BACK TO BACK JACKS!!!!!!

Finally Tex gets on the board with his first HR of the year.  And it was no cheapy.  An opposite field shot at the dome in Tor.

Sosa followed that up with #595 and a blast of his own.

I am anxious to see how the new look to the lineup does tonight.  Wash has moved Cat down in the order and basically pushed everyone else up one.  So tonight we have the following:

Lofton
Young
Tex
Sosa
Blalock
Cat – out of his normal 2 hole
Kinsler
Wilkerson
Stewart

Hopefully it will help to shake things up.
TBJM

The Rangers dropped 2 to Cle over the past few days.  The first game went to free baseball (extra innings for those not in the know).  Early on it wasn’t looking good as we got down early but made a strong comeback.  Padilla didn’t pitch great nor bad but we got down 6-0 with the help of some not so great defense.  However the Rangers have no quit in them and I think a lot of that is due to the new skipper.  His positive attitude has really rubbed off and the Rangers came storming back.  Down 6-0 we scored 5 in the 6th and were litterly inches away from it being a tie game.  Sammy missed a HR, not to mention a MLB Record for HRs in the most ballparks, by an inch at most.  It was good to see Sammy still swinging the bat well.  Even though we didn’t tie it there and fell down 7-5 after 7, the Rangers grinded it out and pushed it to free baseball tied 7-7.  Eyre came in to pitch the 11th and even after a leadoff hit by V. Martinez he tried to wiggle his way out of it.   A big K of Michaels put it with 1 out and the double play in order with runners on the corners.  I thought Eyre would get out of the inning and let us go to the 12th with some momentum perhaps but it wasn’t meant to be as Peralta singled to left to end the game.  We didn’t win nor did we really play well early on but we came back strong and got some big hits when we needed it which is a good sign for things to come.

A lot of people were calling for rain on day 2.  They got the game off without much of an issue.  An 11am local start time was a welcome sight.  There is somethign about baseball during the day that I love.  Maybe we should have all done a rain dance because we didn’t play well.  We got behind early again as Kam Loe couldn’t duplicate his last outing.  I am still excited to see him in the rotation and hope he stays there.  The big highlight of this was the HR by Slammin Sammy Sosa that set the record for HRs hit in most ballparks at 44.  He didn’t stop there either as he went on to hit another.  We couldn’t really put up much else than that and dropped this one 9-4.

Today is a new day though and a chance to prove themselves again.  We go into Tor on a small slide but hopefully being out of the weather elements will put them at ease and we will put up some big numbers.  Tor is not to be taken lightly though as they have a very solid team from top to bottom.  I hope everyone will be watching even if its between timeouts of the Mavs game.

Till Next Time

It was good to see Hank Blalock get a big hit late in a game against a top closer.  I just happened to be at this game and it was electric.  Its too bad the Rangers as a team don’t seem to be hitting in these spots.  Hopefully this will be a turnaround.  Not only did Blalock get a big bases loaded hit to put the Rangers up in the bottom of the 8th but Tex and Sammy both worked great walks to put Blalock in that position.  Its a team effort day in and day out but someone has to come through when it matters.  Young is still under .200 and Tex isn’t far above.  Neither are really hitting yet and its not just these two.  Laird is under .100 and Sosa right around .200.  Its a good thing Kinsler has had a hot bat or we may be further behind than we are at the moment.  I know at the end of the year these guys will have their typical numbers but what I am worried about is a trend that seems to be happening.  In a typical 3 or 4 game series it seems our bats are only awake for 1 of those.  We put up great offensive numbers for the year but its when those runs come that worry me.  We can’ score 15 runs in a 3 game series with 10+ coming in 1 game and hope to take the series.  We need to be more consistent at the plate.  Sure you are going to come up against hot pitchers as that is part of the game.  But EVERY series? 

Tonight is Rick Vaughn glasses giveaway in Cle.  Its an interesting giveaway and unfortunately its the Rangers playing like the Indians from Major League.  An error early on allowed several unearned runs to score and we are quickly in a 5-0 hole.  The good thing is there is a lot of baseball left so we have time to grind away at the lead.

I am planning my first road trip of the year.  I just bought a plane ticket to St. Louis for the end of June.  Southwest was running a great special that I couldn’t pass up.  I plan on hitting up a sunday afternoon game when the Cards play the Phils in late June.  I am excited as I have never been to St. Louis.

It was a great monday.  Not because the Rangers played well but because baseball is back.  Opening day is always a good day.  Every fan has optimism and hope for the new season.  I took to watching a lot of baseball that day and caught some pretty good games.

First off I caught a little bit of the Rays/Yanks game.  The Rays didn’t start off too well but looked to make a nice comeback later in the game only to give up the lead late in typical Rays fashion.  The main game I watched to begin was the Braves/Phils.  I grew up with TBS so I am a Braves fan as well.  It looks like it might be a good year for them with their new rebuilt pen.  They got some power production out of Renteria and powered their way past the Phils.  The pen was as advertised and shut down the Phils in the late innings.

Next I took in some of the Royals/RedSox game.  Schilling didn’t look great that day and the Royals rolled 7-1.  I was anxious to see the debut of Alex Gordon.  I got to see Gordon play a little at Nebraska and I think he is going to be a star one day soon in the big leagues.  His debut didn’t go as hoped.  His first AB was with the bases loaded but he went down looking.  He is one to watch in the near future and he will be a top player at 3B for years to come.

