Rangers

[toddthebod]

I love the fact that the Astros are up by 7.5 games.  But I liked it a lot better when the Rangers were at the bottom of the division instead of in second.  I see their name right below the Astros and I just start getting nervous.  And now they face the Phillies -- so I would expect the Rangers' winning ways to continue. 

[juliogotay]

I love the fact that the Astros are up by 7.5 games.  But I liked it a lot better when the Rangers were at the bottom of the division instead of in second.  I see their name right below the Astros and I just start getting nervous.  And now they face the Phillies -- so I would expect the Rangers' winning ways to continue.

If the Astros take care of their business they won't have to worry about the Rangers.

[Reuben]

If the Astros take care of their business they won't have to worry about the Rangers.

...except when they play them head-to-head. And if the Astros had taken care of the Rangers head-to-head the last two years, they wouldn't have had to worry about the Rangers otherwise.

[AstroNut]

Fuck the Rangers...

[Uncle Charlie]

I love the fact that the Astros are up by 7.5 games.  But I liked it a lot better when the Rangers were at the bottom of the division instead of in second.  I see their name right below the Astros and I just start getting nervous.  And now they face the Phillies -- so I would expect the Rangers' winning ways to continue.

Meh.  Their win streak coincides with 7 straight games against the worst team in baseball and the worst team in the American League.  Against .500+ teams, Texas is 2-8.  Houston is 4-3.  Houston's mettle will be tested during this second half of May. They've had a great start against the Yanks but still have Cleveland, Detroit, Baltimore and Minnesota left this month.  13 straight against teams .500+

[JimR]

Fuck the Rangers...

Eloquent and well said.

[austro]

It has to chap their asses that they've been on quite a hot streak and have made up exactly one game in the standings. I love it.

[juliogotay]

And now a hamstring has disabled the game's biggest ham.

[Tom Servo]

It has to chap their asses that they've been on quite a hot streak and have made up exactly one game in the standings. I love it.

I want to gloat, too, but I'm scared of the BBG's.

[JimR]

I want to gloat, too, but I'm scared of the BBG's.

Wise man.

[Fredia]

thanks for that. you can never be too careful

[Nate Colbert]

Bottom feeder bashing continues--8 straight now.

[WVastro]

Bottom feeder bashing continues--8 straight now.

Think of it this way. In the last 10 games the Astros are 9-1. The Rangers are 8-2. Reverse the scenario. How fucking infuriating would it be to pull off an 8 game winning streak and have shit all to show for it? I feel so bad for them.... really....

[JimR]

Think of it this way. In the last 10 games the Astros are 9-1. The Rangers are 8-2. Reverse the scenario. How fucking infuriating would it be to pull off an 8 game winning streak and have shit all to show for it? I feel so bad for them.... really....

I do too, but I do not want them on any kind of a roll which keeps us from pulling away. Tough homestand coming up.

[austro]

Tough homestand coming up.

Really, it's a tough month coming up. We'll know a lot more about this team come mid-June.

[astrosfan76]

I do too, but I do not want them on any kind of a roll which keeps us from pulling away. Tough homestand coming up.

That, and they don't have to win the division to make the playoffs.  At this point, they're only 1 game back of the second WC spot. 

[BudGirl]

I can hardly wait till I see the Rangers and Blue Jays in Toronto!!!!  I really hope Bautista hits a HR and flips his bat.  I can only assume greatness will follow.

[Jacksonian]

I do too, but I do not want them on any kind of a roll which keeps us from pulling away. Tough homestand coming up.

A quick look at their schedule shows they have only taken one series against a team currently above .500.  And that was against the Angels in early April.

[Jacksonian]

I can hardly wait till I see the Rangers and Blue Jays in Toronto!!!!  I really hope Bautista hits a HR and flips his bat.  I can only assume greatness will follow.

And that's at the back end of a road trip that takes them to Detroit and Boston before Toronto.

[BudGirl]

And that's at the back end of a road trip that takes them to Detroit and Boston before Toronto.

It just got better!

[Nate Colbert]

5-game losing skid after dropping another game today to the BJs.

The Arlington Assholes are just 8-18 on the road.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Banny needs to manage better.

[doyce7]

But after the 10 game win streak they were coming back and taking the division? Fuck em

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[juliogotay]

But after the 10 game win streak they were coming back and taking the division? Fuck em

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So often win streaks are followed by losing streaks.

