Ranger Tracker

Mench - big game winning home run the other day.
A Gonzalez - 4 for 8 with a home run and 3 rbi. Team is 2 and 0.
Carlos Lee - 2 for 12 wtih 2 rbi and a steal. Guess he didn't get far enough away.
A-Rod - 2 for 5 in their only game with a big home run and a steal. Also an error.
Pudge - 4 for 9. Solid as always.
Soriano - 2 for 8. Nothing big...yet.
DeRosa - 3 for 6 with 2 rbi. Should have big #'s in that line-up.
GMJ Jr - 5 for 10. Four runs. Three walks. Stole a home run from Young. Team is 3-0.
Hafner - 3 for 7 with 3 runs.

With the exception of Lee, everyone seems to be off to a solid start. Look forward to a pitching update after about a week or two.

Game 2, L8-2

Same. Same. Same. Able to work 8 walks but can't get anyone home. Another game with multiple errors. Mike "Ranger for Life" Young can't hit now that his wallet is fat. Young doesn't go 0 for 5 or leave six people on base!? Padilla doesn't make it through five innings and struggles with control. Vlad kills us.

Nothing new here. Been a fan since 1978, and there's nothing new. Except for the fact that Washington "lights up a room" (Ticket schtick) and that veryone is having fun. That won't last more than a week if we don't get a few wins. Good luck.

Game One

What I liked:
Good pitching from both "woods," Millwood and Mike Wood.
Taking pitches. That was the best I may have ever seen a Ranger team work the count.
High number of baserunners.
Lofton. Hitting. Running. Looked good.

Not so good:
Sloppy fielding at times (to be expected at this stage)
Stranding way too many baserunners. Our only run came off a home run. Won't work!
Inability to get down a sac. bunt
Wilkerson and Sosa with O hits. Need run producing from out outfield.

And I have Mike Young on my Fantasy team. If this will be a jinx, I'll trade him ASAP, but give me a week or two.

My Fantasy...

Here it is, the Losrangers of Yahoo Fantasy Baseball:

c Brian McCann (atl)
1b Prince Fielder (mil)
2b Josh Barfield (cle)
3b Ryan Zimmerman (was)
ss Michael Young
of Jason Bay (pit)
of Willay Taveras (col)
of Pat Burrell (phi)
ut Travis Hafner (cle)
bn Frank Thomas (tor)
bn Barry Bonds (sf)
bn Johnny Estrada (mil)

sp Johan Santana (min)
sp Dan Haren (oak)
sp Mike Mussina (nyy)
sp John Patterson (was)...hopefully replaced with Maddux
sp Cliff Lee (cle-dl)
rp JJ Putz (sea)
rp Jose Valverde (ari)
rp Octavio Dotel

I know, heavy on players whose pops played in the majors and really light in relief. If you've got any sleepr suggestions, I'll check the waiver wire. Go LosRangers (both).

Segovia. Ring a Bell?

Zack Segovia, the former Forney Jackrabbit standout pitcher, looks to contribute this year for the Philadelphia Phillies. A second round draft pick of theirs, his progres has been slowed by a missed season due to Tommy John surgery. I love when locals make it to the bigs.

On a side note. It'll be easier to keep up with former Mesquite Poteet Pirate Jason Jennings as he plays for the Houston Astros this season. Never understood why the Rangers never tried to get him from Colorado where he was been of their most consistent pitchers the past few years. The Ballpark would have been a breeze (no pun intended...well, slightly intended).

Gonzalez Cashes In

The Padres have signed Adrian Gonzalez to a four year contract worth 9.5 million and could be worth as much as 15 million if the option for the final year is picked up. Good for him. Link.

Got me wondering what former Ranger will have the best season this year. Probably should separate former position player and former pitcher.

A-Rod...A-Gon...Travis Hafner...Soriano...Carlos Lee?

Coco...Doug Davis...Kenny Rogers...Justin Duchscherer...Loaiza...Danks...Masset...Moyer...Eaton...Alfonseca...Brian Shouse...Chris Young...Aaron Sele...Kip Wells...Mike Stanton...John Wasdin...Darren Oliver?

Sorry to carry on. Just got cuaght up looking at former Ranger's [itchers still in the league. Probably a number of others I didn't notice, especially draft picks that never made it up with us.

Opening Night!

It's official tomorrow. 9:05 on the Duece. Rangers against the team with the most ridiculous name in the majors. Despite having taught with John Lackey's father (great guy and coach), I'll be rooting for him to start the season with a loss as our Rangers hang about seven runs up on the favorites to win the division.

Millwood was lights out on the road last year and the GMJ karma will be working for us.

I predict we'll need 93 W's to win the division and it doesn't matter if we get them early or late as long as they add up. Here's to the first one and me not looking like an April fool.