Best comparison is those sorry Angels who had three pitchers on the All-Star team. All Star pitchers beat All Star hitters.

Blalock didn’t get hurt did he?

Hurley was pretty damn efficient, just 87 pitches.

I am just sad every time I think about Blalock and what might have been.

When I heard Hamilton had been picked in the Rule 5 last year I rooted hard for him. I wanted him to play in the big leagues and stay sober and that was the extent of my hope for him. I thought it was a great story and he might be able to influence a lot of young men positively with it.

But I never dreamed he would be an MVP candidate and put on the kind of display he did last night. Adam, this was not just another HR derby with a Ranger putting on a power display, ho hum. This was the pinnacle (so far) of a great story, and hopefully that story keeps a few kids out of trouble. If just one person chose to get help after hearing Hamilton’s story splayed all over the national media last night and this morning, it is much more than an awesome batting practice.

You share almost the exact same thoughts I do, and wanted to put down in words.

Turns out you might just have the heart of a champion afterall.

You guys are missing the point. Last night was NOT the moment that you say “I told you so” or that it was the “pinnacle”

The pinnacle of a great story is winning the world series. The “I told you so moment” would be the 21 bombs he already has.

This HR Derby was just that, a Derby. He was hitting 500 foot bombs off a 71 year old man grooving them SO HE COULD hit 500 foot bombs.

You want validation on a national stage? Lets win some playoff games.

I understand what you’re saying. I really do. But I think that this team is so rarely in the spotlight that we, the fans, deserve to relish it.

Of course, when the Rangers contend for and make the playoffs, the spotlight will be even brighter. But if the Rangers don’t make the postseason this year (a distinct possibility, if not probability), it will have been nine full seasons without a playoff berth, and 12 full seasons without a playoff win.

I’m not saying that I wouldn’t trade the four All-Stars and Josh’s HR Derby performance for postseason play and success. I think everyone here would make that trade.

But I’ve learned to take what I can get. And for once, everyone’s talking about one of our team’s players. Let it happen, and let us float back to reality after the All-Star Break.

I don’t give a shit if the national media talks about us, or we get in the spotlight, I don’t care if we lose time on ESPN to the red sox and yankees.

All I wanna do is win some damn games, alot of them. I hate when people whine about not getting national recognition. Who gives a shit?

Here’s why – I actually had friends calling and texting me (the only Rangers fan they know) during the HR derby in awe of Hamilton. You know how many times my friends have called me to gush about the Rangers or a Ranger player? Never. But last night they did, and it was pretty cool.

I too would prefer a playoff contending team, but just some recognition is good enough for now.

And they help me get through the season, so i might as well enjoy them.

I admit, i very happily enjoyed sosa’s 600th homerun while various cliques wanted it only so the rangers would move on.

I loved blalock hitting the all star game homerun. Young winning the mvp. Tex homering in the game.

It doesn’t make me want to make the playoffs any less, but it helps brighten up what can be frustrating seasons. Thankfully, this one has been pretty fun on its own so far.

The Rangers have been a crappy team for pretty much my whole life, save for 3 years when I was in college.

The one thing the Rangers always have going for them is they have stars. Between Pudge and ARod, I believe they had the longest streak of at least one all-star game starter in baseball. I’m hoping Hammy will be part of a new streak now.

Would I trade stars for a pennant? Of course. But I don’t get bitter that we have stars yet never win – lots of teams are crappy and BORING. The Rangers are rarely boring, save the post-ARod, pre-Hamilton years that we just came out of (aka, the Mark Teix-yawn-a years). I’m happy not to be boring again, and to have a set of stars who, like Pudge, Igor and Greer, can take us to the playoffs soon.

It could be worse than what we’ve had, and I’m grateful that the All Star Game is a time that the Rangers have traditionally been able to shine, as opposed to the “I hope we get our one rep into this game” experiences of the Royals, Pirates, and Nats.

And the Rangers aren’t going to be WS favorites overnight. But last night was a stepping stone to future success. The Rangers are 4 games over .500 right now with the worst ERA in baseball. Why is that? Well its mainly because of those 4 All Stars putting up vidoe game numbers offensively. Now the entire country knows about Josh Hamilton. Sure if this is the high point for the next couple years then its a disappointment but this is only the beginning. We’re winning and only getting better and younger at the same time. take last night and enjoy it because in a few years you will be able to look back on last night and know that it was the night when the whole country was introduced and took notice to our Texas Rangers

The Sporting Blog’s video of Hamilton. I think my favorite part is hearing the NY crowd chant “Holy shit”. Classic.

http://www.viddler.com/explore/TheSportingBlog/videos/8/

It was fun last night, but left me a little cold too. The best part of it for me is that it’s a chance for the rest of the baseball world to see what we’re so excited about, but of course, like you, i’d rather they saw it during a playoff series.

So, why aren’t we a playoff team? The big stupid answer is pitching of course. And while i think Mark Connor must be part of the problem, currently, finally, the Rangers are taking the right approach. Sought-after free agent pitchers will never want to come here as long as Rangers Ball Park is a shooting gallery and so the Rangers have rightly been focusing on drafting and trading for ground-ball pitchers, left-handers and strike throwers. This past home stand made me think that there should be another quality they’re looking for and that’s an ability to stay cool when the ball starts jumping off the bats. Kenny Rodgers was good at this. Warner Madrigal showed the potential for this when he bounced back from a drubbing at Yankee Stadium. Rangers pitchers also need to be damage controllers and they need to understand (and this is where Connor must be falling short) that even the John Lackeys and the K Rods get shelled here.