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With eight in a row in the loss column, it’s getting harder and harder to write about losing. If I were a paid sportswriter, I’d probably try harder, but since I’m just a fan doing it for the hell of it – it’s getting harder to write about a game where we lose 10-1, and quite frankly, didn’t seem to really show up at all.
The only thing that I thought was really good was the fact that Esteban Loaiza came out again after a 2 hour rain delay and pitched again, and was better than before the rain. Unfortunately, after he left, we gave up like 8 walks and a hit batter in two innings, including another grand slam to Albert Belle (he had one last night).
About the only good thing I have to say about last night’s game is that Gabe Kapler played hard, and is looking like he’s finally coming around – and that the two home runs Albert Belle hit raised $100,000 for prostate cancer research (according to the TV guys).
That’s about it.

They say bad teams find a way to lose. I guess we must be a bad team, because we’ve lost 7 in a row, and lost the game last night 11-10. :(
This is one of those game that we just flat out should have won, and we blew it. About half way through this game, I started feeling like this was a repeat of the 97 season. On paper, we have a better team, but we never seem to find that one thing that binds everyone together and makes us play like a cohesive unit (can someone say Yankees?). Anyway, the loss saddens me, as we had a great night, a wonderful comeback, another awesome night from Pudge, and we pissed it away.
Pudge is about the only great thing to talk about from last night’s game, even though we scored 10 runs. No wait, Gabe Kapler had two doubles last night, and is starting to look like he’s finally coming around. Pudge had two doubles and a home run.
I just can’t get jazzed about writing about this game.

While I was watching this game, I kept thinking of what I would write about. I’m watching Scott Erickson pitch, and the phrase “Wild Wild West” kept coming to mind. Well, Erickson was wild, but unfortunately, we couldn’t take advantage of it, and our slide continues, with our sixth straight loss.
Scott Erickson walked a ton, including walking the bases loaded in the third. In fact, our two runs came because of his walks, but that was our only scoring of the whole night. The Orioles managed to turn several double plays, effectively killing off a lot of the walks that Erickson put on base. We only managed the two in the third, and that’s all we got.
Rick Helling pitched a really great game I thought. Unfortunately, he grooved a few fastballs to BJ Surhoff and Charles Johnson, and that accounted for the only three runs that Baltimore got. While we lost, I felt it was a great baseball game, and was a treat to watch.
Before this season started, I didn’t feel like the Rangers would win the division – I felt this would be a “rebuilding year”, and the way they’ve played, that’s more or less is what’s happened. I don’t think this group will really gel until next year. Would be nice if they won, but I would tend to doubt it for 2000.
A couple of interesting notes. Frank Catalanotto ended up in right field because of a couple of managerial moves by Oates and Hargrove played (it burnt Chad Curtis from the game without him doing anything). Also, this was Rafael Palmeiro’s 2000th Major League game. Pudge went 2 for 4, and continues to lead all players in vote getting for the All-Star Game!

Ugh. Another loss. Heading out to pick up my wife from the airport in a few minutes – she’s been out of town for about 3 weeks, so I don’t have time to write anything tonight.

This is much more like a Colorado Rockies home game. 12-6. I have to admit to paying more attention to the Dallas Stars game tonight, so I didn’t see a whole lot of this, but I did see the best parts for the Rangers – and that was not Esteban Loaiza. It seems like the crappy Esteban Loaiza has resurfaced again, unfortunately. :(
On the positive side, Pudge had his fourth multi home run game of the season so far. Also, Pudge hit home runs 20 & 21 tonight – he hit #20 & #21 last year on the same day – bit it happened on August 4th last year! Man – by the end of his career, Pudge should be hitting .800! :)
Anyway, new Ranger Dave Martinez made quite an impression with a home run and a double as well as two walks in his first game as a Ranger – that’s always nice to see. Gabe Kapler went 1 for 4 last night, and didn’t look like a slouch in his second game back from the DL.
Jason McDonald was designated for assignment – I’m surprised by that – I figured they’d designate Scarborough Green, although I’m glad they kept Green.

Well, this was an interesting game for several reasons. It was a very low scoring game at Coors Field. Both of our teams have a habit of scoring a lot of runs, and it didn’t happen tonight.
Although I felt it was going to be a big scoring game, as Raffy hit a home run in teh first, giving out a good vibe about the game. Unfortunately, that was all I saw of the Rangers scoring. I’m still getting over what had me in the hospital a week ago, so the medication I’m on put me to sleep during the late night game. When I went to sleep, we were heading to extra innings and it was tied.
Unfortunately, John Wetteland blew a save, which broke a big string of his. Kenny Rogers pitched really really well tonight I thought. It was a shame we couldn’t get him any runs – which seems to be his lot this season – he’s 2000’s “no run support” pitcher.
Gabe Kapler returned to the lineup and went 2 for 6 in his first game back – and other than a bad throw missing the cutoff man, he didn’t look all that bad to me.
We also traded for veteran Dave Martinez today – he’ll start tomorrow night – meaning we’ll have to designate someone for assignment.