Rangers Magic Number

[PFD]

I've never seen a good baseball team that consistently fails to score runners from third base with less than two outs like this Rangers team. It drives me up the wall.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Sox pitching tosses a 2-hitter and the Rangers get swept losing 2-1. Pitching staff resembles a MASH unit and the hitters are back in a rut.

 

[HornHuskerDad]

Blame this one on the offense. The Rangers should never lose a game in which they hold the opponents to two runs. Matt Harrison pitched well enough to win - if the bats had supported him.

Need a sweep of the Twins at home before the break.

HHD

 

[WorsterMan]

HHD - the Good Guys get swept by soxs - brother I need a break from the R's drama for 24 hours. I agree - MH did pitch good enough for a win to hold them to 2 runs and we could only get 1 run for him... it's disgusting is what it is. I may take my son and one of his friends to the Twins game Fri. night - looks like we will get another look at Perez.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Looks like the magic number isn't going down anytime soon. The Angels are picking up steam, the Rangers are back in the ditch and got beat (5-1) by the second worst team in the AL and Liriano who, although he has historically been solid, had an ERA this year over 5.00 and a 2-7 record come into the game). On top of that, Liriano threw over 100 pitches and almost half of those were out of the strike zone. The Rangers stranded 11 and were 1-10 with RISP. Not going to win many games with those stats.

The Rangers are limping into the All-Star break and, at this rate, the Angels will overtake them the week after the break. Very frustrating.

 

[HornHuskerDad]

OK, fellow Ranger zealots - I have apparently lost the recipe for Ranger mojo. WorsterMan, Danno, 69, Texanne - somebody please brew up a new batch quickly! The Rangers desperately need to win these last two games against the Twins before the All-Star break.

HHD

 

[Texanne]

They were the first to 50 and now apparently think the season is over. Pathetic is the only word that describes the offense right now.

I hereby exorcise this demon that has been plaguing our hitters. Let's win a ball game tonight!

Rangers!!

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Way to go Texanne! You did it (with a little help from Beltre, Cruz, et al.). Let's finish this series and head into the break with another W.

 

[HornHuskerDad]

Congratulations, Texanne! The mojo you brewed was apparently the right recipe tonight.

Now let's see if we can get the mojo working again tomorrow night and win the series from the Twins.

HHD

 

[Horn69]

Thanks TA!! 4 runs all of a sudden seems like a million. Offense has been so lacking...glad to see the 4.

74 for now.

Hook'em!!!

 

[Texanne]

Thanks, boyzo, I wish I could take credit, but I have to give it up to my black cat Salem. She loves Nellie, and I think she told him she would not love him anymore if he didn't get the win.

Seriously, she loves Nellie Cruz. She watches the TV when he's on.

He clearly did not want to earn the wrath of an inscrutable black cat.

 

[Horn69]

Behold Salem!!

Hook'em!!!

 

[HornHuskerDad]

OK, Texanne, whatever works - we didn't question how you brewed the new mojo. Hope you prepare Salem a nice, cushy spot to watch the game tonight!

HHD

 

[Horn69]

And I can't believe we didn't mention that Wash moved Cruz to 5th ahead of Young! And look what happened! Bam!

Hook'em!!!

 

[HornHuskerDad]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[Texanne]

Yes, she did. In fact, Salem wants Nellie to bat in all lineup positions. I told her this wasn't possible; she said a cat could do it.

Salem also wants Nellie to play all defensive positions. She was a Jose Oquendo fan.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Sure could use some more mojo Texanne. The anemic Texas offense is back and getting shut out by the team with the worst ERA in the AL, putting them in danger of going into the break losing 6 of 7 and allowing the Angels to close the gap to 3 games.

And, to top it off, with the Rangers trailing in the 9th, Wash brings in Nathan after he has one of his longest outings of the year last night, who promptly gives up two hits and commits an error on a sacrifice bunt, which allows the Twinkies to score a run and put runners at 2nd and 3rd with no outs (one of which eventually scores on a SAC fly). Now down 3-0 going to the bottom of the 9th.

