Box Score Hieroglyphics

One the true accomplishments of modern technology are the box scores in the morning paper.

I’m perfectly serious.

I love the fact that nearly all the previous day’s box scores are complete and in the morning Startlegram when I pick it up from my porch. I love spending my breakfast, or sometimes my lunch reading boxscores – there is so much more information these days: pitch counts, updated Batting Average’s and ERA’s. If you are so inclined (as I am) to read online boxscores there is even more information: 2 out RBI’s, Runners Left In Scoring Position (batters not LOB), Pitches-Strikes, Ground balls – Fly balls. Don’t get the wrong idea about me: I’m not one of those Baseball Prospectus type statheads (I swear I wonder if any of those guys besides Will Carroll ever actually has gone to a baseball game). I think the best way to enjoy baseball is to watch the game – but if you can’t see a game in person, today’s box scores are the next thing to being there.

Reading the this season’s boxscores and having all that information still leaves me scratching my head and wondering about a few things:

How does this happen? I’ve seen Felix Hernandez (SEA) pitch, in person, several times. How is it that a pitcher with that kind of “stuff” has a 2-5 record with a 3.60 ERA while the Rangers Vincente Padilla, who couldn’t even match Hernandez on his best day and can kindly be described as headcase and headhunter, has a 7-2 record with a 3.67 ERA. Yes, I know the Mariners are in a tailspin, but Edinson Volquez (CIN) is 7-2 with a 1.46 ERA and Aaron Cook is 7-3 with 3.36 ERA on equally terrible teams.

I didn't know they could hit like that - Ryan Ludwick had 2,780 AB’s in the minor leagues with the A’s, Rangers, Indians and Cardinals – his career minor league BA is .270. Since September of 2007 – 237 AB's he’s hitting .320. Of course the same thing can be said about the Rangers David Murphy who has a minor league career BA of .273 in 1,902 AB’s (mainly with the Red Sox) – since September 2007 with 291 AB’s he’s hitting .292

Granted it’s a small “sample size” – but Kason Gabbard please take note: Clinton’s Blake Beavan 31 IP – 1 BB, Bakersfield’s Kasey Kiker 46 IP – 10 BB, Frisco’s Tommy Hunter 70 IP – 12 BB, OKC’s AJ Murray 45 IP – 15 BB.

To repeat the words of wisdom from Bill Veeck -- “It isn’t the high price of stars that is expensive, it’s the high price of mediocrity” Every time I see these ERA’s I’m glad that Jon Daniels didn’t listen to the local electronic whiners and ink stained wretches who complain about the Rangers not signing free agent pitching:

• Gil Meche (KC) 5.35 ERA
• Ted Lily (CHC) 5.54 ERA
• Barry Zito (SF) 5.53
• Carlos Silva (SEA) 6.00
• Brett Tomko (KC) 6.00

It's not just the Rangers - Much has been made of the Rangers lack of production from their parade of first baseman, however, perusing the box scores reveals that quite a few AL teams have the same problem. Oh sure – there’s Casey Kotchman (LAA) .314, Kevin Youklis (BOS) .302 and Justin Morneau (MIN) .309. But there are eight out of fourteen AL teams whose regular 1B is hitting less than .250 including ugly numbers like: Carlos Pena (TB) .219, Paul Konerko (CWS) .208, Daric Barton (OAK) .213 and Richie Sexson (SEA) .200. The National League actually has more first baseman hitting well above .250, however there are few notable exceptions: Carlos Delgado (NYM) .222, Nick Johnson (WAS) .220, Adam LaRoche (PIT) .226 and former MVP Ryan Howard (PHI) .208

Finally - I’ve always said that the 1986 Rangers are one of my all-time favorite Texas team's. For those of who remember back that far, that group gave those of us who suffered through many losing seasons without even a sliver of hope the first glimpse of what it could be like to be a contender. On May 31st of that season they were 24-23, one game over .500 – sound familiar? The Rangers finished that season 87-75. Twenty-two years later, I’m still filled with everlasting baseball hope.

Apologies for the short and late (and lame) entry this week – I had a dental procedure gone wrong that’s sapped all my energy.

Go Rangers – Marla Hooch

P.S. Next week Thursday and Friday are the First Year Player Draft – as always I’ll be working on the Newberg Report Draft Page. I’ll have a link to that up on this page instead of a Thursday blog entry.

A Trip To The Dentist....

...has put the blog behind a couple of days.

Watch this space later this week.


"I thrill when I drill a bicuspid
It's swell though they tell me I'm mal-ad-just-ed. "


(If you saw the movie, you know what I'm talking about)


-- Marla Hooch

Don't You Miss....?

"Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are. "
~ Bertold Brecht

Change is inevitable, some of it is good, some is not. One of the few things I’ve finally learned is that adjusting to change will usually increase your opportunity to enjoy life.

However, you still can’t help but miss a few things that aren’t the same anymore.

Don’t you miss the Rolling Stone magazine you read in the late 70’s and 80’s? The one with great “think” pieces by Mikal Gilmore and Anthony DeCurtis, and PJ O’Rourke (his trip to still Communist Warsaw made me laugh until my sides hurt) Christopher Connelly’s reviews (and his ABBA apologies) and of course the weirdly attractive articles by Hunter Thompson. The College Issue was always worth looking foward to each year. I picked up a copy of RS several months ago – I didn’t recognize 95% of the recording artists they were talking about and I guess that their current audience can’t read an article that is longer 3 or 4 paragraphs.

Don’t you miss music videos on VH1? I’ll admit it: I liked music videos. Some of them were pretty clever and at times even a little better than that, does anyone remember Van Halen’s video for “Right Now” – maybe one of the best ever. VH1 has turned into some kind of reality TV clone, it seems the only videos they are showing are 10 year old re-runs of Pop Up Video on VH1 Classic.

Don’t you miss being able to read Peter Gammons for free on ESPN.com? Sorry but I just can’t bring myself to pay even a nominal fee out my hard earned salary to the world wide leaders of “snark”.

Don’t you miss blog entries: like this one on Postcards From Elysian Fields?

Don’t you miss those wonderful warm, cream cheese filled, sugar coated soft pretzels at the Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco? They had those at the concession stands for one season (2003) and never again…too bad!

Don’t the ol’ Toledo readers of this blog miss: Faygo’s Red Pop and Rock ‘N Rye, Dudley’s Hot Dogs, the duck soup at Old Oaks, White Hut Hamburgers, Joe Ashton on Dialing for Dollars during the 4 o’clock movie on Channel 11, the Lion Store, Bob Kelley, John Saunders, Gordon Ward, and the soft serve ice cream stand on Reynolds Road near the old library and Walford’s?

Don’t you miss “Later” with Bob Costas? I worked the evening shift at the front desk of the Stoneleigh Hotel for a couple of years, when I arrived home at midnight – I always tuned into “Late Night with David Letterman” and “Later” on NBC. You either love Costas or hate him (I love him) this show was great – his interviews with Paul Simon and Paul McCartney were memorable.

Don’t you miss real Top 40 radio? I grew up listening to CKLW and WTOD – where you were likely to hear a Marvin Gaye tune, followed by a Led Zepplin song and then maybe Jeannie C. Reilly’s “Harper Valley PTA”. Take a look at the Billboard charts from 30 years ago – everyone listened to a wide range of music – I’d like to think it made us a little more open minded.

Don’t you miss warriors like Rick Helling and Bobby Witt in the Rangers starting rotation? I remember a game at Chicago during the 1997 season , the weather was terrible, windy, rainy – truly miserable. Bobby Witt stayed on the mound and pitched one heck of a game. I keep reading that Kevin Millwood has that kind of warrior mentality – it would be nice if he stayed off the DL so we could all see if that is true.

Don’t you miss “Sports Illustrated”? I saw a copy while in my dentist’s office the other day. I was shocked at how thin the magazine is, how the once thoughtful writing now caters to the short-attention span audience. The issue naming the 1980 Olympic Hockey team as the sportsman of the year is probably one of the finest piece of sports writing you will read. Just my opinion – but the last good issue of SI was the week after 9/11 – moving, respectful, loved Rick Reilly’s column.

Don’t you miss "SCTV"? Edith Prickly, Brock Linehan, Sammy Maudlin, Count Floyd (“very scary stuff”) The Great White North, Bobby Bitman, Dr. Tongue, Lola Heatherton, Ed Grimley (“I must say”) – I’m already laughing while type this (and I know Mike Hindman is too!)


Don’t you miss “The Game of Week” on NBC with Curt Gowdy and Tony Kubek? Okay, in ancient times we were limited to one national game on Saturday afternoon – while now there is a national game four or five times a week. But I’m old enough to remember that it was a different set of teams every week – not just the Red Sox and Yankees. Check the ESPN and Fox schedule - there is a NY team or Boston game scheduled every week.

I know many of us still miss Mark Holtz, and always will. One of my favorite memories is a September Saturday night – the Rangers were out of contention (as they always were back then) Mark was reading college football scores with Eric naming the mascots for all the schools – it’s hard to put into words – but if you heard and remember then you are smiling too. And... don't you miss Ranger games on WBAP? - no matter where you were you could pick up the radio signal - I live in Arlington about 4 miles from the Ballpark and when I drive down Bowen Rd. the current KRLD signal fades in and out.

