Playoff Fever: Pass The Maalox

Dateline Frisco - Friday September 12: Ah, well, um... the less said about this game the better.

Let's pull out an old cliche: The Riders have their backs against the wall, the Travelers need only one more win to clinch the Texas League Championship. But Hurricane Ike did Frisco a favor with an unexpected day off allowing them to start uber prospect LHP Derek Holland in tonight's game - and leaving the possibility of uber prospect part II RHP Neftali Feliz starting Monday's game (if necessary).

Celebrity Sightings: As always the championship series brings out the celebrities. RHP and Father-to-be (in February) Thomas Diamond and his wife stayed for the entire game. Our friend Grant Schiller, his sister Kate (who still loves those binoculars) and his dad Mike kept eye on things from section 108.

My favorite celebrity in the stands: Lisa Winston from MiLB.com who has been assigned to cover the Texas League Championship - you can read her game stories here. Lisa says she really likes Dr. Pepper Ballpark. The best usher in minor league baseball - Dennis - made sure that we were comfortably seated and worried that Lisa didn't get a bad first impression of the Riders ("we're a much better team than this").

Storm Warnings: Sending prayers and good karma to everyone in the Houston - Galveston - Beaumont area. I have many customers that I work with (in my real job) from that area - most notably the UTMB Hospital on Galveston Island that was particularly hard hit.

The Rug Really Tied The Room Together: Heeding the dire predictions of stormy weather on Saturday found me hunkered down in Hooch World Headquarters with a six pack of Vernors Ginger Ale, Pop-Secret Extra Butter Popcorn and the remote control ready for a day of surfing. Since the Rangers weren't on TV and I'm not a football fan (college or otherwise) the viewing fare was quite diverse: "Dr. Zhivago" on TMC, "Wyatt Earp" on a VCR tape, and to round out the evening - "The Big Lebowski" on Encore. By the way, judging by the beautiful full moon and cool temperatures in Arlington - the Riders/Travelers probably could have played last night.

There'll be an "instant" game report tonight - no matter the outcome.

Go Rough Riders! -- Marla Hooch

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Playoff Fever: Here’s Johnny!

From the Blue Notebook on Thursday's 6-1 Frisco Victory over San Antonio:

-- I talked to and hugged John Whittleman before yesterday’s game – he had two hits and three RBIs – coincidence? I think not.

-- The Steve Murphy Show - The Sequel continued last night: The Riders were clinging to a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the 8th with the bases loaded and two out. Murphy battled Missions reliever Gabe Hoyos and knocked in a single to right that drove in two runs that sealed San Antonio’s fate.

-- Neftali Feliz’s first inning was a bit shaky: he seemed to be having some control issues there was a strikeout followed by walk, a single and a wild pitch that put runners at second and third with only one out. Pitching coach Terry Clark made an unusual first inning visit to the mound – I’m not sure what magic words he used – but after that Neftali was good, very very good – only giving up two more hits and striking out ten batters. Maybe Terry Clark needs to visit the mound in Arlington the next time Vincente Padilla and Jamey Wright pitch.

-- Grant Schiller boldly predicted that the Rangers will win the World Series in 2011

-- Celebrity Sightings at the Thursday game: Rangers reliever/closer Frankie Francisco as well as former big league manager Jim Tracy (whose son Chad played first and hit a double)

-- The intensity of the Frisco crowd reminds me of my 4:00 p.m. Economics class in junior year in college – it’s not exactly fever pitch – more like a glassy eyed stare and yawn. But I’ll give the fans credit – they gave Elvis a big hand for his terrific throw on Wednesday and everyone stood and cheered Andrew Laughter’s last out of the game Thursday night.