[Fredia]

ahh but if it is the rangers so much better...ftr

[doyce7]

So often win streaks are followed by losing streaks.

What goes up must come down. Especially if it's filled with hot air

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[Lefty]

0fer4 since Raymond ran his mouth.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

0fer4 since Raymond ran his mouth.

He backtracked pretty quick but he is still a dick. Also better than Busby. C.J. Nitkowski is a tremendous improvement over Tom Grieve.

[Lefty]

He backtracked pretty quick but he is still a dick. Also better than Busby. C.J. Nitkowski is a tremendous improvement over Tom Grieve.

Did he?  I never heard that.  CJ is great, the rest of their broadcasters & studio crew are unbearable.

[WVastro]

0fer4 since Raymond ran his mouth.

I had missed this somehow. Raymond may have pulled an Ashby.

[doyce7]

I had missed this somehow. Raymond may have pulled an Ashby.

He said on a dfw radio show that the way the Astros reacted to the start of the season was "laughable" and pretty much that hear comes the rangers.

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[Fredia]

here come the astros burning with desire
here come the astros breathing orange fire
gooooooooooooooooo astros

[chuck]

He said on a dfw radio show that the way the Astros reacted to the start of the season was "laughable" and pretty much that hear comes the rangers.

I don't follow. How did the Astros react?

[doyce7]

I don't follow. How did the Astros react?

Apparently they thought they won the world series. Meanwhile the rangers thought they were now the best team in baseball. Whoops

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[Lefty]

Apparently they thought they won the world series. Meanwhile the rangers thought they were now the best team in baseball. Whoops

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He was talking about the fans, not the players.  I didn't understand it either way.

[hostros7]

Basically, he should have said the innocuous "it's a long season," but he made a directed comments about astros fans excitement about the start of the year. He wasn't entirely wrong, but it made him sound a bit like a petty dick given his history of employment.


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[Lefty]

This was last Wednesday morning, btw:

If the trade deadline were tomorrow, would you buy, sell or trade?

Raymond: "Oh, I'm buying. I'm buying. Right now, I think that's an easy one. No. 1, this team's smoking hot. No. 2, you're gonna get Adrian Beltre back, you're gonna get Carlos Gomez back, you're gonna get Cole Hamels back for nothing. You're dealing nothing to get those guys back. Ask any team right now anywhere near a race in the division what they would offer for those three guys, and I guarantee you it'd be pretty significant. Well you're getting them back for nothing, so then if you want to add a piece or two on top of that? Forget it. Two weeks ago, three weeks ago, the Astros had won the division, they were already in the World Series and they were planning the parade. It was laughable the way people were reacting in Houston. And they were talking about burying the Rangers. 'Oh they're done. If we beat the Rangers in this series, in Houston, oh my God they're done. They'll be like, nine games out.' Well, yeah, OK, we were nine games out. Now we're what, five and a half (back)? And there's a long, long way to go, and, they just saw their ace and former Cy Young Award winner go on the disabled list for 10 days. And who knows if he comes off in 10 days."

The part about Carlos Gomez made me laugh.

[juliogotay]

This was last Wednesday morning, btw:

If the trade deadline were tomorrow, would you buy, sell or trade?

Raymond: "Oh, I'm buying. I'm buying. Right now, I think that's an easy one. No. 1, this team's smoking hot. No. 2, you're gonna get Adrian Beltre back, you're gonna get Carlos Gomez back, you're gonna get Cole Hamels back for nothing. You're dealing nothing to get those guys back. Ask any team right now anywhere near a race in the division what they would offer for those three guys, and I guarantee you it'd be pretty significant. Well you're getting them back for nothing, so then if you want to add a piece or two on top of that? Forget it. Two weeks ago, three weeks ago, the Astros had won the division, they were already in the World Series and they were planning the parade. It was laughable the way people were reacting in Houston. And they were talking about burying the Rangers. 'Oh they're done. If we beat the Rangers in this series, in Houston, oh my God they're done. They'll be like, nine games out.' Well, yeah, OK, we were nine games out. Now we're what, five and a half (back)? And there's a long, long way to go, and, they just saw their ace and former Cy Young Award winner go on the disabled list for 10 days. And who knows if he comes off in 10 days."

The part about Carlos Gomez made me laugh.

These guys are pretty much out of prospects of interest to other clubs.

[Navin R Johnson]

Nitkowski sucks.

