In Our Park, It Ain't Over 'Till It's Over

Oh my god. The Rangers/Yankees game tonight was an instant classic. We had Vinny Padilla going to the mound against Joba Chamberlain. We got down 4-0 early on a couple of homers by Giambi and Cano. However, you've got to be about 15 runs ahead of this Rangers team to be comfortable at all. Of course, our offense woke up and started producing. David Murphy came up and hit a two run homer. He has 73 RBI now. That's second on this team to Josh Hamilton! There were some weird umpire calls, including two balks against Padilla. On the second, Wash came out and was tossed. Then, Michael Young a.k.a Mr. Clutch, came up and hit a three run homer to put the Rangers on top!!! Then, the X-Man, Xavier Nady came up and barely got a ball out over Marlon Byrd's glove. If he was just a few inches taller, Marlon would've had that one. So, now it's tied at 5. Bottom of the ninth. Marte loses his control and walks three. The bases are loaded for Marlon Byrd. And of course what does Mr. Byrd do? Only hit a walk-off grand slam!!! This team is making the walk off wins their speciality this year. Marlon got ice thrown on him in his postgame interviw, highfived some fans in the crowd (including Team President Nolan Ryan!), and did some very fancy high five moves with Salty. I never get tired of watching this team. Watching them go out to home plate and jump around like little kids with huge smiles on their faces puts a huge smile on my face.

I've said it before, I'll say it again, this team is absolutely incredible. This team NEVER says die and I love the heart of this team. This is probably the funnest group of Rangers I have ever watched. This has been such a fun summer watching this team and we've still got two months left! Now, do I think this team will somehow miracously catch the BoSox and win the Wildcard? No, but I think second place in the West and two more months of how they are playing right now will be a huge confidence booster and maybe, just maybe we can be contenders the next two years. Like Josh Lewin said, this is turning into a magical summer in Arlington, Texas.

And it makes it all the much sweeter that we beat the YANKS!!!!!!!!! God, if only we didn't have to see Pudge in a Yanks uniform. Makes me wanna cry.

This is one of the best games of the year. It's right on up there with Josh's walkoff homer off K-Rod.

So, last Wednesday, on Josh Hamilton's myspace fan page, he was online it. I saw the chance to message him and of course I did! He messaged me back and this is the result:

My message:

Hey Josh,

I know you probably don't have a whole lot of time, however I saw the chance to message you and I had to take it. My name is Hannah Baugh and I'm sixteen years old. I live in Bonham, Texas about 90 miles north of Arlington. I have been a Rangers fan since I was born. I give my dad all the credit for my love of the greatest sport of them all, baseball, and my favorite team of them all, the Texas Rangers. I just want to tell you that we are so incredibly happy to get to call you a Texas Ranger. I've heard your story and I am so inspired by it. You belong on that baseball diamond and we can only thank God every day that He helped you to get back there.

I watched you that night at Yankee Stadium in the Home Run Derby and I don't think that I took the smile off my face at any time when you were blasting those 28 homers in the first round. Josh, Rangers fans, myself included, have so much fun watching you every night. You are truly an inspiration to everyone. You have a beautiful family and may God bless you. I wish you and your family nothing all the happiness in the world. We love you, Josh.

<3 hannah

His Response:

thank you and your dad for supporting me i couldnt do it with out fans like you im just glad to be here and play the game i love i go out there and hustle unlike some players cause i know god wants me to i play this game for him every hit i bless him cause i know i wouldnt be here without him and kid dont ever do drugs they will kill you trust me you dont wanna go down the road ive been down your a pretty girl you dont wanna ruin that

OMG. That made my day, week, month, year. Whatever you wanna say. Love ya, Josh!!!!

<3 hannah