The Rangers played yesterday?
It's hard to reflect on a terrible baseball game where the Rangers almost had a perfect game thrown against them, saw the bullpen implode again, and continued to struggle at Target Field when we now exist in a world where Dirk Nowitzki is a champion. Alas, this is a baseball blog, so here are some baseball links:
Jeff Wilson recaps the Rangers' weekend and this quote sums things up properly:
Mike Napoli went on the DL, Francisco Liriano almost threw a no-hitter, Matt Harrison was struck by a line drive in the left triceps muscle, Elvis Andrus was removed for a lack of effort, the Rangers lost for a third time in four games to the team with the worst record in the American League.
Evan Grant concurs while calling it a "wasted weekend" in Minneapolis.
Wilson's recap at the Star-Telegram doesn't bury the lede, focusing on the game pitched by Francisco Liriano. Liriano, who is following up an underrated 2010 campaign with a disappointing season, has already thrown a no-hitter this season and was looking to add a perfect game or second no-no to pair it with. Thankfully, a 7th inning error and then 8th inning single by a Rangers offense that looked like it had been replaced by the walking dead ruined dubious history.
Bryan Dolgin reacts to a game no one should have had to react to without the ability to use expletives over at ESPN Dallas.
Grant follows up on Matt Harrison getting hit by a line drive just below his pitching elbow in the 7th inning. Harrison, who was pitching very well coming off the near two week kidney stone saga, was diagnosed with a bruised left triceps muscle and is currently day-to-day, presumably.
And, if all of that wasn't annoying enough, Grant writes about how Ron Washington pulled Elvis Andrus out of the game in the 9th inning because, he "didn't like his attitude."
Essentially, Target Field is becoming Comerica-esque in terms of being a Rangers House of Horrors. The Rangers are now 1-9 all time there and the games have been either terrible or weird. I never thought I'd welcome the Rangers traveling to New York to play the Yankees, but here we are.
T.R. Sullivan and Louie Horvath save a tree and share a notebook to write about Michael Young and Rangers team records, the catcher injury situation, Scott Feldman's second rehab start, and updates on various injured pitchers.
Wilson touches on the Michael Young playing the most games in Rangers history note and has quotes about what a hard worker and tough dude MY is.
Ryan Jones of the DMN updates the week that was in Rangers Top Ten Prospect Land. It wasn't a very good week.
Except, finally...
