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Thursday a.m. stuff

Th_buckykatt_tiny by Adam J. Morris on

That was pretty good yesterday, huh?

Evan Grant says the Rangers are in a pennant race.  Ditto Tim Cowlishaw.  I'm not convinced, but we shall see.

Josh Hamilton says it is his first walk-off homer ever.  In terms of WPA, this eclipses his even his 9th inning Seattle homer...the Rangers had a 14% chance of victory when K-Rod delivered that 3-1 pitch.

Vicente Padilla is on the d.l., and Wes Littleton has been called up.  The Rangers are going with Feldman tonight, Mendoza tomorrow, Millwood Saturday, and Harrison on Sunday.

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Pennant race? Maybe. But...

...I sure hope this doesn’t do anything to derail the long-term rebuilding that is going so well right now.

I still say be sellers at the deadline.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Jul 10, 2008 11:15 AM CDT   1 recs

yeah

just because they are in a pennant race right now doesn’t mean they need to act like this is their year and go and sell the farm

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jul 10, 2008 11:19 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i say hold on to the guys having great years but trade guys like cat

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers(done), BENOIT SUCKS(done), bring up Harrison(done),new: Put Nippert in rotation, Mendoza to the pen, get Feliz to AAA by the end of the year, trade cat

by nice hands on Jul 10, 2008 11:22 AM CDT to parent up   1 recs

contenders?

"Do they know who I am? Do they know my status? Thats what I thought."
-Miles 6/21/08

.501 or bust!

by Jayslick on Jul 10, 2008 1:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

can we go ahead and give

Hamilton, Bradley, Kinsler, Young, etc. the night off on Friday as well since Mendoza is pitching?

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on Jul 10, 2008 11:23 AM CDT   0 recs

just have boggs, byrd, murphy, and cat in the lineup

let those 4 guys bat then take 5 foreited outs. as for mendoza’s home run derby just put the 4 guys spread out throughout the outfield seats and try to catch a couple of mendoza’s bombs allowed

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers(done), BENOIT SUCKS(done), bring up Harrison(done),new: Put Nippert in rotation, Mendoza to the pen, get Feliz to AAA by the end of the year, trade cat

by nice hands on Jul 11, 2008 1:45 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i'm excited to see Littleton again

i think he can solidify some of those middle innings out there.

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on Jul 10, 2008 11:24 AM CDT   0 recs

really?

I hope he just holds his own. My expectations on him are very low

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Jul 10, 2008 11:27 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i've always been a fan...

he’s got nice movement on his pitches.

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on Jul 10, 2008 11:28 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Me too...

...I’m still holding out hope that he can be a useful pitcher on a contender in the near future.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Jul 10, 2008 11:40 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Pennant race

Well, it appears it’s a buyer’s market for pitching…

But I’m kinda hoping the Rangers drop tonight’s game. They need to stay the course, especially if the course is dealing veterans before the deadline.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Jul 10, 2008 11:24 AM CDT   0 recs

Mendoza vs Harrison

If (when) Mendoza lays and egg on Friday and Harrison gets a quality start on Sunday, is Harrison in the rotation for the 2nd half?

"An effortless 98" - Scott Gardner after Neftali Feliz's first AA pitch

by RangerMad on Jul 10, 2008 11:24 AM CDT   0 recs

absolutely

he may already be, yet Mendoza is forced to stay in the rotation due to injuries to Padilla and Hurley. It’d be nice if McCarthy could find a way to contribute this year as well…especially if injuries continue.

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on Jul 10, 2008 11:27 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I think...

...if that’s what happens, there’s a decent chance Mendoza ends up in the pen and Harrison sticks in the rotation.

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 10, 2008 11:27 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Mendoza in the pen

Not the worst thing in the world thus far.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Jul 10, 2008 11:29 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Shades of Benoit?

Can’t hack it as a starter, but is really capable in the pen

"that suzuki guy should go back to making cars" - My girlfriend after C.J.'s close in game 2

by tdi1985 on Jul 10, 2008 11:31 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i wouldnt say benoit is really capable

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers(done), BENOIT SUCKS(done), bring up Harrison(done),new: Put Nippert in rotation, Mendoza to the pen, get Feliz to AAA by the end of the year, trade cat

by nice hands on Jul 10, 2008 11:40 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

aside from this year

Forget this year. he has been pretty damn good out of the pen the last couple years

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Jul 10, 2008 11:41 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Mendoza as a reliever this year

7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

Sure does seem as though his velocity, movement and control are visually sharper out of the ‘pen. I can get behind Harrison remaining in the starting rotation at Mendoza’s expense.

