Trouble Run A-Fowl!

As 2009 becomes halfway done, it is safe to say that for the most part, many people have had their difficulties in economic times, the way we go about our business in life, downsizing, change, the push for youth,  saying goodbye to the elderly. That's life!

Another given in life are the moments when things start to fall into place. I call it the first date philosophy. All those things you tell yourself you'll never do again because that's not you! Yet you do them again and again because you happen to like the company you're keeping. The same can be said when you have that kind of feeling in a work environment.

In the 1st half of 2009 I have seen more than my share of front running, bandwagoning, and second-guessing where the Texas Rangers go. Longtime fans are ready to jump off the faith mobile the moment a crisis, real or perceived, arrives on the diamond. All season long the pitching has been damn good, the relief has been better than years last. For the last month the bats have been silent and suffering. However, even in that scenario, the pitching has been lights out! Case in point, Kevin Millwood, who will pitch the rubber game of this current series with the Angels, had an ERA of 1.30 in the month of June!

As Scott Feldman took to the mound tonight, I was wondering just how the Ranger bats would respond on this night. The answer was HUGE! 

Not one, not two, but FIVE Homers were hit by Texas tonight. 2 were by Marlon Byrd. He has hit three in less than 25 hours. David Murphy went yard, also Nelson Cruz, and Ian Kinsler completed the Quinella of runs. 

A 9-3 lead was whittled to 9-5 in the 9th on an error by Elvis Andrus and some iffy pitching by CJ Wilson. The Rangers held on to win game 2 of this series, this battle for first place in the A.L. West. If you throw out one bad inning by Vicente Padilla on Monday we might be talking about a possible sweep. Not to get ahead of myself.

Michael Young is the soul of this ballclub! Like E.F. Hutton, when he speaks, people listen! Prior to gametime he said the Rangers need to go back to having fun again in the field. I saw many smiles on the field as the game progressed. Point taken.

Curiously, only 17,000 fans came out for a second straight night in a series of top tier teams. With tomorrow being Dollar Hot Dog Night, I'll be very disappointed if at least 25,000 fans come out and support the local guys. I won't buy the argument about the heat! Tell a Bills or Packers fan to complain about the cold in winter. Fans don't pay heed to stuff like that.

Attention Texas doubters: The Rangers aren't going anywhere! Deal with it! Something special is brewing here for the first time since 2004 and 1999 prior.

Time for a walk! 

Over and out in Big D

Mr Will