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I have to admit this free fall has really bummed me out. On my forums I’ve told a lot of people I’m not ready to give up on the season. I’m still not, but I have to admit it’s not looking pleasant. I have to admit to burnout at the moment.
As I write this, we’re in third place in the AL West, 10 games back (and only 6 games out of the basement). We’re only 4.5 games out in the Wild Card race, but we’re in 8th place there. Our pitching is in shambles, and there’s not a lot of immediate help ready. Sure, I know a lot of knee jerk Rangers fans go “Bring up Diamond, Danks, & Volquez”. Volquez is hurt, and Diamond and Danks aren’t ready yet – they’re great prospects, no one argues that. But I don’t know that you rush your blue chips along like that just to satiate the fans who want to win now. Sorry, can’t help you with that. As much as I’d like to see us go 162-0 some season, I don’t want to blow out the future just to win now.
So we have a starting rotation right now of Kenny Rogers, Chan Ho Park, Chris Young, Ricardo Rodriguez, & Joaquin Benoit. Not a group of 5 that scares anyone, really. Rogers is our best bet, and he’s going out for a couple of weeks on suspension. In the meantime, we have James Baldwin as a rescue? His first appearance aside, I can’t imagine him as the great saviour.
I read where we’re trying to get Sydney Ponson from the Orioles. Given how much this guy makes $8.5 Million, I can’t see where this is an upgrade over what we have already, especially given his performance.
I also read where we’re trying to send Alfonso Soriano to the Mets for some prospects. I also read where we’re asking for three good guys for him, one being a stud outfield prospect called Lastings Milledge. I don’t know much about him, though. I’m sure Soriano will probably get moved if we continue to fall the next few days and we’ll probably see Kinsler at that point.
Laynce Nix is out for the season with surgery. I have to wonder if he’ll still have his anointed spot in center field next year – my gut feeling says that the team is tired of waiting to see if he’ll develop offensively.
Adrian Gonzalez was brought up a couple of days ago, he essentially replaced Marshall McDougall on the roster (as they were both infielders). I have to wonder if that’s a showcasing thing, as Teixeira doesn’t need the backup. Although anyone who would be intersted in Gonzalez wouldn’t need a showcase, they’d know about him anyway.
Drew Meyer was moved up to AAA a week ago or so. I wonder if he’s a realistic option at 2B should we move Soriano? I know most everyone assumes it will be Kinsler, but I wonder if they’re thinking Meyer?
I don’t like the new “Let’s Go Rangers” animation in the ballpark. It’s too monotous. The graphics on the scoreboard are fine, but the musci used behind it has no vareity, and it’s played way too much – goes way up there on the annoying scale.
I like Rangers Captain. Sue me.
There’s a lot of talk lately about Mark Cuban buying the Pittsburgh Pirates. I’d much rather him by the Rangers from Tom Hicks. As Hicks views it as an investment (as he’s always talking about money), give Hicks a lot more money than he’d ever hope to make, so he can get his money and go.
Off Topic Hockey Remark: I see when the NHL starts up again they’re going to NOT allow goalies to touch the puck in the corners. I think that’s the wrong way of going after this. What they should do is allow the goalie to be a viable target if he’s out of his crease. You can handle the puck in the corner, but if you’re out there, I’m allowed to check you into the boards like any other player.

Saw today on the New York Post where Joe Torre is planning on complaining to MLB about John Wetteland. Technically he’s not supposed to be in uniform and in the dugout during the game, there’s a rule that you’re only supposed to have six coaches. Our six in uniform coaches are Rudy Jaramillo, Orel Hershisher, Don Wakamatsu, DeMarlo Hale, Steve Smith, & Mark Connor. Wetteland makes 7 which pushes us over the limit. However, it’s been I think two years
And what about guys like Don Kalkstein? He wears 66, and is essentially the “shrink” for the team. I know that’s not his real title, but I can’t think of what his real one is. I see him in the duguout all the time. What’s the difference between Wetteland and Kalkstein? Why complain about it now? What about all the other teams who didn’t care, or all the other times we’ve played the Yankees?
What exactly does Torre hope to gain by this? Seems like a cheap shot to me, even if we are violating the coach rule.
In other Yankee news, the same article talks about the Yankees wanting to get Gary Matthews Jr from the Rangers. I will say my usual quote. Never help the Yankees. Baseball would be better off if not a single team at all ever traded with the Yankees. DON’T HELP THEM. Period.