Thursday Stuff

by Brett Perryman on Jul 5, 2007 12:21 PM CDT in News

Very nice win last night, a series win versus the dreaded Angels, and a high water point of twelve under that they haven't reached since May 26.

Todd Wills says that starting pitching is behind the good play of late, and that's almost always true. But who would have thought that Kam Loe and Jamey Wright would be the positive influence? Kevin Millwood shouldn't be discounted, though, as he has finally gotten back on track. While the winning is nice, I guess the question is, where does all of this get you? If Loe can finally keep this up, it's gotten you the first starting pitcher that this club has developed into its own rotation since, who, Roger Pavlik? With Millwood returning to decency, I think that the rest of this summer is largely about whether Loe can maintain and what Brandon McCarthy can show.

One of the key players on the whole team coming into the year, it would be nice to see Robinson Tejeda begin to turn his season around tonight. Even if he does, I'm not sure that you can think of him as any more than a backup plan moving forward. But I guess a month ago we would have said that about Loe as well.

On BA's daily minor league review, J.J. Cooper points out that Jason Botts has hit .373 since May 1, wow.

And "RotoRob" has some interesting thoughts on some Rangers players over their improved play, along with their top draftees.

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Comments

FREE JASON BOTTS!!!

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Jul 5, 2007 12:28 PM CDT reply actions

I think that Ron Washington should receive

the major part of the credit.
Of all of the choices made by JD, Wash has to be tops.

Wharter

by Wharter on Jul 5, 2007 12:34 PM CDT reply actions

WORD

...i'm not ready to name him Manager Of The Year or anything just yet...

... but i think he should get a fair share of the credit for keeping this team focused... for staying positive even in that dismal stretch in may... and for perhaps inspiring better performances.

the guy stuck to his guns. he kept saying that he was going to continue running those same guys out there until those players could prove they didn't belong in the line-up.

... and if we've learned anything about this team in the last few weeks, it's that we're getting contributions from every player... not just one or two guys... every player. Wilky, of course, has been hot lately... Kenny was smoking Bo-Sox pitching that entire series... Adam Melhuse has been a big positive off the bench... Gerry with his sac-fly yesterday... Marlon... well, Marlon is just being Marlon...

by oc on Jul 5, 2007 5:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Not even close

There aren't many competitors in that race!
RW is OK.

Hit me in the eye...maybe I can see better.

by Clueless on Jul 5, 2007 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Fellas

He was being sarcastic.

Wharter hasn't had a positive thing to say about Daniels or Washington.

Ever...

If the Scoot stays mute, you must commute.

by Brian Thomas on Jul 5, 2007 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Can't a leopard change his spots? I'm still not

ready to let JD off of the hook, but I think that Wash is okay. Of course, you're a jerk!

Wharter

by Wharter on Jul 5, 2007 7:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Yes, a thousand pardons

Unfortunately, I have foolishly rushed to judgment. Been spending too much time at the jerk store lately, I guess.

Of course, you have a history of fairness and positivity, as so clearly evinced by these sage and subdued observations:

http://www.lonestarball.com/comments/2007/5/14/132123/666/127#127

http://www.lonestarball.com/comments/2007/5/2/121617/0298/11#11

http://www.lonestarball.com/comments/2007/4/16/103559/709/3#3

http://www.lonestarball.com/comments/2007/5/30/153212/964/50#50

http://www.lonestarball.com/comments/2007/5/1/214420/5932/28#28

http://www.lonestarball.com/comments/2007/6/5/20057/10966/24#24

http://www.lonestarball.com/comments/2006/9/24/43447/9496/19#19

http://www.lonestarball.com/comments/2007/5/21/163222/282/4#4

http://www.lonestarball.com/comments/2007/5/3/1570/26080/192#192

I was way out of line to question your sincerity, Wharter.

With hat in hand, my apologies...

If the Scoot stays mute, you must commute.

by Brian Thomas on Jul 5, 2007 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Fuck you!

Wharter

by Wharter on Jul 6, 2007 5:28 AM CDT up reply actions

BA's review

How about Kiker? Wow he is looking good, no runs allowed in 5 of his last 9 starts.

