Rodriguez Proves He Is Still A Star in Texas

Ivan Rodriguez proved he's still got game on Wednesday night despite Texas blowing another lead in a 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with an RBI and also scored a run.

Welcome Home Pudge was the main theme. By that I mean, like most long time Rangers fans, (myself included), we all see Rodriguez return no different than your son or daughter coming home after being gone overseas for years. Most of us watched this young man grow up right before our very eyes and we have missed him as a Ranger.

"It was nice," said Rodriguez, "The ovation from the fans, I appreciated that a lot. At the same time, it was a tough game. We got the lead early, and they were able to come back. Other that it, it was good, it was nice. I just wish we could have won the game."

Rodriguez did his part, I would say he did more than his part, and he had plenty of support. Sure the players were there, but I’m talking about the crowd of 33,479 on Wednesday, with several wearing old Rodriguez jerseys and carrying signs. That's more than 12,000 more fans than they had on Tuesday night, and a lot of that can be attributed to the arrival of Rodriguez.

Rodriguez received several standing ovations. Batting eighth, he singled to center in his first at-bat in the third inning and scored the game's first run. He followed with a double to right-center in the fourth, scoring Ian Kinsler. He added a single to right in the sixth.

Now off my soap box for Pudge and onto my soap box about the team and the last 3 games. I was at the game on Monday night in person and I can tell you this team looks tired. On Monday night when they brought in Neftali Feliz he had no energy. He still made it thru but just barely! Kevin Millwood ran out of gas last night. The position players have been grinding for a while in critical games and that may be taking a toll.

The Rangers have a day off on Monday, but have to find a way to Man Up and push through this weekend before they get there. Guess we will find out what kind of Manager Ron Washington really is, as it will take some imagination and leadership to get them thru this.

Texas Rangers Welcome Home Pudge Rodriguez

Rangers fans, and you can count me as one of them are extremely excited as news spreads around Dallas that the Rangers reacquired All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez for two minor leaguers from the Houston Astros On Tuesday. “It’s been a long time,” said Rodriguez, who. “I’m glad that I’m back.

Rodriguez on his first trip with the Rangers played for Texas from 1991 to 2002 and moved on as a free agent. He left when the club refused to offer salary arbitration after the 2002 season. He signed with Florida and immediately won a World Series, then went to another World Series in five seasons with Detroit.

He was voted to the all star game 10-times as a Ranger, 13 times over his career. He helped lead the Rangers franchise only three playoff teams in 1996, 1998 and 1999, where he was the American League Most Valuable Player.

Currently Rodriguez is hitting .251 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs in 93 games and 344 plate appearances for the Astros.

As a Texas Ranger, Rodriguez caught 1,426 games, second in club history to Jim Sundberg’s 1,495. He hit .305 with 215 home runs and 829 RBIs.

If you want to know if the fans are happy, tonight Rodriguez walked out to deliver the lineup card to home plate and you would have thought the Rangers had just won a game 7 in the playoffs. Rodriiguez received a huge ovation. Tonight he is only available off the bench.

Michael Young said “It’s huge for our fan base,” Young seemed very excited about the trade. Young also said “He might be the best player in the history of our organization and probably the most popular. This is just a great move on all fronts.”

Rangers outfielder David Murphy had a decision to make. Murphy has been wearing Rodriguez No.7 jersey since coming to the Rangers. Murphy who has always been a class act said he will give up his No.7 and switched to the No. 14.

Ron Washington the Rangers manager said Rodriguez would back up Taylor Teagarden. Teagarden became the starting catcher replacing Jarrod Saltalamacchia who is currently on the disabled list. “Watching him play when I was a kid, you idolized him,” Teagarden said. “I have a chance to learn some things about how he handles himself on the field.”

General manager Jon Daniels said Saltalamacchia has symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome, which affects nerves near the shoulder and neck and can cause numbness in the arms. Daniels said Saltalamacchia has a milder form that can be treated with rest and rehabilitation. The team plans to have him back in September.

To make room for Rodriguez, the Rangers designated catcher Kevin Richardson for assignment. They have 10 days to trade, release or outright him to the minor leagues.

I am as excited as I can be about this move, like many long time Rangers fans I watched Rodriguez grow up as a player and a man with the Rangers. He will be nothing but an asset to the Rangers on the field and in the clubhouse. He will make a difference to this team. Welcome Home Pudge Rodriguez!

