Rangers/Blue Jays

[Texanne]

The Rangers have a strange road trip this weekend -- three games in Toronto, then right back to Arlington. Weird.

The Jays are middle-of-the-pack in the ALEast with a 20-16 record (Rangers are 20-15). They no longer have Roy Halladay, which is a good thing for the Rangers. Texas should match up pretty well with Toronto and I think we can take two of three and maybe sweep.

Oakland starts a series with the Angels, who are six game under .500. It's strange to have to root for the Angels, but we need their help to open up some distance between the Rangers and the As.

 

[Crockett]

I don't know. If we can drive a stake in the heart of the Angels now, I think we can hold off Oakland down the stretch. The Angels still scare me more than the As.

 

[Jester101]

In the long run, I am more worried about the Angels then the A's. The Dallas Morning News had an article in todays sports section stating that of the Rangers next 53 games, only nine will be played against teams with winning records. Now is the time to put some distance between us and the rest of the West. Doesn't hurt to have Nelson Cruz back in the lineup today as well.

 

[Texanne]

Oh, yeah, the return of Nellie Cruz will really give some pop to the lineup.

 

[Bevo-Stevo]

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[Texanne]

Better late than never, eh?

 

[HornHuskerDad]

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[Texanne]

HHD,

I'll try, but my computer is seriously I'll, so I'll have to post from my iPhone.

 

[HornHuskerDad]

^Thanks, Texanne. Hope you're able to get your PC over whatever is ailing it. My PC got sick two years ago (dumped its OS) - I gave it a decent burial and bought a new one.

HHD

 

[Texanne]

It caught a virus that fried the OS, so the computer department at my college is taking care of it. They're saving what they can and reloading the OS. We're saving some money by letting our instructors do it.

 

[Texanne]

The Toronto starter was pretty bad in the top of the first, giving up three straight singles and three Ranger runs, but Harden has been wore, walking three and surrendering three runs as well, and isn't out of the inning yet.

And the Spanish language broadcast is overpowering Josh and Tom. If someone knows how to get a message to the booth, please tell them so their engineers can fix this ridiculous problem.

 

[HornHuskerDad]

I just checked the score. Can anybody get an out tonight?

HHD

 

[OUEngineer]

Wow, can't think of a game where there was such an epic failure on the part of the staff. Harden continues to unimpress. And honestly, how does Mathis hold a roster spot? The guy just isn't that good. Maybe we can get back in this thing, but that implies an ability to stop them from scoring 30 runs.

 

[Bevo-Stevo]

I would like to rescind my earlier post. Thank you.

 

[WorsterMan]

Hello loss column - 16-10

You gotta be kiddin' me - I missed the entire game so I will have to read about what happened later today.

At least LAA beat the A's last evening...

 

[HornHuskerDad]

How long can the Rangers afford to wait on Harden to figure it out? He's killing the bullpen.

HHD

 

[OUEngineer]

HHD, you ain't kiddin'. Harden is LUCKY to make it 5 innings in any given start. Sheesh.

We really need Feldman to bring it today. The guy has been in freefall for over a month, but the bullpen could use a break after the last 2 games.

I'll be throwing off as much Ranger mojo as my crippled *** can throw, and I expect my other zealots to do the same.

 

[Texanne]

I tried last night, fellow zealots, really I did. But Harden and Mathis were too much for one woman to overcome.

Send all he good mojo you can northward today, boys. The 'pen depends on it!

 

[Jester101]

Before yesterdays meltdown, Harden had a respectable ERA of 3.53. What has been hurting him is the amount of walks he gives up (25 for the year), which leads the team. Feldman takes the mound today for the Rangers, and he has an ERA of 5.84m third worst on the team. Hope we can score 17 runs today.

 

[Texanne]

I hate to say it, because I love the guy and I love his story, but Josh Hamilton has become pretty much useless at the plate. Eric Nadel was talking about Josh's prodigious clouts In BP, but then Josh comes to the plate and gets the K hat trick.

Do they need to sit him for a while and let him contemplate his sins, or keep him in the lineup and striking out?

 

[Bevo-Stevo]

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[HornHuskerDad]

At least Feldman took one for the team and ate up innings today. The bullpen really needed a day off. Colby Lewis needs to deliver tomorrow - can't afford to leave Toronto without a win.

HHD

 

[WorsterMan]

Second loss in 2 days, this time 6-0 to a mediocre Toronto club ... boy were the Rangers short on positive mojo today. I am convinced Josh Hamilton needs to sit and get focused. I don't think Harden is going to come around and I don't think I can stand to watch Mathis anymore this season.

Good guys really need to win on Sunday.

 

[OUEngineer]

Well, Jonboy and Nolan seemed to agree w/me on Mathis. Optioned to AAA. I'm not sure if it was strictly for poor performance, or an attempt to manage the bullpen incase Scooter couldn't go more than a few innings. Either way, I won't be crying if he doesn't make it back soon (or at all).

Texanne, Josh has been swinging the bat well this month. These last 2 games -- not so much -- but the previous 3 weeks have been solid. He's a free-swinger. We already knew this. His walks are up this year, actually. He just needs to assume pitchers will feed him offspeed stuff, both early in the count and with 2 strikes. If he'd resign himself to take more pitches early in the count, he would enjoy more success, I believe. He has kinda lost focus on this here this weekend.

At least Scooter ate some innings. It's only been 2 losses, but does anyone else feel like this is a 5 game losing streak? I guess it's just the nature of the 2 defeats that has me a little panicky. Snap out of it, OUE!

We're going to be fine, so long as we can prevent any sustained droughts in the win column.

 

[centexorange]

Texas should match up pretty well with Toronto and I think we can take two of three and maybe sweep.

Didnt you mean Toronto taking at least two of three?

 

[HornHuskerDad]

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[Horn2Run]

stRangers leaving a lot of runners on, trail 5-2 in 7th. Not going to get down on these guys, the pitching for the most part is better than expected. Some bad signs- the pen isn't being managed well (imo) and is getting a lot of work for being just mid May. Still, it ain;t all bad.

As for Drew f'n Stubbs & the Reds...Drew's been clutch lately. 2 homers a few nites back, a clutch triple last nite, today he puts a rope to the gap for a double in a key point in the game...moving him down th eorder has taken a lot of pressure off

more importantly, he's playing a very good CF for the reds.

The Reds and Rangers have a lot in common....pitching and defense are key, needing some clutch hits....the reds are getting them.

Ah, and Drew got a post game interview (mlb tv) from the lovely Hazel Mae sat nite. Life could certainly be worse!

 

[OUEngineer]

Sigh.

What an ugly weekend series that was! Based on pitching matchups, I would've thought 2 out of 3 was a realistic goal, so losing all 3 is a swift punch to the ovaries.

They need to just move forward. Angels are comin' to town and they are playing better. I agree with others that they are our main competition. The A's are a nice early storyline, but their youth and inability to hit will catch up to them. It has already started to do so.