RRReport

RRReport --- Sports Day

Ranger Recap:

I am headed off on my Texas Trip so I might not be writing for a couple days. But I should have some interesting Live Thoughts so be sure to come back soon!

I just completed the LIVE section, so read about my travels

Sunday May 11: Rangers 17 - Indians 10. Today the biggest news by far was Raffy hitting #500. I do not want to write a 10 page recap of Raffy's career like everyone else, but I will say a couple words. The fact is that with the DH, there is no telling how much longer Raffy can play. I saw the stat the Hank Aaron hit an additional 138 homeruns past the age of 38, so why is everyone making the HOF call now. Just for the record, he has the sweetest swing that I have ever seen. Even going back to the early days when I watched him at Arlington Stadium as part of the Three Amigos, he was one of my favorites. I am glad that he is getting all this national media attention, and hopefully we will see many more years of him.

The offense had one of those offensive outbursts that we all know that they are capable of, but the game started like most of them have. Colby Lewis was not good at all and Joaquin Benoit had to come in and get the win. I really think that Buck is starting to read the RRReport, after I wrote about the Rangers and their split-starter system. Just to follow up that point, in the last 14 games, the Rangers starters have not gone six innings in 12 of them.

I just have a couple of thoughts on pitchers around the league (a common thought for Rangers fans). The Cubs said that they thought enough of Alan Benes that they wanted him to go to an AL team in which he would have a chance to start. It is about time for the Rangers to get lucky on a retread pitcher. Hopefully with Benes or maybe even Justin Thompson in a couple years, the Rangers will find something. I bring this up because there are several pitchers like Gil Heredia (Seattle) and Jim Parque (Tampa), who are having great starts, but could have been taken by any team. Oh, just a little note on Cleveland?s starter Ricardo Rodriguez: He has lost his last 4 starts, but has a great young arm and I think that he will turn out to be a good. Two years ago he was the Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year and BA's #1 prospect of LA. I got to see him in Vero Beach last spring and I wanted to keep an eye on him. Last year on the trading deadline the Dodgers were in the pennant race and traded Rodriguez to Cleveland for spare reliever Paul Shuey. Although Rodriguez is definitely a head case, I think that trade will be just another stupid move of the Dodgers giving their farm (Pedro Martinez, Paul Konerko, etc.)

Scatter-shooting while wondering what happened to the entire Mavs team in game 4...I think that Raffy?s kids are little punk skateboarders (just an observation)... I got reply emails from Jamey and Mike about my minor league recap. They say to keep them informed...Speaking of Mike, he wrote a great piece about one of the Ranger games that he attended (I will post that on the Live section). Also I did not realize that Mike was also a lawyer (might not be a bad profession)...Gerald Laird got his first start and went 1-4 with his only hit being a bunt single. I love to see a catcher being able to beat out a bunt single. Actually I just like to see a catcher hit over .200 no matter if he is patient at the plate...In scoring 17 runs, you would think that everyone hit. A-Rod went 0-4...Hank looked fabulous at the plate and in 2 AB's Christenson had a double and went yard (so I will get off of his back)...Reading Newberg, I would love to see Carl Everett turned into Jon Garland, the young White Sox pitcher...Nothing makes me more happy than seeing Colby Lewis (or any Ranger pitcher) walk batters on 4 pitches...4 more days until the MATRIX : RELOADED. I have to get my black suit from the dry cleaners.

Saturday May 10: Rangers 4 Indians 6. Let me start out by saying that I sure as heck didnt think that the Mavs would be playing this good and the Rangers this bad. You have got to love Van Exel and the way that he will take any shot at any given time. And it was good to see the Wizard dust off the cobwebs and hit some big shots. The Rangers continue to lose as Raffy continues to make us all wait. Last weekend when these two teams played in Cleveland, the Indians took two of three including breaking an 8 game losing streak. After that series, the Indians went out to SoCal and were promptly swept by the Angels. So you have got a team that has not beat a team not called the Rangers in 11 straight games. So if the Rangers would sweep the Indians, (like they should have) the Indians would have as many wins as the lowly Tigers.

Alan Benes, in his first AL start, was not great but I still would like to see more. Benes gave 4 ER and 6 hits in 3.1 innings. The first three innings look really smooth with a couple of strikeouts and a lot of groundouts. The fourth frame was where the trouble started. He walked the leadoff man and then got hit pretty hard. In that inning Teixiera made an error at third. This was the first time I have seen Tex at third in a couple games, but this was because Buck continues to sit Blalock against tough lefties (C.C. Sabathia). Whether it is because he is rusty or just isnt a great fielder, Tex has looked pretty rough at third. There was a swinging bunt that he played very poorly and even made a big error on another play. There were also several hard hit balls down the line that Tex didnt even take a dive at. He just looked like he wasnt comfortable over on the hot corner, but thankfully he sure can mash and Hank is the 3B of the future.

