AAA Oklahoma

AAA: at Oklahoma 1, Salt Lake 2
Loss: Mahay (0-1, 7.71)

The Bees and Redhawks completed a game in just over two hours after its start was delayed for two-and-a-half hours by flight problems. Mark Redman threw six strong innings, allowing one run on three hits, no walks and five strikeouts. Ron Mahay yielded Adam Pakovich’s first homer of the year in the 9th for the difference-maker. Scott Feldman tossed a couple of shutout innings.

Kevin West singled home Freddy Guzman for Oklahoma’s only run. Jason Botts doubled and walked twice in four appearances.

*****

Now, Redman is more than likely an American League pitcher instead of a National League pitcher? I don't know. But his first start for the Rangers organization is a good one... sporting a 1.50 ERA. I'm sure he is also pleased. I'll post more Redman stats in the minors as he goes. Johnny Out.

Mark Redman

Rangers sign Redman, bring up Wood

May 28, 2007
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- The Texas Rangers signed pitcher Mark Redman on Monday, and the 2006 AL All-Star will start this week for Triple-A Oklahoma.

The Rangers also recalled right-hander Mike Wood from Triple-A and sent down right-hander Scott Feldman.

Redman was cut by Atlanta last week after going 0-4 with an 11.63 ERA. He went on the disabled list for surgery to remove an ingrown toenail, then made one relief appearance and gave up a grand slam to Boston's Mike Lowell.

The 33-year-old lefty was 11-10 with a 5.71 ERA for Kansas City last season. He also has pitched for Minnesota, Detroit, Florida, Oakland and Pittsburgh. He will start for Oklahoma on Tuesday.

Wood will make his fourth start for the Rangers on Tuesday in Oakland, replacing Robinson Tejeda. This will be Wood's third stint with Texas this season. He is 0-1 with a 7.02 ERA in four appearances, three of them starts when ace Kevin Millwood was injured.

Wood was 3-1 with a 2.58 ERA in six games for Oklahoma.

Feldman was sent to Oklahoma for the second time this month. He went down May 1 before coming back May 15. He is 1-2 with a 6.97 ERA in 17 relief appearances for the Rangers.

*****

Now, I am just tickled PINK! It actually feels like the Rangers finally listened to me. It really does. Peons do MATTER! I do hope Redman does well in AAA and pitches this season (and proves me right). Tejeda stunk it up today, lasted only 3 innings. He may need some minor practice. Last I saw, Rangers were down 5-2 in the eighth. Hopefully this thing will turn around and we'll grab some W's for once... this losing really sucks.

Rangers vs. Rays

I am beginning to really despise the Rays. And I mean this in the most "gggrrr..." sort of way. They are quickly moving into Yankee territory. They knocked us off track last year amd we didn't recover. And this year, when a great spark off of coming down from a horrible stretch, the spark didn't happen. I am beginning to wonder if Millwood is to blame... and I say this simply because he will miss a total of a month due to injuries. Teixiera is trade bate. Will he be gone at the All-Star break or in the off-season, I am uncertain, but Newberg made a great argument for him being gone before the end of his contract. One thing Newberg didn't mention is the one simple fact: Young is the face of the Rangers, not Tex. And that is a statement that Tom Hicks made when Young signed his extension, just not in those words. I am not going to make a prediction for today's game against the Rays simply because I am frustrated - a frustrated fan - and don't want to point out that there is a lack of timely hitting, lack of the pitching, and the errors on the field. Some days the Rangers "have it", but lately is has been that the Rangers simply "don't"... maybe I am simply frustrated that I am hurting and have been looking for a spark in anything the media can provide and can't find one right now... I'll be back tomorrow with the weather, but right now, it is storming in my house with frustration - not good to make a forecast right now. Johnny Out.

Rangers vs. Yankees

May 9th, 2007...

I haven't posted anything on the Rangers in a prediction of the game, due to them winning. I didn't want to jinx it. And so, they lost again to the Yankees, I feel I can post again. I hate the Yankees. It's professional not personal hate.

Today, we have Yankees Michael Cole Mussina going up against the Rangers Robinson Tejeda.

