5 Rangers make all-star team...

[XERXES]

Is this a club record?

Rogers, Cordero, SOriano, Blalock, and Young...

[Psychedelic Fuzz]

Who'd have ever thought that among 5 all-stars, two would be pitchers.

[ocelot_ark]

Awesome...they all deserve it.

[mavsfanforever]

Who are the starters? I am hoping Rogers starts. Soriano starts anyway. F*ing AROD will start ahead of Blalock.

[jayC]

Take five: Rangers' quintet picked for All-Star Game


10:24 PM CDT on Sunday, July 4, 2004


By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News



HOUSTON – Sunday morning, the list of worries confronting manager Buck Showalter only seemed to be growing. His injured list remains longer than lines for most rides at Six Flags. His team was in the midst of a three-game losing streak, brought on by a suddenly struggling pitching staff. And an afternoon date with Andy Pettitte loomed.

So, what was Showalter's take?

"Let's just put it this way: I'm in a pretty good mood," he said.

Rangers/MLB
Rangers 18, Astros 3

July 4th fireworks: Rangers 18, Houston 3

Blalock wouldn't swat away chance at Home Run Derby

All-Star rosters (from MLB.com)
He had just been given a sneak peek at the list of Rangers who made the AL All-Star team for next Tuesday's game in Houston. It had five names on it, a record for Rangers All-Star representation.

Alfonso Soriano was the leading vote-getter in the majors. Third baseman Hank Blalock, shortstop Michael Young and Soriano were named tops at their respective positions by their peers. Pitchers Kenny Rogers and Francisco Cordero also made the team via the players voting.

The entire team seemed to be far more inspired by that news than Saturday's pep talk. With the All-Stars leading the way, the Rangers bashed Houston, 18-3, to capture the mythical Silver Boot trophy. Though the Lone Star Series ended 3-3, the Rangers were declared winners via run differential. Of course, the Silver Boot was a tertiary thought at best Sunday.

Sunday, at the site of next week's All-Star Game, was about the Rangers' All-Stars coming-out party.

With the Rangers leading, 1-0, Young drove in the team's second run in the fourth inning. Soriano followed with a homer. Two innings later, Blalock ended all semblance of this being a competitive game with a pinch-hit grand slam. It was one of six homers hit by the Rangers.

"I think everyone in here, whether they made it or not, is as happy for the guys who made it as they would be for themselves, " said Rogers, who is a long shot to be the All-Star starter. "I think it's an affirmation of where we are going."

Rogers has been to the All-Star Game before, in 1995, and was initially unmoved by the possibility of attending another. Blalock and Soriano both played last year. For Cordero and Young, the first-time All-Stars, the news was quite invigorating.

"I was prepared for anything," said Young, who went 2-for-4 Sunday to raise his average to .331. "But I've always loved the All-Star Game. I've always watched the All-Star Game. It's an unbelievable honor to know that I'm going to be sharing the clubhouse with some of the best players in the game. This is a humbling experience."

Said Cordero, who is second in the AL in saves with 24: "This means a lot to do it in my first year as the full-time closer. And I think to get all five guys shows that we've played great this year, that we've done a great job as a team. It's a good thing. A very good thing."

[ames7]

The awesome part is none of them are really a stretch. They all deserve a spot IMO. I'm especially glad for Young.

[Jamisonite]

I still think u could argue barajas over that kid from cleveland

[Murphy3]

Originally posted by: Jamisonite
I still think u could argue barajas over that kid from cleveland

That's a stretch.

[Drbio]

Not really....Barajas got jobbed.

[Max Power]

Originally posted by: jayC
Pitcher Francisco Cordero also made the team via the players voting.

This puts an exclamation point on the trade with the Tigers for Gonzalez.

[Murphy3]

Nah, Baraja was at best #4 on the list of AL catchers deserving consideration for the All-Star team.

[Drbio]

Originally posted by: Murphy3
Nah, Baraja was at best #4 on the list of AL catchers deserving consideration for the All-Star team.

What a bunch of bung murph....Barajas has been raking it on offense and his defense has been more than solid.

[NYCdog]

Didnt see this psoted but.....

Hank Blalock has a shot to be invited for the Home Run Derby also.

So far former Ranger Rafael Palmeiro, Jason Giambi, and Vladimir Guerrero make up the list for the AL. The final AL spot has yet to be finalized. Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was invited but withdrew after straining a muscle Sunday against the New York Mets. Boston's Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz and Texas third baseman Hank Blalock are tied for the AL home run lead with 22. Who ever has the most by the break will most likely get the last invite.

They will join the NL team of Bonds, Sosa, Griffey, and Jim Thome.

Best of all, the Home Run Derby will be in "homer heaven" Minute Maid Park, virtually insuring a wild derby, much like Boston had in 1999. And with that short left-field fence, many balls are likely to fly out of the park, making the downtown skyscrapers nearby targets. This should be one of the more fun derby's in recent memory.......

[jayC]

Maybe behind Pudge .500 for the month of June and Victor Martinez a great all around catcher. Barajas is way behind those two. Barajas has had timely hits, and has been a great suprise. I hope he can recover from that thumb injury to continue his breakout season.

[sike]

nice to see the boys get the recognition they are more than deserving of...