This was shaping up to be a nice pitcher’s duel. Through the first three innings, not much happened. The score was 0-0 at that point. Adam Eaton was going against Scott Baker of the Twins.
Both had things pretty much in check, although Eaton was helped out a bunch in the bottom of the third after he walked two consecutive batters, and each of them was thrown out by Rod Barajas when they attempted to steal second.
However, in the fourth, I had visions of that inning against the Orioles a decade ago when we got 16 runs in one inning (a club record still). We unloaded on the Twins for 8 runs in the top of the fourth. It was a massacre. Carlos Lee started things off with a double. Blalock singled, scoring Lee. Matt Stairs reached on a throwing error, allowing Blalock to score and Kinsler to move up. Rod Barajas got plunked, then Wilkerson (hitting 9th!) singled, scoring Ian Kinsler.
Then Gary Matthews stepped up, and on a 3-2 count, absolutely destroyed a ball into the upper deck for a grand slam, his career second. This home run was an absolute no doubter off the bat – the kind that just looks like it would never come down. I’ve never actually been to the Metrodome, but I’ve seen a bunch of games on TV there, and I can’t recall ever seeing a home run hit that far up there. Quite impressive – and to follow it up, Mike Young hit a solo home run right after that to finish off the scoring. Mark Teixeira followed up with an RBI single in the 9th to add another one, but this game was all over when Matthews hit his slam.
Following that, the Twins pen didn’t do too bad at all. In relief of Baker, the four Twins pitchers combined for 5.2 IP, allowing just two hits and one run – all of that on the fourth reliever (Juan Rincon).
Adam Eaton did a bit better than most people were expecting. His stamina still needs a little work, but he went 6 innings – helped out by the Barajas caught stealings I mentioned before. He gave up just four hits, although he did walk four, which didn’t help, but none of them scored. CJ Wilson & Scott Feldman pitched 3 innings of scoreless relief, for the first shutout thrown by the Rangers in a bit.
I’m getting a little worried about all these lopsided wins. 15-2 one way, 15-2 the other way, and then 9-0. I’d prefer a little more consistancy in our offense and pitching. One way or the other, please. Preferably wins.
Rheinecker down, Feldman up
- P John Rheinecker optioned to AAA
- P Scott Feldman recalled from AAA [ Link ]
G106: Twins unload on Rangers 15-2
The Twins open up a seriously large can of whoop-ass on the Rangers tonight, beating them 15-2. There’s very little positive to say about this game. Let’s see what I can find.
Rick Bauer pitched one scoreless inning of relief.
Nelson Cruz got his first major league home run.
Mark Teixeira hit a home run.
Not much else.
The “bad” list is signficantly larger than that. There’s not enough time to write about all of that, but a few of those “high”lites…
The Rangers gave up a 5 run first.
The Rangers gave up three seperate 3 run innings
Carlos Lee had his first ofer in a Ranger uniform.
The Rangers are in last place now.
After thinking a bit more about the Matt Stairs trade, I’m not as “WTF” about as I was when it was first announced. He can probably help off the bench, he’s better than my initial remarks said, but I still find it an odd move. Course that’s more an indictement (sp?) of Brad Wilkerson’s failure in 2006 than anything else.
Matt Stairs got beat 15-2 two nights in a row in two different uniforms.
John Wasdin was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Matt Stairs, so we’re told. Makes me wonder who will go off the 25 for Kip Wells tomorrow.
Matt Stairs – Kip Wells
Kip Wells acquired from Pirates
2:50PM. Fox Sports is reporting that Kip Wells is coming to Texas. The word is that minor leaguer Jesse Chavez is going back to Pittsburgh.
Update: This is official, apparently, as the Rangers site has posted the announcement.
Update #2: Here’s Kip Wells’ financial status.
1 year/$4.15M (2006), plus $0.27M in incentives
* $0.27M in incentives
o $50,000 for 195 IP
o $100,000 each for 200 & 205 IP
o $25,000 for 210 IP
Once all the fallout from the deadline is over, I’ll update my roster & transactions page, as I’m sure some other subsequent moves will probably have to be made relative to the 25 man roster.
Matt Stairs?
Matt Stairs? What the hell?
I hope this is part of another deal going somewhere else. That doesn’t make any sense to me.
Maybe Wilkerson is going somewhere…
Here’s the story from the Rangers site. Here’s his salary breakdown.
1 year/$1.35M (2006), plus $50,000 in incentives
* signed extension 9/05
* $50,000 incentive for 400 PAs in 2006
Good Baseball Fan Blogs
I read a lot. I used to read mostly books, but it’s mostly the Internet now. I also read a lot of baseball stuff, and as such I like to read up on what’s going on. Anyway, I read a couple of fan blogs for MLB teams fairly regularly, and it made me wonder if such animals exist for ther rest of the teams? Here’s what I read regularly blog wise:
Texas Rangers:
1) My site at https://www.rangerfans.com
2) The Newberg Report Site; (also available as a blog here).
Seattle Mariners: U.S.S. Mariner.
Philadelphia Phillies: Beerleaguer.
If you know of a good MLB fan blog, let me know. I also read a ton of more generic baseball blogs (Will Carroll’s, a few other Rangers sites, mlb trade rumours, etc..) Let me know if you know of something good there too – although I’m primarily looking for QUALITY fan blogs for specific teams. And it has to be reguarly updated, too.
G105: Rangers bomb Royals, 15-2
I’m feeling kind of sick tonight, I’ll lay low on writing a lot. I was at the other two games in this series, of course they save all the offense for the game I’m not there for. :)
Carlos Lee continues to deliver with the bat again. Lots of offense all over the place. In games like this, you tend to get garbage lineup changes – we had Rod Barajas playing first base at the end of the game. :)
Corey Traded, Ojeda brought in.
G104: Rangers can’t seal the deal, lose to Royals again 5-3
I was disappointed in this. 12 men left on base? Lose the series to the Royals? What the hell was this?
Well, Carlos Lee is as advertised. Was 3-4 with a walk. Wasn’t his problem.
Sigh. It was a really fabulous defensive play by Joey Gathright, though.
I know the party’s not over, but now were the last two games disappointing.
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