Posts Tagged ‘Orioles’

Random Rangerness Posted by Ken Jones in Texas Rangers, The Bullpen July 5th, 2008

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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My Predictions Posted by Reid Levin in Cleveland Indians April 3rd, 2008

Here’s a rundown of the AL teams and how I think they will fare this year: (NL will come tomorrow)

Baltimore Orioles: Last year, they lost 93 games, but I see improvement this year. I think they reach at least 100. The pitching will help them immensely in this category, as Cabrera, Trachsel, and Burres are good for at least 40 losses combined. And, once they pawn off Roberts for 30 cents on the dollar, it’s “2010 here we come!” Outlook: last place.

Boston Red Sox: In what might be a classic let down year for the Red Sox, well, it might actually happen. Beckett could be hurt, Dice-K could be average, and Ortiz, Ramirez, Lowell, and Drew are another year older. Then again, they have an influx of stud youngsters in Ellsbury, Pedroia, Buchholz and Lester, and I don’t see the Yankees dominating this year. Besides, if Beckett gets hurt, the Red Sox have Bartolo Colon waiting for the wing-eating contest in the wings, so that’s gotta count for something, right? They’ll win the division.

Chicago White Sox: The White Sox are filled with aging veterans who “know how to play the game.” Unfortunately, with age comes forgetfulness, and most of them forgot how to play last year en route to a 72-90 record. This year, they’ll prove the theory, “you-can’t-remind-an-old-dog-how-to-do-tricks-he-once-knew-but-has-since-forgotten,” and finish fourth in the Central. They’ll be lucky to win 75 games.

Cleveland Indians: I love this team. The depth is outstanding. In the rotation, Sowers, Laffey, and Adam Miller could fill in for an injury (or an HGH suspension). Ben Francisco, Shin-Soo Choo and Josh Barfield are all major league ready minor leaguers right now, not to mention Kelly Shoppach is a pretty good backup catcher. The bullpen is outstanding, save for Borowski, who does just that. The Indians could win 100 games this year, and are my pick for the Central title, the Pennant, and the World Series. Then again, I am a bit of a homer…

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