This was the (what appears to be now annual) Jamey Newberg game. This is where folks who get Jamey Newberg’s newsletter all gather together and attend a game. Last year there was a bunch of is crammed into the biggest suite they have out in left field above the bell. This year there was something like 200 of us, and we were spread out over ten suites which seemed to be above Sections 206-216. As with last year, even though I scored the game, my heart wasn’t into it, as folks were chatting about the Rangers, the Futures game on TV, and other things, so I’m not writing much about the game, except this. Nice to get a sweep and go into the break only 5 down. I’d say most of us would feel pretty good about that.
The get together was nice, as I got to talk to some people I didn’t know, some I did. A really nice mix. This was Rusty Greer Day where the team honored Rusty, showed a bunch of highlights, had some former players there, etc. They gave Rusty some gifts, and basically was nice to see him back out on the field again. Hopefully gets more involved with the team soon. As a father, I understand the desire to want to be with your kids very well, though.
There was a lot going on, as it was also the toy drive game, and those who brought at least one toy got put into a raffle for some door prizes. I won one, I got an autographed Drew Meyer ball – very nice. Thanks Jamey!
Before the Rusty Greer ceremony, we were all in the auditorium that’s behind the the museum. We had several speakers, one being Will Carroll (always a good chat), Asst GM Jon Daniels, as well as John Wetteland, and finally Jim Sundberg. Was nice of all those guys to come talk to us fans, so it was all appreciated.
Anyway, here’s some pictures of the proceedings. During the auditorium sessions, I had some issues with red eye. I tried to fix it, and in a lot of cases I did, but unfortunately I couldn’t repair Jon Daniels’ pictures. I posted one of him. It’s not great, but the others I took were even worse.
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I probably wasn’t the only one watching this game thinking Kenny was nervous in the first inning. He gave up a double, a single, and a home run, and we were down 3-0 after just one out into the game. Quite honestly, I expected more boos out of the crowd. I think it would have happened if Kenny had not apologized a couple of days ago, but I’m tired of talking about that situation. But after that, Kenny settled down nicely, as those were the only runs he gave up. Kenny wasn’t totally sharp tonight, he did give up 8 hits (no walks), but pitched well enough to earn his 10th win of the season.
Offensively, we exploded for seven runs in the third inning on a barrage of hits (I think 8 in a row, three of which were home runs) after there were two outs in the third. Gary Matthews got it going with a home run to left that TV quite clearly showed was foul, but was ruled a home run – even after the umps got together and discussed it. If that was ruled foul, and Gary was out after that, we wouldn’t have gotten any of those 7 runs. So thank you Blue. We tacked on two more in the fourth, and three more in the sixth to go up 12-3. I was feeling quite comfortable. Kenny was rolling. Mark Teixeira had two home runs, 6 RBI, and 4 hits overall. Things were good.
Until our bullpen decided to roll over and die in the 9th. Kameron Loe was good in the 8th, but in the 9th, Juan Dominguez & Doug Brocail came on. Between the two of them, they faced 7 batters, and got no one out. We gave up a 7 spot to match the one we ourselves got earlier in the game. We managed to hang on, mostly because Francisco Cordero had to come on after our 9th inning debacle allowed it to become a save situation again.
We got the win, but it shouldn’t have been anywhere near as close as it was. The Angels lost again too, so we’re back up to 6 games down. If we can sweep tomorrow, we could go into the break 5 games down, which I think is better than most of us anticipated after the first two games of the Anaheim series here two weeks ago.
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I think like a lot of Ranger fans, I got disgusted after the second inning. John Wasdin pitched like the journeyman pitcher he was before he appears to have “found it” this year. He gave up 6 runs in the second inning, to put us in the hole against Cy Young candidate Roy Halladay. If you were someone who tuned the game out after that, then I would agree with you, as I’ve been known to tune out in those circumstances. However, this game I stayed with it, and I was glad I did. We were only down 6-2 after the second inning, and we picked up another run in the third, and two more in the fourth.
However, the third was the moment of change for the game. Kevin Mench nailed Roy Halladay in the leg with a batted ball that really looked like a big ol’ ouch. Halladay had to come out of the game, and it was mentally I think the moment that the game turned. Halladay was out, and I think a sense of “We can come back now” was what most were feeling. But we didn’t take adavantage of it much, as the game remained 6-5 through till the bottom of the ninth. We had chances, though. In the second inning, Mark Teixeira was called out on a strike that really looked too low – Tex very openly complained about it, which he rarely does. Thing is, Hank Blalock came up to start the third and hit a home run. Now I know that doesn’t mean he would have gotten one if he had come up in the second, but it’s one of those Grrrr. moments. :)
But the bottom of the ninth was more or less handed to us on a plate by the Blue Jays. They made three errors in the inning. Hank Blalock was awarded second on a two base throwing error. Alfonso Soriano then singled to tie the game scoring Blalock. Sori tried to steal second, and Gregg Zaun tossed the ball into center, sending Sori to third on the second run of the inning. Finally, Rod Barajas hit a ball to short, and their shortstop threw the ball away trying to get Sori at home for the third and game winning error. Nice come from behind win, and we picked up one on the Angels, too.
A nice side note is that Mike Young almost got a cycle. He had a single, home run, and triple after the fourth inning. But he never could get the double to finish it off. Still, he went 4-5 and his batting average is way up there now (.334 after this game). Gotta love he’s going to the All Star Game, and Derek Jeter isn’t.
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I’m writing this on Friday, as I’m trying to wrap up a bunch of things at work for the weekend, so I don’t have much recollection of this game. I didn’t think Chan Ho Park pitched all that bad, though.
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Well, I only superficially was paying attention to this game, as I needed to do a few things related to baby care. When I came back to peek at the score, and saw it was 7-0 starting the fourth, I turned it off. I find as my attention is demanded elsewhere more often I have less patience to watch games that we get bombed early in.
We did come back to make it at least respectable, 7-4. but it felt like it was 70-4. Always is with Wakefield. You either blow him out with 8 runs in the first 1.2 IP, or he does what he did, make you look stupid.
We looked stupid last night.
One thing I did like, even if it was at the Rangers’ expense was Manny Ramirez’ grand slam. That gives him 20 for his career, and he’ll break the all time Grand Slam record held by Lou Gehrig (needs 4 to do that). I’ve always liked Manny. Don’t have a concrete reason. Manny’s also the only player who I have a foul ball from. About 6 years ago, when Manny was with Cleveland, he hit a foul off the hand of Aaron Sele, and I got it. My one foul ball in about 33 years of going to baseball games. :)
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