Evening All! Pumped Young is back! FSSW has Omar playing SS tonight. Here and DMN has Elvis…who’s right? Hope Elvis is in there!

Hey guys, my connection has been rained out so I havent been on in a while.

McCarthy already struggling – can he make a quick adjustment?

weird..

McCarthy isn’t doing particularly bad. We just need to stop giving them extra outs (thanks, obagain!).

The score doesn’t represent how lacking his command was in the first. He was really up quite a bit. Plus extra outs didn’t help the guy any. I think he’ll adjust now that he knows what will work for him tonight though.

I gotta say that it’s impressive as heck that MY is back so quickly. I just hope he doesn’t re-injure it and be done for the season.

@PTRF: I feel like it’s a desparate times call for desparate measures.

The easy solution is for him to just hit HR’s every at-bat. Then he doesn’t need to run. It worked for Kirk Gibson.

Well the Internet is down again so I only have my iPhone
I will not be posting much because it is a pain.

okay ? for evan what is our longest shutout streak in regards to innings in thier history at this rate we could put the a’s rotation in cooperstown anyone want disagree with me

Pretty disgusting site at ballpark….so quiet you can hear the chiming of the ticket scanners….maybe 5000 ppl here…..comeon ppl….rangers have been basically giving away tix for couple months…we’ve bought the “dinger ” special….the half price special, the inside corner special, etc….tonight we here for free from the all star game….great weather….no reason NOT to be here

okay at the rate this offense is hitting giving up more than 2 runs and it is game set match

McCarthy meltdown in progress…my worry is not the offense.

7:40: Simply can’t walk in a run, which is what Brandon McCarthy just did in the second. He allowed three walks around a two-out single to force in a second run. Also, seems to be very deliberate on the mound. Wondering if he’s feeling some physical issues.

7:52: 61 pitches through two innings for McCarthy. Not going to make it through five at this pace.

@I’d say there are about 13,000-15,000 folks in the stands tonight. Disappointing for a team that is in a playoff race.

When was the last time Tom Hicks attended a game and sat in his seats? I haven’t seen him there in forever…

@Ranger Fan: Was here Saturday during rainy night. He’s been kind of scarce since having hip replacement surgery.

Lackey struck out Lowell and Kotchman to get out of the sixth down only 2-0.

@RangerFan: if you were Tom Hicks right now, would you go out to the ballpark? I’m not sure that I would. I would probably consider it more of a distraction than was necessary.

EVAN: At Sunday’s game I noticed that Tom Hicks was walking with a cane. He also looked noticeably thinner. Is there a health issue there?

Saying the fans are the problem is just the ticket being stupid.
If the players need 20k plus to play a game for real then we might as well give up.
What the fans have done this year is impressive.
The turn out was there early and if the team wants 20 k plus they need to go on a big win streak and the fans will be back.

Nice inning. Top of the order coming up.

@scooper: No, but I would have sold the team long before now.

8:07: Young’s comeback lasts one at-bat. Nelson Cruz on deck.

Not good for MY.

my gosh please I beg the baseball gods to not lets us be shut out by the a’s again please please

Lewin just said close to a sell out for Saturday…if we can get some wins should be an awesome atmosphere this weekend.

My thughts on players calling out fans: Shut up. I’m the biggest Ian Kinsler supporter there is but it infuriated to hear his comments. There have been some awesome crowds this season, particularly in the Boston series and Angels series. Not much mention then. But you want to get on the fans for not coming? Yes, there should be more fan support. But realize, this has been a decade of mediocrity. Casual fans will not flock when you’re 4-games out just because it is a “race”.

Young out. Not good.

Only Baltimore and Cincinnati drew less last night. Keep the faith, it will improve when hicks and crew have departed……..they’re busy sending out resumes so no time to do any more promoting……..

Monday, September 14, 2009
Tampa Bay 8, at Baltimore 4 10,628
at Detroit 6, Toronto 5 24,375
at NY Yankees 5, LA Angels 3 44,701
at Cincinnati 3, Houston 1 9,852
Oakland 9, at Texas 0 Tomko 13,669
at Chicago Cubs 2, Milwaukee 0 38,725
at Minnesota 6, Cleveland 3 20,640
at St. Louis 11, Florida 6 43,582
Arizona 4, at San Diego 2 20,265
at LA Dodgers 6, Pittsburgh 2 42,045
at San Francisco 9, Colorado 1 31,307

Should have taken him out after last inning.

