Ridin' Shotgun with the Texas Rangers

[SPAL]

This is the 2008 version of the Texas Rangers Blog

[UhOhioHog]

Attention Tom Hicks!!!

Time to wake up your Longwhorn butt and move your attention from the Liverpool Reds and onto America's pastime.  The Metroplex was buzzing late into football season and proved once again that it will support a winner.  And once again we were let down by poor performance in the post season.


With that being said, Post season is something that we Rangers fans long for.  Several position players showed up a week early for Spring Training and seem to be eager to improve.  The Ryan Express is on board and hopefully can keep JD from making any more Moronic trades with San Diego.  It's time to focus on the Home team and put a winner on the Diamond.  Do that and you will see the Ballpark full for the first time in a Decade!

Mr. Hicks, if you don't want to give us a winner then just make every night $1 Beer night.  You will sell more tickets and we will cope better.

Here is to a fun summer at the Ballpark!

Cheers!!!

[SPAL]

lol...dollar beer night could work too.

[selfexplanatory]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3252512

Rangers sign Ian Kinsler to a 5 year 22 million dollar deal.  I like this kid.

[UhOhioHog]

Good move signing Kinsler! I'm not acustomed to JD and smart decisions.  Maybe he learned something from last year?

[LVW]

I'll always jave a fond place in my memory for that stadium- the place I got my 1st and only live foul ball- off the bat of Tom Goodwin.

[TR1]

I am happy we signed Ian. This kid is a special player. The hitting and fielding is their. We just need that PITCHING!

[UhOhioHog]

The Red Hawks will be worth keeping up with as the future of the pitching staff should fill the starting rotation.  If a couple of these young guys can develop we may have a contender in Arlington in a couple of years!

[LVW]

The Red Hawks will be worth keeping up with as the future of the pitching staff should fill the starting rotation.  If a couple of these young guys can develop we may have a contender in Arlington in a couple of years!

Putting together a staff for that park is like trying to put one together for Coors Field(pre humidor years) plus you have the excessive Texas summer heat to deal with.

[selfexplanatory]

I did not see this and it is a week or so late, but Texas signed Kevin Mench to a minor league deal.  Mench was a fan favorite and played hard while in Texas.  I hope he can rekindle some of that magic.

[UhOhioHog]

I suppose Mench's Bench will be back at some point this season.

Too bad he's an Eagles fan!

[BigSexyHog]

Maybe Nolan and his snow monkeys can help this year.

[SPAL]

what are u ranger experts expecting from kyle davies. Also, keep us updated on Salty. He became a favorite of mine really quick. I hated to lose him, but we got a stud in return.

[LVW]

what are u ranger experts expecting from kyle davies.

hopefully for their sake, not much

[SPAL]

hopefully for their sake, not much

U will have to excuse me, im an idiot. Davies went to the royles in the dotel trade....Matt Harrison is the pitcher im seeking info about.

[UhOhioHog]

Harrison will likely split time between Triple A Oklahoma and Double A Frisco this year.  The Rangers will not rush a young pitcher this year.  They brought up Edinson Volquez too soon and it destroyed his confidence.  The Club is now scared of making the same mistake again.

Matt is a top prospect and appears to have a future with the club at the big league level.  But, with the Starting rotation all being acquired from outside of the Ranger"s camp, I don't see any of the young prospects being called up barring injury in the Show.  That would require $$$!

[selfexplanatory]

How long is Thomas Diamond going to be a prospect?  Or is he even on the team anymore.  Four years ago it was Danks and Diamond...Danks gone and I haven't seen Diamond.

[cadensdad]

How long is Thomas Diamond going to be a prospect?  Or is he even on the team anymore.  Four years ago it was Danks and Diamond...Danks gone and I haven't seen Diamond.

Diamond had Tommy John surgery last year.  Should pitch in AAA when he gets his arm strenght back.

[selfexplanatory]

Diamond had Tommy John surgery last year.  Should pitch in AAA when he gets his arm strenght back.

Guess I should've researched before ragging on the guy.  Hope he has a speedy recovery.

[bellavistamike]

Story from ESPN.com. A good read:



http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2008/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=3265178&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1

[TR1]

Ready for some games. Look forward to seeing how Josh Hamilton does.

[UhOhioHog]

Millwood will miss first scheduled start with a tight Hamstring and McCarthy will miss his with a sore elbow.  So it begins!

[UhOhioHog]

Surprise in Suprise, AZ as the Rangers take their first spring training game 6-1!

Hamilton appears to be ready to do big things with a nice game one.  If Millwood and Padilla can return to form Texas could cause some major headaches for the contender in the West.

[selfexplanatory]

I never knew the New York Rangers of Hockey fame got their name from our Texas Rangers.

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080302&content_id=2400916&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex


Was that guy for real last week about the Rangers changing their name? Has he not heard of the world famous law enforcers named the Texas Rangers? By the way did you know the New York Rangers got their nickname based on the fact that their owner's nickname was "Tex." Thus, Tex's Rangers.
-- Jim S., Birmingham, Ala

[TR1]

I am glad to see Padilla pitching well this spring. And Josh Hamilton playing well.

[Col.Mccoy]

Story from ESPN.com. A good read:



http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2008/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=3265178&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1

Nice read thanks mike.

[SPAL]

I never knew the New York Rangers of Hockey fame got their name from our Texas Rangers.

