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G91: Rangers lose slugfest to Yankees, 11-10

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I was at this game. Going there I thought it was going to be bad. Yankee games are always bad because of the jackass contingent of Yankee fans that always turn up. To that, I did get some amusement out of saying “Non All Star Derek Jeter” (thanks for that Tom!). But the weather ended up not being bad at all, in fact there was a nice breeze going, which was a surprise for mid July. I even wasn’t irritated by the Yankee fans cheering for their people – but I did get a chuckle out of the extra emphasis that Chuck Morgan put on the announcement of “don’t be an idiot in the stands” (my words). That announcement only seems to be used when Yankee fans are in the house.
The game itself was surprisingly good, even if there wasn’t a lot of (good) pitching on either side. Let’s face it, with a game that had a total of 338 pitches and 11 pitchers, you know it’s not going to be great statswise. But it was one of those games that went back and forth and back and forth. I don’t know exactly how many times the lead changed hands, but it was a couple.
I tend to like games that go back and forth like that. I detest games when we get behind 7-0 right away. Even if we come back from a deficit like that, I’d much rather the game be close all the way, even if we lose.
This was game two where Jason Botts rotts on the bench. I wish we had a formal position for him to come up to.
You can view my full update for this game here, or you can leave a comment about this game below.

Something odd about the Phillies site

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philliesheader.png

The other day I was looking at the Phillies website. I’m from there, so I continue to follow the team. Something was bugging me about the their site, and I couldn’t figure it out. I finally did. Look at this capture from their site. Do you see what’s wrong with it?
I didn’t pick up on it right away, but perhaps you will. Take a look. If you can’t figure it out, highlight the text below with your browser.
The baseball that is leaving the stadium in the picture is leaving in foul territory! That image is used to signify a home run ball flying out of the park. But this is a foul ball – behind the plate, and a little up the first base line!!!
I don’t know who was the bonehead that approved that picture, but I bet you they didn’t know much about the park that this image is supposed to be about!
Yeesh.

Nix to DL, Jason Botts called up

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I see Laynce Nix has been put on the DL again. If he had been an 8 year veteran, I’d call him Rusty Greer. He dives all over the place, but is getting hurt a lot. Difference between Nix and Greer seems to be Nix has more power.
As for Botts, he’s definitely someone that deserves to be up here, although I would have though it would have done away with Hidalgo when he got here. Anyway, hopefully Botts doesn’t rot on the bench, which is something I think is a legit concern. Coming to the majors is a big step, and some guys can get sapped when they’re bought up as big prospects, and spend most of their time on the bench.

Sunday’s game really annoyed me

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It annoyed me so much how we lost that game that not only did I not feel like writing about it, I didn’t feel like writing about Saturday’s game either – which we won (barely).

Roster Transaction

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  • OF Laynce Nix placed on the 15 day DL [

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  • OF/DH Jason Botts called up from AAA

G88: Rangers lose to the old Barry Zito, 7-2

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This game was almost exactly like last night’s game. Except we managed to get a couple of runs late. But Barry Zito did exactly what was done to us the night before. Shutout through 7+ innings. Was painful to watch, being so offensively inept. I don’t know how Mariner fans put up with it. .
Anyway, John Wasdin now has two outings in a row where he pitched like the journeyman he was before the start of this season. Not sure what to believe with him at the moment, although there’s more evidence of the crappy John Wasdin then the good John Wasdin.
Kind of sad that we’re having to rely on him, though.
You can view my full update for this game here, or you can leave a comment about this game below.

Congratulations Raffy

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This weekend, DirecTV was having a free preview weekend of the MLB Extra Innings Package. I was taking advantage of that in flipping around some channels, as my wife was working, and my baby was asleep. Stopped on the Mariners Orioles game, and it was right as Raffy was coming up to bat. It was some fortuitious timing on my part, as a few pitches after I landed on the channel, the pitch to Raffy landed in left field near the line for a double – Raffy’s 3000th career hit.
I was there in person that Mother’s Day a couple of years ago when Raffy hit his 500th home run. I rather liked the fact I managed to see his home run live, and not on Baseball Tonight or some other clip show. I saved it to DVD.
As much as Raffy didn’t fit the situation here when he left, I still very much like him, and hope he can stick around long enough to get to home run #600, which is probably the only real plateau left for him I think. As of right now, he needs 34 more home runs to achieve that. A couple of years ago, that was a no brainer, but as his production declines, I would think he’d need all the way through the end of the 2006 season, and possibly into early 2007 to achieve that. I’d be surprised if he’s still playing in 2007.
But tonight is about his achievement. He’s only the fourth player to have 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. He joins Eddie Murray, Willie Mays, & Hank Aaron in this club. Bonds could probably do it, he needs another 270 hits to get to 3,000 though.
Congratulations Raffy!

G87: Rangers face near perfection, lose 6-0

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Well, there’s little to say about this one other than Rich Harden was damn near perfect. Once he got into the 8th, I actually was rooting against the Rangers, I wanted him to get it. :) Park wasn’t godawful, but he isn’t pitching like the guy we need him to be in the second half. What a shock.
You can view my full update for this game here, or you can leave a comment about this game below.