So far, a pathetic display against the 2nd worst team in the AL. Now would be a good time for a rally...

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Wow. Where did that come from? Rangers tie it (3-3) in the bottom of the 9th. Now we get to sweat going into the 10th and facing the heart of the Twins order with Kirkman and/or who knows who else (Tateyama?) on the hill.

Whew! Made it through the top of 10. Now, let's end this thing before the Twins remember that Tateyama has a 12.00+ ERA.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Well, except for an Elvis single, the Rangers went down with nary a whimper in the 10th.

Boy, Hamilton has been looking downright awful and out of sync lately. Wonder what's going on with him.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Ok. Tateyama mows 'em down in the 11th (never thought I'd say that). The Rangers are living on borrowed time with that guy, so they really need to end it in the 11th. Beltre, Cruz, and MY are up.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Blown opportunity in the bottom of the 11th. Left the bases loaded.

Not feeling very good about how this one's going to end up. Despite starting out very poorly on offense, the Rangers have left 9 men on and are 1-7 w/RISP. They are running out of bullpen help--probably have to go to a starter here soon (Feldman?).

Yep. It's Scooter Feldman on for the 12th. Oh dear...

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Whew (again). Feldman gives up a one out single and then gets a DP. On to the bottom of 12 and the top of the Texas order. A run here would be nice....

Another blown chance. After getting 2 on with 1 out, Beltre hits into a FC and Cruz grounds out to 3rd on first pitch. To the 13th.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Twinkies go 1-2-3 in the 13th. Any kinda run will do.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Rangers load the bases with nobody out and, following a Gentry FC, Kinsler ends it with a bases-loaded single.

Now, the Rangers get a much-needed break. Time to catch a breath, get the wheels back on the offense, and hope the pitching staff stops looking like a MASH unit as they gear up for another second half run that (hopefully) takes 'em deep into the postseason.

 

[Texanne]

Chill, dude. Salem woke up in the bottom of 13.

 

[HornHuskerDad]

^Texanne, you need to manage Salem's catnaps so she is fully awake when the Ranger game starts.

HHD

 

[Horn69]

Danno I'm giving you a Hold for your cry for help. Salem with the lockdown Save. 4 days rest now. Back to sleep Salem.

Hook'em!!!

 

[WorsterMan]

I will admit fellow Zealots - I almost turned off the game when we The R's were down 3-0 in the 9th and the O had shown little signs of life prior... but I didn't!

Until further notice Salem is the new Ranger good luck mascot! El Gato got our MOJO back and got us out of two close games to close out the first half of the season. It was overall a terrible week - 5 game skid and little O but we will take winning the last 2 games.

Time for Wash & the R's to regroup, rest, re-evaluate and get their "focusness" ready for the second half of the season. Young finally breaks out of his terrible batting slump, but I hope Wash leaves Cruz in Young's spot going forward. I see Colby will be back in the rotation after the break - think he pitches next Monday.

 

[HornHuskerDad]

Hi, fellow Ranger zealots,
Mrs. HHD and I are heading out to the Pacific Northwest on Thursday. I'm working on one of my bucket list items - to see all fifty states. Last year we took our big road trip to the Dakotas and Montana, so now the only state west of the Mississippi left is Oregon. We fly into Portland and see the Oregon coast. On Saturday, we will drive to Seattle to see the sights and visit some friends. Our friends got us tickets to Safeco to see the Rangers on Sunday afternoon, so I will do my part to cheer our Rangers to victory in Seattle.

However...I think we still need to keep Salem and her feline mojo working. So, Texanne, please see that Salem is alert and watching for all the games.

I'll be back next week on Tuesday. Mrs. HHD and I have tickets for the Red Sox during their visit to Arlington, so I'll do my part there.

While we're gone, please keep the mojo going - the Angels are getting a bit too close for comfort!

HHD

 

[Texanne]

I wish I knew how to post a photo of Salem, but I don't.

She's really pretty. And she loves the Rangers.