9:13: In case you missed my announcement from earlier in the day, here is the link. In case you missed our story about Josh Hamilton not playing today and perhaps not again this year, it’s here.

9:22: Michael Young admitted that even though he’s in the lineup, he is not 100 percent. You know what might be the best thing for the Rangers at this point? It might be best if Los Angeles did what seems inevitable and clinched quickly. That way, maybe some Ranger core players could just rest over the final week of the season. Not saying that’s what I’d like to see happen, but I’d hate to see Young or Josh Hamilton try to do something this week and suffer an injury that lingers into 2010. Young doubled in his first at-bat, but he is basically jogging on the bases.

9:31: After Kendry Morales homer, the Angels take a 3-0 lead with two outs in the first. In the time the Rangers have recorded their last six outs, they have allowed 10 runs.

9:53: Dustin Nippert is up in the second inning. It’s the third time he’s been up and throwing in the last 30 hours.

10:09: Well, I don’t have a good feeling about this one. Not one bit. Dustin Nippert throwing again. Jiminy Christmas, the guy has thrown the equivalent of a quality start in the bullpen the last two days. Say good night, season. Here comes Ron Washington.

10:15: 2009 Season, it was nice to know you.

10:16: In their last five innings of work, Rangers pitchers have allowed 14 runs and the club has made three errors.

10:34: Rangers have now allowed runs in each of their last six innings of work.  … Why is Ian Kinsler being booed in Anaheim?

11:05: Bobby Abreu now a homer shy of cycle. Angels nine outs shy of clinching AL West title. And around pretty girls, I’m just shy period.

11:13: The Rangers will not officially be eliminated from the playoff race tonight. While they will be eliminated from AL West contention, they will still mathematically be alive in the wild card hunt. Boston’s magic number would be reduced to win, despite the fact the Red Sox lost Monday. The Red Sox will have clinched a tie, but not the final playoff spot until they either win again or the Rangers lose again.

11:20: A question was just raised. Can we Mercy Rule this game? I’m for it.

11:36: T-minus four outs to the Angels champagne shower.

6:30: The home run pool is up and running. Also, we’ve got words from and video of Michael Young talking about his early return from a hamstring injury.

7:16: The Rangers are pushing RHP Kevin Millwood back to Monday, meaning the veteran won’t pitch against the Los Angeles Angels this weekend.

The Rangers will instead go with RHPs Tommy Hunter and Scott Feldman and rookie LHP Derek Holland. Even though Holland has struggled recently, too, the Rangers like the lefty matchup vs. the Angels. Holland pitched a three-hit shutout at Los Angeles in August, but is 0-4 with a 13.50 ERA in his last four outings. Pushing Millwood back gives the Rangers a chance to let him get in two extra bullpen throwing sessions in addition to the two he has already had.  Millwood said he’s “definitely” getting something out of the extra work, but also was disappointed about not pitching in what figures to be the biggest home series of the season.

7:24: Maybe I’m biased because I’ve covered the guy from Day 1, but I thought Michael Young should have received a standing ovation upon stepping into the batter’s box tonight. Young is taking some risk with his hamstring, but the Rangers need an injection of energy. There should never be any doubt that this guy is willing to sacrifice his body for a chance to win. Some in the relatively small crowd did stand, but I think it was worth a full-fledged Standing O.

7:29: Eight pitch at-bat for Young before he flies out. I think it’s pretty clear he’s not at 100 percent. Besides his own admission, there is some body language that suggests he might occasionally feel a twinge. But it’s a good, long professional at-bat.

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.

8:00: There was a question in the comments about Tom Hicks. There was news involving Hicks yesterday. Out of England, where HSG-owned Liverpool has sold the shirts off its collective back for approximately $134 million. The British press wanted to know where that $134 million would go. They were assured it would go into the club’s operation and not back to “Dallas and Montreal.”

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

8:09: No physical setback for Young is report from clubhouse. After one at-bat, he feels it best if he wait another day or two.

8:22: As it appears yet another game may be slipping from the Rangers’ grasps, you are left with these options: Turn off TV and spend time with family … or find stuff like this to kill time. I’ll give you a couple of minutes to use it on your own and then we’ll plug in some Ranger names. Me? I’m Graven Ant.