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080302&content_id=2400916&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex


Was that guy for real last week about the Rangers changing their name? Has he not heard of the world famous law enforcers named the Texas Rangers? By the way did you know the New York Rangers got their nickname based on the fact that their owner's nickname was "Tex." Thus, Tex's Rangers.
-- Jim S., Birmingham, Ala

interesting...thanks.

[BigSexyHog]

Good move signing Kinsler! I'm not acustomed to JD and smart decisions.  Maybe he learned something from last year?

JD and smart decisions do not go hand in hand.   With as many shots as the Rangers fire you have to hit on one every now and then

[TR1]

We better sign Josh Hamilton to a longer deal. He is having a good spring.

[Col.Mccoy]

We better sign Josh Hamilton to a longer deal. He is having a good spring.

It's great we got a good bat after losing Tex last season.

[TR1]

Still need some more pitching. But I beleive Ron Washington will get it done.

[UhOhioHog]

Rangers were on FSN Saturday and Sunday.  Ian Kinsler has been solid with a spring average around .580, yeah, that's right!  Hamilton is lighting it up and has shown McGwiresque powers with mammoth blast damn near reaching the Grand Canyon!

Hurley had a rough start Saturday giving up 4 runs in the first, but, then pitched four scorless innings and looked very sharp.  Mendoza appears ready for the Bigs and should be the number 5 starter until McCarthy gets back.  If Marlon Byrd gets back to form this team could actually compete in the West.

I have been very critical of the club, however, their performance this spring has me thinking we will be out of the cellar and above .500 by as many as 10 games.  That could put the club into a Wildcard race.  Now we can all read this in June and smite away.  For now, I still believe!

[Col.Mccoy]

I believe!

[cadensdad]

Rangers were on FSN Saturday and Sunday.  Ian Kinsler has been solid with a spring average around .580, yeah, that's right!  Hamilton is lighting it up and has shown McGwiresque powers with mammoth blast damn near reaching the Grand Canyon!

Hurley had a rough start Saturday giving up 4 runs in the first, but, then pitched four scorless innings and looked very sharp.  Mendoza appears ready for the Bigs and should be the number 5 starter until McCarthy gets back.  If Marlon Byrd gets back to form this team could actually compete in the West.

I have been very critical of the club, however, their performance this spring has me thinking we will be out of the cellar and above .500 by as many as 10 games.  That could put the club into a Wildcard race.  Now we can all read this in June and smite away.  For now, I still believe!

Word!  i cant wait till opening day.  the first month is going to tell the whole story.

[LVW]

If Marlon Byrd gets back to form this team could actually compete in the West.

he is back in form- it was last year that was out of character for him......the same thing is going to happen to him this year that happened to him after his 1st full year in the NL.

[TR1]

Please but Luis Mendoza in the rotation. Thanks! GO RANGERS!
He looked good against the Giants.

[AirForceHog]

I was able to meet some of them Texas Rangers the other day. Some of the squad annually comes up to Sheppard AFB, Tx to meet the troops and tour the facilities. All nice guys. Also a good oppurtunity for all the trainees here to see something new.

[DeltaBoy]

Pitching once again should be a weak point for Rangers.

[UhOhioHog]

Salty was sent Down to AAA OKC.  Melhuse will backup Laird to start the season.

Ouch!

[HOG RED UMP]

Pitching once again should be a weak point for Rangers.

My 'stros look to rival the Rangers with a weak staff, starters and bullpen........I read on the Astros website that they were 'very eager' to return to the confines of Minute Maid Park............hoping that will help the pitchers and the defense, both of which had very poor springs in the Grapefruit League

[Col.Mccoy]

Salty was sent Down to AAA OKC.  Melhuse will backup Laird to start the season.

Ouch!

Yeah I was pulling for salty to make the squad. Hes only 22. He'll get his shot as a starter sooner then later.

[TR1]

I am ready for the Rangers and Mariners. I just hope a Memphis Grizzlies game is not on tomorrow night where I can not watch the Rangers on FSN!

[selfexplanatory]

For some reason I am getting all Fox local sports channels on my direcTV...is there a free preview or something?

[TR1]

I got to watch two innings then it switched to the Memphis Grizzlies game. Rangers were leading 1-0.
Now I see they lost 5-2. OH NO!

[selfexplanatory]

0-1, here we go again Rangers.

[Zero Tolerance]

I thought Millwood pitched well; the only two runs he gave up in six innings were unearned.
Fukimori, though, stunk in his MLB debut. Wasn't real impressed with him at all.
We had some chances to score, but couldn't take advantage of those opportunities.
Was also real funny to see Wash arguing with the ump in the early innings on a play involving, of all people, Milton Bradley. But Bradley, strangely enough, didn't even say a word; he let Wash do all the talking.

[Zero Tolerance]

Ha, ha. I typed in Fu-ku-mori and got Darnamori instead. Based on the way he pitched tonight, I think I'm going to call him Fukumori then.

[UhOhioHog]

Can we send darnumori back to Japan?  That guy was terrible! 

That's Fukumori.  My iPhone won't let me type such language.

[UhOhioHog]

Or maybe Hogville won't let me type a Japanese name?

Someone else try it.

[Zero Tolerance]

The legend of Josh Hamilton begins.

A couple of big-time catches and a go-ahead two-run HR in the top of the 9th, fueling the Rangers to a 5-4 win over the M's.

Pretty good trade so far.