Rangers Road Trip To Anaheim

I also said Mia loves baseball. I've taught her well. (Trip photos are below.)

Nelson Cruz playing catch with the batboy.

Rangers All-Star Game Performances: National League: 5 American League 1

• Josh Hamilton (LF Starter): 1 for 2 with a broken bat single and a nice running basket catch
• Adrian Beltre: (3B Starter): 1 for 2 with what could have been an RBI single, but Hunter Pence (Astros) threw out the runner at home.
• Michael Young (3B Player Vote): 0 for 1 with a strikeout
• C.J. Wilson (Pitcher, Manager's Selection): Pitched the 4th inning for the American League and gave up two singles before the eventual game-winning hit, a three-run blast by Price Fielder. It was not his best day as Wilson took the loss for the American League.
• Alexi Ogando (Pitcher, Player Vote): Pitched to two batters for two outs in the eighth inning.

The National League has now won two consecutive All-Star games and will have home-field advantage for this year's World Series.

Memorable Stats From A 10-Run Victory: Rangers 15 Marlins 5

• 15 runs is the most runs the Rangers have scored this season.
• Nelson Cruz had six RBI's (3 on a homer in the 3rd and 3 on a bases-clearing triple in the 8th)
• Adrian Beltre knocked in four runs on 3 hits. (I guess that makes up for his lack of the sac fly lately.)
• Catcher Taylor Teagarden, making just his sixth start of the season, recorded three hits (2 doubles) and two RBI's.
• Josh Hamilton went 2-for-2 with two walks (1 intentional),
• Andres Blanco homered for the second time this season and third in his career during the six-run eighth inning.
• Possibly most notable, Alexi Ogando threw 102 pitches (75 strikes) over 6 2/3 innings. Striking out a career-high eight batters and taking a shutout into the seventh, it's a sign of the form that got Ogando to 7-0.

Wilson Gets First MLB Hit: A Triple: Rangers 7 Astros 3

After looking forward to his interleague at-bats for years, C.J. Wilson smoked a ball off the outfield hill at Minute Maid Park for a triple to lead off the third inning off starter Jordan Lyles One batter later, he would score to tie the game at 1.

Wilson quickly flashed the Rangers' trademark claw and antlers along with a huge smile.  Josh Hamilton homered later in the inning for the first of four two-outs hits. The rally, which accounted for two more runs, gave Wilson a chance to breathe in the dugout after scoring.

Wilson also took a ball off his foot and hand during his time on the mound.

Early Innings Propel Rangers To Victory: Rangers 8 Astros 3

Rangers were off to a shotgun start Monday when the Astros and the Lone Star Series returned to Arlington.


Returning home from the longest road trip of the season, the Rangers jumped out to a 6-0 lead, scoring three runs in each of the first two innings. Leadoff batter Ian Kinsler immediately reached base on a dropped ball by Chris Johnson at third base, which set the tone for the first three innings. Josh Hamilton also singled and Kinsler took third with one out.

The Rangers then went to work doing something they have struggled mightily with for stretches of the season: hitting with runners in scoring position. Adrian Beltre singled, Michael Young doubled and Nelson Cruz contributed a sacrifice fly RBI. Wow, three batters get the job done in a row. If we had one of those hits in Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Braves, it might have been a completely different ballgame. But to look on the bright side, at least the Rangers didn’t waste the opportunities today.

In the second inning, Craig Gentry provided the spark with a one out single, his first of three hits. Gentry also tallied an RBI and a run scored in the first three-hit game of his career. After stealing two bases during Elvis Andrus’ walk, Hamilton tripled off the wall in center, scoring the speedy tandem. Adrian Beltre singled to bring home Hamilton, the sixth run in two innings.

Once the deficit ballooned to 7-0, Astros starter J.A. Happ was relieved by Aneury Rodriguez, who brought a decidedly more controlled tone to the game – two hits spanning the next 4 1/3 innings.

Rangers’ starter Derek Holland received a standing ovation when he left the mound after 7 1/3 innings and a five-run lead. His final line read: 3 earned runs, 6 hits, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts.

Playing in his first Lone Star Series, Mitch Moreland tattooed a Mark Melancon pitch 455 feet into the upper deck in right field to lead off the eighth.

Hamilton and Cruz Carry the Big Weight: Rangers 6 Braves 2

In the midst of their longest losing streak of the season, the Rangers really needed a win Friday at Turner Field in Atlanta.

Somebody in the clubhouse must have spoken to Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz about it. In the 6-2 victory, both men tallied three RBI’s each. Do the math and that means the two of them accounted for all the RBI’s.

Michael Young and Nelson Cruz hit back-to-back doubles in the second inning off Randall Delgado, who was appearing in his first Major League game in the spot start. The consecutive extra-base hits gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead.

Braves catcher Brian McCann would tie the game with a home run to start the bottom of the fourth inning. Starter Colby Lewis, who has truly struggled with the long ball this season, also allowed a solo shot to Freddie Freeman with one out in the fourth,


Friday marked the return of the Colby Lewis the Rangers like to see – the one with the solid fastball command and the confusing diving slider. He struck out 10 and walked five in 6 2/3 innings following two horrific started that totaled just over four innings combined. Also noteworthy, with Jason Heyward at the plate and two outs in the fifth, Lewis made an All-Star defensive play, backhanding the ball to Young at first base for the out.

But now, back to offense. Elvis Andrus reached on an error by third baseman Brooks Conrad. Hamilton stepped to the plate and got a pitch he could drive from an inexperienced pitcher. It flew over the wall for a 3-1 lead and a lot of relief in the Rangers dugout. But Hamilton long blast was just the first of four hard-hit smashes in a row. Adrian Beltre singled as the last batter of Delgado’s night. When Christian Martinez entered,  Young singled and Cruz hammered a double to the wall to score both Beltre and Young.

The Rangers added a run in the ninth on three singles and a lineout. Although not a save situation, a well-rested Neftali Feliz threw 11 of 13 pitches for strikes, ringing up two batters in the process.

Explosive 2nd Inning Carries Rangers: Rangers 9 Twins 3

Baseball lore says to avoid the big inning. That holds true, unless of course, the team executing it was the Rangers, who were trying to notch their first win at Target Field on Saturday after going winless last season and losing the first game of this series Thursday.

The Rangers seized control of the game early by hammering Brian Duensing for seven runs on six hits in the second inning. And the hits were not lucky balls that found holes. They were ropes into the gaps and down the lines. Just think, the 11-batter offensive smothering all started with a leadoff walk on a 3-2 pitch to Adrian Beltre. The baseball gods are keenly aware that walks can hurt badly.

After the free pass to Beltre, Mike Napoli doubled him home with the assistance of an outfield bobble during the first of several periods of light rain during the game. Yorvit Torreabla plated Napoli for an RBI single and the first of his two hits. Andres Blanco, playing second base for Ian Kinsler, who should return from paternity leave tomorrow, reached on an infield error at shortstop to prolong the smashing of white balls. But, as a Rangers fan, this wasn’t my misery. I said “Keep it going.”

Elvis Andrus and Craig Gentry apparently heard me and both deposited RBI singles up the middle. Michael Young got in on the act which a two-RBI single breaking an 0-for-18 road skid for the man who is now two games shy of passing Rafael Palmeiro for all-time franchise record for games played (1,573 currently). Despite three hits, Young is still expected to not play Saturday. Beltre added an RBI double in his second at-bat of the inning. Nelson Cruz made two of the outs and Josh Hamilton made the other.

Needless to say, Duensing needed 56 pitches over two innings. (45 in the second inning alone), But Anthony Swarzak provided six innings of two-run relief for the Twins. C.J. Wilson improved to 7-3 for the Rangers.

