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I was kind of not really paying attention to this one. Earlier in the day, I had attended my first baseball card convention in about 20 years, and I had purchased several things (including three complete sets of cards), so I had a ton of new toys to play with. Boy, did I ever feel like I was 12 again playing with baseball cards while baseball was on!
Anyway, the story of this game was Rick Helling. After the first three starts of the season for Rick, he appears to have bounced back to 1998’s form. Which is good, as the Rangers need this. BADLY!! He went a full eight innings, and Oates said after the game that he would have let Rick go 9, but this was uncharted territory for any Ranger pitcher this year, and that if he had done this before during this season, he would have let Rick go for a complete game. Rick looked really good out there, not completely dominating, but still very good.
Actually, it looked like a pitcher’s duel was brewing, as we didn’t do much off of Orioles started Juan Guzman, either. However, he had to leave the game after the fourth inning and shortly after that, the current Ranger offense (aka Rafael Palmiero) took over. He cracked a three run home run into Home Run porch for the game-winning hit. We then picked up four more in the seventh to end the day’s scoring.
Crabby came in for the ninth and pitched a scoreless inning in something odd this season for the Rangers – a really well pitched game!
Commentary by Jim Meeks:
No commentary for Saturday’s game. I hurt my back and had to go to bed early, I didn’t hear any of the game. Sorry.

I’m not writing commentary about this game – I didn’t get to see/hear very much of it. However, it was a nail biter, and I don’t have very many fingernails left to bite! :)
Commentary by Jim Meeks:
The Rangers managed to hang on for a win Friday night.
John Wetteland, who has been ineffective, despite his saves, gave up 2 runs in the 9th but the Orioles just couldn’t squeeze out another run and Texas won 7-6.
I’m getting sick of this pitching staff. Mark Clark pitched Friday and again, he was ineffective. 4 earned runs in 6+ innings? Get out of town.
The Rangers need to find some starting pitching. Offense cannot carry you but perhaps half the time.
Last night it was the middle of the order carrying the Rangers. Rusty Greer, who suddenly has a home run stroke, Pudge (hitting cleanup) and Raffy Palmeiro each has 2 RBI each (with Greer and Pudge hitting back-to-back homers in the 5th).
You have got to love this offense but you have also got to hate this pitching staff.

Bombs away! That’s what Eric Nadel said in the post game wrap up when starting to describe the bottom of the fourth inning at the Ballpark, and I was there – it certainly felt that way! In short – a Grand Slam, a 3 run homer, and a solo shot in the same inning – MAN!
After the first three and a half innings, I thought it was going to be one of those good close games, as both pitchers seemed decent, but not totally unhittable. And then we got to the bottom of the 8th inning. Oh man.. The second 8 spot in two consective games, and the second game in a row with a grand slam (that’s a record). Here’s a snip from the game log. That about tells it all..
R Palmeiro singled to right. Zeile singled to left, R Palmeiro to second. L Stevens safe at first on 2nd baseman Deshields’ fielding error, R Palmeiro to third, Zeile to second. R Kelly homered to right center, R Palmeiro, Zeile and L Stevens scored. Dransfeldt grounded out to third. T Goodwin walked. Mclemore singled to center, T Goodwin to second. Greer homered to right, T Goodwin and Mclemore scored. Doug Linton relieved Scott Kamieniecki. I Rodriguez lined out to right. R Palmeiro homered to right. Zeile lined out to shortstop. (8 Runs, 6 Hits, 1 Error) BALTIMORE 1, TEXAS 9.
Three home runs in the same inning. What an inning. We left this inning 9-1. It felt good. It’s funny, because walking into the park for the game I told my wife that the Rangers were due to really beat up on someone – thinking the ’99 Orioles were the perfect team to do that to. OK, it’s the top of the fifth, and we give up a run. No biggie, we’re still up 9-2. However, it started to fall apart, and it felt like the way out in front loss to the Yankees a few weeks back again. We gave up a fivespot in the top of sixth, and we were only up two runs again. It really felt like “bleeding” sitting there watching that.
Anyways, in the bottom of the 6th, we pulled ahead again, back to 12-7, and then ripped it open again in the bottom of the 8th with another three for a final tally of 15-7. The Rangers bats were more than alive! Kelly’s salami was the first one I’d seen live in quite some time, and the first for my wife. It was quite cool seeing the big wide eyed look on her when it was gone. The inning was awesome, and the fans around us were into it, too. The last couple of games I went to there were quite a lot of opposing fans out in Section 39. No biggie, I don’t mind that unless they’re really obnoxious, but it was cool to have more Ranger fans there for this really great win!
Other than the sixth inning, I thought the Rangers pitching did rather well. Take away the fivespot, and we only gave up two runs the whole game, both on solo shots. Venafro, Zimmerman, & Munoz combined for 4 innings of shutout ball – Zimmerman’s two innings were perfect! Methinks this kind will be here next year if this holds up.
Commentary by Jim Weeks:
The Rangers have reminded themselves of something they had forgotten. if they can’t out-pitch an opponent, they can sure out hit them.
The offense, which has set or tied some kind of club record in 3 of the last 4 games, was at it again Thursday as they spanked the Orioles 15-7.
Roberto Kelly, filling in for an injured Juan Gonzalez, hit a grand slam in an 8-run uprising in the 4th inning. The 4th inning outburst was the club’s second 8 run inning in a span of 5 innings (going back to Tuesday).
Kelly’s slam marked the first time the Rangers had ever hit a salami in back-to-back contests. Sunday, they tied a club record with 8 doubles.
Mike Morgan was terrible. Short and simple. The starters have been pretty bad for a while now, they certainly aren’t out-pitching anyone.
The team has found one new wrinkle that has been missing – they can outscore anyone if they click on all cylinders. And lately they are clicking.

