Posts Tagged ‘Ken Jones’
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Random RangernessJuly 5th, 2008
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A few random thoughts as we move out of June and into July…
The Rangers finally move 2 games over .500, winning Monday night at Yankee Stadium. It’s the first time they’ve reached that lofty height this season following the Great April Wipeout, the Incredible May Recovery, and the June of Treading Water. Since May 22, Texas has bounced between 2 games under and 1 over the break even mark. That is mediocrity not seen since “According to Jim” went off the air. (It did finally, mercifully go off the air, didn’t it?) You keep hoping for that one hot streak that will vault the team back into Division contention. But that’s not the way it ever happens in Texas.
As a child, I came to learn that you could count on the Rangers hanging in there for the first half of the season, and then falling like Skylab right after the All-Star break, scattering players at the trade deadline like debris over Australia. Is this the year that it doesn’t happen? Is this the year that we chase down 2 teams and win the division, using rookies at catcher, first base, third base, the outfield, and a rotation that began the year scattered out across our minor league system? Okay, probably not, but at least we recovered to the point that the dreamers can dream.
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Away GamesJune 25th, 2008
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Apparently, if you translate it into English, Joaquin Benoit means “You can turn the TV off now, we’re losing this one. Read a book.” (I highly recommend Tim Kurkjian’s “Is This A Great Game, or What?”) In the continuance of a theme, Benoit came into Tuesday night’s game vs. Houston, closed his eyes, and started chunking the ball toward what he believed to be homeplate. In 4 1/2 June innings, he’s allowed 8 walks and 3 HRs. Those my friends, are “Now pitching, Ken Jones” kind of numbers. Read more
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Scouting The Draft PicksJune 7th, 2008
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I’m not one of those people who lives and dies with the draft in professional sports. Unless you have a really, really high pick, they probably won’t step in and change the fortunes of your franchise. And in baseball, guessing how a high school player is going to fill out and become a professional is better left to the talented scouts, especially those in the Mariners system. Having said all that, here is the quick take on the first five picks by the Rangers:
In the 1st Round, the Rangers took 1B Justin Smoak from South Carolina, although it would have been better if he was a pitcher for two reasons: (A) the Rangers are again playing a game they like to call “Batting Practice” with the Indians tonight, and (B) it would be super cool to have a pitcher named Just Smoak. The 6′4″-220 lb Smoak is already being compared to Mark Teixiera, meaning he will sign with Scott Boras, hold out, start slowly every season so that his team gets buried, and then question the team’s direction. Afterward he will declare that he wants to be part of the solution while he shops for a house in suburban Atlanta. Read more
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Just another manic 25-run MondayMay 14th, 2008
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After the Gabbard-Sexton slap-and-tickle match last week, Monday’s game in Arlington had a special buzz to it. Vincinte Padilla, who spends the off-season thowing pitches at small children and old women to stay sharp, going against the Mariners in the first get-even opportunity. According to the Dallas Morning News, the teams weren’t even warned before the game about bean balls. (The umpire was going to, but then Sexton threw a batting helmet at him…)(By the way, I think Sexton’s five game suspension was far too severe. My three-year-old would only get a 15-minute time out for throwing things. But he’s almost four now, so he’s outgrown that kind of behavior.) All in all, it was set-up for an exciting game.
Then the Evil Padilla Twin comes out and gives up five runs in the first inning, before being tasered and replaced by the Good Padilla Twin in the 2nd. Maybe he tried to hit a batter, but his control was still sitting at ‘Will Call” and the ball was all over the place, mainly the plate and then the outfield.