8:33: Rangers end scoreless streak at 22 innings on David Murphy’s leadoff homer in fourth.

8:57: Rangers are 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position tonight. Can’t make the playoffs playing non-playoff caliber baseball. They are 2-for-25 with RISP on this homestand. Big fail in the fifth was Nelson Cruz popping out to first baseman in foul territory with runners on second and third and one out.

9:05: You know you are having a bad day when Happy Hour doesn’t even make you feel better.

9:51: Two men on, no outs in seventh. Julio Borbon grounds out and Nelson Cruz strikes out. Rangers are 0-for-9 with RISP tonight and 2-for-27 in the homestand.

6:30: The home run pool is open for your predicting pleasure.

7:07: There have been no decisions made on when Kevin Millwood will pitch again, but manager Ron Washington seems to be pretty steadfast that Millwood will, indeed, make another start for the Rangers.

7:13: The Rangers have released their Fall Instructional League roster. Perhaps the most significant names on the list are  a pair of 16-year-old infielders, Jurickson Profar and Luis Sardinas. The duo, who each received $1.5 million signing bonuses, were the top amateur free agents the Rangers signed this summer. RHPs Michael Main (first round, 2007), Neil Ramirez (supplemental first round, 2007) and LHP Martin Perez (the club’s No. 1 pitching prospect) will all participate.

7:35: Just in case you are wondering on my take on Kevin Millwood, it’s this: I’d start him on Sunday. If there were clear cut choices to move into that spot, I’d have no problem pushing Millwood back. RHP Brandon McCarthy, who will probably pitch Sunday, has  a nice record (7-2), but its not like he has dominated when healthy this year. He’s made two starts since coming back from the DL. He was sharp against Toronto, but allowed Cleveland five runs in 6.1 innings. The other option is LHP Derek Holland and he simply hasn’t been very good since the start of August.

Millwood was a huge part of the Rangers’ early-season success and was the model for the ohter pitchers to follow at the start of this season. That’s a good engouh tiebreaker for me to give him a shot. But it should also be mentioned he has playoff race experience.

7:59: Omar Vizquel has handled his only chance in this game cleanly (well, he bobbled it, but did recover in time to throw the runner out). Vizquel, who has started at second, short and third this season, has 188 chances without an error. Only four players – OF Darryl Hamilton (389, 1996), 1B David Segui (323, 2000), C Bill Haselman (247, 2001) and 1B-OF Frank Catalanotto (200,2007) – have had at least 200 chances in a season with no errors in Rangers history. With the exception of Hamilton, who played center, none of them played “premium” defensive positions.

8:42: You know things are going really bad for the offense when Julio Borbon hits into a double play, but that’s what he did to end the sixth. It’s the first time he’s into a double play in 90 major league at-bats.

9:30: Rangers have not been shutout in back-to-back games since August 14-15, 2008 when they lost the final game of a three-game sweep at Boston and then lost the first game of a homestand to Tampa Bay. The Rangers were shutout six times last year; four of them came in an eight-day period from August 7-15. That week dashed any hope of a miraculous playoff run. Could the same thing be happening now?

9:41: Here is what makes this game particularly difficult to swallow if you are a Rangers fan. It is not like the weakened offense is facing a Cy Young candidate. RHP Brett Tomko, who has allowed four hits on 98 pitches in eight innings, is on the verge of a complete game shutout. How rare is that for Tomko, the ultimate in a “journeyman?” Well, he hasn’t had a complete game since 2005 and has exactly one shutout in his career of 266 starts. He has the second most starts in history to have no more than one shutout. Kirk Reuter had one in 336 starts from 1993-2005.

9:57: And that’s a wrap. Question to discuss while we construct the Post Game Show: Is this the most disheartening Rangers’ loss of the year? Perhaps a better question might be: Is anything else even close?

12:12: The Depot, however, remains open and the great one, Jeff Miller, is on the scene i n Arlington to update on Rangers doings. The possibility exists that Houston could become an option for the Rangers-A’s series that is scheduled to start Monday.

12:14: Cowboys have moved ball well on first drive, but a time out less than five minutes into the season is not encouraging.

12:16: Who had Nick Folk with a 50+ field goal for the first points of the year?

12:20: And who had Jerry Jones opening the season with a $100,000 fine from NFL commish Roger Goodell”?

