***Official Rangers Race for October Thread***

[dallaskd]

W L GB

Boston 67 51 -
Minnesota 65 52 1.5
New York 63 55 4
Texas 61 58 6.5


Tue, Aug 12 @ Boston 7:05 PM
Wed, Aug 13 @ Boston 7:05 PM
Thu, Aug 14 @ Boston 7:05 PM
Fri, Aug 15 Tampa Bay 8:05 PM
Sat, Aug 16 Tampa Bay 8:05 PM
Sun, Aug 17 Tampa Bay 3:05 PM
Mon, Aug 18 Detroit 8:05 PM
Tue, Aug 19 Detroit 8:05 PM
Wed, Aug 21 Detroit 8:05 PM
Fri, Aug 22 Cleveland 8:05 PM
Sat, Aug 23 Cleveland 8:05 PM
Sun, Aug 24 Cleveland 3:05 PM
Mon, Aug 25 @ Kansas City 8:10 PM
Tue, Aug 26 @ Kansas City 8:10 PM
Wed, Aug 27 @ Kansas City 8:10 PM
Thu, Aug 28 @ LA Angels 10:05 PM
Fri, Aug 29 @ LA Angels 10:05 PM
Sat, Aug 30 @ LA Angels 9:05 PM
Sun, Aug 31 @ LA Angels 3:35 PM
Mon, Sep 1 Seattle 8:05 PM
Tue, Sep 2 Seattle 8:05 PM
Wed, Sep 3 Seattle 2:05 PM
Fri, Sep 5 Boston 8:05 PM
Sat, Sep 6 Boston 8:05 PM
Sun, Sep 7 Boston 3:05 PM

All times ET

[Trainwreck2100]

The quest to be swept in the first round.

[dallaskd]

The quest to be swept in the first round.

I would love to see the Rangers get swept in the first round than not make it at all.

[Das Texan]

rangers arent making the playoffs this year, but if they can get some pitching they are going to be a force really soon.


well maybe for the wild card, the halos are just ridiculous.

[Trainwreck2100]

I would love to see the Rangers get swept in the first round than not make it at all.

just out of curiousity i remember them losing in the pos to the yanks, was that their last postseason trip?

[midgetonadonkey]

just out of curiousity i remember them losing in the pos to the yanks, was that their last postseason trip?

The one game they won in that series is the only postseason game they have won in their history.

[Melmart1]

The one game they won in that series is the only postseason game they have won in their history.

True. The Rangers are 1-9 all-time in the playoffs. They won their first-ever playoff game and then got the backdoor sweep. The next two times they got swept as well, all at the hands of the mother fucking Yankees. That's why I hate them so much.

But, that will all soon change. One or two innings eaters who can stay fricken healthy (nine pitchers on the DL is ridiculous!) and they will contend. These big contracts like Gary Matthews Jr and Torii Hunter will be handcuffing the Angels just as the Rangers are making their moves. Seattle looks to be beat for awhile because their farm is pretty shitty and Oakland - well, you should never really count them out, I guess. But things look good with a deep farm and many promising young players for quite some time.

[ATRAIN]

Damn watching Voloquez fuck up the Astros makes me wonder how good the Rangers would be if the reds would have somehow asked for someone else for Hamilton.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Go Rangers

[djohn14]

Im still not a Rangers fan...But love the middle infield (represent Ian Kinsler), and you cant help but like The great Hambino!

[T Park]

pitching.

If they would just get pitchers they would be fine.

[sribb43]

Rangers wont make the playoffs but their play has been refreshing...sign CC or Sheets in the offseason no matter what it cost. You have to overpay for pithching and Hicks has the cash available and the payroll is so low

[fyatuk]

The quest to be swept in the first round.

As long as it's not by the Yankees, it'd be progress...

[T Park]

Rangers wont make the playoffs but their play has been refreshing...sign CC or Sheets in the offseason no matter what it cost. You have to overpay for pithching and Hicks has the cash available and the payroll is so low

Sheets is overrated.

Sabathia is going to the Yankees.

[Melmart1]

Ugh. I am sooo tired of hearing that every big name free agent is going to the Yankees. Fuck the Yankees!

[sribb43]

Sheets is overrated.

Sabathia is going to the Yankees.

overrated? maybe injury prone...guy is a strikeout pitcher who doesnt walk many. his career ERA is 3.76 and WHIP of 1.21 and a batting avg against of .257. Those stats are pretty damn good to me. I'd take that over anything the Rangers got pitching wise

[T Park]

:lol

Its a pretty safe bet.

[T Park]

overrated? maybe injury prone...guy is a strikeout pitcher who doesnt walk many. his career ERA is 3.76 and WHIP of 1.21 and a batting avg against of .257. Those stats are pretty damn good to me. I'd take that over anything the Rangers got pitching wise


Trust me. Overrated. I've watched the guy for years against the Cardinals, and hes 10 pounds of shit in a 5 pound bag.