Baseball Time in Arlington

by jamcadbury on Jul 10, 2008 12:41 PM CDT to parent up   1 recs

wouldn't you be starting him with one day less of rest?

...after throwing 100 pitches or so?...

why not just start Dustin? doesn’t he give you a better chance to win than Luis?

by oc on Jul 10, 2008 1:03 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

huh?

Who are you talking about starting with one less days rest? Luis didn’t throw 100 pitches last time out. Harrison would have a full 4 days rest between Tuesday and Sunday

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Jul 10, 2008 1:18 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

mix up...

thought he meant to start Harrison over Mendoza tomorrow.

by oc on Jul 10, 2008 1:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

mendoza didnt allow a run out of the pen

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers(done), BENOIT SUCKS(done), bring up Harrison(done),new: Put Nippert in rotation, Mendoza to the pen, get Feliz to AAA by the end of the year, trade cat

by nice hands on Jul 10, 2008 11:33 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

oh, and i agree on the pennant race

I had said that I would “believe” if the Rangers swept the Angels. A nice win last night doesn’t change that for me.

If we could reel off about 7 or 8 in a row, I may change my mind.

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on Jul 10, 2008 11:25 AM CDT   0 recs

exactly

if this team goes on a good winning streak like that, then I start to believe. Until then it’s all gravy.

by Salman on Jul 10, 2008 11:28 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

6.5 out isnt alot. the brewers are 5 games out and they are contenders

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers(done), BENOIT SUCKS(done), bring up Harrison(done),new: Put Nippert in rotation, Mendoza to the pen, get Feliz to AAA by the end of the year, trade cat

by nice hands on Jul 10, 2008 11:32 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

but the brewers have Sabathia and Sheets

while we have thel ikes of Mendoza and Millwood

"Well, the Dallas Mavericks got beat by the New Orleans Hornets last night ending their season. Word is that someone on the team is dating Jessica Simpson." - Jay Leno

LSB facebook group ---->>> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33345329288

by hinduplaya on Jul 10, 2008 12:01 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

chasing

Milwaukee is chasing the Cubs. We are chasing the Angels. 5 games behind the Cubbies is a virtual tie. :)

"An effortless 98" - Scott Gardner after Neftali Feliz's first AA pitch

by RangerMad on Jul 10, 2008 12:06 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Big difference

Milwaukee has a much easier WC race. They’re basically tied, while Texas would have to pass Boston and others for the WC.

by zywica on Jul 10, 2008 3:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Win 7 or 8 in a row

wouldn’t mean they’re contenders, it would just mean they played well for a few games in a row. Don’t be tempted to swerve from the plan by getting close. If the Angels will trade us John Lackey for Mendoza, then we have a chance at the division, but I don’t see that happening.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 10, 2008 12:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

why in the world would they do lackey for mendoza

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers(done), BENOIT SUCKS(done), bring up Harrison(done),new: Put Nippert in rotation, Mendoza to the pen, get Feliz to AAA by the end of the year, trade cat

by nice hands on Jul 10, 2008 1:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

There's no way

You’d have to throw in Nate Gold or Drew Meyer as well.

by robert_d_wilfong on Jul 10, 2008 1:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

And the rights to...

...Jeff Zimmerman and Justin Thompson.

Where are those guys anyway? On rehab in Surprise?

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Jul 10, 2008 1:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ok, you're right

throw in Arias.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 10, 2008 1:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

look at this

seattle has had 5 guys injured and their record is 36-55,
http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/team/injuries.jsp?c_id=sea

the rangers have had 16 different guys injured and our record is 48-44
http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/team/injuries.jsp?c_id=tex

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers(done), BENOIT SUCKS(done), bring up Harrison(done),new: Put Nippert in rotation, Mendoza to the pen, get Feliz to AAA by the end of the year, trade cat

by nice hands on Jul 10, 2008 11:30 AM CDT   0 recs

How about an ATABOY for Wash!