1:00: For rest of game, I ask you to do this – track positive plays vs. negative plays for Tony Romo.  Give me a final +/- tally after the game. And give me any commentary on plays that stand out one way or another as they happen.

1:04: Also, exactly what does Tony Siragusa do to add to a broadcast? Or, for that matter, to keep his job with FOX?

1:08: Regarding the +/- thing: For example, I can’t see a situation, barring complete defensive breakdown in which a tight end is left uncovered, that it’s a high percentage play to throw 30 yards downfield for a tight end.

1:10: My new favorite football player.

1:11: Third-down reception by Witten, a 10-yard route. Perfect play for the tight end. Then throws high to Deon Anderson. And broadcast crew discussing that Roy Williams was wide open down field.

1:14: Romo overthrows Miles Austin on second-and-20. Minus.

1:26: Best play by Miles Austin in his career as a Cowboy? The catch, run, spin and TD sprint gives Cowboys the lead 46 seconds before half-time. Question: Good throw by Romo or just a good result? Throw was behind Austin.

1:39: Should have known that “man-step” commercial would invade FOX football b roadcasts. I need TiVo.

1:57: Hello, Roy Williams. Nice to meet you.

2:18: Under pressure on current possession, Romo has made couple of questionable throwing decisions.  That’s one way to lose a 13-point lead.

ARLINGTON - I’ll go ahead and open this with no idea whether baseball will be played at Rangers Ballpark on Sunday. First pitch for the opener has been moved to 2:05 at the earliest.

Will post lineup for Game 1 Home Run Pool when that becomes available. There’s a 50 percent chance that Evan will be here early in a first game. I’ll be happy to keep you updated on Red Sox-Rays Game 1 (scheduled to start in about 30 minutes) if you’d like.

3:30: Looking at starting in about an hour, assuming there’s no more rain before then.

7:22: Hey, what do you know we’re playing. Surprised me. Also, apparently surprised the computer, which gobbled up tonight’s home run pool. I’m blaming it on faulty plumbing.

7:24: First pitch is hit for a double by Ichiro Suzuki. No surprise. He’s now 27-for-66 in his career against Millwood. He has three more hits to go to reach 200.

7:34: Another amateur weather update. It appears that there should be no rain for about an hour or 90 minutes, then light showers for a period of time before it gets heavier. But as long the weather holds up long enough for an official game, the Rangers will have dodged a huge logistical bullet. Then, of course, there is the matter of Sunday when the forecast is better, but still not great.

7:42: In anticipation of the kickoff of NFL season (that Thursday night tricked-up deal doesn’t count in my mind), I interviewed many Rangers for an in-depth NFL preview. I’ll sprinkle their answers throughout tonight’s blog. I mean this is heavy-hitting, nuts-and-bolts, in-your-face football talk. Ready? OK.

Here is RHP Scott Feldman:

Projected Super Bowl: Pittsburgh over Philadelphia (“An all Pennsylvania game,” he said. Sure it has nothing to do with the fact his dad grew up in Pittsburgh).

Projected Cowboys record: 0-16 after initially picking 4-12 (this can be blamed on his love of the 49ers.)

Projected BCS Championship Game: USC over Texas.

7:48: There has been some conjecture that the Rangers might shut RHP Kevin Millwood down after this start at the behest of Major League Baseball. The suggestion is that MLB is running the Rangers and that MLB could order the Rangers to keep Millwood from reaching 180 innings, which would lock in a vesting option worth $12 million for 2010. That’s taking conspiracy theories a little too far.

First, it should be noted that Millwood’s agent is Scott Boras and Scott Boras would salivate at the notion that a team, acting on orders from the league, kept a healthy player from participating simply to block him from reaching an incentive. Boras and the Players Association would file a grievance so fast and so punitive in nature it would cost the league more than the 2010 option is worth in lawyer fees alone.

Second, if the idea is to keep Millwood from reaching 180, why would the league’s overlords allow him to start tonight? What would they do if he had a shutout going through seven innings? Demand his removal?

Look, things are tight in the Rangers’ offices right now and they may get tighter still. But MLB isn’t running the club and isn’t involved unless the Rangers have to exceed a budget line for any particular reason (the Matt Purke negotiations ring a bell?). Otherwise, day-to-day operations remain relatively normal.

