Some thoughts after the Rangers' 5-0 victory over the ChiSox, putting them at 2-1 on the year...
- Ian Kinsler looks kind of crazy in that picture
- In terms of the mental state of being a fan, 2-1 after the first series of the year seems a whole, whole lot better than 1-2 after the first series of the year
- Josh Hamilton can hit the ball a long, long way
- Colby Lewis, Derek Holland, and Matt Harrison all went exactly six innings in their starts, and all looked very good. Harrison had just three Ks to two walks tonight, but he appeared in control throughout.
- The bullpen B-team got to pitch the 7th, 8th and 9th after Alexi Ogando, Mike Adams, and Joe Nathan were only marginally available after they each pitched in both the previous two games, but the B-team acquitted itself well, with each reliever (Mark Lowe, Robbie Ross, and Koji Uehara) going one inning, striking out a batter, and allowing a base runner. If Koji Uehara and Mark Lowe are the worst pitchers in your bullpen, you're in pretty good shape.
- Robbie Ross walked the first batter he faced in the majors, but appeared to be getting squeezed. Still, he bounced back, retired the next three, and gave us some hope he's going to break the Rangers' 2nd round curse. Only two Rangers' 2nd rounders have a bWAR of 1.0 or higher -- Jason Bourgeois and Roger Pavlik. Ross is the first Ranger 2nd rounder to appear in the majors for the Rangers since 1999 second rounder Nick Regilio. Between '86 2nd rounder Pavlik and Regilio, the other Rangers' 2nd rounders who appeared for Texas were Barry Manuel and Kevin Brown (the catcher).
- It was just 14 pitches, and I'm not a scout, but Ross looked like a major league pitcher to me.
- Another very good day with the bat for David Murphy. Another less than great day with the glove. He'll likely be in left field again Monday with righthander Hector Noesi taking the mound for Seattle.
- Yorvit Torrealba and Mitch Moreland have yet to get a hit, and Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz have just one hit apiece.