Last night was one of those “peace with the world” nights. My wife was out getting her hair cut, so I was home alone with the TV and a Rangers game. :) I printed out one of my scorecards, sat in the recliner with some dinner, a glass of wine, and watched the Rangers game. Out loud to no one, I exclaimed “Life is good”. And not because my wife wasn’t there – she loves the game a lot herself (although she’s not as fanatical as I am). :)
Anyway, what can I say about this game? We got shut down by Jamie Navarro, which was a shocker. He pitched damn well, and we didn’t get anything going really until the ninth, but it was too late.
I didn’t think we played all that bad, but we couldn’t get anything going against Navarro. Not a whole lot else to say about this one.
Commentary by Jim Meeks:
Face it, the Rangers’ play this year has been inconsistent and sloppy. Manager Johnny Oates held a team meeting before Tuesday’s game. No one – outside of the team – actually knows exactly what he said, but he probably said something like, “Just win, baby, please”.
The team must have listened but it took 9 innings before the message hit them.
The Rangers trailed 5-3 from the bottom of the 4th until the top of the 9th. Then they erupted for an 8 run, rain plagued (yawn) inning, as they washed out the Sox.
Whatever Oates told his team seems to have worked, except on Esteban Loaiza, thrown into a spot start because of Aaron Sele’s flu bug. Loaiza pitched like he was the one with the flu, giving up 5 earned runs in 5 innings and 9 hits.
The bullpen, a disaster most every night that Jeff Zimmerman isn’t pitching, held the Sox to Loaiza’s 5 runs. Zimmerman (the game’s winning pitcher, now 2-0) pitched another 2 marvelous, perfect innings.
Oates only uses Zimmerman when the Rangers have a chance to win, have you noticed? I haven’t bothered to look, but I am almost 100% sure the Rangers have not lost any games that Zimmerman has pitched in. His ERA can only be seen with a microscope as it sits at 0.55. Let that sink in real slow…0.55.
At any rate, using the impetus and confidence of Zimmerman’s superb outing, the Rangers came from behind after the 7th inning for the first time all year, which is quite remarkable in itself, considering we are about 1/6th through the season. The 9th inning was a constant array of swinging bats and pounding pitches for the Red Shoes, crossing 8 runners over the Comiskey plate. Rusty Greer had the big hit, smashing his 6th career grand slam – and the second slam for the Rangers this year.
Greer now hitting .299 and is on pace to drive in 136 runs, ala Juan Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, who also homered, left the game early with a strained hamstring and is day-to-day.
The Rangers offense was at it’s best Tuesday. And Tuesday’s game was the most exciting game I have had heard (no TV where I live) in quite some time. Oates should conduct more team meetings, don’t you think?