Don’t you miss the real “Sports Central” with Brad Sham? Not the very poor imitation that is on the air now. Brad's show had no bombast, no over hype or poorly thought out rants – just thoughtful commentary and interviews. Plus I think that Brad Sham was the best of Eric Nadel’s radio partners (after Mark Holtz) – and I understand why Cowboys fans wanted him back on their broadcasts.

And if you’ll indulge me for just a minute: I still miss my Aunt Mitzi’s smile, Uncle Steve’s wry wit, Oscar and Sophie’s kind friendship, Grandpa Lewandowski’s cigar, Granma Lewandowski’s chicken soup, Granma Czajka’s back porch, talking with Mr. K, Aunt Jo’s big hugs, the welcome at Uncle John’s and Aunt Harriet’s home, Uncle Art’s hearty laugh and so many more family and friends who aren’t with us anymore.

“In this world of change, nothing which comes stays, and nothing which goes is lost.”
~ (Unknown)


-- Marla Hooch

The Wrong Game Report

Does anyone remember the game the Rangers game played on July 27, 1994?

There were 35,000 plus tickets sold. The Rangers lost to the Twins 1-0 . The losing pitcher was John Dettmer who pitched 7 1/3 innings giving up one run. That winning run was scored in the first inning on a single by the late Kirby Puckett (driving in the always annoying Chuck Knoblauch).

Of course, everyone remembers the game the next day – July 28, 1994 – it’s chapter 14, on page 197 in the book “Perfect”.

Why do I bring this up?


Because I went to Frisco this weekend to watch a baseball game – not the one that's being written and talked about on Sunday – I was at Saturday night’s game. The one no-one, except me, will write about.

The game was interesting – Michael Schlact had another rough outing – 6 IP – 10 Hits – 5 ER 4 BB – 1 K. He left in the 7th without recording an out and San Antonio (Padres) leading 5-4. Brian Gordon came in got the Riders out of the inning without allowing any of inherited runners to score, and pitched well in the 8th and 9th (1 hit, 0BB, 3K) to earn the win. On the offensive side of things – Max Ramirez did not start the game – came in the bottom of the 8th as a pinch hitter (and promptly grounded into a double play) Chris Davis struck out twice and was intentionally waked in the 8th inning – and wound up scoring the winning run on LF Dustin Majewski’s single.

A few things I noticed: I knew it was going to be nice afternoon when Chris Davis took the time to smile and wave …. Ben Harrison has a really cheesy mustache (see the photo gallery)… since I published a picture of Steven Murphy in his fetching pink uniform top previously, I felt I had to publish a more “manly” picture of him in his regular uniform top (also in the very brief photo gallery for this game)…as I wrote on another blog – you’ve heard players say that the double play is a “pitcher's best friend” – I’m here to tell you that Elvis Augusto Andrus all by himself is “the pitcher's best friend”… Frisco turned four double plays during Saturday’s game – two of them started by Andrus – his defense definitely lives up to the hype - by the way Elvis is hitting .286 in his last 10 games…RHP Tommy Hunter was sitting a couple rows in front of me charting pitches and definitely enjoying the change of venue from Bakersfield … C Tim Gradoville showed some real chutzpah by bunting with 2 strikes in the 2nd inning – and yes, he got the bunt down and was called safe at 1st – although some of us were under the impression that the 1st base umpire was being very generous to Riders all afternoon.

But in the end, Saturday’s game was just a prelude to bigger things the next day….

P.S. Baseball Mom and I were at Kenny Rogers perfect game on July 28, 1994 – and I have the ticket stub to prove it -- Marla Hooch

One Of Those Jamey Newberg - Like Short Posts

Josh Hamilton: non est ei simlis

The Rangers have a better record than the last place Yankees.

I get to watch Monster Max and Chris Davis in person, at Frisco tonight.

Don't you just love baseball? -- Marla Hooch

Genuine or Imitation?

Diamond or Zirconia?
Platinum or Polished Tin?
Sugar or Splenda?
Victory Park or Glory Park?
Montblanc or Papermate?
Dilithium Crystals or Crystal Lite?

The Texas Rangers, contenders or pretenders? I can’t decide.

Think about it: since Spring Training four of the five projected starting pitchers (Kevin Millwood, Jason Jennings, Kason Gabbard and Justin Thompson…I mean Brandon McCarthy) were or are still spending time on the DL.

