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Win Free Copy of Essential Games DVD Set!

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UPDATE: The contest is over now, I’ve gotten enough people now for the giveaway thanks to the addtl submissions sent in.

If you’ve been a fan of the Texas Rangers, you’ve watched a lot of games on TV, and while the Rangers don’t have a pedigree like say the Yankees in the post season, there are quite a few notable games in the back catalogue.  That’s what I’m writing about today.  This coming Tuesday, there’s a DVD set due out which contains four of these “Essential Games” from the Rangers history.  I’m going to write about the set, and due to the folks from A&E Home Entertainment/MLB Productions, I’m going to have five copies to give away to my site visitors.  That will take the form of a trivia contest, more on that below.  First off, a review..

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G113: Yu finally gets #12, 8-3 over Tigers

Posted by on at http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_08_12_detmlb_texmlb_1&mode=wrap>MLB.com Recap

Taking a pass on this one, as I’m a bit too backed up for time today, and don’t have the time for a proper recap.   Darvish finally got his 12th win of the season after something like 3-4 tries.    Josh Hamilton had another home run, a two run shot.   Hopefully he can light up for the end of the season.

G112: Rangers walkoff against Tigers, 2-1

Posted by on at http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_08_11_detmlb_texmlb_1&mode=wrap>MLB.com Recap

I haven’t gone to a ton of games this year, but before the season started, I had marked this one, because it was the 40th Anniversary pre-game ceremony, and the annual Rangers HOF induction.  This year it was Eric Nadel.   I have gone to almost all of these, starting with the first one (there was NO WAY I was missing the single return of Johnny Oates in that one).   It was also the “powder blue” uniform throwback as well.   Ended up going with an old friend of mine, who was a big Tigers fan.  So we ended up talking the whole time, it was a fun time.  I actually had invited another friend, but he never showed, not sure what happened with that.  Oh well..

Two big shoutouts for this game.  One for my friend Jeremy, who hooked me up with decent tickets, and my wife.  My wife took off work a couple of hours early, so I could be assured of getting there on time.   Thanks to both of you.    While I would have gone to the game without both of you, it wouldn’t have been as pleasurable, so thank you.

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Napoli to DL

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  • C Mike Napoli placed on 15 day DL
  • C Luis Martinez recalled from AAA [ Link ]

NOTES: Napoli has been pretty flat all season, and it could be just due to him being hurt.   I suspect he might be done for the season, as going down the stretch, we don’t need a guy who isn’t hitting a whole lot.    Our catching situation has changed a lot, as Soto is now “the guy”, and Luis Martinez (who) is now the backup.  I guess that next year we resign Napoli, and keep Soto as the backup.   We’ll see.

G111: Rangers lose opener to Tigers, 6-2

Posted by on at http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_08_10_detmlb_texmlb_1&mode=wrap>MLB.com Recap

Scott Feldman took the hill in this game, and through most of his outing, he was the recent vintage 2012 Scott Feldman.  He got into the sixth, and while he wasn’t quite the earlier 2012 vintage Scott Feldman, some of the shine came off a little.   Scott held the Tigers to just one one through five innings.  Got into the sixth, though, and the wheels fell off in this game.   The Tigers plated a run in the fourth.   Heck, through the first three innings, Scott faced the minimum, thanks to a double play in the third wiping out a walk.

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Mark Lowe activated

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  • P Mark Lowe activated from DL
  • IF Alberto Gonzalez designated for assignment [ Link ]

NOTES: Well, someone had to leave the 25 man roster when Mark Lowe was returned.  However, we sacrificed a bench guy to do it.  I know we can use the pitching help right now, so that’s likely why the switch.  Alberto Gonzalez has been on the 25 man roster since opening day, so it’s probably disappointing for him to be DFA’ed at this point.   Gonzalez never lit me on fire excitement wise.  You always need guys like that, but the 2012 edition of the bench hasn’t been nearly as exciting (to me) as the editions from the last couple of seasons before this one.   Hopefully Mark Lowe comes back and gets the job done, as we need the help, that’s for sure.

Fun video with Dempster & Holland

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I got sent this video from someone at mlb.com, showing Derek Holland being interviewed on the MLB Network.  During it, Ryan Dempster is acting, well.. ODD in the background.  He’s not there for the whole video, but when he’s not, Holland is goofing it up quite well on his own.   Some other bits from the interview include Holland talking about possibly growing back his mustache (Nooooooooooooo!), Ron Washington’s walks around the ballpark, and photo-bombing Tom Verducci earlier this year.

One favorite moment from this is when Derek says that he and Ryan have already done their “Duelling Harry Cary” impressions, and that they plan on breaking it out publicly at some point.  Now THAT I want to see!

Thanks to Tim for the headsup on the video!   Hey Tim..  MLB needs to make MLBN a “real” network.  Broadcast it over some channel in regular broadcast television.  Some of us (like myself) can’t afford cable TV anymore, and had to give up (quite painfully, I might point out) MLBN.

 

 

Getting caught up

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I’m getting caught up again.  I’m up to date with recent game recaps, as well as all transactions, and my “How Many in 2012” page.  So that’s all set up.  It is, however 1:50AM, and I’m tired, so I’ll finish the roster page and the uniform number history pages either tomorrow or Saturday.

Thanks for visiting – and I have a couple of cool giveaways soon.   I think you’ll like them!

UPDATE:  Finished the Roster rearrangements and the uniform number updates.  I still have a few roster pages to create, but at least the current roster is now accurate again.

G110: Rangers slug out Red Sox, win 10-9

Posted by on at http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_08_08_texmlb_bosmlb_1&mode=wrap>MLB.com Recap

This is a game with not a lot of pitching, so I’m just gonna hit some of the notable highlights, as opposed to have actual commentary:

  • Andrus was 3-4 with 3 runs scored
  • Hamilton was 3-5 with 2 runs scored, and 4 RBI
  • Beltre was 0-3, but still had 2 RBI
  • Two of Hamilton’s three hits were a triple and a home run
  • Hamilton’s home run was his 30th of the season
  • We had home runs from Mitch Moreland (solo), Josh Hamilton (2 run), Geovany Soto (2 run), & Nelson Cruz (solo)
  • Ian Kinsler had a stolen base
  • Joe Nathan got his 23rd save
  • Josh Beckett gave up eight earned runs in 5 innings
  • Roy Oswalt agreed to pitch out of the bullpen – shocker!

We come home to face the Tigers, the team we beat to get back to the World Series again.   The Rangers record is 65-45, the best record in the AL at the moment.  The Tigers are five games back of that pace.  I’m going to the game Saturday night, it’s the big 40th anniversary game.  Ought to be fun!

G109: Dempster much better, wins 6-3

Posted by on at http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_08_07_texmlb_bosmlb_1&mode=wrap>MLB.com Recap

After the first start by Dempster, I was hoping it was a case of “new team” jitters.  Turns out that might have been the case, because Ryan was much better in his second start than he was in his first start.   MUCH better.  In fact, Dempster (and Jon Lester) were having  pitcher’s duel, with no runs allowed until the sixth inning.  The official mlb recap’s headline was “Dempster dives into win column in Rangers uni”.   Dumpster diving pun aside, it was a beautiful outing.  Ryan came here with the likelihood of being a rental between now and the end of the season, but if there’s more of this kind of outing, I’ll want to keep him around.   Heck, he picked off Carl Crawford at second.  :)

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