The Official Texas Rangers' 2006 Season Thread!

[Murphy3]

I'd have to say that the coaching staff isn't giving them a chance to win this game. Buck failed to call for a bunt in an obvious bunting situation with a runner on second and no one out with Barajas batting... Then, Steve Smith made an absolutely horrible call in sending Tex. that was miserable.

[Drbio]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

Steve Smith should be fired. He isn't worth a flaming pile of dog sh!t when it comes to doing his job. I said that last year and I'll stand by it this year.

That was a pretty mindless play. He sent the guy with the ball just outside of the infield.

[Drbio]

Well crap.

[ames7]

I just picked up Papelbon for my fantasy team & I feel pretty good about it. The Rangers best learn to hit w/guys on base.

On the bright side, I thought Kam Loe looked great for the most part today.

[Murphy3]

What were they?... They were 6th in the AL last year with a .272 BA with RISP. But, they were only .002 behind the team that was in 4th. So, it really wasn't a problem last year. And, it's too early to tell anything this year.

[jly]

our pitching is doing fairly well so far. it's only a matter of time before our offense lights it up and gives us a better chance of winning.

[sike]

good to see Cam Loe tonight....very promising...

[sike]

I agree Murph...smith sending a rather slow Tex on such an iffy call is just plain foolish.

[sixeightmkw]

Kam was great last night. I had to watch the gamechannel on yahoo, but all I saw was ground out after ground out. I am worried about the offense.

And is Lance Nix trying not to get a hit this season?

[Murphy3]

Nix is hitting the ball well...just hasn't had anything to show for it. He's had 3-4 deep flyouts and another couple of liners...

[ames7]

7-0 in the 4th, UGH. Painful debut for the knuckleball. It's as I feared. Dickey can become a great knuckleball pitcher, just not yet. Hurry up, Tejeda.

edit: Also? I know we may not have a true long reliever available, but what's w/letting Dickey waste away out there? 6 HRs? Are we trying to completely destroy his self-confidence in one outing? Come on, Buck.

[Murphy3]

Well, it's not really the debut for the knuckleball. He used it towards the end of last year.

[Male30Dan]

So when does the game start? So far Detroit has been hitting batting practice pitchers!

[ames7]

Yay for Kinsler's first HR! =D

[jly]

what the heck is happening?

[madape]

Originally Posted by jly

what the heck is happening?

The rangers are setting records tonight, baby!

[Drbio]

I'm glad I didn't pay for a ticket tonight. Ugh.

[madape]

It's not over yet! Bases loaded!

[Murphy3]

I cannot believe that RA Dickey is still in the majors. He's a great guy, but damn..he has no business pitching in the majors. Anyone that followed the Rangers could see this coming.

[The Crippler]

Originally Posted by ames7

7-0 in the 4th, UGH. Painful debut for the knuckleball. It's as I feared. Dickey can become a great knuckleball pitcher, just not yet. Hurry up, Tejeda.

edit: Also? I know we may not have a true long reliever available, but what's w/letting Dickey waste away out there? 6 HRs? Are we trying to completely destroy his self-confidence in one outing? Come on, Buck.

RA is buck's boy. I wish they would both go somewhere else quickly...RA to the waiver list and Buck back to Baseball tonight or somesuch. Who the F let's a f'in pitcher work on a NEW pitch in the f'in major leagues? Buck Showalter is the biggest jerk off in Dallas sports. I hate Buck and have a lot of trouble wishing anything but failure on him even with the fact that he is the manager of my favorite team. Such a delima.

[The Crippler]

the more i think about it, the madder i get. I think i am going to go to the game on Saturday, sit behind the Rangers dugout and heckle ol' Buck all game long and see if I can stir up some crowd support for his firing. This may become my goal for the year. you gotta have goals, right???

[jly]

my friend had free tickets to tonight's game. i'm glad i chose to workout instead. at least Young just got 3 rbi's. take that detroit.

[Just211]

hello Tejada ??
bye bye Dickey ??

[Male30Dan]

We have two holes... Unless Tejada can pitch back to back we still need another arm, (this is assuming Koronka is going to pitch only slightly better than Dickey - can you do worse than giving up a team record 6 homeruns with pitches that truly are slower than some under arm soft balls I have faced in league play?).

