ADSENSE Link Ads 200 x 90
ADSENSE 336 x 280
Cruz control It was the punishment of Jo-Jo Reyes Friday night in a 12-2 win. Saturday was all drama in a walk-off win down 4-3 going into the bottom of the ninth. Then, Sunday, saw the Rangers completely handcuffed, 3-0, against Brett Cecil, a so-so lefty from the bottom of the Toronto Blue Jays' rotation.
It was a good weekend in that the Rangers pulled out the series win and maintained their lead in the AL West. It was bad in that Adrian Beltre is on the 15-day disabled list due to a sprained hamstring.
Chris Davis was called up and you get the feeling this is it for the kid. Just 25, everyone, it seems, is ready to move on ... including Davis. No matter how he performs, Davis will be shopped on the trade market and I think he becomes a chip in a bigger trade involving younger, higher-ceilinged players. It's going to suck if he moves on and gets it and hits 40 home runs a year.
However, Evan Grant wrote an interesting story on the fact that with Davis up, he's working with Scott Coolbaugh, the hitting coach Crush has worked with at Frisco and, most recently, Oklahoma City.
As of Saturday night, he looked good. Knocked an RBI single. Went hitless on Sunday night (as did the rest of the line-up) and has struck out just once.
A quick hit: Why were Mitch Moreland and Chris Davis in the line-up against lefty Cecil yesterday? I get sitting Yorvit Torrealba, but I don't see why that couldn't come on another day. Nitpicking a first-place team.
Notes:
1. Thought Tommy Hunter and Yoshi Tateyama were strong in relief Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Pitched multiple innings, allowed the bare minimum and struck out a couple. Kept the Rangers in the game.
2. Thought Alexi Ogando was pretty sharp Sunday. Hung two too many sliders to the heart of the Blue Jays order, but is still showing everyone that the workload (199 IP) isn't affecting him. Yet.
3. Matt Harrison: 26 BBs in first 9 starts; 12 BBs in last 10.
4. Elvis Andrus has 18 fielding errors. I'd say half are ones he usually makes.
5. Mike Young had seven hits against Toronto. He needs 21 for 2,000. And 1,021 for 3,000.
6. Per Young's game-winner Saturday, he's been on a different plain the last month or so. In July, he's hit .377 and he's struck out just four times in 20 games. I ignore situational stats mostly because I think an RBI single with two outs in a close game is far more important than an RBI home run in a blowout. However, it feels like any time the Rangers need a run, in a close game, Young is the first to come through. Love what he's doing lately.
7. Jo-Jo Reyes should just skip his next start against the Rangers: In 7 IP this year, he's allowed 13 hits and 14 runs.
8. Colby Lewis is 34-33 as a Texas Ranger. Took nine years to get over the hump.
9. Nelson Cruz had nine RBI in the series, eight coming Friday night. He went from around 20th in the American League, to 10th.
0 Response to "The kaleidoscope of Texas Rangers"
Posting Komentar