8:05: Ichiro has two hits in two at-bats, double and a homer. Odds he reaches 200 hits tonight and does it by hitting for the cycle?

8:18: MLB.com’s TR Sullivan spoke to Rangers owner Tom Hicks this afternoon about the “who’s in charge” question. Hicks says he is. And that operations remain normal, as long as the club stays within its budget. Here’s the key quote:

“We are free to operate the Texas Rangers baseball operations in the normal course of business, consistent with our budget and normal business practices,” Hicks said. “There is nothing from Major League Baseball that restricts us. There are no restrictions, as long as we stay within our budget.

It’s when the Rangers go over budget that I’m hearing the team must consult MLB. This is where MLB could have stepped in after the Rangers spent a lot of money on international players and for several draft picks other than first-rounder Purke. Hicks maintains the Rangers were willing to offer Purke $4 million and that the Purke family demanded $6 million.

8:32: Not the way to start an inning after Rangers rally back into the game. A walk to a guy hitting .213 and a single to a guy hitting .207. Dustin Nippert is up in the fourth inning.

8:46: Yes, Kevin Millwood’s performance was worse than the weather. No other way to describe it. Just awful.

8:58: So, back to football predictions for a few moments. Brandon McCarthy, what do you have:

Super Bowl: Packers over the Steelers (I don’t know why, the Packers just came to me).

Cowboys record: 1-15 (he also is a 49ers fan; at least they don’t harbor any grudges).

BCS Championship Game: LSU over Texas (I had already written in LSU as his answer because he’s a total LSU fan).

9:01: Current Rangers pitcher Dustin Nippert’s football picks:

Super Bowl: “Don’t know. Don’t care. I’ll be huntin’ deer. Probably in Arizona at the time.”

Cowboys record: “How many games they play? 16? I’ll go 11-5. Don’t know anything about the team, but my dad’s a Cowboy fan.”

9:25: Football preview rolls on.

Reliever Darren O’Day’s Super Bowl pick: New Orleans over Pittsburgh.

Cowboys record 9-7.

BCS Championship: Florida over Texas (Guess where he went to school).

10:16: Red Sox are in a delay, but that game is official if it stays as is – 9-1, Boston. A loss tonight would drop the Rangers three back in the wild and would shape Sunday as potentially the season’s definitive day. There could be as much as two games at stake in that race tomorrow. Rangers could pick up two with a sweep and if Boston were to be swept by Tampa Bay. They could lose two games, if they are swept and Boston sweeps the Rays. A one-game deficit with the Angels going to Boston to start the week is as good as being tied. A five-game deficit with 20 to play? It would be over, I’m afraid.

As for the AL West, the Rangers stand to be 5.5 games back going into tomorrow. Getting swept on Sunday could either cost them a half-game (if Los Angeles loses) or 1.5 if the Angels win. So, the Rangers could be anywhere from four to seven games back in the division race come Monday. It’s a big, big day.

10:34: We are in the bottom of the ninth. They have taken the teams off the field.

10:38: The Rangers have two runners on base and nobody out, but it’s really questionable about whether they’ll be able to resume this game at any point. If not, it’s official and the Rangers lose 8-3.  I feel like I speak for everyone when I say this has been a thoroughly horrible night.

11:30: The future of this game is solely in the umpires’ hands. They have waited the mandatory 30 minutes they must wait before they take control of the decisions. The field is in such bad shape from the downpour that drenched it before the delay that it would take a good hour to get ready to play again – if it stops raining. The umpires want to make sure the Rangers get every at-bat and every chance, but this team’s best chance might be to go home, get a good night’s sleep and hope to erase today from its collective mind.

11:45: Game is final. Finally.

12:04: Post-Game Show has been cancelled by rain. Rant here instead. We refuse to start a post-game show within 12 hours of the next pre-game show.

10:55: For a limited time – like the next 10 minutes or so – the home run pool is open.

