Yo, I'm back.
Saw the Rangers play Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Had a great time at Newberg Night, and want to thank Jamey and Eleanor for all their hard work in putting on the event. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the "Daniels Q&A" diary, which includes an extensive summary by Cody Cheek of what Daniels talked about.
Saturday night, I took Seth to his first Rangers game, and saw probably the most dominant performance I'm ever going to see from a pitcher. Erik Bedard was incredible last night.
I want to put this in perspective...Bedard had a game score of 98 last night. This was the 33rd time in the last 50 years that a pitcher has posted a 98 game score or better in a 9 inning game.
Bedard struck out 15 batters, and walked none. This is only the 29th time in the last 50 years that a pitcher has struck out 15 batters and walked none in a 9 inning game.
Bedard's outing overshadowed a nice bounce-back start from Brandon McCarthy, who struggled in his first start back from the d.l., but who was pretty solid last night.
The Rangers had praise for Bedard, saying that he was tougher than Mark Buehrle in Buehrle's no-hitter.
Grant also says Blake Beavan isn't expected to sign until August, meaning that he may end up signing a 2008 contract rather than a 2007 contract (which means that he couldn't pitch in the Arizona League this season). Grant also indicates that Robinson Tejeda, despite being optioned, is going to stay with the Rangers and work on some mechanical issues in side sessions until it is time for him to be activated.
All the sudden, Jim Reeves is backtracking on Ron Washington, with this recent winning streak apparently convincing Reeves that Washington isn't so bad after all.
Of course, Dan Graziano of the Newark Ledger says Ron Washington has to go, because, according to Graziano, he has already lost the clubhouse.
The Boston Globe suggests that the Milwaukee Brewers might be interested in acquiring Kenny Lofton, with Bill Hall out for a while.