It All Went Well At Home: Rangers 4 Indians 0

• Derek Holland pitched a complete-game 5-hit shutout in his first career start against the Indians, the francise nearest to his hometown.
• Holland threw 112 pitches and showed composure during a mid-game bases-loaded jam in which he induced a groundout. In seven of the nine innings, Holland threw 12 or fewer pitches.
• Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz both hit tape-measure shot two-run homers that were estimated at 445 and 440 feet respectively. Note to Indians: We know they were more in the neighborhood of 460-470 feet.
• NBA Finals Game 3 in Dallas tomorrow night! The Rangers say "GO MAVS!!!"

Anatomy of A Blowout: Rangers 11 Indians 2

Even though he’s at the back end of the rotation, Alexi Ogando is quickly becoming the Rangers pitching star. The guy is now 6-0 this season and sports an ERA of 2.20.

Despite the final score, through six innings, it was a 2-1 game, and Ogando was up to the task. He threw 68 of his 100 pitches for strikes over eight innings, striking out six and walking one. The Indians only run off Ogando came in the sixth when S. Choo grounded into a double play following consecutive singles to start the inning.

Ogando looked and acted as if he was headed for a 2-1 victory, but the Rangers exploded in the back third of the ballgame, scoring seven runs on a trio of Cleveland relievers, which have been strength for the 33-22 surprise leaders of the American League Central. With runners at first and third in the seventh, the Indians brought on Tony Sipp for the duty of retiring Josh Hamilton. The opposite happened: Hamilton hit an 0-2 “laser” homerun over the yellow line for a three-run homer and a 5-1 advantage. Nelson Cruz followed his lead, connecting on a two-run shot with Adrian Beltre on second.

With the hot-hitting Mike Napoli and Endy Chavez at the bottom of the order, the Rangers quickly went to work in the eighth on extending their lead. Napoli doubled, Chavez singled (4-4 yesterday, 3-5 tonight) and Ian Kinsler walked. Chad Durbin had to face Elvis Andrus with the bases loaded. The result was a bases-clearing double that hugged the right field line and cleared the bases for a 10-1 lead. For the night, Andrus was 4-for-4 with three singles, a double and a stolen base. Two more singles from the bottom of the order and a wild pitch equaled an 11th run.

Crazy Ending, But Nonetheless A Victory: Rangers 7 Royals 6

Royals rookie catcher Brayan Pena has hit three three-run homers against the Rangers this season including one against Rangers starter Alexi Ogando on Sunday in the last game of the home stand.

But it was Pena’s own mental error coupled with some aggressive baserunning from the Rangers’ own catcher Mike Napoli that capped a comeback that included a pair runs in each of the final two innings. Following a Nelson Cruz homer that quickly knotted the game at six to begin the ninth, Napoli reached on a single into the gap. With a loaded bench for the day, the Rangers pinch hit Mitch Moreland and David Murphy, who both struck out swinging. In his second at-bat of the day, Elvis Andrus singled deep down the right field line in place of Ian Kinsler, who was ejected for arguing with home plate umpire Mike Estabrook, to end the fifth inning. Napoli, who most likely would have stopped at third, was waved home by third base coach Dave Anderson. The relay throw had him out by miles, but the savvy Napoli slid his feet across the plate before Pena tagged his chest. Replays showed the call was correct as the Rangers got their first walkoff victory of the season.

Both Nefali Feliz and Joaquim Soria have struggled to lockdown games this season. Coming into a tie game, Feliz allowed a leadoff double to Chris Getz, who advanced to third on a Cruz bobble and a sacrifice fly to Alcides Escobar to give the Royals a brief lead before the aforementioned at-bat by Cruz to lead off the Rangers’ ninth. Feliz has three blown saves recently and each of his last five outings have been extremely nerve-racking. He hasn’t looked like the confident flame thrower who won the Rookie of the Year Award last season. Feliz is an integral part of the Rangers’ success, and the Rangers need to be able to rely on him to close games.

The eighth inning was replete with its own drama. With Andres Blanco on base and the team down 5-3, the Rangers were craving a big hit – and they got a mammoth one with two outs. Michael Young’s two-run shot over the wall in right tied the score at five. Young also put a double a deep fly ball to Alex Gordon in the stat book. Also, Kinsler went yard in the third and Napoli in the fifth.

Ogando allowed five runs on five hits in the fourth inning and got a no-decision. Darren Oliver was credited with the win.

The Recently-Discovered Trash Can And Flower Pot

Matt Harrison Returns To Form: Rangers 2 Phillies 0

Matt Harrison came to the mound with a mission Sunday. After the lineup was shutout by former teammate Cliff Lee on Saturday, Harrison was fully aware there wasn’t any room for error.

The state of the bullpen doesn’t provide any peace f mind either.

Harrison’s answer was to throw 117 pitches over 8 1/3 innings to outduel former Astros ace Roy Oswalt. After losing two close games to Philadelphia on Friday and Saturday, the karma finally tilted the Rangers’ way. The Phillies hit some smashes right at people, and the Rangers outfielders ran down all the plays. (Nod to Craig Gentry, who will likely return to Triple-A after the anticipated activations of Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz for Monday’s game against the White Sox. The sputtering offense will also get a major boost with the return of the two All-Stars.

With the easy offensive firepower missing in action, the Rangers went to baseball fundamentals to score. Michael Young, the only guy in the order hitting consistently, led off the top of the sixth inning with a single. Adrian Beltre advanced him to second with a sacrifice groundout to the pitcher before Mitch Moreland doubled off the bottom of the wall to send him home for a 1-0 lead.

Beltre also doubled to start the second and Moreland allowed him to reach third on a groundout to the first baseman. Following a pitching change, Gentry came to the plate to face David Herndon. Gentry bunted at a pitch that was headed directly for him and thus executed the suicide squeeze to score the insurance run and did not get hit with the pitch.

Neftali Feliz recorded the two-out save, his first since the two blown saves in Chicago earlier this week.

Michael Young & Co Handle Weaver: Rangers 4 Angels 1

The Rangers got to Angels ace Jared Weaver on Friday. And it wasn’t just because of newly-crowded cleanup hitter Michael Young and his .350 batting average.

Young received significant help from the guys ahead of him in the order, Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler. The 2-3-4 spots in the order accounted for six of the seven hits and three of the four RBIs.

Andrus started the offense early with a home run just over the top of the wall on the first pitch he saw as the second hitter in the first inning. It marked Andrus’ second long ball of 2011 after failing to connect on one last season.

The Angels tied the game in the third on an Erick Aybar home run off Alexi Ogando, pretty much the only drawback for him having given up six. Ogando missed his start last Sunday because of ongoing blister issues but showed no residual effects Friday. He struck out five and walked one during the 99-pitch (62-strike) performance over 6 1/3 innings.

Starting in the fourth inning, the Rangers consistently added to the lead, scoring single runs in each of the next three innings. Kinsler, in the three hole since Tuesday as part of Ron Washington’s reconfigured lineup, lead off the frame with a double. Young and his .353 average after two hits Friday, quickly followed with a subsequent double to bring Kinsler home for a 2-1 lead. He really is fun to watch,

Mike Napoli began the fifth with a walk and was advanced to second on a successfully executed hit-and-run by Yorvit Torreabla. Andrus lined the ball to right field and Torreabla scored following one of three Julio Borbon strikeouts on the night. Borbon left the game in the eighth after an apparent hamstring strain during a catch. He will undergo an MRI tomorrow.

Adrian Beltre added a solo homer in the sixth to reach the final margin of victory, 4-1. Beltre has connected in consecutive games since Wednesday rainout was wiped from the books.

No mention of the bullpen is good news.

Mavs Outplay Lakers Late Again: Mavericks 98 Lakers 92

Another amazingly great night for the Mavericks. Need I say more?

Rangers Rant

I’m just going to put this out there. The Rangers are finding ways to lose, and it has got to stop.


• If the starting pitching goes well, the bullpen blows it (as did Pedro Strop and Darren Oliver on Tuesday. We successfully came back before Strop put couldn’t exactly get out of a no out jam with runners at the corners.