Last night was one of those “peace with the world” nights. My wife was out getting her hair cut, so I was home alone with the TV and a Rangers game. :) I printed out one of my scorecards, sat in the recliner with some dinner, a glass of wine, and watched the Rangers game. Out loud to no one, I exclaimed “Life is good”. And not because my wife wasn’t there – she loves the game a lot herself (although she’s not as fanatical as I am). :)
Anyway, what can I say about this game? We got shut down by Jamie Navarro, which was a shocker. He pitched damn well, and we didn’t get anything going really until the ninth, but it was too late.
I didn’t think we played all that bad, but we couldn’t get anything going against Navarro. Not a whole lot else to say about this one.
Commentary by Jim Meeks:
The new and improved White Sox have a new and improved pitcher – Jaime Navarro.
He beat the Rangers Monday evening throwing from different angles and changing speeds, all very effectively. The potent Rangers’ offense was off-balance the entire time. That’s the key to quieting the Rangers.
The surprising boost John Burkett gave the Rangers Sunday was wiped out Monday by the uneven pitching of Rick Helling. Helling gave up four runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He had pitched well (on par with 1998 anyway) in his last 4 starts prior to Monday, but Mr. Hyde showed up on the mound in Chicago.
Every hitter in the ChiSox lineup had a hit off Rangers’ pitching. Even the bullpen was bad (of course, Jeff Zimmerman aka SUPERMAN didn’t pitch).
Some odd notes for you: Pudge Rodriguez stole his 8th base. Tom Goodwin stole 2 more as well. The Rangers lead the AL in steals. Hard to fathom on a team with 6 players on pace to drive in 99 or more runs.

First off, I want to come out and rag on ESPN’s announcers. Can’t these guys pronounce anything right? They really have trouble with the names on the Rangers team. It’s not GOHN-zalez, DAMMIT! Also, can you guys stop ragging on one specific fact? They do this for every team, but it really bugged me when they were picking on Rusty Greer late in the game. These guys have to be some of the lamest announcers I’ve ever seen. I didn’t think of it at the time, but I should have muted the TV, and put on KRLD.
Offense – Offense – Offense! The Rangers whacked out 20 hits, but all of them singles and doubles. No triples, and no home runs. These 20 hits got us 11 runs, but it should have been at least 15 or more – we left the bases loaded twice! Both times the bases were loaded with no one out, and we didn’t get anything! If we had a single in each of those, it would have been 15 runs easy. Still, we got 11 with 20 hits, and that’s nothing to sneeze about. Rusty Greer was the only Ranger without a hit. Lee Stevens had four hits, and
Danny Patterson got the win, but I don’t feel he deserved it. He gave up the three run homer that tied the game at 5-5 (even though the two baserunners belonged to Venafro). The linescore says that Patterson got credited with both the win and a blown save, although I find it odd that a blown save can be awarded to a pitcher that was out of the game in the seventh. Burkett went two batters into the fifth, and I didn’t think he pitched all that bad. He allowed one earned run in four innings. He dropped his ERA a couple of points, but when it’s up in the stratosphere like it was… :)
A nice game to watch, although it could have been better. We leave Toronto winning 2 of 3. On to Chicago, who has been surprisingly good so far this season – the AL’s lowest ERA.
Commentary by Jim Meeks:
The Red Shoes had on their hitting shoes Sunday.
The Rangers tied a club record with 8 doubles in a game, including 2 each by Juan Gonzalez, Pudge Rodriguez and Lee Stevens. They also banged out 20 hits, the most this year.
The #’s 4-8 hitters each had at least 3 hits each, with Stevens having 4. Every hitter had at least one hit except Rusty Greer, who went 0-5. Oddly enough the Rangers had no homers in the 11-6 win.
John Burkett, who has pitched rather poorly all year and fresh off being destroyed in the Minor Leagues in a rehab stint, pitched rather effectively, but only went 4 innings.
The Rangers won back-to-back games for the first time since the four game sweep against Minnesota two weeks ago.

Almost a carbon copy of last night’s game start. Mark McLemore got a single to left on the first pitch of the game, and then after Roberto Kelly got out, Rusty Greer came up and slapped a 2 run Home run to left field. Again, the first two runs of the game were long ball related. Unfortunately, David Wells then copied Pat Hengten from yesterday and didn’t allow much of anything for a few innings after that. We then got to David Wells later on when he thought he had an inning ending strikeout of Rusty Greer (see photo below), but he ended up getting on, and we got a run out of the inning. Wells didn’t quite seem himself after that.
My favourite pitcher of the season so far started this one – Old Man Morgan. I heard the Ranger announcers call him that, and it turns out that his “official” nickname is “The Mo Man”, but to be honest, I like Old Man Morgan better. He pitched pretty damn well, and came out of the game after the first batter of the seventh, and gave the ball to Jeff Zimmerman. Zim pitched really damn well again, and if this guy continues to pitch like this all season and into the next, I see him becoming our closer if they don’t resign Wetteland after the 2000 season.
Overall, it was a very good game that we won by one run. Roberto Kelly made some nice defensive catches in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the save for Wetteland. Great game, glad we won one of these – I’m getting tired of saying we lost these close games. :)
Commentary by Jim Meeks:
Rusty Greer’s 3 RBI, including a first inning 2-run homer led Texas to victory over the Toronto Blue Jays Saturday.
Greer hit his homer off lefty David Wells. It was Greer’s 2nd homer.
Mike Morgan started the game and was more than adequate. Staked to the 2-0 led he couldn’t hold it and trailed for most of the game 3-2. Texas, hitless since the first inning, erupted in the 5th inning, Greer again, getting a key 2-out hit. The Rangers scored again in the 7th.
Relievers Jeff Zimmerman and John Wetteland nailed down the victory. Zimmerman pitched the 7th and 8th and Wetteland the final inning for another save.

At the start of the season, I remembered thinking that Mark Clark would be really good for us, and win over 15 games or something like that. He may yet still do that, but I start to wonder when he’s gonna turn it around. It’s sad, but I think we’d be better off with Bobby Witt (3-0, 4.11, 35 IP), Darren Oliver (2-1, 2.72, 39.2 IP), & Julio Santana (1-3, 9.00, 26 IP) based on what they’ve done this year so far! Well, maybe not Santana, but he’s still better than some of what we have (Burkett – 0-2, 12.00, 9 IP & Clark 2-3, 7.85, 36.2 IP).
Six Ranger pitchers, and not a whole lot good out of any of ’em tonight. That’s really all I have to say about the pitching in tonight’s game.
This game’s offense started rather interestingly. I was running an errand after work, and heard the first inning or two on my car radio. Wow! What a start. Two home runs to start the game by two guys who hardly ever hit any home runs – the HR by Goody was only his tenth career home run! However, after that Rusty Greer had a single, and Pat Hentgen shut down the Rangers for a good number of innings. The Rangers next broke through when Juan hit a solo home run in the sixth. Matter of fact, *ALL* of the Rangers runs in this game were due to the longball, as Juan hit a 3 run HR his next time up, which means he personally was responsible for 4 of the 6 runs the Rangers got, and all 6 were long ball RBI’s – a very American League way of doing things. :)
Commentary by Jim Meeks:
The Rangers lost 9-6 to Toronto Friday.
The game began with Tom Goodwin and Mark McLemore doing something they never have done and will probably never do again; they homered back-to-back. Two batters 2-0 Rangers.
Mark Clark, who has been almost as bad as John Burkett, continued to struggle and surrendered 4 runs in the bottom of the first after Goodwin and McLemore staked him to a magical 2-0 lead. Old nemesis Carlos Delgado hit a 2-run blast for the Jays in helping destroy the Ranger lead.
It got worse. The Jays scored 5 runs off Clark in less than 4 innings. He walked 4 hitters, gave up 7 hits and even uncorked a wild pitch. For each out he recorded in the game, he gave up a baserunner. Simply put, he stunk.
Juan Gonzalez hit a couple more home runs, giving him 7. His 4 RBIs give hime 27, which puts him 2nd in the American League. The reigning AL MVP has been red hot the last two weeks.
There is good news. Anaheim, Seattle and Oakland all lost and none of these teams has any shown any consistancy this year.