Rangers 2012

[R22]

here i go again.. last year it was fun following the team all year right up until game 6 of the world serious.. so i will attempt it again.

so far, it appears that with a 3 - 1 start the rangers are going to have a great team barring injuries and continue where they left off last year. the pitching may be stronger in both areas of starters and the bullpen, a big plus to have good pitching. the hitting is pretty much the same cast of characters that is strong all the way through from 1 - 9; as witnessed the other nite when the multi-millionaire, yu darvish made his first start by giving up a 5 - 0 lead and throwing 42 pitches in the first inning.. then the bats came out and put up 11 runs to give him the win.

sooooooo, the beginning of this season is looking like last year and i hope the end will too; but with just one more win!!

GOOOOOO RANGERS!!!

[mattndallas]

Sitting in the stands Opening Day, and looking at our lineup from top to bottom, my concern over the Angels re-tooling was mitigated a bit.

If the pitching is like this all year, we'll be better than last year, or the year before. I trust all 5 guys this year as a starter more than our departed #1 from last year. If Nathan doesn't flame out as the closer (thus keeping Ogando in his role), and the starters maintain their current form, barring no major injuries, I don't see how this machine can be stopped.

We're at that point where as a big market team, we have the resources to spend where we need, but aren't over-cashed like NYY and BOS where we kill team chemistry by chasing the highest paid mercenaries each year.

I'm usually pretty critical, and I'm sure I'll write this team off several times during the year when the bats get stale, but I just can't find a weakness other than not having a "proven" #1 ace. I like our squad.

[mattndallas]

If Nathan doesn't flame out as the closer (thus keeping Ogando in his role)

Already two flameouts in the first week.

[R22]

Already two flameouts in the first week.

ya know, so far he sucks... but hellllllo, it's a long season. so i give him the benefit of the doubt. tonite was the regular thing.. decent pitching and timely bats...

ogando or how ever you speil it.. did good..

GOOOOOOO RANGERS!

[Justin]

ya know, so far he sucks... but hellllllo, it's a long season. so i give him the benefit of the doubt. tonite was the regular thing.. decent pitching and timely bats...

ogando or how ever you speil it.. did good..

GOOOOOOO RANGERS!

I think Matt Harrison deserves a big shout out too, he looked really good for 8 innings, plus he got some really good support in the field, especially from Cruz. 6-2 right now, not bad.....hope they can keep it up.....GOOOOOOO RANGERS!

[Justin]

Rangers won again today, 6-2 over the Twins. Hamilton hit a nice homer, and Darvish looked somewhat better to me than he did in his first start, but still too many walks (4), hit batsmen (1) and hits (9). But only one earned run, so that is good. And Nathan pitched the 9th, didn't look all that good, but didn't give up any runs so that is positive.

Things still looking pretty good at 7-2.....

[R22]

Rangers won again today, 6-2 over the Twins. Hamilton hit a nice homer, and Darvish looked somewhat better to me than he did in his first start, but still too many walks (4), hit batsmen (1) and hits (9). But only one earned run, so that is good. And Nathan pitched the 9th, didn't look all that good, but didn't give up any runs so that is positive.

Things still looking pretty good at 7-2.....

yuppers, but nathan still looks like he is struggling.. still early yet. it's just really cool to watch these guys bat too.. the entire order is capable of taking a pitcher out of the game. GOOOOO RANGERS!

[R22]

well it's starting to be a trend.. the rangers did it again today.. after it looked like they were out of it.. the bats came back and the bullpen came through... they look like they are having fun and they never quit. GOOOOO RANGERS!!

[Jim Wilke]

Strong team top to bottom and well designed for that park. My pick to go all the way.

[R22]

holy cow Rangers!!! playing at Boston and it's still going on.. rangers 16 - 3 top of the ninth.. in the eighth they hit 3 home runs, 2 back to back.
Hamilton smoked one way way way up into the right field upper seats, the announcers say "close" to where williams is said to hit the longest ever at fenway!! it was amazing, they just kept hitting the ball and hitting the ball.. now in the ninth, they lead it off with murphy's single off the 5th reliever for the red sox... ouuuu i'm glad i'm not a sox fan tonite.. they just can't get it together.. wow

edit: omg!! another 2 run homer run down the line in right field... just inside the foul pole!! 18 - 3 wow just wow

edit.. that's 6 home runs tonite and 4 in the last two innings.. ok finally the rangers are put down and the red sox can begin their comeback..

[Justin]

Final 18-3. Unbelievable!

[Justin]

6-3 over the Red Sox tonight! Swept the 2 game series, overall now 10-2, a really good start.....on to Detroit.....

[R22]

reminds me of "the big Red machine"!! but the nathan guy is very shaky, just like mattndallas pointed out.. the guy troubles me. oh well it's way early!! GOOOOO RANGERS!!!

[Justin]

Yeah, Nathan has not been very impressive so far. I hope he settles down, but if he doesn't I think maybe Wash has one or two who could step in and do the job. And if the starters keep doing a great job, it may not really matter all that much for a while......

[mattndallas]

Yeah, Nathan has not been very impressive so far. I hope he settles down, but if he doesn't I think maybe Wash has one or two who could step in and do the job. And if the starters keep doing a great job, it may not really matter all that much for a while......

