D

Jones in place of Hamilton in the last homegame?

I suppose..but I’d rather see Borbon, heck Gentry, before I wanna watch another Andruw Jones at bat.

I can’t imagine how the Angels will feel taking the field against Texas with only a 4 game cushion. It makes my face smile.

Why not DH Vizquel?

That’s what they say. He and Tim at ESPN-Radio.

2:36: Time off apparently did Nelson Cruz some good. Hits a two-run homer to give Rangers the lead just as Angels are taking field in Anaheim.

Nelson Cruz > Marlon Byrd

I thought the same thing Ryans Dad…I think that’s the bullpen catchers last name..maybe that’s the connection?

What a bad minute for Bartlett.

TAG just wanted to send out condolences to the Frasier family, and that was the end of the statement

Nellie Cruz breaks out w/ authority. “Ron Washington sits me for two guys. Well, I’ll show him!!!!”

Go Rangers!!

It ain’t over until the phat lady sings!

Angels score two in bottom of first, lead 2-0. They led 3-2 at the end of one yesterday.

BOOOOOOO….Is there a rational explanation for Andruw Jones playing today?

“BOOOOOOO….Is there a rational explanation for Andruw Jones playing today?”

A lefty on the mound, and a dearth of righthanded bats on the bench.

Do you really feel good that your D walks a lot? I don’t…I think he’s putrid and it’s an embarrassment that he gets a start in must win games.

Stay tuned Tom B. I predict he will be the first pitcher in history to actually have his arm fall completely off his body during a game. It will be a scene right out of Kill Bill

Okay, okay, day game after night game. But geez, this is sure a light hitting lineup. Hopefully, we can make this lead stand up.

Little luck and help from the defense, McCarthy just might pull out 7 innings today

Evan — “Adagio” is playing music at a slow tempo. I only know that because my son’s favorite “Little Einsteins” DVD includes an episode which involves a train going “adagio” that needs to go “allegro.”

@RF, no I don’t want hank selling T-Shirts at our gift shop. I was just wondering out loud why that was never an option after Young got hurt.

Nice AB by Davis

Terrible at bat so far by TT

I’m thinking Jack Daddy at the game and Rangers Players Meet and Greet as part of Fan Appreciation Day. I hope Holland wasn’t at JDs gate. It might have created a scene.
On 2nd thought, I hope he was. Pictures at 5:00pm News

beautiful… this is the kind of baseball I like to watch!

I love the squeeze…

I think we have something here. Rangers have that far off look in their eye.

3:36: Rangers have extended lead in the fifth. In Anaheium, Angels have extended their lead, also. It’s 4-0, thanks two a Kendry Morales homer.

Is the score 5 to 0 or 7 to 0 we can’t tell. Thank you,
Hazelle and Kittin Klonhammer

FYI, I love the Klonhammer’s

Gotta believe that McCarthy probably on a short leash if Feliz is ready to go. If he can make through six without much damage that would be awesome.

By the way, where has Feliz’s velocity been sitting lately?

Bring in Mahoney! That made me laugh so hard last night.

Low to mid 90′s John

McCarthy at 83 pitches through 7. I’d let that ride for another pass or two.

I only wish the Rangers hit so many runs before this time. We love to have these days games to watch. It has been a very interesting years hear on InsidesCorner. Thanks Evan to give us such cheer!
Hazelle and Kittin Klonhammer

From a very Partial Observer, The Rangers need their best defensive players at their BEST posiotions. The runs have scored. We need STOPS NOW! Wake-Up Wash, Smell The Coffee.

Through six in Anaheim, still 5-0.

I’m going to have to mark him down in my season ending critique.

Hey, Tom I think it is nap time…

Well atleast Upton can’t score from first now.

their*

4:28: For the eighth, Ron Washington doesn’t make any defensive changes with a 5-0 lead. Chris Davis then fumbles a two-out grounder at third that leads to a big inning. Inevitably, the question is what’s more important at this stage: Run reduction or run production? It’s the former with nine outs or less. Davis should have been at first and either Esteban German or Omar Vizquel at third.

@Evan: Why didn’t he learn his lesson before? I thought he said he did….

THANK YOU FF!!!

This game is getting out of control because of one 2 out error.

WTG Frankie Frank!!

I’m getting a Marlon tattoo’d on the small of my back tonight! Who coming with me?

Thankfully this will be last time this year we will have to listen to Knoxie and miss important part of game. (Also please get rid of batting stance guy)

Leave me alone! I am a good manager!

Why do we have to be tortured??

Is it over yet?

We need an out, win, miracle in LA.

You have to give Feliz the ball now

Absolutely agonizing, but that’s what playoff race baseball does.

And now it’s too late. So close, so freakin close

Frankie at 27 pitches. If he goes 30 we are in danger of a melt down.

Well as frustrating as this is, give credit to the Rays. Starting with that error they seemed determined to win. Joe Maddon sending up all his bench and everything.

Thank You, Ron Washington.

Francisco and CJ have been two of the best relievers in a very good bullpen this year, and Kinsler and Cruz have been two of the three best players on the team this year.

Oh my god, I’m watching a team crumble before my eyes.

Its ridiculous to blame Ron Washington for this could be loss. He put the game in the hands of his best players. Thats what you have to do.

Washington needs to go. It kills me to watch him manage a pitching staff. He has no clue.

HE’S LETTING JONES BAT?

Ranger Fan, you can start screaming now…

what does “your comment is awaiting moderation” mean?

I have officially lost all hope in Ron Washington. What a moronic choice. Andruw Jones…really? There is no logic for this. None. Get him out.

