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Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Around SBN: Vanderbilt 90, Tennessee 71: What Happened in Nashville

Who the Hell are These Guys???

I know, I know be wary of small sample sizes.  I get it.  But sometimes you can
pick up consistencies before patterns and I've seen 2 things enough to think it won't
change with a larger sample size.

Plate discipline.
I have never seen a Ranger team work pitchers like they have the first 6 games. I
found a preconceived notion that kept coming up every time top of the inning.  I assumed
I could walk away from the TV if they reached an 0-2 count.  The only person I watched
passed a 0-2 count regularly before was Michael Young.  After 3 games, I started staying
in my seat even if I needed to throw a leak.  By FAR FAR FAR the best I've ever seen a Ranger
team collectively work pitchers.  They seem committed as an entire team to this as much as I've
seen any major league team.  I believe this will be worth 10-15 games this year as they
continue past the small sample size through the entire season.  I think most of these wins
will come against 4th or 5th starters.

Quality Pitching
I watched Gabbard pound strikes with junk low in the zone.  I watched Milwood's opposition
at the plate give the look like they just got bested by somebody.  Padilla throw heat and
not melt down after a few misfortunes.  Jennings go after hitters down a few runs and most likely to
get the  L a few innings later.  Benoit/Blue Glove doing what they do. The Electician mopping up
like the janitor at school we all loved that always had a story. 

Guys, this is baseball at its best and the bar just got raised for my expectations this season.
Thanks.

0 recs  |  Comment 12 comments

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You have to love...

the starting pitching and how most of the guys are working the count right now.

Let's just see this for another 156 games and we're so there.

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

by slc ranger on Apr 7, 2008 8:21 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Yep...

...another thing I'd like to see them collectively do as a team is get their errors down. I read all the excuses, and completely understand a bad hop, but if our team shows the same discipline in the field as they have at the plate, no doubt, they will put themselves in a position to win games more often then not...

by corbsclinton on Apr 7, 2008 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

good post

it got me motivated.

THE AL WEST IS RIPE FOR THE PICKING BOYS!!!

"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 7, 2008 8:24 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I've been thinking these guys could.....

shock the world.

Now, if we can just catch the damn ball!

by tklawless on Apr 8, 2008 6:57 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

To quote the inimitable Mr. Wolf

Let's don't start sucking each other's dicks just yet...

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Apr 8, 2008 7:32 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

LOL

the bar got raised biatch. Thats all I'm sayin...

by corbsclinton on Apr 8, 2008 8:40 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Let's not start sucking each others' popsicles yet.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Apr 8, 2008 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

As far as the pitching goes

folks may not remember it, but for about 2 months last year, we got pitching good enough to win.

July the team ERA was 3.95, and August it was 3.76. Those two months are one of the reasons I think this team has a decent shot to win the division, especially with the upgraded OF defense.

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

by DJCahill on Apr 8, 2008 8:56 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

defense

That OF defense is the one reason I have hope that the pitching has a tiny chance of remaining that good/lucky. So far, so good in that respect. Now, if the IF can catch and throw someone like Mendoza might be in good shape.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Apr 8, 2008 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I really am ready

to chalk up the IF defense in seattle to the flu, or whatever was going around, and a bad management call not to bench folks with 100+ fevers when he had an alternative.

I mean, we know Young is going to have limited range, but his throwing won't be a problem much this year, I wouldn't imagine.

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

by DJCahill on Apr 8, 2008 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Right,

though I'm not completely confident they'll be stellar even when healthy, but they should at least be adequate.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Apr 8, 2008 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Add Gabbard...

in there with Mendoza. They both could look real good with a solid D behind them.

by corbsclinton on Apr 8, 2008 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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