As I sit here on Sunday morning 30 minutes from today’s game, I’m finding it hard to figure out how to write about the game (as I burnt out on writing about this game yesterday), so I’ll write about what was around the game for me…
Two in a row! My head is spinning – because I was at both of these! I was walking out of the stadium last night, and I said to the friend I was with, “Last night, I used up all my wow stuff for the 17-16 game, how am I going to write about this one?”
It’s true – this night seemed like a carbon copy of last night, except with a lower score. Last night we scored 33 runs, tonight 21. Last night there were 37 hits, tonight there were 31 hits. Last night there were two errors, tonight there were four; there was five, but one got changed to a hit after the game. I really never thought I’d get to see this kind of ending two nights in a row – even down to the really bizarre fielding set up by the A’s (two outfielders, the third in the infield as a fifth infielder) in the bottom of the ninth.
I was there with a friend (Paul, who runs ballparks.com), and his brother. We had a great time, and for the first time in my life that I could ever recall, I had a glove at the game (I was sitting in section 220) – didn’t catch anything though. If you’ve ever visited Paul’s site, you’lll know that the focus on his site is on the parks themselves, and not so much the game. Paul spent a lot of time taking pictures of the place, and was marvelling at the architecture of the Ballpark. He even gave it better reviews than some of the new parks this season which he’s seen, which is high praise considering
One other cool thing – when I was on the 200 level, I got to say hello to Chuck Morgan, the Rangers’ ballpark PA guy (among other things). He invited me and my friends into his booth for a few minutes – that was VERY cool, getting to see Chuck Morgan’s booth, as well as the control room for all the signs, computers, etc in the park. I took pictures (of course), and I’ll be putting those online Tuesday most likely).
That’s about it for me, time to get off the computer and watch Sunday afternoon’s game. Doug Davis, a rookie makes a start, let’s hope he fares better than Oliver & Helling have lately.

Good lord! What a game! I was actually at this one, and for the last three innings, I could do nothing more than shake my head. This game was so bizarre, it was a complete roller coaster of emotions ride. This was one of those games where you didn’t seem to notice the pitching – this was an offensive game all around.
It started off strong early – with the Rangers getting out to a 5-0 lead with our first 5 spot frame of the year (I think). It felt good, actually. I thought the five runs we scored in the seconnd inning would be enough to win the game. However, in the fourth and fifth, Darren Oliver (who I mistakenly did not activate in my fantasy team – good thing) gave up a few jacks, and the game was tied up at 5 again. However, in the bottom of the fifth, we came back with several singles, and picked up two runs, going back up 7-5. I thought that was nice, because Darren Oliver was coming out top of the 6th, and we scored before he was officially replaced, so he could get the win.
In comes Matt Perisho. Everyone seems high on Matt, but my gut feeling has always told me he won’t be a big league pitcher all that long. I still can’t get the 98 appearance (when the Rangers also tried Todd Van Poppel) where he gave up 11 or 12 runs in less than two, and he more or less did exactly the same thing again. Matt was bad – walking four guys in the span of his time (could have been more, I don’t have my notes here). The first inning he pitched, he walked the bases full, and then Grieve doubled, scoring all three walks – just to complete it, a home run to Jeremy Giambi brought the A’s to being up by 3 with a 2 run home run. Perisho’s next inning was worse, giving up five more runs, putting us down by a score of 15-7.
At this point, it felt really bleak. However, the next pitch up, Pudge hit a home run on the first pitch of the 7th, and just that one seemed a big momentum builder. Funny, scoring 16 runs, and this was the only one that came off the long ball. We went on to score two more runs in this inning to bring it to 15-10. Still five down, but feeling “Well, maybe it could happen”. Zim gave up the home run to put us 6 back again, and it was like “Oh well”. However, the Rangers didn’t give up (but a lot of fans did; it seemed to empty out after 15-7), put put up a 6 spot (our first of the year) in the bottom of the 8th. Oakland used a ton of different pitchers that inning (four I think), and it didn’t matter – we kept hitting. Singles everywhere, along with a good sac bunt by Jason McDonald in the middle of it, and we had tied the game up. The moment they tied it up, sitting in the stands, you felt that the entire crowd was really proud of the Rangers – I just got this very cool vibe when the score was tied up.
The 9th was also a blast, because Wetteland came in and shut down the A’s, allowing no runs with a strikeout, and a few fly outs. In the bottom of the 9th, however we got it going right away with a single off the bat of Chad Curtis. Pudge grounded into a fielder’s choice (a close call – was almost a dp), and then after a walk, and an error by the pitcher, we had the bases loaded. At this point (and especially after their pitcher ran the count to 3-0), the place was as loud as I had ever heard it – and the place was about half full at this point. It was a great moment, the anticipation. You know everyone wanted to just bust out and do something. Mike Lamb was brought in to pinch hit for Tom Evans (who went 3 for 4), and worked the count to 3-0. The A’s had done the extreme defensive positioning of having only two outfielders, three fielders on the right side of the diamond, and two on the left (all five on the grass). After a strike call, Lamb hit the ball out into the right field gap for the win! I did see him with his arms in the air, and at this point the place went )@#%)@$% nuts! Words couldn’t really explain this one – it was just such an emotional rollercoaster, I felt drained at the end of the game waiting for the (real) post game fireworks. I was really really glad I was at this one in person. Driving to the game, I felt it was going to be rained out. It wasn’t, and boy am I glad of that.
A few notes.. This was the largest come from behind win in club history, coming back from 8 runs down to win. Every Ranger scored at least once (as did all the A’s). Every pitcher in the game except Wetteland (there were ten of them) gave up at least one run, with Matt Perisho having the worst line (2 IP, 16 batters faced, 10 of them scored (7 earned), and Jeff Zimmerman gave up what appears to have become his one home run per appearance. Of the 17 runs scored by the Rangers, only one came via long ball. This ties the total number of combined runs in a game at 33 (the Rangers beat the Orioles 26-7 a couple of seasons ago). The only game I ever witnessed that had more runs was a game back in 1976 where the Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs 23-22 in Wrigley Field. :)
Lost in all this is the fact that David Segui didn’t play due to an injury – oh great. Another one. :( :(

