New Streaks, Results not Excuses, and The Croquet Swing

Texas had a double header vs. Oakland to start a 4 game series. It would become a turning point for Rangers starters in both games. In game one Tommy Hunter made his season debut. He threw for the longest outing of his career going 5.1 innings (see previous post for his 2008 stats) in his 4th career start. Its also the first game in his Major League career, that he would hold his opponent to less than 5 runs. He gave up 3 runs on 7 hits, striking out 1 and walking 3. Hunter would have a no decision. He left with Texas down 3-2. Some late production would give the Rangers the lead in the 8th inning off back to back homeruns by Andruw Jones, and Hank Blalock. San Frankie would close out another scoreless 9th, to keep his ERA at 0.

In game 2 Scott Feldman got the call to the mound. Feldman hadn't won at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, in just under 13 months. Edgar Gonzalez started for Oakland, and tossed a very rocky first inning, in which he gave up 4 runs, all earned, 4 hits, including 2 doubles, 2 walks, including one intentional, and a throwing error trying to pickoff Ian Kinsler. It would be all Texas would need as Feldman gave up only 2 runs, and pitched very efficiently, inducing 3 double plays and faced only 3 batters in the 2nd, 4th, and 5th innings. After a somewhat shaky 6th inning Ron Washington, brought in the vadtly underused Jason Jennings, who pitched 2 hitless innings, to setup a save situation for C.J. Wilson in the 9th. Wild Thing after giving up a walk, would get a double play and another groundout to end the game.

After a subpar series hosting New York, Oakland has been a great team to rebound on thus far. After the double header, and tonight's slugfest (details tomorrow), we are 5-2 vs. the A's this year. Against the whole division, that's right all three teams, we are 13-2. Once again I will refer to the workout regimen, that President and Future Part Owner of the Texas Rangers Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. has established. That is the reason the rotation is averaging over 6 innings per game. Last year the staff averaged 9/10 of an inning less. They aren't big strikeout pitchers, but they have learned what they need to do to pitch effectively even in a compact park with a strong jet stream. It's carried us from 30th to 13th in innings pitched by starters. With this quick progress, and the same principles applied in the minors, I think the Rangers will finally be able to compete in a park as hitter favored as their's.

Just when you thought the tirade was over. Wash let Chris Davis play both games in the double header Friday. He went 0-7 with 6 strikeouts, and believe it or not an intentional walk. I still think he's trying to do too much. He needs to learn to make a defensive swing, when the putting approach, get him 2 strikes. Also a tribute to his defense, juggling the baseball might work twice, but not 3 times, it also won't stop you from striking out and losing your spot to Hank Blalock, who isn't going to lose any games for us defensively either. Back to hitting, right now he just needs to ease back into hitting, start swinging where the ball is, not swinging where he wants it to be. I understand he's a power hitter but he has to get back into a rhythem on singles and doubles. The Rangers have much more than enough power on the team. Rudy Jaramillo knows that, Davis knows that, Ron Washington and the rest of the metroplex knows that. What the Rangers don't have is a solid contact hitter, other than Michael Young, the guy who became the face of the Texas Rangers franchise, and one of the best hitters for average of the decade. If Davis wants to get cemented in the lineup he must become a contact hitter. He will get more hits, more doubles, a higher average, walk more often, and lose no production. I hope someone close to him or the organization realizes that soon, otherwise I don't believe Chris Davis can reach his full potential.