D

@beerguy: as long as we win, we have a chance.

Evan,what are you having for dinner?

I’m starting to have a new idea on our September swoon vs. Seattle, Oakland and LA. I think the weather delays and days off contributed to us getting out of rhythm, combined with (and made worse) players over thinking the situation.

Seattle went through the same delays as us, so why weren’t they affected? Sure, ok, Oakland has played better lately, but they certainly didn’t look like a better team than us last night (against one of the same pitchers!). And we started to pull out of the funk against LA. Now, once we’re very close to out of it, the players loosen up and we play well again.

Evening all…

Amazing that the knock on elvis was he couldnt hit enough and here he is hitting 271 after jumping AAA and playing the full season in the majors.
How good will he be when he really learns to hit?

What he is doing is amazing for anyone but to have that tag that he couldnt hit and hold his own is incredible.
I just hope that the regular fans understand how good his season has been.

Kennedy sure was stupid there.
The ump looked like he told him to go to the dugout and he didnt, the umps hands are tied if that is how it goes.

Next year…or will that ever happen?

@Evan: On a non-Rangers note, fun game between Georgia and Arkansas on Saturday, eh? Thought we had you for a while there! And how about them Falcons? Did someone say “sophomore slump” regarding Ryan?? Perish the thought!

A kinsler flyout to the outfield! Think I’ve seenthat already.

@RF: Was just reading that. Sounds like the end for Eddie (and probably the right time to do it).

OBAGAIN: About next year’s rotation. Doesn’t Tommy Hunter get a shot? I read in the DMN this morning that RW says he isn’t assured of a rotation spot, but surely he gets a chance.

So you honestly feel different if it’s a groundout or popout. That’s a little ridiculous to me.

Anyone getting reports from Fall Instructs?

@OB, I guess hoping for an injury free McCarthy is like hoping for Nolan Ryan to find the fountain of youth and come back to pitch next season.

@obagain: He was shaky before that…I think Millwood will be dealt. I’d role with: Feldman, Hunter, McCarthy, Holland, Harrison/Feliz/tbd.

Is anyone considering muting the TV in order to avoid the drumbing, yelling guy…Ranger ushers certainly wouldn’t allow that to happen.

What woukd have to happen for the Rangers to be move to the A.L Central?

@win’s dad: And some of the flyouts lead to runs coming home, homeruns…i hate shallow flyouts, foulouts, ok…but he hit that ball hard and deep..if it’s to LF, its out.

If Eddie had retired after last season, Holland couldn’t have followed him around like a puppy dog this season.

Now that was Bush League crap right there.

Uhhh seriously? Like I said…Nelson Cruz should never play RF.

I take cruz out for sitting there and not jumping up to get to the ball, that is uncalled for.

@obagain: Yep, but it’d be a cold day in hell before Wash makes an example of a player.

be nice to at least tie it up right here.

@Ryan’s dada-Oh, but I am here. Just quiet, of late. Glad ro aee the slide rule/pocket protecter crowd best fielding RF is still holding up. Actually, it started with one of his patented lousy jumps, then his oft seen moment of indecision, then settling into the best seat in the house to watch the play unfold.

fred, I havent always agreed with your assesment of cruz but you were dead on with that one.

Ahhhh, that’s what I needed Fred. Now the corner feels right again.

I think pudge comes back.
Hamilton will be closer to 2008, he is too talented not to.
I think they start feliz in the pen and he starts in june.
perez will see arlington in sept.
The a’s have a brighter future and still have some decent pitchers coming.
I want no part of bradley.

JACK DADDY: (#5) The Angels scare me more. Solid starting pitching, resourceful owner, the best manager in the A. L. The Mariners scare me more than the A’s. They lost more than 100 games last year, but Wakamatsu has them over .500 in 09. They can be really dangerous next season if they continue to improve at a rate anywhere near that.

Wins Dad – I think the Ms lose Felix to NYY or Boston at next year’s trading deadline. Once that happens, the Ms will be 2 years back (though they should bring in some nice talent – if the Sox were willing to give Buchholz, Bowden and Masterson for 1 year of Halladay, jeez – think what they do for Felix and the chance to be the inside horse when its time to re-sign him).

Angels resources are impressive, but you can’t buy a WS (though they may tempt that fate this very season).

I am so sick of hearing that Cruz is a five tool outfielder. I guess that doesn’t include fielding as he sucks at that. That was an error not a triple and wher4 was Byrd
too busy trying to catch balls in left field. Cruz should be DH only.

1.Pudge back if he takes a Vizquel type deal.
2.I’m counting on a rebound year for Josh.
3.Knowing Nolan he is in rotation since the sstart and will be tested often.
4.Same here. if yes something bad happened.
5.Still LAA because their owner.
6.No as of right now ( reserve the right to change my mind)

“I’m starting 2 wonder if this whole ‘tipping pitches’ crap is just code for ‘i blow right now & can’t figure it out’…epidemic

A tweet from Victor Rojas…what is he talking about? Am I missing something?

SD cant do that, they have no money and 2 1b would be a luxury to them.
If they were in the al maybe but neither player can play another position.

Good question RF?

Didn’t everyone in the world know he was going curveball there? If there’s one thing I’m not impressed with regarding Pudge, it’s his pitch calling. It’s been like that for a while with most pitchers.

@RD: Then that’s a problem…because Hamilton is not viewed as a longterm CF…better see what Gentry can do.

It’s why I think they need Byrd back here next year more than Murph. That hurts to say.

I would like to see borbon in center the rest of the way to see if he can handle it.
I see hank getting a look in boston and chicago.
I think the giants would give him a look and have a little money to play with.

