Happy Tuesday my friends. Slowly getting into the whole vibe of HOT and SUMMER. They both have Texas in mind...
Fresh from a 3-3 roadtrip on a tough stretch of play in New York and Boston It would be understandable if there was a slight case of jet lag and being road weary. You never use that as an excuse but it does happen.
Now comes a long homestand for the Rangers...
Scott Feldman has been the second most successful starting pitcher on the Rangers staff once he was removed from the bullpen. In the games he has started, prior to Monday night, the Rangers were a stellar 8-1. That would fall to 8-2 Monday night.
When you walk Vernon Wells twice and you then proceed to hang a fastball and changeup to Adam Lind for homers, you will end up on the losing end of a 6-3 loss. Texas had a chance to tie things up at 4-all in the 5th before Elvis Andrus was unable to make contact on a suicide squeeze with Marlon Byrd at 3rd. The loss pushed the Ranger lead in the West to just 3 games.
The bats have been a little iffy in the last week. No one is saying it but with the absence of Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler slumping, it may be time for a lineup overhaul as June progresses. The Blue Jays have a collective batting average of .280 in the American League. If the rest of the staff matched up to the success of Roy Halladay, Toronto will be a major player in the East.
With Brandon McCarthy now out with a stress fracture in his shoulder, Doug Mathis makes a spot start tonight against Brian Tallet. I am hoping that the Texas bats can warm up again and just play competitive ball. This month will be a test to match a 20 win mark like May. If the Rangers remain at .500 for the month of June, then there is a good chance we have a summer playoff chase.
Weather might be at issue the rest of this week as a front makes it's way south.
Time for a walk!
Over and out in BIg D
Mr Will