Oh man – it’s been quite some time since I’ve been able to use this graphic!
A nice sweep of the Oakland A’s last night concluded with a 9-4 win held up largely by a massive 7 run first inning. What’s really interesting about this 7 run inning is that all 7 runs were unearned. I’ve always felt that if an error leads to an unearned run, and the same error was committed by the pitcher, that it should then count as an earned run. I know that isn’t a terribly original thought, but one that I’ve held for a long time.
Was nice to see (well, listen, I couldn’t get the game due to my ongoing cable problems) the seven run first inning – we haven’t had one of those in a long time. We sent Kenny Rogers to the mound in the second inning with a 7 run lead. The last time I can remember this happening in the first was a game last year against KC where we scored 9 in the first. Still, it was nice to see, and we could have used some of these against Seattle.
Anyway, it seemed like just about everyone got in on the action in the first inning – I like it when the action is spread around, not just a big jack by one player with everyone else making an out. Everyone in the starting lineup scored at least one run (except Pudge). Mike Lamb continues to be my best surprise player of this year, going 3 for 5, and is nipping the heels of .300.
Pitching wise, Kenny Rogers was good, if not awesome – Crabtree wasn’t out there long enough to create another problem, and Zimmerman looked like Zimmerman – it seems like he’s coming around, finally.
Hopefully some of this can continue beyond this series, as all we did was pick up one game in the standings after going 6-3 against the AL West the last few games. We see the west again in two weeks when we visit Anaheim & Seattle. I’m hopeful we will be on a really good roll by then.
Well, as much as last night’s game was about Ryan Glynn, tonight’s game was about Eric Gagne. He shut down the Rangers with only a few hits, and when we had a chance, we couldn’t follow through.
The only good thing tonight was Pudge, who went 3 for 4 with a solo home run in the 8th for our only run. Most everyone else was silent. In fact only three Rangers had any hits at all – Pudge (3), Segui (2), & Raffy (1). That was it. Scarborough Green almost had his first major league home run, as he hit a ball, and it was called a HR. The fireworks went off, the music from the Natural played, and there was thunderous applause. However, about halfway through the trot, I saw the umps standing in the basepaths conferring, and I knew it would be taken away – it was. That was a shame, even if it really was a foul ball – it would have been nice.
I sat in one of two remaining places in the ballpark that I’d never sat in before. Far left field. I sat in Section 301 row 1. To tell you the truth, it wasn’t all that bad after the second inning. For the first two innings, I had to sit with my head down and my cap’s brim over the sun, as it was very sunny out there. But for $6, it wasn’t all that bad really – even though I missed seeing the out of town scoreboard. :)

I was at this game, and at this game, and at this game. Geez – a 3 hour 50 minute game! That coupled with the fireworks afterwards led to some huge traffic clogs afterwards. Since I’m writing this a few days after the fact, I’m not going to comment on the game much, but I will comment on some of the other things that happened.
My wife and I have attended the several July 4th games – they’re always a big deal for the both of us. During the pre-game ceremonies, they brought out the latest batch of Air Force cadets, and they were sworn in on field. That, coupled with the “July 4th” feeling, and the honor guard with the flag, and everyone else there is an awesome feeling for me personally. Then they hit us with the song God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood, and I just end up crying.
However, the most entertaining thing of the night had to be the marriage proposals. You know, the thing where some guy proposes to a woman on the Jumbotron. Well, they had one of those at this game. I’m always the guy who stands there shouting “No – don’t do it – Save yourself!” I personally don’t like these things, I think they’re trite. Well, a few innings after that, there was another one. And this one was awesome. The woman shook her hands no, tossed her coke on the guy and started to run away. The guy followed her, and they disappeared down a tunnel. Well, that got a lot of laughs, and shocked reactions from the folks in the crowd. The day after, I called Chuck Morgan (the PA and entertainment guy for the Rangers), and asked him about it. To make a long story short, it was a setup. Chuck said that they’ve been doing these things for a long time, and that the Rangers get like 30 or 40 requests a day to do something like that. He said he’d been threatening to do a fake one for a long time, and tonight he did it. He also told me that the two kids involved were interns at the Ballpark.
The fake marriage proposal was one of the funniest things I’ve seen at a ballgame in quite some time – and this was before I found out it was a fake in the first place. :)

No commentary available.

Sigh.
This game started off as an awesome pitcher’s duel – until the top of the 7th. I thought Matt Perisho, despite some walks in the first, pitched an awesome game. Then came the Rangers’ 2000 problem, the shaky bullpen. Gave up 7 in the 7th, and that was about it.
At this point, since we were so behind, I fell asleep during the game, as I was watching it timeshifted on my TiVo (I was out for the evening, and didn’t start watching until about midnight).
If we lose 2 of 3 or get swept by the A’s, that’s probably about it for this season.

I was right (see last game’s commentary). It didn’t last. We lost to the Mariners 6-3, although it wasn’t from a lack of trying. We had the usual offensive problems, leaving too many men on base, and in scoring position, no less.
Ryan Glynn started the game, and looked damn good, I thought. I’m glad he’s come up to the bigs this year, and has pitched great. However, a potential problem reared his head during the game – a blister (which they showed on TV) on one of the fingers on his pitching hand. He had to come out in the 4th, and that was bad for two reasons. First, Glynn was pitching well. Second, Mark Clark came in. After Clark’s appearance, I would tend to think that this is the final appearance for him this season – I think he’ll be released before the All-Star game in a week. That’s too bad, I really wanted him to succeed when he came here first, but he’s done nothing to warrant his salary. Bye Clark. Francisco Cordero didn’t pitch much better (actually, his line was worse).
This season really feels like 97 again. Even if we make the playoffs, I doubt we’d go anywhere – I say cut our losses and start prepping for next season now.
Gabe Kapler had a good night (about the only one), going 2 for 3, scoring two of the three runs we got (Pudge scored the other). Gabe’s average is now up over .250. That’s not really setting the world on fire, but it’s a helluva lot better than the .190 he had not all that long ago. I’m glad to see him coming around with the stick, and as well in the field, too.
After the game, Glynn was put on the 15 day DL to help him get rid of the blister for good. Doug Davis was called up to be a left hand reliever in the pen.

It’s about time we busted out like this – and it happened at a good time, too! This is the first time we’ve won three in a row since June 5th!
Our most consistent pitcher of the year, Kenny Rogers was on the hill, and looked fairly decent, if not totally overpowering. He went 7 innings, and gave up only 3 earned runs – a “Quality Start”. One of our most inconsistent pitchers took over for him (Crabtree), and threw two scoreless innings, giving up only a single hit. My gut feeling is that it won’t last. I’ve kind of lost faith in Crabtree this season – so much so, I dropped him from the couple of fantasy teams of mine I had him on.
Raffy really looks like he’s coming out of his funk – he went 3 for 5 tonight, driving in two, and scoring three himself. Offense was the name of this game, as we scored 13 for the first time in awhile. Rusty was 2 for 5, and has raised his average 80 points in the couple of weeks since he’s come off the DL. Chad Curtis was 3 for 4.. I could go on. Was a great night for the offense.
However, my gut feeling says it won’t last.