cant say i expected much more. but the defense and anti-clutchness is just irritating.

really ruining what should be good times with the pitching we are getting.

the home plate umpire. That was the most bush-league strike zone I've seen in a long time. I didn't watch the game closely enough to see how often we benefited from it compared to the Blue Jays, but it seriously pissed me off, especially towards the end of the game.

This game was frustrating (largely due to the way it ended in extras), but I'm not really that torn up about it, nor will I point to this game as some sort of watershed "be prepared for new levels of losing" sign. We brought up Feldman to spot start when he's made what, three previous professional starts over the course of his career as a starter, which began sometime this pre-season? He pitched pretty well, too. Certainly well enough for us to keep it close all game long.

I will, however, also sign my name under "starting to question Ron". I really wish we could trade Cat, even though did well today and I truly believe that small sample sizes don't change players' identities (that being: Cat is a fairly decent lefty platoon guy who can spot start in left). When BB came up in the sixth, I honestly thought Wash should've replaced him with Botts. Why do we have a switch-hitting first baseman if we aren't going to bring him in to face tough lefty pitching? Regarding the bullpen: I understand that we need to get German his work, but could it come in a game when we aren't trying to avoid a sweep at home, late in a tie ballgame?

that was the only time the bullpen blew a lead. It was (the 7th), in my mind, the crucial inning of the game.

This is why the Rangers lost today.

Walks.

Was not trading Botts when his value was ridiculously high last year.

With Botts and Cruz in this lineup we were 10 games + or - over 500 the second half of last year. You have evidence or facts to support your claim about Botts (maybe Cruz).

Maybe you think BB is much better. ???

I am not particularly enamored with Botts, but you do not know.

is showing Jon who is running the team

automatic ejection and nothing will ever get reversed and potentially you are doing more harm than good. he did come out and argue the david murphy call and actually got the umpires to confer about it (I think this was Saturday). not bad.

I felt that it needed to be brought up. What happens if the next Jays hitter hits a routine grounder to SS? Wash was willing to just sit back and gift wrap a tie ball game for them...I don't know about you but that really pisses me off.

this is correct

wanting to DFA the guy to believing he'll make a strong return to the bullpen by seeing him pitch one time?

you don't put a pitcher with control issues into a one run game in the 7th inning. You just don't.

I honestly thought that strikeout was bullshit on the part of the umpire's ability to call balls and strikes. I may be remembering a different at-bat, but it seems like the ump called a strike on a pitch that was about 3-4 inches above the belt.

nothing in todays game was Wash's fault. The pen was limited, he actually hit for Broussard against a lefty late in the game. There are no off days so pitching Jack 2 innings would have been a bad move imo, he needs to be available for that series.

People are just upset about losing (justly so) and looking for someone to pin it on. The answer again is situational hitting. Murphy had a tough day at the plate. Not getting that runner in from 3rd with 0/1 out is not acceptable. It had nothing to do with Wash and te defense today was fine. This is on the players not coming through at the plate when they need to, which has happened often this year so far.

I was thinking about a Sx2 just as soon as Murphy grounded out and shit got all tense.

MOB doesn't seem like someone who you would have execute that, however.

What does the book say about the appropriate time for that?

which year will it even out to? 2007, or 2006? Milly has been pretty sharp thus far (though he had way too many walks his last outing for my tastes) and Padilla looked okay (though far from great) in that previous start. Jennings has not impressed me at all thus far, however.

To me, starting pitching has been a plus thus far this year, with defense, and batting with RISP have both been minuses. When those latter two even out, our starting pitching will still look pretty good (considering how many extra pitches we've had to throw due to errors or defensive miscues).

I know I've previously argued against this very comparison in the past, but MY is the new Frank Catalanotto. He can't play INF anymore, and we have Hank at third right now - once German Duran is ready for a callup later this year, we need to get rid of Cat, and move MY to LF, and have Duran play SS until Elvis Andrus is ready. Once Elvis is ready, and Blalock is gone, we can move Duran to third.

I think letting Blalock go and moving MY to 3B is the most realistic solution while replacing him with a very good defensive SS.