(73-55) Rangers blown away in shameful display.

Looking a little frustrated on the mound

It was a game to forget as the Rangers fell 10-0 to the White Sox on the south side of Chicago. Derek Holland had the start for the Rangers and showed his inconsistencies and inability to avoid the big inning, as he didn't make it out of the 4th after giving up 5 Earned on 8 hits and 2 walks. Scott Feldman came in the game in long relief and pitched the remainder of the game, giving up another 5 earned on 8 hits and 1 walk. On parallel with the disgraceful pitching performance was the equally disappointing offense (or lack there of). The Rangers could only muster 4 hits and 2 walks, an extremely uncharacteristic showing for the leagues best offense. Lets give some credit to Gavin Floyd on the mound for the Sox who managed to blank the Rangers through 7 innings. The Rangers start all over against the Red Sox today at home with C.J. Wilson (12-5, 3.20 ERA) taking the mound for the Rangers against Eric Bedard (4-8, 3.44 ERA)
First Pitch is at 7:05 CST.

(73-54) Ian Kinsler's bat comes alive but can't hold off the White Sox

Ian Kinsler's 2 solo home runs (#'s 19 & 20 on the year) where all the offense the rangers could mount tonight at U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox. Alexi Ogando threw 7.0 Solid innings, only allowing 2 runs on 6 hits, but Chicago's John Danks, a former Texas Ranger star prospect, pitched equally well, giving up only 2 runs, both coming by way of Ian Kinsler. Koji Uehara came on for the Rangers in relief and gave up the go ahead run in the 8th, and the Rangers couldn't claw their way back. Sergio Santos closed the door on the Rangers, earning his 26th save on the season for Chicago.
The game three rubber match of the series begins tomorrow at 1:10 P.M. CST with Derek Holland (TEX) Facing off against Gavin Floyd (CWS).

Here's Hoping.

I'm Back

I have finally returned from my Blogging Hiatus. Now that I am back, I will continue to give previews and analysis of the Texas Rangers, the greatest team in the world.!

66-52 Rangers 3 Mariners 4

Derek Holland toiled through 6 innings giving up 7 hits and issuing 5 walks, but managed to dig himself out of jams, only giving up 3 runs, 2 earned. A 2nd inning error on an easy play to the plate cost Holland an early run that would have got him out of the inning. The Rangers came back to tie the game with home runs by Ian Kinsler (18) and Josh Hamilton (14), but new addition to the bullpen Koji Uehera gave up the lead in the 7th and the Rangers never took it back. The Rangers won 2 of 3 in this series, and have today off in preparation for a long road trip.

Aug. 10th Holland (10-4) Vs. Vargas (6-10) preview

Today we have a battle of the lefties. Jason Vargas is on the bump for the Mariners, and has been less than spectacular this year, but his last outing against the Rangers led to 6 shut-out innings, and I don't think that would be good for the Rangers' cause. His ERA is a manageable 4.02 coming into his 24th start of the year. Opposing hitters are doing well against him, as he has a .259 average against, and walks have been a problem, allowing almost 2 per start this season. His fastball isn't overpowering, but his off-speed pitches will make plenty of hitters look foolish, so look for plate discipline to be key against Vargas today.

The young gun, baby faced Derek Holland takes the mound for the Rangers, looking to re-capture the swag that had him pitching back-to-back complete game shutouts only a few starts ago and shake the demons that wouldn't let him get out of the second inning his last time on the mound. Derek Holland sports a somewhat unimpressive ERA of 4.35 in his 23 starts this year, a number I'll attribute to his sporadic inability to get out of the early innings of ball games, and just as sporadically throw complete game shutouts. Opposing batters are hitting .269 against him, which isn't a great number, and he has a problem with giving free passes, allowing 47 walks so far this season. Holland throws a consistent 95 mph fastball that is hard to catch up to, which compliments his off-speed pitches well, and if he can get his big bender bending big, the strike-outs will start rolling in.

First pitch is at 7:05 P.M. CST

66-51 Rangers 7 Mariners 6 Walk it off Josh Hamilton!

What was supposed to be a pitchers duel turned into an early inning bloodbath. Alexi Ogando only lasted 2 and 2/3 innings, giving up 8 hits, 2 walks and 6 ER. Not a usual line score for the normally razor sharp Ogando, but late in the game, the run support took him off the hook for the loss. Today wasn't a pitchers day, it was a hitter's day, and though you don't think of the Mariners as an offensive powerhouse, they managed to beat up on one of the best pitchers in baseball, but beating up on pitchers is one of the Rangers specialties, and tonight was no different. Ian Kinsler looks to be coming out of his funk, seeing as he took Josh Lueke deep for 2 runs in the 7th, his 17th of the year, and his OBP remains high as he drew a critical free pass in the 9th to combine with Endy Chavez's bunt single to set up Josh Hamilton's walk off hit, his 3rd of the season. What can I say about this guy that we don't all ready know? All I will say is this. This man wins baseball games.

Aug. 9th Ogando (11-5) Vs. Pineda (9-7) preview

A Duel of the young bloods today. Michael Pineda is on the bump today for the Mariners, sporting a 3.53 ERA (Outstanding for a rookie might I add) and an overpowering mid 90's fastball. Don't expect to see too many long balls from the Rangers today, even in their hitter friendly park, as Pineda has given up only 12 HR's in his 21 career starts (though he does play in the monstrous confines of SafeCo Field.) Razor sharp command of his pitches has kept his walk total down to 43 (respectable, especially for a wiley young hurler who prefers to blow it by you) with opposing hitters only hitting .205 against him. But enough about these Mariners, lets talk about Ogando.
Alexei Ogando and Pineda pitch a similar game. Overpowering fastballs, but Ogando's is just a bit more overpowering, seeing as he claims a surprisingly low 2.88 ERA in his 21 big league starts this year. His lines are almost identical to Pineda, with 32 walks this year to go with an opponents average of .217. He is more of a flyball pitcher, which in Arlington, can be somewhat hazardous when big bats come to the plate, but he's kept his HR total down to a surprisingly low 11 this year.
So how do we account for the ERA differential if these 2 guys are so similar in almost every way? The double play ball. Rangers pitching leads the league in turning double plays. Every hit has the deadly potential for being 2 outs, and with an infield like the Rangers have (ignore the horrible fielding % and the absence of Adrian Beltre), not much gets past these guys, except maybe down the third base line now that Michael Young is back to his old position in which his range isn't suited for, but that's another subject for another rant.
First pitch is 7:05 PM CST. Don't miss this pitchers duel.