Tejeda's last start was against the Yankees and he pitched well, giving up six hits and a walk that ended up spelling three earned run over six and a third innings. However, since the good guys only put up two runs, Tejeda got a loss out of that very good performance. The Rangers are 4-2 when he starts. Will today change it to 5-2 or 4-3? I don't know just yet.

Tejeda on the road is 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA. Against the Yankees, Robi sports a 0-2 mark but has considerable improvement between his first and second start against them. His first, mind you, is where he gave up six runs in three innings. We already know that he lasted more than twice as long and gave up half the runs. Can Tejeda beat the Yankees? Yes. Will he? That would depend on how the Rangers bats slap Mussina. Tejeda has a winning arm... does Mussina still got it?

Tejeda vs. New York Yankees

• Bobby Abreu (1-3) batting average .333
• Melky Cabrera (0-2) batting average .000
• Robinson Canó (1-5) batting average .200
• Johnny Damon (0-3) batting average .000
• Jason Giambi (0-2) batting average .000
• Derek Jeter (1-5) batting average .200
• Hideki Matsui (3-5) batting average .600 (1 double, 1 HR, 3 RBIs)
• Doug Mientkiewicz (1-4) batting average .250 (1 HR, 2 RBIs)
• Wil Nieves (0-2) batting average .000
• Álex Rodríguez (4-5) Batting average .800
• Miguel Cairo (0-3) batting average .000
• Team: (11-39) batting average .282 (1 double, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, 2 BBs, 8 Ks)

I'm going to finish this up this afternoon. Too tired now. Johnny Out.

Dallas Cowboys Draft

Here's what the Cowboys drafted this fine year (2007):

26th Pick: DE Anthony Spencer
67th Pick: OT James Marten
103th Pick: QB Isaiah Stanback
122th Pick: OT Doug Free
178th Pick: K Nick Folk
195th Pick: FB Deon Anderson
212th Pick: CB Courtney Brown
237th Pick: CB Alan Ball

I'm not sure if this is a good draft or not. I, personally, believe that a draft can not be fully evaluated until a good time down the road. But I will share with what some did on the Cowboys grade.

Dallas Cowboys: They did some top-notch wheeling and dealing with Cleveland and Philadelphia. When the first day was all said and done, Dallas basically slid back four spots in the first round, from 22 to 26, and gave up a third- and fifth-round pick for Cleveland's first-rounder next year. That was an "A+" maneuver. Too bad the rest of the draft class didn't live up to that move. Two seventh-rounders at cornerback? They had to do better than that. And some scouts think plodding offensive tackle James Marten could be a big bust. On the positive side? Anthony Spencer could be Wade Phillips' next Shaun Phillips; offensive tackle Doug Free could be a sleeper in the fourth, and kicker Nick Folk could finally shore up that weakness.

Grade: B

This guy had Dallas at the highest grade in the East. Giants were given a C, Eagles a D, and the Redskins a D+. Grades

Newberg Report / Johnny's Thoughts

Another dose of grasping for some light at the end of this nasty tunnel:

In 2004, Oakland had a 13-15 April. The A’s won 91 games.

In 2005, Oakland had another 13-15 April and fell at one point to 17-32. The A’s won 88 games.

In 2006, Oakland went 15-13 in April but fell to 23-29. The A’s won 93 games.

Ron Washington has been through disappointing first months and seen his club pull things together.

That doesn’t mean Wash can snap his fingers and get the Rangers rolling immediately in the right direction – it’s going to take a lot fewer mistakes on the field, for starters – but at least the manager can speak from experience when he tells the troops that this thing isn’t over.

Jamey

The Rangers have placed righthander Kevin Millwood on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 29, due to a strained left hamstring muscle hereportedly sustained while shagging flies between starts. If it's anything like the strained left hamstring muscle I sustained 13 days ago nearly three hours into a Sunday morning of softball that I was playing on four hours of sleep, he's going to need all of those 15 days before he feels right, and his wife will still threaten spouse-imposed retirement if he hurts himself that severely again.

Then again, he's probably in a little better condition than I am. And probably has considerable more leash.

Sidewinder Wes Littleton was recalled from AAA Oklahoma to replace Millwood on the roster. Righty Mike Wood will remain in the rotation in Millwood's absence.