-- Grant Schiller’s sister Kate discovered the joys of funnel cakes and looking through binoculars backwards

-- One of the reasons I love minor league baseball is that these players haven’t adopted the grumpy, arrogant attitude that infects most major leaguers. There’s a joy and enthusiasm that somehow disappears when players don the big league uniform and get their MLPBA card. For example: before each Frisco game at the end of warm-ups, CF Julio Borbon, 2B Jose Vallejo and SS Elvis Andrus play a baseball version of “hot potato” tossing and catching several baseballs to each other using only their gloves. There are big smiles, laughs and exaggerated gestures of triumph and frustration always ending with one baseball being tossed by Elvis to the appreciative third base crowd.


Playoff Fever: Winning Is The Only Cure! -- Marla Hooch

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Playoff Fever - Catch It!

Quick game report from Frisco's 5-1 win over the San Antonio Missions in the first round of the Texas League playoffs.

What's the thing that impressed me the most?

It wasn't Derek Holland's 7 1/3 IP, 2 Hit, 5 K, 1 BB outing (although that was pretty darn good). It wasn't The Steve Murphy Show - 1 HR, 1 3B and 2 runs scored. Or the amazing throw by Elvis Andrus for the final out of the 6th inning (from behind third base, almost standing on the foul line to a stretched out Emerson Frostad at first). Or Julio Borbon's 2 hits (including a HR) or John Whittleman's nice 2 out RBI that put the game out of reach for the Missions. Or even that Nolan Ryan, Jon Daniels, Thad Levine, Jim Sundberg and Scott Servais were all there ( they stayed until the end of the game).

What really impressed me were the three guys sitting by the Frisco dugout watching the game: Chris Davis, Taylor Teagarden and Warner Madrigal. That kind of comaraderie, especially from guys who are now in the big leagues, says alot about these three young men who all played on the Dr. Pepper field earlier this season, and I hope about the mindset of the org - all pulling for eachother and in the same direction.

Watch this space for more playoff rhetoric -- Marla Hooch
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Why Haven't You Written Anything Lately?

I had to wash my cat.
The phone rang.
The dog ate my keyboard.
I was watching the new episodes of "The Closer" and "Saving Grace"
It was too darn hot.
I had a blister on my pitching hand.

Okay, frankly speaking, the way the Rangers have been playing does anyone really want to think about them much less write about them? I know I didn't.

Plus, I really have been busy:

-- Went to New Mexico to visit the New Mexico Bean. Spent a wonderful long weekend in Santa Fe enjoying the cool weather, scenery, great food – didn’t read a boxscore which turned out to be a good idea.

--Actually attended a Rangers game with Baseball Mom and Mrs. Schmenge courtesy of the Rangers (those free tickets from voting for the Ranger All-Stars) and they won – beating the Tigers 9-1. It was a gorgeous cool evening. The highlights: (besides the five Ranger home runs) seeing the lovely Kate Schiller during the Birthday Parade on video screen.

Last month the Rangers could not sweep a series – they always seemed to win two of three each time – while this month it’s just the opposite – they are staving off being swept – usually winning at least one game during a series which is a small comfort I suppose.

-- Watched some of the Olympics – when I was a kid I remember being glued to the television during the Summer Olympics, but these days the saturation of televised sports has made me less and less interested. I’ve reached one conclusion from the Bejing games: Michael Phelps is a terrific athlete – but nobody and I mean nobody ever looked better in a swimsuit than Mark Spitz.

Since the last blog entry: Haven’t changed my mind: still contend change for the sake change is not necessarily the answer to the Rangers pitching woes.

The team ERA since the Connor/Chiti departure is 6.42 (112 ER in 157 IP).

Once again, just my opinion: it’s not about the coaching – it’s about the quality of the pitcher you are working with. I defy anyone to prove that from the Spring Training proposed rotation of Millwood, Padilla, McCarthy, Jennings and Gabbard there was a bona fide “front of the rotation” #1 type pitcher. At best, based on performance (not potential), it was workhorse type rotation with enormous injury concerns (based on recent history). I don’t have to rehash what happened, but I will say that I still can’t blame all the health problems on the coaching.

What is the solution? In my never humble opinion – better pitchers make pitching coaches look good (for example: Rick Peterson’s reputation when he was coaching Zito, Hudson and Mulder in Oakland – and then after he left for the Mets – he wasn’t quite as smart).

How do you get those pitchers? See Mike Hindman’s dissertation on the DMN Blog about developing/ trading for pitching vs signing free agents.

How can the Rangers do this? Start with better scouting, find a development plan and stick with it.

What should be the plan? Let me steal a line from a comment I read:
1. Patience
2. Luck
3. Patience

The Last Word…err…. Song: From the mind and e-mail of Mrs. Schemge – a musical tribute the Rangers recent woes:

“Mama Mia and Vincent Padilla”

(with apologies to ABBA – set to the tune of Mama Mia)

I've been rooting for you since I don't know when

So I made up my mind, it must come to an end

Look at me now, will I ever learn?

I dont know how you suddenly lose the West

Even with Josh, the best

Just one pitch and I can hear a bell ring

One more pitch and I forget everything,

o-o-o-ohVince Padilla, there you go again

My my, how can you have hit him?

CJ Wilson, stop that toss again

My my, now we’re gonne miss him

Yes, Ive been brokenhearted

Blue ‘cause we have no starters

Who’s left to call to the Show?

Oh Mr. Hicks, now we really know,

Chris Young, you should not have let him go.

I've been angry and sad about the things that you do

I can't count all the times that I've said we were through

First, D-V-D – then you let them go

What more phenoms will you let slip through

Our waiting hands

You know we're not Cub fans....

Just one pitch and I can hear a bell ring

One more pitch and I forget everything,

o-o-o-ohVince Padilla, here I go again

My my, how can we relieve you?

Hey Jon Daniels, does it show again?

My my, why we can't believe you?

Eddie you have the honor

To show up Coach O’Connor

Why, why did I ever let you go?

Mamma mia, even if I say

Bye bye, leave me now or never

Nolan Ryan, fix this game we play

Bye bye doesn’t mean forever

Sing out sister! -- Marla Hooch

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In The Words Of The Immortal Roseanna RoseannaDanna

"..it's always somethin'"

There's no doubt the pitching is a problem - but who created the problem? Who traded Chris Young? Who traded John Danks for Justin Thompson...er Brandon McCarthy? Who decided to let go of Armando Galarraga? Who signed Jason Jennings? Last time I checked those decisions were made by a much larger group than just Mark Connor and Dom Chiti.

We were told one the biggest reasons for hiring the current manager was his emphasis on defense - so for the past two seasons the Rangers have been one of the worst defensive teams in all of MLB. Poor fielding doesn't help a pitcher, and the Rangers have the most errors in all of MLB with 99 errors - by the way that is 10 ahead of the next team on the list (the Marlins with 88) .The pitchng staff has trotted out seven rookie starters - the IF has 2 All-Stars and exactly one rookie, so what's their excuse? My question is if Connor and Chiti are being held accountable for the poor performance by the pitching staff - then who is going to be held accountable for the absolutely wretched fielding, especially the infield's?

Every time you think the Rangers have turned the corner and are heading down the road to being a respectable franchise, they manage to do something like what they did on Friday night to remind us all of Ranger fans why it's hard to be proud of an organization that spends alot of making questionable public moves (and I'm being polite) and reminds us with those embarassing gestures why we've been waiting 37 years (and counting) for a championship caliber organization in Arlington.

Maybe there needed to be a change in the "voice" and "direction" of the pitching philosophy but firing the pitching coaches during the season doesn't change anything but uniform numbers and names - the same pitchers who've managed the worst ERA in MLB are still in the rotation and in the bullpen. Real change is going to happen when the Rangers finally figure out how to scout good pitching, develop good pitching (and not trade it away) and most importantly keep their pitchers health. That's an organizational change that starts in offices on Ballpark Way, not just the dugout.

I don't know if firing Mark Connor and Dom Chiti was the right thing to do - but I do know that expecting them to be miracle workers with the staff they were given as well the usual impatient approach from the front office was an impossible task.