Did Francisco's Blown Save End Texas Rangers Playoff Hopes?

The Texas Rangers were in command! You could feel it in the air that once again they were going to take down the mighty Boston Red Sox. The stage was set and Rangers leading in the 9th with a score of 4-2 bring in Frank Francisco and you could just tell by his look or demeanor, just something about him that the 9th was going to end in disaster.

There was hit after hit after hit and the Red Sox scored one run, but still the Rangers seemed destined to win getting an out here and there, balls seemed to at least bounce their way like when Buchholz, a starting pitcher, that was brought in to pinch run because of his speed hesitated between second and third base when Texas left fielder David Murphy leaped to try to catch Pedroia’s drive at the wall.

Murphy hit Michael Young with a relay throw and Young’s relay beat a sliding Buchholz. The Red Sox ended up with runners at second and third, and that brought Victor Martinez to the plate for the Red Sox.

The Red Sox now trailing 4-3 were down to their last strike when Martinez ripped a pitch from Francisco into the right-field corner, scoring Ellsbury and Pedroia. Martinez said “I saw three pitches and finally got a fastball right down the middle and I got a good swing at it,”
Then the route was really on. Boston finished off Francisco with Jason Bay’s RBI single and an exclamation point when J.D. Drew blasted a two run homer.

Francisco (2-2), blew his third save in 19 chances, gave up seven hits and six runs. “I don’t want anyone at my locker so beat it,” Francisco said. It was the first time he’s allowed more than four hits or four runs in 203 major league appearances.

The Rangers when leading after eight innings at home had won 72 straight games. Dating back to September 2007.

Why oh why do we continue to put this guy back in the closers role? He has not proven himself effective since coming off the DL and now is not the time to give him a chance to work it out. I am not saying Francisco is a bad pitcher but right now, today, at this moment he is not a closer. He would make a good reliever where you have more control but he does not have that killer instinct that you need as a closer.

No one fears Frank Francisco.

The Boston Red Sox win extended their lead over Texas in the wild card to 1 1/2 games. What we have to hope is that the Rangers are not affected mentally by this loss! Games like this can change an entire season.

Top 10 College Football Teams, ESPN & USA Today vs Joe Shmo From Walmart

So here goes. Since we are as close as we can possibly get to the start of the College Football season, and ESPN and USA-TODAY just released their polls of the top 10 College teams, I began to think. You know, I bet the average JOE-SHMO-FROM-WALMART could do just as good a job as both of these professional organizations.

I decided to take a poll. I stood out front of WALMART in McKinney Texas and asked the first 100 people wearing anything that resembled some type of team sports wear to write down their pick of who they thought the number one team in College Football was. Based on the amount of votes per team, this is the order they picked. Side by side.

The more interesting part is if I had an unlimited amount of time each and every person would have spent an hour explaining why they picked the team they picked.
JOE-SHMO-FROM-WALMART did pretty well, the breakdown was (63male-17 age 18yrs or below) and the rest (37female-7 age 18yrs or below).

ESPN POWER POLL /USA-TODAY /JOE-SHMO-FROM WALMART

1. FLORIDA 1. FLORIDA 1. OKLAHOMA

2. TEXAS 2. TEXAS 2. USC

3. OKLAHOMA 3. OKLAHOMA 3. FLORIDA

4. USC 4. USC 4. TEXAS

5. ALABAMA 5. ALABAMA 5. LSU

6. OHIO STATE 6. OHIO STATE 6. OHIO STATE

7. VIRGINIA TECH 7. VIRGINIA TECH 7. OKLAHOMA STATE

8. MISSISSIPPI 8. PENN STATE 8. ALABAMA

9. PENN STATE 9. LSU 9. VIRGINIA TECH

10. LSU 10. MISSISSIPPI 10. TCU

Josh Hamilton, "I Am A Human, I Still Have Struggles"

Josh Hamilton like all addicts has and will have ongoing struggles with addiction. This is not something new to anyone that has experienced addiction as an addict, loved one or family member. Josh Hamilton, the Texas Rangers center fielder slipped up from his recovery and drank alcohol in an Arizona bar in January of this year.