• If the bullpen is good, the starting pitching positioned us too far behind for it to matter.

• If all the pitching is good, Michael Young is the only offense that shows up. After going 1-for-4 with an RBI on Tuesday, he’s now hitting .339, and that’s a drop of a couple of points.

• The Rangers may need to talk to the Mavericks about how to close out road victories. Neftali Feliz should be off the disabled list and back in the closer’s role Friday.



The Angels are not playing well either. Let’s try again tomorrow.

                 

An Runs Onslaught, But A Nice Performance From Colby Lewis, Too: Rangers 11 Athletics 2

When the Rangers finally forced a run across in the ninth inning of Friday’s game, I took it as a good sign – that this mini 14-inning scoreless streak would soon come to an end.


I was right.

Unlike Friday night when the Rangers failed to take advantage of three first-inning walks, this time they capitalized on Elvis Andrus’ first-inning free pass. With two outs and Andrus on third thanks to a steal, Adrian Beltre doubled him home, yet another two-out RBI for the Rangers.

The A’s tied the game in the second on a home run by Kurt Suzuki. Colby Lewis, who surrendered three long balls in one inning on Monday, would allow another home run in the fourth to Josh Willingham, account for all the A’s offense.

But the good news is that was it. The major meltdown or multitude of baserunners in one inning were nowhere to be seen. Lewis, like the other starters, bore down to strike out six and walk one for eight innings. With such a depleted bullpen and the struggles of the starters this week, the Rangers really needed a performance like Saturday’s to help re-establish their overall confidence. Trust me, they also want to be able to depend on Lewis, the only pitcher with a World Series victory for the Rangers.

Michael Young has always been dependable, but with a batting average of .342 and 12 doubles in April, he is really showing it off right now. The only thing he hadn’t down is deliver a homer.

After Andrus led off the third with a single, Young smacked a pitch from Brett Anderson to check that off the list also. The homer gave the Rangers a 3-1 lead they would hold for the rest of the game. In fact, it would become a slugfest, at least for the Rangers. Nelson Cruz and Mike Napoli joined in in the fifth inning. Following singles from Young and Beltre, Cruz brought out the “boomstick,” for a three-run shot and a more comfortable 6-2 lead. Designed hitter Mike Napoli came up with his own version, and the scoreboard read 7-2.

After Anderson was tagged with all seven runs, a go-around of four bullpen guys took their turn at one inning each. David Purcey allowed a run on a David Murphy single and Ian Kinsler two-bagger. Jerry Blevins watched the score balloon to 11-2 after an error by shortstop Cliff Pennington in the ninth.

Can I order up a second helping of this for Sunday?

Moreland Homer Gives Rangers A Win: Rangers 7 Blue Jays 6

• Mitch Moreland's leadoff home run onto Green's Hill in the seventh inning sealed the Rangers' 7-6 victory after Juan Rivera tied the game off Cody Eppley in the top of that inning.
• In his second Major League appearance, Eppley was credited with the victory.
• Derek Holland struggled and was not able to complete any 1-2-3 innings. The Blue Jays scored two runs on a walk and three singles.
• But in the bottom of the third, the Rangers exploded for six runs that would carry them through the game until Moreland's game-winning long ball.  Elvis Andrus singled home Yorvit Torreabla and Ian Kinsler, who reached on an error and walk respectively.
• Michael Young started another hit streak with a two-RBI double. Andrian Beltre absorbed an HBP before Nelson Cruz hit an RBI single. Mike Napoli brought home the final two runs on his own double.
• Darren O'Day landed on the 60-day DL Wednesday with a torn labrum in his left hip.

Homers Fly In High-Scoring Rangers Victory: Rangers 11 Royals 6

The Rangers were getting quite used to hearing the “crack” produced when a ball makes contact with the sweet spot of the bat.

Mike Napoli, Ian Kinsler, David Murphy, Adrian Beltre and Mitch Moreland all hammered home runs. At least two landed beyond the Rangers bullpen on a night when the wind provided favorable conditions for long balls. Kinsler, Beltre and Michael Young, all potential All-Stars, finished with three hits apiece. Young wasted no time extending his hit streak to a dozen games by knocking in Elvis Andrus on a single to right in the first inning for a 1-0 lead.

That lead stayed intact until the third inning when Kinsler led off with a double against Royals starter Jeff Francis, and Elvis Andrus sacrificed him to third to once again bring up Texas’ all-time hits leader. Young tripled off the center field wall, and the ball rolled all the way back into the middle of center field. Beltre doubled to center scoring Young, but he himself came home on the Napoli homer that capped the inning.

But things were not all fine and dandy for Rangers’ starter Derek Holland after his team achieved the five-run cushion. In what seemed like the blink of an eye in the top of the fourth, the necessary shutdown inning, Holland had given up an infield single, a walk and an RBI double and surrendered two runs. But that was far from the end of the mess as a single and a three-run blast by catcher Brayan Pena would follow. I guess the Royals know how to take advantage of wind also. The game was knotted at five.

But that sinking feeling that develops after blowing a huge lead dissolved after Kinsler sent a ball sailing over the bullpen to start the bottom of the inning and quickly regained the advantage at 6-5. Murphy would offer a two-run shot in the fifth, Beltre a solo shot in the sixth and Moreland a seventh-inning two-run jab just as a reminder to the Royals not to take him lightly in the ninth hole.

That totals 11 runs for the Rangers. The Royals added a run in the eighth on a long fly ball after Pedro Strop loaded the bases with nobody out. Veteran Arthur Rhodes got the other two outs on strikeouts, one swinging and one looking.

Weaver Gave the Rangers Little Chance: Angels 4 Rangers 1

Matt Harrison finally ran into a roadblock Wednesday: Angels’ pitcher Jared Weaver,

After a complete game victory, Weaver sits a 5-0 and is the fastest Major League pitcher to reach that mark.

Matt Harrison was the right guy to match up with him. Harrison hurled 6 2/3 innings, surrendering three earned runs on three walks and five strikeouts. For the fourth straight time this season, Harrison pitched like a man who is confident enough to get hitters out in all situations. He is now aware of what his pitches can do to hitters.

Harrison’s demeanor came into play the most during the fifth inning. A squeeze bunt by Angels’ catcher Jeff Mathis made it 2-0 scoring the mega speedy Peter Bourjos after his triple, and Mathis reached base on Harrison’s own error. Then, the two hitters at the top of the order walked, loading the bases for Torii Hunter, who struck out swinging. That promptly squashed the rally and averted a repeat of Tuesday’s 15-4 loss.

Howie Kendrick hit the ball over the wall off Harrison to begin the second, and Ranger nemesis Vernon Wells homered over Darren O’Day in the eighth. For the Rangers, David Murphy’s ball made unfortunate contact with Peter Bourjos’ glove and was denied exit from the park. Through this series alone, it’s clear why it’s been able to displace two All-Stars and take over the center field job, It might be interesting to watch he and Josh Hamilton in a defensive duel at some point this season.

The Rangers only run came with two outs in the sixth inning. Michael Young, who extended his hit streak to 11 games, doubled down the right field line to score Elvis Andrus from first. Andrus singled down the line just ahead of Young, and he also ran out an infield hit in the first.

Neftali Feliz inexplicably walked three batters in the ninth, further confirming the idea that closers should not pitch in non-save situations.

Double Plays, Defensive Excellence Highlight Victory: Rangers 5 Yankees 3

A superb mix of well-timed double plays by the Rangers and wild pitches and walks by the Yankees led to a 5-3 victory in the Bronx for the defending American League Champion Rangers in their first visit to New York since the playoffs.

