Thursday a.m. things
by Adam J. Morris on Apr 17, 2008 8:15 AM CDT
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PrintI'm still not sure whether to feel good or not about last night's win. Some solid efforts, and the Rangers ended up pulling it out, but...well, it shouldn't have gone on as long as it did.
And in looking at some of Ron Washington's moves...sending Ian Kinsler up to pinch hit with two out and a two run lead in the sixth, lifting Jason Botts for defensive purposes in the seventh...it almost looks as if he's managing a little scared right now.
Having his hand-picked first baseman, the guy he's supposedly had his eye on for a couple of years and who he pushed for the team to acquire, make a critical error last night, while continuing to not hit, can't help matters, I can't imagine.
Washington says last night's win showed character. I don't know if it did or not, really.
Hank Blalock was lifted last night because of back problems, and presumably, he isn't playing today. If he's going to miss significant time, he'll go on the d.l. and German Duran will be called up, although that would necessitate making a move to clear up a 40 man roster spot. I think Travis Metcalf could be moved on the 60 day d.l. to make room for Duran. Otherwise, you are probably looking at trying to move someone like Kam Loe to make room.
Washington has also said that Milton Bradley would sit one of these two games, and Gerald Laird is probably getting a day off after catching 14 innings yesterday. I'm curious to see who joins Blalock, Bradley and Laird on the bench today...one would think that Jason Botts' performance yesterday earned him, under the circumstances, another start.
Wes Littleton showed yesterday, once again, why I've been lobbying for him for the past almost 2 years. And yet, I have to think there's a decent chance he's getting optioned today. He's probably not available for the next two days, everyone in the pen other than Josh Rupe pitched yesterday, and the Rangers don't have an off-day for a while. Littleton's stellar performance in yesterday's win could result in him getting sent out so that the Rangers can add a fresh arm to the mix for tonight's game.
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German
Has a dislocated finger. He hurt it sliding into 3rd on Friday. He’s only played once since then so I wonder if he is really the player who gets called up?
http://www.mvn.com/milb-rangers
For old times sake...C'mon Kelly! :-)
Well
If not him, then probably Ryan Roberts, I guess.
by Adam J. Morris on Apr 17, 2008 8:30 AM CDT up reply actions
It may still be him...
The kids a ballplayer…his finger was swollen and he still played Tuesday night and didn’t think it was even an issue. If he has anything to say about it, he goes. I just wonder if the Rangers call him up because of that. I’m thinking Ryan too. He’s a fun player to watch but he’s been having a few wild throws lately. Bobby said in an article it’s just that he’s not planting his feet, but he should be able to fix that…
http://www.mvn.com/milb-rangers
For old times sake...C'mon Kelly! :-)
Character
It’s easy to be bitter about last nights game, even in victory (which I am), but I think they did show something. Blowing that lead after all that has gone wrong in the last week, had to be devastating. It would have been easy to fold like a cheap tent at that point, a point in the eighth where I thought thought they were destined to lose that game.
They kept playing though. There weren’t any meltdowns after that, defensively, which as you can tell by the last two Aprils, those things tend to snowball on you. Wes, Franklyn and Dustin all pitched well, when they were put in a spot that they don’t necessarily deserve at this point.
Despite, record-setting futility at getting runners in, they continued to swing the bats and get people on base until Toronto made a mistake.
That has to worth something, right? Hell I may be grabbing at straws to put a dress on this pig, but I think that quote had some merit.
BTW
I’m sure it’s been noted here several times already, but Armando Galarraga’s line last night versus the Indians.
6.2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K…...W
A shot in the arm to a team that needed it.