@Alan, @S. Arcasm: News on scoring futility streak. The longest in Rangers history is 28 innings from July 13-15, 1972. They are currently at 22.

…in this economy.

Well, this is my 12th game of year and it feels completely dead in here

JT, if the rangers score a run the place will wake up.
As of now what have they had to cheer about?
MY got a good reception.

@rangerfan: I honestly don’t know what they were valued at last year.

okay I hate admit it but I almost want us to go for the streak hec my thinking is if you are going to go down might as well do it in flames and waht better way to do it then est a record

@evan: I’m Chop or Reason

Well, there’s the season. This team won’t come back from a 4-run deficit. They are lacking 2 of their top players and can’t make up the difference without them.

@All: It may be time to play with the anagram finder.

http://www.deanjackson.dj/nameanagram/index.php?n

Try to figure out you these are:
In Rank Lies
Now OK Vile Mild
Now Snaring Hot
O Junior Blob
I’m an Ugly Echo

@Doug: Not sure it matters really at this point. It’s just about all she wrote I’m afraid.

note to Ranger fan I appreciate you trying to find a silver linning in a otherwise shinking ship but I dont think this team could score with them in it in fact they couldnt hit water if they fell out of a boat figuratively speaking but otherwsie keep up the positive material

The streak is no more…

And this is just indicative of much of the year, especially since the ASB. Getting 1-hit by some no-name average-at-best pitcher. Hard to maintain that it’s mostly the pitcher at this point, isn’t it?

sorry didnt mean to double post

@RangerFan: me, too.

@RF – I ask myself why he doesn’t use punctuation. But right behind that question comes “why does he watch”

hambino, that is better than 5 HR and 15 rbi, I will take runs any way they come.

Meant tired

beer guy, the offense has to be addressed in the offseason and some guys we like are going to have to be moved to make that happen.
The question will be will the owner ok taking on payroll to bring in a couple of bats?

Boston has added another run in the eighth off Lackey, who was finally pulled after 120 pitches. That’s his second-most this season, behind that 131-pitch loss to the Rangers in early August.

alan, if we had to be perfect I would have been banned a long time ago.
It is a fun blog, dont worry about little missteps.

Who is “Fernando”??? Long sign on 3rd base line saying “where’s Fernando?”….tatis? Valenzuela?

Let’s put things in perspective. If in march I told everyone that the Rangers would be playing in September with:
1. Hamilton hurt and having missed at least half the games;
2. Young hurt and out of the lineup;
3. Kevin Millwood pitching so bad that he has been skipped;
4. Padilla (per some folks the 2nd most important ranger going into the season) released and pitching for the dodgers;
5. Your rotation having feldman holland hunter mcarthy and nippert;
6. Andruw jones having been benched since late august

everyone would have said that the rangers season went VERY wrong this year and wash was probably fired and jd was hanging by a thread. But… We have played some meaningfully games in sept and still have a sliver of hope!!!

@alan: You’re right. I was just busting chops. Sorry. Now I’ll give the microphone back to you and let you keep on with your acceptance speech.

@alan: Horns fan…so much is explained by that.

@PTRF: at least you must be happy! Your (main) team is doing great!

Hopefully my cy young comment reversed the jinx…lol

@PTRF: Now that’s planning! Good for you!

@PTRF: Crazy that you can get so much for one set of tickets to pay for the other two! Now that’s the playoffs in a city that really cares about baseball.

On a similar note, I was watching the LA-Boston game (NESN Boston feed) on MLB.tv before the Rangers game came on, and an ad played encouraging fans to log on to MLB.com to buy tickets. Ha! To Fenway? Aren’t they sold out until 2037 or something??

@scooper: I’m excited. Should be a fun October. Taking a buddy with me to the ALDS who has never been to NY but always wanted to go. His dad was a big Yankee fan and never got to go to Yankee Stadium, and he passed away early this year. This is like his way of honoring his dad.

I really don’t even know what to say about that. As a Ranger fan, it’s such an unfamiliar experience to have it be the offense that’s flushing the race that it’s kinda surreal.

Red Sox won 4-1 for their sixth straight. Papelbon worked the ninth in a non-save situation and gave up a run.

@PTRF: I’m just waiting for the day when we can have that kind of fun October!

@Alan: Yeah they did have some games planned, but I forget what happened…I think maybe one game was cancelled because of a hurricane down there, and then they couldn’t figure out how to make it up. Now Arkansas plays A&M instead.

nice positioning by wash on that one.

