Friday a.m. things

by Adam J. Morris on Apr 11, 2008 8:51 AM CDT

The Rangers are above .500 for the first time since September 23, 2006. It is remarkable how nice it feels to see this team above .500, if only for a day. Particularly after last year's bad start.

The Rangers sweep a doubleheader, and the Mavs clinch a playoff spot...yesterday was definitely a good day on the sports front...

Todd Wills' game story in the DMN has Ron Washington downplaying the record, saying that the team is playing well, but he'll get excited when the team is 15-20 games above .500. Wills also talks about the surprising start from the Ranger rotation, and C.J. Wilson's stellar work yesterday, picking up 2 saves on a total of 18 pitches.

Wills also says Jamey Wright seems to have moved up in Washington's bullpen pecking order, and as a result, may have taken himself out of contention for the spot start on Monday. Ron Washington said that the decision had been made as to who was getting Monday's start, but wouldn't say who it would be.

Given that Wright went 2 1/3 innings yesterday, I'm assuming it won't be him. My guess at this point is that it will be A.J. Murray, who has a scheduled start on Monday and is already on the 40 man roster.

Randy Galloway has a column on Jon Daniels, comparing him to Jerry Jones (and contrasting him with John Hart) in his willingness to deal with the media, and be cooperative with them, even when they are calling for him to be fired. Galloway doesn't plow any new ground in this column, other than acknowledging that he thought the Chris Young/Adam Eaton trade was a good deal at the time.

And Gil LeBreton has some love for the Rangers starters, and in particular, Kevin Millwood, discussing Millwood's much-criticized physical condition in 2007, and his change of shape in 2008.

Jeff Wilson talks about Ben Broussard's role with the Rangers, and leaves no doubt who was the driving force behind getting Broussard to Texas.

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With Botts poor showing yesterday

expect Broussard to get even more ABs vs LHP. Does Botts make it to June 1st?

I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby

by RangerMad on Apr 11, 2008 9:31 AM CDT 0 recs

Why can't he DH

when Milton starts out in RF everyday?

the truth.

by Longhorn on Apr 11, 2008 10:21 AM CDT up 0 recs

It'll be something to watch

that epic duel between Cat, Botts, and Byrd for the DH slot.

Just look at the contestants so far:

Cat .063/.167/.063
Byrd .056/.190/.111
Botts .000/.250/.000

It'll be a nailbiter.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on Apr 11, 2008 10:28 AM CDT up 0 recs

Too bad we don't have Sammy Sosa

at least he could hit LHP

by JBImaknee on Apr 11, 2008 10:29 AM CDT up 0 recs

Mench!!!

Bring him up. He's got a .900+ OPS versus lefties.

by Redcaps on Apr 11, 2008 11:23 AM CDT up 0 recs

OF/DH rotation

Hamilton, Bradley, Murphy, Byrd, Catalanotto

Where does Botts fit in?

I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby

by RangerMad on Apr 11, 2008 10:29 AM CDT up 0 recs

Botts

I didn't watch the second game. Did Botts botch up fielding pretty badly? His batting line wasn't great, but it was only one game

by JBImaknee on Apr 11, 2008 10:28 AM CDT up 0 recs

he had one misplay

otherwise, not many opportunities and he did well

scap load or die

by ab03 on Apr 11, 2008 10:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

only opportunity

He didn't just bobble the only ball hit his way he butchered it. If it wasn't for Gabbard doing his job that would have been an error. But hey he sure can catch those throws to him. Maybe we can move him to 2B on steal attempts since Kinsler can't seem to do that

by bigsteve on Apr 11, 2008 11:38 AM CDT up 0 recs

I thought Young dropped the SB throw in the 1st game

And that was really Laird's fault for throwing it about 5 feet to the right field side of the bag.

by JBImaknee on Apr 11, 2008 12:17 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yeah

I was just thinking about Kinsler completely missing that throw in Seattle.

by bigsteve on Apr 11, 2008 12:50 PM CDT up 0 recs

So Galloway

Admits he agreed with the CYoung-Adrian trade, yet goes into hysterics asking for JD's head on a platter whenever the mood suits him because "All of his trades haven't worked".

I don't want to turn this into a Galloway bashing thread but I just find that odd.

by Hypo-Luxa on Apr 11, 2008 9:36 AM CDT 0 recs

galloway

he's a grumpy old man who writes for shock value most of the time.

I used to read his articles all the time when he wrote for the dmn, but the past few years he's just gotten over the top

"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum

by rentz on Apr 11, 2008 9:59 AM CDT up 0 recs

Let's not forget

that the stars also shut out the Ducks 4-0 yesterday in Anaheim.

by jwiscarson on Apr 11, 2008 9:37 AM CDT 0 recs

Broussard

In 46 career games against Oakland, his numbers were .237/.268/.389.

In 19 games played in Oakland his career numbers are .183/.246/.250.

What, exactly did you see, Wash, that impressed you?

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Apr 11, 2008 9:39 AM CDT 0 recs

Good face

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Apr 11, 2008 9:53 AM CDT up 0 recs

Gotta love the good face...

...evokes memories of what I fondly remember as the Brocail Era.

Right around the time all the young talent is ready to contend is when the organization will realize that Ron Washington is the wrong man for the job.

by Chad Crudup on Apr 11, 2008 1:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

stats in cleveland?

the truth.

by Longhorn on Apr 11, 2008 10:22 AM CDT up 0 recs

+1

"You are this month's NYTXFAN." - t ball

by Chase Irwin on Apr 11, 2008 11:21 AM CDT up 0 recs

huh?

