Wednesday morning stuff

by Adam J. Morris on May 14, 2008 6:49 AM CDT Comment 29 comments

20-21, 4 games back of first place. You know, after the awful streak, I felt that, even if the Rangers started playing well, it would take until the ASB to get back around .500, given how far down the team was. And yet, Texas has the opportunity this afternoon to get back even on the year on May 14. Incredible.

There was a lot of carping last night about Ron Washington lifting Kason Gabbard when he did, but as it turns out, Gabbard was being limited to 85 pitches, which is why he got pulled. He didn't pick up the W, but it was another solid outing for Gabbard, who continues to impress.

Richard Durrett talks about the stellar Ranger defense in yesterday's game, and how this team's play is 180 degrees from where it was the first 2-3 weeks of the season.

There are also some injury updates...Hank Blalock is scheduled to DH tonight for Frisco and play third base on Thursday, and if all goes well, will be activated for Friday's game, with Travis Metcalf presumably heading for AAA. Milton Bradley will sit today, and missed yesterday's game, with a sore shoulder, and Luis Mendoza is set to make a rehab start for Frisco.

Gil LeBreton's column today seems to imply that the Rangers are better off with Ramon Vazquez than Blalock at third base...it is a love letter to Vazquez, and points out how much better the Rangers have played since Blalock went down, although LeBreton does come out a couple of times and say the Rangers need Blalock back.

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I keep the roster the way it is

until we start losing again. Who cares what the stats say we have chemistry here. Keep it like it is until our hot play cools down.

by Agreen07 on May 14, 2008 7:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Anyone who thinks

Ramon Vazquez will keep up his 935 OPS clip, I got some Arizona Beachfront for you.

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

by DJCahill on May 14, 2008 7:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think

anyone thinks that. But I think a lot of people think you should keep him playing until he cools off.

by Agreen07 on May 14, 2008 7:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

thinks

that may well be true that Vazquez won’t keep up that pace. But I would like to know when Blalock will get to 935 OPS this year? Reckon that will happen? He is gonna need to stay healthy to get there. I think we are blessed to have Hank and Ramon on the same team. I would be comfortable in trading Hank if some starting pitching could be gotten for him. He is a valuable commodity if delicate.

¡yo soy Horsedooty!

I soloed in the mile high club.

by Sr Horsedooty on May 14, 2008 8:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

blalocks career ops is 125 points higher

he wont get to 935, but the odds are very much on blalocks side to be better from here on out.

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on May 14, 2008 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Vazquez’s BABIP over the last 28 days (according to baseball reference): .395

That seals the deal. He seems to be a great defender, and may be as smart as Mikey says. I loved Evan’s suggestion in the latest newsletter, suggesting that we rotate Vazquez in for 3B, SS, and 2B each once every ten games to keep the other guys fresh.

I’ve long read stories about how the Texas heat just kills guys around here. I don’t totally buy that, but I still think it makes sense to hedge your bets.

by jwiscarson on May 14, 2008 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The problem with LeBreton's column

is it focuses on the wrong event that happened on the 29th. The real shot in the arm for this club was when it decided to play with a 25 man roster instead of a 24 man roster by DFAing Jason Botts.

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

by DJCahill on May 14, 2008 7:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure

this game is going to get played today. Unless this rain breaks up real soon and doesn’t come back I don’t think we’re going to have the opportunity to get back to .500 until Friday night.

Fishing in the rivers of life. All bound for Mu Mu Land.

by Escher on May 14, 2008 8:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Id rather see us

get a chance to get to 500 against Seattle than Houston.

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

by DJCahill on May 14, 2008 8:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Berkman is too hot right now.

Fishing in the rivers of life. All bound for Mu Mu Land.

by Escher on May 14, 2008 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sun

Starting to break out. We may get this game off after all.

Fishing in the rivers of life. All bound for Mu Mu Land.

by Escher on May 14, 2008 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OT: CostasNow

anyone see it this past week?

"I thought that was bull," Washington said. "What is he 6-13? That's just frustration. He overreacted." - Wash on Sexson

by Longhorn on May 14, 2008 8:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Gabbard.

I’ve been very impressed with him this season. He reminds me so much of Kenny Rogers it isn’t funny. Their delivery looks shockingly similar. If Gabbard can stay healthy, I expect a few very good seasons for him in our rotation.

by Athos on May 14, 2008 9:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Do you think

Epstein, the Red Sox GM, takes any phone calls from JD?

Brandon Boggs 2008 Texas Rangers ROY

by RangerMad on May 14, 2008 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think

he’s afraid to pick up that phone for getting reamed by the Boston media.

You wanna talk about bad trades? Let’s put that Gagne (and his 1.875 WHIP for them last year) for Gabbard, Murphy, and Beltre trade up there at the top.

by jwiscarson on May 14, 2008 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Very good trade by JD right there

JD took the golden boy Theo to the c leaners on that trade. It can only get better when Beltre gets here in 3 years or so.

"My death certificate will probably say: 'Cause of Death: World Series.'" Jamey Newberg

by boomer1 on May 14, 2008 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Guardado

I was as fired up as I’ve ever been as a Rangers fan watching him pitch the ninth last night. I don’t know what it was about that situation, but he really went after guys and seemed to have great command of his pitches.

I certainly don’t think we should start any “Eddie vs. CJ” conversations for a while, but after years of being tormented by our bullpen, seeing him take care of business in such short fashion just made me giddy.

by jwiscarson on May 14, 2008 10:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Years of being tormented?

I thought that our bullpen has been relatively effective the last few years, no?

"I hope it's a special dumb person hell so that I don’t have to meet up with you after I die."

- The D-tron

by Chase Irwin on May 14, 2008 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I should clarify

Last year, I wasn’t on suicide watch every time Joaquin Benoit came into the game. However, when Buck was around I wanted to hurt myself whenever he went to the bullpen. Aki was pretty solid for us in 06, but we had to deal with CoCo for too long before that.

by jwiscarson on May 14, 2008 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs