July 17 - We've Heard It All Before

CRASH:  Learn your clichés. Study them. Know them. They're your friends. Write this down. "We gotta play 'em one day at a time. "
NUKE: Boring
CRASH: Of course. That's the point. " I'm just happy to be here and hope I can help the ballclub."

If you haven’t used at least one cliché while discussing baseball then you have to ask yourself –are you really a baseball fan?

As Crash Davis so eloquently put it – clichés are your friend –  they are certainly my friend for today’s entry and “a friend in need is a friend indeed”.

“Better late than never” – a few leftover game reports from 2 weeks worth of baseball games.

"Love conquers all" Friday July 6th – Newberg Night at the Ballpark in Arlington– Baltimore at Texas -  some would say the best part of the night was the nearly 90 minute Q and A with Jon Daniels,  others will say it was the comfort of the 15 suites the Rangers provided at a fan friendly price,  still others will say it was a stellar pitching performance by Kameron Loe, or clutch performances by Travis Metcalf and Michael Young in a Rangers win.  But in my opinion the best part of the night:  the wedding in the Bill Terry Suite.

Devin Pike asked us to visit the suite in the top of the 6th – we had no idea what was in the works. Devin gathered his friends, said they were “eloping” – wearing matching Hank Blalock jerseys – he performed the ceremony. We toasted them with champagne during the dot race.  Now that’s my idea of the perfect wedding.

"He's a tough out." Saturday and Sunday July 7th and 8th - the Nashville Sounds(Milwaukee)  at the Oklahoma Redhawks - Speaking of Crash Davis - the mythical HR king of the minor leauges - a familiar name was the Home Run king that weekend as Nashville CF Laynce Nix hit 3 homers in 3 consecutive AB's (spread over 2 games).  But not even a lopsided loss Saturday night could subdue the excitement of Jason Botts Growth Chart Night at Bricktown Ballpark.

"Kiss that one goodbye -- it's outta here!" Wednesday July 11 - the Corpus Christi Hooks (Houston)  at the Frisco Rough Riders - neither wind, nor lightining nor driving rain will keep your faithful minor league fan from keeping her appointment at Dr. Pepper Ballpark.  Once the rainstorm passed, it was a pleasantly cool evening in Frisco.  Mark Teixeira's one rehab start was not particularly notable, at least not on the field.  What was worth noting: 2 home runs by John Mayberry Jr - I should say no doubt HR's -  the power stroke is impressive.  Scott Shoemaker pitched 6 2/3 very strong innings in the 5-2 win. After recent call up Danny Touchet blew the save, Daniel Ray Herrera and Jesse Ingram combined for a perfect 1 1/3 IP to with Herrera getting the W and Ingram the save.  I don't know if Danny Ray is major league material -  that maximum effort across the body delivery look like an injury wating to happen - but he certainly is fun to watch every time he's on the mound.

"It's a whole new ballgame." Sunday July 15 - the Round Rock Express (Houston) at the Oklahoma Redhawks - Initially the calendar said the pitching matchup on Sunday would be Chan Ho Park vs Eric Hurley - but as fate and minor league pitching rotations will have it - Park pitched (and won) Saturday. But it was still worth the drive to OKC to see Eric Hurley pitch, Victor Diaz return, and Jason Botts get pitched around - again. 

The real summer heat returned to Oklahoma City as Hurley took the mound. Of the 6 hits he gave up - only 2 were solid, 2 were "excuse" me dunkers that fell between the infield and outfield, the double was right on the third base line - a close enough call that manager Bobby Jones came out to argue whether it was fair or foul. Eric's pickoff of Express 1B Mark Saccamano at second base to end the 5th was perfect.

My friend, Air Force Staff Sgt. Kris Hollingshead  correctly described the Express starter Juan Gutierrez as "wildly effective" giving up 7 BB's but striking out 5.  The Redhawks had the bases loaded in the 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th and 9th innings - and managed to score only 2 runs (on a single by Nelson Cruz and -surprise! - a walk to Jason Botts) OKC lost 6-4.

"They have to remember what got them here."  - Forget about ill-informed sports-talk radio grades, or Cecil B DeMile biblical epic player ratings - it's time for the Marla Hooch Mid-Season Cliche Awards:

"Look before you leap" award goes to: Michael Young.  Hey Michael, you've been around this organization long enough to know that the Rangers are always re-building. You've seen 3 general managers, and 3 new skippers in the dugout - tell me you didn't think about that before you signed your new contract.

"All hat and no cattle" award goes to:  Vincent Padilla -  and yes, I thought giving him a contract was a good idea - Mr. Hicks, Jon Daniels and I were all wrong about Vincente.

"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" award to: Barry Zito - 4.90 ERA, 6-9 on a last place team.

"Don't count your chickens before they hatch" award goes to: whoever advised Jon Daniels that Brandon McCarthy was more "major league ready" and would be better pitcher than John Danks.  To date:
John Danks: 69 2/3 IP - 22 BB - 77 K (6-6) 4.81 ERA
Brandon McCarthy: 66 IP - 32 BB - 39 K (4-6)5.59 ERA

"Even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes" award goes to: Sammy Sosa - he's hitting .237 since the big HR and only .156 in July with 0 RBI's.

"If you're going to talk the talk, you better walk the walk"  award goes to:  Mark Teixeira - hmmm -  Let's see the team went 9-14 in April - and you hit .231 - remember every time you point your finger, there are 4 more pointing back at you.

"Carpe Deim"  award goes to: Kameron Loe - you may turn out to be the best Rangers pitching story this season.

"Today is the first day of the rest of your life" award goes to: Hank Blalock.  Let's not forget that before Hank went on the DL - he was hitting .285 - (.345 for 55 AB's in May) - it looked like the Hank Blalock I saw in Tulsa - hitting those frozen ropes to the fence. Hank has 11 doubles in just 39 games, the team leader in doubles is Michael Young with 22 in 90 games.  I hope Hank has a full recovery and picks up right where he left off.

"The waiting is the hardest part" award goes to Jason Botts - still at AAA, still sporting a .324/.439/.563 (1.003 OPS) line.  During the Newberg Night Q and A Jon Daniels was asked about Jason's supposed defensive problems. JD said if Botts hits well enough they won't worry about the defense.  Hmmm, so if a  1.003 OPS, with 74 RBI's is not "enough" for the Rangers front office braintrust, then what is "enough"?

"Rome wasn't built in a day" award goes to: the ever patient Ranger fan. Maybe the owner has finally learned to let the baseball people "do their jobs", maybe that minor league system is finally showing some signs of revival with the "kids" in Low A, Short Season, Rookie Ball and from the 2007 draft class, maybe that team we saw in June is for real,  maybe  if we can wait just a little bit longer - well, you already know.... "hope springs eternal for every baseball fan"

"There's a little bit of truth in every cliche" -- Marla Hooch