I’ve actually thought for a few games that our positioning was off, and thought the same thing in this one on a couple of plays.

Evening all. Sigh.

@Evan: Are the anagrams that you posted earlier all Rangers?

Good thing Rangers players are harping for attendance just in time for them to tank.

Right now, I think the Mariners have a better chance of catching the Rangers than the Rangers catching the A’s. I think we are witnessing Tampa Bay West.

oops, meant Angels

@Ryans Dad: bearing in mind that we haven’t even lost 3 in a row yet, can you imagine just how painful that race-chucking losing streak has been for Rays fans?

I’m going to mix a drink. I’m not the hottest woman on the planet but I’ve never gone 0-7 with players in scoring position. Bottoms up, boys.

Re: Tampa, agreed that must have hurt. Talk about monumental collapses. The only difference being, of course, that at least they have a very recent World Series memory to enjoy (even if it was a loss).

if Kinsler and the Rangers want the seats filled for a playoff run, then they should play like it. If you get shut out two games in a row by lower tier teams, and continue to struggle against weaker teams, then understand why the hordes aren’t too excited about you. thanks for giving us fans a season to enjoy more than any other in a long time, but right now it doesn’t feel like or look like a playoff run.

The question I find myself asking right now is what’s the chance of rebooting the 2008 versions of Hamilton and Kinsler next year?

@PTRF: Yes, all Rangers fans.

@Ryans Dad: Pudge’s catcher ERA was 4.21 (as a Ranger) coming into the game. No, not blinded by “love for him.” It’s simply been a very bad week for all the Rangers. Playoff teams end up showing you why they are playoff teams (I’m looking at you Boston Red Sox with your six straight wins). The Rangers are showing they are a good young team that still has growing to do.

@PTRF: No worries! Hey the great thing about sports is that there’s always next year (well, unless one dies, in which case it doesn’t really matter I suppose…)

@Ryans Dad: You know I actually had the same thought earlier today…for all the offensive struggles of Teagarden, could something be said for not changing horses so late in the game? I dunno, just wondering.

As for the rain theory, I totally agree with Josh. I really think this past weekend (back to Thursday) totally took the wind out of the sails. Too many off days, delays and getting out of routines.

Kindler will just blame it on the fans

I would jump for joy the next time I see Kinsler hit a groundball even if it’s an out

posada threw a weak elbow at the pitcher after he crossed the plate, the ump threw him out and then the benches cleared.
posada should get a lengthy suspension for that.

Not sure if anybody has noticed but Chris Davis is currently rocking an 8 for 42 (.190).

@obagain: Been a bit of everything. Feliz, for example, was not good at all tonight. That I blame on not pitching for seven days. Holland hasn’t been good in this stretch. The entire team has simply played poorly and these are things that show up in a pennant race. Somebody separates themselves.

@obagain: I’m sure Posada will get suspended, but if you watch the replay the pitcher was going to back up behind home plate and he purposely paused right in the path of Posada. Jorge then gave a little elbow to his glove as he went by.

Evan’s right. Playoff teams know how to win these games against teams like Seattle and Oakland, especially at home in September. All year, we’ve had too many losses to teams with worse records than ours. We can’t blame injuries because everyone has had them and the good teams win anyway. But this experience will be good for the team.

@Ryan’s Dad: Pudge is 37. He’s not the same player he once was, but right now he offers the Rangers their best option behind the plate. Maybe if Salty was healthy, it would be a different story, but the Rangers went out and got Pudge because of the injury to Salty. And even when he was an MVP, Pudge hit into a lot of double plays.

I would be shocked if MLB came down with a stiff suspension on Posada. A veteran Yankee…it won’t happen.

Damn can’t believe I missed the ground out… The world will now come to an end

@obagain: I agree about him coming back after being ejected. That will not be looked upon kindly be the league.

As far as the Yankees hitting the Blue Jays batters, one guy got hit with a changeup and one guy with a fastball. Both pitchers that hit batters are call-ups that were in for mop-up duty. They both have big control problems. I don’t thing either one was intentional.

I predict 5 games for Posada.

I guess the rub for having the 9th or 10th best team in the league is that the let down is the same as say the Nationals, it just happens a whole lot faster.

Ryan’s Dad -

Don’t know about everybody else on the team but Tiny E has been a significantly better hitter than the older and more veteran corner IF Chris Davis.

RF, especially at this time of year with a division rival.

He is a Daisy Ms. Wales

PTRF, sorry got caught up and ment tor.

