Juan Dominguez has probably pitched himself out of the starting rotation with his performance today. He went 4 innings, gave up four earned runs on 5 hits with three walks. Not the stuff a guy looking to earn a spot needs to put up. If you’ve been following the Rangers recently, you’ll know that Dominguez is one of those “lots of talent, can’t put it together for long” type of guys. The team from what I can gather was hoping he’d step up and win a job. Doesn’t look like it will happen, he continues to fail to grab a hold of the opportunities in front of him.
Scott Feldman, who is a dark horse to make the club, but did well in his 05 appearances, threw a shutout frame. R.A. Dickey, who is likely to be the #5 guy went 2IP, and gave up a couple of runs. Not lights out either, but he’s been way more consistant than Dominguez has been. Antonio Alfonseca also gave up a run in his inning, but I don’t think he’s a serious candidate to make the club, anyway.
Read a story tonight where the Rangers lead all spring training clubs in home runs. What a shock that is. That’s all we do, really. :) We had two more in this game, one by Mark DeRosa, and another by Phil Nevin. In fact, we only had 6 hits in the whole game, and outside of the home runs, Adam Hyzdu had two of the remaining four hits. Not a lot there.
We’re getting closer, I’d expect to see some big moves made in the next day or so, as we break camp on Thursday, I believe.
ST25: Mar 28, 2006 vs. A’s (L: 8-3)
10-14-1 (.417) – 8th – 6.5 Dn – Streak L2
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Game Recap
PHOENIX (AP) — All winter, Frank Thomas worked out with the hope of being ready by opening day.
He is fit and healthy now, and his swing isn’t bad either.
Oakland’s new designated hitter drove in two runs on sacrifice flies in the Athletics’ 8-3 win over Texas on Tuesday. He sharply lined the ball to left in a four-run third against starter Juan Dominguez, then added a fly to center in the fifth.
Thomas played in just his second Cactus League game. He made several minor league appearances, but the A’s have taken extra precautions with the slugger this spring after injuries shortened his last two seasons with the Chicago White Sox.
Thomas was cleared to play Saturday after having his troublesome left ankle examined by team physician Dr. Jerrald Goldman and hit a home run in his first game Sunday against Colorado.
His productive at-bats Tuesday were another positive sign for the A’s, who signed Thomas to $500,000, one-year contract in January.
“Nice approach, two sacrifice flies,” manager Ken Macha said. “Jerrald’s been working on it with him.”
Thomas plans to play in consecutive games for the first time Wednesday, when the A’s host the San Francisco Giants in the last Arizona game for both squads before they meet again this weekend back in the Bay Area.
“The likelihood of him playing back-to-back is good,” Macha said.
Thomas was not available after the game.
Mark DeRosa and Phil Nevin homered for Texas. DeRosa hit a solo shot in the first off Joe Blanton, who bounced back for his first exhibition win thanks in large part to Thomas.
Thomas began last season on the disabled list following surgery on his left ankle, played for the first time on May 31, then went back on the DL on July 21 with another left ankle fracture. He did not play again and could only watch as the White Sox swept Houston to win the World Series for the first time since 1917.
Thomas batted .219 with 12 homers and 26 RBIs in 34 games after playing only 74 games in 2004 following a 42-homer season the previous year.
The Big Hurt, who turns 38 next month, lost 15 pounds from his muscular 6-foot-5 frame and weighs about 275 pounds heading into Monday’s season opener in Oakland against the New York Yankees. He even took to riding a stationary bike in the sauna this offseason to boost his cardiovascular capability.
During December’s winter meetings in Dallas, the White Sox declined to offer him salary arbitration, ending a 16-year relationship between Thomas and his only major league team. He was shocked but has said he is now focused on what’s ahead with the A’s, who have missed the playoffs the past two seasons.
Thomas’ deal includes $2.6 million in incentives based on plate appearances and not hurting his ankle.
“He looks like he’s getting locked in,” Blanton said. “The whole team benefits from him being in the lineup. He looks like he’s ready to go.”