Thought the same thing last night. With a 4 run lead, and the crowd basically gone, he walks the leadoff guy and then starts giving up dinks here and there to make me nervous. We got lucky on that final DP.

I don't want to castrate the guy yet, but I feel a lot better with Ogando "holds" versus Nathan's ability to "Save". If we flip-flop them does Nathan take it as a slight, pack it in, and lose all effectiveness?

Detroit (away) is always tough for us. I remember driving up for the 500 one year in the rig, we listened to two Rangers @ Tigers games on the drive - one Wed night driving in Texas, and then another Thur noonish getaway game driving in Illinois on XM. Think we scored 1 run in 18 innings. Do you know how boring it is driving through Ark/Mo/Ill, listening to BB on the radio, and scoring only one GD'd run?

I'd take a split this weekend, for a 7-2 roadtrip to MIN, BOS, and DET.

[Justin]

This is amazing....Rangers now lead Tigers 10-1 in top of the 8th. Darvish looked pretty good tonight, almost made it through the 7th, Ogando came in and performed his magic. Looks like it just might be an 11-2 start for the Rangers.....

[R22]

they just keep hitting the ball... and the new billllllionaire did "ok" pitching tonite.. i really expected a better game from detroit, maybe next time. GOOOOOO RANGERS!!

[Vasserfan]

Great hitting, good pitching. They are playing so well it is scary.

[mattndallas]

Great hitting, good pitching. They are playing so well it is scary.

I agree, man. Sweeping at MIN, then sweeping/blowing out BOS @ Fenway, then continuing the trend at Comerica? As long as no one gets hurt, these guys look unstoppable.

I was up in NY earlier this week and jokingly predicted we'd go 140-22 to my Yankee-fan boss.

That said, let's secure the series split tonight. LAA is what, seven games back?

[Justin]

Rangers 10-4 over Tigers this afternoon in first half of day-night doubleheader after rainout last night. Unfortunately Beltre had to leave the game with a strained left hamstring, hopefully won't keep him out long. Josh hit a three-run homer in the first, Harrison went 7 2/3 innings.

So far pretty darn good......

[rrrr]

Nice first inning today...

[Justin]

The Rangers lost the nightcap 3-2, but at least they made it interesting in the 9th. And Hamilton struck out 4 times in this game, yuck! Oh well, sure can't complain about their start this year....

[Justin]

Rangers win again today, 3-2 in 11 innings! Great road trip, great start to the season (13-3), now the Yankees come to town.

[R22]

lookin forward to this series with the yanks.. hope to see the rangers keep up their well-rounded play.. it's been so much fun. watching this team start so well, but i have to keep telling myself there are still a lot of games to play.. n traditionally the rangers tank about the time of the all-star break... we'll see... GOOOO RANGERS!

[R22]

after going down to the yankees last nite with a off day at the plate, the new billionaire is putting it to the yanks so far in the 7th!! 8 ko's and just all kinds of command on his pitches.. it will be way cool if this kid can indeed earn his keep this year.. good performance tonite for the yu darvish.

GOOOOOO RANGERS

ps if you get a chance, i think he may come out for the 8th too, after striking out jeter to end the top half of 7

[Justin]

Rangers win 2-0! Darvish went 8 1/3, looked good except for one inning, struck out 10 I think. Nathan came in, made one pitch for a double play, gets a save! Go Rangers......

[mattndallas]

Good win last night. We're heading out tonight. Gotta win the series, but we've got Feldman going in a "spot start"...which got me to thinking...

Saturday AM, when we knew we were going to have to throw Feldman eventually because of the double-header, why didn't Wash, when we were up 8-0 in the first, get Feldman out there then, to maintain the rotation? if I were him, I would have had him ready both games Saturday for a potential start, but ESPECIALLY when you're batting around in the top of the 1st, and mounting an 8 run lead. That would have been more than enough time for Feldman to get ready to pitch, and he'd be going into the game with an 8-0 lead. We could have been back on schedule for the NYY and TB series, and not have to throw him in a rubber game.

[R22]

Good win last night. We're heading out tonight. Gotta win the series, but we've got Feldman going in a "spot start"...which got me to thinking...

Saturday AM, when we knew we were going to have to throw Feldman eventually because of the double-header, why didn't Wash, when we were up 8-0 in the first, get Feldman out there then, to maintain the rotation? if I were him, I would have had him ready both games Saturday for a potential start, but ESPECIALLY when you're batting around in the top of the 1st, and mounting an 8 run lead. That would have been more than enough time for Feldman to get ready to pitch, and he'd be going into the game with an 8-0 lead. We could have been back on schedule for the NYY and TB series, and not have to throw him in a rubber game.

good idea matt. but i'd like to see how he does tonite, because he will be the man if anything happens to one of the regulars. your just pissed cuz ya can't see the dutchboy!! or turkey is

go fer da 2 lb. boomstick while your there!!!!

[mattndallas]

go fer da 2 lb. boomstick while your there!!!!

Nah, guys look like homeowners trrying to eat that thing. A 2 lb "Dude", I'm in. But I'm not gonna sit there with another 18 inch schlong in my lap that's not attached to me.

[R22]

PDMLL!!!