Saturday a.m. Rangers stuff

Well, there was pretty much nothing good about that game.

Jeff Wilson writes in his game story that, while the Rangers clubhouse was quiet after yesterday's debacle, there was no panic among the Ranger players.

T.R. Sullivan writes that, after yesterday's game, the reaction from Rangers players was that it was one game, and they'd come out and play hard today.

Anthony Andro writes that, while C.J. Wilson wasn't good yesterday, the Ranger offense was so bad it didn't really matter how good or bad C.J. was.

Richard Durrett has some thoughts on yesterday's loss.

Gil Lebreton has a column about yesterday's game, writing that C.J. Wilson's poor location led to eight Tampa runs.

Evan Grant writes behind the paywall that C.J. was trying to be too perfect and too cute yesterday.

Tim Cowlishaw writes, also behind the paywall, that the Rangers should have kept Cliff Lee.  Because, you know, Cliff Lee would never give up 7+ runs in a postseason Game 1.

Randy Galloway, who ignored the Rangers most of this season, weighs in with a column celebrating the local boy, Kelly Shoppach, beating up on Wilson and calling Joe Maddon a genius.

Andro writes that Game 2 starter Derek Holland isn't the same guy who threw 12 balls in 13 pitches in the World Series in 2010.

Jeff Caplan writes that Holland is confident about his ability to perform today.

The S-T's notes talk about the Rangers exceeding the win total Nolan Ryan predicted, Derek Holland starting Game 2, Ron Washington starting Craig Gentry in left field because he doesn't want to mess with Josh Hamilton's "mental state," and Matt Treanor being excited to be on the postseason roster.

I'm baffled by the Hamilton/Gentry thing, and the fact that Ron Washington is justifying a weaker defensive outfield alignment based on him having told Hamilton he'd be playing centerfield, and not wanting to mess with Hamilton's "mental state."  Is Hamilton really such a headcase that he's going to be thrown off by playing left field -- where he played most of the regular season -- instead of center in the postseason when Gentry starts?

Hamilton's mental state seemed off yesterday when he bunted in the sixth inning, down eight.  Ron Washington says that was Hamilton's decision, and Wash would have preferred that Hamilton swing away.