2006 Random Rangers Ramblings

[Providence A's]

Argh, stupid Macha...I can't believe we lost 2 out of 3 to the Rangers

[Molina00]

Great game by the Rangers today. A great pitchers duel between Kam Loe and Dan Haren. A scoreless game until the A's broke through against Loe in the 6th, a run which shouldn't have scored but did because of a Brad Wilkerson bobble in leftfield. Texas tied it up in the 8th off a D'Angelo Jiminez homerun which bounced out of Milton Bradley's glove and over the fence. Trailing 3-1 in the 9th Mark Teixeira hit a 2-run homerun off Huston Street (pitching for the 3rd straight game) to tie the game at 3. Texas added 2 more runs to take a 5-3 lead. Oakland was threatening in the bottom of the inning loading the bases against Coco Cordero but he got out of the mess for his first win of the year.

Kam Loe finished giving up 1 unearned run on 5 hits over 7 innings.

The Rangers overcame a 4 for 4, 3 RBI performance by Eric Chavez to get their first series win of the season.

[Providence A's]

that's why Macha is stupid...he should never have pitched Street in the first game when the A's were losing by a few runs...that forced him into 3 games in a row and I was shocked to see him out there today. Just like Duke get the save...I know we have tomorrow, but still...it's April, no need to kill Street already

[Providence A's]

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/...=.jsp&c_id=tex

interesting little article on how Erasmo Ramirez went unclaimed, wasn't traded, and was forced to accept an assignment at AAA

[Providence A's]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...e.ce028f2.html

interesting little article on the Rangers starting pitchers.

SEATTLE – Maybe they are no longer the Texas Strangers.

There's nothing like a little quality starting pitching to bring a team full of newcomers together. Well, nothing except a lot of quality starting pitching.

If there has been one significant development from the first week of the Rangers' West Coast swing, it's been that the starting pitchers have given them a chance to win. Now that they know that, the Rangers may be able to start making something out of those chances.

They took the first step Sunday by scoring four runs in the ninth for a come-from-behind 5-3 win over Oakland. The Rangers came back after starter Kameron Loe gave them seven innings – the fourth time in the first six games of the road trip that a starter had gone at least six innings.

On the trip, which moves on to Seattle tonight, Rangers starters have actually outpitched their division rivals, the ones with supposedly deeper pitching staffs. Rangers starters have a 3.82 ERA against Los Angeles and Oakland; the Angels and A's have a 4.58 ERA against Texas.

I just find it somewhat funny though...it's mid-April...let's see how they're doing in August, k?

[Molina00]

The way Ranger pitching is we (Ranger fans) have to celebrate it whenever it comes. I'm not holding out for much come August and September. Koronka and Loe are both looking pretty good so far, even though it is only mid-April.

[Molina00]

I don't know how Padre fans feel about the Park for Nevin deal now but I don't think you'll find any Ranger fans complaining about it.

After a disappointing show for Texas last year batting .182 with 3 HR's and 8 RBI in 99 AB's, Nevin has essentially doubled that production already this year. The slugger had 5 HR's and 17 RBI through the first 18 games of the season and he just hit another homerun against the Devilrays today giving him 6 HR's and 18 RBI on the season.

On another note, Kevin Mench hit a 2-run homerun in the 3rd inning off of Casey Fossum today giving him a homerun in all 3 games of the series against the Devilrays. Mench hit a grand slam in the first game and drove in 5, hit a 3-run homerun in the 2nd game, and now a 2-run homerun in the 3rd game of the series. Mench now with 3 HR's and 10 RBI in the series.

At 7-2 today, the Rangers are on their way to their 4th straight win and their 8th win in their last 10 games.

[Providence A's]

Mench has now homered in 5 straight games.

[Molina00]

If he can hit one more homerun today he will set a new Ranger club record homering in 6 straight games. I believe his homerun yesterday made him the 4th player in club history ever to homer in 5 in a row.

[Providence A's]

he did...a grand slam off Calero who came in for Harden after he left with back spasms...

[Molina00]

Too bad the Rangers couldn't have pulled off a win in Mench's record setting performance. Besides his grand slam Texas could not get anything going against the A's. And of course, with a 4-3 lead in the 9th, Coco Cordero blew the save again. His 5th blown save of the season. I really like the guy but I am getting very frustrated with him. He is supposed to be a lot better than 5 blown saves and an 11.70 ERA.

Do you supposed as hot as Mench is, somebody will ever walk him? 65 AB's so far this year without a walk, and he now has 6 HR's, 20 RBI in 17 games.

[Molina00]

Mench homered again in the Rangers 7-6 loss to the Indians. He has now homered in 7 straight games. It came down to the wire though as Mench was 0 for 4 before leading off the 8th inning with his 7th homerun off Guillermo Mota. Mench is now batting .333 with 7 HR's and 21 RBI in 18 games this season.

[Providence A's]

With a win tonight the Rangers can finish April in first place all alone

[Providence A's]

and they did...when was the last time they were in first all alone?

[Molina00]

and they did...when was the last time they were in first all alone?

No idea. Last time I can say for certain is 1999 when they won 95 games. lol