Game 136: Rangers at Angels

I'm not sure I like the logo for today. I mean, I tried really hard to get the Angels A to have some different sizzle... but it just looks lame to me. Oh well. Here are some comics I snagged yesterday. I thought they were pretty funny, especially "In the Bleachers".
So, here it goes. We have game two of this four game series. Padilla is being skipped, so Dustin Nippert is starting in his place. Nippert has been up and down during the whole season... He's one of the 50+ players who have been used by the Rangers this season. I think the total number of players used by the Rangers is closing in on 60, if it hasn't already. And when you stop to consider that, and all the rookies used this season, it is really, really amazing to think that this team is still close to 500 and not 380 or so...
Scouting Report:

Rangers: With Vicente Padilla scratched due to inflammation in a muscle joint on the right side of his neck, Nippert is once again Johnny on the spot for the Rangers. Nippert's last appearance was a spot start against the Rays on Aug. 17 in which he allowed seven runs in four innings. The Rangers will be hoping instead for a similar outing to Nippert's seven-inning relief appearance on July 7 against the same Angels team he'll be facing Friday. In that outing, Nippert allowed just one run in seven innings to the Halos on four hits and a walk. However, Nippert's first appearance of the season was a brief appearance in which he allowed six runs in two-thirds of an inning to the Angels on April 4.

Angels: Santana pitched well on Sunday against the Twins but was hurt by just one batter. Justin Morneau had three hits, including one home run, and drove in three runs against Santana. Santana still lasted seven innings, allowing three runs on nine hits while tying a season high by striking out 10. Santana is 6-4 with a 6.56 ERA against the Rangers in 12 starts.

Well, that's what they have to say. Now, for a little Johnny time. Santana has a 3.41 ERA and a 13-5 record.

Rangers to Watch:

• Michael Young: 14-33 (.424 BA) with a double, 2 HRs and 9 RBIs
• Hank Blalock: 9-23 (.391 BA) with 2 doubles, a triple, 3 HRs, and 7 RBIs
• Gerald Laird: 5-12 (.417 BA) with a double, a triple, and an RBI
• Milton Bradly: 5-11 (.455 BA) with a HR and an RBI

Ian Kinsler also has some good numbers on Santana, but we all know... the lad is on the DL. Anyway, the rest of the Rangers roster is 22-83, which is a .265 BA. They have 6 doubles, 4 HRs and 11 RBIs. Those are some pretty good numbers, if I do say so. And I do.

There's really not going to be a whole lot to say about Nippert. He is a spot starter and he's done a good deal amount of time at AAA this season. His Ranger debut was against the Angels and arguably the best game of the season for him was against the Angels. Two very different games. The debut was in California and the other game, the best game, was in Arlington. He has a 1-3 record, and since the shelling at his debut, his ERA has pretty much continued to drop, although he hasn't pushed it under the 7 mark just yet, this start might be able to do that for him.

Forecast: I think the Rangers are going to hit Santana, without a doubt. The real question would be: Will Nippert be able to keep the Halos at bay? This lineup is a bit more "juicy" than his last start against the Angels. Angels squeek this one under the door with a score of 9-7.

Home Plate