It was good to see Herbert Perry back in the line up, or was it? I neither like nor dislike Perry, but I am confused as to his function. He is one of those professional hitters who would be great on a veteran, contending team. To make room for the former Florida Gator QB, Mike Lamb was sent back down to Oklahoma. I have said it before, but I kinda feel sorry for Lamb. We all know that he definitely is not an everyday third baseman, but he is very valuable off the bench. He has shown that he can hit major league pitching, maybe not for much power, but he is a doubles hitter (ala Mark Grace, ok a poor man's Gracie). I am actually hoping that he goes to a sorry franchise and becomes an everyday player, similar to Wes Helms who went from the Braves to the Brewers.
Scatter-shooting while wondering what happened to Brian Downing...Carl Everett made a very nice goalie slide to stop a ball from going to the wall (catch the highlights)...Just to keep up the story, Ryan Christenson went hitless again and is now hitting under .180...It was really cool to see Todd Greene's cousin, the Iraq POW, in the dugout tonight...C.C. Sabathia continues to dominate the Ranger hitters...WARNING!!! Doug Davis update coming: On Friday he went 6.1 and gave up 3 ER against the World Champions and took the loss...Everyone is familiar with the "Hockey Playoff Beard" and Stephen Russell is going with the Dirk playoff chin hair. But I need someone to email me and join me in growing the Raffy moustache in honor of 500.

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Saturday May 10: Rangers 4 Indians 6. Let me start out by saying that I sure as heck didnt think that the Mavs would be playing this good and the Rangers this bad. You have got to love Van Exel and the way that he will take any shot at any given time. And it was good to see the Wizard dust off the cobwebs and hit some big shots. The Rangers continue to lose as Raffy continues to make us all wait. Last weekend when these two teams played in Cleveland, the Indians took two of three including breaking an 8 game losing streak. After that series, the Indians went out to SoCal and were promptly swept by the Angels. So you have got a team that has not beat a team not called the Rangers in 11 straight games. So if the Rangers would sweep the Indians, (like they should have) the Indians would have as many wins as the lowly Tigers.
Alan Benes, in his first AL start, was not great but I still would like to see more. Benes gave 4 ER and 6 hits in 3.1 innings. The first three innings look really smooth with a couple of strikeouts and a lot of groundouts. The fourth frame was where the trouble started. He walked the leadoff man and then got hit pretty hard. In that inning Teixiera made an error at third. This was the first time I have seen Tex at third in a couple games, but this was because Buck continues to sit Blalock against tough lefties (C.C. Sabathia). Whether it is because he is rusty or just isnt a great fielder, Tex has looked pretty rough at third. There was a swinging bunt that he played very poorly and even made a big error on another play. There were also several hard hit balls down the line that Tex didnt even take a dive at. He just looked like he wasnt comfortable over on the hot corner, but thankfully he sure can mash and Hank is the 3B of the future.
It was good to see Herbert Perry back in the line up, or was it? I neither like nor dislike Perry, but I am confused as to his function. He is one of those professional hitters who would be great on a veteran, contending team. To make room for the former Florida Gator QB, Mike Lamb was sent back down to Oklahoma. I have said it before, but I kinda feel sorry for Lamb. We all know that he definitely is not an everyday third baseman, but he is very valuable off the bench. He has shown that he can hit major league pitching, maybe not for much power, but he is a doubles hitter (ala Mark Grace, ok a poor man's Gracie). I am actually hoping that he goes to a sorry franchise and becomes an everyday player, similar to Wes Helms who went from the Braves to the Brewers.
Scatter-shooting while wondering what happened to Brian Downing...Carl Everett made a very nice goalie slide to stop a ball from going to the wall (catch the highlights)...Just to keep up the story, Ryan Christenson went hitless again and is now hitting under .180...It was really cool to see Todd Greene's cousin, the Iraq POW, in the dugout tonight...C.C. Sabathia continues to dominate the Ranger hitters...WARNING!!! Doug Davis update coming: On Friday he went 6.1 and gave up 3 ER against the World Champions and took the loss...Everyone is familiar with the "Hockey Playoff Beard" and Stephen Russell is going with the Dirk playoff chin hair. But I need someone to email me and join me in growing the Raffy moustache in honor of 500.