Coming soon – if I get the time Friday afternoon to write one. In case I don’t… What heartbreak. Coming back TWICE to get in the game, and then losing it on a solo HR in the bottom of the 11th.. Ughhhh…

No runs given up – we’ve seen that several times this year. Kenny Rogers, Esteban Loaiza, Rick Helling… But Mark frickin’ Clark? About the only thing this did was probably jack up his trade value – which right now seems to be with the Phillies for Ron Gant, or to the Reds for one of their OF surplus. I personally wish he would have been pitching this way the whole time he was here. When he first signed, I thought it was a great idea, and I was still pushing him come the start of this season, but I think I’m headed towards the bandwagon of “Big failed experiment”. It’s great when he gives us this pitching, but my gut says that he’s not capable of it all the time – last night was an aberration.
I didn’t get to see very much of this game – Wed is my bowling league night, and the TV near my lane had the stupid Country Music Awards on (wretch). I did pop my head down about 25 lanes or so where they did have it on a few times, but I couldn’t watch any of it for more than about 30 seconds. I got home in enough time to see Wetteland come in, but that was it. It was nice to get three in a row finally, and Wetteland did one of his two inning, five out saves. Clark went 6 innings, giving up 6 hits, and no runs, with one walk. Jeff Zimmerman & Doug Davis (to only one batter) also pitched between Clark & Wetteland. Overall, and pretty good pitching night – although it’s quite possible that’s the last we’ll ever see of Mark Clark. Royce Clayton did home a home run – I didn’t see it, but that’s always nice to see in the box score.
Injuries continue to mount – Gabe Kapler goes on the DL, and Luis Alicea comes out of the game hurt, Raffy didn’t play at all. Ughhhh…

Oh man, what a cool game.
From the start – this felt great. I felt that something good would happen when they said that Jose Canseco wouldn’t play – he always seems to be in a groove against the Rangers. Rick Helling confirmed this feeling and pitched a complete masterpiece. He went 7.1 innings, and gave up no earned runs (dropping his ERA under 3 to 2.82), and only a single hit – a single to the Crimedog. His pitch count was extremely high – in the 130’s, but that might have something to do with him walking six D’Rays. One run did score on Helling, but it was unearned due to an error by Mike Lamb. Otherwise, Helling was completely masterful (if a tad wild).
On the other side, the game was tight until the 6th when we went from a 2-0 lead (on two solo shots in the 2nd & 5th from Raffy & Curtis) to a 4-0 lead (via a 2 RBI single by Raffy). I know 4-0 is still considered by some to be “tight”, but the way Helling was pitching, it seemed like a huge lead. We then piled on some more runs with a three spot in the 8th, and another in the 9th on a home run by Pudge – his what, 40th in the last three games? :)
Gabe Kapler left the game with a strained muscle in the 6th – I’m really hoping he doesn’t go down for long – we have enough problems with injuries this season – we just “feel” like we’re coming around, we can’t afford to lose anyone else – even if he’s only batting around .200.
We just looked really good this game, I felt. This is the Rangers that we were supposed to be getting out of spring training. Unfortunately our modest winning streak is in jeopardy as Mark Clark takes the mound on Wednesday.