Baseball Fever: I Caught It...Literally

On the DL: I have a headache, chills, a swollen left ankle and temperature of 102. The doctor says it is an infection and a sprained ankle. I say it's Ranger baseball withdrawl. Either way, I feel terrible, no blog this week - when we can agree on diagnosis - I'll be back - probably next week.

If you haven't been reading... T.R. Sullivan's 50 Most Memorable Plays in Rangers History - you really should - he finished up today with the top 2 plays - Ryan vs Ventura and Rusty Greer's catch that saved Kenny Rogers perfect game. Go back and read them all on Postcards From Elysian Fields

Prognostication: Hope the Twins win tonight. I'm picking the Red Sox and Rays for the ALCS - the Cubs and Phillies for the NLCS.

Still trying to figure this one out: Ron Washington and Matt Wallbeck didin't "gell"so JD is letting Ron pick his own third base coach. Of course Ron Washington insisted on obtaining Ben Broussard and then hitting him against lefties - said he was the secret weapon in the lineup - uh-huh. Additionally, Washington made the Rangers jump through some hoops to get Art Howe (since he'd already signed on as coach for an NL team) - and now he's been let go? Kind of makes me wonder about Ron's choices.

Praise the Lord and pass the anti-biotics and ginger ale -- Marla Hooch

.

The Last 2008 Game Report: There’s No Place Like Home

Do you remember one of the last scenes in "Bull Durham" after Nuke’s been called up and Crash has been released: it’s rainy, Annie Savoy walks slowly back to her home. I felt like Annie looked on Wednesday afternoon as I walked by myself to the car after going to the last Ranger home game - except that the sun was shining, it was 90 degrees, it’s Texas, I don’t look even remotely as fabulous as Susan Sarandon and the only thing waiting for me at home was a porch full of leaves and an ornery cat – but you get the idea – it’s that melancholy mixture being tired after a long season, yet being frustrated because you know you won’t be seeing another baseball game at the Ballpark until April.

The game: There’s no need for me to recap the game (it was a good one). Here are the game reports from the Startlegram, DMN and Rangers website for the full description of the baseball side of the day.


The highlights away from the game: My Wednesday Rangers experience meant wishing some baseball pals a nice off-season: hugging my parking attendant – and reserving my spot for next year’s opener. I’ve parked in the same place (not a Ranger lot) for several years. Our parking attendant is a wonderful lady who always saves me a “good” spot when she knows I’m coming out to the game. Stopping by to talk with the lovely Anna – the attendant who is the keeper of the gate by the stairs, and Vic the usher by the Gold Club (who is retiring from the usher business and is going to be a regular fan in the stands like rest of us). Finally taking my seat in Section 13 where Scott has been the usher in that section forever, or at least since the Ballpark opened. I enjoyed a dollar hot dog, the dot race, and loved it when Ron Washington had Marlon Byrd, Gerald Laird, Hank Blalock, Michael Young and Josh Hamilton leave the field to appreciative applause from the crowd.


Feeling All Warm and Fuzzy: There will be plenty of time this off season to analyze, debate and pontificate on what went right, what went wrong, and what we all think Nolan and JD need to do for this team. But tonight I’d rather think about the things that made me feel good about this Rangers season and give me hope for next year too: I like what I saw from Matt Harrison and Dustin Nippert – I’d like to see them have more opportunities to learn and get better. Vincente Padilla is always an enigma but he does win games. I liked the way Kameron Loe was pitching before he got dinged, and there’s no doubt in my mind that Chris Davis and Taylor Teagarden belong in the major leagues. I was sorry David Murphy got hurt, I’ve almost changed my mind about him – disappointed that Ian Kinsler’s amazing season was cut short too. Can’t help but admire how Michael Young played through injuries, Marlon Byrd proved to me that he’s not just a one year wonder and loved the way that Frankie Francisco stepped and took control of the closer position. Where would this team be without Josh Hamilton’s amazing season?

