Game 81... it's the halfway point. And the question remains as to whether the Rangers will hit this point above or below 500. They are 40-40 and the Phillies are 43-37. Today is Hank Blalock bobble head night and tomorrow is Josh Hamilton Sports Illustrated replica cover night. Tonight they have 20,000 bobbles and tomorrow only 10,000 SI covers. I have tickets to both games. 
This is the Hank Blalock bobble head. I have been looking forward to grabbing the thing. The Rangers really do have a hard time getting to 2 games over 500. Maybe I will be fortunate enough to witness the event of two over? It could happen. Here's the match-ups for this series, at least for right now. The Rangers aren't necessarily hot, going 5-5 in the last ten games, and the Phillies are so far from hot, they might as well be playing in Antarctica. The Phillies are 2-8 over there last ten. I still believe the Rangers can play well against anybody. It is harder to do when Hamilton is out of the lineup and Bradley is out of the lineup and Blalcok is out of the lineup...
- Game 1: Gabbard vs. Myers (Quick Pick: Gabbard)
- Game 2: Padilla vs. Hamels (Quick Pick: Padilla)
- Game 3: Hurley vs. Moyer Quick Pick: Moyer)
Now, Bradley is back in the lineup ad I am not sure what to make of Hamilton coming back in the lineup last night and then leaving with an injury to his hand. Lord willing, it is minor and he can come right back.
Gabbard has three starts at home, and he is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA. Opponents have hit him for a .323 batting average and connected for 21 hits in 16 innings. He also walked 6 over that stretch. Gabbard hasn't gone 6 innings in a long time (April 16th) and continues to have walk trouble... he has 3 or more walks in 6 of his 11 starts this season, including 3 in a 2 innings outing and 6 in a 2.2 innings outing. He has four starts where he hasn't gone 5 innings. Despite the ba numbers, the Rangers are 7-4 when he starts. What that basically means is he gets some run support. A lot of run support. He did grab his second win of the season against Washington. He as never faced the Phillies.
Oh, and despite losing the game last night, the Rangers still won the Silver Boot.
And if you thought Gabbard was having a tough season, check out Myers. He is 3-9 with a 5.51 ERA. He has given up 12 HRs in 45.1 innings on the road. So, welcome to Arlington, where the ball truly does have wings. On the road, Myers is 0-6 with a 7.54 ERA and opponents slap him silly with a .345 batting average. I really wonder if he will make it 5 innings tonight. I hope I get a taco (in the fifth inning, if the Rangers score, all the fans win a taco from Taco Bell). Now, despite his awful numbers (and they are awful), he does eat up innings. In his 16 games, he has gone 7 innings or more 7 times. And only 6 times he has been held to less than 6 innnings. He has never faced the Rangers, but the current roster is 6-26 (231 BA) with 1 double, 2 HRs, and 7 RBIs off Myers.
Forecast: I think my quick pick is on target. Myers can't win on the road. He stinks and he has handed out so many souviners that coming to a hitting park is going to not make those numbers any better. Gabbard grabs a second win in a row for himself and gets the Rangers back over 500, just in time for the halfway mark. Score: 8-5, Rangers.
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