Pool Time by the Bay

Here is your Sunday home run pool entry form fully loaded with a lineup:

2B Ian Kinsler, 3B Michael Young, LF Marlon Byrd, DH Andruw Jones, CF Josh Hamilton, RF Nelson Cruz, 1B Hank Blalock, C Ivan Rodriguez, SS Elivs Andrus and pitching for the Rangers … RHP Scott Feldman.

Also, if you need some noon-time reading, Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett has joined the crew on Frontburner as a guest blogger. Here’s a scoop: Marty B is an alien and wants cheap friends. What more encouragement do you need?

I Left the Hotel Pool just so You Could Get a Head Start on the Saturday Home Run Pool Spectacular

Don’t have any lineups yet. Don’t have much of anything except for a sun-burned back. Shortly after I donned the day’s blackened Grouper sandwich (remind me to write an ode to the blackened Grouper sandwich one day; the grouper is the perfect sandwich fish), the afternoon squalls moved in off the gulf and chased me back to the room. So, what was the first thing I thought of? You, of course. I figured I’d throw the preliminary homer pool post up and let you enter early if you’d like. I will be back later with the lineup. (Yes, angry mob, I expect Julio Borbon will be in there today.)

UPDATED, 2:52 pm CDT: Here is your lineup for tonight against Tampa Bay RHP Matt Garza: DH Julio Borbon, 3B Michael Young, LF David Murphy, CF Marlon Byrd, RF Josh Hamilton, 2B Ian Kinsler, 1B Hank Blalock, C Taylor Teagarden, SS Elvis Andrus and pitching for the Rangers … RHP Tommy Hunter.

Indoor Home Run Pool Friday

Those of you who participated in the great lineup discussion from earlier today, thanks a lot. Now, you can not only enter the home run pool, but also see how you fared in your lineup predictions. Quick word: Anybody who had Julio Borbon playing, well, we’ve got these nice parting gifts for you.

Here’s what the Rangers are firing out there against LHP Scott Kazmir: 2B Ian Kinsler, 3B Michael Young, LF Marlon Byrd, DH Andruw Jones, CF Josh Hamilton, RF Nelson Cruz, 1B Hank Blalock, C Taylor Teagarden, SS Elvis Andrus and pitching for the Rangers … RHP Dustin Nippert.

Good luck with your picks. I’ll play along tonight and go with Michael Young, 4th inning, one out, one on, 2-0 pitch, 389 feet.

Combo Cruz-Borbon Update and Rangers HR Pool

ARLINGTON - Nelson Cruz has been activited and is in Thursday night’s lineup along with DH Julio Borbon (not to mention Ian Kinsler moved up to fifth). A pitcher will be sent to Triple-A Oklahoma sometime before game time (Moscoso?).

The lineup: 1. Julio Borbon, dh; 2. Michael Young, 3b; 3. Josh Hamilton, cf; 4. Marlon Byrd, lf; 5. Ian Kinsler, 2b; 6. Nelson Cruz, rf; 7. Hank Blalock, 1b; 8. Taylor Teagarden, c; 9. Elvis Andrus, ss.

Old No. 7 Home Run Pool

We’re expecting Ivan Rodriguez to be in the lineup tonight, which means he should be available as a home run pool pick. We’ll have the lineup as soon as we can, but in the meantime, let me say it’s good to be back. ‘Course I gotta work on my timing. On consecutive days off, the Rangers lose out on their No. 1 draft pick and then trade for Ivan Rodriguez. Kudos to Jeff Miller for pinch hitting like a batting champ.

UPDATED, with lineup, 3:41: LF Julio Borbon, 3B Michael Young, RF Josh Hamilton, CF Marlon Byrd, LF David Murphy, 2B Ian Kinsler, 1B Hank Blalock, C Ivan Rodriguez, SS Elvis Andrus and pitching for the Rangers … RHP Kevin Millwood.

Tuesday Night Texas Rangers Home Run Pool

ARLINGTON - After posting said lineup, I’ll commence to passing along comments from the recently arrived Pudge Rodriguez (“boring drive” from Houston, he said) and Rangers general manager Jon Daniels. When Rodriguez told Daniels earlier today that he’d waive his no-trade clause and return as a back-up, Daniels said he referred to Arlington as his baseball home. Just a few minutes ago, Rodriguez said he plans to play another couple of years and would love to retire as a Ranger.

As for tonight’s Rangers against Minnesota RHP Carl Pavano: 1. Julio Borbon, lf; 2. Michael Young, 3b; 3. Josh Hamilton, rf; 4. Marlon Byrd, cf; 5. David Murphy, dh; 6. Ian Kinsler, 2b; 7. Hank Blalock, 1b; 8. Taylor Teagarden, c; 9. Elvis Andrus, ss.

Your Monday Night Texas Rangers Home Run Pool

ARLINGTON - Here’s the Rangers’ starting lineup for Monday night’s effort against the Minnesota Twins and lefty Francisco Liriano:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2b; 2. Michael Young, 3b; 3. Josh Hamilton, rf; 4. Marlon Byrd, cf; 5. David Murphy, lf; 6. Andruw Jones, dh; 7. Hank Blalock, 1b; 8. Kevin Richardson, c; 9. Elvis Andrus, ss.

Last time out, Liriano beat Kansas City 7-1, limiting the Royals to a run on three hits through seven innings. That was his first win since June 28. He’s 5-11 for the season with a 5.39 ERA. He has a career ERA of 1.13 in 16 innings in Arlington, including two starts.

Home Run Pool Sunday

After a close call in Saturday’s game between Ryan’s Dad and Tippett’s Stache, the judges ruled in favor of the ‘Stache for calling the leadoff homer. Ryan’s Dad was oh, so close, but thought Ian Kinsler’s homer would come with a man on base. Attention, ‘Stache get in touch with me ASAP to claim your prize.

