Well, I don't think the Rangers have arrived yet, but they have slapped two wins together. Surprise, surprise... Jamey Wright has a chance to match the Rangers longest winning streak this season (which is 3), with a win on Saturday. Jamey (who has an ERA of 16.87) faces off against Aaron Harang (3.93 ERA). In Harang's last five starts, the Reds have lost three of them. His last start, the Reds won 1-0 in which he pitched seven solid innings against Cleveland, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out 10. In fact, the last three starts by Harang the score was decided by one run, twice favorably for the Reds.
As everyone knows, Sosa loves facing the Reds in Cincinnati. Lifetime in the Reds house, he has 11 HRs in 74 at-bats. He'll hit #600 in Cincinnati, if and only if he stays in the lineup. And it can be possible for them to take him out so that he can slap #600 at home against his former team, the Cubs on the 19th. I'm fortunate to have tickets to that game.
For the Rangers to keep out of the lineup, it would mean that they believe they are out of the race. Now, let's think about this. Saying that if the winner of this division needs 90 wins to take the West (not really likely, should take quite a bit more, but bear with me on this), with the Rangers current record of 25-42 (17 games under .500), they would need to put together a record of 65-30 the rest of the way. It's not impossible, but for a team completely and totally in last place in the American League, to jump up and play 35 games over .500 would be phenominal. And to be honest, my faith is wavering on whether they can turn it around like that this season. The starting pitching is awful. Millwood is pitiful. Padilla is worse. Kameron Loe has been disappointing. Ian Kinsler and Michael Young have been off-key. Tiexiera has been a strike-out and Blalock is AWOL. Cat has been outright sickening. Sosa has been a surprising delight this season. I dig Lofton. I dig the bullpen. And I hate having said all this, but I just want the Rangers to change my attitude. PLEASE DO, GUYS!! I can't say that I like feeling this way about my team.
Well, with that said, let's check out Redman in AAA.
(June 9th)
AAA: at Oklahoma 3, Round Rock 8
Loss: Redman (1-1, 4.74)
Mark Redman had his first bad start in Oklahoma, allowing seven runs in seven innings. Franklyn German (4.55 ERA) threw a couple of scoreless frames.
Nelson Cruz single and doubled in four at-bats in his first game in AAA. Jason Botts singled and walked.
Oklahoma placed reliever Ezequiel Astacio on the DL with elbow soreness and activated reliever Michael Bumstead.
(June 14th)
AAA, Game 2: Oklahoma 2, at Albuquerque 3 (7 innings)
Loss: Redman (1-2, 4.62)
Oklahoma had the second game under control until the bottom of the 7th. Up 2-0, Albuquerque scored three runs on three hits, two walks and an error. Mark Redman pitched all 6.1 innings.
Guillermo Quiroz hit a solo homer in the 5th, and Nate Gold drive in Kevin West for Oklahoma’s other run. Nelson Cruz (.316/.435/.842) walked twice and singled.
Well, I don't know what to say except that Redman would do a good job in the Rangers organization if they can catch the ball. We haven't done a good job with that lately. Millwood pitches the last game of the Rangers/Reds series. 65 wins and 30 loses from this point on. It can happen. And taxes can be eliminated from the US ecomony. It can happen. Will it? Rangers have way better odds than the taxes thing, but both are extremely unlikely. Still - keep the faith. Saturday will prove whether the team has given up this year...
***Sosa in the lineup: to the last at-bat attitude.
***Sosa out of the lineup: Rangers already thinking next year.
Johnny Out.
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