Jamey

Now, Ron wasn't the head skipper in Oakland, but I don't think he had to be to have an impact of the "Comeback Road" that the Rangers are needing now. And this is going to be a tough uphill battle, now that Millwood is on the DL with injuries. Sammy Sosa seems to have become useless since being hit in the head by a pitch for a second time in the last several years. I'm especially concerned at the shorter term effects (the next few months) and how it will affect his patience at the plate, homeruns, and batting average. I recall the last time he was hit in the noggin, he fell apart up in Chicago. And being that he hasn't been sharp since, I think it would be wise of Ron to sit Sammy for a few games to regain focus and work with Rudy. But that would be me.

I do have the pleasure of watching "Bob the Builder" with my son at times, and I can only think of one thing right now in regards to our situation... CAN WE DO IT? YES WE CAN!!! I believe these guys can go post-season baseball. And two strong wins against Toronto, a great start by Padilla (7 innings) which followed a 6 inning start from McCarthy yesterday... GOOD TIMES. Things are starting to look good. Well, Johnny Out.

A Good Night

You know, I needed some baseball. Especially after what happened yesterday with the Mavs getting knocked out by an 8th seeded team and what makes up possibly the biggest upset in not only basketball and the NBA, but in all sports. What that did last night capped off the sweep by the Yankees over the Rangers (double-header and the series in all). So I was depressed about it all.

I had a doctor's appointment with my Rheumatologist and found out for sure that my hips are rotting inside my body. I'll have to have some kind of hip replacement on my right side for sure, the left side is not so sure what will happen to that, but there's a strong likelihood that will have to be replaced, as well. So, going to the Rangers game against Toronto last night really took a bad day, or at least a gloomy one, and really made things nice. I didn't get a bobble-head, but I'm fine with that (for once in my life, I can live without it). Rangers winning with a STRONG start from McCarthy was what the doctor ordered.

The Newberg Report

THE NEWBERG REPORT

“We’re not hitting, we’re not fielding and we’re not pitching,” first baseman Mark Teixeira said. “You almost have to expect to lose when you do that. When you don’t do anything right, you aren’t going to win in this league."

“We’re just playing bad. There are no excuses. I take responsibility for my performance and I think everybody in here does the same thing. But the bottom line is we have to get a lot better.”

That comment was about the only thing that hit the mark on what was one of the most miserable sports days, locally, that I’ve ever experienced.

Glad I’m not six years old anymore. I probably would have cried, the way I did when the Cowboys lost Super Bowl X, only worse.

That's from the Newberg Report. In fact, that's the entire report from today. It makes me sick, the Rangers being swept by the Yankees, and losing a double-header yesterday... AND the Mavs being eliminated from the playoffs by the #8 seed, a team that lost 25 games MORE than the Mavericks in the regular season. I feel like curling up into a ball and let the day slip past. I do, however, have tickets to the Ranger game tonight. So, as inviting as the "hermit-itis syndrome" is for me right now, I'm going to resist the temptation and move on with life. BAH-HUMBUG, MAN!!! It just sucks. I may do the forecast for tonight... maybe not. Laterz, Johnny Out.

Mavericks vs. Warriors (Game 6)

BAH HUMBUG!!!

Rangers vs. Yankees

Is there a team in baseball that I HATE (professionally, not personally) more than the NY Yankees? That's an easy NO. And so, it's surprising that when the Yanks come into town, they are nursing a horrendous record and can't seem to win even with the hardest of efforts. What saddens me about that franchise is the owner, George. The Yanks drop a few in a row, and all of a sudden Joe Torre's job is on the line. This Yankee team under Torre has been to the post-season a few more times than the Rangers. And even though I can't stand the team, I think it would completely dumb to constantly apply the pressure on Joe Torre like that. I really wonder just how much garbage will the guy take before he just says, "I'm tired of it, I'm leaving."

Up for the Rangers tonight is Kameron David Loe. He's 1-1 with a 5.21 ERA. Loe started the season as a long relief pitcher, even though he was the best "#5 starter" in preseason. His ERA seems a bit misleading, due to going into his last outing against Cleveland, his ERA was 3.29, but he allowed 7 runs (6 earned) in 5 1/3 innings. Loe has only two starts this season in his seven appearances. He's been involved with four games against NY, two starts/two relief and has received a decision on each game (1-3 against NY).

