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Again, we’re not on KRLD (grrr), so there’s little to talk about (from my standpoint, anyway) that is game specific. I did kind of watch the line score developing off the sports ticker, and it was 1-0 for the longest time, I thought pitching was doing well. Then I turn in and see a big 6 spot for the Twins. Burkett was tagged for the loss, even though four of the Twin runs came off a slam against Wetteland. Burkett did pretty good, pitching five innings and allowing only one run and three hits. Kind of a shame then that he got tagged for the loss, as our runs didn’t come until after Wetteland allowed six friggin runs in one inning! Wetteland isn’t doing that great so far this spring. Of course, he’s coming off a surgery, so he has more of an excuse than some others who are struggling this spring.
We did have a couple of home runs by our guys (Mateo & Clayton), but that was all the offense. We also had another error today. I haven’t actually sat down and counted them, but it really seems like we’re making far more errors than we did last year, and last year wasn’t that great. :( I know, I know, it’s still Spring Training, but I still don’t like to see them, anyway.
Other: Boy, Kerry Wood sure is taking a beating. Out all of 99, and could conceivably miss 2000 as well! Yikes!
Commentary by Jim Meeks:
The Rangers came up losers 7-2 to Minnesota Thursday in the first game of a rare spring doubleheader, ending a 5 game win team streak. I can only think of one other time that the Rangers ever played a spring doubleheader and that was several years back.
This game was only played to a 7 inning conclusion, since travel by bus is the norm in the spring, the Twins obviously didn’t want the hassle of fighting alligators *and* old ladies all night long on some God-forsaken Florida highway to Fort Myers (I can say that since I live only 150 miles from Fort Myers). This game wasn’t on radio anywhere, so you’ll have to forgive me if my accounts from the box score aren’t very accurate. I got stuck listening to the only all-AL Grapefruit game on the web today; Boston and Tampa Bay. It was bad anough listening to those Beantown announcers yesterday and today I got a second-helping. Oh well.
Rangers’ starter John Burkett came up with a good outing, throwing 5 strong innings and giving up just 1 run on 3 hits. This is his first good outing this spring and it’s without-a-doubt the strongest outing by a Rangers starter all spring.
Unfortunately, John Wetteland looks like he was shelled again. In his last 2 outings (2 IP) this spring, he’s given up a hefty 12 runs on 11 hits and 2 homers. Makes me wonder if his ankle and elbow really are ok. If they aren’t, the Rangers will have another large problem on their hands other than the disabilities of Mike Simms and Rafael Palmeiro.
Ruben Mateo continues to have an auspicious spring. In this game, the young Dominican went 1 for 1 with a homer and an RBI. In his last 5 games, Mateo is 5 for 9 with 2 homers, 2 doubles and 3 RBIs.
Rusty Greer had a couple of hits for the Rangers and Pudge Rodriguez had 2 as well, including a double. Royce Clayton hit a HR in the final frame but also commited his third error of the spring.

This game wasn’t slated to be on KRLD, but it was available via a Real Audio Link to the Red Sox broadcast feed. At least I got to hear it. I missed most of the end of the game, as I listened at work, and got called away to do something else. Thanks to Fathacker for the Real Audio Link.
Red Sox announcers aren’t that exciting. Boy, do I miss Eric & Vince. At least I did get to hear the game, though. I hate this “no radio for most spring training games”. The two Red Sox announcers did spooge a lot over Ruben Mateo, mostly over his arm.
Nice 5 run inning early on. Pitching wasn’t that bad, only gave up three runs for awhile. I know it’s still Spring training, but I don’t like to see more than 3 runs given up in a game. There were no errors by the Rangers, which is always good. Mark Clark looks like he’ll be a good pickup for us. Hope it carries over into the regular season even better! This win makes it five in a row now. We’re two over .500 for spring training so far.
Speaking of that, what’s with the KC Royals? 11-1, I think? Yeesh! If they manage to carry that through the entire 99 season, it will throw a major monkey-wrench into the arugment the “have-not’s” are pushing now for a restructuring of the revenue sharing system in baseball.
Commentary by Jim Meeks:
Tom Goodwin and Lee Stevens led the Rangers to their 5th straight win in exhibition play Wednesday by defeating the Red Sox 7-5.
Goodwin was 3 for 5, doubled, walked once and scored twice. Stevens was 3 for 3, doubled and drove in 2 runs.
Stevens followed up a string of 5 straight singles with a 2-run scoring double in the second to put the game away.
Gregg Zahn continued his hold on the backup catcher slot going 2 for 4, while John Marzano got hit in the wrist in his only plate appearance.
On the mound Mark Clark started and was fairly impressive depsite giving up 3 runs in 4 innings. Most of the hits didn’t seemed to be that hard (on the radio). Jeff Zimmerman Tony Fossas, Eric Gunderson and Al Levine all had scoreless innings in relief. Rookie Corey Lee struggled in his only inning, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits.
The Boston radio announcers were impressed by the Rangers defense. In the 3rd, left fielder Rusty Greer made an “sensational diving catch” to rob Darren Lewis.
In the 4th, the Sox announcers were thoroughly suprised at rookie Ruben Mateo’s arm, as he made a very strong throw to 2nd on “what would normally be an easy double”. Mateo, who played most of the game in right field because Goodwin played center, also grabbed a ball in the deep right-center gap in the 4th. In the 6th the announcers also raved about his speed and his base-running and called him a “very good-looking, toolsy player” and “an impressive young man”.
The Rangers now are winners of 7 of their last 9 spring games.

Another game that isn’t on the radio. Didn’t get a chance to post this game the day it was played, so I don’t have anything to say about it. Was nice to see a win though. Three straight games with runs over 10. That’s nice, but I’d like to see the runs given up go down.

Another game that isn’t on the radio. In fact, there’s no more Rangers to be heard until Saturday! Arrrrrrrrrrrgh Wow – a slugfest! Would have been nice to have seen this as I’m from Philadelphia, and I was 15 when the Phillies won the World Series in 1980. I would love to see some other teams down here at the Ballpark!
Anyways, it was nice to see the Rangers come back like this, but not nice to see them give up so many runs. Again, without being able to hear the game, there’s not much I can comment on. Was nice to get a win, though.

Rain, Rain, Rain! This game was delayed because of rain at the start – I tuned in an hour later, and they were just getting started, so I listened until the second inning when it got delayed by rain again!
McLemore is starting off with a bunch of walks in Spring training again, which is good as it was an important part of the fast start the Rangers got last year.
And then the rain came again. :) The game was postponed for good in the second inning. This time I saw on CNN Headline News that it was postponed for good. A thought occurred today. Do pre-season rainouts have to be made up?