A. Jones made contact … I was thinking shallow pop-up center.

I do not understand letting Andruw Jones hit against the right-handed Grant Balfour. That should have been Borbon or Hamilton. Or Michael Young, who is apparently available to pinch hit. I do think decisions over the last two innings of this game will be questioned. And I can’t say I’d blame anybody for doing so.

Down to the last out …

Come on CRUSH!!!!

Ron Washington absolutely should have pinch hit Borbon for Jones. All Jones has done since July is swing for the fence. Borbon could have tried to find a way to get on base instead of swinging out of his shoes. And when he gets on base, he creates havoc with his wheels. I don’t understand that decision at all. Bad managing. Plain and simple.

7-4 Angels now

Lot’s of things that I think can and will be questioned. But I go with leaving in FF too long as a huge issue. It was pretty obvious that he didn’t have his best stuff.

Angels have re-extended the lead to 7-4 against A’s.

Going to ninth.

Hamilton must not be available.

Andruw Jones has not hit a homerun since July 8…nearly 3 months. The only reason he could be in a game is for a power righy. Clearly no power. I don’t get it. OK I know…I’ve said it all day. But I just don’t understand at all…I don’t think there’s any reasoning that can me made other than givin the nod to one of your guys. Also, I’d rather see Young here.

Sorry, different Cormier.

This one hurts.

Step away for a few minutes to connect my wife’s new computer to our wireless network and what happens.. Frankie gives up the game. This is just frustrating. I was looking forward to at least going to LAA with even a remote shot (sure it would require a sweep minimum) but I think the Ray’s played spoilers today. Well, at least the season ain’t over yet and miracles still can happen. Well… maybe next year.

I guess we say what we can about every adversity…good learning experience. This team will most likely mean the Rangers will watch the Angels celebrate the division win this week. That should fuel the fire to work hard again this off-season and in the spring. You know what they say…a team usually has to have its heart broken before they’re ready to make the jump to the next level.

Texas_Rocks is my new favorite poster..he knows where the caps lock keys are–he’s allsome

@Texas Rocks: Didn’t you know that Managers never win games, but they can lose them.

Great job by BMAC. Gives one hope for next year.

I’m not has hard on Wash for pinch hitting A. Jones … he obviously has a Jones for Jones.

Not putting yanking Hank, moving Crush over to first and have Omar or German at 3rd … well, that was inexcusable especially when it cost arguably 2 games this year already.

Francisco was good early in the season but I think I’m ready to see the Rangers get someone else to close next year. Of course, given the payroll constraints, that won’t be easy.

Wow, got in the car to drive home from visiting my parents up 5-0 with 1 out in the 8th, got home to a loss. As I’d posted before, I hadn’t really bought into the notion that they could revive their run at the Angels, but it was fun to imagine it for a couple days. The big question this game raises for next year is “are Francisco-Wilson-O’Day a championship back end of a bullpen?” Wilson and Francisco get a lot of saves, but they also absolutely detonate a lot more often then most ‘good’ bullpens do. I know the performances of bullpens and closers change more from year to year than other personelle, but it is worth asking if Frankie and/or Wilson might not be guys to sell high on and try someone else. I don’t honestly know how I’d answer that question, I just know this is a game you’d GOT to win, and it hasn’t been the first such game we didn’t this year. I also know that RW’s hatred of defensive substitutions is really becoming a pain. How about Jackie Moore in all this, people’s visceral dislike for RW tends to get the guy who’s supposed to be our “strategy guru” a free pass.

Can anyone elaborate on what Busby said on the post-game show? I don’t get it here in Vegas. Thanks

I think I just coughed up a hairball.

OK, I’m no Wash lover, and maybe I’m not as big on the technical stuff as you all are. But I’m having a hard time understanding how you can blame Wash for not having the foresight to see Davis making an error at 3B in the 8th inning and having Vizquel in at 3B. I was at the game against LAA where Blalock committed an error at 1B in the 9th, and I guess I understood all the posters saying Wash should have made position changes for the 9th. Now I’m reading that Wash should have made position changes for the 8th because of Davis’ error at 3B. To me, that’s an incredible amount of hindsight. Evan, is that some kind of rule that with nine outs or less you make those defensive changes?

Today, the decision that beats me the most is leaving Frankie in there when he clearly didn’t have anything. It reminded me of the blow-up against Boston. While Davis’ error hurt in the 8th, we still went to the 9th with a 3-run lead and our closer.

The whole attitude of I’ll run with my closer, even when he clearly doesn’t have his best stuff, is just not a way of winning games.

CJ and O’Day could have done better too, but the simple fact is that Frankie couldn’t get people out in the ninth and he got left in there to give up the game. I would have been just as heartbroken if Feliz had come in and given up the runs, but I would have at least felt like we were giving it all we could to win the game.

The whole attitude of I’ll run with my closer, even when he clearly doesn’t have his best stuff, is just not a way of winning games.

Who’s winning games pulling their closer. You don’t do that unless its a permanent change. Almost every manager in the game does exactly what Wash did in sticking with Frankie. Feliz is great and maybe he should be made the permanent closer. However he wasn’t exactly dominant in the minors this year. After his brilliant start he has been human lately. That is pitching in mostly non pressure situations. He would likely struggle in the closers role right now. Frankie has closed a lot of games for Wash. No reason to pull him in a game we had to have.

KJ, that could be the LAA game I was at last Sat. We’re up by one run, bases loaded with 1 out, and Andrus made a 4-3 DP.

Fantastic affair, didn’t thought it was going to be so cool when I klicked at your title!!