Do NOT spend big money on Ben Sheets.

[dallaskd]

nights like tonight give me hope.

[Whisky Dog]

nights like tonight give me hope.

They still gave up 8 runs. They're giving up 7 or 8 pretty much every game Padilla doesnt pitch now. I know they have the offensive studs to bang out runs, but that's a lot to ask night in and out.

They are the most exciting team to watch in baseball, though. Lots of runs both ways, lots of HR, outfield assists, likeable characters, a closer with Mitch Williams make shit dramatic tendencies...

[traitoravery]

I like how they are giving all these young pitching prospects chances and are still staying in the race. Baptism in fire boys!!!

[dallaskd]

Big 4 games series vs the Yanks starts tommorow. and then Boston a week later. time to step it up.

[midgetonadonkey]

I hate the AL but I'm pulling for the Rangers to get the wild card slot. That means they push the Yanks out of the playoffs and I HATE the fucking Yankees.

[midgetonadonkey]

The DH rule ruined baseball.

[Tippecanoe]

come on rangers, play good for the next 4 games

[Trainwreck2100]

The DH rule ruined baseball.

Amen, I'm tired of seeing that fatass for Boston jack up shit and no one can take advantage of him on the defensive part of the field. I'd love to see ortiz try to waddle down a bunt.

[dallaskd]

Amen, I'm tired of seeing that fatass for Boston jack up shit and no one can take advantage of him on the defensive part of the field. I'd love to see ortiz try to waddle down a bunt.

+1

:lol

[ATRAIN]

Die hard astros fan here as most of you know and even though Mono is a Rangers fan (today at least) Im pulling for you guys in the AL and hoping you make the wild card.

[sribb43]

Time to take over the wild card.. A 3-1 series win over the Yanks this week is a must. Ill be in the stands tonight as Joba takes on Padilla.. Its only gonna be 106 degrees :dizzy

[monosylab1k]

Time to take over the wild card.. A 3-1 series win over the Yanks this week is a must.

fat chance of that happening. I'll be geeked if it does. But honestly, as good as the Yankees have been lately, I'll be pleased with anything besides getting swept.

[ATRAIN]

fat chance of that happening. I'll be geeked if it does. But honestly, as good as the Yankees have been lately, I'll be pleased with anything besides getting swept.

Yeah I agree with you there. Nady was a really good pickup for the Yanks. He has been really good since the trade and of course having pudge is going to help them too.


Is that a tecmo bowl avi?

[sribb43]

fat chance of that happening. I'll be geeked if it does. But honestly, as good as the Yankees have been lately, I'll be pleased with anything besides getting swept.

While im trying to be optimistic, id be pleased with a split. Looking at the pitching matchups, the yanks have Joba, Petite and Mussina going in 3 of the 4 games

[Whisky Dog]

Getting the wild card would be nice, but all I'm looking for in this team is that they step up their level of play a bit and fight down the stretch. That would be something to build on, while folding this last part of the season would pretty much negate all the good things they've done to this point.

BTW, Bo Jackson was a beast in Tecmo Bowl.

[ATRAIN]

BTW, Bo Jackson was a beast in Tecmo Bowl.



Yes he was, it would be nice to be able to unlock him in Madden.

[sribb43]

I just want to see at least a couple of pitchers that I can look at and be like, "Man those guys will help this team next year".

So far all I have seen that I like that could help are Hurley and Madrigal

[monosylab1k]

I just want to see at least a couple of pitchers that I can look at and be like, "Man those guys will help this team next year".

So far all I have seen that I like that could help are Hurley and Madrigal

If our young pitchers could fucking stay healthy this team's future would look a lot brighter. I love Hurley so far, and still have hopes for Harrison, McCarthy, & Gabbard.

Maybe Connor wasn't conditioning these guys properly or something, and that's why they can't stay healthy.

[sribb43]

If our young pitchers could fucking stay healthy this team's future would look a lot brighter. I love Hurley so far, and still have hopes for Harrison, McCarthy, & Gabbard.

Maybe Connor wasn't conditioning these guys properly or something, and that's why they can't stay healthy.

make Nolan the pitching coach so he can get these guys conditioned to pitch 120-130 pitches per start.

Gabbard needs to learn to throw strikes and walks kill him. I cant remember how McCarthy pitches because his ass has been hurt for over a year.

Harrison has his moments so far, hopefully Hawkins will get his young guys headed in the rigth direction

[dallaskd]

This game is intense so far. These balks are bullshit

[dallaskd]

and the umps just changed the call on kinsler. :lol

wtf is this?

[dallaskd]

yeahh bitches!!!!!!!!!!! 3 run homer for young!!!!!!!!!!!! fuck off yankees!!!