I could not believe, though, that Rick Ankiel has 24 homers this year. His ISOP is over .300, remarkable.

by t ball on Jul 5, 2007 12:38 PM CDT reply actions

My girlfriend saw him play

at a New Orleans Zephyrs game. She's not the biggest baseball fan but she said he looked in in center. He also hits third in that lineup

Forget Johnny Bench, we got Gerry "the Jet" Laird

by ab03 on Jul 5, 2007 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions

We should be throwing

2 homegrown tall bad ass pitchers on the mound right now :(

And seriously how is botts still in AAA?

by dubman @ Lone Star Ball on Jul 5, 2007 1:00 PM CDT reply actions

Botts

has really handled all of this with a great deal of class, almost as impressive as his gaudy stats.

by t ball on Jul 5, 2007 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Chris Young..?

He was drafted by Montreal I believe.

by rubbersoul103 on Jul 5, 2007 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Pretty sure

He was with one or two teams before Montreal... maybe the Pirates?

by smalls on Jul 5, 2007 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions

No, he was drafted by the Pirates

3rd Round 2000

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7412

"I am in a world of shit" Full Metal Jacket

by SanDiegoKev on Jul 5, 2007 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Wilkerson

come on...show Brad a little love...you know you want to

"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."

by Walter Sobchak on Jul 5, 2007 1:18 PM CDT reply actions

Don't forget

Doug Davis made 30 starts in 01

Chris Young/Adrian Gonzalez for Aki Otsuka, the new Sammy Sosa/Wilson Alvarez for Harold Baines

by badradiorules on Jul 5, 2007 1:42 PM CDT reply actions

I guess what I'm hoping

is that Loe could be a little more permanent member of the rotation and not just get cut after a year or so. But Davis is one of the more prominent pitchers that they've developed in quite a while, yeah.

by Brett Perryman on Jul 5, 2007 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions

BOTTSIE

When is this dude going to join the big club? This is getting insane. I hope someone drills JD on the subject tomorrow night at the Newberg event. ( wish I could make it )

by JB @ Lone Star Ball on Jul 5, 2007 1:57 PM CDT reply actions

I'd key JD's car

if I could make it.

He should be fired and possibly castrated for the way he's handled my boy Botts.

"The boxing scenes in 'Million Dollar Baby' were so realistic, I initially thought it was a documentary." -Brian Thomas.

by thedirkatron on Jul 5, 2007 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow

Pink slip followed by castration. That's a bad day.

by badradiorules on Jul 5, 2007 9:40 PM CDT up reply actions

If I am not mistaken

the turn around for the Rangers came when Kam Loe returned from OKC and pitched to the 8th inning. I credit Kam for starting it and showing the others of this staff how a pitcher in the starting rotation is supposed to pitch. Call me crazy but that is how I see it.

yo soy Horsedooty!

by horsedooty on Jul 5, 2007 5:52 PM CDT reply actions

OK, I give up

What does "I am Horsedooty" mean?

I like it. It cracks me up, especially how you end every post with it, exclamation pointed.

But what's it mean?

Me llamo es Bdiddy!

If the Scoot stays mute, you must commute.

by Brian Thomas on Jul 5, 2007 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions

You know...

if Botts ever does make it to the majors and ends up sucking, I wonder how many will go into hiding/need to be put on suicide watch.

by rangers85 on Jul 5, 2007 6:42 PM CDT reply actions

yo soy Horsedooty!

that's just me trying to not take all this too seriously and maintain some anonymousness. My wife gets upset if I post using my name or initials so...

yo soy Horsedooty!

con mucho gusto Bdiddy!

by horsedooty on Jul 5, 2007 7:45 PM CDT reply actions

Does your wife

also get upset if you hit "reply to this"?

You could make yo soy horsedooty your sig in your profile so you don't have to type it every time. It always makes me chuckle. It reminds me, for no good reason, of the guy that used to play the piano and chug beer on The Man Show.

by t ball on Jul 5, 2007 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions

thanks for the idea

I am really a novice about all this profile stuff. My wife has a job that is sensitive to criticizing the Rangers and neither she nor I are willing to risk ending her employment because I have a big mouth.

yo soy Horsedooty!

by horsedooty on Jul 5, 2007 9:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Nah, don't listen to T

Unlike me, T-Ball can get a bit abrasive at times. I've seen him be downright combative.

I've tried to persuade him to tone it down a bit, maybe let a new guy slide here and there.

Does he listen? I think not...

If the Scoot stays mute, you must commute.

by Brian Thomas on Jul 5, 2007 9:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Now, that is greatness

though my standards are low. Signature there, and you still typed it. Sorry, we can't all be a turn the other cheek paragon like Brian. Yo, Brian, I can't listen to your post, my computer speaker doesn't work.

by t ball on Jul 5, 2007 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions