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Sigh

Th_buckykatt_tiny by Adam J. Morris on

That's the most frustrating game I've watched in a long, long time.

 

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if it's not defense... it's situational hitting...

...if it's not that... it's our bullpen.

when it's not our bullpen, it's our starters.

by oc on Apr 13, 2008 6:02 PM CDT   0 recs

Well said.

"Hmn [sic] ... pehaps [sic] I've said too much..." - LSJesus

by Chase Irwin on Apr 13, 2008 6:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

exactly

It's nearly impossible for this team to put it all together. Thus, one playoff win in 36 years

There is no such thing as global warming. David Murphy was cold, so he turned the sun up.

by SarasotaRanger on Apr 13, 2008 8:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Why not let Benoit go

2 innings?

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

by coolaid on Apr 13, 2008 6:03 PM CDT   0 recs

Did you watch yesterday?

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on Apr 13, 2008 6:04 PM CDT   0 recs

+1

or the other losses this year.

the truth.

by Longhorn on Apr 13, 2008 7:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Because

We're Ranger fans. If you have to ask...

Really, dude - I'm just as distgusted as you, but we shouldn't start questiong our fandom over this. Maybe question Ron, the hitters, the bullpen, Nippert, the ump, but not our fandom.

A Lonestar in California - 2.0

by lonestarJon on Apr 13, 2008 6:06 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Im not upset at all about 5-7

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.

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on Apr 13, 2008 6:09 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Sign me up under

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?

by jwiscarson on Apr 13, 2008 9:02 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

agree with all of it

except the questioning of bullpen...not sure he could have used the parts available in a better way than he did. also, won't fault him too much for not bringing botts in an AB too late

scap load or die

by ab03 on Apr 13, 2008 9:13 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Everybody deep down

Knew we were going to suck, this is just having to deal with it rise to the surface.

We were all prepared for this guys, hunker down for a long season.

by SaltyGoesYard on Apr 13, 2008 6:10 PM CDT   0 recs

+1

That whole "hope springs eternal" eternal thing... really sucks when it leaves town and reality rears its ugly head and takes over.

There is no such thing as global warming. David Murphy was cold, so he turned the sun up.

by SarasotaRanger on Apr 13, 2008 8:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I figured we'd be around a .500 club

with a big winning or losing streak determining how things would end up.

So far, this team isn't real surprising, although the infield defense is really worse than I expected. Hopefully it comes together.

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

by DJCahill on Apr 14, 2008 8:36 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I have no desire

to watch baseball right now

There is no such thing as global warming. David Murphy was cold, so he turned the sun up.

by SarasotaRanger on Apr 13, 2008 8:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

And OT

but I dont think a 2nd place finish in the masters has ever been more disappointing.

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on Apr 13, 2008 6:13 PM CDT   0 recs

It's over yet

:)

Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

by DaheelzCM on Apr 13, 2008 6:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I think we should have

gotten Xavier Nady.

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

by coolaid on Apr 13, 2008 6:15 PM CDT   0 recs

for oliver perez?

no thanx.

.500 or bust!

Bad Vibes Kill Rallies!

"Well, we are one of the cheapest teams in Major League Baseball"
-Tom Hicks 4/8/2008

by Jayslick on Apr 14, 2008 1:33 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

A lot of missed opportunities

but, in reality, Toronto had just as many. Feldman did what was needed. The Rangers have only had one complete bomb of a start - Jennings in the home opener - I think that's something to build on.

I think if Benoit had been available for two innings, this would have been a win.

by Randy Richardson on Apr 13, 2008 6:19 PM CDT   0 recs

That's the thing though

you can't point to Benoit's availability, multiple leads were squandered.

At least it's clear that this team is far from contending. Hopefully this'll improve the perspective of rebuilding, and we'll see Boggs, the Lizard, Wes and Fx2 soon enough. BGL or Rupe in the rotation would be worthwhile, as well.

"Hmn [sic] ... pehaps [sic] I've said too much..." - LSJesus

by Chase Irwin on Apr 13, 2008 6:34 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

well,

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

by Randy Richardson on Apr 13, 2008 6:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Fair enough

I think Feldman should have been out earlier, which might have changed the complexion of the bullpen situation.

But yeah, I guess that's just one more mistake that can be reasonably questioned.

"Hmn [sic] ... pehaps [sic] I've said too much..." - LSJesus

by Chase Irwin on Apr 13, 2008 6:38 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Uncomfortable

With relievers walking opposing batters. Lead or from behind, it's a bad formula.

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Apr 13, 2008 6:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes.

This is why the Rangers lost today.

Walks.

by ghostofErikThompson on Apr 13, 2008 6:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Very Frustrating

I was at the game today, in the upper deck behind home plate. The wind was as cold as I ever remember it being in Arlington, and I sat there for all 10 innings bemoaning every failed opportunity. Given the rhythm of the game from the start, I guess I should have expected a lead-off triple to come for naught, but for some reason I hoped to have a walk-off win.

Oh well... the season is still young!

by manderskat on Apr 13, 2008 7:24 PM CDT   0 recs

I was at the game too

Upper deck, third base side.
The game was fun, and my love for Kinsler and Hobbs has increased tenfold. The frustration factor, however, was extremely prevalent. The Rangers are going to drive me crazy before trigonometry does.
By the way, what the hell is up with that creepy bobblehead they use on the jumbotron? Does anyone actually want him to 'do a rally dance'?

Jarrod Saltalamacchia: The Man, the Myth; The Alphabet.

by BudLight on Apr 13, 2008 8:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Anaheim has the monkey

I personally would prefer a rally three-toed sloth to the stupid bobblehead. I think my daughter may have nightmares about that.

by manderskat on Apr 13, 2008 9:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Little Things

The difference between winners and losers is the little things...having a shortstop with range, scoring lead-off triples without benefit of a hit, not walking hitters, etc.

This team, this franchise, has never been able to do the little things to be winners. That is the most frustrating part of being a Ranger fan.

by T Coleman on Apr 13, 2008 7:31 PM CDT   0 recs

the season

and losing is a foregone conclusion. we aren't a contender. we need to see players to see if they have anything...i.e. Botts.

Washington's job is to win with what he has. He doesn't have much. Another thing that irks me is Rudy Jaramillo being the most overrated hitting coach in baseball. I'm sorry, but I think that is a source of the problem. The rangers have never hit situationally. It's always been all or nothing since Jaramillo has been here. Argh!

Wait 'til the year after next

by NothinG on Apr 13, 2008 7:33 PM CDT   0 recs

botts has nothing.

it's time you start accepting that.

by oc on Apr 13, 2008 7:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Our biggest mistake

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

by chief on Apr 13, 2008 7:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Huh?

Botts' value was ridiculously high last year?

"Hmn [sic] ... pehaps [sic] I've said too much..." - LSJesus

by Chase Irwin on Apr 13, 2008 7:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

.320 .436 .545 at AAA

Yeah, someone would have been interested.

by chief on Apr 13, 2008 9:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Whatever dude.

LSJ can do better than that.

"Hmn [sic] ... pehaps [sic] I've said too much..." - LSJesus

by Chase Irwin on Apr 13, 2008 11:09 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

lol

"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." Excel Hearts Choi

by thedirkatron on Apr 13, 2008 10:13 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

How could you know that

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.

by RingoRanger on Apr 13, 2008 7:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Losers

lack leaders and Ron Washington is smothering this team with his inability to lead, motivate, and competently make a lineup or manage a game.

Cat in left with Padilla pitching, Cat at DH instead of Bradley, Hamilton playing right, Nippert instead of Beniot, Botts getting totally screwed so the manager can show Jon who is running the team.

He stated on the radio he can only play with whom he has to play. Hmmmmm.

All of our players are good players or they would not be in the majors, it is Washington"s job to get the best out of them. He is getting the worst because he is WAY over his head.

by RingoRanger on Apr 13, 2008 7:44 PM CDT   0 recs

Well,

I'll hand it to you. If you were managing, and could have suspended the rules of mlb by bringing Benoit back in to pitch the tenth, then you, my friend, are a better manager than Wash.

by Randy Richardson on Apr 13, 2008 7:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

you said he

used Nippert instead of Benoit. Benoit had already been used.

by Randy Richardson on Apr 13, 2008 8:04 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Benoit

could have come back the next inning, he had only thrown 10 pitches and was still able to come back the next inning, unless I am totally losing it (which is possible).

by RingoRanger on Apr 13, 2008 8:15 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

well

the issue is that benoit pitched the 8th and wilson pitched the ninth. now, you might have been saying that benoit should have pitched the 8th and 9th and wilson the 10th. thats a legitimate gripe i guess.

scap load or die

by ab03 on Apr 13, 2008 9:19 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Wash was trying to be conservative with his bullpen

But he wound up being so conservative, he effed up the game, and our chance to win. A classic mistake by a guy who just has no clue how to manage his pitchers.

A Lonestar in California - 2.0

by lonestarJon on Apr 13, 2008 9:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

lonestarjon

I agree with you ......... thought I would never say that.

by RingoRanger on Apr 14, 2008 9:58 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

cat at DH

bradley was injured apparently.

scap load or die

by ab03 on Apr 13, 2008 9:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

and i don't see how using botts in a crucial situation

is showing Jon who is running the team

scap load or die

by ab03 on Apr 13, 2008 9:21 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

it's his

not using botts

Wait 'til the year after next

by NothinG on Apr 13, 2008 11:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

My one major beef

with Wash yesterday was that he didn't come out to try and light a fire by getting in to it with the umpire. I was at the game 3rd base side of the plat and had a decent view of the strike zone, fan's interpretation. 8th or 9th inning I turned to my friend and said "You've got to think that Wash will come out and at least make it look like he cares by arguing balls and strikes."

Nope, no peep out of George Jefferson, no storming out of the dugout with arms a flaling. As good an instructor as he supposedly is, a motivator he is not.

"But the major difference is where Showalter tried to overthink everything Washington at times seems like he isn't thinking at all. " - rentz

by hillcrest on Apr 14, 2008 12:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

arguing balls and strikes

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.

scap load or die

by ab03 on Apr 14, 2008 4:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

you should be immune to it

by now, especially this season.

the truth.

by Longhorn on Apr 13, 2008 7:51 PM CDT   0 recs

Washington

is the reason we lost this game. I was at the game today and I've never been more frustrated at the ballpark than I was today. Is there a rule that says that our setup man can not pitch 2 consecutive innings? Benoit should have started the 7th inning on the mound and he definitely should have been put in as soon as German got into trouble. But instead, Wash goes with the historically wild journeyman. Not only did he screw up by having German in their in a crucial situation, he also told the infield to play at their normal depth with the tying run at third base and less than two outs in the 7TH INNING! It almost seemed like he was trying to lose this game. I wish we'd just switch the roles of Howe and Wash because Ron just doesn't have what it takes to be the head man.

by Butters on Apr 13, 2008 9:17 PM CDT   0 recs

IF depth

this didn't actually have an effect on the game, right? you're just pointing it out?

scap load or die

by ab03 on Apr 13, 2008 9:22 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yep

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.

by Butters on Apr 13, 2008 9:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

he's wavered on this

with runners on second and third, I'm not sure what I've done. I think the book says to play in but I also don't like giving up a single that scores one instead of two. but the right call was probably playing in - i can see the other side of it. alexis rios is a dangerous hitter

scap load or die

by ab03 on Apr 13, 2008 9:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Infield in

It's my understanding that strategically you'll more often play for the tie when at home, because the home team has the last offensive at-bats. For example, in the 7th, with runners on 2nd and 3rd and 1 out, the Rangers didnot play the infield in because they were conceding the run and not wanting to give up the go ahead run on a ball through the infield. Even after Toronto tied the game in the 7th, the Rangers still had the strategic advantage because they had 3 at bats left as opposed to Toronto's 2.

by Randy Richardson on Apr 13, 2008 9:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i forgot the score

this is correct

scap load or die

by ab03 on Apr 13, 2008 9:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Perspective

Yes, a very frustrating game. But considering the matchup was:

Mendoza vs. Halliday
Feldman vs. Burnett

I'm not sure what we could have expected. Maybe the DH sweep got everyone a little overly geared up.

If there was a frustrating game it was Friday's (Padilla vs. Litsch).

by robert_d_wilfong on Apr 13, 2008 9:18 PM CDT   0 recs

if you would have told me on Friday

that those two starting pitchers would give us 11 innings and only give up 4 earned runs I would have felt pretty good about our chances.

by Butters on Apr 13, 2008 9:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

the bright side

This coming from someone that has ridiculed Feldman loudly and often...

The guy actually has something with this new arm slot. When he's running that sinker up there at 92-93 with that crazy, late arm side run and sink - that looks like the makings of a plus-plus pitch. He's not all the way there yet, but damn he made some very good hitters look like chumps with that thing. The curve ball has a chance to be a quality set-up type pitch from what little I saw of it.

I wasn't able to watch the whole game closely, but what I saw of those 2 pitches is actually pretty exciting. Question to those that were able to watch the whole thing: does he still throw a slider? Did he drop down and throw anything with the old arm slot?

From one of his most vocal critics, I must say that Feldman really looked to me like a guy that could possibly develop into an above average ML starter. That sinker looked really super dirty nasty at times.

Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."

by tricer on Apr 13, 2008 9:21 PM CDT   0 recs

I will admit, I missed most of the game

But Feldman was a lot better than I thought he would be, so I'll happily eat my words about him not being an effective pitcher.

But... I still say he won't make it in the rotation. I predict a strong return to the bullpen for Feldman later this season, however.

A Lonestar in California - 2.0

by lonestarJon on Apr 13, 2008 9:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

How do you go from

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

by Randy Richardson on Apr 13, 2008 9:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Well

By "strong return" I mean he'll just come back and be decent. For him, that will be a strong return.

Everyone was trying to drill into my head yesterday that he's made progress with the new arm slot, and I guess he showed me that today - you can't deny he did a lot better than most expected.

A Lonestar in California - 2.0

by lonestarJon on Apr 13, 2008 9:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

from what I saw

The guy doesn't even look like the same pitcher.

Last I saw him he was using some tricked up delivery that wasn't fooling anyone and serving up high eighties stuff with no command and inconsistent movement. I could see how anyone would want to DFA a guy like that, especially looking at his 32 bb, 44 hits, and 19 k in 39 ip last season.

But damn, today he was running that sinker up there at 92-93 consistently, and several times was getting swings on pitches that were being caught right behind the batters back foot. I seriously think that if he can bring that pitch to the mound with him every game, he can have quite a bit of ML success - and I certainly would have never said that before today - because I've never seen him have this kind of stuff before, not even close.

Did you watch him today, if so, what did you think about his stuff?

Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."

by tricer on Apr 13, 2008 9:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He looked like a different pitcher...

still allowed a lot of hits but has 3 pretty solid pitches now and the velocity on his fastball is up to 92-94 mph. I, like you, have been very critical of him in the past but he impressed me today. He needs to go down and work some more (AAA would be better) and who knows what will happen.

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

by slc ranger on Apr 13, 2008 9:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+1

There is no such thing as global warming. David Murphy was cold, so he turned the sun up.

by SarasotaRanger on Apr 14, 2008 9:10 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i can't believe

the manager is getting so much blame for this game when the players were repeatedly in a position to win the game and failed. murphy, bradley not being able to sacrifice byrd? botts striking out with the bases loaded?

the offense licked and washington did as much as he could in terms of pinch hitting. bullpen management is pretty easy to criticize after the fact but even if you think that benoit should have been pitching two innings, that certainly wasn't the biggest mistake made in the game.

scap load or die

by ab03 on Apr 13, 2008 9:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I was criticizing the decision as soon as I saw German take the mound.

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

by Butters on Apr 13, 2008 9:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

maybe wash is too blindly following a rubric

but lets say wash puts benoit in and benoit gets out unscathed but has to use 20+ pitches. What do you do for the 8th?

again, I think a fairer criticism is that benoit coudl have come out for the 9th so you'd have wilson for the 10th so you'd at least get that extra inning from one of your good relievers.

scap load or die

by ab03 on Apr 13, 2008 9:43 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm guessing

that because of Benoit's ST arm issues and limited ST innings, they are being cautious with him. Otherwise, with the bullpen and game situation as it was, I think using him for 2 innings was what the team needed.

by