Saturday stuff

by Adam J. Morris on Aug 23, 2008 1:34 PM CDT

Sigh. Matt Harrison is frustrating. And he's going to have to start missing more bats if he is going to stick.

Richard Durrett's game story is about Hank Blalock returning to the lineup at first base. Anthony Andro's game story focuses on Matt Harrison's struggles after his terrific outing last time. Neither story addresses the curious decision by Ron Washington to pull Milton Bradley for pinch runner Jason Ellison with the Rangers down 4 in the 8th, a decision which resulted in Frank Catalanotto, rather than Bradley, hitting as the tying run in the 9th.

Brandon McCarthy pitches tonight, and he says in the S-T his session with Nolan Ryan was a huge boost for him. I've been a McCarthy supporter for some time, and am hopeful about tonight, but given how often he's disappointed me the past two years, I'm keeping my expectations for tonight low.

Taylor Teagarden has more reports from Beijing at the DMN blog.

On the injury front, David Murphy hopes to be back on September 1, and Ian Kinsler on September 5.

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I was at the game last nite

Sec. 47 right next to the bullpen

Kam got up in the 2nd inning with two outs. The 3rd was 1-2-3 but Harrison was up to 75+ pitches and I was a little surprised that he started the 4th.

Eddie Guardado didn’t even come out of the clubhouse until the 4th and when he did he was wearing a jacket. He must enjoy being uncomfortable.

Something else I saw that kinda bothered me. At precisely 7pm, the entire bullpen chugged huge cans of RedBull. I’m sure they’re all hyped up for the first few innings, but when they become necessary they are crashing. Colborn needs to stop that crap.

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
ElectricOkra.com

by WhipSmart on Aug 23, 2008 1:49 PM CDT 0 recs

Red Bull

Doesn’t the sugar-free version avoid the come down and crash? One of my neighbors is a high degreed martial arts type, uses Red Bull, so I asked him how he deals with the crash. He claims there is little to no crash if he only uses the new, sugar free variety, very different from the original.

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Aug 23, 2008 2:06 PM CDT up 0 recs

red bull

does lead to kidney stones though. i know a kid who drinks 3+ of them a day and he’s 26 years old and had very serious kidney stones. doc said it was due to red bulls

"I’m sure you’ve seen Kiker before but I’ll just reiterate that the kid is mean on the mound. He is only 5’10’’ but he is an intimidator. He looks like he hates hitters. He has the juice for pressure situations."
-Jason Parks on Jul 22, 2008 10:08 PM

by Jayslick on Aug 23, 2008 2:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

Or this could happen

A 28-year-old motocross racer downed 8 Red Bulls in 5 hours to flood his body with adrenaline in the hopes of having a better shot at winning. Instead, he had a heart attack and nearly died.

Red Bull advises consumers not to drink more than two cans in a 24-hour period, but this kid routinely drank 4 a day – even when he felt sharp chest pangs. The young man has gone to the press with his tale, condemning Red Bull (yes) for not printing stronger warnings on their products’ labels.

http://www.healthbolt.net/2007/08/22/red-bull-heart-attack/

by robert_d_wilfong on Aug 23, 2008 2:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

Strong candidate

for a future Darwin award.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Aug 23, 2008 2:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

That's bullcrap

I’ve had 8 redbulls within 3 hours at night clubs on a number of occasions (here in nyc, you get the can after they make the drink. Well they better since each drink is about 16 bucks haha) and I’ve yet to have a problem.

I feel redbull enhances heart rate and people that have problems are people that have a weak heart or etc. and can take other things like a can of jolt (or other energy/sugar products) and still have problems. It’s not just redbull that would do it.

by Coolbean04 on Aug 23, 2008 4:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'm not making it up ...

CANBERRA (Reuters) – Just one can of the popular stimulant energy drink Red Bull can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, even in young people, Australian medical researchers said on Friday.

The caffeine-loaded beverage, popular with university students and adrenaline sport fans to give them “wings”, caused the blood to become sticky, a pre-cursor to cardiovascular problems such as stroke.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSSYD5846120080815

by robert_d_wilfong on Aug 23, 2008 5:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

isolated occurence

You said you’ve had it before. I doubt that is every night. If it is disregard this comment. The above quote said he regularly drank 4 cans a day. Over time I imagine that probably does lead to a heart condition. If you drank 8 redbulls every night then you would probably be having heart atacks too.

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 Aug 23, 2008 9:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

Playing with fire

(holds gun to head) I’ve pulled the trigger five times and nothing’s happened yet! My heart rate is very enhanced!

You’re right about it not being just Red Bull that has the potential for harm, but you’re seriously underestimating your own risks.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Aug 24, 2008 9:32 AM CDT up 0 recs

What a moron

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Aug 23, 2008 4:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

Ummm

so one example means that it leads to kidney stones…Are you serious dude?

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Aug 23, 2008 4:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

I am looking forward to BMac's start

with more anxious anticipation than anything so far this year. Hopefully he has been squared away and can be the pitcher JD traded for.

"Does this effectively hide my thunder?"

by Bob Loblaw on Aug 23, 2008 1:51 PM CDT 0 recs

McCarthy

It will be interesting to see if Nolan straightened him out.

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Aug 23, 2008 1:51 PM CDT 0 recs

Brandon

Is there any possibility JD wouldn’t reverse the trade?

People are down on McCarthy for the obvious reasons but each player’s ML career is in its infancy. The question popped into my mind. I hope JD still knows something rank and file observers don’t.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Aug 23, 2008 1:54 PM CDT 0 recs

no possibility of that whatsoever

JD, or anybody in baseball, would reverse that trade if given the chance, especially since the ChiSox will have an extra year of control over Danks.