I’m not trying to make a statement about anything, but it would be nice to still have him around and I still don’t understand why he was dumped over guys with seemingly less upside.
by badradiorules on Apr 17, 2008 8:45 AM CDT up reply actions
yeah I noticed that, too
that is most definitely disturbing…if he catches on, how depressing is it to think we could have a starting five looking like this:
1. Chris Young
2. Kevin Millwood
3. John Danks
4. Edinson Volquez
5. Armando Galarraga
with 2 Ranger prospects, a hometown ace, Millwood not having to be the ace and the Soriano trade looking a tad bit easier to swallow
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 17, 2008 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions
Wow
1 Young: Take him away from Petco and he goes from “ace” to 3 at best
2 Millwood: I got nothin here
3 Danks: Lets see him put two good starts together before proclaiming him a success
4 Volquez: See Danks
5 Galarraga: See Danks and Volquez
Seriously, nobody had ever seen Galarraga pitch before so he had the element of suprise going for him and he had a huge lead.
Of course
Ron Washington is managing scared.
He has to know that if this team has the same April and May as last years, he is gone, right? Thats why you are not going to see Botts in the lineup night in and night out getting consistent ABs, unless he has games like last night more frequently when he gets opportunities.
Washington has to win and stop this thing from snowballing.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
Broussard
Didn’t he just look awful in that pinch-hit? I think Billy Crystal could’ve done better.
Anyway, he should definitely be platooned with Botts. Botts looks so comfortable mashing LHP.
by Apes and Androids on Apr 17, 2008 8:56 AM CDT reply actions
Couldn't think of a better word.
The double of off the lefty was a great at bat. Looked completely different from his ABs against rightys. I’m just saying (even last year) against lefties, he looks like a nice hitter.
I think Botts is trying to be Markakis and take a lot of pitches, work the count, but it’s not working yet. He gets deep into the counts, but the major league pitching is killing him with the 2-strike counts because of the much greater breaking pitches than in AAA.
by Apes and Androids on Apr 17, 2008 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Happy Halladay
tonight. It could be rough. Hope I’m wrong.
There is no such thing as global warming. David Murphy was cold, so he turned the sun up.
Metcalf
What’s his injury situation? I googled and found nothing so now I’m exhausted.
He’s the guy I displace if I’m JD and the team needs an infielder specifically. Need an infielder, move the one that’s not working.
Although I liked Hindman’s offseason take on Metcalf.
Go Strangers.
If recall write I think he tore his hammy during the spring.
by Kinslerhomer on Apr 17, 2008 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions
character
Hah, they were just lucky really. But it’s about time some luck went their way, even when they did several things that could have resulted in a loss, and they should never have gotten into extra innings in the first place except for Benoit and Broussard. Bah.
Whatever gets you through the night, 'salright, 'salright.
I surfed the Rangers.com stats page last night
Hammy – .311/.389/.574
Arod ——.313/.362/.594
Hamilton’s extreme competence frightens and confuses my abused inner Rangers fan.
Cat’s OPS is .696, which is only around .100 below an avg LF’er. He could actually be there before you know it if he’d just start being himself.
Kinsler is slugging .350. Expect a quote soon that he’s swinging for the fences TOO much and he’s just gotta go back to trying to drive the ball.
I want Broussard gone. He’s a doe-eyed knock-kneed shoe-gazer and I don’t want to see him on the field ever again. His on-field body language is offensively metrosexual. I gotta believe the opposing team is not impressed at all. Give me some Shelton – he looks like a troll at least. Got that goin’ for him.
Washington
and him, too, if he keeps pining for guys like Broussard, sheesh.
Whatever gets you through the night, 'salright, 'salright.
Broussard
I’m trying to be patient with him, but man does he not look good. I know that over the long run, he’ll put together some acceptable numbers, but that’s hard to see right now. I’m not a big Botts supporter, but I would love to see him get all the AB’s versus lefties and around half against the righties for a while to see if he can be any better or may have a place on this team next year.
by badradiorules on Apr 17, 2008 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions
Hammy lighting it up
Kinsler has always had a problem with swinging for the fences. Thats one reason why I felt he should hit 6th or 7th. He needs to relax and just focus on being a leadoff hitter.
Adam loves him some Lard
Littleton=Beast
Got to agree Adam. He is one of my favorite pen arms and Id wish they would keep him put for a while. He keeps the ball on the ground and has a pretty interesting delivery which I dont think batters will pick up on anytime.
Adam loves him some Lard
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