Thursday Morning Rangers Update

Ahh, the Free Countertop Game has now entered into Texas Ranger lore.

Nice win by the Rangers who are now at their high water mark on the season at 21 games over .500 and are on their first winning streak of three games or more since they won six straight from August 12-August 17.

Louie Horvath's game story has been summed up by Josh Hamilton as so: "CC Carpet."

Jeff Wilson's game story is also about Josh Hamilton hitting a grand slam to cap an eight-run fourth inning and winning free flooring and countertops for everyone. It's like he hit the "Hit It Here and Win a Free Suit" sign.

Anthony Andro writes about the Josh Hamilton Grand Slam Promotion and has quotes from the owner of the store after Hamilton made folks big winners while crashing his website.

Richard Durrett has his reactions to the game over at ESPN Dallas. He also notes the free stuff payout off the bat of Hamilton but is also sure to mention what a nice job Derek Holland did while pitching in a blowout.

Speaking of Holland, here's a DMN transcript of a Ron Washington appearance on the Ben and Skin Show where Washington says Dutch is looking good for the postseason rotation. He also says he doesn't think he'd be his Game Two starter. (I assume that means it would be Colby Lewis.)

Drew Davison also has some post game notes here. Is there a reference to CC Carpet therein? You'd better believe it. However, here's this fun note from Davison not about free flooring:

Elvis Andrus has an eight-game hitting streak, and has hit safely in all 22 career games against the Indians.

Durrett has a piece on Hamilton and the mighty Texas Rangers offense.

Being the DMN paywall, Evan Grant similarly writes about the Rangers' potential juggernaut of an offense once Nelson Cruz is locked in. I salivate at the thought.

Likely a part of why the Rangers offense could look even more formidable with Cruz returning to health is Adrian Beltre being among the hottest hitters in baseball, ditto Mike Napoli, ditto David Murphy, Ian Kinsler looking more locked in now than he has since probably July, and Michael Young continuing to rake on his way to 200 hits again and a possible batting championship and, as Grant writes, Ron Washington is considering playing Josh Hamilton in center field for the stretch run. Sorry, American League.

Davison updates us on Elvis Andrus and how he is getting stronger lately instead of wearing down like he did in the second half of last season. Elvis is hungry, ya'll. Elvis is hungry.

In his Notebook, Horvath writes about the shuffling the Rangers will be doing once Cruz is ready to rejoin the outfield, Washington not looking to fix what he doesn't feel is broken in regards to the lineup, and how Mike Gonzalez is fitting in with the team since joining the bullpen two weeks ago.

Davison's notes are about Young's quest to collect 200 hits in a season again for the first time since 2007 and various other items.

Finally, T.R. Sullivan breaks down the just released 2012 Texas Rangers schedule.