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Well, our early season slide continues. I remember saying when we started the season that we’d at best do .500, and it turns out I’m going to be more than right. We’d need to take 5 of the final 6 games of the month just to get to .500, and the way we’re playing, I don’t see it happening.
When I read that we’d be playing against Brad Radke, I kind of figured it would be a good pitching game, as Radke is the best they have, even though he hasn’t been terribly dominating against us lately. Still, he went out there and pitched really well, allowing only one run and a few scattered hits through the 8 innings he pitched. He allowed the first two batters in the 9th to get on, so he was pulled. Royce Clayton (more on him in a minute) hit a three run home run in the bottom of the 9th to make it 5-4, but quite honestly, the game was nowhere near as close as this score indicates. Most of our innings were 1-2-3, or if not, we only sent 4. Radke never pitched more than 16 pitches in any one inning, and he was not completely dominating, but dominating enough to keep the Rangers from getting on any kind of track offensively.
On the other side, Darren Oliver pitched, and also seemed to be pretty much in control. As I recall (I don’t have my scorecard with me now) the runs he gave up weren’t really of the bad nature – I know there was a bloop single to left that scored two runs with the bases loaded, but that was the worst thing that appeared to happen. I felt that Darren pitched a pretty good game, but was again the victim of no run support.
Frank Catalanotto was placed on the DL after yesterday’s game, and Mike Lamb was brought up, and he started third. He got a bloop single in his first ever ML at bat (which they announced at the Ballpark after it happened); however he also made his first ML error in the game. Was nice to see Lamb in his first at-bat. My wife loves rooting for underdogs, and new players, and she got a kick out of this. Two defensive gems – an awesome running catch by Gabe Kapler in right early in the game, where he dove for a ball got big applause. There was also a nice diving catch by Jason McDonald in left field. The Rangers also turned a few more double plays, which we seem to be doing a lot of this year. Raffy had his usual one triple per season this year – he barely missed a home run to left center – their left fielder missed the ball on the wall, and it rolled away from him, allowing the triple.
Even though we lost, I enjoyed the game, because I was there on free tickets (remember that contest the Rangers ran recently in the paper where you could win season tickets? I didn’t win, but I got four free tickets from them as a “Hey, thanks for entering” consolation. Gave two to a co-worker and friend of mine, and he brought his son), and even though it was a bright sunny day game, my seats were in the shade, so it wasn’t too bad. :) Can’t beat free tickets ever.

It’s really REALLY nice to see Esteban Loaiza come around to become the pitcher that everyone thought he could be. I know we tried to trade him last season, and now that looks like a great move that it didn’t happen. So far, he’s been our most consistent pitcher this season, as well as the end of last year.. He’s been spectacular so far in 2000, with an ERA of 2.74. He should be 3-0, but he got some low run support, as well as a letdown by John Wetteland. Still, it’s awesome to see him pitch this well, I hope he keeps it up all season, and we sign him to a longer contract than one year at the end of this year.
Matt Perisho finally got into a game, but didn’t do anything to solidify his chances in the Ranger pen once Justin Thompson is ready to come back in a week or so. I’m really starting to wonder who will be here once Thompson is ready. For awhile it seemed like it was an easy choice, trade Mark Clark, but then he pitched well, and now he’s not, and no one from the left side is really dominating in the pen. Will be an interesting choice for Melvin & Oates.
Anyway, it was nice to see us get back into the win column tonight. I really had nightmares in the first inning, when an errant throw by Pudge let two runs score. However, we came back with two home runs in the bottom of the first for a 3-2 lead that we never gave up again. Chad Curtis had a great night, going 2-5 with 4 RBI’s. I’m actually afraid of him doing well, because it will be hard to sit him when Rusty is ready to come back in a month or so. Overall, the team went 11-33, a nice batting average for the evening.
Tomorrow is Darren Oliver & Brad Radke – I’ll be at the game, it looks to be a good one. Hopefully we don’t get rained on. Speaking of rain, boy I hope it doesn’t rain for the Red Sox today – they’ve had three straight rainouts, and if they get another, we’ll get Pedro Martinez. The first two were great, because it meant we’ll miss Pedro, but if they get another today – we’ll get him. :(

You know, I think during the off day we had yesterday, the Yankees came back to town and got dressed up in the Twins uniforms. It certainly felt that way. We went 12-0 last season against the Twins, we beat up on ’em in spring training, everything pointed to a big win by us to get over our 4 game losing streak. However, no one told the Twins. They played like the Yankees, I thought.
I don’t know what it was. Was it Mark Clark? Was it our defense? Was it the new Twins cap? Was it our bullpen? Or was it just the natural law of averages saying “It’s time for the Twins to win one”. Whatever it was, we were roughed up 10-5.
And to make matters worse, Frank Catalanotto went on the DL after this game, which is no good – Mike Lamb was recalled to fill his roster spot.
I’m writing this on Sunday morning, and I’ve got to get read to go to the game today, so I’m going to have to cut this short, but I can’t believe we lost this bad to the Twins. :(