The Rangers’ infield of Adrian Beltre, Michael Young, Mitch Moreland and Elvis Andrus induced six double plays, the last of which went 4-6-3 in the seventh, tying their team record, and the six double plays the Yankees hit into set a new record for one of baseball’s oldest franchises. The 1-6-3 double play in the fifth, grounded into by Derek Jeter illustrated the quick reflexes of the Rangers’ young infield. An All-Star shortstop, Andrus jumped inches into the cold New York air to glove a high throw from pitcher Matt Harrison and successfully get the ball to first base before Jeter. The 22-year-old shortstop was literally in the middle of five of the six twin killings. Much of the series against the Yankees brings about the dynamic of youth versus veterans. Ex: Andrus vs. Jeter; Moreland vs. Teixeira.

For the third start in a row, Matt Harrison looked like a truly transformed pitcher after he failed to make the postseason roster last season. Although he allowed 10 base runners on seven hits and three walks, Harrison completed eight innings and surrendered just a solo home run to Curtis Granderson in the eighth and a run resulting from a Nelson Cruz error in the third. Harrison isn’t shaken when runners get on base because he has a newfound level of confidence in himself and in his fielders, who made the necessary plays with ease Friday night.

In an unusual line score, the Rangers tallied five runs on just four hits off Ivan Nova. But he walked five batters and showed and propensity for balls in the dirt and wild pitches. In the top of the fifth, Nova threw three wild pitches, hit a batter and walked three more. This craziness resulted in three runs crossing the plate in the inning despite only one hit, an RBI single from Michael Young. That was Young'a second hit on the night following his 353rd career double, also for an RBI, in the third. With that trip to second base, he surpassed Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez for the most doubles in franchise history.

Neftali Feliz gave up a run in the ninth on a double, single and walk. For now, he and Harrison sport the same ERA of 1.23.

Rangers Lose Back and Forth Game, Best Player: Tigers 5 Rangers 4

Originally, this post was supposed to be about the Rangers fought but lost but lost on a Miguel Cabrera single with the bases loaded for just the second time this season. Having just two losses on the season is excellent.

Although the Rangers lost the game in the bottom of the ninth to drop to 10-2, the more significant loss came to end the top of the first. After Michael Young singled with one out, Josh Hamilton tripled. When the next batter, Adrian Beltre fouled a popup that got away from the catcher, the third base coach elected to send the speedy Hamilton and force a play at home plate. Catcher Victor Martinez did locate the ball in time to make a play. Hamilton dived into home as a result, yet was still tagged out. Following the inning, he immediately went down the tunnel and did not return. Ian Kinsler replaced me in the lineup at designated hitter for his next at-bat.

In interviews after the game, Hamilton said he did not want to break for home but followed his coach’s instructions. An MRI revealed that Hamilton suffered a small fracture of the humerus bone in his shoulder.

Lounging Around and Having Fun

Rangers Open Road Schedule With Doubleheader Split Against Orioles

Game 1: Orioles 5 Rangers 0


Game 2: Rangers 13 Orioles 1


The Rangers offense must have gotten caught in airport security because it didn’t show up for the inaugural road contest of the season, Game 1 of a doubleheader at Camden Yards and was fashionably late for Game 2, although when it arrived, the Rangers made sure everyone knew it.

The Rangers mustered only five hits in a Game 1 shutout at the hands of rookie Zach Britton. When the Rangers did have a runner on base, they quickly grounded into three double plays to erase their own chances. Needless to say, that is not a recipe for winning. While the offense remained stalled at a security checkpoint, catcher Yorvit Torreabla did throw out a runner attempting to steal second base for the first time this season. He had gone 0 for 4 in that pursuit during the first week of the season,

The Rangers did not dwell on the team’s first loss of the season because there was no time to waste on that. Colby Lewis dropped to 1-1 after taking the loss.

In the first two innings of Game 2, the offense had made its way out of the airport but then got stuck in traffic. Baltimore starter Jack Arrieta, a former TCU hurler, retired the first six Rangers without any resistance.

But after not playing in Game 1, David Murphy, just like he did on Opening Day, busted through what nobody else could at the time for a leadoff walk to begin the third inning. Walks can be bad signs, and this one opened the flood gates against Arrieta.

The bottom of the order (Murphy, Mike Napoli & Mitch Moreland) loaded the bases. Ian Kinsler was out on a fielder’s choice. With the bases still loaded and one out, Elvis Andrus hammered a two-run single into the gap. AL MVP Josh Hamilton followed suit and Adrian Beltre left no doubt about his two-run contribution over the wall. In a blink, a 1-0 deficit transformed into a 6-1 lead.

Matt Harrison, the Rangers' best pitcher one time through the rotation, went to the mound with renewed energy and confidence after his team took the lead. But he was already amped up following a second-inning homer by center fielder Adam Jones. After the home run, Harrison struck out the next three hitters and retired 18 in a row to complete seven innings.

In the fourth, Napoli homered and Moreland singled to officially end Arrieta’s night. His replacement, former Ranger Josh Rupe, allowed an RBI double to Kinsler. Arrieta’s line included eight earned runs, five strikeouts and two walks.

A Nelson Cruz sacrifice fly RBI increased the lead to 9-1 in the seventh. It was 10-1 after a Beltre double in the ninth scored Hamilton, who had two hits in each game. Nelson Cruz finished it off with a 3-run home run, which scored Beltre and Michael Young.

Rangers Complete Perfect Homestand: Rangers 7 Mariners 3

Good team make bad teams par for their errors, Good teams expect their #1 starter to say in the game even without his best pitches working. Good teams win close games.

All of that happened Wednesday afternoon for the Rangers who completed the sweep of the Seattle Mariners to improve to 6-0 on the nearly week-old season. Starter C.J Wilson looked like an ace on the mound, never getting rattled despite not having his usual control. While he walked only two, his pitches were visibly out of the zone at times.

Both teams traded runs in the second inning. In the top half, Wilson surrendered a leadoff single to Jack Cust and then struck out Justin Smoak, who has been on a tear against his former team. Jack Wilson smashed a ball just out of the reach of Elvis Andrus to put runners on first and third. New Mariner Brendan Ryan got the ball in the air for a sacrifice fly and a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom half of the second with one out, the Rangers loaded the bases on singles by David Murphy and Yorvit Torreabla and a Mitch Moreland walk. Ian Kinsler than reached on a bobbled ball and botched double play attempt by the Mariners’ Wilson to knot it at 1. Elvis Andrus took advantage of a wildly errant throw by Wilson on the next play to make it 3-1 with Felix Hernandez on the mound.

In the fifth and sixth innings, the offensively-challenged Mariners would score single runs by stringing together hits – a double and single in the fifth and two doubles in the sixth.

Making the most of his playing time, David Murphy led off the seventh with a single against Hernandez, who match Wilson in going seven innings. Murphy stole second base and traded places with Mitch Moreland after his double. That run would clinch the Rangers victory, although three singles and a double against Chris Ray and Brandon League padded the final score with three insurance runs.

Notes

• Happy Birthday to Adrian Beltre! Great backhand catch in the eighth inning!

Ogando Wins The Duel of Inexperienced Starters: Rangers 3 Mariners 2

Alexi Ogando was only the fifth starter a little over a week ago after Tommy Hunter suffered a groin injury. But he’s making a case to stay there for a long time. He’s the first Rangers pitch to throw six scoreless innings in his first start since 2000.

Ogando tossed 90 well-located pitches and 55 strikes up to the plate over his six innings. He walked two, struck out four and showed a breaking ball and curve ball that weren’t part of his repertoire during his rookie season last year when he was mainly a fastball guy in the setup role.

Making his Major League debut for Seattle, 21-year-old Dominican Michael Pineda matched Ogando’s top-notch performance for six innings, leading to just a 1-0 lead for the Rangers through 5 ½ innings. They scored the run in the second on a triple from Mitch Moreland that followed a two-out walk to Nelson Cruz. The Rangers team already has 18 two-out RBI’s this season. Moreland also doubled in the fifth to account for the second Ranger hit of the game.