[dallaskd]

padilla is a beast. he looks angry. fuck the yanks.

[dallaskd]

Holy Shit!!! Walk Off Grandslam For Byrd!!!!!!!!!!! Fuck Off Yankees!!!!!!!!!!!

[Whisky Dog]

Byrd with the GS Winner. Exciting game.

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/9715/byrd1yl7.jpg

[Whisky Dog]

CJ Wilson looks to be completely busted, but maybe he can pull his head out of his ass.

Eddie Guardado is one tough minded SOB. Put his mentality with CJ's stuff and you have Nolan Ryan V2.0

[sribb43]

CJ = "Choke Job"

He is also immature, anyone see what he did when Wash pulled him.... Wilson walked by Wash and flipped him the ball. Wash called him back, grabbed his arm, gave him the ball back, and told him to hand him the ball. What disrespect shown to your manager. Hey CJ its not Ron's fault you cant get anyone out

[monosylab1k]

CJ = "Choke Job"

He is also immature, anyone see what he did when Wash pulled him.... Wilson walked by Wash and flipped him the ball. Wash called him back, grabbed his arm, gave him the ball back, and told him to hand him the ball. What disrespect shown to your manager. Hey CJ its not Ron's fault you cant get anyone out

Well he's getting surgery on his arm, but that still doesn't excuse him being a little baby out there.

Props to Ron for regulating.

[traitoravery]

I dont think I have ever said this but, WOW what a great time to be a Ranger fan. I do not care what happens the rest of the season the future has never been brighter. Go Rangers.

[pkbpkb81]

Millwood And Macarthy Will Be Back Soon That Will Help, We Need One Of The Next Two Games, Them We Go To Bal Got Sweep The Then 2 Out Of 3 In Bos

Go Rangers

[ATRAIN]

I thought for sure the Rangers were going to blow last nights game with Abreu, Jeter, Arod all batting in the 9th. I wanted to see a rumble when Hamilton got beaned as redemption for the A-rod beanings!! Hell of a game though.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Go Rangers

[balli]

I must say, I don't watch the AL much and even if I were I wouldn't be a Rangers fan by any stretch, but the other night, I saw Josh Hamilton make an insanely long, no bounce, pure frozen rope throw to 3rd base from somewhere in center-right and I was absolutely blown away. One of the coolest players in a long, long time. Props.

[sribb43]

So much for the race....the Rangers really needed to take at least 3 of 4 and after winning the 1st 2 games, it looked promising. They have a tough stretch coming up with BOS, TB and Detriot + Baltimore is solid at home

[monosylab1k]

This team just isn't good enough yet. If their pitching was healthy, it would look much better. In all their years of shitty pitching, I've never seen a group so plagued by injuries. If we were rolling out a rotation of Padilla-Millwood-Gabbard-Hurley-McCarthy I honestly think that would good enough to put the Rangers in the WC.

With the double-A pitching staff they've got assembled right now, the best they can do is win 82 to 86 games.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Go Rangers

[FromWayDowntown]

Down 10-0 after 1 inning and 12-2 after the third, but now up 15-14 at the end of six?

Guess the Rangers converted that deuce.

[ducks]

after ortiz hit 2 three run homeruns in first

[ATRAIN]

Wow crazy game, they were talking about it during the Astros game and if they were showing it I would have switched it to that game.

[sribb43]

can we stop sending out Luis Mendoza, the game is over for the Rangers after the 3rd inning bc he gives up so many early runs

[monosylab1k]

can we stop sending out Luis Mendoza, the game is over for the Rangers after the 3rd inning bc he gives up so many early runs

everybody pitching sucks so bad it really doesn't matter.

I think they're in for an epic tailspin. Pitchers either can't fucking stay healthy or they just flat out suck. The offense is finally appearing so defeated by the shitty pitching that they look like their on the verge of giving up. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

btw serious question, is this current active pitching staff the worst in MLB history?

[Tippecanoe]

btw serious question, is this current active pitching staff the worst in MLB history?

the 2003 detroit tigers had some pretty horrendous pitching, although texas might have them beat

EDIT: meant to say 2003, not 2004, oops

[sribb43]

the 2004 detroit tigers had some pretty horrendous pitching, although texas might have them beat

just looked on yahoo and even in the tigers 119 loss season in 2003 the Rangers still managed to have a worse ERA

Tigers 5.30
Rangers 5.67

Expect the ERA to go up before it comes down

So far this season the Rangers have a 5.41 ERA w/ a 1.61 WHIP:depressed

[Tippecanoe]

i just looked it up, and the 1996 detroit tigers had a pretty awful pitching staff.

how awful?

a team ERA of 6.38 awful (http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/1996.shtml)

[AFBlue]

Gave up another 7 runs last night, including 4 home runs....all while getting shut out.

If their pitching is going to be this bad, they REALLY need their bats to be consistent.