This morning, I wore my Rangers BP jersey to the office. I was feeling it, fresh off the heels of a two-game winning streak. I worked hard – even through lunch – to get my work done so I could leave the office in time for the first pitch this afternoon at 2:30 on FSN.
Boy am I glad I did! So glad I left my Rangers BP jersey on for the assembly this evening!
For the first time since 2001, the Rangers swept a 3-game series from Oakland in the Coliseum on the East Bay. The Rangers plated 16 runs this afternoon, batting around in the 4th and 8th innings and scoring 7 times in the 4th and 6 times in the 8th.
And how about Alfonso Soriano? I know many die-hard Ranger fans weary of Sori (you included Rick) but he was today’s MVP. Two web gems in the field and a 3-for-6 day at the plate, including a homer and a double that was within inches of leaving the yard. David Dellucci drew a walk, prompting Josh Lewin to comment on the current walks and OBP leader in all of Major League Baseball, “let the walking man walk.” Richard Hidalgo hit an impressive home run. Every Ranger in the starting lineup scored.
Chan Ho Park was spotty. No, he was vintage Chan Ho of the last few years. Over 100 pitches in 3.2 innings. Chan Ho has been brilliant this year, save two starts, both against Oakland. Matt Riley was weak in relief, prompting Buck to yank him in the middle of an at-bat. Brocail and Shouse looked great, with the official scorer giving the win to Shouse.
Finally, the Rangers have gotten off the win one, lose one merry-go-round and have reeled off 3 straight wins, raising the overall record to 15-14, 2 ½ games behind the Angels in the AL West.
The good news is the Rangers have held forth despite a less than stellar performance from the offense in the first 29 games. Productivity with runners in scoring position has been abysmal. Too much of the offense has come via the long ball. Soriano, Teixiera and Blalock are all hitting under .260; Hidalgo is under .180. You know those numbers will rise.
On the pitching front, the Gambler has been steady. Chris Young, unflappable. Chan Ho, minus two starts against the A’s, outstanding (enough to earn him the organization’s Player of the Month for April). Pedro Astacio, spotty. Ryan Drese, disappointing. As Jamey Newberg queried in his newsletter yesterday: “Was last year an aberration for Drese? Or is this year?”
I’m still optimistic about the next 133 games. The chemistry seems good. No one will out prepare Buck, Orel and company. Rudy Jaramillo is the best hitting coach in the game. The offense will bust out (perhaps today was the beginning of the onslaught). There are reinforcements at Oklahoma City (can you say Ricardo Rodriguez?). And this team plays confidently, undeterred by their opposition. As Michael Young was quoted to say after today’s game: “We concentrate on our strengths; not on our opponent.”
I like that!