But Ian Kinsler started a rally, leading off the sixth with a leadoff single that bounced funny on the grass. He’s knows his new job description down to a Texas ‘T.’ Elvis Andrus, now batting second in the order, sacrificed Kinsler to second, putting Kinsler in scoring position for Josh Hamilton’s two-bagger in the gap. The reigning MVP crossed the plate on a double by Michael Young, his first RBI of the season. Young started at first base for the first time in his big-league career Tuesday, looking fairly comfortable and making a driving stab on an Adam Kennedy ball that was heading down the line for the first out of the ninth inning in a then 3-2 game.

Now 5-0, one thing the Rangers need to watch for is getting a nice lead and then allowing their opponent to comeback and score. On Tuesday, the Mariners connected for four straight singles off Mark Lowe and Darren in the seventh. Oliver rebounded in the eighth with a 1-2-3 inning, all on groundouts.

Neftali Feliz, pitching on the third day in a row, notched his second save in as many nights.

Harrison Shows His Stuff: Rangers 5 Red Sox 1

The Rangers meant business in Sunday’s series finale against the Boston Red Sox. A combination of the fiery offense and Matt Harrison’s pitching brilliance led the team to 5-1 win.

Harrison threw seven innings, struck out eight, walked two and allowed just five hits. Through six innings, Harrison displayed the command that pitching coaches’ dream about with his slider, resulting in a multitude of swings and misses by Major League veterans such as Kevin Youklis, Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez. Three strikeouts, two looking and one swinging, brought Gonzalez’s hot start as a Red Sox to an end for the day.

The only hint of trouble came in the top of the seventh when the first two batters reached on a walk and a single. Carl Crawford, known for his speed, reached on a single, which scored Kevin Youklis easily for the Red Sox only run of the game. Both of Harrison’s free passes were part of the mini-rally against a pitcher with shutout-quality stuff.

Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz contributed to the home run smash party for the third day in a row. Cruz’s upper-deck blast to right field was a sight not often seen. Kinsler kept everyone waiting a bit, going deep in his second at-bat as opposed to leading off the game with the long ball as he did in the previous two contests. Napoli also hit his second and David Murphy connected on his first. Kinsler and Cruz are reportedly the first pair of teammates in Major League history to each homer in the first three games of the season.

Six-Run Fourth Instrumental In Victory: Rangers 12 Red Sox 5

Saturday’s second game of the season followed a script much like Friday. Ian Kinsler was even nice enough to provide an encore of his leadoff home run heroics. With that, he wrote himself into the history books by becoming the first player in Major League history to homer to begin each of a team’s first two games of the season, according to Stats, Inc.

Kinsler’s ball opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning against John Lackey. But in the top of the second, former Ranger minor leaguer Adrian Gonzalez singled, his first of three hits, two batters before David Ortiz hit one out of the ballpark to quickly reverse the scoreboard into the Red Sox’s favor. Commenced by Kinsler’s double with one out in the third, Elvis Andrus and Josh Hamilton would both record RBI extra base hits (triple and double in that order) to knot the game at 3 apiece.

That’s where the similarities end and the Rangers offense officially asserts itself. What better way to do that than with an Adrian Beltre grand slam following a walk of the reigning American League MVP. The grand slam to deep center served as the highlight of a six-run extravaganza which featured five hits and two walks. At the end of the party, the Rangers’ lead had ballooned to 9-3.Yorvit Torreabla and Nelson Cruz took it upon themselves to cushion the lead in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively. On top of he home runs, Elvis Andrus and Julio Borbon each played very well offensively, Andrus knocked a triple in the third, a double in the fourth and a single in the fifth with two RBI’s and two runs scored. Borbon had a triple in the fourth and an infield single, finishing with one RBI and a run scored.

Colby Lewis started for the Rangers after going 3-0 for the Rangers in October and collecting a World Series victory, For him, run support is a new concept after last season. Pedro Strop, Mason Tobin (Rule 5 pick) and Darren O’Day each pitched one inning.

Murphy Saves the Day: Rangers 9 Red Sox 5

Statistically, no one got a save in the Rangers’ 9-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox to open the 2011 season and the defense of the American League Championship in Arlington.

Give David Murphy the credit. After three hours of watching the game from the dugout, Murphy came to the plate in the eighth inning and smoked a two-RBI double to help the Rangers re-establish their lead at 7-5 following a David Ortiz homer that tied the game at 5.

Murphy’s two-bagger was the first of three such hits that would solidify the win, the Rangers’ third consecutive on Opening Day. Murphy scored on a double into the corner by Elvis Andrus, who batted second behind Ian Kinsler for the first time in his career. Andrus crossed the plate on Josh Hamilton’s double, his only hit of the day, to put the ninth run on the board.

The Rangers succeeded in coming back after being down 2-0 and 4-2 as well as even at 5. The leadoff spot agrees with Kinsler, who hit the second pitch of the game for a homerun off Boston starter Jon Lester and cut a 2-0 deficit to 2-1. Nelson Cruz went deep to begin the third inning to square it at 2.

Rangers' starter C.J. Wilson struggled through the top of the third, allowing a double, two singles and a walk and two earned runs in a laborious frame. He would give up only one hit after that. In the bottom of the fourth, singles by third baseman Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz set up a 3-run shot for Mike Napoli, a former divisional foe, and a 5-4 score in favor of the Rangers.

Wilson's final line came to 5 2/3 innings pitched, six hits and six strikeouts. Lester did not strikeout anyone in 5 1/3 innings. Reigning Rookie of the Year Neftali Feliz struck out former battery mate Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jacoby Ellsbury to end the game.

Mia's Big Box Adventure

Mia does like to watch sports wit me, especially tennis and basketball, but somethimes she gets distracted by a little thing called a box. Starting in less than 48 hours, she's going to have to get used to a lot of baseball, too.

Baseball Is Just A Little More Than 48 Hours Away

• C.J. Wilson threw a bullpen session and said the tightness in his hamstring that limited his final spring start to two innings, is improving daily. He will start at 3:05 p.m. Friday against the Boston Red Sox as the defense of the American League Championship title begins.


• Alexi Ogando will serve as the fifth starter while Tommy Hunter recovers from a groin strain that could keep him off the mound for up to six week.


• The brand new 42 foot by 120 video board is officially installed and ready for all the game action and 2010 highlights that it will play regularly.

Mavs Finish T-Wolves. But It's Not Easy: Mavericks 104 Timberwolves 96

The Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves are at opposite ends of the spectrum record-wise. But for some reason, the Mavs have a history of struggling to put away the T-Wolves.

Two of three meetings between the squads this season were decided by single digits. And there was the mortifying loss last February. But with Kevin Love, the NBA’s leading rebounder out with a left groin strain, things should be a lot easier.

Wrong. This game between the now 50-win Mavs and the 55-loss Timberwolves saw nine lead changes and 10 ties, many of them due to the performance of Love’s stand in, Anthony Randolph, who had 11 rebounds and a career-high 31 points. He surpassed his old mark of 27 with 2:30 remaining in the third quarter and did not play much in the fourth. Maybe that’s why the Mavs were able to outscore the Timberwolves 28-24 to end it and walk away with a sigh of relief after a 104-96 victory. Jonny Flynn was the second leading scorer with 13.

A Jason Terry 3-point shot, assisted by Jason Kidd, served as the dagger though as it put the Mavs ahead by five with 55.9 seconds to go. Shawn Marion and Dirk Nowitzki, who finished with his own share of 30 points and 11 rebounds, put the rest of the points on the board from the line.

Notes

• While Kidd did not get to the hoop, he did contribute 13 assists one day after his 38th birthday.
• The Mavs now embark on a six-game West Coast road trip.

Mia & The Attack of the Ribbon

Stand up and bite it - that's how you do it!

A two-pawed grab is always better than one!

A more subtle attack, but don't think you can get away from me!

Showing off my teeth - don't mess with me!

After all my hard work!