[MusicMan]

Nitkowski sucks.

So does Gomez, and Hamels, and Odor, and Profar... the entire organization sucks, aside from Beltre.


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[ValpoCory]

This was last Wednesday morning, btw:

If the trade deadline were tomorrow, would you buy, sell or trade?

Raymond: "Oh, I'm buying. I'm buying. Right now, I think that's an easy one. No. 1, this team's smoking hot. No. 2, you're gonna get Adrian Beltre back, you're gonna get Carlos Gomez back, you're gonna get Cole Hamels back for nothing. You're dealing nothing to get those guys back. Ask any team right now anywhere near a race in the division what they would offer for those three guys, and I guarantee you it'd be pretty significant. Well you're getting them back for nothing, so then if you want to add a piece or two on top of that? Forget it. Two weeks ago, three weeks ago, the Astros had won the division, they were already in the World Series and they were planning the parade. It was laughable the way people were reacting in Houston. And they were talking about burying the Rangers. 'Oh they're done. If we beat the Rangers in this series, in Houston, oh my God they're done. They'll be like, nine games out.' Well, yeah, OK, we were nine games out. Now we're what, five and a half (back)? And there's a long, long way to go, and, they just saw their ace and former Cy Young Award winner go on the disabled list for 10 days. And who knows if he comes off in 10 days."

The part about Carlos Gomez made me laugh.

You have to give Dave Raymond one thing though.  He knows that if you criticize Houston and Houston fans to Dallas, you will be well received.  Jared Sandler has parlayed that strategy into a key broadcasting role with Rangers radio. 

[HudsonHawk]

Raymond is a tool, and a bitter one at that. He was fired from the Astros for being really, really bad at his job and he can't let it go. Nothing he says regarding the Astros should be taken seriously.

[Waldo]

With a 4-3 lead and two outs in the 9th, Bush blows the save by surrendering a home run.  Dyson gives up three runs on two yacks in the 10th, keeping his ERA over 10.  Rangers get one back in the bottom of the 10th but Odor grounds into a double play to end it.

I'm here for the gangbang schadenfreude.

[JimR]

With a 4-3 lead and two outs in the 9th, Bush blows the save by surrendering a home run.  Dyson gives up three runs on two yacks in the 10th, keeping his ERA over 10.  Rangers get one back in the bottom of the 10th but Odor grounds into a double play to end it.

I'm here for the gangbang schadenfreude.

A series in June is not critical, but winning two of the next three will send a strong message.

[Waldo]

A series in June is not critical, but winning two of the next three will send a strong message.

Starting the series with Keuchel and McCullers is a good way to do that.

[AstroFrog]

A series in June is not critical, but winning two of the next three will send a strong message.

It is critical only in the sense that the howling from Arlington would be highly irritating.

[MRaup]

Starting the series with Keuchel and McCullers is a good way to do that.

Said the Twins before the last series...

[hostros7]

Per rosenthal:

Sources: Struggling reliever Sam Dyson will be designated for assignment by #Rangers. Jose Leclerc will come off DL to take Dyson’s place.

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[hostros7]

Sources add: #Rangers expect to trade Dyson. Informed other clubs today of plan to move him. More than one showed interest. Dyson owed $2M+.


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[MusicMan]

This was last Wednesday morning, btw:

If the trade deadline were tomorrow, would you buy, sell or trade?

Raymond: "Oh, I'm buying. I'm buying. Right now, I think that's an easy one. No. 1, this team's smoking hot. No. 2, you're gonna get Adrian Beltre back, you're gonna get Carlos Gomez back, you're gonna get Cole Hamels back for nothing. You're dealing nothing to get those guys back. Ask any team right now anywhere near a race in the division what they would offer for those three guys, and I guarantee you it'd be pretty significant. Well you're getting them back for nothing, so then if you want to add a piece or two on top of that? Forget it. Two weeks ago, three weeks ago, the Astros had won the division, they were already in the World Series and they were planning the parade. It was laughable the way people were reacting in Houston. And they were talking about burying the Rangers. 'Oh they're done. If we beat the Rangers in this series, in Houston, oh my God they're done. They'll be like, nine games out.' Well, yeah, OK, we were nine games out. Now we're what, five and a half (back)? And there's a long, long way to go, and, they just saw their ace and former Cy Young Award winner go on the disabled list for 10 days. And who knows if he comes off in 10 days."

The part about Carlos Gomez made me laugh.