That was truly pathetic and I honestly hope that spare never wears a Ranger uniform ever EVER again! For that matter, I hope he never wears an Oklahoma uniform either.

[sixeightmkw]

Originally Posted by Male23Dan

We have two holes... Unless Tejada can pitch back to back we still need another arm, (this is assuming Koronka is going to pitch only slightly better than Dickey - can you do worse than giving up a team record 6 homeruns with pitches that truly are slower than some under arm soft balls I have faced in league play?).

That was truly pathetic and I honestly hope that spare never wears a Ranger uniform ever EVER again! For that matter, I hope he never wears an Oklahoma uniform either.

This has only happened 7 times in the entire history of the game. very sad to be on that list. I hope that Brian Spare gets canned. he is just terrible, his little side arm crap don't work anymore.

[madape]

Be patient with RA Dickey. It's going to take him a while to get the hang of that knuckleball. IT was actually fluttering pretty wildly later in the innings. You could see it get better as the game went on. Perhpaps he should spend some time in the minors working on it, but I think eventually he'll be a solid rotation guy.

Knuckleballers eat up innings. They can last in the Texas heat all summer and be just as good in September as they were in April.

[sixeightmkw]

Oh, I agree, I hope he works out bigtime, but yes, he does need to work on it in the minors, at least a few months this season.

[jthig32]

Only problem with that is it's a well known fact that knuckleballers have a really hard time pitching at the Ballpark due to the inconsistent winds. Wakefield's been downright awful here since the goldclub was installed.

I have no use for Dickey, especially after his quote in the newspaper that he "has earned the right to be in the majors". Gimme a break.

[jthig32]

Per the DMN, Dickey has been sent down.

Thank God.

[ames7]

Let's all breathe a sigh of relief. See you if/when you figure that new pitch out, RA, & I don't want to hear any more BS about how you "earned" anything, mmkay?

They've resigned Durazo to a minor league deal. Good move! We'll see how things go w/Nevin, but this is definitely some nice insurance.

[sixeightmkw]

here we go again with the musical chair starters.

[Male30Dan]

Give me musical chairs anyday over a guy that gives up more than a ding per inning!

And Ape, you support a complete and total spare in Dickey and knock a guy that is actually being productive for the Mavs, (and don't get me wrong, I am starting to think like you about him, I am just saying)??? And don't give me the money difference either. You have a personal vendetta against Dump and you SHOULD against Dick... Dick and Dump... You could do a road show or something!

[Drbio]

Texas has optioned righthander R.A. Dickey to Oklahoma, purchasing the contract of RedHawks righthander Rick Bauer to replace Dickey on the big league staff.

In addition, the Rangers re-signed designated hitter Erubiel Durazo (whom they had released a week and a half ago) to a minor league contract. I'm pretty sure he can't be brought up to Texas, under any circumstances, prior to May 15.

[jly]

anybody think benoit will get another shot at the starting rotation? he hasn't looked too bad in long relief and he has been clocking his fastball at 95 at times.

i'm also disappointed about dickey. i sure hope he masters his pitch and manages to get back to the majors.

[Five-ofan]

Do not put benoit in the rotation. This happens every year. We put him in the pen he looks great we get greedy and put him back in the rotation. For whatever reason he just cant pitch as a starter. He cant stay focused for that long or and this is my opinion, he doesnt do well when he has time to think about starting. When he is in the pen he doesnt know when he will pitch. When he is a starter he has a week to think about his next start and for a guy with his head i dont think that is a positive.

[jly]

that's a valid point Five. maybe they should like surprise him with his starts. announce someone else as the starter and then just throw him in the fire once the game starts. just wishful thinking i guess...

[jly]

michael young with a solo shot. lookin' like a good start so far. now to flip back and forth with the mavs game.

[Male30Dan]

Texas needs to start knocking their base runners in! We have guys with 2 hits in a game but that strike out or ground into a double play when there is a chance to actually knock in a run. Just a bunch of meaningless hits. It's like 90% of the team lacks that clutch killer instinct!

[ames7]

Millwood on the mound... 4-0 already in the first. This team makes me sad.

[Male30Dan]

The Rangers absoultely suck early on this year. No offense to speak of, certainly no pitching, and one of our strong points - defense - has also left us!

What a terrible terrible start to the year.

Sigh!