Marlon Byrd is not a starting CF on a championship team. He is a 4th outfielder. A very valuable one but not a cog to defense or offense.

Long day on the East Coast again. I won’t be staying up.

Jack Daddy – if Evan is the straw of Inside Corner, surely you are the stirrod. To take nothing away from all the other insightful commentators. Night all. Keep the Faith.

@Jack Daddy: I don’t believe that’s a mom, but a sister.

@Ryan’s Dad, Ranger Fan: I am here, but like Fred, I’ve been a little quiet lately. Guess the air was taken out of my sails a little, too, by the awful homestand,

@john in clearwater – I’m just bored (Jack Mamma in bed) and only real have one friend that likes to talk baseball (and 1/2 the time he’s ranting about why wash needs to get fired and it just gets tired), so I get my fix here with you guys. I love baseball talk. To me, there’s nothing better. Not even close. I also like you dudes on here.

@Evan – really? she’s at least 20 though, right?

My wind was let out BIG TIME. But sulked all weekend (2 depression naps) and realized I was about to go 6 months without baseball so figured I would enjoy the next 2 weeks. Even wearing my new Feliz uni!

10:35: Elvis Andrus ties Ian Kinsler for the team lead in steals with a sixth-inning swipe. It gives him 29 in 33 attemps (87.9 percent). Among the majors most frequent runners, Andrus’ steal percentage is the best in baseball. The Rangers, currently with an 81.8 percent success rate, are on pace to set the AL record for best stolen base percentage among teams with at least 150 attempts.

@scooper – not switched. I’m still a Holland guy. If I had to keep one, I’d take Holland, since he’s a lefty and I just have an affinity for him. But with the split finger, Feliz is far better than what I saw of him in Frisco and thought he would be a nice addition to the collection. Thought I think we’ve just won 2 or 3 times since I bought it.

Nice to hear from you. Thought you have moved on to football or something.

Nope, still around. Some personal stuff came up and I wasn’t watching the games live.

Seems like they wanted feliz to back off and he has not been as good since then.

Feliz has been off for last 3 or 4 times out.

I’m sorry but I’m getting sick of all the Pudge praise..yes, everyone knows he’s one of the best ever and no one loves him more than Ranger fans..but come on! It’s getting gag worthy. Probably an unpopular comment…

I agree I don’t think Pudge is the second coming either. I also think Feliz has bit pitcged near as well with him behind the plate. It really iritates the heck out of me that he took 7 from Murph. I know Murph offered it but he didn’t have to take it. Has everyone forgotten about the steroids.

It is obvious that the pitchers have not been pitching as well since he arrived. He wont let Feliz pitch his fastball maybe its because he knows he can’t catch it.

My biggest possible negative from 09? I hope the utilization in bullpen hasn’t been a detriment to Feliz and Holland. Both have seen about a 2-3 mph drop in their fastball. Now that may have nothing to do with the wear of piching in the pen on short rest (perhaps its just them learning to pitch and not needing to dial it up every throw). I’ll be glad when next year gets here and Holland can settle into a starting routine from Day 1 and hopefully the same can be said for Feliz.

@JackDaddy: I really think it is that they are dialing down the speed in order to get better command. Fatigue could play a part, but I think they are going for better command.

@scooper: I think that’s true with holland…but Feliz’ command has regressed along with the velocity.

Why exactly did we put Wille Eyre in?

@RangerFan: I think what we are seeing with Feliz is the inconsistency of youth. He set the bar so high, there is no way that he could have kept that up. Remember, in the minors he gave up quite a few walks this year. He went through spurts when he didn’t, but he’s doing the same thing up here now.

I spent about 15 minutes trying to find my post from about a month ago. I profiled the Rangers, Angels and Red Sox remaining games and pointed out that Texas played Oak 10 times and the Angels played them 9 times and noted that West would likely be decided by (in addition to the Head to Head with Tex/LAA) the As. Sure enough, that is what has happened.

Again, no shame in that IMO, as I think the As are playing great ball and have the look of a dangerous team next year. This Davis has been a thorn in our side since that triple that won that nighmare in Oak last month.

Going to bed. Night all.

@scooper – yep, and that’s why I have that in the back of my mind. Again, I think you’re mostly right in that they are dialing down for better location.

I’m sick of the halfbutt effort in the outfield by Nelson Cruz. He takes horrible routs to the ball, doesn’t dive when he should, and does dive when he shouldn’t. Yeah he has a strong arm, but those other things overshadow his errors.
He should strictly be the DH next season. Ridiculous.

@RF – this has highlighted a problem with this team and real weak spot (though the same can be said for about 25 teams) – we don’t have strong options for the pen when we’re trailing. You can’t use Oday, cj, FF and Feliz every game. down 3-1, you don’t go to CJ. MAYBE Oday, but eyre/mathis/nippert was the better move. Mathis and nippert are more long guys.

It is what it is.

Well I guess we will continue to leave the over the hill catcher in even though he is calling an awful game. These young guys are afraid to shake him off and they just pitch what he says. A veteran pitcher would throw his fastball.

Nelson Cruz needs to be taken out of the outfield there is absolutely no excuse for his poor routes and his total laziness such as not getting up after he misses the ball and going after it. I know a good way to uncrowd the outfield sit his butt on the bench

It would not bother me if Cruz was not here next year.

Word is the Rays want to trade Crawford or Upton. If you are the Rangers, do you go after one of them, giving you Borbon, Andrus and Crawford/Upton as rabbits on the bases?