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G62: Rangers get split in Indians series with 9-4 win

Posted by on at http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2008_06_05_clemlb_texmlb_1&mode=wrap>MLB.com Recap

This game started off like a lot of games we’re used to seeing the last few years. Down 4-0 before we come up to bat the first time. This latest edition of that no fun piece of baseball comes at the hands of Kevin Millwood. Kevin gave up three doubles and two singles in the first frame, and it tallied up to four runs. Ugh.
To Kevin’s credit, he turned it around, and ended up throwing six innings in all. Turns out those four runs in the first were the only runs he gave up all game. It was actually the only runs the Rangers gave up at all, since the pen (Guardado, Francisco, Benoit, & Wright) didn’t give up any in the three frames of relief they threw. Nice piece of frosting on that remark was the fact that there were zero walks given up by Rangers’ pitching in the entire game. Always good to see that. Even in losses.
Offensively, we were going up against C.C. Sabathia. This year, Sabathia isn’t himself – he’s 3-8 with a 4.81 ERA. He’s a better pitcher than that. Still, he’s a guy who strikes fear into a lineup, despite his troubles this year. We did get to him a bit. CC threw six innings, and gave up five runs (one was unearned), but walked three. He got hit up a bit and didn’t seem overly dominating.
At the plate, the Rangers had twelve hits in all. Highlights were five extra base hits (two doubles, one triple, two home runs), and three hits for both Michael Young and Milton Bradley. Both Young & Bradley had two RBI’s each, but they were topped by Ramon Vazquez, who had three RBI’s (as well as a triple in the game).
Was a nice comeback win. Would have been better if we didn’t give up the four in the first frame, but eh – a win is a win. We’re doing the .500 dance again, can’t get any streaks going long term (in either direction fortunately).

Ponson DFA

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  • P Vicente Padilla reinstated from the bereavement list.
  • P Sidney Ponson designated for assignment [ Link ]

Chris Young

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The guy who used to pitch for Texas, not the outfielder for Arizona…

Anyway, I have him on one of my fantasy teams, and decided to look up his status. If you don’t remember, he was hit in the face by a batted ball not too long ago, and this is what I found:

May 30 Young has a small crack in his skull and doctors have to wait for it to heal in order to avoid an infection in his brain, according to Padres manager Bud Black in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Advice: Young is also still waiting for the swelling to go down around his nose after being hit in the face with a line drive on May 21. This could take some time for Young to get back on the field, so continue to monitor the developments.

This doesn’t sound good at all. My prayers go out to him (none of this “Good Thoughts” crap I see online – they’re prayers, people!). May God heal him sooner than later.

Several moves

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  • P Kameron Loe recalled from AAA
  • P Elizardo Ramirez purchased from AAA
  • 3B Travis Metcalf optioned to AAA
  • P A.J. Murray placed on 15 day DL [ Link ]
  • 1B/DH Jason Botts traded to Nippon Ham Fighters for cash. [ Link ]

G60: Rangers outslug Cleveland, 12-7

Posted by on at http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2008_06_03_clemlb_texmlb_1&mode=wrap>MLB.com Recap

Rangers won, but I don’t have to write about it. Read the mlb.com recap link above.

Josh Hamilton

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I’ve been sending emails for the last few months to members of my congregation telling them about Josh Hamilton. I sent them a few emails about his baseball activities (since I’m sure most of my congregation don’t follow the team that closely), and also making them aware of his strength from God.

So I told them today about his winning the AL Player of the month for the first two months of the season (something that’s never been done before). Mentioned he’s now second in AL outfielders in the All-Star voting.

But one thing I noticed this afternoon which probably won’t get as much press was the fact that he changed his agents. SI reported this fact today. Here’s what they had to say:

Josh Hamilton’s negotiations for a long-term deal may be held up a little by his decision to switch agents during negotiations that appeared to be progressing. Hamilton, a born-again Christian after returning from bouts with his drug addiction, explained to friends that he wanted to be with a Christian stable, so he switched agents from Matt Sosnick to Michael Moye as he seemed to be closing in on a long contract.

I don’t suspect that will impact much. Somehow I don’t see Josh’s walk with God leading him to milk the Rangers for dumptrucks full of money – although he may end up with it, anyway.

As someone who also believes hard in Jesus & God, the fact that Josh is using baseball as a platform to push the Gospel is most refreshing for me.