Wait till next year?: I like what Evan Grant wrote in response to one of the questions on his newsletter this week:

Q: Give us something positive to think about for next year. (I know this may take you awhile.)
Doug, Uncertain, Texas

GRANT: Easy. I'll give you a half dozen (in alphabetical order): Marlon Byrd, Chris Davis, Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler, Taylor Teagarden, Michael Young. And, as a bonus, here's a seventh item: The promise that the farm system is only going to produce more of the kind of players listed above.

Only 193 days until the home opener at the Ballpark on April 6, 2009 – Marla Hooch

.

Random Thoughts: Luis, Doug, Michael, Pitching and Todd

Time has been transformed, and we have changed; it has advanced and set us in motion; it has unveiled its face, inspiring us with bewilderment and exhilaration. -- Kahlil Gibran

Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana -- Groucho Marx

Why does it seem like just a few days ago I was ranting and raving about MLB changing their blog software on the eve of a new season , then furiously moving my semi-frequent rambling to this site.

Apologies to Annie Savoy but it really isn’t a long season.

Don’t be fooled by September Stats: Luis Mendoza – September 2007: 6 games, 16 IP, 2.25 ERA It earned him, rather than Armando Galarraga, a spot on the Ranger roster. Luis Mendoza – September 2008 (so far): 6 games, 6 2/3 IP, 8.10 ERA That is why I refuse to get all excited by Nelson Cruz this September. Let’s remember he has 442 AB’s in the major league through 2007 with a BA of .223

Things that make you say "hmmmm" : Go back to 1996. On September 11, 1996 the Rangers had a 9 game lead in the AL West – they then lost 9 of the next 10 games, their lead dwindled down to just 1 game. Did then GM Doug Melvin fire manager Johnny Oates? No, he kept him and Johnny proceeded to win the only three division titles in the franchise history – which makes Melvin’s firing of Brewers manager Ned Yost appear a bit… inconsistent. Doug even said at the press conference announcing the change that he wasn’t sure that it was the right thing to do – which makes me wonder if Doug Melvin has another meddling owner trying to play GM.

Let’s get our priorities straight: I’ve read quite a bit of whining about Michael Young lately, and frankly I think it’s not looking at the big picture. This team has much, much bigger problems than Michael Young. How about starting with the obvious and the real problem: the Rangers have the worst pitching staff in the AL. Maybe there wouldn’t be so many questions about Michael Young’s defense if the pitching staff wasn’t giving up so many hits 1,574 (so far) which is 82 more than next team on the list. And before I hear anyone start blaming those hits on Michael’s range – keep in mind that this pitching staff has given up the most doubles in the AL (337), is second walks allowed (655) third in HR’s allowed (168) the 13th worst strike out percentage per 9 IP (out of 14 teams) and none of those miserable stats can or should be attributed to Michael Young. The focus needs to be on PITCHNG, PITCHING, PITCHING and more PITCHING, then maybe worry about finding a third baseman who can stay healthy, field his position and produce at least average offense. I love the minor leagues as much as anyone and get excited about players I see in Frisco and OKC, but I’ll be the first one to tell you that Elvis Andrus isn’t anywhere near ready for the major leagues. I'd rather wait to see how a healthy Michael Young performs next season before we start talking about changing positions or running him out of town

Furthermore: The notion that the Rangers are going to be able to “stock” their team with all home grown players from the farm system and go to the playoffs with that kind of team, in my never humble opinion, is unrealistic. There are some nice players in the minors, but the Rangers will never be the Tampa Bay Rays. There was a certain amount of luck, intelligence and patience in the Rays front office putting that team together. Unfortunately the Rangers don’t have that kind of luck, the owner certainly will never have that kind of patience, although I do think the front office is making much more intelligent choices with the current prospects in the farm system, I still wonder if they will ever figure out to draft and develop truly elite pitching prospects which is what this franchise needs more than anything else.

One more thing: Did I mention that the Rangers really need to make pitching their first, second, third and fourth priority – okay, I think I’ve made my point.

