"Open at your own risk" - 2010 Rangers season 3

Goodson

Great come-from-behind win for the Rangers tonight against the Marlins.

Wilson again shows he has top of the rotation grit;

Hamilton continues his torid streak;

Trainor gets a clutch, clutch game-winning pinch hit;

and Naffy returns to lights-out closer form.

If you're a Ranger fan, you can sleep well tonight!

TAMU1991

Nice to finally get a sweep! Bullpen needs a breather but the bats are continuing stay hot.
Gig 'em

Bobaloo

Hunter has been a shot in the arm. This team will stick around until the end.

Goodson

Yet in all honesty, this team needs another bat or for Smoak to come off the schnide and start producing like a corner infielder should produce.

That's a lot to ask of a young pup in the middle of a pennant race ... and maybe it's not reasonable. But if they don't get more from 1B and catcher than they're presently getting ... and if Kinsler doesn't ratchet it up ... we're looking at another "close but no cigar" year.

Don't like saying it -- didn't want to say it -- but the truth is what it is.

TAMU1991

Goodson

I shoulda asked earlier!

Laughing

Smoak has another nice game as the Rangers take game two of the three game set with the Astros -- and log their 7th straight win on the road as well.

Colby Lewis was an absolute beast -- two hitter and was dominating from start to finish!

Where in the world would we be without the contributions he and C.J. have made to the starting rotation?

Shocked

Goodson

Sweep! How sweet it is.

Rangers come home on the heels of an eight game winning streak and and with a 3.5 game advantage over the Halos.

If ever there was a "trap series" ahead, it would be coming home to play the pitiful Pirates.

Gotta stay focused ... and keep grinding it out.

tc

Oh no. The judge ruled that the sale agreement has to be changed before it can go forward.

This can't be good.

Link to Article
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TAMU1991

The legal issues aside, 10 wins in a row is pretty damn sweet!

Gig 'em

rockett2

The Rangers are on fire! Big Grin

Goodson

The good news? 17-4 in June.

The bad news? We've only gained one (1) game on the Halos during this time.

The reality? There are 17 games left with the Halos this season. There won't be any "needing" someone else to take care of the Angels. It will be there for the taking for the Rangers ... if they're up to the task.

Bobaloo

Josh Hamilton is freaking white hot right now. There is smoke coming out of his ears! He is an incredibly gifted baseball player. Gig 'em

TAMU1991

As hot as the offense is (#1 in MLB in BA), it's the pitching that truly has been the difference maker. We're #5 in AL in pitching, #12 in MLB. Who would've thought that would happen!

AgLaw06

Looks like the streak will stop at 11, but dang, Hambone is a SUPER STUD. The umping has been a little suspect in this one, but that happens from time to time. Need a big rally in the 9th to come out with a W in this one.
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-George Orwell.

The Ghost Of Meadows

Way to go, Astros! Way to keep the hopes that no one will win the Silver Boot alive! Woo hoo! Laughing

Goodson

GOM:

Good one. How could I forget? The Silver Boot ... be still my beating heart.

Cool

The Ghost Of Meadows

Nuts! It looks like the Rangers will win it again!

Mark my words: The Astros will win it next year! Neutral

Goodson

GoM:

We'll give up the Boot if we can have Roy Oswalt ... and some rabid Astro fan would take out Tom Hicks and the bankruptcy judge in one fell swoop.

Deal?

The Ghost Of Meadows

Bobaloo

The Stros need some help. They really aren't in the Rangers league right now as Texas pretty much toyed with them for six games.

Ruffstuff · Hall of Fame Joined: 19 Jan 2002 Posts: 3907

This one is a bit of a head scratcher....giving up a #1 for an aging catcher.... Think

Link to Article

Goodson

Interesting indeed. Early reports had this as a straight-up deal of Ray for Molina.

Guess that tells us everything we need to know about the likelihood of Salty coming back anytime before the rosters expand in late summer.

(i.e., it's not gonna happen).

Goodson

Multiple reports have the Rangers acquiring Cliff Lee from Seattle for Smoak, Blake Bevins and two other players. Seattle is reportedly kicking in $2.5M.

Looks like the good guys just acquired a staff ace ... even if it's only for the rest of the '10 pennant run.

Say hello to Chris Davis' return at 1B if that's the case.

smackie

My wife calls Justin Smoak "Out Number Two". Hate to see the kid go but love the Rangers getting Cliff Lee!
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tc

I always have mixed emotions about trades like this. It's good to get a pitcher of Lee's caliber, but I hate to see what the Rangers give up to get him. The Rangers must have a lot of confidence in their other young pitching prospects to give up Beavins. There is always a conflict between the win now philosophy and the build for the future plan that the Rangers have been following.

Is there any doubt that this is a two month rental and Lee will sign with the Yankees in November?

On the positive side, I'm optimistic that this move will lead to the AL West pennant.
_________________
Let us always endeavor to eschew superfluous sesquipedalian obfuscation and circumlocution.

Goodson · Last edited by Goodson on 09 Jul 2010 10:50 pm; edited 1 time in total

Beavins wasn't projected to be to the bigs for two more years at best ... and isn't a top of the rotation candidate in the eyes of most folks who follow the organization closely (most saw him as being a "3" at best).

I was tickled pink that Holland, Sheppers or the other hot shot arm (can't recall his name now) didn't have to be thrown in to the deal.

On the other front ... Davis needs to realize that this may be his last chance to stick and stay in the bigs. One need only look at Nellie Cruz to see that everyone doesn't do so on the first, second or even third trip to the bigs. So, maybe this is the "one more chance" that will allow Davis to stick and stay. We certainly won't hurt defensively at first with Davis there.

What we won't know for a while is whether we traded a Texieira starter kit ... or if the true Justin Smoak is somewhere between what we've seen thus far this year and what Tex has become.

Time will tell.

But I love the move ...