11:06: We open the day with a question: The Red Sox (currently leading the Rangers by two games in the wild card) host the Angels (currently leading the Rangers by 4.5 games in the West) meet for three games in Boston Sept. 15-17. That’s just before the Angels come to Arlington for three games. So, the question: For whom will you be rooting in that series? Before answering, consider these facts: As long as the Rangers win two of three vs. Oakland Sept. 14-16, they are guaranteed of picking up at least a game on one of the two teams ahead of them. Second, though the Rangers are closer in the wild card race, they do have those seven games against the Angels upcoming. And, if the Rangers were to win the West, they’d probably open the playoffs at home; if they were to win the wild card, they would definitely open at New York. So, what do you say?

11:20: Talk about stepping up. Marlon Byrd is 8-for-10 over the last two days with a pair of three run homers, including one to give the Rangers a 3-0 lead this morning. Anybody want to dispute that the Rangers have got to reward this performance? There has got to be a three-year deal to be had. And I’m quite confident that Byrd would not seek every last dollar on the table. He legitimately wants to stay here and enjoys his leadership role. He’s 12-for-22 (.591) since Michael Young went out with his hamstring injury.

11:24: Pudge!

11:25: I should point out, in the Red Sox-Angels debate, that even if the Rangers cut the Los Angeles lead to two games heading into those seven head-to-head games, they’d still have to go 5-2 in them to erase the deficit. The Rangers have owned the Angels this season, going 9-3. Winning five of seven would mean the Rangers finish the season 14-5 against the Angels. The Rangers have never beaten an opponent as many as 14 times in a season. That’s not to throw water on the AL West chances, but to again stimulate the conversation.

12:30: After four scoreless innings today, RHP Scott Feldman’s overall ERA is now at 3.53 for the season, 3.16 as a starter. He’s now allowed one run in 23.1 innings over four starts with Ivan Rodriguez behind the plate.

1:10: On this date 44 years ago, Sandy Koufax, my father’s favorite player, pitched a perfect game. I have a theory that this news so overjoyed and excited my dad that it sent my mother into labor. And so the next day, guess who joined the world.

1:55: Rangers have now scored at least three runs in the ninth inning in all three games in this series. That will help you win some games.

2:05: Unfortunate choice of words by Josh Lewin after the Rangers scored five in the ninth: “Rangers are slaughtering the Cleveland Indians.” That’s not terribly PC.

2:12: Rangers sweep Indians, have winning road trip. We’ll join the post-game show momentarily.

Story of the Day
Behind a surprisingly resilient offense, the Rangers held off a pair of Cleveland rallies to sweep a doubleheader for the third time this season. The Rangers had previously swept Oakland in May and Toronto last week, both at home.

In the opener, Marlon Byrd went 4-for-4 and his three-run home run in the seventh inning broke a tie after Cleveland had rallied back from 5-1. In the ninth, the Rangers added three more runs to give themselves a needed four-run cushion. OF Julio Borbon homered for the second time in the game and then Byrd began a two-out rally with a single. OF Nelson Cruz and C Ivan Rodriguez each had hits to stoke the rally.

In the second game, the Rangers led 7-0 at one point only to see the lead whittled to 7-5 heading to the ninth. They took advantage of a two-out error that allowed OF David Murphy to reach base. C Taylor Teagarden followed with a single and then 1B Chris Davis hit a three-run homer to left center.

The win helped the Rangers creep within two games of Boston in the wild card race, even though the Red Sox crushed the Orioles on Tuesday.

Three Up
• CF Marlon  Byrd had seven hits in the doubleheader, setting a club record for hits in one day. The single game record of six had been shared by Ian Kinsler and Alfonso Soriano. The doubleheader record was held by David Murphy, also with six.
• Despite being charged with five runs in 6.1 innings, RHP Brandon McCarthy won for the fourth straight game and hasn’t lost since mid-May. He has a 3.69 ERA in those five starts and is 7-2 for the year.
• In both games, the Rangers scored three times in the ninth inning to all but put the game away. In the first game, C Ivan Rodriguez had a big two-run double; in the second 1B Chris Davis had a three-run homer.

Three Down
•LHP Eddie Guardado allowed a run on a wild pitch and allowed a run-scoring hit to the only batter he faced, whittling what was once a 7-0 lead in the second game to 7-5.
•LHP C.J. Wilson and RHP Frank Francisco, the normally reliable back end of the bullpen, were shaky in Game 1. They combined to allow five hits and three runs and allowed the lead to shrink to one run at one point.
• Though he had a pair of sensational plays in which he went into the outfield and threw runners out in Derek Jeter-in-his-prime style, SS Elvis Andrus also made a pair of errors. He’s up to 19 for the season. He can’t afford to have a rookie lapse in the playoff race.