Doing great considering the injuries.

I don’t see that we are in a pennant race just yet. We are having a great year. There is a lot of hope for the future. Love the Team. Yes, yes and yes. But a pennant race? Not there just yet.

by Bigfan16 on Jul 10, 2008 11:33 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

???????????

Am I missing something here?

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Jul 10, 2008 11:41 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

???????????????????????????????????????????????

??????????

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers(done), BENOIT SUCKS(done), bring up Harrison(done),new: Put Nippert in rotation, Mendoza to the pen, get Feliz to AAA by the end of the year, trade cat

by nice hands on Jul 10, 2008 11:50 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

To hit any walkoff

the team would have to be losing, or at least tied. so your statement seems kind of redundant.

"that suzuki guy should go back to making cars" - My girlfriend after C.J.'s close in game 2

by tdi1985 on Jul 10, 2008 11:55 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

a walk-off while you are down is a lot harder to do than a walk-off when the score is tied

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers(done), BENOIT SUCKS(done), bring up Harrison(done),new: Put Nippert in rotation, Mendoza to the pen, get Feliz to AAA by the end of the year, trade cat

by nice hands on Jul 10, 2008 1:38 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

hmmm...

...got a point there…

by oc on Jul 10, 2008 1:42 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Really,

the difficulty of hitting a HR depends on the score? You must be a scientist.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 10, 2008 1:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Bravo

This is FJM-quality stuff.

by LiamP on Jul 10, 2008 2:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i meant its more rare

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers(done), BENOIT SUCKS(done), bring up Harrison(done),new: Put Nippert in rotation, Mendoza to the pen, get Feliz to AAA by the end of the year, trade cat

by nice hands on Jul 10, 2008 2:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm with you

very confusing. I can’t remember the last time a ranger hit walk off homer while we were winning.

by Anonymous New Guy on Jul 10, 2008 11:51 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He obviously meant

all the others happened we we were tied in recent memory. I agree with him.

by Mike E on Jul 10, 2008 1:06 PM CDT to parent up   1 recs

thank you for using your brain

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers(done), BENOIT SUCKS(done), bring up Harrison(done),new: Put Nippert in rotation, Mendoza to the pen, get Feliz to AAA by the end of the year, trade cat

by nice hands on Jul 10, 2008 1:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

did you know that the there is thing called being tied

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers(done), BENOIT SUCKS(done), bring up Harrison(done),new: Put Nippert in rotation, Mendoza to the pen, get Feliz to AAA by the end of the year, trade cat

by nice hands on Jul 10, 2008 1:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Nelson Cruz hit a

walk-off last year v. the Angels in early May but not sure if game was tied or if the good guys were behind.

Can’t ignore what happened last night or the potential positive effects we may see but this rotation is in complete disarray, we’ve scored 14 runs less than we’ve given up, we’re leaning on several rookies not to mention the ugly little facts that this team leads the AL in errors committed and walks issued.

If this continues, it’s difficult for me to believe this team is going to finish above .500 muchless threaten the Angels for the AL West.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jul 10, 2008 2:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

rec

for confusing us all.

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Jul 10, 2008 12:09 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i guess you also dont know that score can be tied

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers(done), BENOIT SUCKS(done), bring up Harrison(done),new: Put Nippert in rotation, Mendoza to the pen, get Feliz to AAA by the end of the year, trade cat

by nice hands on Jul 10, 2008 1:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm glad Padilla is on the DL

mostly because we have had a lot of guys this year, keep the seriousness of their injuries to themselves. I can’t say I’m an expert, but it seems to be a particular problem with some of the Latin American guys, that don’t communicate when they’re hurting. I have a feeling that might have been happening with Padilla, and now that he’s on the DL, we should see some quality Pads when he comes back.

"that suzuki guy should go back to making cars" - My girlfriend after C.J.'s close in game 2

by tdi1985 on Jul 10, 2008 11:33 AM CDT   0 recs

I think the Rangers could make it tight

But they shouldn’t be buyers. Currently, this is a team that’s basically performing to or above all of our expectations. Here’s a good statement about them

“But, hey! We’re talking about the Rangers at the All-Star break. That’s a positive sign.

http://www.walkoffwalk.com/2008/07/i-have-rangers-fever-oops-fals.html

That’s about right.