Or as Roseanna RoseannaDanna would (probably) say: "You can't make chicken salad from chicken***t" -- Marla Hooch

P.S. No blog entry next week - I'm taking a short vacation.

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Alejandro’s Alternative Almanac: Too Hot To Write

Alejandro ascends from the gardens and front lawns of your friends and neighbors to search for some shade, a lime, and a cold Corona because it’s too hot to rant too much about baseball this week.

This is the week that was: Josh Hamilton is pretty good, so is Chris Davis. Scott Lucas noted earlier this week with the promotion of LHP Beau Jones to Frisco, every player the Rangers received from the Braves in the Mark Teixeira trade is playing AA or in the major leagues.

This the week that will be: Saturday Aug 2nd at Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City is Mickey Mantle and “The Fridge” Night. The Redhawks will be giving away Mickey Mantle Bobbleheads and William “Refrigerator” Perry will be signing autographs at the game too – yeah, we can’t figure out the connection either. Wednesday July 31st is a busy night for all three lower level teams: it is “Must Win Wednesday” at High A Bakersfield – we’re not sure what the consequences are for the Blaze if they lose (we thought enduring a summer at Bakersfield was a punishment itself). Also on Wednesday at Low A Clinton it’s “Morrison Night” – we couldn’t find any additional information about exactly what that is, so we’re assuming it’s a tribute to Doors lead singer Jim Morrison with a sing-a-long to Light My Fire or Hello I Love You. At Short Season Spokane this Wednesday Night it will be “Raining Money” meanwhile for the Arizona Rookie League Rangers in Surprise it will just be plain old hot with an expected high of 107 .

The Oracle of Stadium Dr.: From Startlegram beat writer Jeff Wilson – “[Josh] Hamilton leads baseball in RBIs and – by a wide margin – in autographs signed. Just about everyone who wants one gets one, at home and on the road.”

Sometimes it’s better to keep your thoughts to yourself: Ron Washington: “ "I'd like a bona fide leadoff hitter…I'm talking about a high-on-base, steal-bases, cause-havoc leadoff hitter,” So having Ian Kinsler at the top of the lineup with his league leading Batting Average (.328) Hits (141) Runs Scored (87) and .381 OBP (in the top 10 in the AL) is a really, really a bad idea? And we don’t buy the rest of Ron’s statement that Kinsler should be batting lower in the lineup in order to drive in runs. We’d like to ask if maybe the reason Ian is having a career year is because his offensive game is best suited to batting leadoff? We hope that Ron’s wishes fall on deaf ears and recall that Ron also told us that he thought that Ben Broussard was going to be his secret weapon in the lineup this year.

The Words Of The Prophets Are Written On Subway Walls … or maybe just somewhere on the internet (Part 2): This December when the Free Agent Frenzy is in full swing let’s remember this quote from Baseball Prospectus writer Joe Sheehan “I cannot emphasize this enough: there is SO much money in the game right now that open-market contracts are all going to seem insane “

Birthdays: Former Ranger manager Doug Rader turns 63 this week. Retired Ranger IF now an Agent Scott Fletcher is 50. The pitcher who recorded the final out that clinched the last Ranger division title in 1999 – Mike Venafro - turns 35. The 1971 AL MVP and AL CY Young winner, Vida Blue, celebrates his 59th birthday this week. One of the greatest names in baseball, former Expo-Twin-Royal’s OF Bombo Rivera is 56. Finally, "The Old Perfessor" Casey Stengel was born this week in 1890 (don’t you miss seeing his picture on the Monday Morning Manager?)

Last Call: From Seattle Mariner’s Broadcaster Dave Niehaus who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this weekend: “I’m a fan, No. 1. I’m a lucky guy. I love the game. If I wasn’t out here doing the games broadcasting I’d be out here sitting in the stands”

Es demasiado caliente -- Alejandro for Marla Hooch

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