Who is a daisy?

Little E

Is it really necessary to show the “give him the boot” graphics when we are down by 5????

Elvis has had the best ab’s of the whole team most the year.

I think the Cards can take the Yankees. Carpenter, Wainright, Pujols, Holliday. Yeah, I think they could at least make it interesting.

I think the Cards could give them the most challenge…but I don’t think enough of one to win. There’s no way their lineup 1-9 competes with the Yankees.

2-for-27 w/ RISP tells a lot. MY typically delivers in those situations. Maybe the lack of a veteran bet is a gap???

@RF: I love the “purchased another ring”. I read all the time on here that people are upset that the Rangers have to have such a tight budget. If the Rangers had the money to spend wouldn’t you want them to get the best players they could? It’s within the rules to spend as much as you want. The Yankees spend more than anyone, but they still turn a profit. As a fan what more could you want from your owner? Once you put together the best roster you can then the players still have to go out and perform. Not always as easy as it sounds.

@Callie: No offense taken. Hate away.

@Evan, what are your thoughts on the Rangers hiring Wash over Don Wakamatsu? I’ve never heard your take on that?

PTRF, please refrain from injecting rational thoughts and truisms when discussing the Yankees. It really p##ses me off.

PTRF, most fans agree with you but baseball let teams like atlanta, chicago and NY have huge TV deals but wouldnt let the rangers do the same.
That is a huge unfair advantage that needs to be corrected.
Also, the last time I looked you could take the bottom 5 teams in payroll, put them together and the yankees still have a higher salery.
That rubs people the wrong way.

@PTRF: I firmly believe there should be cap restrictions in baseball. It won’t happen but I believe that’s what is best for the game. But honestly, let them but all the players they want. I’ll take 1 championship with a team you watched grow up together over 10 with players that ocme and go. Now if we could just get that 1…

@obagain: How did MLB prevent other teams from having better TV deals? I have not heard of that.

Again, if the rules allow you to spend as much as you want then why wouldn’t you? As long as you’re still making money. Sorry if it rubs people the wrong way, but I’ve also heard a lot of people bash the LA Clippers owner (Sterling) because he doesn’t spend money on his team. Same with the Bidwells and the AZ Cardinals. Which way do you want it? Owners don’t spend money and keep it to themselves, or put money back into the club and put the best team out there that you can?

Nice to see Ian running hard to 1st base……Great effort, Ian……Good grief…..Has Ian already packed it in this season too?

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19860924&id=Pr8IAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JUQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=955,4754259
Here is an old article on it.

@Ryans Dad: I thought three of the candidates were very strong: Washington, Wakamatsu and John Russell (now managing the Pirates). If it had been up to me, I was still probably going with Washington because I thought the Rangers needed a change from the previous administration. Don Wakamatsu would have been a very good manager here, but I thought the club needed a fresh breath from somewhere else. I thought Wakamatsu would be perceived as just an extension of Buck Showalter. In retrospect, that is wrong. Wakamatsu has proven to be nothing like Showalter. He’s his own man and he’s becoming a very formidable major league manager.

I was an Ian Kinsler fan until I started hearing him on the Ticket. The more I listen to him the more he comes across as someone that has a bunch of skins on the wall when he has done nothing. When questioned about his slump, people saying he’s trying to hit a home run every time up, he said that his job is to try and hit a home run every time up. If that’s his attitude then they need to fire Jaramillo. A batter’s job is to get on base. If they happen to hit a home run, fine. But Kinsler sure has been popping up a lot. Why not try going with the pitch every now and then. Now he’s being critical of the fans after it rained for 35 hours straight? Sad. He needs to look in the mirror. This team looks like it’s done. Dandy Don’s warming up the vocal chords.

By the sound of it, I’m glad I haven’t heard Ian on the TICKET.

@scooper – I can spew my irrational jealousy-based hatred any time I want. Don’t tell me I can’t..

I still think Bobby V may be managing this team next year…..

Yeah, scooper. Lay off Callie. Oh, wait. You were backing me up. Sorry.

@RF: I think CC and Tex have had a huge impact. Do I care that they were free agents and not “home grown guys”? Not in the least.

PTRF, put your bias away for a minute, if jeeter were on the rangers does he get 1/5th the publicity he does as a yank?
He will probably be in the HOF but does he really belong there?

@ Scooper, it’s a running joke, said tongue in cheek about Ian confessing to trying to hit a homer every time he’s up.