The early evening game turned out to be the Stros/Pirates in Houston.  Roy Oswalt has been a favorite pitcher of mine for some time.  He once again pitched supurb and had a chance at the win late.  There wasn’t much offense in this game till late.  Oswalt left in the 8th and turned it over to his pen.  This is where the game got ugly for the Astros.  Brad Lidge came in with a 2-1 lead in the 9th to close it out and promptly gave up a HR to tie the game.  He just hasn’t been the same after that playoff HR he gave up to Pujols.  The Pirates continued their scoring taking the game in teh 10th with another HR.  Jason Bay took Chad Qualls deep with 1 on in the 10th and the Pirates went on to win 4-2 in 10.

The game I had been looking forward to all day came at night. That would be the Rangers/Angels.  Millwood looked ok but the offense couldn’t come through with runners in scoring position.  Kinsler hit a rocket over the fence for the only run for the Rangers and Vlad continued to rough up the Rangers.

I am looking to turn my journey into a documentary.  Right now I am studying as much as I can on the subject and trying to see if this will be feesable.  I feel something more than just a blog and a few photos are needed for such an undertaking.  I am in talks with a few people who might be willing to fund the documentary portion and if this works out the journey may be postponed till 2008 to work out details and train me a little in film.  I am very excited about the prospect.  I would love to take a few weeks in 2007 and maybe follow a team for a week or two and get some perspective on the whole documentary idea.  I will keep you posted on what comes up.

Thanks
TBJM

The playoff races are really heating up.  Houston is trying to pull of the impossible.  They have gained 7 games in the last week.  It could be the worst collapse ever if St. Louis can not hold onto the central division.  I hope Houston gets in just so I have a better opportunity to get to a playoff game.

The Det/Minn race has gotten a bit more quiet of late.  Not because the division is set but more or less because the wild card race has gone south with the White Sox falling fast.  It looks as though the Tigers will play Oakland and the Yankees will play the Twins in the ALDS.  I have a ticket to game 1 of the ALDS in Detroit and I hope I get to make it.

The Dodgers/Padres race is going good as well.  It looks like it will be a 2 game lead for the Padres after tonight.  This is going to make the last week of the season very exciting which is what baseball needs.

The 2007 tentative schedules are slowly coming out for teams and I have begun to plan my trip for next year.  I have most of April down pending the release of a few more schedules.  I am really looking forward to it and plan on getting a RV either this weekend or next week so I can get it prepared.  Spring training is only a few months away and I am getting very excited.  You can check out my site at www.baseballjourneyman.com to see my tentative schedule.  As always any input is greatly appreciated.

Lastly I would like to congratulate Mr. Trevor Hoffman on setting the all-time saves record earlier this week.  I have never been a huge Padre fan but have always admired how Hoffman goes about his business.  I was also happy I got to see him save a game this year while taking a trip to Colorado.  Again Congratulations on a great achievment.

Till next time,
TBJM

Tonight we saw a game for the ages.  Two teams of kids battled it out and turned in great performances.  Despite the winner of the game, you have to appreciate the efforts these kids put forth today.  We saw some talented young kids on both teams from two different upbringings.  You saw a lot of respect and a great finish.  Its the love of the game that has carried these kids this far and you have to enjoy watching that.  The tears of joy and pain from winning and losing is something that you have to respect.  These kids put their heart into this season, this game.  This is what the game is all about.  Sometimes we forget that its just a kids game and we need to be reminded of that from time to time.  Its not about the salaries or ticket prices that we play the game but the love of the game.  It is sad that sometimes this gets lost in the commercialization of the game.  These kids and millions just like them all over the world play this game because the love it, not because they are in a contract year and want to make the big bucks.  I know my playing days are over but as long as I can see kids like this give it their all on the field and be able to shake the hands of the opposing team afterwards, I know this game will survive.  Its a great game and despite all the problems we have seen over the past few decades, we can’t kill it.

Here’s to both Champions that played today in the LLWS.
Cheers.
TBJM

Boston/New York

I really was deflated this weekend watching the Sox colapse like a cheap lawn chair under the weight of so a sumo wrestler.  I have always rooted against the yankees but became a Sox fan after visiting Fenway a few years back.  The passion they have toward their team is something I admire and wish it was the same here in Dallas with the Rangers.  It was evident over the weekend that the Sox front office did not do enough over the trading period to make their team a title contender.  Its almost like they have the attitude that now that they have won a ring they can be mediocre for another 85 years.  I really hope that’s not the case and of course it will be hard to compete with the yankees as long as they are allowed to spend 200 million on players.  That however, is a different post for a different day.  Its a sad day in Red Sox Nation after a 5 game sweep.  It will definately be an uphill battle from here on out.  They have 4 left with the yankees but they have to make up some ground before then.

Rangers Rolling
After seeing Det come in and handle Texas with no problems to begin the season and then see Det go on and be the first team to 80 wins, I was not happy about us going to Det.  I was worried but was very happy to see how we played.  We came away with a series win against possibly the best team in baseball.  Not only did we win the series we got some good pitching performances.  Winning in different ways is very exciting.  From a 2-1 pitching duel to a 7-6 comeback win, its good to know you have that in you.  They are on a roll and we can only hope it continues.  The bad thing about it is as we are rolling against the cream of the crop, Oak is picking up wins against Seattle and KC.  I think we will need some help somewhere along the way but we have to keep grinding out the wins and let the other things take care of themselves.  We can only control what the Rangers do and if we take care of business I think come Oct we will be playing in the playoffs.  Its going to be an exciting 6 weeks though.  This is what baseball is all about.

Till next time,
TBJM