Pitching Fails Just as the Bats Heat Up

This Texas Rangers team is a bit infuriating.

BOX SCORE AND HIGHLIGHTS

They get a couple home runs, Baltimore comes right back and ties it at 3. Just as Brandon McCarthy settles down, the Rangers' bats fall asleep. The bullpen holds and doesn't give up any runs for 3 innings. During that time, the Rangers batted 2 for 10, 2 singles, 1 GIDP and 2 strikeouts.

Eddie Guardado stepped into the game and decided to remind everyone what the Rangers bullpen was really made of. Guardado gave up 4 runs on 4 hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. The big one being the two run homer to Adam Jones.

Now that the Rangers pen was giving up runs, now was the time the bats decided to wake up. Four straight hits, all singles, by Salty, Vizquel, Kinsler and Young, the last being an RBI from Michael. Josh Hamilton came up with the bases loaded, nobody out, down by 3. Hamilton grounded to 3rd where Wiggington made the force play on Vizquel but couldn't get Hamilton in time.

Still not looking so bad. Two on, one out, Blalock up.

Blalock flied out to deep right field. Right to the wall. On the right night, the air a little crisper, that ball carries out and into the porch. But that wasn't the case this evening.

After Young tagged up to third, Cruz came up with runners on the corners and two outs. Andruw Jones waiting on deck to pinch hit for David Murphy (Who is now 0-12 on the young season)

Cruz flied out to the deepest part of left-center.

Rangers lose. 7-5.

Things are quite frustrating for the Rangers right now. They are quickly becoming the "What if..." team of baseball. That's the worst type of team in the majors.

What if Ron Washington leaves Millwood in to pitch the 8th and then Francisco comes in for the 9th?

What if Cruz doesn't pop up in the 5th inning against the Tigers and he hits a two run single to gives us 5 runs in a game we lost 4-3?

What if Ian Kinsler tags up on that fly out to right by Michael Young in the 9th inning Monday night?

What if Blalock hits it just 5 feet further this evening?

What if Cruz hits it a little sharper and doesn't give the Orioles all that time to get under the ball?

What if, what if, what if...? You never want to be that team. That team is the worst kind because it's always good enough to win, but never good enough to capitalize on opportunities well within their reach. Ron Washington needs to be careful. If this doesn't get righted quickly, your looking at a new skipper by the end of April. Believe that.

Chris Davis hit another home run tonight...so he's out of his slump right? Eh...maybe. He also struck out three more times tonight. He's 5 for 30 (.167) with 14 strikeouts, but he also has 5 runs scored and 2 home runs. You can't have as low an OBP as he does though.

Davis needs some time off. Blalock needs to play first and they should put Andruw Jones in to DH. Jones appears to have found his stroke again here in Texas.

Another thing to look out for is who might be called up soon. I think if things continue like this, Derek Holland is here by mid-May.

Orioles go for the sweep tomorrow night. First pitch is 7:05.



As I mentioned on my twitter feed, reports out of New York are saying that the Jets will not sign Miles Austin to an offer sheet. Had they done so, Dallas would have had the option to match it, or let him leave and get a second round pick back from the Jets.

That second round pick sure would have been nice to have and I would have loved to get Miles Austin out of town. Austin's route running is quite poor and the only definitive thing he's shown in his time with Dallas is that he is injury prone.

Another thing that I'm struggling to let go of in regard to Austin is the Washington game from this past season. On week 4, with Dallas trailing 26-17, less than a minute remaining, Miles Austin scored a meaningless touchdown. Dallas had lost and barring a miracle, they weren't coming back.

When Austin scored, he acted like an obnoxious idiot. Running to the back of the end zone, flexing his arms and pointing to the audience. Perhaps he was so wrapped up in his own view of himself that he failed to realize that his team was about to go down in defeat to a division rival.

The Washington game was the first one that made it clear the Dallas Cowboys had problems. Miles Austin wasn't present to realize this as he was celebrating in his own world over a touchdown that meant absolutely nothing.

Poor routes, loads of injuries, a lack of desire to fight for the ball and subtle hints that he's a "Me first" player at all times in victory or defeat, have me wishing the Cowboys would move him. Had they gotten a second rounder for him, I would have been elated.

As it stands, Austin is still a Cowboy.

My hope is that the Cowboys go ahead and draft Percy Harvin (Who I think will fall to 51) but reports say they are a little hesitant to take him and have gone as far as to take him off their board.