Since May 22, when Raymond made those comments:
Astros 9-1
Rangers 2-7

[Jacksonian]

Since May 22, when Raymond made those comments:
Astros 9-1
Rangers 2-7

And they're still only 3 games back of the second wild card spot.  I'd really like to see them pushed further down from that.  On the other hand there's a good chance of rain all weekend in Arlington.

[juliogotay]

And they're still only 3 games back of the second wild card spot.  I'd really like to see them pushed further down from that.  On the other hand there's a good chance of rain all weekend in Arlington.

According to the local fishwrap there is an 80% chance of "storms" today through Monday. Currently it is overcast and very still.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

Fuck the Rangers.

[AstroNut]

Fuck the Rangers !

[das]

According to the local fishwrap there is an 80% chance of "storms" today through Monday. Currently it is overcast and very still.

Precip chances drop each day after 6pm-ish but not to zero, following a typical summer thunderstorm peak of 2pm-6pm followed by scattered showers.  If the grounds crew is on the ball, they should be able to get the games in.  It's hard to pinpoint actual cell progression until they form though...
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=32.7513&lon=-97.0825&unit=0&lg=english&FcstType=graphical

[BudGirl]

What about Houston this weekend?  College world series regional is here this weekend.

[das]

What about Houston this weekend?  College world series regional is here this weekend.

Pretty much the same thing but with lesser chances across the board.  DFW is 60-70% chance of boomers each afternoon, Houston is 30-40%.  Theirs will propagate pretty steadily while in Houston, they will be slow movers with the chance to drop a lot of rain in a moderate amount of time due to the slow movement of the cells.  Additionally, with the sea breeze component available to y'all, there is a chance of funnel clouds and small, brief tornadoes. 

[Tonywatson]

I've heard Raymond do several interviews on Dallas stations and podcasts. Not only is his voice annoying, but they throw him question after question and he says nothing but repeat what the interviewer thinks. He seems to say what he thinks the consensus opinion is.


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[Reuben]

I've heard Raymond do several interviews on Dallas stations and podcasts. Not only is his voice annoying, but they throw him question after question and he says nothing but repeat what the interviewer thinks. He seems to say what he thinks the consensus opinion is.


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Heywaitasec, aren't you that reliever the Astros might wanna trade for?

[Tonywatson]

We both have history as left-handed pitchers who had a little success. One of us is 50 years old though...


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[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

So I guess you're not "Fat" Tony the fan either.

[Tonywatson]

No I'm a little overweight but that's not me.


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[JimR]

Yes, thanks for the PBP. It was clutch when my selfish seven month old decided to rustle about during the late innings, and I was sent in to de-escalate the situation without TV or radio.


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The nerve of them!

[Navin R Johnson]

Here is your morning WFW

After the game, Chirinos confirmed that the Astros have a reputation of stealing signs from second base.

“Knowing when we played with Carlos Beltran here last year, the guys (on the Astros) steal signs like crazy on second base. That’s why I was going to the mound every pitch, switching signs, making sure those guys wouldn't relay signs to the hitter. I think when we struck out Correa, we switched the signs just before he went to hit; if you see his swing, he was late because they thought we were trying the slider. (...) it’s because they were relaying the wrong signs from second base. We knew that when we went to play in Houston, that's just something we have to do when we’re playing Houston because we know those guys are relaying signs when they have a guy on second base. That’s when I was moving in, going away, doing this (...) just to play with the guys on second base.

http://www.wfaa.com/sports/mlb/rangers/this-is-fine-rangers-lose-7-1-to-astros/445389327

[Navin R Johnson]

Ranger frustration is starting to boil over. If they didn't forcibly masturbate a bunch of their teammates after the game, I wouldn't be surprised to see their  pent up frustration lead to some Astros getting pegged tonight if we are up by several runs.

[MRaup]

Good Lord, what a bunch of bitches. Is their staff too stupid to handle indicators and actual makes signs like, you know, every other team in baseball?

Here is your morning WFW

After the game, Chirinos confirmed that the Astros have a reputation of stealing signs from second base.