I just hope that good ole Nolan bails him out a little bit by getting McCarthy to become at least a servicable guy for the back of the rotation.

If BMac does put it together, does that change AJM’s perception of Nolan?

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Aug 23, 2008 2:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

Nope

Never

Smile when you call me Beat Weed!

by Clueless on Aug 23, 2008 4:25 PM CDT up 0 recs

McCarthy

I was and still am critical of the trade but……

Anybody that makes ANY knee jerk posts if he struggles tonight in his FIRST start of the season needs to be banned and then be forced to get teabagged by Ben.

"Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states" - Barack Obama

by DaheelzCM on Aug 23, 2008 1:55 PM CDT 0 recs

teabaggged

how about a nice pair of “Arabian Goggles” instead (i had to google it..worth the time).

"Does this effectively hide my thunder?"

by Bob Loblaw on Aug 23, 2008 1:57 PM CDT up 0 recs

+1

A Lonestar in California

We need to hire Chuck Norris to kick the ass of any Ranger fan caught booing one of our young pitchers at the RBiA.

by lonestarJon on Aug 23, 2008 3:40 PM CDT up 0 recs

Teabagged by Ben

might lead to nearsightedness from squinting.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Aug 24, 2008 9:33 AM CDT up 0 recs

no minor league thread

from last night, but i must say it was great to see Mad Max back in action (2-4 with a 2B). Jose Vallejo and Julio Borbon are both having relatively quiet solid stretches of play in Frisco, and Whittleman followed Tracy’s lead by shooting out of the gate in AA ball.

I wouldn’t mind seeing Borbon see some ML action in Sept. and I would love to see Whittleman, Tracy, Smoak and Moreland represent us in the AZL league and then make up the core of the offense (along with Lemon and Gerrard) in Frisco next year.

And Jared Hyatt, who is already 24 years old, has now put together back to back impressive, 8K performances in Frisco. I would like to see if he can be a serviceable bullpen arm down the road.

by clark on Aug 23, 2008 2:11 PM CDT 0 recs

Re: Hyatt

He’s right at the median age, 24.5.

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey," Bo Diddley

by Rodney on Aug 23, 2008 2:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

true

but that median age is skewed by the occasional 32 year old lifer filling in on weak farms like Houston’s. but that is beside the point. he seems to have recently found the ability to consistently miss bats, so let’s see if he can be a legit bullpen arm.

by clark on Aug 23, 2008 2:40 PM CDT up 0 recs

Median is less skewed

than mean when you are talking about outliers like that.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg1 on Aug 23, 2008 5:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

Matt Harrison

This is what you get with a young kid. You can see he has potential. I look at it this way the rest of the year is a giant learning curve for the young pitchers. I wish Hurley would get back soon.

"Would you mind walking a time or two so I could drive in some runs"? Milton Bradley

by boomer1 on Aug 23, 2008 2:28 PM CDT 0 recs

Speaking of Hurley

I don’t recall hearing anything about him of late. Anybody have a lowdown on him I might have missed?

A Lonestar in California

We need to hire Chuck Norris to kick the ass of any Ranger fan caught booing one of our young pitchers at the RBiA.

by lonestarJon on Aug 23, 2008 3:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

bmac game

1st rangers game I’m going to tivo all year…

to me, abortion is not a religious issue, it's a common sense one...

by Longhorn on Aug 23, 2008 2:50 PM CDT 0 recs

I'll be

at the game tonight and I’m excited. I hope Bmac gives me my money’s worth.

by TxStCa on Aug 23, 2008 3:25 PM CDT 0 recs

i'll probably be there too, but i won't be paying for my tickets...

so chances are, i’ll get my money’s worth.

Really all America want is cold beer, warm p***y, and some place to take a s**t with a door on it. - Mr. Ford

by buckets on Aug 23, 2008 4:19 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'll be there too

I’m surprised how much I am looking forward to this.

"You got a guy coming up there who can’t hit water if he fell out of a boat." - Tom Grieve on Richie Sexson, 5.8.2008
"I’ve been a Rangers fan all my life and I can tell you there’s been plenty of fucking crying in baseball…" - WhipSmart, 6.3.08
"When it comes to Jeff Mathis, the story ends with us putting one in his earhole." - AJM, 7.7.08

by lisa w on Aug 23, 2008 4:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

OT: Ramon Vasquez has a perfect game through five.

Might be called due to rain.

by philkid3 on Aug 23, 2008 4:11 PM CDT 0 recs

javier*

Really all America want is cold beer, warm p***y, and some place to take a s**t with a door on it. - Mr. Ford

by buckets on Aug 23, 2008 4:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

lol

Habit I suppose.

by philkid3 on Aug 23, 2008 4:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

HAHA!

Not anymore.

I despise the White Sox…

by Rodney on Aug 23, 2008 4:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

+1

by philkid3 on Aug 23, 2008 4:53 PM CDT up 0 recs

Steve Nash

Just ran into him at the Tribeca Whole Foods. All the times I’ve said hello to him he’s been nice.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Aug 23, 2008 5:35 PM CDT 0 recs

I find it funny AJM...

That you question Ron’s managerial decisions on a move like PH’ing for Bradley in the 8th instead of a more obvious one.

"Either we need to re-calibrate our rectangle, or Alfonzo Marquez is not having a good night." - Josh Lewin

by utlonghorn24 on Aug 23, 2008 6:33 PM CDT 0 recs

It was pinch running

And at the time it was the right move. What if Byrd had hit a double down the line and Bradleys quad prevented him from scoring? Then instead of it being 5-4 going into the 9th it is only 5-2 because we had a guy on the field who couldn’t go at full speed.

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 Aug 23, 2008 9:29 PM CDT up 0 recs