In May of 2006, Loe started two games against NY, going 0-2. He pitched five innings each time, giving up a combined nine runs off of 14 hits and four walks. He gave up two homeruns to NY on May 6th, 2006, but no dingers in his other start. In July 19th, 2005, Kam pitched 1 2/3 innings of perfect baseball against the Yanks. That is where Loe collected his win against the Yankees, his first appearance against them. He second appearance (relief) was on August 13th, 2005, when he pitched 2 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on three hits, including a homerun.

The Yankees hit Loe for a .315 average coming into tonight and have handed Loe a 7.62 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. I hope to see the Loe vs. NY via the Loe debut against them for 7 innings tonight, that's what I would like to see. Currently the hitters on the Yankee club are batting .350 (14-40) against Kam... some of those numbers:

• Alex Rodriguez: 3-8 (.375 ave.; 1 HR, 3 RBIs)
• Johnny Damon: 2-8 (.250 ave.)
• Derek Jeter: 2-7 (.286 ave.; 1 RBI)
• Robinson Cano: 2-6 (.333 ave.; 1 RBI)
• Jason Giambi: 2-3 (.667 ave.; .833 OBP; 1 double, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 BBs)
• Jorge Posada: 2-3 (.667 ave.; .800 OBP; 2 RBIs, 1 BB)

Hideki Matsui is on the DL but he was only 0-3 against Loe. Here's the thing, Loe has shown everyone that he has the stuff. His debut season, his ERA was under the 4.00 mark and he finished that season, his rookie year, with a 9-6 record. And he pitched well against some of the best. He's shown signs of greatness... the question is how quickly will it come? Hopefully, tonight will be another taste of what is to come, and not another blemish of doubt.

The Yankees are countering Loe with a fellow named Philip J. Hughes. If you're wondering why you have never heard of him, it's because he's "Brand Spanking New". He has pitched one Major League game on April 26th, 2007 against the Toronto Blue Jays (remember them?) and the Yankees were shutout 6-0. Hughes gave up 4 runs in 4 1/3 innings (8.31 ERA), but he only walked one and struck out five. He did, however, give up seven hits, and that's what killed him in the end.

In the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, Hughes went 2-1 this season with a 3.94 ERA in three starts. The 6'5" pitcher threw only 16 innings there, giving up 11 hits and 4 walks that produced 7 runs. He did not give up the long ball.

In 2006, Hughes went 12-6 with a 2.16 ERA over 26 starts. He gave up 5 trippers in 146 innings and struck out 168. This was split between the Tampa Yankees (A) and the Trenton Thunder (AA). My thoughts is that maybe Hughes could be rushed in to fill a much needed spot in the rotation (not a big stretch there...) simply because his only AAA time consisted of that 16 innings that I mentioned before. I don't know if he stats for the 2005 season in the minors.

Rangers could do well, they could stink it up with the bats, it's hard to say on a rookie. Odds are they will do well. Like I said, he's hear too early, I believe (Hughes). I think it is safe to say the Rangers will take this one, even without a brilliant outing from Loe, they should take it. That's the forecast...

Forecast: Rangers' bats light up the night-time sky - may not be many HRs, but plenty of hits in the Ballpark with this victory. Score: 10-6.

Mavericks vs. Warriors (Game 5)

OK, I've probably talked this one into the ground, sssooo I guess I will keep it short and sweet. Being game 5, it's "Do or Die in Dallas" for the Mavs. Should the boys in blue win here, they will then face have to do the same in Game 6 in Oakland.

Here's the probable starting lineup:

Goofy Spitball Pow-Wows:

• PG: Byron Davis
• SG: Monta Ellis
• SF: Jason Richardson
• PF: Stephen Jackson
• C: Al Harrington

Dallas Mavericks:

• PG: Jason Terry
• SG: Greg Buckner
• SF: Josh Howard
• PF: Dirk Nowitzki
• C: Erick Dampier

I guess the biggest key to this game is how much frustration can the Mavericks put on Golden State. When these kids get frustrated, they start making HUGE mistakes. I've noticed it happening to a masterful veteran team like the Mavericks, which is why they are in this hole. If the Mavs can turn it around and place pressure on the Warriors - they've snagged Game 5, and placed huge momentum back into their own minds. And that's all they need to do right now.

Forecast: Mavs win a "yawner" for the first time in the series for them - score: 108-89.