Feldman/Hunter/McCarthy for the rest of the season with Holland usable in spots?

  • JustSaying @ September 9th, 2009 at 10:41 pm

    feldman has to be the black knight of baseball…..cut off his arms and legs and he still lasts at least 5 or 6 and usaully always keeps the team in the game…….results……he will/should get votes just from the old gamers who respect that type of grinder……and i will add he deserves every vote he gets………

  • JustSaying @ September 9th, 2009 at 10:42 pm

    @gunter you make a lot of sense…….can’t believe front office will figure that out……

  • Michael in LH @ September 9th, 2009 at 10:53 pm

    Millwood is already running on fumes. I don’t think he would survive a 4 man rotation at this point.

  • john in clearwater @ September 9th, 2009 at 10:59 pm

    Only 1 for 4 with a walk and two strikeouts, but Davis saw 30 pitches during the game today. He really made them work. I really feel like he is turning a corner.

  • JustSaying @ September 10th, 2009 at 2:03 am

    @john i saw that and he has responded like a “very coachable” player…….i see a lot of heart in this guy and would love to see him do all the things to make him our long term guy……..

  • Matt @ September 10th, 2009 at 2:44 am

    I haven’t posted here all season but I’ve read this site all year and I just felt compelled to let yall know that this Alaska boy is fully caught up in ranger fever! Let’s keep it goin!