Stat o’ the Day
1.327: OF Marlon Byrd’s on-base-plus-slugging percentage in the week since 3B Michael Young strained his hamstring. Byrd, who was 7-for-9 Tuesday, has a .565 OBP and a .772 slugging percentage. He’s driven in six runs in six games.

Player of the Day
Here are your candidates: OF Julio Borbon (2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 RBIs); CF Marlon Byrd (7-for-9, HR, 3 RBIs; club record for hits in a doubleheader); 2B Ian Kinsler (5-for-9, 3 R, 1 RBI); OF David Murphy (3-for-9, HR, 3 RBI). Vote here. (LINK SHOULD BE FIXED)

Flying Saucer/Flying Fish Depot Double Dip

Hey, everybody: Just wanted to make you aware that coupons are good at Flying Saucer and Flying Fish locations for a full week. So, even if you don’t want a brat or catfish on Wednesday, print it out and take it there Thursday or Friday. Have lunch on the Corner!

Flying Saucer: Rangers win, you win (Print coupon; good through Sept. 14)
Flying Fish: Rangers take six walks, you win (Print coupon; good through Sept. 14)

Home Run Pool
No winners.

3:58: The home run pool remains open – briefly.Also, TV watching help: The first game is on FSN; the second on Channel 27 here in the DFW area.

4:08: Couple of earlier-in-the-day posts, I wanted to alert you to – if you are just now coming around. First, as kind of an epitaph on the “DVD” Era, we revisited the Rangers top picks from the 2002-05 draft and what they got from those picks compared to the rest of baseball. Also, it’s worth noting that despite getting very little, the Rangers were able to build baseball’s best farm system in just three years. And, I posted the first Rick Perry Republic of Texas Top 10 football poll. It’s not that much of a poll since right now I’m the only voter, but I did get at least one volunteer this afternoon. I’m always looking for more.

4:12: Josh, please, I beg you: We are headed for six plus hours of baseball, so please, please, please, slow down on the shtick.

4:28: David Murphy since August 26: Hitting .333 with three homers, counting the one he hit in the top of the second for the Rangers first run in 17 innings.  He’s as hot as any guy on the team right now. Save for the possibility of the second game of the doubleheader, he should not sit for the forseeable future. The Rangers need their hottest bats in the lineup right now. It’s why you are going to see Ivan Rodriguez play more until a playoff spot is either clinched or lost. I’d suggest Murphy belongs in that mix, too, especially since he’s hitting .326 against lefties since the All-Star break.

4:33: Over the last 23 innings, the Rangers have scored five runs. Murphy has driven in three of them with homers.

4:54: Personnel note: The Rangers activated DH Andruw Jones from the DL today. He is expected to play in Game 2.

5:00: Pudge underscores the argument that he should play every day. Tom Grieve said, however, that he’s playing better than everybody expected. I’d have to disagree. I thought bringing Rodriguez back to the Rangers would really revitalize him. Not sure he could be a .300 hitter for a full year anymore, but for six weeks, with a chance to go to the playoffs with the Rangers, it’s helped to motivate him to get the most out of him.

5:05: By the way, I’ve been having a craving for some comfort food of my youth. Anybody know where to get this? If you’ve got a tip or if you are seeking some comfort food of your own, join the conversation.

5:48: Happy Hour has begun.

5:58: Definitely not a good development to have to go to the bullpen in the sixth inning in a game the Rangers led 4-0. Not a good development to have to use Neftali Feliz in a game the Rangers once led 4-0. And not a good sign when Feliz, who had permitted just one of 13 inherited runners to score this year, allows two in the sixth on a bloop hit.

6:11: Marlon Byrd gives the Rangers a gift with a three-run homer that gives them the lead again. Rangers can’t waste this one, the way they wasted his game-tying homer in the ninth in Tampa Bay. They need this game.

6:53: In case you were wondering, the new vacuum cleaner works very well, thank you. May have some issues emptying it, however.

6:57: Josh’s description of Shin-Soo Choo’s pursuit of Ivan Rodriguez’s two-run double in the ninth: “He looked like a moth going after that ball!” I’m chuckling, but I’m not sure why. What made him Moth-ish? Was he drawn to the light? Or was that an attempt to describe the circuitous route that Choo took on the way to the ball that fell just inside the foul line in right?

7:15: Should be starting Game 2 around 7:30-7:40. In the meantime, you can follow the Red Sox-Orioles here. Or, given the score, maybe not.

7:48: Speaking of non-sequitirs, who is this new woman on the Sonic commercials. She’s no Molly, I’ll say that. And the Howie Long commercial? OK, I get it “man-steps”=uncool. Please no more Howie tonight. Or that Sonic tart. Ever. Bring back Molly.

8:21: Rangers are swinging it pretty good today. Maybe they’ve adjusted to lack of Young/Hamilton in lineup. Marlon Byrd’s first-game homer was a real jump-starter I believe. With Young on the bench, this team will take its cues from Byrd for the time being.

8:23: Question for the masses: Brandon McCarthy was very effective in his first outing of September. Let’s assume he puts together a dominant month. Goes 3-0 or 4-0 and the Rangers win all his starts. Let’s say that partly on the strength of that solid September, they reach the playoffs. How does your evaluation of the Danks-McCarthy trade change at that point? Or does it? Would one really crucial month outweigh two seasons of injury/ineffectiveness when even a healthy/effecetive McCarthy wouldn’t have made the Rangers a playoff team?

9:14: Brandon McCarthy has allowed a pair of hits and a run through five innings. Presuming a win tonight, he will have a four-game winning streak, dating back to mid-May. In those five starts (he had a no decision), he’s got (at this very moment) a 2.67 ERA.

9:18: Marlon Byrd has seven hits tonight. He has raised his batting average 11 points. In a single day. In September. And we’re not talking about a guy with not many at-bats; we’re talking about guy who already has more than 500 plate appearances.

9:48: This game has gotten serious again, but before you all go back to sitting on your various pins and your needles, know that, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, Marlon Byrd’s seven hits today are the most by a Ranger in one-day. The single-game record is held by Alfonso Soriano and Ian Kinsler with six. The doubleheader record was six by David Murphy in the record-breaking doubleheader sweep of Baltimore in 2007.

10:27: Huge home run by Chris Davis with two outs in the ninth to make the score 10-5.

5:50: Yes, you can still get in the home run pool.

7:17: Tommy Hunter allows a one-out walk and then a double to Adam Lind – who else? – to score a run. Hunter has allowed runs in six of his last eight starts.

7:23: Ron Washington said he was uncertain who would start on Monday, at Cleveland, the next time the fifth starter’s spot comes up. Both RHP Dustin Nippert (6 IP, 2 R) and RHP Brandon McCarthy (6.1 IP, 1 R) qualified for quality starts in Tuesday’s doubleheader. Both alos have relief experience, though McCarthy has been exclusively a starter since coming to Texas.

7:25: Though he can’t throw because of numbess in his right shoulder due to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia has been activated from the DL. With Michael Young out and the Rangers lacking in right-handed bats on the bench, Saltalamacchia can be used as a pinch-hitter. He has also put on hold his plan to get a second opinion on the shoulder.

7:30: And now for some linkage to our earlier coverage, which was extensive. Though he’s going to miss at least two weeks, Michael Young hopes to return for the LA Angels series that begins on Sept. 18. In the meantime, the Rangers could consider adding a third baseman, such as Melvin Mora. Also, it wouldn’t hurt if the guy who showed up in Game 2 of Tuesday’s doubleheader is the real Josh Hamilton. Oh, and this update from the AL playoff race: Tampa Bay is leading Boston, 5-2 in the fourth.

8:09: This story from the Sports Business Journal says the brokers for Hicks Sports Group received inquiry letters from six prospective groups interested in taking control of the Rangers. )H/T to the DMN’s Richard Durrett, who first linked to this from his sick bed. And warmest wishes for a speedy recovery from the strep.)

8:15: The Angels have lost to King Felix Hernandez, as the great one, Jeff Miller, pointed out.

8:17: Josh Hamilton has left the game. Marlon Byrd is in center. We’re checking.

8:31: Lower back pain for Hamilton; will be re-evaluated on Thursday.