OT – let me just say that as much as I hate Florida, I can’t wait for them to stomp Tennessee into the ground this weekend. I am an Arkansas fan like someone else on here.

It is giving up when you tell your team, “i don’t have any faith in you scoring 5 runs this inning, so I’ll put in a AA guy.”

@OB, WOW, DID YOU REALLY SAY THAT? Of course he is good enough for the HOF.

scooper, that is the point.
MY has no shot at the HOF but if you switched teams MY would be a first ballot selection.

How many 3,000 hit players are currently not in the HOF? Jeter will be there by 2011.

@PTRF: that’s the point…if Young was in NY and did the things he’s done in Texas..people say the same thing about Young. HOF.

Baseball is going to snob themselves out of business with how they try and control ownership. Gaylord and Cuban are just 2 of many times they said no.

RD he’s not.

He’s probably not. But he’s not far behind either.

MY made himself into the player he is today. If he had been in NY from the start, I think he would have risen to the challenge.

How good is Jeter? He is one of 6 players in MLB history to have at least 2700 hits, 1500 runs, 220 HR’s, 300 steals and 1000 RBI.

The other 5 are: Craig Biggio, Barry Bonds, Ricky Henderson, Willie Mays & Paul Molitor.

RD, is he a better SS? Yes, is he a better player? I say no.
MY has been an allstar at 3 positions, when he has had a chance in the AS game he has come thru.
He has been one of the most feared hitters with RISP thru his career.
He has the best pitching staff money can buy.
He has the best hitters money can buy.
Is he a great player? Yes, there are a bunch of guys in the hall I dont think should be there.

Elvis said it best. Jeter is a winner. He has the make-up every team needs and his stats are clearly HOF. OK, I won’t be rooting for him, but he’s clearly at that level.

@obagain: Coming through in the AS game is now the benchmark for success?

@obagain: Again, I think you’re letting your frustration for MY not getting more national attention cloud your judgment.

@Ranger Fan: I agree. If MY plays in NY he gets a ton more attention. However, I repeat that you can’t use that as an argument that Jeter isn’t great.

Jeter is one of the best to play the game. e deserves the pub he gets. That doesn’t mean Young doesn’t deserve more. If the Rangers win…he gets it. That’s the bottom line. Like it or not…you have to win to get the pub.

@RF: I agree 100%. Young deserves more. It’s not his fault he doesnt get it, and it’s not Jeter’s fault MY doesn’t get it.

PTRF, I hate the hypocracy of one player being put in the HOF because he gets more press while similar players are not even mentioned in the same league.
I also laugh at teh guys that say if you put ichiros numbers in japan he would have over 3000 hits and should be a lock first ballot guy.
Using that logic than warren moon is the greatest player to ever play QB, if you add hid numbers from the canadian league.

PTRF, the reason I put MY in the hall is because you put jeter in.
I dont think either should be but if young continues like he is and matches jeter than how can you put 1 in but not the other.

@obagain: The Ichiro discussion doesn’t come into this at all. The simple question was: does Jeter belong in the HOF? The answer is yes.

@RF: I’ll tell you right now that Andrus is a better DEFENSIVE shortstop then Jeter ever thought about being.

@PTRF: Agree…I do think Andrus will be very solid offensively throughout is career. Maybe not Jeter…but dang good. He’s an all-star, gold glove shortstop. Can’t wait.

@obagain: If Young keeps putting up numbers at the pace he is now for another 6-7 years then he deserves to be in HOF.

Here’s the difference. If Jeter retired right this minute he’s a HOFer because of the rings (and stats). Young needs to get to 3,000 hits to be in. Which I think he’ll get to if he stays healthy.

If Young keeps up his pace for six more years he’ll have about 2,900 hits, 1400 runs, 1200 RBI, 240 HR and a .300 average. Get to 3,000 hits and I think he’s gotta be in.

RF, smoak is killing the ball for team U.S.A. but I want to see him do it for the rangers next year.

To make it clear, I love Young and think he’s one of the most under-rated players in the game. I wasn’t trying to disrepect Young during this discussion at all.

I think he would need to put up the numbers he’s been putting up for another couple of years to be in. That’s assuming his mere presence didn’t bring them a couple of rings

@obagain: I do too…Should be interesting next year to see where he starts.

I stood and cheered for MY’s lone at bat. I also hated life the rest of the game. As streaky as this team is, I think it’s time to go on a major run… Let’s NIP this drought in the bud..