Spurs Wrangle In Mavs: Spurs 97 Mavericks 91

Going into the fourth quarter, the Mavericks needed to make up seven points on the scoreboard against the Western Conference’s top squad and their chief adversary, the San Antonio Spurs.

While not an insurmountable number, especially for teams of the Mavs’ caliber, overcoming the deficit would require the Mavs to showcase their trademark chemistry and click on all cylinders. When two guys score all but two of your fourth quarter points, I’d say that didn’t happen. It also didn’t help that Tyson Chandler, the man known for the energy he brings, fouled out with 3:32 to go. The Mavs lost 97-91.


For the record, Jason Terry scored 14 of his 19 in the fourth quarter and Dirk Nowitzki connected for nine of his 23 during the final quarter. Neither team scored anything until the 8:31 mark when Terry netted a jumper. (That equates to this: Two of the league’s best teams both had prolonged dry spills of 3 ½ minutes at the same time.)

As would logically happen when Terry and Nowitzki are the team’s offense for the quarter, once The Jet reached fight, he scored seven in a row for the Mavs to put them within three at 78-75. Then, Nowitzki made three jump shots sandwiched between a pair of Terry free throws. Sounds OK, but Manu Ginobili (25 points), Tim Duncan (22 points) and Tony Parker were doing the same thing for the Spurs, and thus San Antonio’s lead expanded to double digits at 93-82 with 1:35 remaining in regulation. A Terry 3-pointer situated the Mavs to within four with 38.9 seconds left.

But Parker, who finished with 33 points, hit the free throws that iced the game. With the loss, the Mavs dropped to third in the Western Conference, half a game behind the Lakers.

Notes

• Shawn Marion left the game with an undisclosed wrist injury in the final minutes of the second quarter.
• The Mavs did recover from being down 18 points to tie the game at 60 in the third quarter, but promptly allowed San Antonio to score nine straight.

The Fourth Quarter Takeover: Mavericks 112 Warriors 106

With the Mavericks and the Warriors going into the fourth quarter knotted at 81, the Mavs could either way. That could mean the path the not-so-good path the Mavs have been taking the last couple of games or the road to winning the Mavs have followed for the majority of the season.

Fortunately, the Mavs took control of the Warriors, who fought hard until the final quarter. Spearheaded by a Dirk Nowitzki pullup jump shot with seven minutes remaining, a 15-0 run by Dallas transformed a seven-point deficit into an eight-point lead. That’s what championship teams do.

Nowitzki, who finished the game with his third consecutive double-double, had eight points during the pivotal 3:50 run. The point guard tandem of Rodrique Beaubois and Jason Kidd assisted. Kidd provided a 3-pointer to tie the game at 96, and Beaubois completed the layup to put the Mavs in front 98-96 before Nowitzki scored the next six points himself on free throws and another jumper. The Mavs outscored Golden State 31-25 in the fourth. Beaubois’s impact was definitely felt after a season-best 18 points in 37 minutes, 15 more than his previous high against Portland on Tuesday.

Nowitzki finished the game with a mammoth 34 points and 13 rebounds, including a season-high six offensive boards.

After averaging about 22 points per game in the last three games as a starter, Shawn Marion returned to the bench, once again adding to the reserve depth that has scored as many as 72 points this season. Off the bench, Marion tallied 14 while his partner in crime, Jason Terry complied 19 points on seven of 12 shooting and a team-high 38:27 minutes. A third cohort J.J. Barea bucketed 10.

Notes

• Brendan Haywood missed his second game with lower back stiffness and is questionable for Friday against the Spurs.
• Dorell Wright hit four 3’s for Golden State
• The 26 points for Monta Ellis was a reasonable number, considering he scored 46 in a game against the Mavs last season.

The Queen of the House

Per request, here is an updated photo of Mia. She has grown so much, but stills enjoys meowing and sitting in our laps. She loves to play with tennis balls, ribbons, rubber bands and obviously, strings.

After Chuck Greenberg...

It really was a true shock when I realized Friday morning that the messages I received about Chuck Greenberg resignation were valid. Talk about coming out of left field, I would be devastated if Michael Young was no longer a Ranger (I hope he plays the rest of his career in Texas and eventually retires as a lifetime Ranger.), but I would have expected that bad news well before the Greenberg announcement.

I met Greenberg at Fan Fest in January. Like many others there, I thought he was approachable and personable and that I was sharing words with the man who symbolized a new era in Rangers history and would for years to come. But less than two months later, he was removed from the ownership group, Rangers Baseball Express, which owns the reigning American League Champion franchise. This definitely has been a bit more of a dramatic offseason than I expected, especially given that it followed the most successful on-field campaign in club history.

I wish I knew what could cause such a deep rift in such a short time – one day short of seven months. There seems to be minimal insight around Greenberg’s final days in Rangers management. That is perhaps a testament to just how well the Rangers kept the growing situation hidden for the protection of all the big name parties involved – mainly Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. More details on the real issues involved on the split will emerge over time.

It’s amazing that everyone can’t get along and work together. One great guy is gone as a result.

Three Shots, It’s Over: Hornets 93 Mavericks 92

I don’t know quite what to say. I wanted to write about how Tyson Chandler’s return to the lineup and his energy spearheaded a Mavericks victory and finally ended a losing streak dating back to 2007 at New Orleans Arena.

But this isn’t about the former Hornet Chandler’s double-double performance of 16 points and 13 rebounds. I thought that when the game was tied at 52, and Chandler scored nine of 11 points during a 2:14 stretch in the third quarter to create a nine-point lead at 62-53, the takeover would commence. The Mavs still maintained a 10-point advantage at the end of the quarter and rarely blow leads in the final 12 minutes.

But it has happened twice in the last three games. And today’s method to the madness may have been worse than Sunday’s. (see previous blog entry) The Hornets precisely executed a 20-10 run, mainly on the shots of Jarrett Jack and David West, in the last 4:24 to upset the Mavs. For the contest, Jack and West finished with 21 and 16 points respectively.

Although Jack was a leading scorer for the Hornets, it was his final three points that really broke the Mavs’ hearts. Out of a New Orleans timeout, Jason Kidd was called for a foul on Jack in the act of shooting with 8.4 seconds to go. After a review, Jack made all three foul shots. Dirk Nowitzki’s last shot bounced off the rim.

Rick Carlisle says free throws can win a game. But this one was really difficult to digest. At least the Knicks will be in town in less than 24 hours.

Notes

• Shawn Marion sat out the fourth quarter with sore ribs after a flagrant hit.

A Reality Check: Grizzlies 104 Mavericks 103

Forty-one is a special number in Dallas. It’s the number on our superstar’s back.

So it’s kind of ironic that another number 41 helped the Memphis Grizzlies overcome the Dallas Mavericks and a 17-point halftime deficit at American Airlines Center on Sunday night in route to handing the Mavs a shocking 104-103 defeat. Dirk Nowitzki tried to save the Mavs, but his jump shot with 3.1 seconds to go, was sandwiched between a Shane Battier reverse layup and the winning jump shot angled just right by Zach Randolph, who finished with 27 points.

That 41 represents the number of points Memphis scored in the third quarter. The total was more than the Mavs allowed in the entire first half. It turned a 55-38 lead on its head and left the Mavs staring unbelievably at the wrong end of a 79-78 score. It still looks deceivably close, but the team with the eight-game winning streak was outscored by 17. The quarter necessitated a precipitous drop in the field goal defense and opponent points per game categories. Randolph, who averages a double-double per game, led the charge with 12 points in the third after scoring a pedestrian six in the first two quarters. Mike Conley also banked a dozen.

Head coach Rick Carlisle balks at allowing a 30-point quarter. In a postgame press conference on FS Southwest, a stoic but agitated Carlisle had this to say regarding the crooked number:

"The whole game was the third quarter. You give up 41 points and turn it over six times and basically don’t take the challenge, I mean, you get what you deserve.”