On Saturday morning August 8th an internet site, Deadspin posted 12 photos of Hamilton drinking and partying in a Tempe, Arizona bar before the start of this season. They pictured Hamilton with several young women, without his shirt on in several of the photos. Hamilton is never pictured drinking or doing drugs.

Hamilton immediately addressed the media in Anaheim prior to the Texas Rangers game with the Angels, and confessed to drinking that night in January. He says the incident was a one-time thing. "I'm embarrassed about it," said Hamilton, who is married and has children. "I can't have alcohol”. It's a realization. It's amazing how those things creep back in”.

Most baseball players will not spend time with the media talking about what they do during their personal time. However the reason this story has received so much press is because of Hamilton’s promotion of himself and his struggles with addiction that very nearly cost him his Major league career.

During the offseason, Hamilton toured, promoting his best-selling book “Beyond Belief, Finding The Strength To Come Back”. Because of his performance during the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium, and constant coverage by the media of his comeback, Hamilton gained thousands of dedicated followers.

I too will confess myself to be one of those dedicated followers of Josh Hamilton. However I do have a question or two for Hamilton, his family and friends, as well as his Texas Rangers family. Where were you? A person such as Josh Hamilton does not just go out on their own to some random bar in Tempe Arizona! Where were you? It’s not as if you all didn’t know of his struggles. Where were you? Josh in your faith in yourself and God, Where were you?

In the end will this change my dedication as a fan of Josh Hamilton, No! If anything his handling of the situation has shown me that in this day and age of the prim donna superstar that cheats their way to the top with performance enhancing drugs, there are still a few stand up players out there that will seek responsibility and take responsibility for their own actions.

Does Josh Hamilton really owe us an explanation? I say no. I believe that the only person’s he owes an explanation to is, His Family, His Close Personal Friends, and The Texas Rangers. All of which he confessed to the day after the incident happened in January. I realize that’s not good enough for a lot of you. To you I say he gave you all the explanation you need when Hamilton said,

“I am a human. I still have struggles”

Texas Rangers, "Tomorrow Is A New Day" Or Is It Over?

Well Texas Rangers Baseball fans, I think that I can sum up Game 2 in Oakland against the A’s in one phrase, “Total Loss Of Confidence”. All it took was one total and complete melt down in the 9th inning of game 1 on Monday, and injuries to key players (Kinsler, Cruz). Combine this with the arrival of rookie Joaquin Arias (that is not pulling his weight in the field or at the plate) call up to replace Kinsler, and Josh Hamilton’s total break down at the plate and boom there you have it! “It’s a bad day for me on defense,” Arias said. “Tomorrow is a new day.”

Well Mr. Arias you had better wake up! Tomorrow could be the end of the Rangers playoff hopes! Tomorrow is today!

Derek Holland walked too many batters in his encore performance after a career-best outing last week. It’s as though he is Jekyl and Hyde as a pitcher! “They got away with a couple of them,”said Holland, who was trying to duplicate his effort last Thursday against the Mariners. “I was trying to do too much out there. I’m trying to make too many perfect pitches, and the ball started getting away.”

The defense didn’t make the plays it usually has this season. You could just see the loss of confidence permeate the whole team as they continued to fail time after time.
The Rangers were held without a hit until the fifth inning, and only one walk as they hacked, missed and chased curveball after curveball from left-hander Gio Gonzalez who entered the game with a 7.38 ERA, and an opponents average of .323

Third baseman Michael Young who continued his hitting streak (11 Games) said “In the end, it doesn’t matter,” Young said. “We didn’t score any runs. They push one across, and they win.”

The Rangers didn’t lose any ground in the playoff picture despite losing a second consecutive game. The Los Angeles Angels, and The Boston Red Sox both lost, and the Rangers stayed 4 1/2 games back in the American League West and 3 back in the wild-card race.

The only possible good news for the Rangers on Wednesday night is they won’t be facing another left-hander. The A’s right-hander Chad Reineke, who will be called up from Triple A Sacramento will get the start.

Ron Washington who suddenly has gotten away from the great small ball style he was playing said “We’ve got to bounce back, put some runs on the board and play baseball the way we know we can play.”

Bottom line is this series against Oakland could cost the Rangers! They need to Play like they want to be in the playoffs, “Tomorrow is another day”? What if Tomorrow never comes!