Dominguez, competing for the No. 5 spot in the Rangers’ rotation, allowed four runs and five hits in four innings, walked three and struck out one.
Manager Buck Showalter said Texas officials would discuss the pitching staff later Tuesday.
“He had one inning that got away from him but otherwise he pitched OK,” Showalter said. “His command and walks were a bit of a problem. It seemed like when he really reached back, his command suffered.”
Notes
A’s 3B Eric Chavez, the cleanup hitter batting in front of Thomas, was thrown out on the bases twice. … Oakland RHP reliever Justin Duchscherer pitched in a minor league game to stay on schedule. … Texas C Gerald Laird was a perfect 5-for-5 throwing out base stealers until Jay Payton stole second in the sixth. … A’s INF Antonio Perez was cleared to play after missing four days with dizziness caused when he fouled a ball off home plate and was hit in the nose on Thursday. … The Rangers, 4-1 as a road team to start spring training and 2-6 since, lead the Cactus League with 40 homers and have 13 in their last six games.
Box Score
CAC FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 3 6 1 OAKLAND 0 0 4 0 1 1 0 2 x 8 11 0 FINAL
WP - JOE BLANTON (1-3) LP - JUAN DOMINGUEZ (1-2)
HOME RUNS: TEX - MARK DEROSA (2) OFF JOE BLANTON IN THE 1ST PHIL NEVIN (5) OFF KIKO CALERO IN THE 9TH
TIME: 2:27 ATT: 5,080
TEXAS (3) AT OAKLAND (8)
TEXAS AB R H BI OAKLAND AB R H BI A Brown cf 3 1 1 0 M Ellis 2b 3 1 1 0 D Jimenez ss 3 0 0 1 M Scutaro 2b 1 0 1 1 M Derosa 3b 4 1 1 1 M Kotsay cf 3 1 1 1 P Nevin 1b 4 1 1 1 D Johnson 1b 2 0 1 1 R Barajas dh 4 0 0 0 B Crosby ss 2 0 1 1 A Hyzdu rf 4 0 2 0 A Perez ss 2 1 1 0 J Brewer pr 0 0 0 0 E Chavez 3b 3 0 2 1 G Laird c 4 0 0 0 K Ginter 3b 1 0 0 0 I Kinsler 2b 3 0 1 0 F Thomas dh 1 0 0 2 S Murphy lf 2 0 0 0 S McClain dh 1 0 0 0 R Eldridge lf 1 0 0 0 M Bradley rf 3 0 0 0 B Kielty rf 1 0 0 0 J Payton lf 3 2 1 0 J Kendall c 2 0 0 0 J Baker c 1 1 1 0 N Swisher 1b 2 2 1 0 TOTALS 32 3 6 3 TOTALS 31 8 11 7
TEXAS 100 001 001 -- 3 OAKLAND 004 011 02x -- 8
E--D Jimenez. DP--TEXAS 3. LOB--TEXAS 5, OAKLAND 8. 2B--A Hyzdu, I Kinsler. 3B--A Brown. HR--M Derosa 1 (2) (off J Blanton), P Nevin 1 (5) (off K Calero). SB--J Payton 1 (1). CS--E Chavez. SF--F Thomas 2, D Jimenez.
IP H R ER BB SO HR TEXAS J Dominguez (L,1-2) 4 5 4 4 3 1 0 S Feldman 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 A Alfonseca 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 R Dickey 2 3 2 2 3 1 0 OAKLAND J Blanton (W,1-3) 6 4 2 2 0 5 1 J Witasick 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 K Calero 1 2 1 1 0 1 1
PB--G Laird. SO--TEX: G Laird 2, D Jimenez 2, A Brown, R Eldridge, S Murphy, M Derosa. OAK: M Kotsay, M Bradley, N Swisher, S McClain. BB--TEX: A Brown, I Kinsler. OAK: N Swisher 2, K Ginter, J Kendall, J Payton, M Scutaro, B Crosby. T--2:27. A--5,080.