Shut Out

Hello. So, I didn't get back to posting that next entry about the Rangers future. Haha. I was being lazy and kinda busy at the same time. I've been working the last couple of days and last night I went to a Frisco Roughriders game. My dad and I were hoping that Neftali Feliz, the flamethrowing pitcher who in his first game at Frisco was reportedly hitting 101 mph on the radar guns. Someone said that there were more scouts behind home plate that night than they had ever seen before. However, he was not pitching. He had pitched Saturday and on a regular five-man rotation, last night would have been his turn, however we figured that they may not keep a five-man rotation in the minors so the kids can rest their arms more. That's a good idea since these guys are so young right now. Especially Feliz who was born in 1988! I was born in 1991! Haha. So, we didn't get to see Feliz (one of the prize prospects in the Mark Teixeria trade to Atlanta. Haha, I'm soooo loving this trade more and more every day. We got Salty, who in time I think can progress into a good major league catcher and a handful of other prospects. Haha. I think getting rid of Teixeria was one of the best things that has happened to this club in a long time. I've heard he can be a pretty big prima donna and I lost respect for him at the end of his Ranger tenure because of some of his comments and actions. And I love how he have a better record than the Braves right now. HAHAHAHA...) but we got to see Michael Schlact. We had never seen him pitch but the boy got roughed up pretty bad. When we left in the eighth inning, the Riders were losing 7-1.

So, the Rangers started the official second half of the regular season tonight. And guess what???!!! HANK BLALOCK IS FINALLY BACK!!!!!!!!!! After like a two-year hiatus. Well, okay it really wasn't that long, but it seemed like it was that long. I felt sorry for the guy getting all those injuries and not being able to get back. So, back when Hank thought that he was going to be back soon, he suggested (I suppose) to the team that he would move to first base for the good of the team since we were getting NO production there from Ben Broussard (spare..lol), Jason Botts (miss him! he's over in Japan I believe), Craig (it's really Chris) Shelton (haha, it's an inside joke between me and my dad..lol. I might explain later.), and probably some other dudes I'm not remembering at the moment. So, Hank started making the transistion over to first, however then he discovered he had carpal tunnel syndrome and that was a setback. Then, he hurt his right wrist diving for a ball and that's when the Rangers had no choice but to act and get somebody up to play first for them. The perfect candidate was Chris 'Crush' Davis who was absolutely DESTROYING Triple-A pitching. (He also was a third baseman converted to a first baseman) The Rangers brought him up. I was at his first home game where he hit his first home run! He hit like three homers in his first six games. This dude is like a beast. He is a power bat to the full extent and he showed he was a great defender at first too. So, now Hank is ready but we've got a dilemma. Chris Davis is proving himself to be worthy of being a big leauger, however where do you put Blalock? Back at third. So, after all that fuss over him moving over to first base, he never actually does. Haha. But I am very glad that Chris is staying put for the moment because he is what my mom calls a 'pretty boy.' Haha, I have my list of pretty boys on the Rangers and in the big leagues. I might include that later on as well. LOL.

So, anyway back to the game. We were in Minnesota and we had to bring up another young minor leaguer because Salty had the flu over the Break and still is not feeling well. The Rangers brought up Triple-A catcher Taylor Teagarden (also a pretty boy! haha). Teagarden is a Texas boy from Carrollton. He has also been chosen to play in the Olympics! If he is back in the minors by Tuesday (and Salty should be back and ready to go by then), Teagarden is heading to Beijing. Exciting! So, we had Kevin Millwood going to the hill against Glen Perkins. Perkins pitched a very good game, while Millwood fine-tuned a pretty decent start himself. He got farther than he had been getting by getting into the seventh. We didn't have any offense in this one. Ian Kinsler didn't get a hit so that broke his 25-game hit streak. =( Oh well. He can start a whole new one tomorrow! That's the beauty of baseball. The Rangers only got a total of 3 hits, while the Twins got 15. Oh god, I hope the Derby does not demolish Josh's swing in the second half. He didn't look too good swinging the bat tonight. So far, the Rangers have been the only team in the Majors not to be shut out this year. They took that the to the Break, however they got shut out tonight for the first time all year, 6-0. I never give up on this team, however if they want to be considered contenders, this road trip can make them or break them. They've got two more in Minnesota, then they head to Chicago and then on to Oakland. If they go any worse than say 4-5, then I don't think there is a way than they can make a run to be contenders this year. This road trip is critical for this team and if they can make it this year. I hope they can, but I'm just not sure yet. We certainly did not get off to a very good start tonight, however tomorrow's a new day and maybe it's a better day. We can only hope! Well, I'm gonna peace out from here now..see ya!

<3 hannah