Now, here’s your lineup for Sunday: LF Julio Borbon, 3B Michael Young, DH David Murphy, CF Marlon Byrd, RF Josh Hamilton, 2B Ian Kinsler, 1B Hank Blalock, C Taylor Teagarden, SS Elvis Andrus and pitching for the Rangers … RHP Dustin Nippert.

So get to it, already.

Rangers Drop Ian Kinsler from Leadoff Spot to Sixth

ARLINGTON – The Rangers – acting as an organization – dropped 2B Ian Kinsler out of the leadoff spot Saturday, at least temporarily.

Kinsler, who returned from the DL on Friday, found himself in the No. 6 spot in the lineup for his first start back on the active roster. It’s the first time he’s started anywhere other than the leadoff spot since the end of the 2007 season. Kinsler had little public reaction to the move, saying “it is what it is.”  When asked how he reacted to  manager Ron Washington’s decision in a brief meeting with the manager, Kinsler said Washington informed him it wasn’t his decision.

“So, after that, I really didn’t have anything to say to him about it,” Kinsler said.

(more…)

Home Run Pool Therapy

I believe it was in the New England Journal of Medicine, that a study showed participating in a Home Run Pool can lift the spirits of those depressed by horrific losses. Or maybe it was Maxim. I don’t know. But the best way to get over yesterday, I’m sure, is to start focusing on today. Aren’t I the little beacon of sunshine?

So, here you go. Get started on your homer pool entries. The full lineup, which should include 2B Ian Kinsler again, will be up as soon as I get to the little old clubhouse.

Jump In The Home Run Pool, Dip Into The Queso

Just about 100 minutes to game time and 70 minutes to the first Pappasito’s watching party kicks off. Before you rush out of your house to get to Pappasitos in Dallas (Lombardy Lane in Dallas, near I-35E and NW Highway), make sure to get into the homer pool. Because that way, you could get a deal on fajitas, meet Rusty Greer and maybe even win something super special! Or possibly something incredibly ordinary.

Until I get a pesky lineup for tonight’s game against Cleveland, you can enter blind.

Also, I plan to do my part to encourage the lineup to be disciplined. For every walk the Rangers take tonight, I plan to toast them with a shot of Tequila. Yes, you heard it here first. That alone, is worth the price of admission. Which, by the way, is free.

UPDATED, 5:41 p.m.: Here is your Rangers’ lineup tonight against RHP Fausto Carmona: LF Julio Borbon, 3B Michael Young, DH David Murphy, CF Marlon Byrd, RF Josh Hamilton, 1B Hank Blalock, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, 2B Omar Vizquel, SS Elvis Andrus and pitching for the Rangers … RHP Tommy Hunter.

Home Is Where the Homer Pool Is

We may not be in Cleveland, but that doesn’t stop the World Famous Homer Pool from rolling on. We’ve even got the lineup already for you. East coast games and the very cooperative Rangers PR staff make it easy to get you the full lineup ASAP.

So, for the Rangers first game in Cleveland since May, 2008, here’s what they are featuring: 2B Omar Vizquel, 3B Michael Young, CF Marlon Byrd, DH Andruw Jones, RF Josh Hamilton, 1B Hank Blalock, LF David Murphy, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, SS Elvis Andrus and pitching for the Rangers … RHP Dustin Nippert.

The Good Ol’ Homer Pool

Here is your preliminary entry form. Lineups will be posted when I get them. I believe the plan is to play C Jarrod Saltalamacchia and INF Esteban German today, but I don’t think OF Julio Borbon will get a start.

This, my friends, is a big game. Win and the Rangers make up ground on this visit to Los Angeles; lose and its getting pretty close to start focusing solely on the wild card. Once you fall more than five games back (the Rangers are currently 4.5 behind the Angels) in the final third of the season, a comeback becomes especially difficult. It would probably mean the Rangers would have to dominate the last seven meetings between the teams, winning something like five of seven in September.

UPDATE, 1:03 p.m.: Ron Washington, that old fox, has done it to me again. Changed his mind. Here’s the batting order, which does, in fact, feature Julio Borbon and does not feature Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

DH Julio Borbon, 3B Michael Young, LF David Murphy, CF Marlon Byrd, RF Josh Hamilton, 1B Hank Blalock, 2B Esteban German, C Taylor Teagarden, SS Elvis Andrus and pitching for the Rangers … LHP Derek Holland.

Saturday Home Run Pool

Kind of an eventful morning here in Los Angeles and I’m not sure if the frivolity of the HR Pool is a great idea or not, but, hey, call it Predictive Therapy for Rangers fans.

Here is the lineup against Los Angeles RHP Jered Weaver: 2B Omar Vizquel, 3B Michael Young, CF Marlon Byrd, DH Andruw Jones, RF Josh Hamilton, 1B Hank Blalock, LF David Murphy, C Taylor Teagarden, SS Elvis Andrus and pitching for the Rangers … RHP Kevin Millwood.

TGIHRP: Thank Goodness It’s The Home Run Pool

Here is your home run pool for the opening game of the big Rangers-Angels AL West Showdown:

The Rangers will go with: 2B Omar Vizquel, 3B Michael Young, CF Marlon Byrd, DH Andruw Jones, RF Josh Hamilton, 1B Hank Blalock, LF David Murphy, C Taylor Teagarden, SS Elvis Andrus and pitching for the Rangers … RHP Scott Feldman.

Most interesting thing about this lineup to me is dropping of Murphy to seventh. It gives Rangers three straight right-handed hitters (Young-Byrd-Jones) at the top of the order and three lefties (Hamilton-Blalock-Murphy) in the bottom half.