“Knowing when we played with Carlos Beltran here last year, the guys (on the Astros) steal signs like crazy on second base. That’s why I was going to the mound every pitch, switching signs, making sure those guys wouldn't relay signs to the hitter. I think when we struck out Correa, we switched the signs just before he went to hit; if you see his swing, he was late because they thought we were trying the slider. (...) it’s because they were relaying the wrong signs from second base. We knew that when we went to play in Houston, that's just something we have to do when we’re playing Houston because we know those guys are relaying signs when they have a guy on second base. That’s when I was moving in, going away, doing this (...) just to play with the guys on second base.

http://www.wfaa.com/sports/mlb/rangers/this-is-fine-rangers-lose-7-1-to-astros/445389327

[AstroNut]

Soon they  will blame the Russians

[JimR]

Good Lord, what a bunch of bitches. Is their staff too stupid to handle indicators and actual makes signs like, you know, every other team in baseball?

stealing signs is part of baseball. WFW.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

It's one thing to complain about a guy in the outfield stands with binoculars, sunglasses, fake moustache, and placards, but whining about a guy that you couldn't keep from reaching second base?!?! The damn Rangers have sunk to playing the victim card.

[VirtualBob]

stealing signs is part of baseball. WFW.

Never was a "WFW" more deserved.

[MRaup]

It's one thing to complain about a guy in the outfield stands with binoculars, sunglasses, fake moustache, and placards, but whining about a guy that you couldn't keep from reaching second base?!?! The damn Rangers have sunk to playing the victim card.

I would pay big money to see Devo in a fake mustache with binoculars relaying signs from the bullpen.

[Fredia]

my son in law (longview..graduated with matthew mcconaughey)  and I have always got along . I mean for years and years. never a cross word.  not sure how much longer that is going to last.

[NeilT]

my son in law (longview..graduated with matthew mcconaughey)  and I have always got along . I mean for years and years. never a cross word.  not sure how much longer that is going to last.

I haven't been to Uvalde in years.


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[BudGirl]

stealing signs is part of baseball. WFW.

That is exactly what I thought.

[BUWebguy]

Wait -- what does this part mean?

“Knowing when we played with Carlos Beltran here last year..."

Is he saying that Beltran taught them how to do it last year when he was a Ranger? Or that when Beltran was a Ranger last year, he told them stories of how the Astros did it when he was here -- in 2004? Or something else?

[Knoxbanedoodle]

Wait -- what does this part mean?

Is he saying that Beltran taught them how to do it last year when he was a Ranger? Or that when Beltran was a Ranger last year, he told them stories of how the Astros did it when he was here -- in 2004? Or something else?

I had the same thought. I love the idea of the latter.

[HudsonHawk]

I had the same thought. I love the idea of the latter.

I gathered it meant that Beltran playing there last year has a better understanding of what signs the Rangers use or at least their system.  And that Beltran has been around a while and has seen it all.  He's certainly not the only one in the league stealing signs or picking up a pitch from the pitcher and relaying it to the hitter.  That's been going on since the invention of second base.

[Andyzipp]

I gathered it meant that Beltran playing there last year has a better understanding of what signs the Rangers use or at least their system.  And that Beltran has been around a while and has seen it all.  He's certainly not the only one in the league stealing signs or picking up a pitch from the pitcher and relaying it to the hitter.  That's been going on since the invention of second base.

Not to mention, if you've got a runner on 2nd who isn't trying to steal signs from the catcher, they aren't doing their effing job.

[MRaup]

Not to mention, if you've got a runner on 2nd who isn't trying to steal signs from the catcher, they aren't doing their effing job.

If your signals are that easy to figure out, you deserve it.

[Andyzipp]

If your signals are that easy to figure out, you deserve it.

Indicators are like...complicated or something.

[MRaup]

Indicators are like...complicated or something.

"I'm just gonna mouth 'fastball' for a fastball and 'curve' for curve. Cool?"

[Andyzipp]

"I'm just gonna mouth 'fastball' for a fastball and 'curve' for curve. Cool?"

Rapida or curva.

[HudsonHawk]

Rapida or curva.

We'll just yell out in Spanish.  No one will ever know what we say.

[Andyzipp]

We'll just yell out in Spanish.  No one will ever know what we say.

Thank God they stopped using pig latin.

[Reuben]

Thank God they stopped using pig latin.

Finding pitchers/catchers who can call pitches in Russian could be the new market inefficiency. The Rangers should have thought of this.

[Andyzipp]

Finding pitchers/catchers who can call pitches in Russian could be the new market inefficiency. The Rangers should have thought of this.

Can you bend your fingers into cyrillic letters?

[Fredia]

they will resort to the point and yell out the stolen sign, saves so much  confusion