Nothing pithy here. Please move long.

by WyoRanger on Jul 10, 2008 12:11 PM CDT   0 recs

Who are the most suprising teams this season?

from a better-than-expected standpoint? I’d say Twins, White Sox, Cards and Rangers. I’m not suprised by the Rays because that had to happen at some point in time.

Nothing pithy here. Please move long.

by WyoRanger on Jul 10, 2008 12:16 PM CDT   0 recs

You're forgetting the

A’s, Marlins, and Orioles

"Well, the Dallas Mavericks got beat by the New Orleans Hornets last night ending their season. Word is that someone on the team is dating Jessica Simpson." - Jay Leno

LSB facebook group ---->>> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33345329288

by hinduplaya on Jul 10, 2008 12:34 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't know

Most expected the Rangers to be around .500, and that’s where they are. I’m surprised in some ways at how they’ve gotten there, but not surprised that’s where they are.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 10, 2008 12:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

This

In so many ways this team isn’t what I expected, and how the season has gone so far isn’t what I expected.

But the overall product is about the same.

by philkid3 on Jul 10, 2008 2:52 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'd agree

I didn’t expect to see Harrison. Hurley maybe, Davis maybe, Ramirez no (and none at this point in time). Yet here they are. So it’s a different team than expected.

Going up to hinduplaya, A’s maybe. But the Marlins and O’s are pretty much where I thought they’d be. Sure, the O’s had a run but they’ve fallen back to where they should be.

Nothing pithy here. Please move long.

by WyoRanger on Jul 10, 2008 4:09 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Mendoza on friday.

i saw his 8 runs in 1 and 1/3 in person. even with our shortages of starting pitchers cant we find anyone to start instead of him? after that horrible meltdown of back to back homers w/ t hunter going yard to the second level. if we would of started nippy maybe we could be looking at a 4 game sweep tonite. mendoza is best in the pen if anywhere.

by Andrew L on Jul 10, 2008 12:31 PM CDT   0 recs

Just curious..

If anyone knows how McCarthy’s sim game went yesterday??

by Mike E on Jul 10, 2008 1:07 PM CDT   0 recs

Tug Hulett:

Major Leaguer

Love of God and compassion and empathy leads you to a very glorious place, and science leads you to killing people. -- Ben Stein

by Lucas on Jul 10, 2008 1:38 PM CDT   0 recs

Well,

technically anyway.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 10, 2008 1:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Jason Sowers 2007 Rangers' 42nd round pick

Walter Johnson Leaguer

href=”http://www.newtonrebels.4t.com/rich_text.html” >

Coached against him the other night. Quite the long fall from the Northwest League.

"So you think the Celtics will beat Detroit? Hell will freeze over before that happens, mark my words." miles 5/20/08

by badradiorules on Jul 10, 2008 4:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Sorry

"So you think the Celtics will beat Detroit? Hell will freeze over before that happens, mark my words." miles 5/20/08

by badradiorules on Jul 10, 2008 4:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Here's the link

Newton Rebels

"So you think the Celtics will beat Detroit? Hell will freeze over before that happens, mark my words." miles 5/20/08

by badradiorules on Jul 10, 2008 6:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

the Hamilton video...

...i start choking up when he flings the helmet…

by oc on Jul 10, 2008 1:53 PM CDT   0 recs

Wash on the outside...back to the camera... clapping like a father...

...that’s a good baseball moment.

the medium on Vlad… he’s just in absolute disbelief.

by oc on Jul 10, 2008 1:55 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It's always shocking to me...

...when I see Wash in a group of players and see just how small he is. I never would have guessed that before he came here.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Jul 10, 2008 2:06 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Where...

...can I see it again?

Replace Jim Knox

by benjihana on Jul 10, 2008 2:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

OC

that perspective is about what it looked like last night as I was standing in the stands with all my friends. You can’t believe how jacked up everyone was after that homer. The ovation musta lasted 7 or 8 minuets and we were all ready standing. It was simply the best moment in sports that I have ever witnessed live and in person.

¡yo soy Horsedooty!

I soloed in the Mile High Club!

by horsedooty on Jul 10, 2008 3:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs