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Unfortunately, I don’t have time to write any commentary for this game. I’ve been sick most of the weekend, and I don’t remember very many of the details of this game on Monday morning (when I’m writing this).

Unfortunately, I don’t have time to write any commentary for this game. Barely have the time to update the page. :)

Yesterday was an eventful day even though the Rangers had their lone “off day” of the season. The new TV contracts were announced (finally), and the 2000 TV Schedule was published (I updated my 2000 Schedule with that). Shortly after the 23-9 game on Tuesday, seven roster changes were made. Lots happening.
Today, we got back into action with a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins. From looking at the box score, today was a somewhat pitcher’s duel – there were total of 15 hits from both teams (Rangers with 6). Each team had an error, although the Rangers error didn’t appear to cost us any runs. Mark Clark on the other hand, went 6 innings, allowing four earned runs and 9 hits. The other two Ranger pitchers (Perisho & Crabtree) didn’t give up anything in their two innings. Mark Clark gave up a long ball in the first for two runs, and then gave up another in the first, and one more was added later.
We lost, but it doesn’t seem like we were in that bad of a condition. We were outpitched it seems, and our pitcher made a couple of small mistakes where theirs didn’t.
From the looks of the score, not having seen or heard the game, it doesn’t look like a game worth getting to bent out of shape over the loss over.

Where do I begin with a score like this? When I saw this game on the wire score after the fourth inning, it was already 15-0. I couldn’t believe the score. I’m one of these people who likes games when they happen against us, because I love seeing how large the score can get, because once it gets this bad, the team is usually demoralized, and they give up a ton more runs, too. Plus, games like this tend to be a magnet for runs, and a team usually doesn’t do as badly it seems after one of these.
Anyway, we had hits all over the place (20 of them), runs (23 of them, 9 alone in the third), home runs all over the place (6 of ’em), and some excellent pitching by Wetteland (who started, actually), Loaiza, & Cordero. Not so good from Zimmerman & Glynn (who was sent down after this game). Ruben Mateo had an awesome game, going 4 for 5 with 5 runs scored, and three RBI’s. Gabe Kapler was 3 for 4 with 4 RBI’s, Rusty Greer was 3 for 3 with 3 RBI’s.. I could go on and on, just check out the box score below for a list of that stuff.
What more can you say about a game like this? Offense all over the place, and overall some great pitching. Our runs were all given up by Zimmerman, who continues to have a bad spring, and Ryan Glynn, who is already gone from camp. I’m really excited about our starting 5 this year – even Mark Clark. :)
Naturally, we didn’t get to see or hear the game. I’m a bit worried now about TV coverage, as it’s less than two weeks away, and I haven’t seen an announcement on TV coverage, and I’m wondering if we’re going to lose the three scheduled pre season TV games we had slated for this coming week.
There’s no game on Wednesday, as it’s our only day off of the Spring. Johnny Oates sent down 7 players to the minors, and in one of the least suspensful announcements, named John Wetteland opening day starter. He also has decided on a lineup for the most part for the upcoming season:
Clayton
Greer
Pudge
Raffy
Segui
Mateo
Kapler
Evans/Lamb
Alicea
I kind of like that, but I’m a bit concerned with the lack of a “big name” at the bottom. I liked it last year when Lee Stevens batted seventh – kind of the second cleanup spot. However, we have to protect Palmeiro, so fifth is a good spot for Segui, I suppose. 9 more days till the first game at the Ballpark – the return of Fernando Tatis. I’m really surprised the Rangers aren’t pushing that more. I know McGwire is the big magnet (especially with women – “Chicks dig the long ball”), but I know there’s a lot of hardcore Ranger fans around here more interested in seeing Tatis again.

I’m not writing anything about this game, as I’ve had a few personal problems today. Found out a co-worker of mine had a heart attack Sunday night, and is in ICU. Also had another personal matter I don’t care to discuss here.
I forgot about the game until I saw the TV highlights on the 10PM news tonight. Nice to see Darren Oliver strike out Junior on TV. Nice video clip. :)
Sorry – just not in a mood to write about baseball right now.

The annual Phillies games against the Rangers in Spring bring up my usual thoughts that I don’t know who to root for, with both of my home town teams playing against each other. :) The Phillies ended up on top at the end, so I liked the win from that aspect. They just seemed to want it more than Texas did this day from the sounds of it on the radio.
Even though we had four runs, we only got four hits – we were really shut down for the most part by Philly’s pitching. Randy Wolf, a borderline pitcher shut us down completely – allowing just one hit over 5 2/3 innings, and one earned run. Carlos Reyes, who relieved him was really wild, throwing two straight wild pitches, leading to our first run (which I think was charged to Wolf). We fared a bit better against Jeff Brantley, scoring three more runs against him in one inning on three hits – but that was it. Actually, our first hit should have been an error, but Philly 2nd baseman Marlon Anderson was spared the call of an error.
A couple of notable things: David Segui made his Ranger debut in this game, wearing uniform #9. He said he’ll wear that until Spring’s over, and he sees what uniform numbers are available. Rick Helling struck out Scott Rolen swinging twice, which was about the only bright point for him in an otherwise blah appearance. Bill Haselman was hit on the knee with a pitch, and had to come out of the game. The Rangers hit into two double plays to end innings. Ruben Mateo showed some patience at the plate, which is uncommon for him to this point – he went 2 for 2. The other two hits we had were a hit by Edwin Diaz, and a solo home run by Jason McDonald.
Overall, a roller coaster game for me personally. The Rangers probably did not deserve the close score they got in the final tally in the box score – they seemed to be playing asleep to me.

This game was a contrast in pitching. We had some great pitching, and some not so great pitching. On the good department was Kenny Rogers, who continues to shine during the pre-season. It almost seems like he didn’t even need it, and was ready for opening day from the first day of camp. Was it wanting to prove himself after the walk against the Braves in the playoffs? Whatever the reason, he certainly seems ready to go. Someone who is NOT ready to go is Jeff Zimmerman. Jeff allowed four earned runs yesterday in 1 2/3 innings pitched. Yes, I’m aware baseball rules say that two of the runs got charged to Kenny Rogers, but to be honest, the way Kenny pitched, he didn’t deserve that. Joaquin Benoit came in, pitched only 1/3 of an inning, and then the game was called due to rain. Kenny Rogers got an obscene amount of his outs on ground balls, and continued to back up his reputation as one of the best fielding pitchers out there. Can’t wait for opening day!
On the flip side, the Pirates starter gave up everything – 7 earned runs in 2 2/3 innings. It really seemed that after being called for a balk in the third, Jimmy Anderson just fell apart. After the balk, he allowed a sac fly (Greer), a double (Pudge), a home run (Raffy), a ground out (Curtis), another home run (Mateo – his second of the day; the moonshot), a double (Kapler), and a single (Lamb).
Michael Lamb continues to not gain ground on Tom Evans in the 3B race with another error today, as well as going 1-4 at the plate. Bill Haselman had a passed ball (why aren’t these counted as errors?), but that’s about the end of the defensive miscues toda
The big stick of the day was Ruben Mateo who hit two home runs, one of which from the sounds of Eric Nadel just about cleared the pond out in left. I saw this home run on a TV replay late in the evening, and you couldn’t even see the ball go – the Pirates’ left fielder just stood there, didn’t even move. :) What’s interesting is that no Pirate pitcher had given up a home run at all in Spring training before this point – and we hit three in less than two innings.
A big disappointment was the lack of Kettle Korn – Eric & Vince were bemoaning the fact that the Kettle Korn guy was not at the game yesterday.
Tomorrow we play my home town Philadelphia Phillies. Don’t know who to root for when this happens.

This is a game where I’m glad I didn’t have to listen to it, because I probably would have been disgusted with the home run balls against us, the errors, and the generally sloppy game from the looks of the line/box scores below.
From the looks of the box score, it appears we didn’t take a lot of regular players with us on this trip to Baltimore’s park. There’s a few names in there I’ve never seen before (Who is Podsednik in RF?) We had a total of 15 hits, pretty evenly spread out from all the Rangers who played – everyone had at least one hit except the two players I never heard of (the other was a Salano at SS).
It was a slugfest for sure – a total of 26 hits, but there were also seven errors between the teams (we had 3 – Salano, Palmeiro, & Diaz). Probably could have been a whole lot worse, as we left 10 men on base, too. Kelly Dransfeldt led the charge in the 6 run 7th inning with a grand slam – a total of 6 runs were scored that inning.
Mark Clark didn’t look sharp today, though – giving up 4 earned runs on 5 hits in 4 innings. Our starting pitching has been excellent to awesome so far this spring, they can’t all be that way, I’m sure. Clark overall seems like the pitcher we thought we were getting last year. Let’s see if that holds up.
Tomorrow we’re back on the radio against the Pittsburgh Pirates. :)