He had one good year against OAK, 2005, every other season he sucked. Maybe Wash has an incredibly selective memory.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Apr 11, 2008 12:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

Actually

he had one good game against OAK that year, 2 HRs, both off righties. Wash is lost on this, just completely lost.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Apr 11, 2008 12:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

Did you read the article?

Wilson writes:
"Sometimes there are just some players you like, and I liked him," Washington said. "He's a gamer. He always gave you a good at-bat. I thought he played a pretty good first base."

Wash never suggested that Broussard hit the A's really hard. Also, for the sake of intellectually honesty, you should leave off last year's numbers against the A's - games I'm sure that Wash was not there for (.192/.214/.308 in 10 games).

by Randy Richardson on Apr 11, 2008 3:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

What got me started

is that there is just no reason Broussard should be hitting against lefties, and I can't see why Washington is so impressed with him that he thinks he should be anything but a platoon player.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Apr 12, 2008 12:38 AM CDT up 0 recs

Wash

I understood leaving the electrician in last night but the Cat pinch hit I didn't get. He took opposite positions on similar scenerios.

Jaime was throwing hard and had good movement last night. The game had the chance to go extra innings. Leaving him in showed confidence in him.

With Byrd coming up after getting his first hit I think Wash had an opportunity to tell Byrd "Show us you're back" but instead yanked him showing no confidence.

But I'm proud to say that the worst move by a manager was not by Wash. Pulling Gondor when he was mowing down our lineup was idiotic.

Cat got the best of both deals.

Did anybody think when Melhouse was coming up, "I wish we had Barry Bonds on the bench for this AB"? I'm glad he singled and it worked out for us but if we are playing above .500 ball later this season we are going to need a better pinch hitter than Cat.

by corbsclinton on Apr 11, 2008 10:08 AM CDT 0 recs

Cat

The only thing I didn't understand about that move was the defensive angle. Byrd is a much better defender than Cat and had already thrown one guy out earlier. I understand the righty/lefty swap but considering both players have struggled this year I would have left Byrd in more for his defensive value than offensive in that spot. Luckily it didn't come back to bite us because Cat made the plays on both the balls hit his way. By plays I mean holding the runners to the amount of bags the should have gotten not more. There was someone last night who thought another outfielder could have caught that 2nd ball hit his way which was a sinking rocket.

by bigsteve on Apr 11, 2008 11:42 AM CDT up 0 recs

I actually

thought Wash was going to put Hamilton in CF after Cat hit for Byrd. The Rangers would have lost their DH but they were up a run in the ninth with their closer coming in.

I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby

by RangerMad on Apr 11, 2008 12:55 PM CDT 0 recs

I think

the Stars going up 1-0 in their series over the defending Cup champs is the biggest Dallas sports story from yesterday.

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on Apr 11, 2008 2:40 PM CDT 0 recs

Except

very few people in the US give a damn about hockey.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on Apr 11, 2008 2:52 PM CDT up 0 recs

they did

when the Stars won the Cup in 1999. At least in Dallas.

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on Apr 11, 2008 3:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

Mostly bandwagoners though

"You are this month's NYTXFAN." - t ball

by Chase Irwin on Apr 11, 2008 3:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

Bandwagoners...

That is what Dallas is made of.

"He throws that curveball so hard and it snaps 12 to six like you've never seen." - Matt Kemp on Clayton Kershaw

by miles on Apr 11, 2008 11:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

Sadly.

"You are this month's NYTXFAN." - t ball

by Chase Irwin on Apr 12, 2008 4:17 AM CDT up 0 recs

That's what most...

cities are comprised of.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Apr 12, 2008 3:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

hockey

i was a pretty big hockey fan until the strike/lockout and then i just lost interest

"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum

by rentz on Apr 11, 2008 4:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

Feldman to start Sunday

The Rangers will bring up Scott Feldman to pitch against Toronto on Sunday and give Jason Jennings an extra day of rest.

Possible roster moves for Luis Mendoza, who will be activated tomorrow: Put someone on the disabled list. Dustin Nippert was hit in the left shin in Anaheim and certainly go on the DL and then make some rehab appearances to get some innings in.

link

"Why do you think you're baseball jesus?" AirJordan to LonestarJon

by coolaid on Apr 11, 2008 4:39 PM CDT 0 recs

feldman

wonder who's going tonight in frisco then.

"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum

by rentz on Apr 11, 2008 4:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

probably

Ballard or Schlact.

"Why do you think you're baseball jesus?" AirJordan to LonestarJon

by coolaid on Apr 11, 2008 4:44 PM CDT up 0 recs

this is not a good sign

for Jennings. I hope he turns it around or he may be the one on the outs when McCarthy is ready.

by bushe on Apr 11, 2008 5:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

also

Manager Ron Washington said he plans on going with Joaquin Benoit if the club needs a save tonight. He doesn't want to pitch C.J. Wilson again after the closer got two saves in yesterday's doubleheader (and threw 18 pitches).

Washington said Guardado's shoulder has some soreness and Jamey Wright has a sore left oblique muscle, so he'd like to stay away from both of those guys.

When the club has to make a roster move for Feldman on Sunday, they could put one of those guys on the DL or send Josh Rupe down to Triple-A Oklahoma.

link

I suspected Guardado was injured because he had not pitched in a while.

"Why do you think you're baseball jesus?" AirJordan to LonestarJon

by coolaid on Apr 11, 2008 4:43 PM CDT 0 recs