-Rick Carlisle

Chandler Out At Least 2 Games

Center Tyson Chandler is expected to miss a minimum of two games after spraining his ankle at the end of the first quarter in Tuesday’s 101-93 win in Philadelphia.

Chandler has averaged 10.4 points and 9.4 rebounds in 57 games this season, all starts. But he’s taken his production up a notch with six double-doubles during the month of February and All-Star consideration.

With the 7-1 Chandler sidelined, the Mavs depth will be a huge asset. This is Brendan Haywood’s chance to prove his value. For the season, he has averaged 4.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, but like Chandler, his numbers were up in February. Last month, Haywood got 5.9 points and 5 boards per game. Ian Mahimni can provide the toughness needed by some game situations.

Mavs Much More Jazzy: Mavericks 118 Jazz 99

One could say that Peja Stojakovic sealed the game for the Mavericks in their first contest since the All-Star Break. While he tallied a healthy 18 points for the game, it was his two 3’s in the latter half of the third quarter that turned the game from a close-knit affair to the Mavericks’ largest blowout victory of the season.

Stojakovic’s first long range make of the third quarter came at the 6:51 mark to give the Mavs a 70-63 lead, which at the time was tied for the biggest advantage for either squad. After field goals by Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap sliced the lead down to four, Rodrique Beaubois hit a 3 to take the lead back to seven points. With his second three in roughly two minutes, Stojakovic gave the Mavs their first double-digit lead at 77-67.

At that point, the Mavericks officially returned to the pre-All-Star Break level that helped them win 14 of 15. The Mavs finished the third quarter carrying an 88-77 lead and outscored the struggling Jazz 30-22 in the fourth quarter and 59-44 during the second half. Shawn Marion, one of seven Mavs in double figures, had nine of his 16 points in the fourth. Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavs’ only All-Star representative, watched from the bench for the second half of the fourth quarter after scoring 23 points.

Utah has lost four consecutive games following the sudden resignation of their iconic coach Jerry Sloan two weeks ago, and on Wednesday morning star point guard Deron Williams was traded to the Nets for former Maverick Devin Harris.

Notes

• Brendan Haywood recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds and was 4 of 9 from the line in 25:55 minutes.
• The Mavs also beat the Jazz in rebounds 43-32. Tyson Chandler also had 10 boards.

Baseball Nuggets from the Weekend

• Michael Young reported to Spring Training and told his teammates he wouldn't be a distraction, as expected
• The first full squad workout took place Sunday, despite the rainy weath.er in the Arizona desert.
• The #1-ranked TCU baseball team won 2 out of 3 in their weekend series with Big 12 foe Kansas to open the season. The Horned Frog victories were dominating at 8-2 and one-hit 7-1 win for Kyle Winker, but leaving 16 men on base in a 14-inning Sunday finale, kept the Frogs from a sweep. Kansas won 4-3.
• Matt Purke, Kyle Winkler and Steven Maxwell will compete for the best Division I weekend rotation in the country.

Spring Training: The Beginning of the Defense

With 45 days to go until Opening Day of the 2011 baseball season, Rangers’ pitchers and catchers officially reported to Surprise, Arizona today where they will prepare to defend their first-ever American League pennant.

Currently, the Rangers have 23 pitchers and four catchers on the roster and expected to be in camp, including Mike Napoli. That number will be trimmed to 1 or 13 pitchers and two catchers. Mike Napoli can catch but will likely act as a utility player on the Opening Day.

The first workout for members of the battery is Thursday.

All other position players, including Michael Young, will arrive Saturday. Owners Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan and General Manager Jon Daniels see Young as a valuable part of the future of the Rangers.

3-Point Power: Mavericks 116 Kings 100

With the game tied at 70 at the 6:24 mark of the third quarter, everything changed. On the shoulders of Jason Kidd, the Mavericks had a reality check and snapped back into gear, eventually beating the Sacramento Kings 116-100.

After going into halftime with a 61-48 advantage following a 36-point second quarter, the Mavs’ lead shrunk after the Kings made 8 of 10 shots early in the third to knot the contest at both 68 and 70.

Kidd scored 17 of his 20 points in just over nine minutes in the third quarter on five 3’s and a jump shot. During that stretch, Rodrique Beaubois grabbed an assist and a 3-pointer of this own, two aspects of his game that really show that he might be Kidd’s protégé. In his first NBA activity in 10 months due to a broken foot and a long recovery, Beaubois handled the hype, scoring 13 points and tallying six assists in 20:56 minutes.

The Mavs started the third quarter with a 13-point lead, saw it evaporate with 7:23 to go in the quarter and successfully opened up a 96-74 advantage with less than a minute remaining in that same quarter, a frame in which the team scored 35. Peja Stojakovic contributed seven points in the quarter.

Eight players finished in double figures for the Mavs for the first time since April 6, 1993. (Thanks @mavstats). The two guys with double-doubles: Brendan Haywood with a season-high 12 points to go with 10 rebounds after a DNP against the Rockets on Saturday, and J.J. Barea, who at one point was expected to miss the game with flu-like symptoms and a mild groin strain. He compiled 11 points and 10 assists.

Mavs Capture A Win By Doing It Right Late: Mavericks 106 Rockets 102

The only thing the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets have in common is the state in which the teams are based.

But somehow, despite the fact that the Mavs are 22 games above .500 and the Rockets five below, they play close contests. Just like the matchup in late January, Saturday’s game followed the pattern of being close at the beginning, the Mavs taking charge and then the Rockets orchestrating a comeback to take the game to single digits but the Mavs pulling it out in the end.

This one carried a final score of 106-102, a product of the scoring a lot and also giving up a bunch and the near disappearances of the fourth-quarter defense the Mavs have built a reputation on this season. The Rockets sit fourth in the league in scoring, averaging 104.9 points per game. They are also 24th in opponent scoring, allowing 104.8 points per game.

The Rockets worried Mavs fans and coaches as they systemically carved a 16-point advantage down to three over a span of 8:40 minutes as time ticked away. The Rockets scored 35 in the quarter compared to the Mavericks’ 23. Veterans Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry scored all the rest of the Mavs’ points. A Nowitzki jump shot and a Kidd layup, both assisted by Terry, helped the Mavs expand the lead and secure the victory.

Peja Stojakovic led the Mavs in scoring much of the way Saturday with 22 through three quarters, including 11 in the third quarter and eight in the first. He connected on three shots from long range in the third quarter and was 4 for 6 for the game. Stojakovic’s good night allowed ahead on the all-time 3-pointers made list. Nowitzki matched the 22-point mark in the fourth quarter.

The Mavs bench, which now includes Terry, Shawn Marion and J.J. Barea, scored 39 compared to 27 for their Rockets counterparts. But that seemed like child's play following a record 72-point output in Thursday’s 121-120 last-second loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Michael Young More Than A Player

Most people are still trying to digest the situation with veteran All-Star Michael Young. It's complicated, and both the team and Young could have responded differently.

Evan Grant had some insight into the situation.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/texas-rangers/headlines/20110210-grant-feeling-of-betrayal-behind-rangers-vs.-michael-young-mess.ece?action=reregister

More to come...

Strong Finish Outlasts Cavs: Mavericks 99 Cavilers 96

The Dallas Mavericks probably had to fight a little harder than expected to top the Cleveland Cavaliers, who now carry a 25-game losing streak, the worst in league history.

The Mavs escaped with a 99-96 victory after Anthony Parker missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the game. Antawn Jamison got the rebound but threw his hands up in disgust after the veteran former Maverick couldn’t put up another shot before the buzzer. The Cavilers most recent three losses have been by single digits.

After Cleveland tied the game at 79 on a J.J. Hickson slam dunk with 9:59 to go in the fourth, Ian Mahinmi and Jason Terry scored all but two of the Mavericks points over the next 5:04 to create a 93-83 cushion. Mahinmi succeeded in breaking through the Cavs defense and getting opportunities at the basket. Mahinmi finished with 11 points, five of those down the stretch in 20:33 minutes. For Terry’s part, he had a team-high 23 points and 10 in the fourth quarter.