A Few More Random Thoughts: My friend Lisa Winston told me during her visit to Frisco last week that she picked the Tampa Bay Rays to win it all before the season started, someone told her that she should’ve gone to Las Vegas and placed a wager on that in March. . . speaking of Vegas – does anyone else find it just a bit ironic, considering their public problems with a certain gambling issue, that the MLB Winter Meetings are in Las Vegas this December?. . . A little self promotion here: my friend Mike Hindman has asked me to participate in a couple of the Armchair GM Roundtable entries on the DMN blog – you can read my ill-informed contibution to these missives here and here . . . I am really looking forward to hearing OKC Redhawks radio voice Jim Byers and Frisco radio play by play man Scott Garner with Eric Nadel during the games this week, kudos to whoever thought up having them on - it's a nice idea.

A Wizard, A True Star: This week only I am changing the name of the music list in honor of Mr. Hindman and his less than enthusiastic comments on one of my favorite artists. Just remember that Todd played in Ringo Starr’s All-Star Band, and wrote some of the music for one of best movies about the 1970’s (“Almost Famous”) With that in mind I present: Todd Rundgren's five best songs (in my estimation) on the:

Todd is god (In Spite Of What Mike Hindman Says) List

1. Hello It’s Me – A really good love song (maybe one of my very favorites)


2. Can We Still Be Friends? - The best break-up song - ever

3. Just One Victory – I’ve always thought Chuck Morgan should play the chorus of this song (“give us just one victory and we’ll be all right”) after a Rangers win.

4. A Dream Goes On Forever – Yes it does. The live version of this song is outstanding.

5. Parallel Lines – There aren’t words to describe how and why I love this song

Finally: last season I was privileged to travel to Seattle with Mrs. Schmenge and Baseball Mom for the last game of the Rangers season, this year I’ll just have to settle for taking this Wednesday afternoon off from work and enjoying the last home game.

Looking forward to sitting in Section 13 at the Ballpark one more time – Marla Hooch

.

Playoff Fever: All Good Things Come To An End

It was a not just another loss, it was a beating - poor pitching, worse fielding and silent bats ended the Frisco Rough Riders run at the Texas League Championship as they lost 11-3 to the Arkansas Travelers.

Wait till next year (sigh) -- Marla Hooch

.

Playoff Fever: Full Moon Over Frisco

One of the myths about the Full Moon is that it causes erratic behavior in anyone who stays outside under it, just ask the Arkansas Travelers.

The Rough Riders and Travelers were playing in tight, well-pitched scoreless game until the bottom of the seventh inning - when the Full Moon myth was proven by Arkansas fielding.

Frisco OF Steve Murphy bunted to the pitcher who threw wildly to first - landing Murphy at second base, he scored on a single by Elvis Andrus. There were two out and that's when things really got weird. With Andrus at second and C Tim Gradoville at third, DH Chad Tracy hit what should have been a routine ground ball to Travelers third baseman Corey Smith - who threw the ball right right past the outstretched glove of first baseman Mark Trumbo - while he scrambled for the ball - Gradoville and the speedy Andrus scored. Making it a 3-0 Frisco lead - the Riders held on to win 3-1 -forcing the final, decisive, fifth game of the series.

The Riders LHP Derek Holland pitched another gem: 6 IP, 2 Hits, 1 BB, 6 K - I'm not sure it was the Full Moon or just "Instant Karma" (John Lennon reference) coming back around after Holland was tagged with three unearned runs in last Tuesday's loss.

Celebrity Sightings: Rangers owner Tom Hicks and his son were sitting in the first row behind home plate, and Rangers Front Office good guy Josh Boyd was also in attendance, as well as Jamey Newberg and his family.

Playoff baseball is always great - even if it is just AA. Of course it would be better if were being played in Arlington - and who knows maybe some of the guys on the field tonight will be playing some meaningful games one day in September and October at the Ballpark in Arlington.

Monday Night - it's for all the marbles, Neftali Feliz on the mound. I'm guessing I will probably be the only fan in stands (Thank God I loathe football).

Go Riders! -- Marla Hooch

.

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

.