If this team isn't done, it is at least on life support.
There were two plays that jumped out at me last night, that seemed to epitomize the problems with the 2009 Rangers. The first was in the 4th inning, after the bloop off of Doug Mathis that David Murphy dove for and just missed. The next batter singled into center field, and with the runner from first going on contact with two outs, he was easily going to make it to third base. Marlon Byrd came up throwing, though, and as a result, the batter was able to advance to second base. Instead of runners on first and third, there were runners on second and third.
The second was in the bottom of the 5th. Texas had runners on second and third, and after Nelson Cruz popped out, David Murphy came up against the lefty Craig Breslow with two outs. Breslow got behind 3-0 on Murphy, but on the 3-0 pitch, Murphy swung and popped up to shallow center, ending the inning.
This team seems, to often, to have a tendency to play dumb baseball -- to, out of frustration or desperation, too often be overly aggressive in the field or at the plate, as if each player feels like he has to do everything himself. The Byrd play didn't ultimately make a difference in the game, and the Murphy 3-0 popup probably didn't, either...but those two plays seem to symbolize the problems this team has from the mental side of things.
Evan Grant notes that the Ranger offense has had chances in the past three games, when the team has scored a total of one run, but hasn't capitalized.
Jeff Wilson says yesterday was one of the team's worst games of the season, and it couldn't have come at a worse time.
Michael Young's return was intended to provide the team with a spark, but that didn't happen.
Gil LeBreton says the end is near for the 2009 Rangers.
Josh Hamilton won't be back in the lineup until this weekend, and Kevin Millwood won't be back on the mound until Monday, at the earliest, with Derek Holland getting the start on Sunday instead.
Meanwhile, Dustin Nippert is getting the start today.