With the arrival of Peja Stojakovic to the lineup, it allowed Terry, Shawn Marion and J.J. Barea all to come off the bench with a shot of power. The Mavs bench amassed 60 points. Marion compiled 14 first half points and ended up with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Starting center Tyson Chandler continued his double-double streak with 11 boards and 10 points.

Stojakovic went 1 for 6 from long range in his Mavs debut. He is in fourth place behind Jason Kidd on the all-time made 3’s list. It was a Barea 3 that gave the Mavs a 29-28 lead after one, a quarter in which the Cavilers shot 59 percent for much of the time.

Notes

• Dirk Nowitzki jammed his wrist at the end of the first quarter, and it seemed to bother them throughout the game.

A Veteran Presence: Mavericks 101 Celtics 97

Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki have a combined 28 years of NBA experience.

It all paid off on a Friday night at TD Garden in Boston, where the Mavericks beat the Celtics, the reigning Eastern conference champions 101-97. Trailing 97-96 with just seconds to go, Dirk Nowitzki passed the ball to Jason Kidd, who made sure his toes were behind the line as he set up for the 3-pointer that gave the Mavs their 99-97 lead. After a 20-second timeout called by the Celtics. Nowitzki, a career 87.6 percent free throw shooter, immediately took a hit from Kevin Garnett and went to the line. The free throws resulted in a two-possession contest that a Ray Allen 3 couldn’t save.

Allen netted three second half 3’s and needs six more long range shots to overtake Reggie Miller for the most 3’s made in a NBA career. Miller currently sits at 2,555 and needs to pass the 2,560 mark.

Another pair of Nowitzki free throws helped the Mavs to regain some confidence and head into the fourth quarter tied at 77. Both teams have track records of playing very well in the final quarter of close games. That’s why they are two of the top teams in the league. The Mavs outscored the storied Celtics 24-20, handing them a rare home defeat.

At the 5:36 mark of the third quarter on a jump shot, Jason Terry reached 15,000 career points. Tyson Chandler compiled 14 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double.

The Mavs toil with the Charlotte Bobcats, the only NBA squad they are yet to lose to, on Saturday.

Mavs Start the Road Wars With A Bang: Mavericks 113 Knicks 97

Madison Square Garden might be becoming one of the Mavericks’ favorite road venues.

In early 2010, the Mavs beat the Knicks at the Garden by a historic 50 points.

Wednesday’s victory didn’t quite meet those proportions, but the 113-97 win was the highest quality win the Mavs have experienced since Dirk Nowitzki’s return from a knee injury. Nowitzki finished with 29 points and 11 rebounds, and Tyson Chandler put together another 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Nowitzki scored 10 points in the third quarter when the Mavs executed a 21-1 run to transform a 56-52 lead into a 82-58 game. Maybe the Knicks smelled a touch of déjà vu and didn’t like it because they would go on their own 13-0 run. But after being at both ends of the scoring spectrum, the Mavs saw 86-73 going to the fourth quarter.

Jason Terry scored 8 of his 12 points in the fourth, and the Knicks never inched closer than 11.

Notes

• J.J. Barea and DeShawn Stevenson each connected on three 3’s.
• Before the Mavs took over, the game had nine lead changes and eight ties.
• The Mavs made 18 of 21 free throws after struggling from the line in the previous game.
  
  
  

Haywood, Mavs Figure It Out In 4th: Mavericks 102 Hawks 91

The fourth quarter often decides winners and losers. As two 30-win teams, both the Dallas Mavericks and the Atlanta Hawks know how to get it done.

But on Saturday when the squads met at the American Airlines Center, one had to lose. By holding the offensively-minded Hawks to just 13 points in the last 12 minutes, the Mavs sent a message that it wasn’t going to be them. Enough with the seesaw of 14 ties and 10 lead changes.

Brendan Haywood scored seven of his 10 points in the fourth quarter. It was a big night for him as he tied his season high in scoring while going six of nine at the line when it counted. Haywood has shot below 30 percent from the line this season.

Haywood’s free throws game at key junctures in the contest, including a 3-point play at the end of the first quarter. With 10:24 minutes to go and the game tied at 79, he converted both free throws and started a 12-0 run for the Mavericks spanning more than four minutes. He would see yet another free throw into the basket at 84-79. The Mavs run ended on a Mike Bibby 3 with 6:35 left on the clock. Haywood’s line heroics would again cushion the Mavs with a 10-point lead following Bibby’s shot.

No Maverick scored more than 19, but everyone who played contributed points as only J.J. Barea and Sasha Pavlovic did not reach double digits in scoring. Reports indicate that the team will not sign Pavlovic after his second 10-contract expires despite having started the last six games.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 19 on 8 of 11 shooting, his best night since returning from a nine-game absence with a sprained knee. Jason Terry notched his first double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 assists against his former team.

Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 27 points in 41:44 minutes.

A Good Second Half Means A Win: Mavericks 112 Clippers 105

It was refreshing to see the Mavericks come alive in the second half. While much of Tuesday’s buzz was focused on the dunk show that is Blake Griffin, the Mavs electrified the crowd by turning a 15-point deficit into a 17-point lead and eventual 112-105 victory at the American Airlines Center.

It was different pattern compared to how Mavericks’ games have been going this month: the Mavs won a game they started out struggling instead of a fast start ending with a thud.

You could kind of see it coming when a previously cold Dirk Nowitzki scored the final 11 points of the half for the Mavericks to pull the team within eight at 62-54. Nowitzki’s streak lasted 3 minutes and 14 seconds. The 62 points surrendered by the Mavs through two quarters was the most in a half this season.

Tyson Chandler, who scored a season-high 21 and DeShawn Stevenson helped the Mavs hold the Clippers to 16 points in the quarter while the Mavs tallied 27. After four missed attempts to take the lead, Jason Terry, who led all scorers with 28, passed the ball to Shawn Marion, who did his own version of a Blake Griffin dunk. At that point, the scoreboard read 76-75 at the 1:39 mark of the third. The better team never trailed again.

• Four Mavs over 20 points: Terry (28), Barea (25), Chandler (21), Nowitzki (20)
• Terry and Chandler scored season-highs.
• A double-double for Marion with 10 points and 10 rebound
• Blake Griffin had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers.

Fan Fest - Day 2

Here we go again for a second day of Rangers' mania. 11,000 fans attended throughout the weekend, according to the Rangers.

Darren Oliver and I. I also got Darren's autograph.
A photo of me in front of a C.J. Wilson poster.

Sitting in Ian Kinsler's locker. I am wearing '5' on my back.


Mom and I doing the claw with the championship trophy one more time.

Ian Kinsler signing autographs

A wider view of the mock lockerroom and the players' stuff

A huge banner by the entrance

A Fantastic Fan Fest - Day 1

A look at the first day of the American League Champion Rangers' Fan Fest - that's feels so good to say! It was just me and a couple thousand of my closest friends. But if that's what a World Series appearance gets you, I'll take it. Labels are below each photo.

Derek Holland and I. I also got Derek's autograph.

Darren O'Day and I

Taylor Teagarden and I. I also got Taylor's autograph.

A lifesize cutout of the 2010 team photo. I am standing next

to pitching coach Mike Maddux because pitching is a huge part of the team's success.

A photo in front of the American League Championship poster




A photo with the trophy in a mock lockerroom setup





Same thing from a different angle


The Ozarka Texas Rangers dots and I

Colby Lewis at the autograph table. Thanks for winning Game 2 and Game 6 of the ALCS and Game 3 of the World Series!

Not An Everyday Wednesday Night

The Rangers Winter Caravan stopped at an Academy near me. I met Rangers owner Chuck Greenberg, former catcher Jim Sundberg and saw the American League Championship trophy up close.