It’s Sunday morning as I finally get around to writing this update. After being swept by the Yankees, I quite frankly did not feel like writing this update. Yeah, I’m a fan, and I’m not the kind of fan that gives up on a team, but I felt drained after this series. Then I got too busy on Thursday and Friday at work to write it. I’m sure I could have found the time, but I didn’t really find the desire to write about a third straight Yankees win.
Especially after the way it ended. Pudge came in in the bottom of the ninth, and hit his first ever pinch hit home run – a two run shot off of Mariano Rivera of all people to tie the game. I was jazzed, as I’m sure Jeff Zimmerman was when he promptly gave up a home run in the top of the 10th so the Yankees could beat us.
The good side of this is that we don’t play the Yankees again until August. The bad side is that we play more than we should due to the rainout the other day. :(
Bring on the Twins!

I’m driving away from the Ballpark last night, and I’m thinking.. “You know, I didn’t mind losing this one”. You never WANT to lose, especially against the Yankees, but this one didn’t seem so bad as last night’s obscenity. Sure, we got beat, but we didn’t quit trying it seemed (we didn’t last night, either), but for some reason, this one didn’t bother me.
Not a whole lot positive on the Rangers side, as we were more or less shut down by El Duque, who pitched a complete game. Gabe Kapler looked good, going 2-4 with a home run, two RBI’s, and two runs scored. Pudge was also 2 for four, but that was it. Kapler’s monster two run shot off of Hernandez early was a big crowd pleaser, and gave us some life. However, when we put two on with no out in the bottom of the third, and didn’t do anything with it, well, that seemed to be about it for our offense. Kenny Rogers was rather inconsistent last night, he had two really great innings of 4 and 8 pitches, but then there was an obscene 34 pitch inning, and he just didn’t seem to be that sharp at all. He was really beat by the long ball, giving up a solo jack to Jeter in the first, putting us in the hole immediately, as well as a two run shot to Jorge Posada in the fourth (as part of the 34 pitch inning). We had some momentum after the second, but it was gone come the top of the fourth. Francisco Cordero & Mike Munoz in relief did look good, though. Gotta like that.
On the interesting side, my wife and I usually hate going to Yankee games at the Ballpark, as it tends to bring out the overzealous jackass Yankees fans. For a change, the Yankees fans near us were well behaved. Sure, the cheered for their people, and that’s OK (we did it in Baltimore for the Rangers), but when you’re obnoxiously in favor of our team (excessive needling, swearing, etc), it’s not necessary. Have to tip my hat to the Yankee fans near us tonight – it was most unexpected. Furthermore, every time a ball was hit foul, the fans were all screaming “Foul Ball” and whatnot – pretty funny. Also, the ump from last night behind home plate was at third base, and there was a close call there once, and he got a big rash of boos – in fact, when the umps first walked onto the field, they got booed pretty good.
As a side note unrelated to any of the game, I now have a problem whenever I hear the phrase El Duque. If anyone knows the current Budweiser “Wazzzup” commercials, there’s a bit in one of them where they go “Hey Dook?” I cannnot help but think of “Hey Dook?” whenever I hear “El Duque”.

I don’t want to even write about this game. I’m so annoyed at the ending, I can’t believe it – even after a night’s sleep. I said to my wife as we came up with bases loaded and no one out – “Watch, something will happen, and we’ll blow it”. When we get a chance to beat the Yankees, it blows up in our faces – if we can’t win it, the umpires will take it away.

An awesome game. A totally depressing game. Esteban Loaiza by all accounts pitched the best game of his major league career, allowing no runs and only 4 hits over 7+ innings. He left the game with the lead, not having given up much of anything. Jeff Zimmerman came in, and after a minor tense moment, shut down the Indians, and we handed the game over to John Wetteland in the bottom of the 9th. He got the first batter out on one pitch, but then proceeded to give up back to back solo home runs to Manny Ramirez & Jim Thome to allow the Indians to walk away with a 2-1 win.
This was a most spectacular game on both sides of the coin. I am just disgusted at the ending. I really don’t know what more to say about this one. Was an awesome game to watch, but the last 2 minutes of it I am still shaking my head over almost 24 hours later.
Hopefully Esteban can keep this up all season, it was a total masterpiece by him.