They've gone 12-5 over the last 3+ weeks with a pitching staff that includes:

• a mecurical enigma (Vincente Padilla)
• a guy who didn’t even have a job in Spring Training (Sidney Ponson)
• a pitcher who prior to this season had pitched almost exclusively as a reliever his entire time in the organization (Scott Feldman)
• two pitchers whose combined major league experience was less than 50 IP (Luis Mendoza and AJ Murray)
• a bullpen that is less experienced and little less dependable than last season’s

If Rudy Jarmillo gets all the headlines for being good at what he does --then in my never humble opinion -- pitching coach Mark Connor is a Miracle Worker ( and since I don’t have a picture of Mr. Connor – you get the late, great Anne Bancroft from the movie “The Miracle Worker”).

The regular third baseman has been hurt most of the season so far, there is absolutely no production from 1B, the catching situation is an unhappy merry-go-round and the current position players include two who barely appeared in AAA (Boggs and Duran) before being called up to the majors.

The half glass full optimist in me says that the baseball gods have finally smiled a little on this franchise that they’ve routinely ignored and their luck might continue.

Meanwhile, my half empty glass skeptic side says: they are still two games under .500 and they had to go into extra innings twice with a team with only a marginally worse record (Seattle). Their last 13 games have been against the mild, mild AL West opponents. I’m still of the opinion that this division is Angels in first – and then everyone else in a dogfight to stay out of the cellar.

Let’s see what happens when the Rangers face a some new, different and a little more formidable teams like the surprising Astro’s, as well as the Twins, the first place Indians and very stong Tampa Bay Rays – then maybe I’ll be able to decide – are the Rangers for real?

Minor Matters: Checking the leader boards finds Ranger prospects in the top ten in all four minor leagues.

PCL: OF Nelson Cruz is #10 in the batting race with a BA of .336
Texas League: C “Monster” Max Ramirez is # 2 in BA at .383, teammate 1B Chris Davis is # 7 with a .322 BA. Davis also leads the Texas League with 10 HR and his 31 RBIs are 3rd in the TL.
California League: OF and 2007 Draftee Julio Borbon is #8 in the Cal League batting at .321
Midwest League: Three Clinton players are in the top 10 batting wise: coming in at #3 IF Ian Gac hitting .351, at #5 is SS Renny Osuna at .333 and #10 is OF Tim Smith with a .318 BA.

(The picture on the right of Tim Smith - also from the 2007 Draft Class - is courtesy of our good friend and Lumberkings baseball goddess Lacey)

Random Thoughts ---

You should have been there: There are those who scoff at the Newberg Report events – “just minor leaguers” I’ve been told. Well, if you had attended this past December’s or January’s events you’d have met (current) major leaguers IF German Duran and RHP Doug Mathis.

Let’s have another meeting and start on yet another new plan: Scribblings and innuendo in both the Dallas Observer and DMN point to the fact that Tom Hicks and Nolan Ryan have been “meeting” and if the Rangers fortunes hadn’t changed so quickly the past two weeks both Jon Daniels and Ron Washington would have been out of work by now, and may still wind up on the unemployment line no matter what happens this season. What did I expect? It’s Tom Hicks, his sports business philosophy is akin to that old saying about Texas weather – “wait ten minutes and [he’ll] change [the plan] again”.

I told you it was a bad idea: According to the headlines in today’s Startlegram – plans for Glory Park have been delayed “indefinitely”. Arlington Mayor Bob Cluck says “We’ll not invest any money in parking garages or anything else until the project is started." Tom Hicks says: “ I think it’s a place where people will want to go to have fun instead of shopping, at least that what the markets are telling us.”

Oh really.

Warning sign: When AJ Murray uncorked a Nuke La Loosh type ball at the LF seats about 2 feet away from me during warm-ups on Sunday – I should’ve figured he didn’t have his best control – (see the game report below this entry from May 13). The ball flew over catcher Taylor Teagarden’s head into the stands then banged off the metal seats loud enough to wake anyone up who was sleeping late at the Marriott across the street from the ballpark.

Speaking of signs: OKC’s Bricktown Ballpark is celebrating their 10th anniversary with banners honoring “fan favorites”. Looking at the banners was like reading the archives of the old “Newberg Minor League Report” forum with names like Greg Biagini, Andy Barkett, R.A. Dickey and Brian Hayes' favorite Pedro Valdez.

Indy Ball: I work in Grand Prairie, right across the street (literally) from the new stadium built for the Grand Prairie Air Hogs of the American Association Independent League. That stadium construction cost me a new tire – but all was forgiven when I walked out to my car for lunch the other day and they were playing “Centerfield” on their PA system. As of the day I’m writing this they are 0-4 – not an auspicious start for new manager Pete Incaviglia.

Finally: One more “Indy” note, only seven days until the premiere of "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull".

Still hoping I'll find the “Real Thing” -- Marla Hooch